Three days!

Had she truly been asleep that long? It barely felt like a night to her, but maybe that would explain why she felt so well-rested. She couldn’t remember when she’d last slept soundly if she ever had. Since her father’s war with Tzulan had begun, they’d been forced to move from place to place, trying to stay one step ahead of their enemy. Sometimes these moves were planned; other times, they came unexpectedly. She’d lost track of how many times she’d been startled awake or been forced to stop what she was doing in order to retreat.

“Do you have a name?” If Akihato saw her shiver, he graciously did not call attention to it.

She nodded, feeling suddenly shy and uncertain. Was she truly safe here in this strange place, with these strange creatures and even stranger man? Could she trust him, or was he just as evil and twisted as Warlord Tzulan?

“Hanamei,” she whispered, deciding she could tell him that much at least.

“It’s a pleasure.” He bowed his head, then swept his arm toward the stairs. “You must be famished. Lady Hanamei, would you dine with me?”

Her stomach answered for her, rumbling obnoxiously before she could even open her mouth. Akihato grinned at her, but had the good sense, once again, not to comment. Even still, she couldn’t stop herself from blushing. She bowed her head and fixed her gaze on the floor. “Yes, Lord. I would be honored.”

“Excellent.” He beamed at her, and she wasn’t sure if he was genuinely pleased or if it was all just a big show. “Ren is an amazing cook. She’ll prepare the best food you’ve ever eaten!”

While Akihato guided her out of the library, Hanamei glanced back over her shoulder at the unusual woman keeping pace a few steps behind them. One glance in those glowing, watery eyes caused an uneasy shiver to run down her spine. She didn’t know why, just that these seemingly emotionless creatures unsettled her despite how well-mannered and subservient they acted.

As if reading her mind, Akihato explained, “Don’t let them frighten you; they’re gwazemi; water spirits specifically. You’re sensing the magical energy that has allowed them to manifest in a human form. They’re gentle as kittens to all who are permitted within these walls, but they become fearsome combatants when dealing with intruders.“ He winked. “You’re perfectly safe, I assure you.”

“I see.” She nodded, not sure his explanation had really comforted her any. At least not right away. She still didn’t fully understand their purpose or why he didn’t have normal servants, but for some reason, she felt what he said was true. She was safe within these walls. Or at least, she wanted to feel that way. There was still a part of her that was very unsure about all of this. “Does anyone know I’m here?”

“No,” he answered without hesitating. “Do you have family? Would you like me to send word to them that you’re safe? I’m not comfortable bringing them to you, but I could accompany you if you wished to—“

She firmly shook her head, sending ripples down her silky black hair. “No! No, that isn’t necessary.” Again she looked away from him, not wanting him to see the emotion warring across her face. Finally, in a quiet, clipped voice, she added, “I have no family.”

Akihato was quiet for a long moment, perhaps mulling over his own demons or maybe just giving her the space she seemed to need. Either way, she appreciated that he didn’t pry any further.

They strolled back down the winding staircase to what Hanamei was certain was the ground floor. It was a small space, filled with simple furniture and the same unassuming but elegant artwork.

Curious, that a lord lives in such sparse conditions...

He led her into another room that was obviously a dining hall judging by the large cedar table and chairs arranged in the center. A pair of tapestries hung on either end of the space, one depicting what looked to be seven mythical dragons and another the seven matching elements. She frowned, studying it more closely, surprised to see so many of both. She had always thought there were only five elements. What were the other two meant to be?

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That old magic stirred in her belly as she stared at the embroidery. The dragons she wasn’t familiar with were black and white, respectively, their scales shimmering with turquoise and violet. The longer she stared at them, the more the power squirmed inside of her to the point she had to rip her gaze away lest it blaze out of control. She thought she saw her host watching her from the corner of his eye but couldn’t be certain.

