Though the sun had barely risen when the knock sounded at his door, Baatar was already wide awake and tending to Sarnais needs. Frowning at the intrusion and slling the food, he instructed the servant to leave breakfast at the door and go, as they did every day. Hed made his wishes known long ago, no one was allowed into the room aside from family or Healers. If he allowed strangers in, shed scold him until the heavens fell from the sky for letting people see her while she slept. A foolish woman, always worrying about her appearance even though she was still as beautiful as the day theyd married. He rembered it like it was yesterday, kneeling across from her with fingers interlocked and voices intertwined as they said their vows.
Heart aching at the mory of better days, he finished wiping his wifes face with a warm washcloth, praying she would open her eyes and smile at his tender touch. Unresponsive for weeks now, there had been little to no improvent in her condition, and after he passed over all authority to Major General Han BoHai, there was nothing left for him to do but watch as his sweet rose slowly withered away, day by tortuous day. Repressing a sigh, he took a deep breath before opening the door to find a welco surprise on the other side. Standing behind a small cart, Rain smiled and said, Hello. Im back.
The boys arms went wide and Baatar pulled him into a warm embrace. Welco ho, boy. The journey was hard on you. Youve done well to survive your tribulations and won much honour and glory for the People. Half-dragging Rain and his cart into the room, Baatar closed the door behind them and inspected his disciple. Though still short of stature and lean of fra, the boy had grown in this short half-year of separation. With broader shoulders and a straight back, there was no sign of the timid, anxious child hed once been. Whether it be from the glint in his eye or the set of his jaw, Baatar knew a warrior stood before him, a man forged in battle and bloodshed. Weary and worn from his struggles, Rain stood ready to face whatever the day might bring with his head held high.
Good. Good.
Sorry for not coming by earlier. We arrived long after midnight and I didnt want to disturb your sleep. Moving the dining table next to the bed, he set down a tray of food and gestured for Baatar to sit. I ate while cooking, so you go ahead. Placing a steaming bowl on the nightstand, Rain turned to Sarnai and took her hand. After I heard what happened, I made you so eight-treasure soup. Both delicious and nutritious, its a nourishing broth which will help keep your strength up. It still needs to cool, but you can enjoy the fragrance as it does.
Seeing his upbeat and bright manner, Baatar couldnt help but shake his head. She cant hear you, boy. Shes wholly unresponsive to sound, light, touch, and sll. Though he still held hope for his rose, he couldnt deny the situation looked grim.
Smiling gently, Rain shrugged. The mind is a strange and mysterious thing. Not even Teacher can claim to know all its mysteries. Ill admit, its unlikely she can hear us, but nothing is lost by speaking. Reaching under the cart, Rain pulled out an ornate porcelain vase and so flowers, placing them on the window sill. These are your favourite flowers, the violet mountain roses which grow in big clusters. Theres a whole field of them nearby, you should make ntor bring you to see them after you wake. Its a breathtaking sight, but you should hurry if you want to see them before next spring.
Grateful for Rains optimism and support, Baatar ate his breakfast and watched as the boy bustled about the room, describing his gifts out loud for Sarnais benefit. A painting depicting the Sacred Tree in all its glory, an eighteen-petal lotus blossom carved out of the finest lavender jade, a solid gold censer adorned with silver sculpted dragons, Rains little cart was filled with a multitude of riches which left Baatar gaping in shock. One or two luxurious gifts might be explained as a reward for the boys accomplishnts in Sanshu, but this was far too extravagant. Though Baatar had little experience in appraising works of art, any fool could see these gifts were priceless and Rain already placed five of them around the room, with no sign of stopping. As the boy pulled out his sixth gift, a wedding barge carved out of ivory, Baatar was forced to speak up. Boy, did you save Sanshu or pillage it? Whered you get all these works of art?
