RuffWriter
patreon
Chapter 567
🕑 Added 2020-03-25 16:29:38 +0000 UTChttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1cX_07H7JUASpv17Hxn_BeFSGjUpUA32kaUjlRtVCh5I/edit?usp=sharing
As the new day dawned upon a sleepless night, Binesi muttered a curse directed at every spy and politician in the Empire.
Protecting the foundling on the journey to the Central Citadel had been stressful enough, and while hed known it would be rife with danger and intrigue, hed grossly underestimated how difficult his task would be. Since their arrival last night, hed personally seen off seven attempted intrusions into the foundlings manor, and spotted dozens more would-be intruders who thought better than to test his defences. As if that werent enough, he even had to bear the shame of letting three sneaky bastards slip by, where they were subsequently caught by the foundlings personal guards.
Binesi wouldve almost preferred if the intruders had gotten through all the foundlings defences and roughed him up a bit. At least then he wouldnt have to put up with smug Sentinels making snide comments about lacklustre Army training...
The worst part was, most of the intruders were benign in nature, or as harmless as one could get when dealing with rumour-mongers and mischief-makers. Everyone and their mothers wanted to meet with the foundling, but Binesi politely advised him to limit his meetings to allies regarding matters of the utmost importance. Shockingly enough, the boy agreed without argument, and he spent a good hour before dinner and two after writing polite refusals for invitations to various social events, but so many of those poncy nobles and presumptuous merchants refused to take no for an answer. For some asinine reason, these idiots believed that if their agents could sneak past the foundlings armed guards in the middle of the night and rouse him from bed, then hed somehow be more amenable to attending their damned galas, luncheons, tea sessions, and whatnot. This wasnt to say last nights intruders all had benevolent intentions, but it irked Binesi to know that despite intercepting all manner of cutthroats, burglars, saboteurs, and spies from getting to the foundling, an urchin courier had somehow avoided his patrolling guards, slipped over the outer wall, and gotten far enough into the manor to almost slip a letter under the foundlings door.
Binesei wasnt buying the Sentinels excuses either, claiming they spotted the courier in advance and only acted after he made his intentions known. A load of horse shit is what that was. None of them saw the sneaksy little bastard until he threw the letter and was halfway up the wall again, off to deliver the rest of his parcels to various other clients. Disgraceful is what it was, a complete and utter loss of face for them all.
Were it up to him, Binesi would have kept the entire convoy camped out on the plains and the foundling confined to his yurt, but decorum demanded Colonel General Nian Zu and Marshal Yuzhen take up residence with their host, Centrals Marshal Yo Jeung-Hun. Bad enough to bring the foundling into a bustling city environment, where assassins might be hiding behind every unfamiliar corner, but high and mighty Falling Rain couldnt possibly sleep in a secured soldiers billet. No, he had to have his own bleeding manor, one right on the edge of the bleeding park and next to the bleeding pond, and backed on to a bleeding busy street with pedestrians a plenty. Were he not the brother of the Central Marshal, Binesi would have choked the life out of the foundlings Uncle Yo for picking this death trap of a manor for them to stay in.
A more paranoid man might even suspect this Shi-Woo wanted Falling Rain dead, but the foundling was certain this couldnt possibly be the case. Hardly reassuring, but Binesis job was to keep the foundling alive, not identify everyone who might harbour ill-intent. A good thing too, else hed have to confess to his growing urge to throttle the foundling until he turned blue in the face. Not because Binesi wanted to kill him, but because it might turn him into a drooling nitwit and finally convince the Bekhai that Falling Rain was not capable of making sound decisions.
