Jade War Read online

  Copyright

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  Copyright © 2019 by Fonda Lee

  Author photograph by Elena Rose Photography

  Cover design by Lisa Marie Pompilio

  Cover art © Alamy and Shutterstock

  Cover copyright © 2019 by Hachette Book Group, Inc.

  Maps copyright © 2019 by Tim Paul

  Hachette Book Group supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture.

  The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

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  Simultaneously published in Great Britain and in the U.S. by Orbit in 2019

  First Edition: July 2019

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  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Names: Lee, Fonda, author.

  Title: Jade war / Fonda Lee.

  Description: First edition. | New York, NY : Orbit, 2019. | Series: The Green Bone saga ; book 2

  Identifiers: LCCN 2019000760 | ISBN 9780316440929 (hardcover) | ISBN 9780316440905 (trade paperback) | ISBN 9780316440936 (ebook)

  Subjects: | GSAFD: Fantasy fiction.

  Classification: LCC PS3612.E34285 J38 2019 | DDC 813/.6—dc23

  LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019000760

  ISBNs: 978-0-316-44092-9 (hardcover), 978-0-316-44093-6 (ebook)

  E3-20190627-JV-NF-ORI

  Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Maps

  The Green Bone Clans

  CHAPTER 1: Heaven Awaiting

  CHAPTER 2: The Passing of the Torch

  CHAPTER 3: Exile

  CHAPTER 4: Dead Ends

  CHAPTER 5: Every Advantage

  CHAPTER 6: The New Green

  CHAPTER 7: The Weather Man’s Persuasion

  CHAPTER 8: Family Matters

  CHAPTER 9: The Uwiwan and His Half Bones

  CHAPTER 10: A Ridiculous Waste

  CHAPTER 11: Port Massy

  CHAPTER 12: Necessary Actions

  CHAPTER 13: After the Show

  CHAPTER 14: Old Warrior’s Mercy

  CHAPTER 15: Rats in the Celestial Radiance

  CHAPTER 16: Not a Thief

  CHAPTER 17: The Pillar of Southtrap

  CHAPTER 18: The White Lantern Club

  CHAPTER 19: Reunion in Lybon

  CHAPTER 20: Complications

  CHAPTER 21: Change of Plans

  FIRST INTERLUDE: Lost and Found

  CHAPTER 22: The Grudge Hall

  CHAPTER 23: Scrap Pickers

  CHAPTER 24: The Inheritance

  CHAPTER 25: Interception

  CHAPTER 26: Setting Expectations

  CHAPTER 27: Purely Practical

  CHAPTER 28: Not That Stupid

  CHAPTER 29: Opening and Closing Doors

  CHAPTER 30: Heroes Day

  SECOND INTERLUDE: The Two Thrones

  CHAPTER 31: Stand Your Ground

  CHAPTER 32: Overdue Conversations

  CHAPTER 33: Not a Safe Place

  CHAPTER 34: The Clan’s Friendship

  CHAPTER 35: Stranger Allies

  CHAPTER 36: What You Deserve

  CHAPTER 37: Threats and Schemes

  CHAPTER 38: Not the Real Thing

  CHAPTER 39: A Meeting of Pillars

  CHAPTER 40: The Bosses

  CHAPTER 41: Green as Fuck

  CHAPTER 42: A Difficult Position

  CHAPTER 43: Family Jade

  CHAPTER 44: The Man in the Middle

  CHAPTER 45: A Promise in the Park

  CHAPTER 46: Unforgivable

  CHAPTER 47: Back to Work

  CHAPTER 48: The Double Double

  CHAPTER 49: Cleaning out the Rat House

  CHAPTER 50: Patience

  CHAPTER 51: The Unlucky Ones

  CHAPTER 52: This Is Serious

  CHAPTER 53: Sins and Compromises

  THIRD INTERLUDE: The Cursed Beauty

  CHAPTER 54: The Body Doesn’t Lie

  CHAPTER 55: Final Preparations

  CHAPTER 56: No Surprise

  CHAPTER 57: Emergencies

  CHAPTER 58: White Rat’s Decision

  CHAPTER 59: From the Kaul Family

  CHAPTER 60: End of an Agreement

  CHAPTER 61: Lines Crossed

  CHAPTER 62: Still at War

  CHAPTER 63: Home at Last

  EPILOGUE: You’ve Come to the Right Place

  Acknowledgments

  Discover More

  By Fonda Lee

  For the martial artists I’ve trained with and learned from.

