Darkness ruled over Mirage Hall.
Not even the cold light of the starts blinking over the mountains outside the
City could not change that. Ying Kong Shi didn’t want to. He was standing by
the table his head lowered, clutching the edge with both hands, not even
realising his fingers turning white, and the flowers of frost running around
from under his palm. He tried to calm himself down with eyes closed, as he was
panting for breath for minutes after having returned from the Throne Room. He
shifted off the guards who followed him with a gesture, and he charmed himself
into his room in the very moment he was left alone. In the darkness the only
thing he saw was the throne twinkling without mercy, and the mortal being
silent. His heart was shackled by the hated acquaintance of inability, and it
took him an effort to get rid of it.
He slowly calmed down. He made
himself ready to meet the clan leaders with a few last sighs. He straightened,
and opened his eyes turning to the door. He raised up both his hands, little
sparkles shining on in his palms, giving birth to dazzling turquoise and blue
flames. Mirage Hall was lightened up at last, as Shi released the spell with a
final blast of energy. Just in time, as the steps of the arrivals sounded
outside in the corridor. The doors of the Hall opened up, and Shi had the
chance to take a good look of those claimed to be the strongest by Liu Shu. The
Counsellor led the group, next to him a tall, middle-ages woman stepped into
the Hall. In her hand sparkled the scepter of the Mermaid Clan, leaving no
doubt that she was the Praedor. She looked around with curiosity, turning to
the Prince only after. Her blue eyes didn’t mirror the shining of snow as the
sight of the immortals in the Ice Clan, but the grey-green waves of the Eternal
Sea after storm. She left her dark hair free, placing only a pearlescent
seashell behind her ear. Her long dress covered even her feet, the top graced
by thousands of tiny pearls turned into a light blueish, then emerald skirt
without notice. She wore a bracelet of red corals on her wrist, contrasting
sharply from her pale, almost translucent skin. As she picked up her dress with
her fingers to pull back and give space to the other clan leaders, her waving
hairlocks floated in the air longer than usual by purpose.
- Your Highness, the Praedor of
the Mermaid Clan, Qian Zhenzhu… His Highness Prince Ying Kong Shi… - the
Counsellor presented gravely.
When the Praedor tapped the end
of her scepter to the floor, the shells hanging decoratively from it gave a
jingling sound. The Praedor smiled to apologize when taking a bow in front of
the Prince. Shi returned her smile, only to receive a wink as she straightened
up.
Liu Shu coughed, then waved
around at the others. The four men lined up, as if they kept the distance from
the mermaid on purpose. As Shi looked at them he thought they have no reason
for distrust. They all showed enough strength and confidence, that was expected
from a clan leader. The Counsellor introduced them one by one. They all bowed
before the Prince in silence.
The chief of the Bear Spirit Clan
was taller of them all, he was dark haired and wide shouldered. Hei Zhao hang
an almost completely black bear fur on his shoulders, so he looked even more
larger. He wore claws in his ears, but some more delicate, more fragile jewel
twinkled in his neck. Shi recognized it: the tiny instrument was the harp of
Shao Ya, princess of the Spirit Clan. Actually he was happy to know that the
Bears still treasured this memory, though he wasn’t sure the chief knew, how
valuable the magical item in his possess was.
Mi Feng Hua represented the
Healer Clan. His clothing was simple and light green, having only some sunny
yellow decoration on its hood, that covered his head. A golden disk hung from
his neck on a thin chain. He held a small bag by its string, and as he bowed to
the Prince, he already started to check on the others, as if he was already
examining them, if they were sick.
The third man beside him stood in
an extremely decorated robe recalling the colours of the rainbow, Shi noticed
the floating Dream Cube by the top of his scepter, that was used by the Dreamweavers
of the clan. The Cube was glowing dimly, while spinning without a pause. Shi started
to muse on that, but couldn’t find out if there was any spells working, or it
was only the speciality of the scepter. The glowing of the Cube sparkled back from
the eyes of the Dreamweaver, just as from the snowsilver threads embroidered on
his cloths. Yu Yan took a bow, but he didn’t step aside, he stayed beside the
Healer.
The forth clan leader behind them
didn’t hurry to get forward at all. His head was covered by a hood as well, but
he pulled it down into his eyes, so almost nothing was to be seen of his face.
