by JC Kang
CHAPTER 36:
Into the Wilds
Kaiya listened to the wind in the evergreen needles and the rustling of a nearby stream. The three Southerners, along with Fleet, Tian, Doctor Fang, and the two surviving imperial guards, sat with her in a circle around the crackling campfire in the madaeri’s secret pass.
The last few days of travel had been pleasant as they chatted and hiked at a leisurely pace through idyllic woods. She frequently walked beside Tian, who could keep conversations going with insightful questions. Perhaps it was just his training as a spy and interrogator, or maybe he felt guilty and was forcing himself to be nice. Nonetheless, he seemed more and more like the childhood confidante he’d been a decade before.
Shared memories, current court gossip, philosophy, poetry: they’d talked about anything and everything. Well, everything except his brother, Zheng Ming. It should have been an easy topic to broach, yet it felt awkward to bring it up. And really, she hadn’t thought much about Ming in the last month.
They reached the pass on the evening of the seventh month’s full White Moon. Crisp, cold air and clear skies provided a spectacular view of the heavens, framed by the mountain summits above. Surrounded by countless stars, the White Moon Renyue shone larger and brighter than usual, bathing the pass in a soft light. The Blue Moon, Guanyin’s Eye, hovered half-obscured by the mountaintops. Caiyue joined the others, its colors swirling in its eternal spot low in the southern sky.
With a renewed friendship and beautiful scenery, Kaiya should’ve been happy.
Yet this was the night of Hua’s annual Full Moon Festival, her second-favorite celebration after the New Year’s Spring Festival. Had the escape by sea worked, she would’ve been home already. At this moment, Father must be hosting a grand party for the hereditary lords on the shores of Sun-Moon Lake, where the placid waters mirrored the night sky.
Kaiya sighed. No fireworks, no mooncakes, no singing songs in tribute to Renyue this year.
“Here.” Tian offered her a cube of moistened cornbread.
Yuck! Hopefully, he had used water to wet it. She raised an eyebrow and took it with two fingers. “What is it?”
“Try it.” He grinned.
Locking a suspicious eye on him, she took a tentative bite. The subdued sweetness of the softened cornbread mingled with the sinewy zest of smoked elk. He’d made an imitation mooncake. How considerate! So what if it was unladylike to smile while chewing?
Tian spoke up, breaking through their companions’ conversations. “Shall we sing?”
All eyes turned to him, and they offered encouraging applause.
Kaiya politely clapped at his best rendition of a Hua folk song, even if she shuddered inside. This was why he was a spy and not a court singer.
Everyone took turns, even the Southerners who didn’t celebrate the Full Moon Festival. From Sameer’s Paladin Canticle to Cyrus’ hymns; from Doctor Fang’s temple chants, to the imperial guards’ chorus of drinking songs. Kaiya outshined them all, holding her friends entranced with her voice.
This was the best Full Moon Festival ever. She’d been isolated in the Hua court, yet here in the Wilds, with people who’d shared the same perils, there was a sense of belonging. Like when she was a child, with Tian. And unlike their first reunion, he was so considerate and sweet now.
And handsome.
Heavens, did she just think that?
With Brehane’s tribal tune as a backdrop, she looked across the fire. The flickering light danced across his features. The defined jawline and high-bridged nose. And those eyes, so intelligent.
And looking right at her.
Heat flared in her cheeks. She cast her gaze down. Heavens, it must be the full moon addling her better judgment. She peeked up through her lashes.
He was on his feet now, working his way around the others.
Toward her. With an adorably timid smile, he sat down by her side. She fought the inexplicable urge to lean into him. How nice it would be for him to drape an arm over her shoulder. Bad girl, to even think this! It had to be the full moon.
He leaned in close.
Her heart pattered. What was he doing?
His hand reached out and plucked a stray twig from her short hair.
Her cheeks warmed. It might’ve been the first time he’d ever touched her without serious reason. She met his gaze. His normally expressionless mask contorted into self-admonishment, but she flashed him a reassuring smile.
His attention awkwardly shifted to the ground between his feet; but in that brief glance, she imagined a kindness in Tian’s dark eyes. They were beautiful eyes, at least in that moment when he wasn’t assessing a threat or planning an attack. Maybe that was what Jie saw in him.
If her cheeks burned any hotter, they might not need a campfire. Kaiya turned her head away. Beautiful eyes or not, he’d been thoughtless during the frantic escape from Iksuvius. Yelled at her. Humiliated her. Butchered her hair. No, she must just be conjuring up a resemblance to Ming.
Her musing did not last long as, one by one, the companions settled down for the night and let sleep overtake them.
The low light before dawn woke Kaiya from a restless, dream-filled sleep. It took her a few seconds to remember that she was in the pass straddling Iksuvi and the Wilds. Her breath misted, discouraging her from abandoning the warmth of her blankets.
Rolling over, she looked at Tian, who slept just a few feet from her. No, he didn’t look like his brother. She pressed a hand to her heart, realizing that for the first time, it didn’t flutter when thinking of Ming. Asleep, without carrying his worries, Tian might be more handsome.
What was she thinking? She banished the thought and forced herself up.
Ma Jun paced the campsite, sometimes stopping by the fire to warm his hands. He dropped to his knee at her approach.
Kaiya nodded him out of his salute. Stretching her legs and arms out to get the circulation going, she strolled over to the southern end of the pass to scan the path ahead.
The sun had just risen. Countless evergreens in the valley below stabbed up through the thick morning fog. Unlike the thin woods behind them, the lands ahead consisted of dense forest, teeming with life.
She had little time to enjoy the view.
Fleet returned from scouting ahead, as was his habit, and greeted her with a cheerful grin. “You’re up early this morning. I’ve collected some bark from the sweet evergreen trees below. When brewed into a tea, it’ll warm you up and give you energy.”
