Sample - Ring Dragonz

Chapter 4
ALL THAT AND DIM SUM
The next morning Anne Mai awoke with a stiff
back in a strange bed. She rubbed her temples to
recall where she lay. Then it all came rushing back
to her. Hong Kong. This was her uncle’s palace.
After some quick sprucing, Anne Mai walked down
the long corridor that led to the front of the estate.
Even in the daytime the house still clung to an
orange glow, refusing to be cheered by the sunlight
outdoors.
As she rounded the last corner, Anne Mai
discovered her family, Walsh, and Peter already
seated around a traditional Chinese breakfast table.
At the head of the table sat Uncle Shang Sin and his
wife, while Talo stood guard nearby. Anne Mai
quickly found a seat next to her mother, who raised
a disapproving eyebrow at being late.
Once Anne Mai settled in, the breakfast
banquet began. A handful of menservants lifted the
lids off of some steaming dishes of congee and
sticky buns. While the meal was hot, the mood was
icy cold. No one dared make a sound. The children
tried to muffle their chewing while the adults only
glanced up to read each other’s thoughts.
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