- Hui Heise… don’t be impolite. –
the Praedor commented casually, as if she talked to somebody else, as she was
examining her nails.
- Your Highness, the Swordmaster
of the Shadow Cave Clan. – Liu Shu added, when the clan chief circled the
others with one single quick move, shoved back his cape from the shoulders, and
pulled out two twin blades for the scabbards hanging on his belt. Shi stepped
back, and started a simple protection spell keeping his otherwise relaxed hands
next to him. However Hui Heise had no intentions to fight. Ignoring the Praedor
and the Counsellor he crossed the blades in front of him, bowing in this way to
show his respect for the Prince. Shi let the relief in his sign be obvious for
everyone, then said:
- We thank you for accepting our
invitation. It was overall necessary for us to meet and discuss some very
important matters.
- Your Highness, it is highly
appreciated by us to have a member of the royal family in the throne of the Ice
Clan again. It’s somewhat a bit more reassuring, than the situation before. –
the Praedor noticed.
- And more convenient as well, isn’t
it? – Hei Zhao added venomously, who hated the elegant and sophisticated
Mermaid Queen from the bottom of her heart without doubt. – The Princess will
surely remain no maid.
Shi listened to them his eyes
wide open, but he tried to take a breath to speak in vain, Liu Shu was faster.
- Please… please… would you mind take
your seats to talk in comfort. I’ll have some refreshments served at once.
- Bother yourself only if that
pretty brunette brings me wine, my friend. Or not, if she was thrown out
already by that witch…
Shi went all pale. He hoped from
his heart, that none of the clan leaders would mention the unpleasant interlude
on the celebration. Even he couldn’t figure it out how to handle it at all, and
how to evaluate his own role in it. He wasn’t prepared for remarks and
questions yet.
- Respect, Hei Zhao, when standing
in front of His Highness. – Liu Shu tried to get the clan chief into a more
polite behaviour, but he stroke back immediately.
- Liu Shu, my friend, you don’t
have to play your part for us. Everyone could see that she was the favoured
one. Good for her to be a mortal. And if she was truly thrown out, I may look
for her myself.
- Your Highness, please forgive
the boorishness of the Bear. He really should get a good wife too, who could
teach him manners.
- I will never take advice from a
fish. – the clan chief growled at the Praedor.
Shi took his head. He blinked at
the Counsellor for help, who was just pulling out the chair for Qian Zhenzhu.
But he didn’t wish to react for some unexplainable reason, and didn’t return
Shi’s look in the eyes. And the Praedor was smiling with such a perfect cold
smile, as if nothing had happened, and she pointed at the seat beside her.
The Prince told himself to be
calm, and stopped beating around the bush.
- The clans being presented by
you are considered to be the most powerful in the Kingdoms, at least according
to the opinion of Liu Shu. Is that true?
The direct question silenced
everyone. Shi of course didn’t expect them to give him some demonstration of powers, while he was curious how they plan to convince him. But he wasn’t
prepared for their answers.
- If you wish to dual with us as
well, Your Highness, choose better days. – Hui Heise noted, who was still
standing by the table keeping the distance from the others. – Let’s come to the
point and talk about that damn sword.
Ying Kong Shi shot a questioning
look at the Counsellor, but he only shook his head with doubtfulness in his
eyes.
The Praedor gave a high-pitched
laugh. But the Healer disapprovingly raised his eyebrow.
- You made a mistake, Liu Shu.
Did you expect His Highness to condone your forgetting to inform him about the
most important matter?
Shi looked from one clan chief to
another, then back to Liu Shu’s face. Of course, he thought. What a naivety to
think everything was fine. He started towards the Counsellor by the table with
his arms folded, as the temperature was taking a noticeable dip in the room.
- The sword? – he asked with his
head tilted, as he got to him. He stood before him, doing apparently nothing,
but Liu Shu already started to tremble, and when he opened his mouth, his
breath curled in white steam.
- Your Highness, I was waiting
for the right occasion…
- It was a mistake. There is no
such thing as a right occasion. – Shi noted in his icy voice. – What did you
keep from me, that is obviously known by all the clan leaders?
