by JC Kang
They bowed again. Kaiya prepared a cup of sweet evergreen tea, which they both shared. Finally, they bowed to each other.
“You may commit yourselves to each other.”
Tian’s gaze met hers, again sending her heart racing. “I take you as my wife, forever.”
“I am yours forever, my husband,” she answered.
Weiyong bowed low, and then held up their names, carved into wooden plaques. “I will invest these together in your new ancestral shrine, which I shall dedicate in this village. Having followed the rituals prescribed by the Emperor and Empress in Heaven, you now belong to each other.”
He raised his head and grinned. “By the law of Hua, an official witness is required to confirm that a member of the Imperial Family’s marriage is consummated.”
Heat rose in Kaiya’s face. She stared at the floor.
Tian stood up and unceremoniously ejected the chuckling Weiyong from the lodge. Outside, the gathered crowd gasped and laughed at his sudden appearance.
Returning to his knees, Tian stared at the floor, too shy to make eye contact with his bride. An awkward silence ensued. He knew that she knew what should happen next. Unlike their spontaneous kissing and touching before, the next part of the wedding was too scripted, too awkward.
Neither spoke, the silence exacerbating the playful taunts of the villagers outside.
He looked up.
Blushing in the flickering firelight, she looked down at her knees and started to unbraid her hair.
Kaiya was beautiful, even more so than in the finest silk gowns and bedecked in priceless jewels. His wife. To think that she loved him, the unworthy boy who’d once locked her in an armoire. He never thought he’d find love, let alone marry. She was more than he deserved.
She looked up at him through her lashes and offered a shy smile.
He’d wanted her for weeks now. All his passion, pent up by discipline.
It exploded now, like a spring river torrent bursting through a dam. He stood and pulled her to her feet. A surprised gasp escaped her. He brought her to him, fiercely kissing her neck, moving up towards her lips. Her sweet fragrance filled him as her soft body pressed against his.
Kaiya groped at his shoulders and back. He reached behind her and unfastened the ties of her dress. It fell to her ankles, revealing silken undergarments from Hua—her last vestige of vanity from a past life.
His hands had brushed across them before, and even ventured below, but never had he actually seen them. He paused momentarily to take it in, that which no man had ever laid eyes on before. A trapezoidal-shaped red silk top, embroidered with green, blue, and golden flowers, accentuated her perfect curves and was held in place by thin laces tied behind her bare back at the neck and waist. Red silken arabesque underpants hid her most guarded place, hinting at what lay beneath.
Heart pounding, Tian pulled her back and drew her into a deep kiss. His dexterous fingers unraveled the ties of her top, and she undid the knot holding up his breeches. Finally, he loosened the strings that held her underwear. It slid down to her knees.
He stepped back to pull off his tunic, and then took in her nakedness in the dimming firelight.
She crossed her shapely legs and covered herself with her arms. She looked down demurely, causing her hair to fall over her face. But presently, she lifted her gaze and brushed the tresses out of her eyes. The coy smile was an invitation.
He took her hands in his, which revealed the treasures she’d been hiding, and brought her down onto the fur bedding.
Kaiya savored the ache after their first lovemaking. The darkness of the lodge mingled with the warmth of Tian’s body, enveloping her in a calm sense of security. Naked under the thick fur blankets, she lay on her side with her head on Tian’s chest, his arm wrapped over her.
He breathed lightly in shallow sleep, while she lay there wide awake. She brushed her free hand over his firm chest and abdominal muscles. A cold wind blew outside, rustling the door to the lodge, allowing the merged lights from the blue and white moons to peek in. Beyond that, a wolf howled in the far distance.
Their first conjugal experience had been nervously awkward and over quickly. Her sisters-in-law had told her the first time would be. It didn’t matter. After the brief physical intimacy, she now belonged to him, him to her. Two souls, two bodies joined as one.
She’d happily remain here forever, in this rustic village, away from Father’s court and the associated burdens of duty, as long as she could share this life with him.