Akihato directed her to a chair next to the head of the table, helping her to get seated before taking his place next to her. Ren disappeared through another doorway that no doubt led to the kitchen. A few moments later, the sound of dishes and pans clanging together and drawers and cupboards being opened and closed created a welcome background noise to drown out the silence.

Finally, the Zosara broke the quiet. “What part of the Taiku territories do you originate from, Hanamei?”

The answer flashed through her mind. In her oldest memories, it was a beautiful place, lush and green, filled with lily ponds and serene meadows. In recent memory, her birthplace looked much different. The ponds were stagnant or filled in with dirt or rubble, the meadows destroyed after a decade of hosting battles. “The south,” was the only response she gave.

It seemed that was enough to further pique his curiosity. “Truly? The land of the chieftain?”

She hung her head and nodded slowly.

Raising his eyebrow inquisitively, Akihato was studying her again, and this time it made her feel incredibly uneasy. “Forgive me,” he said after a moment, “My curiosity often gets the better of me.”

“No.” She nibbled at her bottom lip, afraid she might have offended him. “There is nothing to forgive, my Lord. I know you meant no harm.”

Silence fell between them again. Hanamei wanted to say more, but she was once again wondering if she could really trust him or not.

“If I might ask this, however,” Akihato didn’t seem willing to give up on finding out more about her, “how did you come to be with the Warlord?”

Hanamei’s entire body tensed, and she tilted her face away again, trembling as the memory of that night came back to her. The look in Tzulan’s eyes, the malice and carnal longing. It terrified her even now that she was beyond his reach. “My father.” The words tumbled from her lips before she could stop them. She needed to get it out, to tell someone of the injustice that had befallen her. “He made a deal with the Warlord, and I was demanded as proof of his fealty.”

The chair creaking told her Akihato had shifted his position, but she did not expect to feel his hand on her shoulder. She jumped, turning to shyly gaze up at his face. There was sympathy, kindness, and understanding written plainly there. He didn’t need to speak a word; the gesture and his expression conveyed enough. Foolish or not, Hanamei gave in to the urge to trust him. He had already saved her, brought her to his home, was caring for her needs, and now he was granting her a gift she’d never known before - empathy.

She moved her hands out of her lap, holding them up above the table and staring at them as though she didn’t recognize them. “I don’t know how I did it...” She answered the question he had to have been dying to ask. “There was this power inside of me; it has always been there, ever since I was a child. All I remember is that I didn’t want him to touch me. I wanted him to burn...” Her fingers were trembling, tears welling in her eyes that she fought to keep from falling. “I wanted to make him suffer!”

Akihato reached for her hands, collecting them gently in his and squeezing firmly. “You are safe here, Hanamei. Tzulan can scour the world, and he would not find us. My magic, the very magic you possess also, shields this place from being stumbled upon. He would have to know its location or be told its location in order to find you. And trust me, there are few I have revealed my home to, let alone given directions on how to find it.” He squeezed again. “You are safe with me.”

A tear escaped, falling down her cheek as she stared into Akihato’s cerulean eyes. She believed his words, took comfort in them, but all of this was foreign to her. Her people had kept her at arm’s length, afraid to get too close, afraid of the power she possessed. Even her own father had never fully trusted her. For a complete stranger to accept her so easily was something she could not completely comprehend.

“Why?” she whispered, “Why are you helping me?”

This caused him to smile. “I already told you, Hanamei.” He leaned back in his chair, withdrawing his hand as he did so. “You have magic within you, and we Zosara look after our own.”

A surprised gasp parted her lips. “Me?” She gazed at him in shock. “A Zosara?” The notion had never occurred to her before. She had always assumed the power was something strange, something that had never been seen before. But perhaps it wasn’t. Perhaps it had a name and could be controlled. She risked a glance at the tapestry, at the unknown elemental symbols that seemed to call to her.

Akihato graced her with a broad grin. It lit up his features, making him appear even more handsome than before. “Yes, Hanamei. With training and dedication, you will become a Zosara, too.”