Sect Year 2 · second month · day 9 · the capital, the Archive yard and the market road
Pei was waiting at the Archive gate with her hands tucked under her armpits and a look of settled purpose on her face, and she didn’t explain herself until they were out on the market road. The road ran downhill from the gate in a press of carts and handbarrows, past shuttered silk shops and a cutler whose grindstone sang from dawn until the lamps were lit. The air smelled of frying oil and wet straw. Lin’s breath showed in it.
“Where are we going?” he said.
“To eat.” She walked at his elbow with her bucket tied to her back by its strap, which she did only when she meant to carry something a long way. “I’ve been saving since the sect. Don’t argue about it.”
“I wasn’t going to argue.”
“You were going to say I should keep it for later.”
He had been going to say that. He let her win it.
“Where’s it from? The saving.”