His embrace tightened. Was he thinking the same in his sleep? Allowing the darkness to hide her smile, she turned her head and kissed him on the chin, her hair brushing across his smooth chest.
The light touch must have woken him, because he slid his arm out from under her. He rolled her onto her back and buried his face into her neck, his breath hot and urgent.
Kaiya woke in Tian’s embrace. High in the Heavens, the sun peeked in through the lodge’s smoke hole. Languid, exhausted, and pleasantly sore, she rolled onto her side to look at her husband.
Sleep draped him in childhood innocence, exposing the gentle soul he hid underneath layers of discipline and duty.
She kissed him on the forehead and unwrapped herself from his arms. Dragging herself out of the blankets, she walked past her wedding dress, which laid in an unceremonious heap, to her plain doeskin clothes.
He yawned, and she turned around. His eyes creaked open and met her gaze.
And she was naked, hair tousled like a nest made by a drunken bird. With one hand, she covered her nether regions; the other arm, she crossed over her chest and brushed out her unruly tresses.
She fiddled with a strand of her hair. Silly girl. Not like she had anything to hide from her husband. Not anymore, not to the man she’d given herself to. Still.
Grinning, he covered his eyes. “I’ll...uh, get dressed under here.”
She turned back to her clothes and was about to bend down to pick them up, when she looked over her shoulder.
Tian still watched her, his expression yearning.
Should she be embarrassed? She cast him a mischievous grin as she shimmied into her underpants and slid into the dress.
With a pout, he disappeared beneath the blanket, emerging seconds later fully clothed.
He pushed open the flap and gestured her out.
Cheers and grins greeted them as they made their way through the village. Heat flared in her cheeks, hot enough to melt the snow. She’d spent too many years in Hua to acculturate to the Maki’s open attitudes towards relations between men and women. Nonetheless, having abdicated her responsibilities, she looked forward to a life of simplicity here. Maybe one day, her children would assimilate fully into the tribe.
Children.
An old couple, hand-in-hand, grinned at them.
In thirty years, would they be like that, too?
Ma Jun ran up to them, dropping to one knee, first to the ground. “Dian-xia, the chief asks that you come to his lodge. A neighboring village reported seeing Bovyans.”
CHAPTER 46:
Rude Awakening
Tian was relieved that the neighboring village’s sighting of Teleri scouts was an isolated incident. At least for now. It wouldn’t be long before winter loosened its grip on the plateau, and their patrols could move freely through the woods.
In the meantime, the idyllic lifestyle seemed like a dream, full of the joys and trials of new marriage. Living together exposed quirks he would’ve never imagined in her, and no doubt she found some of his habits no less strange. Passionate arguments, invariably leading to his capitulation, quickly gave way to passionate lovemaking.
Ma Jun married Lana late in the eleventh month. If Yuha was concerned about his sister wedding a foreigner, it was probably tempered by the relief that she had found someone who could tolerate her strong will and personality. They moved into a newly-constructed lodge right beside Tian and Kaiya’s.
The snows petered out as quickly as they’
d come that season. The red berries of the river shrubs reached their sweetest at the end of the eleventh month, and now, fewer and fewer clung to the branches. Tian’s anxiety grew as the paths through the woods opened up with an early spring thaw.
Soon enough, the Omiki men who came to learn from Tian brought disturbing news. Ancient roads that had been long-lost to outsiders now teamed with activity. The Metal Men passed along the trails from east to west in ever-increasing numbers. Larger contingents carried supplies and tools. Horse-riders became more frequent.
Then, the slaves. Hundreds of people from the eastern Kanin tribes, chained together with collars around their necks. They cut swaths of greywoods along the main path, while others worked to restore the ancient stonework beneath.
Stories out of the east suggested that several large fortresses now controlled strategic points along the road. The Omiki observed from a distance, avoiding confrontation. They feared it would not be long before more and more of these Metal Men would become frequent visitors to their lands.
One day, as Tian taught spearwork to a group of Maki and Omiki tribesmen in the fallow cornfield, a squad of ten Teleri light infantry stumbled upon their practice. Chainmail peeked out from beneath their black tunics. Swords and daggers hung at their waists, and they all carried Teleri spears. A Kanin man from an unfamiliar tribe guided them.
