by Ivy Clyde
“It’s the best choice we’ve got at the moment.”
“No matter what happens, don’t shift, Cain,” I said as a sliver of anxiety settled in my gut. “Right now, only Mekhi and the soldiers guarding the tower saw you. We flew through the night, so it’s a slim chance anyone else saw you.”
“I know. I’m hoping even Mekhi thinks it was an illusion you created. We have to stay low and not bring harm to the Ning family of Baledonia.”
I nodded. “How about you guard Norvin and clean this place up a little? I will go get us water and some food.”
“I’ll try,” said Cain with a baffled expression as he took in the cobwebs hanging over his head. It was hard to suppress the laugh bubbling out of me. The ruling prince of Iorna was just given the task to clean up an abandoned shack. By the look on his face, it seemed more daunting than ruling a kingdom.
Going to the corner, I selected two dusty pails. They would be enough to hold water and anything else I could forage in the woods. Taking them, I headed to the door.
“Daria,” Cain called just as I was about to cross the threshold. “Be on your guard.”
“I will.”
6
All three of the lines I’d left in the stream had a fish on the end. They were long, slim fishes, with spots of orange on their tailfin, a species different to the ones we often had in the rivers of Iorna. Filling one of the pales with water, I dropped them in. I cast the lines again, hoping to catch some more by the time I was done foraging.
I was about to leave with the pail of fishes when I heard wisps of voices floating towards me. Looking towards the source, I detected the voices traveling from farther down the stream. Curious, I placed the bucket of fishes under the shade of a nearby tree. “I’ll be back for you,” I told them while they swam in the shallow water, sliding over each other.
I followed the bank of the stream, keeping to the shadows cast by the trees as I got closer to the voices.
After fifteen minutes’ of walking, I came across a group of women. There were five, washing massive heaps of clothes on the bank of the brook. They all wore faded but colorful kimono-style dresses with long, hanging sleeves that were presently tucked up to reveal sunburnt skin as they washed their laundry.
I hung back, listening to their Baledonian accents as they gossiped amongst themselves.
“Prince Adal hardly ever makes an appearance,” said a young woman, her nose wrinkling in frustration. “He is the most handsome among all the princes but you rarely see him.”
“I like him the best too,” said an older woman in a dreamy voice. “He doesn’t get involved in politics but is generous when it comes to doing charity. A beautiful man with a beautiful heart.” Her eyes closed as she clutched at her heart.
“Yumo!” scolded the lady beside her. “Don’t let your husband hear you say that. It’s bad enough he knocks you around for not cooling his tea.”
Yumo giggled. “I’d leave my husband for him.”
The women around her gasped dramatically, but within moments, they started shaking their heads and laughing, returning back to their washing. I couldn’t believe there were so many women who yearned for Adal. It was natural, but the way he spoke about himself, he’d made me believe he was an ignored prince of the kingdom. From the conversation among the washerwomen, I could tell people took more notice of him than he thought.
For a moment, my mind flashed back to the time when we lay in bed, our bodies and limbs entangled in sheets. Heat shot down to my core as warmth flooded my cheeks. I’d thought I would be separated from Cain and Norvin when I left for Baledonia, but fate brought them along with me to meet up with Adal. I couldn’t wait for all of us to reunite again.
While the women were busy chatting, I sneaked close to one and grabbed her basket of freshly laundered clothes. It was essentially stealing but at the moment, I needed to be resourceful. My attire of leather breeches and long-slit tunic would stand out in Baledonia. Wearing a kimono-style dress was essential for my next task.
I went back to the spot where I’d left my pail of fish. Taking the other empty bucket, I headed into the woods. There were plenty of mushrooms in the shadowy undergrowth. After collecting handfuls of them, I picked wild onion and ginger roots. While digging for them, I found some edible purple sweet potatoes.
When the bucket was full, I went back to collect my fishes. Three more fishes got hooked to the lines I’d laid. Placing them with the previously caught ones, I strapped the basket of clothes to my back. I was weighed down but was determined to carry everything in one trip.