Liu Shu dropped himself by the
feet of the Prince and started to gabble:
- In the last war between Ice and
Fire a sword was granted some short and seemingly unimportant role, having Yuan
Ji as his last master. – Shi went pale upon hearing the name of his father, but
didn’t comment. – She sword was guarded on the Sacred Snow Mountain by a
well-chosen group of the Ice Clan. However they last report didn’t arrive in
time.
- They were killed. – Hui Heise
added in a faint voice. - They might
have been well-chosen, but weak. It was a mistake to trust the sword on them.
- Your Highness… - the Counsellor stammered watching the floor. – I already sent out a patrol to examine what
happened.
- Pointless. – said the
Swordmaster. – They were killed, and the sword was stolen.
- Why are you so sure about that?
You may know some other things? – the Bear started to quarrel.
- I am not sure. But this was
expected. The threat is obvious. It’s time the Ice Clan admitted this as well.
Shi asked the others to the table
with a wide move, that he emphasized by flames appearing and disappearing with
a hissing sound. As the leaders took they seats next to the Praedor, he fell in
his thoughts. He didn’t have too many memories of his father. He could see him
mainly in the shape of a wreathing black smoke, his voice full of magic echoing
in his ears, as he tried to make him stand by him. And he had only dim feelings
about what happened on Sacred Snow Mountain. When he received back his memories
from his brother among the everblooming cherry trees, he saw again the hall
covered in black stones for a moment, and the fake smile of Yuan Ji. Back then
Ka Suo was important, and he didn’t have enough time to think over what he saw
with the eyes of the little sword fairy. Xing Jiu told him about this as well
later. His father killed his mother. And Shi didn’t want to know more. He
wouldn’t want to hear about his father’s sword either, if he didn’t see the
nerves in the look of the clan leaders now. Maybe the Swordmaster seemed almost
completely calm, having a different fire in his eyes.
Shi laughed out loud. Now he
understood all.
- What power hides in that blade,
that made you all bend your knees before the Ice Clan, only to keep an eye on
each other, including me of curse, until you find out who has the sword?
They began to protest at the same
moment, and Liu Shu tried to calm them down. Each of them tried to prove they
had no intention to turn against the Ice Clan or each other.
- Enough! – the Prince silenced
them. – None of you has the sword. I would have felt that. – he added seeing
their questioning looks.
- Your Highness… - Liu Shu
started but She shook his head.
- Be here in a week. Know
everything possible about the sword by then. I doubt those thousands of years
passed without any interesting events, only to have something happening right
now. And you, Counsellor, get the Palace in order. I want to see the best
guards and the best guardians at all posts. Strengthen the Endless Bridge, and
grant each clan chief a squad for protection. Celebrations end here. I don’t
want any more surprises.
- Yes, Your Highness.
- If you have anything more to
say, don’t keep it to yourself.
Liu Shu dropped on his knees
again. He knew exactly, that this moment would come, and he prepared in time.
Still, it was just as hard.
Shi looked around in the room.
- Praedor… chiefs… We can uphold
peace only together. Separated we are not strong enough. Never forget about
this.
He nodded towards them, and they
realized the council was closed.
Qian Zhenzhu stood up first, and
said goodbye with a smile. The Swordmaster and the other two chiefs follower her
after a bow. Liu Shu followed them, when Shi halted him:
- No need to say that Xi Huan is
no more the High Maiden by tomorrow, is it? Send her off to the Kitchen.
The Counsellor bowed his head and
left.
The Prince stared at the door
thinking about how to spend the next days the most possibly useful. He knew
about the clan leaders already more that he wanted to. He might look around the
Camp of the Guard, if he could be surprised there too. He wished he could talk
to Snow Bird too, but he didn’t feel his presence at all. Wherever Xian Xue
was, he was far. Shi sighed deeply, but he was too tired to fight the feelings that
haunted him now. Tomorrow, he whispered to himself. Tomorrow…
At dawn fire woke up in the
house. Morning light loomed through the open door and the windows, when Jian
Ming picked up two empty jugs, and walked down to the river nearby. She
returned with the icecold water by the time sun appeared among the branches of the
sky-high poplar trees growing by the riverbank. She placed a round pot on the
fireplace, then chopped some meat and peeled some vegetables for the ragout.
She dropped them into the water, and let it boil by itself. She poured some
cold water into a bowl, took a clean kerchief, and entered the room opening
from the kitchen in silence.
