“It would not matter. You cannot change the minds of those who do not want to be proven wrong.” I took her hands in mine, inwardly flinching from their chill. She was afraid … as was I. “They want to believe this of us. Forgetting to light the lanterns was a harmless thing, just as taking Father’s elixir, or the dragons bringing water to the suffering mortals. The Celestial Emperor will tolerate no threat to his pride or standing. To him, appearances matter more than intent.” It struck me then how much he must despise me—the girl his soldiers had bowed to, whom he would have killed that day.

“Must we flee?” My mother’s voice broke. This place was all she had known of the Immortal Realm—once, her prison, and now her home.

“Yes. His Celestial Majesty will not rescind his sentence, nor will anyone plead on our behalf—at least, none he will listen to. We are a thorn in his side that he is eager to pluck. Moreover, he wants our home, and this is the perfect excuse to seize it.”

Ping’er frowned. “Won’t disobeying his edict anger him further?”

“Undoubtedly.” Reckless satisfaction flooded me at those words. “Though we have little to lose at this stage.”

Beyond our lives. Was I being a fool to risk us all? Was imprisonment not preferable to death? Yet that was not the choice; we were fighting for our freedom, for the chance to live as we chose. And I did not trust our safety in the emperor’s hands.

My mother lifted her head, her expression calmer. “We will be ready.”

“You must go first, with Ping’er. I will follow shortly, with Shuxiao. We will distract those standing guard here so you can escape safely.”

My mother’s gaze bored into mine. “I won’t go without you.”

“Mother, if the Celestials capture you, you will be their hostage. I can’t do what I must if you’re in danger. And if we flee all at once, they will sense our absence and give chase. Shuxiao and I can evade the soldiers, but as for you and Ping’er—”

“I am weak, I know.” My mother looked away. “I wish I could help. If only I had magic like yours.”

Perhaps my mother’s power was a quieter magic, like Tao’s, or one she was unaware of. Regardless, there was a core of strength in her that I had not understood as a child; I had thought her frail and delicate then. However, when I had left my home the first time, I had been a muddle of terror, while her mind remained clear, her resolve unclouded. It was as Ping’er had said: She is stronger than you think.