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  The Green Bone Clans

  Along with Their Associates and Enemies

  The No Peak Clan

  KAUL HILOSHUDON, Pillar

  KAUL SHAELINSAN, Weather Man

  EMERY ANDEN, a Kaul by adoption, recent graduate of Kaul Dushuron Academy

  KAUL LANSHINWAN, former Pillar of the clan, elder brother to Hilo and Shae; deceased

  KAUL SENINGTUN, the Torch of Kekon, patriarch of the family; deceased

  KAUL DUSHURON, son of Kaul Sen, father of Lan, Hilo, and Shae; deceased

  KAUL WAN RIAMASAN, widow of Kaul Du, mother of Lan, Hilo, and Shae

  MAIK KEHNUGO, Horn of No Peak

  MAIK TARMINGU, Pillarman to Kaul Hilo

  KAUL MAIK WENRUXIAN, wife of Kaul Hilo, a stone-eye

  WOON PAPIDONWA, the Weather Man’s Shadow, former Pillarman to Kaul Lan

  HAMI TUMASHON, Master Luckbringer

  JUEN NURENDO, First Fist of Maik Kehn

  LOTT JINRHU, a Finger of the clan

  YUN DORUPON, former Weather Man of Kaul Sen and Kaul Lan; a traitor

  AUN UREMAYADA, mother of Emery Anden; deceased

  HARU EYNISHUN, ex-wife of Kaul Lan

  TEIJE RUNO, a second cousin of Hilo and Shae

  KYANLA, housekeeper of the Kaul estate

  Other Fists and Fingers

  VUAY YUDIJO, Second Fist to Maik Kehn

  IYN ROLUAN, a senior Fist

  VIN SOLUNU, a senior Finger talented in Perception

  HEIKE, DUDO, TON, Fingers of the clan, former classmates of Emery Anden

  DOUN, YONU, TYIN, HEJO, Green Bones reporting to the Pillarman

  Notable Lantern Men

  EITEN, proprietor of the Cursed Beauty distillery, a former Fist maimed by Gont Asch

  MR. UNE, proprietor of the Twice Lucky restaurant

  MRS. SUGO, proprietor of the Lilac Divine Gentleman’s Club

  MR. ENKE, real estate developer, president of Enke Property Group

  The Mountain Clan


  AYT MADASHI, Pillar

  REE TURAHUO, Weather Man

  NAU SUENZEN, Horn

  AYT YUGONTIN, the Spear of Kekon, adoptive father to Mada, Im, and Eodo; deceased