A fact the foundling proved himself several hours later, when Binesis much needed slumber was interrupted by a subordinate reporting that Falling Rain had requested an armed escort for a mid-morning shopping trip. Snarling in unrestrained fury, he grabbed his spear, stormed out the room, and stomped his way across the courtyard. Or at least he tried to, until an all-white fur-ball barrelled right into his path, forcing him to stumble aside to avoid flattening it. The dumb rabbit didnt even have the good sense to keep on hopping by, and instead stopped in place to paw at the stone path in utter ignorance of its close brush with death, flopping its ears from one side to the other while tilting its head this way and that. Strange, the foundling usually kept his rabbits out from underfoot, but today theyd all been left outside to their own devices, hopping, flopping, and generally ruining the lovely little courtyard garden. Resisting the urge to boot the idiot creature over the closest wall, Binesi muttered obscenities under his breath and gingerly picked his way through the rabbit-filled courtyard until he arrived at the manors dining room.
I cant tell if youre daft or suicidal, you bleeding bastard of a Bekhai, Binesi began, barging into the closed room without knocking, only to have his rant cut short by a muffled grunt as the swinging doors thudded against an unseen Sentinel. Stupid place to stand then, because your enemies werent going to knock before coming in, so he shot a contemptuous glare at the idiot guard for disrupting his rant.
Only for his next words to die in his throat as he found the Sword King glaring back.
The next second passed with excruciating lethargy as Binesi respectfully lowered his eyes before Ryo Dae Jung, the youngest Colonel General in all the Empire, only to immediately look up again to make sure he wasnt imagining things. Mother in Heaven, why was the Sword King standing here, in the dining room of Falling Rains borrowed manor? Tearing his eyes away from Dae Jungs gaze, Binesi surveyed the room and tried to make sense of this madness, while also double checking to see if hed missed anyone else of importance, like say, the bloody fucking Emperor Himself or something.
In front of the Sword King was an unfamiliar young woman, whose face he couldnt see. Since he didnt dare lean forward to inspect her, he instead moved his gaze down the table, where it landed upon Du Min Gyu, whose expression was laced with sympathy as he politely stared into his cup. Beside him, Sarnai sipped her tea to hide her smile, taking some small measure of satisfaction from his plight but too polite to turn her twinkling eyes upon him and bear witness to his grievous loss of face. The same could not be said of the foundling beside her, who grinned and winked while hunched over his half-full plate, all the while shoveling food into his mouth like a man with a quota and a mind to reach it. The darling half-goat twins and the Imperial Consort were next in line, all three enjoying their meals with the same high-spirited delight and paying him no mind whatsoever as they quietly whispered and giggled at the wildcats and bears pressed together in the corner behind them. Then came the she-tiger Alsantset, who was still addled with Insight and liable to gnaw through her chopsticks if left unattended, which was why her husband, Fiery Eyes Charok, kept such a close watch while pointedly turning his back on Binesi.
So Sarnai and the other Bekhai knew how to behave, they just didnt care to teach the foundling...
Last but not least, sitting two seats away from Charok and two seats away from the stranger, sat the sole reason for the rooms cramped interior, the half-cat Song and her weasel-bear pet, the one she almost died to acquire. Better if shed stayed in camp then, for even though the snarling weasel-bear bore a bright yellow ribbon tied in a neat little bow around its neck, this did nothing to take away from the fact that it drooled everywhere and snapped at everyone who wasnt Song. Even where Binesi stood, well out of arms length from beast and girl, was too close for comfort, and not just because the beasts bared fangs, Honed claws, and guttural growls made for an unsettling atmosphere. Perhaps it was the beasts unrestrained anger, or perhaps it was the unsavory smell, but whatever the reason, Song and the weasel-bear sat alone, and neither one seemed to mind.
So thats why the rabbits were outside, the wildcats and bears were all huddled in the corner, and the Sword King was standing...
All this passed in the blink of an eye, or at least thats how it felt to Binesi, but then Du Min Gyu, the sole sympathetic bystander to Binesis dire plight, Sent, I suggest you apologize to Colonel General Ryo before he takes offense, Major.
Time resumed its normal flow as Binesi returned to his senses, only to freeze once again in indecision. Should he bow first and apologize, or salute the Colonel General in accordance with military protocol? This ones offers his most humble apologies, Colonel General. He saluted, bowed, and then saluted again for good measure, feeling his cheeks burn as the unfamiliar young lady stifled a giggle. This one deserves a thousand deaths.