Gloom covered the room. She
pulled away the woven tapestry covering the windows only with an inch to let in
some light, revealing the figure lying in the bed with closed eyes, unmoving,
being very tiny under the blanket. The girl was breathing heavily. Her face was
red of fever, sweat shining on her skin as steel. One of her hands rested over
the blanket. Jian Ming took it carefully and felt her pulse. She admitted
dismally that she hardly felt anything. Her skin was fire hot, and as she put
the cold water compress on her forehead, she shook herself, groaned and mumbled unrecognisable words. Jian Ming shook her head. The fever of the patient didn’t
lower, in spite of the medicine tea she had her take in sips during the night.
Since his brother took her here, just like a squeaker thrown out of the nest,
the girl once was trembling of fever of shaking of cold, but she raved again
and again, mumbling about cherry blossom. Jian Ming changed her drenched, thin
rags into a long shirt back then immediately, but as she saw now, a new dress
will be needed soon. She stoop up and returned to the kitchen to check the
ragout. She was just throwing spices into the pot, when a desperate screaming
was heard. She ran with the wooden spoon in her hand into the room, where the
sick girl sat in the bed with damp hair and eyes wide open, staring into the
nothing, repeating the same again and again. Ying Kong Shi…
Jian Ming looked at her surprised, then tired to calm her down, but she didn’t see or hear anything
around her. She had to took her by the shoulders, and force her to lay back in
bed, but long minutes passed by the time she became silent. She checked on her
regularly, as she worked in the kitchen, and her anxiety increased, because the
patient kept lying in complete silence, as her fewer was rising higher. Jian
Ming stirred the ragout the last time, and went out to the courtyard. She
whistled, and a blue winged, rusty red feathered owl rested on her
stretched-out arm. She stroke it smiling, and offered it a piece of meat in her
palm. The she started to speak:
- My dearest brother, the girl
dies by nightfall. Get on your horse and fetch me a Healer by lunch or you’d be
sorry.
Then she released the owl, and
walked behind the house, where fruit trees scented and vegetable beds lie full
green. She stepped to the herbs deep in thoughts, but she ran out of ideas. The
medicine to lower fever, that she used successfully before, had no effect now.
Something stronger was needed. She picked some handful of flowers and leaves,
remembering her brother and his horse in her thoughts. Back in the kitchen she
throw the herbs into a bowl, and took the bottle of palinka. She crushed the
herbs in a mortar, then rinsed it all with palinka. She sieved the liquid with
a net, and returned back the room with it and with the bottle. She brought
another blanket, and bend closer to the girl, whose breath was even not heard
any more. She cursed loudly.
- I hope that bastard is worth
your lying here, little sister.
She swallowed a good mouthful
from the bottle of palinka, and had the girl drink the medicine taking her head
from the back carefully. The she covered her with the second blanket, and
pulled a chair next to the bed. The night was not short either, but this day
will surely be longer.
Xi Wang returned to the camp just
before the start of the night shift. Fires were
burning everywhere between the barracks and the tents. He entrusted his
horse to the horse boy being in service, then walked through the empty spaces
between the buildings to his own accommodation. As a Captain, he could have had
his own room, but he shared with his two friends a barrack that was empty now. He
did not mind that they were just probably destroying the remains of their
dinner. He was not that disturbed, as he was when urging his horse with his
sword he rushed out of Snow Blade City. Her nervousness was somewhat submerged
after he could left the unconscious Bai He to his sister. Still, he really did
not want He Bian or Lu Shan to ask uncomfortable questions, whom he shared all
his problems in this last year. He stepped out of the barrack for a moment only
to wave one of the sleepy applicants to himself and to make him fetch some
bread and wine. Two buckets of water were placed inside by the wall. One was
still warm. He unstrepped his weapons, then peeled off the leather armour, the
jackets, and finally the jerking and the shirt too. He started at the two
buckets deep in his thoughts, as he nibbled some bites of bread. Finally, he
decided to wash fairly first. Then h just took a glass of wine, took the bucket
with cold water and poured it all over himself in front of the building. He snuffed
loudly while the wine warmed him up. Then he crouched by the fire in the middle
of the barrack. The ice-cold water drops dripping from his hair and running
over his back were dried very soon. After a last sip of wine, he threw himself
down his bed and forced himself to fall asleep.
