Chapter 31

“Lord Eastwei?”

The call came from Puren as the servant searched the home for his beloved master. The morning was still very young and he had gone to rouse his master but found the bed empty.

Puren noticed a figure standing in the western gardens and hurried to the doorway. He paused and his eyes bulged at the terrible sight. The platform and stairs were covered in blood.

“My Lord!” Puren shouted as he hurried over to his master. He stopped at Eastwei’s side and looked him over to discover he was immaculately attired. The servant breathed a sigh of relief but his face contorted with confusion. “What has happened here, My Lord?”

Eastwei knelt in front of one of the ruined remains of a tendril and brushed a finger through the blackened muck, all that remained of its body. He studied the putrid blood before allowing his eyes to wander up the steps. The stoic lord froze when his eyes detected a trail of red blood.

Puren jerked back as his lord leaped up the steps and knelt on the platform. Eastwei’s hand shook a little as he pressed it against a puddle. “What is it, My Lord?”

Eastwei’s bowed head hid his features but he balled his shaking hand into a tight fist. “Blood,” he replied as he stood and looked around the gardens. “Where is the cat?”

Puren copied his master’s gesture and investigated the area. He shook his head. “I do not know, My Lord. Shall I go find her?”

“Immediately,” Eastwei commanded as he strode down the steps.

Puren nodded at the black muck. “But what of the rest of it, My Lord?”

Eastwei swept his hand over the blackened area. His fire magic floated out of his palm and dissolved the remains. “We will search for the cat and then alert the king.”

His servant’s mouth dropped open. “Search for the cat before alerting the king?” Eastwei turned his head just slightly and a sharp, blazing eye stared down at Puren. The servant shrank beneath such a fiery scolding and nodded. “Y-yes, My Lord.”

Together the pair scoured the grounds searching for the feline. They were still performing that search when Prince Yushir made an appearance in the doorway of the home.

“Good morning!” he greeted the household as he strolled down the central hall for the third time. He paused and surveyed Puren’s somber expression as the servant exited a side room. “What has happened?”

“The cat is missing, Your Highness,” Puren explained as his eyes flickered toward the garden entrance. “My Lord fears she has been killed by something.”

Yushir’s bushy eyebrows crashed down. “Killed? How?”

Puren shook his head. “I do not know, Your Highness, but My Lord may know something more of the matter. He is out in the western garden.”

Yushir nodded and hurried out into the courtyard. He found Lord Eastwei at the bottom of the platform steps staring at the charred stones. “Puren tells me you have lost your pet,” Yushir spoke up as he joined his friend at the silent man’s side.

There was a long pause before Eastwei spoke. “She was killed.”

Yushir lifted an eyebrow and leaned to one side to study his friend’s face. There was a hint of melancholy in his words that caught the prince by surprise. “Killed? By whom?”

Dadan nodded at the platform. “The creature from the land realm. A piece of it somehow made its way into my garden.”

The prince’s face turned ghastly white. He couldn’t speak for a moment before he stepped closer to his old friend and lowered his voice. “Are you sure?”

“Undeniably so.”

Yushir wrapped one hand around the ring on his other and pursed his lips. “This is. . .this is very disturbing. Have you informed my uncle?”

“Not yet.”

“Then I will do so at once,” Yushir swore as he turned away. He paused and turned his head toward his friend. Dadan continued to stare at the top of the platform. “Then. . .then the cat?”

Dadan only nodded.

The prince’s heart fell. “I see. My sincerest condolences. If you will excuse me.”

Yushir reluctantly hurried off, though not before casting a worried glance over his shoulder at his friend. Eastwei remained stiff and silent in his spot until Puren came up to him a half hour later.

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The servant bowed low to his master. “My Lord, I cannot find the cat anywhere. I. . .I believe you are correct in assuming she has been. . .been killed.” Even he was reluctant to state the obvious, so painful was it for his lord.

Eastwei stared at the spot a moment longer before he lifted his chin. “I will be in consultation with the king for some time.”

Puren nodded. “Understood. I will inform visitors you are unavailable.”

Eastwei turned away and strode into the house. Puren looked after him with the same concerned expression as Yushir.

“My Lord. . .”

That same lord made his way to the imperial palace but his steps were slow and his gaze lay on the ground. He didn’t notice the eager figure who joined him at his side until the person spoke.

“Dadan!” Shian greeted with both exuberance and curiosity. “Have you come out to walk with me?”

“No,” came the bland reply.

Did the seed not work? Shian wondered as she bit her lower lip. She forced her smile back and tried to catch Dadan’s eyes but he continued staring at the ground. The woman pressed her lips into a pout and stepped in front of him, blocking his path. “Have I done something wrong, Dadan? You are completely ignoring me.”

Dadan lifted his eyes and her blood ran cold. She had known him all her life, but she had never seen such a look of sorrow in his eyes as he had now. He tried to hide it but the dull glimmer of his eyes made it unmistakable. The emotion was enough to build a lump in her throat.

She stepped up and set her hands on his arm. “Dadan, what is the matter? Please tell me.”

He lifted his chin and his stoic expression returned. “Nothing.”

She wrapped her fingers around his arm. “This is not nothing, Dadan. What is the matter?”

“The feline has died.”

Shian’s shock was so great that she didn’t comprehend his words at first. “The. . .the cat is dead? Truly?” With each word, glee lifted her heart and melted the lump in her throat.

“I must go.” He shrugged off her hands and strode past her.

Shian was in too much jubilation to stop him. All she wanted to do was yell at the clouds in thanks to whatever fate had brought her such good news! It was a time for celebration! For feasting! She had to find someone to tell the good news!

“Bidao!”

The said lady started back as Lady Shian rushed into her home. Her intrusive acquaintance dropped onto her knees on another cushion around the table at which Bidao sat. Shian was out of breath and had a broad smile on her face.

“You will never guess my luck!” Shian exclaimed.

Bidao suppressed a shiver down her spine but she couldn’t tamp down her fear. “What has happened?”

“That wretched creature Lord Eastwei brought back from the land realm is dead!”

The color drained from Bidao’s face. “Dead? How did it happen?”

Shian clapped her hands on the edge of the table and lifted her chin. “I have no idea but what tidings! Now Dadan will have no one else but me to show his affection!” She waited for a response, and when none was coming she set her confused eyes on her friend. “Do you not think this is wonderful news?”

Bidao studied her friend with a curious look in her eyes. “You are sure you do not know how the poor creature died?”

Shian’s lips curled into a sneer. “Poor creature? Why do you show such compassion for a miserable mess of fleas? And why would I know how it died?”

Bidao glanced around the room. They were alone, so she leaned toward her friend and lowered her voice to a hushed whisper. “Have you forgotten so quickly?”

Shian wrinkled her nose. “Forgotten what?”

The genteel lady’s face twisted with horror. “What we did in the land realm!”

Her guest rolled her eyes. “I would do better for forgetting if you would stop reminding me. It is not healthy to dwell on such things.”

Bidao’s mouth dropped open. “But how can I? And now this cat is missing, as well!”

“I had nothing to do with its disappearance!” Shian protested as she jumped to her feet. She balled her hands into fists at her sides and glared down at her acquaintance. “And I would not spread such lies if I were you!”

Bidao froze and her heart skipped a beat. “W-what do you mean?”

Shian threw up her hands. “You are impossible! Good day!”

She stormed out of the house leaving one very frightened lady behind her.