Chang-li and Joshi recrossed the dam and set off northward, leaving Dragon's Tooth quickly behind them. A half hour out, Chang-li slid his bag off his shoulders and lowered it to the ground.

"What are you doing?" Joshi asked. "Surely we don't need the map yet."

"I think it's time we find out what it is Noren gave me," Chang-li said. "We aren't being followed by anyone from the town, are we?"

"No," Joshi snorted. "You think they had the guts to try? But I've been watching our backtrail. We're not being followed."

"Good." Chang-li dug in his pack until he found the small black square case Noren had given him when they set out from Varden City four days ago. The case's black leather was smooth and warm under his hands, and faintly electric. His fingers prickled as he touched it. He'd noticed that effect before, but it was more intense now. He hoped the cycling Noren had told him to use on the tower case was effective.

"I have no idea what's going to happen when I open this," he warned Joshi, who stood back a little ways, Magen circling him and making excited chirping noises. Chang-li's hands found the catch and released it.

The box lid sprang open, and a cloud emerged from inside, rushing upward into his face with a smell like the first rain and a cold breeze buffeting him. Chang-li took a step backward. "Oof," he said, as the cloud expanded.

It was a dark gray mass, about four feet on a side and a foot thick, lumpy and misshapen, dark with streaks of light shooting through it, appearing then vanishing again. Joshi studied it. "Our own personal thundercloud," he said. "How useful."

But Chang-li was already channeling lux into the construct. "This is a flying cloud!"

"Most of the clouds I've seen in my life have been flying," Joshi pointed out.

"I mean we can fly on it. I've never heard of one that looked like a thunderstorm, though. The stories always speak of them as fluffy white."

"Ride on that?" Joshi said flatly.

Chang-li nodded. "Sure. All the stories of great cultivators I read as a child talked about this sort of thing."

"Ride on that," Joshi repeated. He shook his head. "No. Not happening."

Chang-li blinked. It wasn't like Joshi to be afraid of something new. "You'd rather walk all the way to the Darshen Mountains?"

"Absolutely," Joshi said promptly. "Or better yet, we go back to Dragon's Tooth, trade this stupid cloud for a couple of horses, and get there the safe way."

"Horses?" Chang-li shook his head. "That's not happening. I've never ridden a horse in my life, and I don't intend to start now."

"But you will ride this thundercloud." Joshi kicked at it. The cloud parted, and his booted foot went through. "Ow!" The cloud had zapped him with one of its miniature lightning bolts.

Chang-li approached carefully, still channeling his lux. The cloud didn't look that substantial, but why else had Noren given it to him? Unless this was a colossal joke their supposed master was playing on him, which he wasn't going to rule out. Chang-li took a deep breath. He stepped forward and into the cloud. It parted around him and formed up. He tensed, but none of the lightning bolts zapped him.

Joshi burst out laughing. "You look like you're wearing it as the world's most embarrassing loincloth."

"I'm just trying to figure out how to get on top of it," Chang-li said. He pushed down on the surface with his hands. It gave a little under his palms but resisted enough that he was able to set his weight on them. Then he pulled first one leg, then the other, through the cloud. The substance parted to let him pass through. Once he was on top, it firmed up and held him fast.

"There!" He patted the cloud surface beside him. "Plenty of room, hop on."

"How are you going to steer it?"

In answer, Chang-li channeled lux. He instinctively could feel what the cloud wanted. It lurched forward a few feet. Chang-li stopped his pattern, and the cloud stopped too. He experimented a bit more, raising the cloud five feet in the air, then lowering it back to ground level.

Joshi watched him intently. Finally, he sighed. "Fine. But when we go and meet my brothers, not a word to them about this."

"Wouldn't think of it," Chang-li promised. It used a small amount of lux, but far less than he would have expected. The pattern he cycled was circular, so he was able to collect back most of what he used. They kept it a couple of feet above the ground.

Chang-li experimented and found he could get it to raise as much as ten feet in the air, but he didn't like that and decided to use it only for emergencies. The cloud would get hung up on bushes or trees if he let it, so he had to pay attention to his steering.

