A last family dinner, of sorts—before Reiji had to leave. “Yes, Father.”
A smile played on his lips. “I’m surprised you haven’t asked about him. He’s been waiting to see you, perhaps even more keenly than I.”
Takkan? I held my breath. “I thought he would have gone home. I didn’t think he’d still be here—”
“Lord Bushian returned to Iro some months ago,” said Father.
My spirits sank. “I see.”
The emperor’s smile widened just a touch. “But…his son has remained.”
Now my eyes flew up. All at once, my world was floating, and it was a struggle to try and sound calm. “Where is he?”
“He wasn’t invited to the ceremony. At this time of the day, I’d imagine he’s sitting in on a council meeting. He’s taken quite an interest in—”
That was all I needed to know. “Thank you, Father!” I exclaimed. “I will see you soon.”
I was already running.
Only for Takkan would I venture into the Hornet’s Nest, my unaffectionate nickname for where Father’s council met. But I was well rewarded for my trouble.
There he was, sitting in the front row of the assembly, his spine as straight as the stack of books before him. At the sight of him, I let out a chuckle. Of all the places to go on this glorious summer afternoon, Takkan would be inside, listening in on a tedious council meeting. Any other young man his age would be out strutting about Gindara or currying favor with other nobles through games of cards.
Not Takkan. By now he had probably read every scroll in the archives. And knew all the ministers by name, and their children too.
Chief Minister Hawar was droning on and on, and Takkan was actually paying attention. He didn’t see Kiki and me peeking at him through the latticed window.
My heart gave a nervous flutter. “Looks like he hasn’t heard I’m back.”
What? said Kiki. Are you worried he’s forgotten you? If she could’ve rolled her inky eyes, she would’ve. It’s been six months, not six decades. Hurry up and go in before you ruin the surprise. I want Radish Boy to fall off his chair when he sees you.
That made me grin. Before I lost my nerve, I barged past the guards and into the Hornet’s Nest.
It ought to have impressed me how spryly the old ministers sprang to their feet, but I couldn’t have cared less. I barely heard their cries of “Shiori’anma, you’ve returned!” and “Shiori’anma, what is the meaning of this intrusion?”
I had eyes only for Takkan. Kiki was right: at the sight of me, he nearly toppled off his rosewood stool. He rushed to stand and join the ministers in a uniform bow.
“Not you,” I said, pulling him up by the arm.
I regarded my father’s officials, overlooking their furrowed brows and fallen jaws. “I’m borrowing Bushi’an Takkan for the rest of the afternoon,” I declared. “Carry on without him.”
Only the chief minister dared to show his disapproval. I felt a stab of annoyance as he turned up his mushroom nose and clucked at me.
I grabbed Takkan by the hand, towing him out of the chamber. “Run!” I whispered once we were out the door.
We sprinted through the imperial gardens. Dragonflies buzzed, kitebirds sang, and the overpowering perfume of lilies and chrysanthemums flooded my nostrils. But I didn’t slow until we were far from prying eyes.
After we passed the first footbridge, Takkan asked, rightfully, “Why are we running?”
“Because we can,” I replied between breaths. “Because I’ve been a thousand fathoms beneath the sea for the past week. Because my father told me to act as though nothing has happened, and this is the first thing the old Shiori would have done.”
“I see,” he replied. Then he winked. “Race you!”
Ahead he sped, and I ran too, shouting after him, “You don’t even know where we’re going!”
“I have an idea.”
He didn’t stop, and curse him, he was going in the right direction.
Fast as he was, he’d had only six months to explore the palace’s vast gardens. I’d had seventeen years. I diverged from the pebbled paths, dashing through the bushes across a plot of flat limestone rocks, and past the reflection gallery. Thanks to my shortcut, I arrived at the Cloud Pavilion—a hidden retreat nestled between two begonia trees—seconds before Takkan.
I twisted my lips, relishing the stunned look on his face when he realized I’d beaten him. He bowed, partly to acknowledge my victory and partly to lean forward and catch his breath.
“All that dallying with the ministers has you out of shape, young Lord Bushi’an,” I teased. “What happened to the runs you went on every morning in Iro?”
A smile spread across Takkan’s face, and I knew I wasn’t imagining the mist that suddenly touched his eyes. “I’m only out of breath from seeing you again, Shiori.”
Shiori. The way he said my name hadn’t changed, like the first notes to a song he loved to sing. Suddenly I was glad I’d bathed and changed.
A blush crept up my cheeks. “The ministers surely didn’t teach you to talk like that,” I said hastily. “You sound like you’re quoting one of those silly love poems my tutors used to make me read. You should know they always made me laugh. No one’s that romantic.”
Takkan was still smiling. “Then laugh,” he said in all seriousness. “I’ve missed the sound of you.”
I’ve missed the sound of you. Only Takkan could make something so ridiculous seem like a fact. I could barely summon a breath, let alone a laugh, and before I could stop, I threw myself into his arms and said, “I’ve missed all of you.”
He held me close, and I let the beat of his heart wash away the noise of summer. Even in this secluded veranda, the cicadas trilled stridently, and Kiki, who had long since flitted off, was exchanging throaty calls with the other birds. There was nowhere in the world I would rather be.
“How’d you even know about this place?”
“Hasho said you used to run off here when you skipped your lessons.”
I made a face. “Traitor.”
Takkan laughed. “He said it was your favorite pavilion. It’s become mine too.”
Maybe not so much a traitor, my youngest brother. I liked the thought of Takkan spending his mornings here, reading under the trees or painting or just thinking…about me.
“When did you get back?” he asked.
“Dawn. But I’ve only been in the palace a few hours. Word didn’t spread to the Hornet’s Nest?”
Takkan raised an eyebrow at the name, but he didn’t question it. “We’ve been in meetings all day.”