Page 9 of Empire's Curse

“Did I say something funny?”

“No, no—” The man slapped the windowsill and shook his head, his body trembling from the laughs. “Not at all, but, but you think I want yourlife? Miss, mages aren’t like in the fairy tales. We don’t chase after youthful maidens to steal their lifeforce and turn them into shriveled hags. Think of me as an ordinary man.”

A blush crept up her face and ears. Well, how was she supposed to know that? She had never met a mage before, and she only had tales to go off on. “How about you tell me what you want from me? Since I clearly have no clue what anordinaryman like you would want.”

Once his laughter subsided, he leaned against the wall beside the window and crossed his lean arms over his chest. “What about a favor?”

“What kind of favor?”

“You help me when I need you to, and in exchange, I’ll warp you and your sister out of here.”

Making a deal with a mage was a stupid, stupid idea. But she had nothing else to grasp onto, so she bobbed her head. “All right,then. That seems simple enough, so long as your favor doesn’t entail me degrading myself in any way.”

Another chuckle. “Miss, I’m a perfectly behaved gentleman, I’ll have you know.”

“Yes, I can see that.”

“Then we have a deal.” He nodded. “When you’ve found your sister, come to this room and call out my name. I’ll warp you both out.”

“All right.”

“Good luck.”

Daiyu headed toward the doorway but then realized she didn’t know the man’s name. “What’s your?—”

But when she turned, the room was empty and the man had disappeared.

Daiyu walkeddown the hallways with her head low. She carried a basket of dirty linens she had found outside one of the rooms and pretended like she was a servant. Maidservants brushed past her without stopping or giving her another look, and the guards were the same. So long as she looked like she was busy, they ignored her. They didn’t seem to notice that her clothes were too plain, or that she stank of sweat and grime from her travels.

She peeked inside one of the sliding doors in the hallway, but it appeared to be an office. Another doorway led to a library, and another to an empty room. She hurried down to another corridor, sneaking around and taking a peek into the rooms she passed.

She needed to hurry.

Her luck would eventually run dry and somebody was bound to notice that she didn’t look like a servant.

Right when she touched the handle to the door closest to her, a voice boomed from behind.

“What are you doing?”

Daiyu jumped around to find a young man in his twenties scowling at her a few feet away. He was dressed in long, red robes with fitted black pants and boots to match. Chainmail armor covered his chest and a long sword was strapped to his waist. His dark eyes narrowed at her, and Daiyu swallowed the bile clawing up her throat.

Beside the man was a young woman dressed in bright yellow and pink. Gold, ornate, dragon-shaped hairpins adorned her hair, showing her wealthy status.

Daiyu smiled, trying to ease the panic from her face. “I’m new here,” she said, clutching the woven basket closer to her chest. “I’m a bit lost.”

“That’s my office.” He pointed at the door she had just been about to open.

“I’m sorry.” She lowered her head. “I meant no offense. I’m actually looking for the women for the royal selection. I’m supposed to gather their laundry.” She held up the basket for emphasis. “Perhaps either of you can point me in the right direction? I would very much appreciate it.”

The woman beside the man grinned. “The women for the royal selection are located upstairs in the Lotus wing. Would you like me to show you the way?”

“Jia.” The man turned to the woman with furrowed brows. “A servant can help her.”

“Nonsense! I’m not doing anything right now.”

“But—”

“Come! I’ll show the way!” Jia pointed to the end of the hallway and waved Daiyu forward. “Fang, I’ll be back in a bit. You’re probably just going to do some boring paperwork anyway, right?”

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