With a toothy grin, Rain patted Baatar on the shoulder. Why not both? Seeing his frown, the boy winked and Sent, Im kidding, dont look so sour. Magistrate Tongzu wont be hunting down for looting his city, these are spoils of war I took from the Butcher Bay hideout. Out loud, the boy said, You wouldnt believe it if I told you. On the way back, we saved a rchant from so bandits, with help from the Society Warrant Officers. As thanks, the rchant sold us all his expensive wares at bargain prices before returning ho to retire. I guess he found the rchant life too dangerous and was happy to recoup his costs.
Stifling a laugh at the shaless and poorly acted lie, Baatar shook his head and listened as the boy regaled them with tales of his adventures in Sanshu. As fanciful and astonishing as they were, Baatar knew Rain well enough to know he wasnt bragging. If anything, the boy was probably downplaying his accomplishnts. To hear him tell it, he was rely a bystander going along with the flow instead of soone who played a pivotal role in the entire matter. He focused more on how adorable his pets were than the battles he won or skills he developed. Though there were many questions to ask and mysteries to uncover, Baatar was content to listen in silence, taking pride in his disciples achievents and accepting everything at face value, knowing Rain would explain everything in ti.
A good child and an even better disciple. Baatar couldnt take credit for teaching him well. Everything Rain accomplished, he did so on his own, but Baatar still took pride in seeing this young man blossom.
The hours flew by as Rain kept them company, but just before lunch, little Lin arrived to collect him, his hare-brained Teacher seeking him out for work. As Rain listed off a checklist of last-minute instructions and exercises to help Sarnai, Baatar held back his tears and basked in the warmth and care shown by this filial disciple. He only wished his daughter shared Rains optimism, but he couldnt fault her for it. The girl was pragmatic and hardheaded, just as hed raised her to be. It wasn't easy on her either, and were it anyone else, Baatar would have given the sa advice she gave him; accept Sarnais loss, mourn, and move on, but this was his wife, his love, his rose.
How could he give her up for dead while she still drew breath?
An Aura washed over him and Baatar's sword hand twitched in response before settling down. Nothing to be concerned about, the boy was rely showing off his skills. A second surprise lay in wait though, as the boys Aura filled him with warm comfort and doting love. Staring at Rain in shock, Baatar hardly believed his senses, this little disciple hiding so much beneath the surface. How was this possible? All his life, Baatar thought Aura was only used to shelter allies and unnerve enemies, but the boy showed him it was so much more. The raw emotion displayed by Rains Aura was so vivid and tangible, his love and devotion couldnt be any clearer. I cant promise I'll save her, he said, but Ill study hard, do my best, and ask Teacher to do the sa. So long as there is life, there is hope, so you need to eat more, dress better, and er... bathe. Please. Smiling, he added, Else when Sarnai wakes up and sees you like this, shell scold into a pile of quivering tofu for not taking care of you. Ill have soone send lunch and co back when I can, okay?
As Rain strolled out hand in hand with his betrothed, Baatar took Sarnais hand in his own. Do you hear him, my rose? he Sent, squeezing her fingers lightly. This is the little foundling wed feared would never recover, grown into a splendid young man. Forget his accomplishnts and achievents, earning his love and affection was well worth the risk.
His heart skipped a beat and he held his breath as he stared at his wife. Was it his imagination or did she just squeeze back? Almost giddy with joy, tears dripped down his cheeks as he Sent ssage after ssage, telling her how much he loved and missed her, but there was no response. After a long ti, he dried his tears and breathed deep, smiling for the first ti in weeks.
Although little had changed upon Rains return, Baatar felt more optimistic now that his disciple was working to save Sarnai. He couldnt explain why, but he knew if anyone could turn things around, it would be Rain, his miraculous little disciple.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Seeing his uncle in such disarray, Zian was shocked into silence. Once a proud, confident leader of n, Situ Jia Yang seed like a different person as he sat slumped in his cushioned chair. Still wearing his wrinkled nightclothes in the middle of the day, his shoulders trembled in repressed fury as he stared out from behind baggy eyes and sallow skin. The savage brat returned last night, he said, without a word of greeting for his nephew. Rode past midnight to get here. I heard youve been travelling with him for weeks now, not even stopping to see your mother on the way back. Strange thing is, if youre such great friends with the brat, then why werent you travelling with him last night? Is the great Situ Jia Zian too timid to ride in the dark? Or have you cast aside all filial responsibility for your new barbarian comrades?