I was panting and gasping, my back groaning under the weight of my hauls as I made my way back to the cottage. It was early afternoon by the time I reached it. The shack already looked dark and unoccupied from the outside, giving no indication of the two men inside.
Cain rushed out to meet me before I reached the threshold of the cottage, relieving me of my burdens immediately.
“You look worn out,” he said as I gasped for more breath.
Clutching a stitch at my side, I bent low and inhaled deep lungfuls of air.
“What’s that you’ve got?” he asked, moving behind me.
“I stole it from some washerwomen,” I said, putting down the basket. “I can use the clothes to blend in when I go to town tomorrow.”
“What do you plan to do?”
I took in the room around me before replying. While I was gone, Cain had got rid of the cobwebs and most of the place looked clean. Norvin still lay on the cot, unmoving.
“I will go and buy better clothes,” I said, moving towards the bed to take a closer look at Norvin. He still looked the same but most of the cuts had stopped oozing blood now. It was a tiny improvement but at least he wasn’t bleeding any more. “Next, I’ll buy a horse. I am going to pretend to be Adal’s maid when I go to the palace of Huadu. They will let me in when I flash the jade tablet Adal left me.”
“That’s a good plan,” said Cain, casting a glance at the pail of fishes. “You got a lot of food for us.”
“Let’s prepare some soup for Norvin. We can have the same.” I strode further into the cottage to look at the man lying on the cot. Now that the blood had clotted, his usually flawless face had turned black and blue. The only good thing was that Cain had washed most of the wounds.
“Have some water, Daria,” said Cain, bringing me water in a small earthenware bowl.
“Thank you,” I said gratefully. The water felt amazingly refreshing after the exhausting trek back to the cottage. “We have to be careful here,” I said, handing him the bowl. “I saw the washerwomen not too far away from here.”
I felt so exhausted at the moment, I just wanted to curl up beside Norvin and sleep.
“I am no good with preparing food, Daria,” said Cain after a while. “I’ve survived so far from the palace because of the roadside taverns and inns.”
I exhaled a long breath and nodded. “I will brew some medicine for Norvin too. Feed it to him while I sort the rest out.”
It was a relief to see the bunch of twigs and branches that Cain gathered and placed near the hearth. All the things in the tiny kitchen space were clean and dust-free. While I toiled to look for food, he’d done his best to tidy our temporary home. A smile lifted the corners of my lips despite my exhaustion.
After lighting a fire in the hearth, I placed a kettle over it to boil.
“We’ll soon need more water,” said Cain, coming to stand beside me.
I nodded.
“I’ll go get us some more. Stay on your guard and look after him.” He gave me a nod and walked out of the cottage.
Warmth spread through me despite the tiredness. Cain was being so responsible and helpful. In all my missions before, I had to fend for myself no matter the state of my body. The other option would be death. To share the hardships with someone else made it less painful and tedious. More than ever, I felt grateful to have Cain by my side.
When the kettle emitted hisses of steam, I ad
ded the carefully measured herbs into the water. Letting it steep, I waited for the potion to be ready. It was a healing tonic that would speed up Norvin’s recovery.
Once the potion was prepared, I poured the dark amber liquid into a clean earthen bowl and carried it to Norvin. Lifting his head on my lap, I slowly slipped the warm medicine into his mouth. His eyes stayed closed and he didn’t utter a word.
“You have to get well soon,” I said in a tear-choked voice. Until now, I never realized how much it would ache to see my princes hurt. While it was nice to feel their love, it was equally torturous to see them in pain. My helplessness seemed to choke me as I continued to feed him.
“At least you’re a good patient.” Leaning down, I brushed my lips against his forehead. It was the only patch of skin on his face without a wound.
Covering him with Cain’s cloak, I proceeded to make our meal. It was basically dumping the cleaned fish and vegetables into a pot of water and boiling it up. There was some flavoring salt in my bundle. It would have to do.