He was awake again by the change
of guard at dawn. He pulled on a clean shirt, then the armour and started his regular
morning tour in the camp. He spoke with the guard and gave the applicants their
duties for the day. Then he returned to the barrack for his weapons. He was just
attaching the scabbard on his back when the owl landed next to him. In the camp
of the Guard some members of the Healer Clan were permanent guests. Xi Wang
immediately had another horse saddled next to his own and took Ci Bei with him.
The woman was ten summers older than him, and she always, just as now, followed
him without questions. On rested horses they reached the house within just an
hour.
- Healer… - Jian Ming greeted them with visible relief in
front of the house. She blinked at her brother with a searching look. Xi Wang
was pale, but did not say a word. Yet he was his brother, so when they stood
beside the patient's bed, she knew exactly what the Captain felt.
The Healer checked the girl
silently. He asked a few short questions in a low voice, and sniffed into the
cup that was standing alone on the small cabinet by the bed.
- Was Crying Over Broken Hearts
really needed? - she finally asked.
- Brings no harm. - Jian Ming
shrugged.
- Go out. - Ci Bei gestured
toward the door, and the two siblings obeyed. They sat in the kitchen, Jian
Ming put some fruit and wine on the table.
- Do you want to talk about it?
Xi Wang shook his head.
- You will have to. If you don’t,
she will talk sooner or later.
- If it's up to you, my little
sister, surely. – the Captain murmured, then sighed deeply and looked in the
direction of the room. - Her name is Bai He. She is a servant in the Palace. I
mean she was...
- You picked up in the Snow Fog
Forest in a dress that no intelligent person would ever wear, and she's so ill
that a Healer was to be called to her. Exciting things must have happened in
the Palace. I wonder what she could do if they have thrown her out.
- She did nothing! - Xi Wang
replied loudly, but immediately lowered his voice as Jian Ming began to shake her
head. - Bai He didn’t do anything. - he repeated quietly.
- I wish I knew why she went to
the Forest. Maybe she was even thrown out of the City. Did she head somewhere?
- I don’t know. I have no idea
where she wanted to go.
- I thought you knew her. - Jian
Ming wondered.
- I ... - the Captain began, but
the words happened to come out of him only with difficulty. - All I know that
she was a servant. I didn’t have much opportunity to talk to her.
- What I think you're really
sorry. - his sister smiled. – Don’t worry, the Healer will help, and you can
chat with her enough.
Xi Wang raised his head, but there
was no trace of scorn in the look of his sister, so he smiled faintly as well.
Jian Ming looked at him
thoughtfully. She opened her mouth when Ci Bei appeared in the door and told them
that she woke up. Xi Wang jumped up from the table with such a zest, that all
his sister’s doubts disappeared. She did feel however, that she had better not
say anything and she fetched a plate instead to serve some ragout. If she is
better she would soon be hungry.
The Captain quietly walked to the
bed. He was embarrassed, though tried to hide it, not with much success of
course. Bai He lay pale under the blanket, that was pulled up to her waist. She
stared at the wall with her shaded eyes.
- Where am I? - she finally
asked.
- In our house. I brought you
here after I found you in the Snowfog Forest. - the Captain replied, and
overcame his bitterness because she didn’t want to look at him. - The Healer
says everything's fine. A few days of resting and your strength will return.
- Great. - she whispered in a
weak voice, without any persuasion.
- I'll take you home. - Xi Wang
suggested, that made her finally look up.
- Home? And where exactly?
The Captain questioned in
confusion:
- Home ... where you headed ... Are
you just saying that you went into the Snowfog Forest without any direction?
Bai He bowed his head, so he went
on furiously:
- You were foolish to go ... Without
protection, clothing or food ... You could have died ... why… why did you do
it?
The girl did not answer, but the
captain's fury quickly turned into a compassion as Bai He's sleek fingers came
to her miserably short hair. He stepped closer, but as he lifted his hand, her
sister entered the room with a plate of steaming ragout.
- It will be enough, brother. -
she said quietly. - You can come back later. Now go.
Xi Wang bowed and his hand was already
on the doorframe when Bai He whispered behind him.
- Thank you, Captain ...
But he did not turn, and said
nothing, only went quietly.