Taken aback by the outright hostility, it took Zian a mont to recover. Hed never admit it out loud, but sixteen hours of travel a day for weeks on end had almost driven Zian and his retinue to the brink of exhaustion. Had he dared order his soldiers to press on into the night, they might have snapped and murdered him on the spot. Uncle Yang, what happened?
Slamming his palm on the table, Uncle Yang scread, Im still your ntor, boy! You will show the respect I deserve!
Narrowing his eyes, Zian slowly counted to ten to rein in his temper. When that failed, he counted to ten again, and once more before he trusted himself to speak. Are you saying, he said, carefully enunciating each word, that you believe ntor a loftier title than Uncle? If so, then youre gravely mistaken. Youve been my ntor for less than a year but an uncle all my life. You are the blood of my blood and the only living relative I have aside from my mother. Though I can always find a new ntor, I could never replace you.
Zians words had a more profound effect on his uncle than expected. Hanging his head in defeat, uncle Yang drew a trembling breath. Youre right, he said after exhaling slowly. Youre right. I shouldnt have snapped at you. Ive been too stressed of late, with my closest allies turned to ashes and scattered to the wind while my enemies crawl out of the woodwork to condemn my actions. Worst of all, Ive no recourse against them, with no choice but to sit here and accept their insults and lies.
Though no apology was made or would be forthcoming, Zian knew this was the best his uncle would offer. Aggravating, but Zian was more concerned than annoyed. What happened in his absence to discourage Uncle Yang so? Before he could find his voice, his uncle stood and patted Zian on the shoulder, an awkward, unfamiliar gesture of affection for both of them. Ive made a proper ss of things and failed horribly. Ill be lucky to get off with a court-martial and a fine, so youre the last hope of our branch of the family now.
What? Zian could hardly believe his ears. How could his domineering Uncle Yang give up so easily? What happened, perhaps theres still hope.
Ha. Uncle Yang barked out a note of harsh laughter. The only way I wont be punished is if the Defiled return to take the Wall and raze the Province. Shaking his head, he settled back into his seat with a defeated sigh. It seed like the right thing to do. The outer walls were taken, the inner walls crumbling beneath the assault, the battle all but lost. To conserve our strength for the battles ahead, I pulled my soldiers back to fortify Shen Yun. Who would have thought the Defiled would falter, pulling back at the first sign of rain?
Rain? What did that scrawny brat have to do with anything, he only arrived yesterday.
Not the brat, fool. Rain, precipitation, drops of water falling from the sky. Taking a drink straight from the teapot, so liquid with a distinctly non-tea like sll spilled down Uncle Yangs chin. Alcohol? Uncle rarely drank, a proponent of sobriety and moderation all his life. Oh it was a heavy downpour to be sure, with day turned dark as night, but no thunder or lightning, no wind or hail, just... rain. The Demons and Defiled fled so quickly youd think they were made of sugar, worried theyd lt away in the downpour. The damn luck of the Bekhai, eh? Sighing, Uncle Yang took another swig of the teapot and laughed. At least the province is safe, right?
Unable to formulate a response, Zian stood in stupefied silence. Uncle Yang was no coward, he wouldnt have abandoned the Bridge unless the situation called for it. Unfortunately, with how things turned out, their enemies would twist the truth to their advantage. In truth, a court-martial would be lenient. Even with all his years of ritorious service, Uncle Yang could be executed for cowardice if sentencing went poorly. How did things go so wrong?