The ride was smooth, the cloud skimming along across the ground far faster than Chang-li had ever traveled, steady as a palanquin carried by trained bearers. Joshi muttered a few times about unnatural means of convenyance, but eventually subsided. Chang-li enjoyed watching the land scroll away beneath them. They went cross-country, following the compass's headings and their own best guess at the map.

The land here was wild, devoid of dwellings. They skirted great stretches of forest and raced along wild meadows, startling a herd of antelope around noon. The leggy creatures bounded away in all directions as the cloud raced through their grazing land. After that they had to swing to the south to avoid a thick stand of pine trees stretching some miles, then back to their course. Chang-li scanned the horizon for any sign of the Darshen Mountains without success.

Nevertheless, by evening, they had covered a great deal of ground.

As they got off the cloud and began making camp, Chang-li consulted his map. "I think we've come thirty miles," he announced.

Joshi grunted. "I think it's more like twenty-eight."

"Oh?" Chang-li asked.

"Yes, we had the big loop there around midday. It'll have taken some distance off our final tally. I'd say we're," he pointed on the map, "about there."

Chang-li made a note and folded the map back up. At this rate, they'd reach the mountains in another two days.

He and Joshi lit a fire and roasted some of their provisions, then lay back and watched the stars come out. Chang-li was nervous at first, but Joshi didn't seem to care. The last remnants of sunset faded, and the stars began to come out.

Joshi lay back and stared, and Chang-li stared up too. He had not studied as an astrologer, so he didn't know the names of most of the stars. One philosophy book he'd read had said that stars were distant suns, warming planets like his. Perhaps one of those was where cultivators went when they ascended. Maybe he'd have a chance to see the light of another star up close someday.

He drifted off peacefully and woke in the morning, annoyed to find tree roots stabbing into his back. Joshi was already up, packing the remnants of their camp away.

"I thought you'd be asleep for ages," Joshi said. "Come on, let's go."

By the middle of the third day, the Darshen Mountains were rising up to their left. The peaks were capped with snow. Joshi and Chang-li stopped several times to consult the map on various landmarks.

"You will have to remember, we don't know how old that map is," Joshi said. "Some of those landmarks could be dated."

"Yes, but I've referenced it against a modern map," Chang-li said. "Look here," he pointed, and Joshi considered.

"Right. So, what do we do if we find the place has been looted already?"

Chang-li blinked. He hadn't considered that. "Um... I don't know. I guess we hope it hasn't been."

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"Hmm. What sort of guardians might we expect?"

"Master Noren didn't bother to mention anything."

"Master Noren would probably find it amusing for us to have our faces eaten by a vengeful ghost," Joshi said as they flew on.

As night fell, the wilds gave way to cultivated rice fields and pastures where water buffalo and pigs grazed. In the distance, Chang-li spotted plumes of smoke rising skyward.

"Must be a farm village up ahead. Shall we see if we can buy a hot meal and a seat by the fire tonight?"

Joshi agreed. They descended, and Chang-li recalled the cloud to its storage box. If the locals hadn't seen them already, there was no reason to give them anything to gossip about. Chang-li's stomach rumbled at the thought of a hot meal. They walked along the footpath between fields, heading for the smoke.

"Something feels off here," Joshi noted.

"How do you mean?"

"The lux. Doesn't it feel rather denser than you'd expect?"

Chang-li cycled, bringing in lux. It wasn't exactly what he would call thick. More like a thin soup than the rich, chewy treacle that he expected from a tower, but Joshi was right; it was certainly above background level.

"There's no towers anywhere near here," he said, having memorized the map of the area. "It could be a naturally occurring phenomenon. That would explain how there's a village here. After all, land too far from a tower wouldn't have enough lux to sustain its people."

Joshi said nothing, but his frown deepened.

The village, when they reached it, was as Chang-li had expected: a cluster of small one-and-two-room huts thatched with hay. Their mud-brick walls were painted white and in good repair. Children ran about in the village square, playing with a dog, while a few elders talked or chopped wood. As Chang-li and Joshi approached, someone gave a shout and pointed. At once, the village sprang to life. The children were shooed indoors, the women following them. The adult men stopped what they were doing and approached the road, still holding their tools.

"Does it look like they're expecting trouble to you?" Chang-li muttered.

