Free Ai of the Mountain (A Fairy Retelling #2) by Dorian Tsukioka

bring you back to the castle, I noticed the coins in my hand. A pool of sunlight shimmered on them, and when I examined them closely, I could see fine, delicate ridges all throughout them. They reminded me of something, but I couldn’t quite grasp what. I kept turning the coins back and forth, and for a second, it seemed like they weren’t golden coins at all. Instead, they looked just like giant fish scales.
    “It lasted for just a brief moment. A whisper of time. But, I believed what I saw. I know they changed, at least for that instant. Of course, the only fish large enough to have scales the size of these coins, is the very one I saw swimming in the river next to your house.
    “What a strange coincidence, wouldn’t you say? I immediately felt grateful for the troubling pack of foxes. If they hadn’t caused such a commotion, I might never have come outside with the coins in my hands. I probably never would have made the connection. Perhaps the kitsune spirits were helping to open my eyes to an enchanting possibility. Whether or not, I took it as a blessing to see your giant koi again for myself.”
    With the sword in his hand, it looks like the daimyo has more in mind than simply looking at Grandfather Koi.
    “This is a good thing, Ai-chan,” he continues. “You can help your people. Just a few more coins, and there will be no need for any more taxes across the entire region. Think of how much the people of the village will love you, how grateful they will be to your family for saving them from the burden of extra taxes. You can’t keep something like this all to yourself. Surely, you are not as selfish as that.”
    My thoughts spin in my head like a minnow darting back and forth beneath the water. The daimyo’s words make sense, but I don’t trust him. I’m not sure if he is telling me the truth. I would like to believe that he only needs a few more coins, and that I could do something to help the people of my village. But, this is not a decision I can make. Grandfather’s Koi’s coins are not mine to give away. He is not mine. He is my friend, and I cannot forget that.
    “Do you promise to take only a few more coins? Do you promise not to hurt him?”
    “Yes. I promise.”
    “Will you leave me alone after that and promise no further repercussions against my family?”
    “Ai-chan, I promise.”
    Just a few more coins. Grandfather Koi’s magical scales must be worth far more than I thought if the daimyo needs only a few more to take care of the taxes requested by the emperor. I can save my family and the entire village from the excessive whims of the daimyo.
    I walk to the edge of the river, bend down, and let the slow current trail around my fingers as they graze the surface of the water. A moment later, a glint of orange and gold scales appear from the dark and Grandfather Koi’s fin brushes against my fingers. As he swims and turns, I see the bare spot on his flesh where he allowed me to cut his scales away. He rises completely to the surface, where he can see both me and Lord Nakaguchi.
    I turn to the daimyo and look into his eyes. I want him to know that I understand the price of what I’m doing and I’m willing to pay it in full.
    “Grandfather Koi,” I say, “this is Lord Nakaguchi, the daimyo of our region. I gave your four gold coins to him. He has come back for more. He has promised me that he only wants a few.”
    Lord Nakaguchi nods, encouraging me to go on. I see him inch forward towards the river.
    “Grandfather Koi, it’s important that you know that when I look into Lord Nakaguchi’s eyes to ascertain the truth…I see nothing there but lies. He won’t stop until he has stripped you of every last scale. You must leave. Now!”
    The daimyo is quicker than I expected, and thrusts the point of his sword into the river just as Grandfather Koi dives down. The tip of the sword just catches through the base of the giant koi where his body meets his tail. The sword glides through his