Calm down, boy. Uncle Yang spoke softly, his smile not reaching his eyes as he comforted Zian. Ive still a few favours to call in, the Justicars wont demand my death. In fact, its better if you keep calling Uncle instead of ntor. This way, my failures cannot be used against you and besides, Mother knows Ive taught you next to nothing. Your strength and prowess results from your hard work and dedication. Forget about , boy. My star has dimd while yours still rises.
Guilt welled up within Zian as he thought about how hed intended to replace Uncle Yang with Jukai as his ntor. Uncle...
None of your soft-hearted, girlish ways, I still know whats best for you. Soon enough, Ill have no ti to teach you anyways. Without my rank, my enemies will grow confident and Ill be forced into hiding. Dont worry, Ive not lost my wits or my strength, Ill show them Situ Jia Yang is not a man to be taken lightly. With a grimace, Uncle Yang hesitated before continuing. Be honest now, I wont fault you. Have you made peace with the little savage?
Sort of. Clasping his uncles forearm, Zian explained the entire situation with Yo Lings treasure through Sending, having practised with Jukai the entire journey ho.
When he finished telling the tale, Uncle Yang shook his head in disapproval. You take after your father. An unstoppable warrior but a bumbling diplomat. Should have asked for more or refused to go along. The words stung, especially since Zian knew little about his father, and Uncle Yang noticed his mistake, quieting for a mont. After a consoling pat on the cheek, he continued. Well, this is fine. The Bekhai are experiencing a teoric rise in power and you cannot afford to antagonize them, not anymore. Forget the brats accomplishnts, the wolf's already being hailed as the next Nian Zu, here to defend the province for hundreds of years to co. Doesnt even deserve it, owes all his success to luck and coincidence.
After so more grumbling, Uncle Yangs voice dropped to a whisper. About your father... Its no secret we never got along, but he loved your mother. More importantly, she loved him and there was nothing I could do about it. A small chuckle escaped his lips and for a second, Uncle Yang looked twenty years older. Then he died, doing stupid things for stupid reasons. Wrapping Zian in his embrace, he whispered, Ive never had a son, but Ive always thought of you as one. I envy him you know? Seeing you fight and earn glory in his style, youve done him proud. Youve made proud. Never forget this.
Choking back his tears, Zian snarled and said, Stay alive uncle. Give a few years and Ill beco strong enough to protect you, I swear it.
Ha. Thatll be the day. The great Situ Jia Yang relying on a profligate dandy to protect him, Id be better off dead and burned. The mocking tone was softened by Uncle Yangs smile. Dismissing Zian with a wave of his hand, Uncle Yang said, Begone now, go write a letter to your mother before she marches down here to chew you out in person. Neither of us will survive if that should co to pass.
Yes uncle. Pausing at the door, Zian turned to see Uncle Yang already gazing out the window with a forlorn look. Swallowing his words, Zian stepped out and closed the door behind him. Its likely the clan would disavow Uncle Yang before the court-martial even took place, and without the Societys protection, he was in more danger than he let on. It disgusted Zian to see his uncle abandoned so readily, half the enemies looking to kill him were made carrying out the Societys interests.
Complaining wont change anything, the only way Zian could help was by seizing more power, both personal and political. Gathering his thoughts, Zian abandoned his plans to renounce his place as young patriarch and focused on drafting a letter to his mother. If he wanted power, the quickest and easiest thod would be an alliance through marriage. If the Situ Clan wouldnt stand behind Uncle Yang, then perhaps soone else would, soone stronger. With the Bekhais growing power, Sumila, daughter of Akanai would have been a perfect choice, but she was already betrothed to Rain, the lucky bastard.
No matter, there were plenty of single, attractive, well-connected won in the empire, who werent betrothed to Falling Rain. In fact, he quickly picked out a second possible candidate, a beautiful, talented, rising young dragon in the central province, with ties to the Bekhai and the Du family: Du Min Gyus Terminal Disciple, Du Min Yan.
...At least, Zian prayed she wasnt betrothed to Rain.
Be reasonable, how lucky could one man be?
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