Told you he wont be pleased. Grinning like a madman and speaking with mouth full, the foundling looked up from his breakfast and rudely gestured at Binesi and his guests with his chopsticks. Major Binesi, this is Colonel General Ryo Dae Jung and his daughter, Warrant Officer First Grade Ryo Dain. Major Binesi here is my commanding officer, and has ordered me to remain inside the manor at all times, no matter the circumstances. I believe his exact words were, I dont care if the building is on fire, you stay in your room and piss on the blaze until I say you can leave.
Dont speak with your mouth full or point with your chopsticks, boy, Sarnai admonished, rapping Rains head far too lightly to hurt. And watch your language too. Thats no way to speak at the dining table, especially not with children and guests present. The last bit was directed at Binesi, whose cheeks burned even hotter beneath sweet Talis disapproving scowl, which melted away into a smile as the foundling reached over to pinch her cheeks. Adorable child, but Mother have mercy on her future husband, for she was spoiled rotten and feistier than her mother and grandmother combined.
Sorry for my poor manners. No longer able to eat and speak, the foundling instead set his chopsticks to picking up a cube of butter and dropping it into his teacup, which he subsequently filled to the brim until the steaming, oily liquid shone in the mid-morning light. Anyways, like I just explained, Colonel General, my hands are tied. Unless Major Binesi amends his orders, then I am manor-bound until further notice. Ive been lashed before, and Ill not willingly bare my back for it again. Raising his cup in a toast to no one in particular, he downed his drink in one gulp, butter and all.
I must know, Dain interjected, before Binesi could say anything to alleviate his awkward position. Why put butter in your tea? Judging from your expression, its obviously not for the taste.
I cant cultivate Chi, the foundling replied, his teeth bared in a grimacing smile, So Im cultivating mass instead. If I fatten up, then I wont shrivel up into a twig after my next inevitable Healing.
So pessimistic. Daintily patting her short hair, which barely reached past her ears, Dain turned to Binesi for the first time and favored him with a predatory smile. She didnt mean anything by it, for her actions were innocent, innocuous, and some foolish men might even say girlish, but no amount of primping, make-up, or jewelry could ever hide the fact that Ryo Dain was a warrior and a killer in the truest sense of the words. She didnt mean to exude threat and menace with her every movement and gesture, for this was simply her natural state, so similar to the contentious weasel-bear wrapped in its pretty bow. Surely Major Binesi will agree, Dain began, her tone light and casual but her eyes sharp and piercing, That you have nothing to fear with honoured father and myself here to guarantee your safety.
With or without the Sword King literally standing behind her, Ryo Dain made for an intimidating woman, but even if all three of Centrals Colonel Generals united together to lean on Binesi, it still wouldnt be enough to make him break. After all, a Central Sword King was merely a Northern stable boy, or so the joke went. Apologies, Warrant Officer Dain, he stated, without a hint of regret or contrition, But this one was entrusted with Private Falling Rains safety by Colonel General Nian Zu himself. Matching the Sword Kings steely gaze, he saluted, smiled, and said, The boy stays. End of discussion.
It took every scrap of self-discipline in Binesis body to keep his spear grounded instead of pointing it at the incensed Colonel General. As a mere Major, he could not afford to initiate hostilities, which meant giving the Sword King the opening move if things should come to blows, but it wouldnt. Standing at full attention, he weathered the murderous glare and mounting antipathy with careless indifference, while the weasel-bears growls rumbled noisily in the background.
Then Ryo Dain sighed and the Sword King cracked a smile, offering Binesi a silent nod of apology before favouring his daughter with a stern, fatherly scowl. You see? The Famed Fifty are well deserving of their reputation, and are not so easily cowed by rank or status. Young Rain was right to insist the Major be included.