Over the next hour, Cain filled all the buckets available in the cottage, making sure we wouldn’t have to step out of the cottage later. Night was quickly falling. The weather was cool now, but not as cold as the nights got in Iorna.
“I will keep watch while you rest,” said Cain as we were about to finish our meal.
“Are you sure you’ll be fine?” I asked.
“I feel fine, Daria. There will be time to rest tomorrow as well while you head out to town. But I want you to sleep tonight. You absolutely need it.”
“Thanks, Cain,” I said, leaning on his side. His arm came to wrap around me and for a while, I enjoyed the heat seeping through his body. I didn’t know when my eyes closed because the next thing I remembered was Cain placing me on the cot beside Norvin. “Just sleep,” he said, pecking my lips as I blearily opened my eyes.
The next morning, I woke up feeling energized and refreshed. Bright sunlight shone through the broken shutters of the cottage as I sat up, blinking against the harsh light. Norvin still remained unconscious.
I got out of bed and walked outside the cottage. Cain sat on the low steps right outside the threshold, gazing far in the distance.
“Merry morning,” I greeted him in a cheerful voice and sat down beside him.
“You seem well,” he said, turning to face me. He’d shaved away the dark stubble off his handsome face and wore fresh Baledonian-styled clothes. “I cleaned up using some of the water I got last night,” he explained, noticing me stare at his new attire. “I borrowed some clothes from the laundry basket.”
I chuckled. “That’s all right. Even if someone comes around, you can pretend to be a hunter. How good are you with the Baledonian dialect?”
“While I understand it perfectly, I have trouble speaking it,” he admitted.
A soft hoot sounded close by followed by a blast of air slapping me in the face. Next moment, Tuto flopped on the ground beside me, biting at my fingers.
“Tuto!” I scolded. “Don’t do that!”
He hooted indignantly, still flapping his large wings and glaring at me with widened, tawny eyes.
“I am sorry I left you behind,” I said, getting to my feet to get away from the angry owl. “I didn’t have a choice.”
Cain laughed as Tuto chased me around the small porch of the cottage. “Look, you found me,” I reasoned. “I was about to call for you anyway. Aren’t you glad to see me, Tuto?”
The owl paused in his attacks, looking up at me reproachfully. “Go sleep,” I said. “I won’t make you watch the place until tonight.”
With a hoot that very well may have sounded like ‘you better not if you know what’s best for you’, the ghostly-white owl flew inside the cottage. Sighing with relief, I went back to sit with Cain.
“Your pet has quite the temper. Does he get it from his mistress?”
I stared at him while his lips curved into a smile.
I sighed, knowing he was joking. “I will wash up and get dressed,” I said, running a hand through the long stray strands of my hair that had escaped the braid. My tresses felt awfully clumped and dry. Bringing forward my plait, I found it to be covered in dirt. “On second thought, I’ll go to the stream to wash up. A single bucket won’t be able to get rid of the filth sticking to me.”
“You must be careful,” said Cain, his voice suddenly wary. “Don’t let another man spy on you while you bathe.”
Chuckling and shaking my head, I went inside the cottage.
“What’s so funny?” he shouted after me. “I was being serious!”
Tuto was perched over the long wooden beam supporting the roof. He was already fast asleep with his head under his wings. I smiled at him. At least, he’d followed me here.
From the laundry basket, I selected a robe which had a few holes, a pink-skirted kimono and a thick black silken sash. Searching through the things there, I picked up a rag as well to use as a washcloth. Armed with these things, I headed to the bank of the stream.
The weather was warm already, so the cool waters felt especially good when I dipped my toe in the stream. As per Cain’s caution, I wore a robe before stepping into the stream.
It took a good while to clean out my body and hair. There were small pieces of stone still stuck to my hair from the explosion at the top of the tower. I didn’t have a mirror around so I couldn’t tell for sure but I must have appeared awful in front of Cain. My cheeks still hurt, so the bruises must have added extra ugliness to me.
