Yuze was right.
He found out two days later, when the healers were finally starting to relent on their insistence that Yuze and Eirian remain in the hospital.
Contrary to most situations where he was proven right, he didn’t take any enjoynt or satisfaction from it. Eirian and Yuze were apparently the last to find out, which both of them were sure was on purpose.
They were both angry about it, too, up until they saw who it was, and then Yuze was a lot more annoyed and Eirian a lot more amused.
Kai Low had apparently insisted on being introduced to Eirian and Yuze, despite what Yuze had told them about their run-in and their current condition.
For soone who’d grown up outside a noble court, the young tribesman was coming out swinging, and he seed determined to make sure everyone knew.
Yuze couldn’t stop himself from rolling his eyes as soon as Chenzhou stepped aside to officially introduce the tribe’s ambassador to Sorrow, “Kai Low of the Bandri.”
Eirian looked far too amused when Kai Low stomped straight over to Yuze’s bed and looked him over, demanding to know if Yuze rembered anything from the night he escaped.
“I rember everything,” Yuze said, voice as dry as the deserts of the Wasteland.
Kai Low sniffed, “Then you rember I never tortured you.” Behind him, Chenzhou frowned, suddenly concerned.
Yuze stared at teh tribesman, avoiding those golden eyes by staring sowhere around his chin.
There was a tiny white scar to the left of it, like he’d been scraped on the chin by sothing sharp. A close call.
“I rember you didn’t stop it,” Yuze responded, but it lacked any real heat. As painful as the experience had been, Yuze had no energy left for anger.
“Did you expect too?” Kai Low asked, and he seed honestly curious.
“No.” Yuze’s answer was simple, concise, and seed to infuriate Kai Low, who scowled imdiately and demanded to know why not.
In the next bed, Eirian’s regrowing eyebrows climbed up her forehead, while Mingzhe looked confused.
Yuze shared a perplexed look with Chenzhou. “Does it matter? It’s in the past.”
“It was barely a few weeks ago!” Kai Low sqwacked.
“Are you mad he’s not mad?” Eirian asked, a little too gleefully.
Kai Low frowned at her. “No! Course not. I just want to make sure it won’t be an issue going forward.” He crossed his arms, his build so much like Fox’s, but his mannerisms were so different. “We are embarking on a new relationship. One that affects the survival of both our peoples. If you allow your feelings to fester, it will doom this alliance.”
“I’m perfectly capable of being professional, regardless of my personal feelings.” Yuze drawled, which only made Kai Low scowl harder. Why was he so upset?
“Lord Kai Low will be staying in the guest quarters until we figure out a more permanent, appropriate place for the ambassador.” Chenzhou intervened, pointedly ignoring Kai Low’s continued glower.
Eirian nudged Mingzhe and waggled her eyebrows at him. Mingzhe fought down a smile, more at Eirian’s own amusent than whatever she thought was happening with Yuze and Kai Low.
Kai Low’s concerns, as ridiculous as they may have seed to them, still clearly ant sothing to him, and he certainly didn’t seem inclined to let them go anyti soon.
“Perhaps it would be best if we tabled this for now.” Chenzhou continued, giving in to his natural urge to keep the peace. “Princess Soliel and Lord Rong are both still healing, but I’m sure they would be happy to continue the discussion once they are feeling better.”
Kai Low blinked at Chenzhou, then glanced at Eirian. Surprise crossed his face, like he’d just realized she was there at all.
Fox would have known who everyone in the room was and where they were standing before he’d even entered.
Another difference, but the more Yuze looked at him, the more he was convinced that Fox and Kai Low were related. He’d shared those suspicions with Chenzhou, Eirian, and Mingzhe when he’d told them what happened, but talking about Fox was still too painful, and when Yuze had stopped, they hadn’t pushed.
Would it ever stop being painful? Yuze had so many questions, but just thinking about them made his heart ache. It felt like a weakness, and that made him afraid. For himself and for Chenzhou, because any weakness in Yuze was a threat to Chenzhou and his position as leader of the Calia.
Was this why Eirian rarely talked about her life before she ca to the Calia? She talked about her father, sure, but she’d only ntioned Philip to Chenzhou a few tis, and she barely ntioned anyone else. She seed amused by rumors when they ca up, but rarely addressed them, and so much had happened since her arrival at the Calia that there’d been no chance to really push for more.
It was easier to forget than to rember and far less painful.
Yuze intended to forget Fox and the small monts they’d shared as quickly as possible.
And he’d deal with the fact that Fox had most likely been a traitor once he didn’t have his blood standing right in front of him.
~ tbc
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