Now that was a surprise. Binesi had long since sussed out that this was a test, checking if he was loyal or determined enough to see his duty through to the end, but the foundling was the last person he expected to speak up for him. Perhaps it was merely self-preservation, as he wasnt certain of the Ryo familys allegiance and wanted Binesi there to guard him, which showed the foundling wasnt entirely brainless, only mostly. Taking a moment to swallow his latest mouthful of food, Rain drank another cup of buttered tea to wash it down and said, Bad news Major. As much as Id like to sit around all day, I cant.
The foundling gestured at an unmarked envelope sitting on the table, and went back to eating while Binesi read it. Inside were two tickets to a showing of The Whispering Wind, along with a note which read, The Peony Pavilion tea house has desserts to die for, though their tofu pudding is rather lacking. There was no signature or seal denoting who the tickets were from, but evidently, the foundling already knew.
Politicians and their word games. So whats this mean then?
It means the Legate wants me out of the manor and go watch an opera show. Again speaking with his mouth full, he pretended not to notice his mothers glare and continued, Then visit a tea house, where I will probably be attacked, and hopefully survive. Another shrug. Or I die, and I guess the Ryos have an excuse to wipe out whoever is behind the attack.
Why Rain, Dain cried, affecting a girlish pout. How could you even think such a thing? As if I would ever shame myself with failure, intentionally or otherwise.
No offence, the foundling replied, which all but guaranteed he was about to say something offensive, But Im still not entirely sure if the Legate believes my continued survival is in his best interests, so I cant really trust the Legates minions.
Hmph. Dain scoffed as she interlocked her fingers together, no doubt in a conscious effort to keep her hands away from her swords. I am no ones minion.
You might think so, but thats not how the Legate sees things. Another shrug, followed by another sip of tea, and it astounded Binesi to see that Rains nonchalance was entirely genuine despite rising tensions. Imperial Nobles all tout about unity, alliance, and partnership, but only insofar as it serves them. I dont know if youve noticed, but the only Eastern soldiers Ive seen on the front lines were the ones assigned to guard me. Casually pouring himself another cup of tea, he added, Same goes for Divinities. If Guan Suo, Gang Shu, and the Abbot hadnt come along with me, then thered be no banquet for the heroes of Sinuji. Doubt thered even be a funeral pyre.
Did it ever occur to you, Ryo Dae Jung began, resting a hand on his daughters shoulder to rein her in, That there was no Imperial Divinity stationed in Sinuji because you brought three with you? Contrary to what you might believe, Divinities do not grow on the side of the street like cabbages.
I have never, in my entire life, seen a street-side cabbage. Pretending not to notice the twins giggling at his disrespectful remark, the foundling shrugged and said, Just saying.
Enough, boy. Fed up with the foundlings insolence, Du Min Gyu finally spoke up. Regardless of your suspicions, the course is set. When you first received your invitation to the banquet, you told us the Legate ordered you to mend your tarnished reputation, so that is what you must do.
And miracle of miracles, the foundling held his tongue instead of spouting off about rebellion in front of highly ranked military officers sworn to duty and alienating would-be allies from his cause. Maybe he was learning, or maybe he kept quiet because he was still busy chewing, but either way, Binesi didnt give the foundling a chance to respond. I will send word to the Colonel General to request assistance, but we should double your Death Corps guards to start, as a show of force.
Pretty sure it wont help, the foundling interjected, earning another rap on the head for speaking while eating. There are only so many people we can fit inside the opera theatre and tea house. Safest thing to do is not play their games.
Lord Husband is correct. Joining the conversation for the first time, the Imperial Servant beamed prettily and added, And strutting around the Citadel under heavy guard will do nothing to improve his reputation. With all the rumours of conflict flying about, it would mean much if Lord Husband set out as he normally does, with minimal visible guards and his pets trailing behind him. Such is his way, lacking all airs and pretensions, and it has endeared him to the common people before.
For a moment, Binesi almost thought the Imperial Servant was baiting her Lord Husband to death, but then the foundling frowned and shook his head. Much as I hate to say it, but the pets should all stay behind. Theres no sense bringing the animals out when we know were walking into a trap, though well have to bring Ping Ping regardless. Plus, I dont know if youve noticed, but the love of the common people isnt exactly a hot commodity.