"Hmm," Joshi said. "In a place this remote, any strangers could mean danger, but they do seem tense."

"Let me do the talking," Chang-li said, "and try not to scowl so much."

Joshi looked at him with a darkening expression. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing," Chang-li said hastily. "Never mind." He strode out in front, his robes flapping in the breeze.

A strong-looking man in his forties approached them, clutching a hoe in his hand—not threateningly, more like a drowning man would clutch a thread.

"What can we do for you, young masters?" he asked, looking them over.

"We were hoping for a hot meal and a place to stay tonight," Chang-li said. "We can pay for our keep."

The men looked at each other, some unspoken communication passing between them. Then the spokesman shook his head. "I'm afraid it would be best if you passed along. Our village has nothing to offer guests as esteemed as you."

"We're not asking you to slaughter the fattest lamb," Joshi said. "Just hot rice and a bowl of soup would be sufficient, and a place to sleep out of the wind, perhaps in a stable."

Chang-li was puzzled. He didn't mind camping another night; they had plenty of supplies, but this attitude surprised him.

"No, no, it would be best if you just—"

Then another villager came puffing in from the opposite direction, out of breath from running. She was a younger woman in her mid-twenties with a swelling belly showing her well along in pregnancy. A strand of hair fell from her tight braid into her face.

"Why don't you be truthful with them and ask for their help?" she shouted. "These are clearly young masters of a sect. They could aid us."

"Silence, Poai!" the man cried. "You'll only get us in worse trouble."

"Worse than what?" the woman demanded. "Than having my husband murdered? Too late for that."

"Then think of your child," the man said.

Now Chang-li's curiosity was piqued. He stepped forward, holding up his hands. "Please, we were just passing through, but if there's something we could do to help… Is your village threatened by wild beasts, perhaps?" He trailed off, since that didn't really fit with what they were saying.

"No, young master, there's certainly nothing you could—"

"Yes," the woman said. She turned, putting her hands on her hips. "If they're too cowardly to tell you, I will. My husband already paid the price. It's the Yellow Mask bandits. They moved into the area three years ago, and they have all of the villages in this valley and the two to the north under their thumbs, completely terrorized. They send their men here for food and drink and women." The last word came out in a defiant burst. "Two of my sisters have been taken, and when they came for me, my husband fought back. He was killed six months ago. And we're expecting another visit from them any time."

"So don't make a stir," the man called. "You are a fool, woman."

"Better fool than coward, Dai Ahn!" Poai cried. She seemed to be shaking with anger. Chang-li's heart went out to her.

"Where are these bandits?" he asked.

"They have a hideout up in the mountains," Poai said. "Some of us have been there, bringing them supplies and plunder. They could tell you if they wanted."

The man she had addressed as Dai Ahn spoke. "Poai, we don't dare bring down their wrath. What can two men do against an entire army of bandits, even if they wanted to help?"

"These are young masters belonging to a sect. You can tell by their clothes," Poai said. "That means they're imperial cultivators sworn to help the unfortunate. Of course they'll help us."

Joshi cleared his throat. "As a matter of fact, our licenses don't say anything of that sort."

Poai fixed him with a withering glare. "Then you don't want to help us?"

"We never said that," Chang-li said hurriedly, as a thought occurred to him. "A hideout in the mountains, you say?"

Dai Ahn cleared his throat and spoke reluctantly. "Yes, it's an old fortress of some sort. Our people have known about it for centuries, but it's haunted, and our ancestral shades tell us not to disturb those who slumber there."

"The bandits didn't care. They moved in and made it their headquarters," Poai spat. "If there are shades, they have not seen fit to drive out the intruders."

Chang-li shot Joshi a glance. He wondered if the bandits might not be holed up in the ruins of the Morning Mist headquarters. Joshi gave him a tiny nod, then spoke.

"We do not wish to bring misfortune down on your town. If the bandits' wrath will fall on you for giving us hospitality, we will leave and not bother you."

The men of the village sighed, looking relieved, Dai Ahn lowering his hoe and bowing to them. "Thank you, young masters. We can provide you with some food, but true hospitality is impossible."

The girl looked fit to burst. "Cowards," she spat.