When the door was closed behind
the Captain, Jian Ming sat on the edge of the bed with the plate.
- Fortunately, nothing serious.
You were raving of fever, but you're fine now. Now you eat, rest, and strengthen.
- What use that they threw me of
the Palace if I’m just being ordered again? - Bai He bitterly pulled her face.
- My name is Kai Jian Ming. I'm the daughter of a blacksmith. And neither I nor anyone else will command you
any more, Bai He. Mind my words. - she laughed at her with pride and
cheerfulness in her voice. - And now eat, little sister.
It was hard to resist the gentle
violence. Finally, Jian Ming was forced to take out the spoon of her hands so
she would not eat too much. She skipped the strong palinka this time, brought her
only a light herbal tea, which Bai He drank with some huge gulps. Then she nested
herself back under the blanket, and by the time the other had gathered the
pots, she was already asleep. Jian Ming sighed. She felt strange, and she was
no longer so sure, that everything would be all right. She had no intention to
tell her brother what Bai He was shouting in her dreams, yet she worried if it
wouldn’t be too late, if she didn’t tell him the truth in time? She shook her
head. After the sleepless night she already could have used a relaxing sleep as
well, which might well be a solution to this delicate question. She left the
door open a bit, then walked into her own room, and being exhausted she fell
asleep.
It seemed as if seconds had
passed since she had put her head on the pillow, when Bai He started shouting
again and she woke up for her crying. But by the time she got up to get off the
bed she was silent in the other room again. Jian Ming grumbled, but didn’t get
up, only turned to the other side and went on sleeping.
She was awakened by the unknown wining
of horses. She came to herself immediately. Carefully she got out of bed,
opening the front door for an inch she peeked out to the courtyard and
immediately returned into her room. Hiding the blade behind her back she stopped
at the door again, placing the other hand on the doorknob, but she didn’t open
the door yet.
Three men pulled the halter in
front of the house, but they did not get off the saddle. They leaned to each
other and began to talk.
- Are you sure she’s alone? - one
of them asked, who was nervous and kept blinking towards the highway they came from.
- You saw her brother leaving, didn’t
you? Then stop whining here, Yu Ben. - the other man noted, who didn’t take his
hand off his sword.
Jian Ming wiped her palm in the
edge of his clothes. She knew them. At least two of them lived in the village, being
plain farmer boys who thought they would be worth more because of a rusty
blade. It was a pity they had no idea about honour, and beside their idleness they
were only concerned about finding and bothering her now and then. Until now,
they did not bother, they were satisfied with harsh words they thought would
take any girl off her feet. In her case, however, their only achievement was
that she stood in front of them only with a sword in her hand recently.
- Kai Jian Ming ... Are you home?
Come out. - they started shouting and laughing at the same time. – Fire
Princess ... Don’t make us beg... You know we’ll not leave until we can see
your beauty ...
The girl sighed resignedly. Of
course she knew. It went on the same every time. She will have to go out and
talk to them before they wanted to get into house. She forced a faint smile on her
face to hide the disgust, and stepped out the door.
- Dear Jian Ming, are you still
descending on us? What an honour. - the same man who had called her the Fire Princess
before jumped out of the saddle, and ignoring her firm and refusing attitude
stood before her then bowed.
Jian Ming returned it only with a
slight nod, but picked up her self-control and did not step back. She kept the
sword behind her back.
- Long time not seeing you in the
village. Why don’t you visit us? - he went on asking.
- I'm busy, Chou Lou ... I'm
helping my father.
- Why living alone in this house?
You need a husband to look after you. There are many rascals around here.
You're one of them, she thought,
but swallowed her anger and managed to show another smile. She chose her words carefully,
she didn’t want these three getting into the house in any circumstances.
- I'm grateful for you being so
worried about me. But I have my family and they look after me. And you can be
sure I'm going to find a proper husband. Who is respectable, honest and strong.
She shouldn’t have said that. Seeing
his look she had to realize, that if not her face or her words, but something
else betrayed her, perhaps her voice. Chou Lou continued to grin, but his eyes
went dark and he stepped a step closer to the girl, who swallowed hard and raised
the sword. Not much, she just moved it behind her. He paused and the smile left
from his face. Jian Ming was alone, yet they were three. But her father was the
blacksmith of the Royal Guard. If his daughter's hair just twisted, it could
have unpleasant consequences.
