The Immortal Words (The Grave Kingdom), стр. 87
Bingmei breathed fast and hard, wondering at the scene she’d witnessed. Gazing up at the bright sun, she thought she saw a shadow there still, but it was too bright to see. The phoenix landed beside her and transformed back into Rowen. He stood there, his cloudy eyes looking confused, but he walked deliberately toward her, even though she hadn’t made a sound.
“He’s dead?” Rowen asked, taking her hand.
Bingmei looked down at the frigid corpse. “He is dead,” she answered with a sigh. The smell of Echion was gone. Zhuyi panted, but her heart was grieving as she dropped to her knee by Mieshi. Both she and Marenqo had perished in the fight. Tears wet Zhuyi’s cheeks.
Bingmei touched her shoulder. “It’s not too late, Zhuyi. I can bring them back from the Grave Kingdom,” she said in comfort.
Even as she said it, she smelled the Qiangdao. Looking toward the edges of the Hall of Unity, she saw soldiers creeping around both sides of it, weapons in hand.
“I can see through the eyes of the birds,” Rowen said. “The Qiangdao are coming back this way.”
“Do we run?” Zhuyi asked, rising, gripping her bloodstained saber.
“No,” Bingmei answered. “This is our palace. I won’t flee it again.” She looked to Rowen, whose face was still turned toward the approaching enemies. His mouth was grim.
There was an army still to face.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Fusang Redeemed
“We don’t have much time,” Bingmei said, her stomach clenching with dread as she smelled the ranks of Qiangdao thickening as they returned. The first few came hesitantly, then others were emboldened and grouped together in bands of three or four, hefting weapons, muttering the first grunts of war chants. Why were they returning to fight when they lacked magic to protect them? She had thought they would flee out the gates.
Zhuyi looked down at the bodies of her friends. A spasm of grief struck her, the smell stinging Bingmei’s nose. If only they hadn’t fallen.
Rowen knelt by Marenqo. “Bingmei,” he said, holding out his hand.
She approached him and took his hand. “We don’t have ash and water,” she said. There was plenty of blood.
“We don’t need ash and water,” he answered. “Not if we combine our powers.” Then, bowing his head, he put his other hand on Marenqo’s chest. She felt power rippling from him, spreading from his hand. “Shui, Xue, Po.” He said the incantation calmly, deliberately, but it was more than just a revival of the dead, the magic was infused with healing and strength.
Marenqo’s chest swelled as he took in a fresh breath of air. Rowen’s shoulders sagged a little, his face going slack with weariness, and Bingmei’s hand tingled from the energy she’d given him. Then, still on his knees and still holding her hand, Rowen crawled to Mieshi’s body. He went directly to it, as if he could see her, even though his eyes were cloudy. He touched her chest, bowing his head again, and repeated the words of life.
As Mieshi took her first breath, Rowen slumped to the ground, exhausted. He had borrowed strength from her as well, and she felt her own knees tremble. Mieshi blinked her eyes and then promptly sat up. Her face wilted with emotion as she looked up at Bingmei and then at Rowen, who lay prostrate next to her.
“I was just in the Grave Kingdom,” Mieshi said, gazing at Bingmei and then Marenqo. “I was looking for you,” she said, her eyes on him. “I couldn’t find you.”
“I was looking for you as well,” he said.
“I found Kunmia,” Mieshi said. “She told me I was needed back in Tianxia. I took her words to mean the mortal world.” She rose and then reached for Marenqo’s hand, helping him stand as well. They both seemed full of strength and vitality.
“We are the defenders of Fusang,” Bingmei said, looking at them.
“They’re coming,” Zhuyi warned, hefting her saber, preparing for the onslaught.
“This is the palace of the phoenix,” Bingmei continued. “It always has been. It is ours, and we are its ensign.” She reached out her hand and traced two glyphs on Mieshi. Sudu for speed. Dan for protection. Then a third came into her mind. The glyph Yongqi—for valor and courage. She drew that one as well.
Next, she moved to Marenqo. Different words came to mind for him, ones that suited his needs and abilities. Weili, the glyph for power, might, and great force. Yili for determination. She finished with Dan for protection.
Zhuyi saw what she was doing and awaited her turn. Bingmei gave her speed, plus the glyph Hua for cunning. As with the others, she added Dan for protection. Zhuyi gave her a smile, her smell of determination growing stronger with the invocation of magic.
A cry of rage came from the assembling Qiangdao. They were armed with an assortment of weapons, gathering their courage to attack now that the dragons were gone. Bingmei and the others were hopelessly outnumbered, but her courage didn’t falter. Casting her eyes down at Rowen, she dropped onto one knee. In one hand she held the Phoenix Blade, and with the other she drew the glyph of healing and protection on his shoulder.
A collective roar of rage came from the host gathering in the courtyard. As a giant swarm, the Qiangdao rushed at Bingmei and the four members of her ensign.
“Courage,” Bingmei called out. “We defend our quonsuun.”
Marenqo picked up Echion’s fallen spear and handed the meiwood staff Bingmei had given him to Mieshi. “We are crazy.”
Bingmei smelled the determination of her companions, their ferocity and unwillingness to give ground. Mieshi and Zhuyi ran at their enemies, brandishing their weapons. Marenqo puffed out a grunt and joined the charge.
Pride filled Bingmei as she took to the air. Her ensign would keep fighting until they