Clever girl. If Binesi told the foundling to leave the pets behind, he would have dug in his heels and fought the order tooth and nail, but by suggesting he bring them out, the Imperial Consort forced him to consider the risks himself. Back and forth they went, discussing the preparations for this trip, and with Binesis dogged determination and Zheng Luos subtle and skilful manipulations, they eventually came up with an agreeable plan with a reasonable chance of success in keeping the foundling alive.
Their meeting over, Ryo Dae Jung brought his daughter away the same way theyd come in, shrouded in Concealment and without use of the manor doors. This coincidentally spared Binesis subordinate from a month of latrine inspection duty for not informing him that the Sword King had come to visit, but he still berated his sentries for missing it regardless. Then, he immediately changed all of his plans which didnt involve the Ryo family, because he didnt trust them any more than the foundling did. Perhaps the Legate felt a Bekhai rebellion a small price to pay, or maybe he already had people in place to eliminate Baatar, Akanai, and the rest of the foundlings supporters, but regardless of the reason, Binesis job was to keep Falling Rain alive, and alive the foundling would stay, no matter the cost.
The first hour went well, as the foundling simply sat in the park and played with his pets and the Guardian Turtle, though it took great effort on his part to retain his dignity while doing so. It didnt help that the weasel-bear wasnt having any of it, snarling viciously every time the foundling or one of his pets looked in its direction, and almost taking off the boys hand when he refused to heed its warnings. Song didnt help matters much by coddling the fierce creature the entire time, though Binesi wasnt certain if her actions were to calm the weasel-bear, or restrain it.
The next step was to bring the Guardian Turtle on a stroll through the Citadel, but most streets hadnt been built with her massive bulk in mind, which made their route painfully predictable. Binesis Concealed subordinates ranged ahead to scout his route while the Death Corps guards maintained a close perimeter around the foundling, but he was still more exposed than Binesi would like. At least Sarnai was there with the foundling, a formidable warrior in her own right, as well as multiple hidden Bannermen guarding him from the shadows. The boy was as well protected as circumstances would allow, and certainly better guarded than most nobles, but one could never be too careful with the fate of the Empire hanging in the balance.
Still, as he assessed and dismissed possible threats while paying mind to their overall situation, there was a small, almost infinitesimally tiny part of Binesis mind which hoped the foundlings enemies would attack, and a handful of assassins did make it through. Not because he wished the foundling harm or wanted the Bekhai to rebel, but because the quickest way for Falling Rain to mend his reputation was to slaughter his enemies, the same way hed slaughtered three Demons barehanded back in Sinuji, only this time, it would be nice if he did so in front of thousands of impartial civilian witnesses. A risky gamble to take, considering the foundling had no control over his strength, but after five days of stressful travel, two mitigated attacks, seven attempted intrusions, and an entire sleepless night, this nerve-wracking shopping trip might just well be the straw that broke Binesis back.
And there was still the opera show, the tea house, and two whole days before the banquet itself.
All in all, it was almost enough to make a proud, but tired, mountain warrior cry...
Comments
George and Fluffy Bunnikins are the all white ones. This one is particularly stupid, so it's George.
Which rabbit was all white again? Too cute
Legate's Senschal is the Solitary Sword Zhang Jun Bao. This is the Sword King, Ryo Dae Jung
Yes. Lol it's common. Bekkie language always italics. Alwaysssssssssssssssssssssss
not really, but Naaran would've spread the word.
Gardor
Is the sword king the legates seneschal or is that another sword guy du min gyu knows?
ThePolarParadox
Ruff, when Bronesi says Sentinel, he’s saying the common term for sentinel or in the Bekhai language?
BadSnake971
Has Rain ever spoken to others about his improved vision (he can see further, see through the concealment, etc) ?
lala jhones
Awsome chapter, flowed really well and a good segway to the next part
lala jhones
Lol, I honestly feel bad for him...half the time.
Arnon Parenti
I think it's better without an incident, the whiny bastard doesn't deserve redemption.