  AYT IMMINSHO, adopted elder son of Ayt Yu; deceased

  AYT EODOYATU, adopted second son of Ayt Yu; deceased

  GONT ASCHENTU, former Horn of the clan; deceased

  WAUN BALUSHU, First Fist to Gont Asch and Nau Suen

  IWE KALUNDO, Master Luckbringer

  VEN SANDOLAN, president of K-Star Freight, a Lantern Man of the clan

  VEN HAKUJON, a senior Fist of the clan, son of Ven Sando

  KOBEN ATOSHO, a child, born Ayt Ato, son of Ayt Eodo

  SEKO, a Fist of the clan, manager of White Rats

  MUDT JINDONON, an informer; deceased

  Ti Pasuiga

  ZAPUNYO, jade smuggler, leader of Ti Pasuiga

  IYILO, Zapunyo’s bodyguard

  SORADIYO, rockfish recruiter and manager

  BERO, a jade thief

  MUDT KALONUN, a jade thief, son of Mudt Jin

  Others in Kekon

  HIS HEAVENSHIP PRINCE IOAN III, current sovereign of Kekon

  SON TOMARHO, chancellor of the Royal Council of Kekon, a No Peak loyalist

  GUIM ENMENO, minister of Home Concerns, a Mountain loyalist

  MR. KOWI, a member of the Royal Council, a No Peak loyalist

  TAU MAROSUN, professor of foreign studies at Jan Royal University

  MASTER AIDO, private trainer in the jade disciplines

  DURN SOSHUNURO, Pillar of the Black Tail clan

  DR. TRUW, a Green Bone physician

  GRANDMASTER LE, head instructor at Kaul Dushuron Academy

  TOH KITARU, news anchor for Kekon National Broadcasting

  Representatives of the Espenian Government

  GREGOR MENDOFF, Republic of Espenia ambassador to Kekon

  QUIRE CORRIS, secretary of international affairs for the Republic of Espenia

  COLONEL LELAND DEILLER, commanding officer of Euman Naval Base

  LIEUTENANT COLONEL JAY YANCEY, executive officer of Euman Naval Base

  In Port Massy

  The Kekonese-Espenians

  DAUK LOSUNYIN, Pillar of Southtrap

  DAUK SANASAN, wife of Dauk Losun, his “Weather Man”

  DAUK CORUJON, “Cory,” son of Losun and Sana

  ROHN TOROGON, the “Horn” of Southtrap

  MR. AND MRS. HIAN, host family to Emery Anden

  SHUN TODORHO, “Tod,” a Green Bone, Cory’s friend

  ETTO SAMISHUN, “Sammy,” a Green Bone, Cory’s friend

  LEDT DERUKUN, “Derek,” Cory’s friend

  SANO, a doorman at the grudge hall

  The Crews

  BLAISE “THE BULL” KROMNER, Boss of the Southside Crew

  WILLUM “SKINNY” REAMS, top foreman of the Southside Crew

  MOTH DUKE, a foreman of the Southside Crew

  CARSON SUNTER, a coat in the Southside Crew

  JOREN “JO BOY” GASSON, Boss of the Baker Street Crew

  RICKART “SHARP RICKY” SLATTER, Boss of the Wormingwood Crew; in prison

  ANGA SLATTER, acting Boss of the Wormingwood Crew, wife of Rickart Slatter

  CHAPTER

  1

  Heaven Awaiting

  It was madness to rob the grave of a Green Bone. Only someone with little regard for his own life would consider it, but if one was that sort of person, then tonight was the moment of opportunity. The cool, dry days of late winter had not yet given way to the incessant rain of spring, and low clouds obscured the rising moon over the tops of the trees in Widow’s Park. The streets of Janloon were unusually quiet; out of respect, people were forgoing their usual activities and staying home, hanging ceremonial spirit guiding lamps in their windows to honor the passing of Kaul Seningtun—national war hero, patriarch of the No Peak clan, the Torch of Kekon. So even though Bero and Mudt had taken the precaution of carrying no light, there was no one to take notice of their arrival at the cemetery.

  The groundskeeper, Nuno, met them at the gate five minutes before the official closing time. “Here.” He thrust a black garbage bag at Bero. “Be quick. Night security doesn’t arrive for another half hour.” The three of them were alone, but Nuno spoke in a hurried whisper. His eyes, in the sun-shriveled hollows of his face, darted fearfully about the shadows of the shrubbery and tombstones. Thieves were the lowest sort of scum on Kekon, and grave robbers were lower than that. A bullet to the back of the head, the bill for the expense sent to their relatives—that was the lawful punishment they could expect to receive by morning if they were caught.

  Bero took the plastic bag from Nuno. Ducking next to the stone wall, he pulled out two blue shirts and caps embroidered with the logo of Heaven Awaiting Cemetery. Hastily, he and Mudt put on the shirts and set the caps on their heads. Nuno led them at a brisk walk up a switchbacked hillside path to one of the largest, most prominent memorials on the grounds. A new plot had been dug in front of the looming green marble monument. Tomorrow, Kaul Seningtun would be laid to rest next to his grandson, Kaul Lanshinwan, former Pillar of No Peak, murdered and buried sixteen months ago. Sixteen months! A frustrating eternity for Bero to scheme and wait for his jade.

  Nuno had dug the new plot himself that afternoon; a tractor with a backhoe attachment still rested next to the grave. Bero stood at the lip of the neat rectangular hole in the ground. A breeze stirred the disturbed grass at his feet, raising the pungent smell of damp earth. A shiver of excitement traveled up Bero’s spine. This was what he’d needed all along: for someone else to do most of the work for him. The first time he and Mudt had snuck into the cemetery with shovels, they’d been interrupted by a group of other drunken teens stumbling around after dark and scaring each other; the second time, it began pouring rain and they barely made a dent in the soggy earth before nearly being caught by security. After that, Bero figured they had to be smarter; they had to come up with a better plan and wait for the right time to act.

