“The council has appointed a temporary factor to oversee the clan’s interests. Usually in such matters a hierophant from one of the temples of Sapanasu is hired until the estate is settled or a child reaches legal age. In this case, as I happen to know. . .”

Mai pressed a hand to her collarbone as Eliar’s words blurred away into meaningless noise.

Chief Tuvi trotted back. “Mistress?” he asked.

Priya said, matter-of-factly, “Just the usual sick.”

Mai said, “Oh, no.”

She stumbled down off the pavilion and made it to a patch of bare earth before vomiting. The wet soil stained the fabric of her gown, and her hands came up dripping crumbs of earth. Yet even with the taste of vomit in her mouth, she felt better.

“Grandmother would say, ‘Now you have fertilized the garden, you must plant in it.’ ” She wiped her mouth with the back of a hand.

Eliar flushed as though he’d been burned. Tuvi laughed.

A door slammed shut with a sharp report. Footsteps raced on stone flooring.

Tuvi drew his sword, swearing under his breath. “Move behind me,” said the chief.

Mai had never forgotten the armed men who had burst into her private chamber in an inn in Sirniaka. She could still see their pragmatic expressions, men bent on killing with no feeling but of business that needed to be concluded. Not again! She ran over to the grizzled soldier, while Priya placed herself between Mai and the house.

Mai’s young uncle barged out into the garden. A pair of Qin soldiers followed, not hiding their grins.

“Shai!” cried Mai on a burst of expelled air. “You frightened me!”

“What’s this, Seren? Tam?” Tuvi’s glare jolted all three young men to a halt. “With all your clattering, I thought the Red Hounds had found this house.”

Shai said nothing, as usual.

Seren was first to speak. “This one”—he gestured to Shai—“was in a hurry. Sorry, Chief. Captain Anji is in the warehouse talking to Mountain.”

“His name is O’eki,” said Mai, more curtly than she intended, still panting from the scare.

“Shai calls him Mountain,” said Seren with a shrug.

“I’m going after Hari,” said Shai.

Now that Mai’s heart could slow down and with her stomach settling, she saw that Shai was holding his entire body as though ready to leap. “Uncle Hari? He’s dead.”

He hauled her out of earshot of the others. Tuvi grunted, but did not otherwise react.

Shai bent close, whispering in an urgent voice. “It’s my chance to prove myself, Mai. They’re letting me go on a scouting expedition into the north, with Tohon and some others.”

“How many of you?”

“Seven.”

Seven sent to scout the trail of a marauding army now in retreat! Already she imagined their violent deaths, just like in the tales, cut to ribbons and the pieces dropped into a dry ravine.

Shai was still talking. “Father Mei sent me to find Hari’s bones and return them to the family. Now I have a chance.”