Page 31 of The Cinders

‘A tender fish, succulent and complimented by this sauce.A rival to the best I’ve had in Manhao, I must confess.’Official Park devoured the rest of his small portion.‘There is a sweetness here in the carp that is unusual.What do you feed your stock, marquess?For it does it much justice.’

Marquess Tian looked to his wife, his eyes more glazed than at the start of the meal.‘I must confess I did not know we raised any carp for eating, on account of my lady not taking to them well.Did you have these bought at the market?’

Xian dug his fingers into his thighs, his ears ringing, his eyes beginning to burn.The captain was served a sliver, and he sucked it between his teeth, like an oyster being taken from a shell.

‘Manhao might need to take your cook with us, as well as your prince,’ he said, licking his stout fingers.

‘I think it likely is the fish, and not the cook, that can be credited.’Lady Tian danced her silver chopsticks around a piece of crispy brown pork on her plate.

Xian could hear his own heartbeat; it thumped so hard.He could not take his eyes from the half-gutted fish, its eye shrunken and shrivelled from the braising.He sat silently, barely able to breathe.

‘Then tell us what merchant deals in such delicacy and we shall see if they have any dried,’ the usually silent secretary said, a piece of flesh between the tips of his chopsticks.‘For our journey tomorrow.’

He bit at the darkened flakes of carp, dragging his teeth along the chopsticks, closing his eyes as he enjoyed the pleasure.

‘Oh, I’m afraid there was only one.’The Lady Tian’s laughter was coquettish.‘You should chew slowly, for there are no more like this carp.And it is his highness we have to thank, for such a succulent fish.’She looked to him, and Xian’s heart tried to break itself against his ribs; the roaring in his ears was near to deafening.

‘No,’ he whispered, though he doubted the word made it past the great knot in his throat.

‘How so?’Official Park asked.‘Do we have more delights to expect from the prince than his talent for dance?’

Lady Tian bit into a chestnut, casting a sidelong glance to where Xian sat rigid and sickened.‘Prince Xian tended this carp very well.Too well, some would say.But I suppose his attention was worthwhile for it fairly melted upon the tongue, did it not?’

Xian heard her cruel words from a great, unfocused distance.He was fragile as paper lanterns caught in summer rains.

‘Why?’Hot bile seared the back of his throat.

The lady gave him the most vapid of smiles and placed a hand on his arm, leaning in.‘You shall not be here to indulge her whims, dear brother.She would have died long before you returned, with her pond neglected.This was a mercy, would you not say?’

Xian shook so hard his veil trembled, and he felt certain his fingernails would pierce fabric where they dug at his thighs.

Lady Tian moved away, and the conversation carried on.The carp lay with her bones showing, all her meat picked clean.

Xian’s breath came in shuddered gasps.The consuming wave of panic threatened him yet again.

The entire room seemed to resonate with laughter; foul, coarse sounds that beat at Xian as surely as fists.

He grabbed the edge of the table and pushed back his chair, rising to his feet; desperate to leave, to get away from the sunken stare of lifeless eyes.He’d known.The moment the cover was lifted from the platter.He knew too well the shape of Mercy’s lips, the curve of her head, and the glorious sweep of her tail.

He knew his friend.

Xian’s legs seemed barely attached to his body; he could hardly recall how to make them work.All he could picture was Mercy in her pond, and the lady and her attendant leaning over her, as Xian walked away and left her to her fate.

He’d always known Yu Ming held no love for him, but this…this was a cruelty beyond his comprehension.

He whimpered, and his vision blurred with stinging tears.

‘Sit down, you fool.’Marchioness Shen hissed.

Lady Tian elbowed him.‘You embarrass yourself, do not put on your performances here.’

A looming figure came to stand beside him.

‘Allow me to assist you, your highness.’Captain Duan was there, gripping him too tight.‘It seems all this excitement, the journey ahead, has left you looking rather pale.’He sought permission from the marquess to take their leave.

‘Go, go.’Marquess Tian waved them off, too deep in conversation with Official Park about incoming shipments of red wine from Italia.

But the marchioness rose from her chair.‘Captain, do not let us take you from the meal.I shall see to his highness’s well-being.’