Page 42 of A Forgery of Fate

“That phoenix demon in your ring,” supplied Nomi. “Shani.”

I recognized the name from my first encounter with Elang in the garden. Sothatwas Shanizhun.

I rubbed the opal with my thumb. “Shani!”

In a gush of wind and mist, two watery wings spun out of my ring and took upon the shape of a familiar, unsmiling phoenix. “There’s no need to shout,” she grumbled. “I can hear you.”

Like a real bird, she hovered in the air, wings tucked to her sides. But unlike a real bird, she was made entirely of water and was transparent except for the edges of her form, which shimmered like ice.

“Elang said he’d send someone to answer my questions,” I said. “I take that to be you?”

“All the other servants have been dismissed,” replied Shani tartly. “And all the other servants happen to have guppybrains, so yes. That’s me.” She turned to Nomi, her feathers rippling as she spoke: “You ought to know, there’s no such thing as a phoenix demon.”

“But you’re a phoenix,” Nomi pointed out.

“I only look like one because it’s what your sister asked for. I can be anything I want.” To demonstrate, Shani took on Nomi’s shape, except again, she was transparent—and her eyes were red.

“Are you a river spirit, then?” said Nomi, who enjoyed guessing games. “I’ve read they like sleeping in stones.”

“A river spirit?” Shani huffed. “You were closer before. I sleep in the opal because it’s brittle and cold. The perfect home for a water demon.”

“A water demon,” echoed Nomi. “I’ve never heard of that before.”

“That’s because I’m the only one,” Shani said crisply. She shifted into a shapeless haze, her eyes stabbing out like two red thorns. “I don’t have all night. What questions do you have about my lord?”

A dozen queries sprang on my tongue. I started with the first: “Elang gave me the ring knowing you were inside. What do you do for him?”

“What demons do best,” Shani replied with a purr. “I brew chaos, I pry out secrets, and I spread sweet, sweet catastrophe.” Then she sniffed, slinking back toward the wall. “And sometimes, when I’m forced to waste my talent, I look after hapless young humans such as yourself.”

“He asked you to look after me?” I said. “I don’t need a bodyguard.”

“Says the girl who was nearly killed by ruffians this afternoon,” replied Shani. “You’re lucky Elang’anmi sent me tofollow you. Otherwise you’d be a pile of ash and bone by now—and I’d have to find him another true love.”

I knew sarcasm when I heard it. Unfortunately, Mama didnot.

She leaned forward, eyes bright. “Is the dragon prince really in love with my daughter?”

“He hasn’t complained about her stench the way he does with every other human,” said Shani, flashing her icicle-sharp teeth in a smile. “I’d call that love.”

“Why can’t she just pretend to be married,” said Fal, “and not actually go through the ceremony?”

“Because the Dragon King’s patrols would sense that your sister was a trespasser,” the demon replied. “They’d seize her and bring her to the palace, where she’d be executed in the most excruciating way possible.”

Nomi couldn’t hide her morbid fascination. “What do you mean, excruciating?”

With a whoosh, Shani adopted the form of a human boy. She looked keen to tell the story: “Years ago there was a trespasser who had a fear of frogs. When Nazayun found out, he cursed him so whenever he made a sound, a frog jumped out of his mouth.” Shani demonstrated, spitting out a toad. “Eventually, a big one ripped out of his throat and broke him apart. Quite a messy death. One of my favorites.”

She pivoted back to her shapeless haze and floated atop a divan. “What would be most excruciating for the tuna-haired thief, I do wonder. I’m sure the Dragon King will have something special planned for his favorite grandson’s wife.”

“You’re not doing a very good job of selling your lord’s proposal,” I said thinly.

“Demons aren’t merchants,” replied Shani. “We don’tflatter and lie when there are more delicious ways to get what we want.” She made a smacking sound. “My instruction was only to answer your questions, not win you over.”

“How considerate,” I muttered. “Then tell me this: Why does Elang need to take a bride in order to return home? Why must he fall in love?”

“Because he can’t.”

“Can’t what?”

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