“I was born in the shadows Far East and raised myself, as the other immortals had not yet journeyed beyond the borders of the clan lands. I knew little else but loneliness and battle. Every day was a survival.” Eastwei paused and set his disapproving eyes on his listener.

  Dandruh yanked his hands away from the pen and paper he had been reaching for and sheepishly smiled at his guest. “Please continue.”

  Eastwei waited a moment before resuming his tale. “One day I happened upon a small cat in the wilderness. The creature was something I had never seen before nor since, a silver-haired feline with a crescent mark on her forehead. The creature took an instant liking to me and was the first companion I had ever known.”

  Dandruh scooted to the very front of his chair. “And?”

  “She remained with me until the day I was confronted by a giant snake while out hunting. I received a deep cut across my stomach during the fight and found myself immobile. The serpent would have eaten me if the cat had not intervened. The snake was vanquished in a blinding flash of soft light and I remember the cat pressing its warm body against me, and comforting me until the blood loss made me lose my senses.”

  Dandruh leaned forward with bated breath. “And then?”

  “The next I knew I had been carried to the Heavens by the king and told the snake’s blood had partially healed my wound.”

  “But what of the cat?” he persisted.

  Eastwei shook his head. “I do not know.”

  Dandruh’s mouth dropped open. “You do not know? Did you never look for the creature?”

  “I was ill for many months and by the time I could venture to my old home the cat was nowhere to be found.”

  Dandruh’s face fell. “I had hoped for a better ending to the tale. This is a poor trade-” A sharp look from Eastwei made him bolt up. “That is, I wish your story had had a better ending, but life cannot be so kind!” He furrowed his brow and rubbed his chin in one hand. “But a silver-haired cat. That sounds familiar to me.” His eyes widened and he snapped his fingers. “So that’s why you took such care of that cat! It reminded you of the one that comforted you all those years ago!”

  “Was my story satisfactory?” Eastwei asked him.

  The god bobbed his head. “Yes! Very much so! I will tell you anything you want to know about Wyrmir’s magic!”

  “He has erected a barrier around his lair. How can one enter it?”

  The god folded an arm across his chest and rubbed his chin in his other hand. “The brief memory I witnessed was of Lord Wyrmir venturing across the frozen northern plains. He was no doubt taking an inventory of all the immortals at the beginning. Well, he had his barrier around him but the chill sank into his bones and I saw him topple to the ground. His magic wall flickered and faded to nothing, though I believe I heard shouts in the distance. He must have been rescued by those he wished to interview.”

  “Then you believe extreme cold will weaken him?” Eastwei guessed.

  Dandruh crossed his arms over his chest and chuckled. “Lord Wyrmir brags that he can nullify all the magic elements, but yes, I believe ice is his weakness.”

  “Thank you.”

  Eastwei turned and strode to the entrance as Dandruh stood. The ancient fire god paused in the doorway and turned his head far enough that one eye looked at the god of tales. “I would have you not tell this story to others.” He narrowed his eye and it shone with a dark and fiery light. “Otherwise I cannot guarantee your safety.”

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  The color drained from Dandruh’s face and he quickly bobbed his head. “O-of course, Lord Eastwei! I will keep this secret with me forever!” Eastwei slipped out and Dandruh dared let out a breath of air. He looked forlornly at a nearby pen and paper and sighed.

  Yushir paced the tall grass and had already made a wide dent in the weeds when Eastwei came out. He hurried up to his friend who paused on the porch. “Well?”

  “He is weak to ice.”

  Yushir’s eyebrows shot up. “Is that all? We have a family of very competent ice users in this very realm. Lord Gao is perhaps not as powerful as he once was, but Lady Shian has great energy, or so I am told.”

  There was a grim expression on Eastwei’s face as he nodded and together the two set out for the palace of Lady Shian. Her ladyship was only too eager to welcome her exalted guests.

  She greeted them with open arms in the doorway to her luxurious palace. “Dadan! Your Highness! What a pleasure to see you! Please do come in!”

  “I fear we cannot stay, and you must come with us, Lady Shian,” Yushir told her.

  Shian cocked her head to one side and blinked at him. “Come with you? Where?”

  “To the wilds of the land realm and the domain of Lord Wyrmir,”

  Her mouth fell open but her eyes twinkled. “Surely this is some sort of jest? Why ever would anyone wish to visit that sour god?”

  “We have learned that Lady Roberts is alive and he is holding her captive in his fortress.”

  Her smile became strained and a brief glint of fear passed over her eyes. She lifted her chin and cleared her throat. “So this then is a rescue mission to save Lady Roberts?”

  “Yes.”

  “And you wish for my help in rescuing her?”

  “Very much so. Your ice magic would be an invaluable asset to us.”

  Shian clutched her hands so tightly in front of her that the knuckles turned white. “I see. Would you excuse us for a moment, Prince Yushir? I wish to speak with Lord Eastwei alone.”

  Yushir sighed but bowed his head. “I shall meet you at my usual spot. Outside.” He reluctantly slipped away.

  Shian stepped to one side and swept her arm toward the interior of the house. “Would you please come inside?”

  “I would rather we spoke out here and quickly,” Eastwei countered.

  Shian sauntered off the porch and stood in front of Eastwei. She brushed her fingers over his chest as he stood impassively watching her.

  “We both know you came to me because you know my father no longer holds the magic he once did,” Shian pointed out as she pressed her palm against his chest. A triumphant smile lay on her lips and her coy eyes met his impassive gaze. “And my mother does not align with ice. You need me and me alone to help you in this task.”

  “Then you will lend your magic?” he questioned her.

  Shian’s smile faltered but she recovered quickly. She pressed her front against his chest and rubbed the front of his robes. An excited shudder ran through her when she felt the heavy muscles beneath the lcothing. Her icy warmth tried to chill the cold in his eyes that she could plainly see. She dropped her gaze to the front of his robes and picked at the overlapping halves. “Why do you do this to yourself, Dadan? Why do you suffer for this woman who was not one of us a mere six months ago?”

  “Will you help me?”

  The tone in his voice made her shudder. Her hands trembled so she grasped his robes to steady them. A faint tremor slipped into her words. “Am I so invisible to you, Dadan, that you would toss me aside for this fake goddess?” She lifted her tear-filled eyes to his stoic face and searched for hope. “Why do you not forget this woman? She is nothing compared to the love we might have if you would but see it!”

  He lifted his chin ever so slightly. The slight motion was devastating to her. If he had slapped her, the attack wouldn’t have been as hard as that minor betrayal.

  She stumbled back and pressed her arms against her chest. Tears slid down her cheeks and her bottom lip trembled. A sob mixed with fury escaped her and she stomped a foot on the floor. “How could you? You hardly know her! Why is she so important to you that you would push me aside?”

  His impassive gaze met her teary eyes. “Will you lend your magic to this task?”

  She pursed her lips and turned her head away. “I will not.”

  Eastwei turned and strode toward the archway. Shian whipped her head around and her eyes widened. “Dadan! Dadan, come back! Forget her! Love me!”

  Her cries fell on shut ears and he disappeared through the arch without a word.