  To Bero’s surprise, Mudt crouched down and jumped into the empty grave first. The boy looked back up, wiping his hands, his ferrety eyes bright. Bero slung the duffel bag he carried off his shoulder and took out the tools he needed. He passed them down to Mudt, then followed, the soles of his shoes thudding on freshly exposed dirt. For a second, the two teens glanced at each other, awed at their own conspiratorial daring. Then together, they began to attack the wall of the pit with shovels, burrowing like moles toward the neighboring coffin.

  Nuno stood watch near the tractor, chewing a quid of betel nut and pretending to be taking a casual break from the hard work of grave-digging. It was uncommon for him to need to bring out the backhoe; most Kekonese were cremated and entombed in columbaria or buried in small plots dug by hand. Due to space considerations, even wealthy families like the Kauls, who could afford full plots, were buried with only a foot of space between caskets, so it was not long before Bero’s shovel struck a hard surface in the wall of soil. Stifling a shout of triumph, he redoubled his efforts. Dirt flew; it streaked his sweaty hands, and when he paused to wipe his brow, it left muddy tracks across his face. Bero did not feel any fatigue at all, only exhilaration and nearly unbearable anticipation; surely it was because his rightful jade was so close now, calling to him from within the coffin of the man he had killed.

  “Kaul Lan used to be the Pillar of the No Peak clan,” Mudt said in a hushed but eager voice, speaking for the first time since they’d arrived. Mudt was only fifteen, three years younger than Bero, and his arms were skinny; he labored at their task, and his narrow face was flushed in the near dark. “He would’ve had more jade than just about anyone, wouldn’t he? More than the Maik brothers, even.” A vengeful glint shone in Mudt’s eyes. He had his own reasons for wanting jade.

  “You can bet on it, keke,” Bero answered, without shifting his attention.

  An anxious edge came into Mudt’s whisper. “How can we be sure the jade’s even here?”
Except when taken by an enemy in battle, a Green Bone’s jade passed to his family. Warriors were often buried with some ceremonial portion of their green, but Kaul’s casket might contain only a few gemstones, or nothing at all. Given the intense cultural and religious stigma against stealing from the deceased, and the death penalty it carried, the effort and risk of grave robbing was rarely worth it, even for the most jade-fevered criminals.

  Bero did not reply to Mudt; he couldn’t offer any reassurance other than that when he got a certain feeling, he always listened to it. He had that feeling now, like fate was smiling at him. The capricious tides of fortune pulled people this way and that, but Bero thought they took special notice of him, that he rode higher on them than most. Ah, he’d had plenty of bad luck in his life from the minute he’d been yanked squalling from his short-lived mother’s womb, but then again, he was alive when many others he knew were not—and now he was close to jade.

  The side of the casket was visible now. What had once been a burnished cherry surface shone dull brown against black earth. The teenagers put down their shovels and tied kerchiefs tightly over their noses and mouths, then pulled on heavy work gloves. Bero picked up a cordless reciprocating saw. “Hold up the light,” he said, his voice muffled by the cloth. Mudt’s narrow penlight came on; he played it over the side of the coffin. When Bero started the saw, its shrill chatter nearly made him jump and drop the power tool on his feet. Mudt’s flashlight beam shook wildly before steadying again. Heart pounding against his ribs, Bero made a plunge cut into Kaul Lan’s casket and began to saw.

  He cut out an area roughly the size of a television screen, then turned off the saw and set it down. With Mudt’s help, he hauled the piece of wood away. Dust and polyester batting came free and swirled in the air. An object dropped into the dirt at their feet. With a shout of elation, Bero dropped to his knees, barely restraining himself from seizing what he saw glinting like unearthed treasure under the flashlight beam: a string of jade beads, each stone flawless and brilliantly green, separated from its fellows with short black spacers on a silver chain. A powerful Green Bone leader’s ornament and weapon, a part of his very identity. A priceless object that could not be bought except with blood.

  Mudt recovered his senses first; he grabbed Bero’s shoulder and said, “It was sewn into the lining. There might be more.” They dug around further in the damaged upholstery and almost at once found two leather forearm cuffs, studded with gems. Kaul had also worn a belt, heavy with jade; perhaps it was here as well, hidden elsewhere in the coffin.