The White Mirror Read Online Free

violent. Your company are all safe?”
    Kalden cleared his throat. “We found a body there.”
    â€œA body.” Doso stooped and cocked his head a little to the side as if he had not heard correctly.
    â€œA man is dead there on the bridge,” said Kalden. “A monk.”
    Doso’s demeanor changed instantly. His affable mien vanished, and a hand shot forward to grip Kalden’s sleeve. “What monk? A young man?”
    â€œNo—he is not young.” For the second time, Kalden gave an account of what they had seen. He acquitted himself well, and Li Du observed with some relief Doso’s apparent willingness to believe what Kalden was telling him.
    When Kalden finished, Doso looked out at the gusting snow. It was difficult to see across any distance, but there was still light. “You left him there?”
    â€œWe did not want to interfere.”
    Doso nodded his approval. “It is the province of a monk to help a dead man.”
    A silence fell between them. Doso appeared to be gathering his thoughts. When he addressed Kalden again, his voice was stern. “You and I will go together to the bridge,” he said. “And I will give you fair warning. We know the tricks of thieves on our roads. If this is treachery, the men of the village will not spare you. We know the paths through this valley even when the snow covers them. You do not.”
    Kalden held Doso’s stare. “We are not thieves,” he said. “You have met our ambassador.” He looked at Li Du. “And here is a librarian from the court of the Chinese Emperor himself. Show him the letter.”
    Grateful for the warmth of the barn that had thawed his numb fingers, Li Du deftly lifted an oiled leather flap on one of his mule’s saddlebags and drew from the pocket beneath it a document wrapped in silk. He handed it to Doso, who unrolled it. Li Du could see the fiery red ink and the great seal of the Emperor through the back of the paper.
    Doso returned the document and bowed to Li Du. “I am honored to host a guest of such high nobility and reputation,” he said. His voice was distracted, but he seemed determined to be solicitous despite the circumstances. He switched from Kalden’s language to slow, formal Chinese. “Tell me what you require, and I will provide it.”
    Li Du returned the bow. “The warmth of your home has already brought me comfort. And my mule will be grateful for the shelter tonight.”
    Doso looked faintly surprised by this humble response. “My home is your home,” he said. “There is a room prepared for you. When you have unburdened your animal, my wife will attend you in the kitchen.” He gestured toward an open staircase that led from the barn up through a cutout in the ceiling to the second story. Li Du heard light, pattering footsteps—children’s footsteps—above.
    Doso glanced up at the ceiling. “I will speak with her.”
    He climbed the staircase. Li Du and Kalden heard something drop with a clang on the floor, followed by a muffled conversation. They exchanged glances. “This is not so bad,” whispered Kalden, with obvious relief. “It could have gone much worse for us.”
    Li Du agreed. “Be careful on your return to the bridge,” he added. “We do not know what happened there.”
    Kalden looked at him. “The monk held the knife’s hilt as if he had thrust it into himself—I have heard of it being done that way before.” Kalden lifted his eyes to trace the faint outlines of buildings through the snow as if he was searching for something. He shifted his shoulders uncomfortably. “We must hope that the storm is brief,” he said.
    They heard footsteps on the stairs, and looked up to see Doso descending. He went to the back wall of the barn, against which an assortment of gleaming weapons was arranged. He selected a sheathed sword and fixed it to the