Keeping an eye on the newcomers, Tian continued with his lesson. They huddled together near the stream, just outside of earshot to be clearly heard. After some discussion among themselves, the scout approached. He extended his right open hand, held in his left, in typical tribal greetings.
Hati motioned for a break and stepped forward.
“Hello, brothers,” the scout said in a dialect Tian could barely follow. “These men are exploring the forest, and I’m their guide. Would you mind if we rested here?”
Tian would’ve rather they move along. Nonetheless, the chief’s son glared at the scout and pointed towards the edge of the field. “Unseeded ground belongs to no one. You may sit.”
The scout walked back to the Teleri soldiers, and the tribesmen around began muttering among themselves.
Hati leaned in. “He belongs to the Shaki tribe, you can tell by his marks. They are from the east, very aggressive. Nobody likes them.”
Tian draped an arm over Hati and edged toward the Teleri, straining to hear their conversation.
The Teleri leader poked the scout in the chest. “Demand some food.”
The scout returned, head hung low. “The visitors are hungry and want food.”
Face flushing, Hati shook his head. “Tell your master it’s winter’s end, and food is scarce. We have none to spare.”
The Shaki skulked back to the Teleri. “He say no food in winter.”
The captain squared his shoulders and glared in their direction. “They’re not scared, but that’s because they’ve never tasted Teleri steel. Tell them we would like a challenge. Let’s see what these barbarians are made of.”
The Shaki came back with the Teleri captain. “It is not often that we see our Maki and Omiki kinsmen practicing together. The visitors would like a friendly lesson with your leader.”
Tian had been around the tribe long enough to know the invitation was a thinly veiled challenge. He also knew that Hati was not one to back down from a fight.
Predictably enough, Hati thumped his chest. “I’d be happy to teach it.” Scowling, the young man wrapped cloth around the spearhead. Tribesmen demarcated an area on the field, a square the length and width of three men.
Tian pulled him aside. “Brother, these men are trying to gauge our strengths and weaknesses. You can’t reveal all your techniques and strategies, but you must still win so they don’t think we are weak.”
Hati nodded, but the words didn’t seem to be getting through.
With a sigh, Tian pointed to the Teleri spearhead. It was a new configuration, with multiple uses. “Look at the shape. The blade can be used to stab or slash. At the base of the blade is a hook, used to catch weapons or legs. On the other side, the hammerhead can break a bone.”
The chieftain’s son brushed Tian away and sauntered into the ring. He spun in a circle, pumping his fists. Amid the tribespeople’s cheers, he thumbed his right fist over his heart.
The Bovyan returned the gesture, and then pointed his wrapped spear at Hati. The two circled each other. While the Maki yelled advice, the Teleri soldiers watched in silence.
The captain lunged with a skillful thrust.
Hati intercepted the spear with his own, guiding it harmlessly to the right, then swept down along the shaft and struck the Bovyan in the hand with the pole. Tian suppressed a grin. It was one of the early techniques he taught.
The Teleri wrung his hand, even though his gauntlet had probably absorbed a lot of the force. With the man’s guard down, Hati landed a quick strike to his armored torso.
Grimacing, the Bovyan avoided Hati’s follow-up, then came down with the hammerhead.
Hati lifted his spear up to block the blow, but the Teleri twisted his weapon on contact. With a quick pull back, the hook caught Hati’s spear and yanked it from his hands.
The Teleri soldiers all roared taunts while the tribespeople fell silent. Tian sighed. The next lesson would cover counters to the hook.
The leader waved a condescending hand. “Not bad, for an untrained savage.” He picked up Hati’s spear, unwrapped the tip, and grinned. He threw it back into Hati’s hands. “Unfortunately, I doubt this stone head could penetrate our armor.”
Tian hung in the background. It was true, one of his greatest concerns. When the Shaki translated, Hati bristled with rage.
