"Why?"
Hán Bīng's lips curved.
"My daughter-in-law was invited. I came to ensure she was not eaten."
"A reasonable precaution. The peaks are not known for their hospitality."
"I'm finding them adequate."
"Are you."
The two of them looked at each other. The crystals hummed. The papers rustled. Gū Gū, who had been watching the exchange with growing interest, felt something shift in the air.
"Well," Wēn Jìng said brightly, "I'm Wēn Jìng! This is Gū Gū. And you've met Hán Bīng. We're grandmothers. To the cubs. The ones who have been running around the peaks making friends with everyone. You might have heard of them?"
The dragon's eyes flickered. "The lowlander cubs."
"The very same! Yòu Lín mentioned you. He said you had very nice furs and a sad son and that you needed friends. He's very good at identifying people who need friends. It's a gift."
The dragon stared at her. "Your grandson told you about me."