Chang-li cleared his throat. "My friend and I will camp north of your town. Is there a place you could recommend to me?" he said to Poai. "And perhaps you could bring whatever food they speak of. Then you and I could discuss matters further."

The woman's eyes widened. She let out a hissing breath. "Oh. Yes." She turned back to the men. "Well, Dai Ahn, will that satisfy you if I take it on myself to see that they've left our village?"

One of the other farmers spoke up. "There's the lambing shed, half a mile or so to the north. This time of year it's empty, and none of us are likely to stop by. We'd have no way of knowing if someone took shelter there tonight." He looked embarrassed at his own cowardice. "If you follow the footpath north until you come to the field with the three willow trees at the west corner, then turn aside. You'll find it right enough."

Chang-li spread his hands wide. "Then we'll just be on our way," he said. "We don't want to cause you any trouble."

Chang-li and Joshi passed through the village. Children and women peeked out of the small huts at them, whispering, but no one said anything else. When they were clear, as they made their way along the path, Joshi said, "Why didn't they just ask us for help?"

"For all we know, these bandits have cultivators of their own," Chang-li said. "But if they are holed up in the Morning Mist ruins, then we'll run into them sooner or later. It's good of the villagers to give us a warning."

Joshi laughed. "Is that what you think they were doing? That's an awfully charitable spin to place on their reaction."

Chang-li had to agree. They found the empty shed and set their packs inside. It was a three-walled structure open on one side with a roof over it. They kindled a small fire in the doorway while Chang-li matched his map to the local surrounds.

As dusk fell, they heard a call, and a moment later, Poai appeared with a basket in each hand and a drinking skin slung over her shoulder. They rose to greet her. She gave them the food and then held out the drink.

"It's nothing like fine cultivators such as yourselves are used to, I'm sure, but it's what we have. Forgive my kinsmen for the poor welcome. We've been told what will happen should we speak with outsiders. The Yellow Masks are heartless and ruthless."

"And you are not afraid of them?" Chang-li asked her.

Her lip jutted out. "They've taken my sisters. My father died of a broken heart. They killed my husband. My child is fatherless before it's even born. Somewhere along the way, they burned out my fear, at least until my child is born, and then perhaps I will have someone to care enough about again. But for now, I want to see them all dead."

"As it happens, we may be able to help you," Chang-li said. "My friend and I here are on a journey, and it is possible that our destination is the same fortress where these Yellow Masks have taken up residence. What can you tell me about it?"

"Not much, I'm afraid," Poai said. "As we told you, our people have avoided it for generations. It's up in the mountains to the west." She pointed. "You see that peak there? Between us and there is a spur of rock jutting out. There are ruins in there and ghosts, enough for the villagers to stay away, but I suppose the Yellow Masks don't care."

"How many bandits?" Joshi asked.

"Three dozen, perhaps, enough that we have no hope against them. They just appeared three years ago or so. We've been hoping that sooner or later they'll tire of this life and move along. They are ruthless, heartless men who prefer to live off of what they can steal from us to doing any honest labor."

Joshi had opened the basket the woman brought and was digging into the food. He looked up with a mouthful of food. "This is excellent," he said. "Thank you for sharing with us, even if it will bring about pain."

"I hope it won't," the woman said. "But I should tell you, I believe some of the bandits are cultivators. They have speed and strength that none of us could possibly hope to match. The one who killed my husband—he's not even their leader—you'll know him at once. He has a scar on his face. He is their enforcer. He ripped Tai Fan to pieces with his hands, literally, in front of me."

"I'm sorry," was all Chang-li could say. "I thank you for the warning."

"If you—that is, if you decide they are too strong for you to take on, please send word to the province officials. Someone has to care. It has been so long."

"Four years and none of you thought to go for help?" Chang-li asked.

"Narasak Village to our south did when they first arrived. An inspector came, looked around, and left, never to be seen again. The bandits came and burned Narasak to the ground. They killed half of the villagers and sent the other half fleeing to tell the other towns what had happened. Now no one dares. We think they bribed the inspector."

"It seems likely," Joshi agreed.

"If you'll just leave the dishes here in a corner of the shed, I'll collect them tomorrow," Poai offered. "And may the heavens bless you both. I pray that you're successful in destroying our enemies."

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