Chapter 4: Roof Tiles

The roof over the east gatehouse was steep, mossy and cold.

Linxia went up first, hauled Zhaoxue after her by one wrist.

Set her down in the angle of two slopes where no one in the courtyard could see.

It was the second night after Linxia arrived, and the sky was full of stars.

Below them, the east gate stood shut, with its thick black bar across it and a single lantern hanging above.

Two disciples walked the wall, bored, yawning, four hundred paces away.

Linxia took off her black outer robe and dropped it over Zhaoxue's shoulders without asking.

It smelled of horse, of pine smoke and faintly of salt.

"I'm not cold," Zhaoxue said.

"Your teeth are knocking together."

"That's the stars."

"That's your teeth."

She sat down close enough that their shoulders touched, and neither of them moved away.

For a while they watched the gate.

A fox crossed the courtyard.

An owl called from the pines, and somewhere a door creaked.

"My father didn't send me to scout," Linxia said at last. "I know what your list thinks I am."

"What did he send you to do?"

"Ask for peace."

Zhaoxue turned her head.

"He's tired," Linxia said.

"He's fifty-four, he has a bad knee, and he's been sending angry letters about a spring for ten years.

"Last winter he said he wanted to give the ford toll back, visit your father and drink eleven jars of plum wine."

"You're telling me he wants to end the feud."