Chou Lou blinked behind his back.
Jian Ming followed his eyes and noticed that the third man was staring at her.
She had never seen him before, and his clothing was strange as well. It was
made of simple, unbleached but visibly strong material, and it has been
reinforced with swirling metal pieces in the required places. At his feet in
the saddle she saw an arched sword blade. He did not say a word, but his eyes
made Jian Ming shiver.
- Have a nice day, Princess. - said
Chou Lou, after some uncomfortable silence, and then mounted his horse. She didn’t
bother returning the greeting or smiling. She even exhaled only as the disappeared
on the road heading to the village. She went back to the house. Luckily Bai He
didn’t hear this interlude, she didn’t get up and went on sleeping sound in her
bed. Jian Ming rubbed her nape, then laying the sword on the kitchen table got to
make some tea. While the water boiled, she wondered if she shouldn’t speak with
his father and move back to the house next to the forge. Bai He regains her
strength within a day or two. By then maybe she will be able to make a decision
too.
Bai He slept over the rest of the
day and the night. Jian Ming took advantage of the quiet evening hours and
started gathering some of the things she needed for them. But then she was
tired of fatigue and fell asleep.
- What is this doing here? - she
heard the voice of the other girl in the morning when the sunlight percolating
through the window and the birds outside chased her dreams away. Rubbing her
eyes she went into the kitchen, where Bai He was sitting beside the table with
a healthy rosy face, her look clear and curious, staring at the sword.
- Good morning, Bai He. – she
muttered and dropped herself into a chair.
- I fetch some tea. – the other jumped
up with such energy that Jian Ming had begun to question if she was sick at all.
Now she seemed not only having recover her powers but her cheerfulness too. As
Bai He dealt with the tea, she pulled the sword closer.
- We’ll having dinner in my
father's house tonight. - she said quietly. She was not sure if it was a good
idea. They will be too close to the Guard camp. But Bai He either didn’t hear her
clearly or didn’t care about it, because she just hummed something and poured
tea for both of them. Then, by the time Jian Ming sipped up her tea and woke up
completely she ran around in the kitchen, packed food on the table, and started
chatting about the garden she saw from the window early in the morning.
- I noticed you planted some lemon
grass. What are you going to do with it? We make tea, but our neighbours used
to make a syrup of it with lots of honey.
- Bai He ... - she called, but
the other seemed to have not heard.
- I didn’t see grapes. I thought
if you had so many fruit trees there would be grapes.
- Bai He ...
- I don’t know what the Healer
did, but I'm starving. What about lunch?
- Bai He! Enough! - Jian Ming took
her head in despair, and that made Bai He finally stop. She tossed her plate away
and picked her short hair with visible embarrassment. She avoided Jian Ming's look
and started to stare at the sword again.
- I'm sorry. - Jian Ming finally broke
the silence. - Before ... I mean I've been planning to go back to my father
earlier. We rarely use this house, we usually live in the village next to the
forge. So we're closer to the camp where my father always has something to do. -
she went silent, but the other didn’t look at her and didn’t reply, so she
continued. - Of course you can stay with us as long as you want.
Bai He glanced up, with no sign
of cheerfulness she only tried to pretend anyway.
- I was thinking, Jian Ming. About
what happened in the Palace, about how your brother behaved and about what I
wanted and what I could do ... Please do not think I'm ungrateful. But ... I
have to take my fate into my own hands.
- You want to leave? - Jian Ming
wondered. - But where are you going? I thought...
- I have a family too. Not too
close, but it’s not impossible to get to them. Just a few days.
- You can not leave. - said Jian
Ming, perhaps a little more firmly than necessary, and that was obvious for Bai
He as well. She raised her eyebrows, and the other quickly added: - Stay a few
more days, little sister. You won’t be late from anywhere. I want you to meet
my father, I want to give you some things...
- All right, all right, I'll
stay. But just a couple of days, all right?
- All right. - Jian Ming said,
and she was very pleased with herself. She could see that the girl began to gaze
in the distance again, but she assured herself that it was of no significance,
and she tried not to worry about her impression that Bai He didn’t tell the
truth. She didn’t mention the afternoon visitors of the day before at all.
