The Green Bone Saga, #1
Jade City
by Fonda Lee
Contents
CHAPTER 49: Overture to Adamont Capita
Overview
Maik Wen uses her stone-eye condition and a mourner’s disguise to smuggle a large cache of No Peak jade through Mountain-held docks and into Espenian hands on Euman Island. The mission reveals Shae’s desperate strategy: bypass the suspended official jade trade and court Espenian support through a secret supply arrangement.
Colonel Deiller recognizes both the authenticity of the jade and Shae’s old Espenian intelligence connection, making No Peak’s war no longer only a clan conflict but an international strategic matter. The chapter shifts the stakes by drawing Espenia directly toward No Peak’s survival plan.
Summary
In the Mountain-controlled Docks, Maik Wen boards a ferry to Euman while disguised as a mourner carrying a cremation urn. A Mountain Finger stops her, checks her ticket, and asks to inspect the urn for contraband. Wen fears that if he touches it, the Mountain will discover her identity and use her against Hilo, but the guard only looks inside and lets her pass.
Wen’s lack of jade aura, once a stigmatized stone-eye trait, protects her during the crossing. She chooses the public ferry instead of a chartered boat because it leaves less traceable evidence under the Maik name, accepting the danger for the chance to help No Peak.
On Euman Island, Shae’s arranged driver, Mr. Sedu, takes Wen through a place dominated by Espenian influence, military personnel, and foreign commerce. Wen practices Espenian with Sedu while traveling to the Euman Naval Base. She remembers Shae’s worry that Lan would condemn the plan, but Wen had argued that Lan would do anything to save the family.
At the base gate, Wen asks for Colonel Leland Deiller and says she brings a message from Kaul Shaelinsan of the No Peak clan. Deiller, already under pressure from Adamont Capita because the clan war and investigations have disrupted official jade exports, meets Wen with suspicion. Wen empties the urn onto the table, revealing that the ashes concealed a fortune in raw Kekonese jade.
Through a translator, Wen explains that No Peak has its own jade stores and that Shae wants to discuss a confidential arrangement to ease the interruption in Espenia’s jade supply. Wen proves her connection to Shae with the coded phrase, The cormorant can still fish, invoking Shae’s old Espenian intelligence codename. Dr. Gavison confirms that the stones are real, high-quality raw Kekonese jade.
After sending Wen out to wait, Deiller consults Yancey and Gavison. They identify Wen as likely connected to the Maik brothers and confirm Shae’s past as a useful Espenian asset who is now No Peak’s Weather Man. Recognizing the military importance and secrecy of the offer, Deiller orders the jade secured, the translator silenced, and prepares to call General Saker in Adamont Capita.
Who Appears
- Maik WenStone-eye No Peak emissary who smuggles jade in a funeral urn to Espenia.
- Kaul ShaelinsanNo Peak Weather Man who arranges Wen’s mission and revives old Espenian ties.
- Colonel Leland DeillerEspenian base commander who receives Wen, verifies the jade, and escalates the offer.
- Mr. SeduEuman electrician and discreet clan contact who drives Wen to the naval base.
- Lt. Colonel YanceyDeiller’s executive officer who investigates Wen’s claim and pulls Shae’s file.
- Dr. GavisonEspenian expert who confirms the stones are real, valuable Kekonese jade.
- Mountain FingerYoung guard who inspects Wen’s urn at the ferry but fails to uncover the jade.
- Mr. YutTranslator at the base who interprets Wen’s offer for Deiller.