The captain twirled his own spear. “Perhaps we can civilize your people, and teach you how to make metal weapons. All you need to do is become our vassals, as your Shaki kinsmen have.”
He was goading them. Tian kept silent. Yet on translation, Hati’s face flushed an ugly red. Shaking, and despite Tian’s silent pleading, he drew close to the captain, glaring him in the eye, even if he barely came up to the man’s chin. “I will fight again!”
The scout translated and the Bovyan laughed. “I’ve already defeated you. If any others are brave enough to try my spear, then let them step forth.”
Upon hearing the translation, the tribesmen started chanting. “Warrior Beyond The Wall!”
Tian drifted toward the back. Up close, the Bovyans would likely be able to tell he wasn’t Kanin.
Hati, oblivious to the danger, pushed through his people and pulled Tian forward. “Brother, you must fight for the honor of the tribe!”
Tian shook his head. “I can’t. I’ll explain later. If these men find out...that Kaiya and I are here. They’ll come back.”
Hati shook his head, his eyes dancing with excitement. “Don’t worry about that. You’re our family now, and we’ll protect you. Your enemy is my enemy. If they come to our village with ill intentions, they will feel the points of our spears!”
Tian cringed. The boy was overconfident and inexperienced. Though their spearwork had improved, they were still no match for the organized ruthlessness of Bovyan shock troops, fighting in an armored phalanx. “These men are just the beginning. Many nations have fallen before them.”
The captain’s laugh made Tian look up. “It’s too bad that only your leader is brave enough to fight. If the rest of you are such cowards, then you aren’t worth civilizing.”
Tian feigned ignorance.
The Shaki scout approached, head bowed. “If you do not fight, they will think you are weaklings and it will only be a matter of time before you become their slaves. Learn from our tribe’s mistakes.”
Just like the Nothori Northwest, which Tian had witnessed firsthand. With a sigh, he crouched and rubbed dirt on his face. Then, he stepped into the ring, spear in hand. In the Kanin dialect, he issued his challenge. “You’ve said our spears won’t pierce your steel skin. Let’s see if that’s true.” He turned to the scout. “Tell him!”
Paling, the Shaki translated. “He want fight, open blade!”
The captain laughed, unwrapping the cloth. “Very well, let’s see how long you last!”
Tian gave the Kanin salute.
His opponent returned the formality, and then dropped into a fighting stance. Without waiting, Tian stabbed at him with a clumsy, slow thrust, which his opponent easily deflected with his own spear. He twisted it and locked up Tian’s weapon with the hook. However, Tian had set the move up, and before it could be yanked out of his hands, he thrust his spear downwards so that the Teleri’s blade drove into the soft ground. Letting go of his weapon, he jumped forward and stomped on the shaft of his enemy’s spear.
It slipped from the Bovyan’s fingers. With two quick steps, Tian closed the distance, drew the shocked Teleri’s own dagger and pressed the blade at his throat. “Yield,” he ordered in the Maki dialect.
The message needed no translation. The captain held up his hands. The tribespeople all cheered.
Tian looked over his shoulder. A crowd had gathered, Kaiya among them. She shrank back behind the others. Hopefully the Bovyans hadn’t seen her. Since the Hua and Kanin people shared some physical similarities, perhaps they’d go unnoticed.
He turned back to his opponent and presented the dagger. “Well fought.”
After hearing the translation, the Teleri captain sneered. He yanked his sword back. “I am only one man, but the strength of the Teleri Empire is in the coordination of our troops. Perhaps you would like to try five of your warriors against three of mine?”
Tian narrowed his eyes. The Maki had very little experience fighting in formation. Ma Jun would have to drill them. There had to be another way. “I’ll fight all three by myself.”
Kaiya let out a startled cry, and the captain looked at her. She quieted and disappeared back into the crowd. As his counter-offer was being translated, the Maki began to chant, “Warrior Beyond The Wall.”
The captain laughed, with no hint of mirth. “You’re a confident bastard, aren’t you? Very well then, this should be interesting.” He motioned for three of his men to enter the ring.