THE DRAGON'S BRIDE.

Chapter 30: A VOICE ON THE WIND

The world outside their window was not as empty as it seemed. The ledge, once a symbol of hope, soon became a source of new anxiety. Heiying’s draconic senses were a constant, sensitive barometer of the mountain’s state, and one afternoon, he grew tense."There is a presence on the mountain again," he said, his voice a low growl. "But it is not the clumsy thrashing of cultivators.""What is it?" An-li asked, coming to stand beside him at the opening."A single person. Moving with purpose. With silence. They know the paths. They are… a professional."An-li’s blood ran cold. A professional. An assassin. Her mind immediately went to her siblings. Had they discovered she was still alive? Did they see her, and the dragon she was with, as a threat to their power?For the next two days, a tense watch began. An-li could see nothing, but Heiying tracked the intruder’s progress with unnerving accuracy. The person was not climbing toward the summit, but circling it, as if surveying the area, setting up observation posts."They are skilled," Heiying admitted, a note of grudging respect in his voice. "They move with the wind. They leave almost no trace. A ghost."The presence of the watcher changed the dynamic on the ledge. It no longer felt safe. It was a vulnerability, a window through which their enemies could peer. They moved the peach tree back inside the cavern, and the opening, once a source of joy, now felt like a c***k in their armor.On the third night, as An-li was drifting into a restless sleep, Heiying’s voice, sharp and urgent, snapped into her mind."They are below the ledge. Directly below. They are trying to listen."An-li sat bolt upright, her heart pounding. She crept to the opening and peered down into the inky blackness. She could see nothing."Do not speak," Heiying commanded. "They are using a magical conduit, a listening cone of some kind. They are searching for a voice. For proof of life."A tense silence descended. An-li held her breath, every nerve on fire. Who was down there? What did they want?Then, a voice drifted up from the darkness, faint and distorted by the wind and the magic, but undeniably real. It was a man’s voice, low and rough."...Princess An-li? If you can hear me… give a sign."An-li gasped, clapping a hand over her mouth. The voice was familiar. It was not a courtier, not a royal guard. It was the voice of General Kaelen, the half-foreign commander of the border garrison, a man known for his unwavering loyalty to her father and his quiet disdain for the political games of the capital. He was a man she had thought was her friend.Was he here to rescue her? Or was he a part of the plot, sent to confirm her death? She was trapped, unable to respond without revealing her location and the secret of her survival."He is alone," Heiying confirmed, sensing her turmoil. "And he is not aligned with the ones who exiled you. His heart… it is heavy with a soldier’s grief. He believes he is speaking to a ghost."The general’s voice came again, filled with a raw, desperate hope. "An-li… your father, the Emperor… he is unwell. The court is in chaos. Your brother has seized power. If you are alive… the Empire needs you."The words struck An-li like a physical blow. Her father was sick. Her brother, the architect of her exile, was now in control. Her personal tragedy had become a national crisis. The outside world, which she had tried so hard to put behind her, was calling her back.