Page 16 of A Forgery of Fate

“Tomorrow night.” Mama’s voice cracked. “They have guards watching the house to make sure we don’t run.”

Of course they did. I glanced out the window, but therewere dozens of people milling about. I’d never be able to pinpoint the spy.

In my head, I let out a string of curses. Aloud, I was already plotting. “I made two thousand. I spent fifty already, but I can borrow more if I need to—”

“It won’t be enough.”

Mama was clenching the bowl of rice, her knuckles pale against the filter of sunset.

I frowned. “How much do you need?”

When she told me the sum, my eyes rounded in disbelief.

Mama hung her head. She didn’t bother to explain. “I’m sorry, Tru.”

What hurt most about her apology was that I knew she meant it. I knew she’d gladly go to prison if it would pay off her debts. But that wasn’t an option. Not with Madam Yargui.

“I’ll get the money,” I said grimly.

I left Mama with the groceries, my mind numb as I climbed out the back window. I slipped out into the alley, where a narrow trail ran along the canals, and where the fishmongers tossed the innards and bones. The smell here was unbearable, which meant it was always empty.

Well, mostly.

I said into the shadows, “You heard everything.”

Slipping out from behind a boat, Falina hopped over the canal to join my side. “Eavesdropping is a family tradition.”

So it was, back when Mama read fortunes and we three girls listened in behind the kitchen and made secret commentary about her clients. What I’d have given for those days again.

“I’ve got two hundred, Tru,” said Fal. “Two hundred and nine, if you include my coppers. It’s not much, but…”

The courage in my sister’s voice nearly broke me. “All these weeks we’ve been eating cabbage dumplings, and you’ve been hoarding two hundred jens?”

It was a weak attempt at a joke, but it got Fal to smile. A little. “I still want silk slippers.”

“With those ridiculous upturned toe caps?” I laughed quietly. “You’re the vainest girl I’ve ever met.”

“Joy on the feet rises to the heart. Happiness is expensive.”

It was a rare moment that Fal and I didn’t fight. Even rarer that I had the urge to hug her. I wrapped my arm around her, drawing her close. Here we were, our family on the verge of catastrophe, and we were joking about embroidered slippers. That was how you knew our situation was truly hopeless.

“I forgot to tell you,” I said, breaking the silence, “your dress is inside the house. The hem got dirty, but it isn’t toobad.”

“Oh, damn the stupid dress.” Falina looked up at me. “You won’t let them take me, will you?”

Her jaw trembled, the only betrayal of her fear.

“Pack, just in case,” I said. “If you don’t hear from me by noon, take this alley into the fish market. Bribe whoever you have to. Get out of Gangsun.”

Falina pressed her lips tight. “I don’t want to leave.”

“Would you rather Madam Yargui take you?”

“I could cut my hair. Scar my face.”

“Then Madam Yargui would take Nomi too. Not just you. Don’t say such things without thinking them through.”

Fal knew I was right. Her arms fell to her sides, defeated.

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