When my body was free of grime once more and my hair, dirt-free, I climbed out of the stream. Afraid someone else might steal my clothes, I’d hidden them beside a tree trunk deeper in the woods. Reaching the spot, I dried off and put on the new Baledonian clothes. It took some time to wear the apparels properly as I wasn’t used to them, but when I was done, I was sure I looked the part of a Baledonian maid.
I went back to the cottage to find Cain heating some of last night’s soup.
He handed me a bowl of it and poured himself one as well.
“I’m feeling worried about him,” said Cain after a while. “Norvin should have woken up by now.”
I nodded, taking a large gulp of the soup. “His pulse isn’t erratic. He seems to be simply sleeping.”
“It still feels strange.”
“I want to get him to a better place than this,” I said, gesturing at the cottage around us. “I want a safe place to use my inner energy techniques to heal him. Interruption will harm both our health.”
Cain nodded. “Do you have the money you need?”
“Yes. A few gold coins should be enough. I will have Tuto keep a watch at night. You should rest too, Cain,” I said. His silver-gray eyes met mine in a forlorn expression. “I will meet Adal today and make sure to get both you and Norvin to the palace by tonight.”
“I’m not worried about that. I am just hoping Norvin will pull through.”
“He will,” I said, my voice more confident than I truly felt. “I will heal him even if I have to give up my life.”
“Daria!” Cain’s hand grabbed my wrist hard. “I don’t need you to go that far. Even Norvin wouldn’t want you to do that. No matter what happens, you can’t risk your life for us.”
I stayed silent, hiding my face with the bowl as I pretended to drink my soup. Apart from assassinating Emperor Ivan, my second task was to protect the three princes. It was a direct order from my master, Lady Elga. If I failed in my duty, only death waited for me.
“Thank you for the food,” I said, getting to my feet. “I will get going now.”
Cain moved close to pull me into a tight hug. “Be careful,” he whispered before letting me go.
I met his keen stare and nodded. “I’ll be fine.”
7
I went back to the spot by the stream’s bank where the washerwomen were gathered yesterday. They hadn’t come back today, but I was able to follow the narrow path along the brook’s edge that led to their village. Cain told me it was
at the outskirts of Huadu so it won’t take more than an hour’s walk to reach the capital city.
Making my way through the village, I stole a farmer’s conical sedge hat, hanging on a low tree branch. It was tall, with a wide brim and was woven out of dried reeds. Most used it to save themselves from the harsh sun and rain, but for the day, I would use it to keep my face concealed.
The kimono-styled attire restricted a lot of my movement. Even without trying, they made my steps small and steady. I was sure I looked like one of the women in the village, gliding along the dirt path with an elegant gait.
No one glanced at me twice as I passed the village and got onto the road leading to the capital city. The hat kept my face concealed, not letting anyone watching realize a stranger was among them. It was a long walk, but the path was well-maintained and busy. Leafy trees lined the sides of the road, giving cool shade from the warm Baledonian sun.
Guards stood at the city’s gates. However, they were allowing others inside and only checking people with carts. I was able to slip through without any obstacle, entering the legendary city of Huadu.
The city was bustling with activity. Pagoda-style buildings rose on both sides of the street but were dwarfed by the tallest architecture visible in the far distance. The brightly painted red tiles of the palace roofs were noticeable even in the distance. Vendors lined the streets, selling everything from fruits to luxury silk goods. I’d expected Partaig to be like this. With the crowd of shoppers and other people milling about, I was able to walk without catching anyone’s notice.
Before going to meet Adal, I needed to get myself some new clothes and a horse. It was important I looked like I was employed by a prince.
Wandering through the busy streets, I came across a shop selling readymade clothes. It looked well-maintained from the outside with a number of ostentatious lanterns hanging from the roof. They were sure to cater to richer folk, promising good quality fabrics.
Parting open the reed curtains blocking the entrance of the shop, I entered a cool, dark room. Wooden rows filled with bales of cotton and silk fabrics lined the walls. The air was heavy with a mix of exotic floral perfumes and dried starch.