Page 139 of A Forgery of Fate

Over breakfast, I recounted the truth behind my arrangement with Elang. I told them about his plan to overthrow the Dragon King, how we’d sought help from the merfolk, and confronted him at Jinsang Palace. Nomi and Fal listened intently, and Baba asked many questions. Mama, however, only showed interest in the Scroll of Oblivion.

“This is the vision I had last night,” I said, unrolling my sketch of Nazayun. “I’m going to copy it onto the Scroll. It should take me about a week if everything goes well.”

“If everything goes well,” Mama echoed, finally speaking. All this time, she’d been quiet, not interrupting even once with a question. In fact, she’d started trimming snap peas in the middle of my story. The sharp snips of her scissors made me nervous.

“The Dragon King doesn’t look like he’s about to be defeated,” she said of the vision I’d painted. “He looks like me when I’m about to win a game of tiles. Are you sure you’ve captured the right moment?” She didn’t wait for me to answer.“And the waters, they’re so dark. Are you going back to Ai’long?”

“No.” Baba traced the lines of the sea to a pier. “See there, that quay by the harbor, those fishing boats behind the fog. This is Gangsun.”

“So Nazayun will bring the darker waters here?” Falina asked.

“I don’t know,” I admitted.

“Seems like there’s still much you haven’t planned,” said Mama, setting aside the snap peas. “Truyan, dear, is the Scroll of Oblivion really inside that bracelet of yours? That must be magic, can I see?”

I was far too gullible when it came to my mother. I raised my wrist. “The Scroll’s in the center black threa—”

Mama grabbed me, clipping at the red string with her scissors.

“Ma!” I jerked away before she could cut it. “What are you doing?”

“Saving your life,” she snapped. “I knew this was all too good to be true! Give me the bracelet, Truyan. I’m ending your contract.”

“You can’t.” I pulled down my sleeve. Thank goodness for the strength of merfolk silk. “Going up against Nazayun is a choice I’ve made on my own.”

“As your mother, I forbid it. Humans don’t take revenge against gods, it never ends well for us. Oh, don’t make that face at me. Your husband is half dragon, he can take care of himself. If he dies, we’ll build an altar in his honor.” Mama’s voice fell to a grave whisper, and her shoulders folded in. “But ifyoudie…” She swallowed. “After all we endured with your father, Iwillnot go through that again. Icannot.”

I let go of my balled fists, and my shoulders fell.

“You wouldn’t have left Baba in Ai’long,” I reasoned. “You would have seized the first chance to save him, no matter the danger.”

“Your father is our family,” said Mama.

“And Elang is mine.”

She stared at me, drawing a sharp breath. “Nine Hells, Truyan. I told you to seduce the dragon. I didn’t tell you to fall in love with him.”

“It’s too late for that,” I replied quietly.

Baba turned to Mama. “A son-in-lawisfamily,” he reminded her. “Yesterday you said you liked the man.”

“Half man,” said Mama peevishly. “And I changed my mind. Why should Tru risk her life for him? It’s entirely possible that he’s bespelled her with a potion—”

“Mama.” I gave her a firm shake of my head.

“It’s inauspicious,” said Mama, who had to have the last word.

Baba took her hands. “Need I tell you a little tale, about two strangers who pretended to be married?”

“I don’t think the children need to hear this.”

“It was during a storm just like this, and they were next to one another, trying to board the last ship out of Jappor to Port Lumsan—in search of rumored gold along the coast. There was but one cabin left, and they were ready to throw punches at each other over it, until they came up with a better idea.”

Nomi’s eyes widened. “Is that how the two of you met?”

“And fell in love,” confirmed Baba.

“It was different back then,” Mama mumbled. “Besides,your father was an ordinary sailor. There was no dragon king set on obliterating him from this earth.”

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