The sunrise had put the first pinks over the sky's blues and grays when we finally walked out of the abandoned mine that hid Lin Kwan's crypt.
Behind us, the wraiths were still slowly spilling out of the mine shaft, rising like smoke.
As the breeze hit my face, I raised my eyes to the boundless sky and took a deep breath. Such simple things as smells of grass and fresh wind on my skin—they felt like the most luxurious wine.
The Union squeaked excitedly and ran past me, then began to roll around the grass and snap its teeth on the seed stalks.
Even Lin Kwan paused to take in the place, although when I glanced at her face, it looked colder than before. Maybe I was imagining it, though—with how close to a bare skull it was, it was hard to tell.
"Enough stalling. Where is my son Chu, boy?" she asked me.
I put on a smile.
