Page 20 of Immortal

“Red is for warfare, yellow for poetry?” As he nodded, I continued, staring at the illustration of a courting couple, “Violet would be for romance?”

His mouth thinned. “I don’t read all the books here. Some are for my guests.”

Guests? According to his attendants, the God of War had none. “If I were immortal, I would read everything here. Your library is beautiful.”

A long pause. “That is high praise, coming from you.”

His tone lightened, almost teasing. But I ignored it, refusing to be drawn in. “I give praise when it’s due.”

“Then it means something.” He gestured at the shelves. “You may read anything you wish from here.”

I smiled as was expected, trying to remain unaffected by his generosity. “Can I take them with me to Tianxia?”

“Only if you promise to bring them back.”

The gravity in his voice struck me. Did he expect me to return? Even if I wanted to, it would be impossible, according to the rules of his realm. “Then it’s safer that I leave them here,” I replied.

“Do you have everything you need?” he asked.

“Yes. Your attendants are most helpful. I am glad for the clothes, as I brought none with me.”

“They fit well.” His gaze traveled over me as he reached out to straighten my sleeve. The embroidered birds fluttered their wings, one soaring through the gray silk.

I started, pulling away from him. The birds stilled at once, one frozen midflight. “How did you do that?”

“The finest garments here are crafted with magic,” he said. “But only those with a strong lifeforce, the root of our power, can bring them to life.”

No wonder the birds had never moved for me. “I appreciate your generosity, Lord Zhangwei.”

He inclined his head. “If you need anything else, you have but to ask.”

The key to the South Courtyard? But his offer was a meaningless formality, just as I was his guest only at the command of his queen. My gaze strayed to his waist, the jade tablet that hung from it. This must be what I sought. Out of caution, I averted my eyes—inadvertently looking into his. I reminded myself, this was also a valuable opportunity to speak to the God of War, one high in the queen’s favor. An urge rose to ask him about the Shield of Rivers and Mountains, but I had to conceal my intent.

“Lord Zhangwei, I was wondering where you keep the tributes from your victories. The weapons for your soldiers, perhaps?”

“A curious question,” he said slowly. “Why do you ask?”

“I want to learn more, to ensure my soldiers are adequately equipped.” I held his gaze steadily. “After all, our soldiers fight for you too.”

“I keep no store of weapons here,” he replied.

“But . . . you’re the God of War.”

“The soldiers serve Her Majesty, except for those who guard my home. Their weapons and armor are in the Palace of Radiant Light. Any tribute or trophies remain there too. I don’t do any of this for myself, but to protect my kingdom and those I care about.”

His loyalty to the immortal queen was known to all. My heart dipped that the shield was likely in Queen Caihong’s palace . . . but that didn’t mean there was nothing of use here. He might even be lying, to keep me in the dark.

“Your concern for your soldiers is admirable. Few rulers think of those who shed blood to keep them on their thrones.” His words deepened with intensity like this mattered to him.

“Does Her Majesty think of the soldiers of Tianxia, too?” I kept my tone soft to avoid a direct challenge, though my hands curled at my sides.

“We value their efforts to keep the Mortal Realm safe—”

“Then, why not support us a little more?” I suppressed the urge to raise my voice. “The greatest threats to my people are those from your realm—immortals with ill intent, monsters like the Winged Devils, or the Wuxin from the past. Our own blades can’t harm them. Against such foes, Tianxia soldiers will fall like rice before the sickle.”

To my surprise, he nodded. “I have broached this with Her Majesty. However, she believes the time is not right; there is no imminent danger on the horizon. Rest assured that we are considering the matter.”

“We don’t know when danger will strike—isn’t it better to be prepared? Or does Her Majesty doubt our loyalty?” I laughed in seeming disbelief. In all honesty, I didn’t want to hurt the immortals—I just wanted to be free of them. “Even with your weapons, we have no magic. We are no threat to you. All we want is a chance to defend ourselves, should the need arise.”