Page 27 - UnderEarth

Storm clambered out of the rowing boat as soon as it was made fast and followed Lake’s broad back up the steep steps carved into the stone pier. As soon as she stepped on to solid ground, the earth seemed to sway beneath her. Storm grabbed the metal handrail until the pier settled into a slightly nauseating roll. So this was what it felt like to lose your land legs!
“Mistress Storm of Yanlin!”
Storm peered around her uncle to blink at the speaker, a tall round-bellied man with long, curling moustaches. He wore an ornate silk robe of gold and green; his feet were encased in narrow leather shoes of brightest carmine, with pointed toes so long they were tied to his ankles with ribbon to keep them from dragging in the dirt. Instead of a topknot, his hair tumbled in ringlets to his shoulders, and the top of his head was submerged beneath a triangular hat made of orange silk. It was wider than his shoulders, and the pink ribbon attached to its crown curled and uncurled in the breeze.
Either side of him stood a woman and a man dressed just as strangely. Lake tugged her forward. Storm’s mouth went dry and she bowed deeply.
She noticed, with amazement, that the three Pact
grandees were wearing a sort of coloured paste on
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