“I’m going out!” I called into the house as I stood in the open doorway.

Arian popped her head out of her room with her arms full of bundles of dirty bedding. “Would you like me to accompany-oops!”

The bundle decided to make an escape and most of it slid to the floor. I laughed and strode forward to help her gather up the mess. “It’s fine. I don’t want to get in your way and I was just going to go out and draw, anyway.”

She pursed her lips. “Very well, but please be mindful. There was that rumor a few days ago about the barrier almost being breached.”

“I promise not to approach that edge,” I swore with all my heart as I folded up some of the mess.

We soon got Arian and the bedding straightened and I set out on my journey. My sketch pad was tucked under one arm and my head was filled with possibilities. There was the grove where I had played hide-and-seek with the children, or even the performance hall.

My cheeks blushed a little at the remembrance of the lord’s performance. The song had been so soft and sweet, almost the opposite of his icy and stoic nature.

He’s not that way.

I cocked my head and glared up at nothing in particular. “Oh really?”

He helped you with your drawing, didn’t he?

I glanced down at my pad and had to admit he had told me what was wrong and he’d done it without making fun of me. A gentle smile slipped onto my lips before I could tamp it down. Here I was admiring a god who had been around since before the creation of continents. He probably didn’t even remember my face.

But he’d remember your cooking.

“Shut it,” I growled at myself.

A few passing ladies stared at me with fear. I sheepishly smiled at them and they skirted around me. A sigh escaped my lips as I plodded on. It wasn’t easy making friends with the upstanding citizens of the heavens. It was far easier to make enemies, one of which I met on my wandering through the gardens.

“Good morning, Lady Roberts.”

I started at the greeting and turned to my left to see Lady Bidao strolling down a narrow side path toward me. She had a wide smile on her lips that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

I stiffly bowed my head. “Good morning.”

She stopped and studied my person. “You have a very plain set of robes on this day. It suits you.”

I tightened my grip on my sketchbook at the back-handed compliment but I managed to keep my smile on my lips. A devilish idea slipped into my mind. “Thank you. Your dark dress is very becoming on you, as well.”

“Do you think so?” she mused as she admired her dark blue robes and swished them about.

I nodded. “Very much. Their shadows match the ones under your eyes.”

Bidao stiffened before she whipped her head up and glared at me with those accented eyes. “What do you mean by that?”

I feigned ignorance. “I thought perhaps dark eyeshadow was fashionable in the heavens. Did I say something wrong?”

She lifted her chin and looked down her beaked nose at me. “Perhaps in your ignorance you misspoke, but if you will excuse me, I have somewhere I need to be.” And with that, she swished herself away.

I breathed a sigh of relief and continued on my way. The beautiful morning couldn’t be marred by my unexpected companion though I paused and frowned up at the sun. “Can’t you take a night off for once?” I asked it. A cloud floated past and made the sun blink as if in refusal. I shrugged and meandered my way through the gardens.

Nothing piqued my attention until I found myself on the far side of the creek from the huge boulder where I’d made my first drawing. I stepped out from around a building but darted back immediately.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Lord Eastwei was again reclining on the wood bench.

Doesn’t he have anything else to do? I wondered to myself.

Do you? came the snarky reply, especially when I remembered why I was wandering about in the first place.

That gave me a brilliant idea. I knelt on one knee and peeked around the corner. The ancient lord rested his head on his hand and his eyes were closed. If ever I had a chance it would be now.

I tiptoed out of my hiding spot and down the walk toward the edge of the canal. A short row of small bushes decorated the path and I ducked behind them before peering out. He was still asleep.

I pulled out my pencil and flipped through my sketchbook. I’d drawn a few odds and ends since my adventure with the lord but they were mostly of plants and a few birds. Nothing to really inspire me like the human face.

Or the face of a god.

I peeked out from my hiding spot and studied his features before tucking myself behind the bushes. I don’t know how long performed this strange game of peek-a-boo but long enough to get a rough sketch of the handsome lord. I held my work at arm’s length and nodded. Not bad for being so far away.

“There you are.”

I stiffened and curled into myself. Footsteps on the other side of the creek approached the bench. I peeked over the top and watched Prince Yushir join his companion. He admired the area and nodded. “A very restful place. I can see why you would enjoy it here.”

Eastwei didn’t open his eyes when he replied. “Surely you have come for some other reason than to comment on that.”

Yushir nodded. “My uncle wishes to see you about the trouble a few days ago. It seems whatever was found at the point of intrusion may be involved with the attacks on the land immortals.”

The great lord opened his eyes at that revelation and frowned. “What do you mean?”

“One of the people who discovered the ruined villages gave a description to my uncle of something that was found among the desolation,” Yushir explained as he paced the ground in front of the bench, his hands clasped behind his back and one finger fidgeting with his ring. “The description somewhat matches what we found at the intrusion.”

My heart pounded in my chest as I listened to their conversation. I couldn’t follow everything that was said, but the seriousness of their tones told me that they were worried. That part about an intrusion really didn’t sound good.

“My uncle also wishes to discuss with you security details for the coming festival,” Yushir added as the lord sat up. A frown creased the prince’s lips. “You will have extra duties managing the vendors from the land. Pampir has insisted on vetting them himself but I have little faith he will succeed in weeding out any who may be a threat.”

“Kang would be more fitting,” Eastwei commented as he stood.

Yushir turned to him and nodded. “So I thought as well, but my uncle made the promise several weeks ago and could not go back on his word without insulting the eager lord. That is why my uncle wishes to ask you about setting up another ward over the festival area.”

Eastwei nodded. “Very well. I will see him.”

Yushir led the way and Eastwei skirted the arm of the bench. However, he paused beside his resting seat and turned his head far enough so one eye fell in my direction. The color drained from my face and I ducked down low. He continued to stare for a few seconds longer before looking away and following his friend.

I slumped down and clutched my hand over my beating heart. Had he known I was here the entire time?