The road to the Pei estate wound upward through the merchant quarter's higher terraces, where the stones grew cleaner, and the noise of trade gave way to the hush of privilege. Lamps of polished copper hung from the eaves, their light shimmering over carved door gods and painted lintels. The air here smelled not of salt and spice but of perfumed wood and old coin.
Li Wei walked with his hands folded once more behind his back, his gait measured, his eyes tracing the gilded roofs above. Pei followed a pace behind, occasionally trotting forward to clear the way or bow nervously to patrolling guards. His earlier exuberance had dimmed; there was unease in his step now, like a man leading a wolf into his master's parlor.
A distant bell tolled from the harbor. The sound rolled through the quarter, deep and melancholy. ~Gong… Gong…~