He boiled some water in his copper pot over the campfire and added the bark. A sweet, aromatic scent wafted from it. After a few minutes, he filled a wooden cup and offered it to her.
She thanked him and took a long sniff. Fresh and fragrant, it sent her nostrils tingling. “It is wonderful! The aroma seems familiar.”
“We drink this tea in Hua during the winter,” Ma Jun said as he joined them. “Some people venture out of the Great East Gate into the Wilds to collect the bark. Maybe you had some at the palace.”
That didn’t seem to explain the eerily nostalgic scent. Perhaps—
“At least you only take the bark, and not the whole tree,” Fleet said. “The sweet evergreen, which only grows on this plateau, has always been prized for its straightness and sweet smell. During Kanin imperial times, the Kanin emperors had the lumber hauled to their cities in the plains below to build great temples, castles, and fortresses. Much of the plateau was deforested and tilled for farmland.”
Kaiya waved at the forest below. “It doesn’t look like farmland to me.”
The madaeri rubbed his hands together, maybe because they were cold, or perhaps because he simply liked to tell stories. “In the Long Winter that followed the Hellstorm, the land bore no crops. Many humans migrated off of the plateau and into the warmer plains. Those that stayed became hunter-gatherers by necessity. In the three hundred years since, nature has reclaimed the area with astonishing—some say mystical—speed. These forests stretch to the edge of the plat
eau.”
Kaiya breathed into her hands. It must be difficult to live in the Wilds, away from any trappings of civilization. “What became of the people who stayed?”
“There are several tribes of Kanin folk who live here. They don’t necessarily get along with each other, but will unite to fight an outside invader. They did so thirty-three years ago, when their plains-dwelling cousins invaded. However, the density of the forest made it difficult to move troops in formation. The locals repelled the invaders.”
Thirty-three years ago. A lot had happened then. The secret Moquan mission to recover a book of songs. The dragon Avarax’s awakening. Jie was thirty-two, her parents must have… Kaiya shook that thought out of her head and turned back to the forests. “Could the Teleri invade?”
Fleet shrugged. “The Teleri would have difficulty with their supply lines. Heavy snows starting in the middle of next month will clog the paths, closing them down until early in the new year.”
Kaiya tried to picture a map in her mind. The Wilds stretched to Hua’s northeast border. “Then the terrain, climate, and inhabitants make the Wilds a safe buffer between Cathay and the Teleri.”
Fleet met her gaze. “Cathay can’t afford to remain neutral and trade with everyone. The Teleri won’t rest until they control the world. The Wilds can’t hold them back forever.”
“How could they move soldiers through it?” Ma Jun asked.
“In the old days, the few large stones in the Kanin region were used to build highways.” Fleet pointed into the forest below. “Not even the mighty greywood trees can grow through those old roads. I know these paths, and will show you one that goes to the East Gate of Cathay. However, it’s only a matter of time before the Empire discovers the same route if they continue westward expansion. Maybe not for decades, and the resources required to restore the old highway might not make them a threat in your lifetime. But you can never underestimate the ambition of the Bovyans.”
The tone of his voice sent a chill through her. Memories of the First Consul seizing her wrist and pulling her against him surfaced, unbidden. She suppressed a shudder, and quickly changed the subject to something more lighthearted.
From where he feigned sleep, Tian watched the princess warming her hands over the fire, bantering with the madaeri. This Kaiya was much more likable than the princess. She was like the girl from his past, whom his ten-year-old self had childishly promised to marry. Her genuine smiles and girlish giggles had a charming appeal to them, even more so than the elegant courtly smiles and covered laughs that she’d used to win over kings and generals.
It was almost like Jie, but without the sarcastic sense of humor. Which was the real Princess Kaiya?
That morning, they began their descent into the Kanin Wilds. The next few days consisted of winding along worn animal trails, covered with the browning needles of the sweet evergreens. The forest was alive with the sounds of fauna, and a sweet aroma from the evergreen bark hung in the air. Nothing that Tian had ever seen in Hua or Iksuvi could compare to these pristine woodlands.
On the third day, they came to a stream. Beside that ran another trail, where flat rocks peeked out from under the ground. Lines of small broadleaf weeds marked their borders. In some places, the roots of the huge, spindly-leaved greywood trees had pushed some of these ancient stones up and exposed them to years of wind and rain.
Fleet pointed to the markings on one, noting that it had been cut by dwarves, and that this road once crossed through the original pass between the Kanin Empire and the Nothori Empire, now the Wilds and Iksuvi.
They followed the hidden road for five uneventful days, until the stream widened significantly into rocky river rapids. Fleet explained that it was a tributary of the North Kanin River, and following it downstream would lead to the East Gate of Cathay.
Tian’s home province. He hadn’t returned in a decade.
They continued south along the overgrown road, which ran along the western side of the river for another five days, until the road turned towards the southeast. It was at this bend that they parted ways with the Southerners.
With their own mission to pursue, the Southerners would continue along the old road towards the Kanin Pyramid, while the princess’ group would follow the river. It was a tearful farewell. Against all cultural norms, Tian and his compatriots warmly embraced their traveling companions.
“Remember,” Fleet said, “Continue following the river south until it meets up with the North Kanin River—it will also flow south at that point. Be sure to stay on the eastern side of the river to avoid hill ogres! Eventually, you will come to this overgrown road again. Follow that road west until it ends, then continue along the river. If you’re lucky, you might even see wild elves.”
“Wild elves?” Kaiya cocked her head. “How are they wild?”
Like the last time Fleet explained, in the Hard Shell in Gaukaimos, an image of Jie appeared in Tian’s mind.
Fleet grinned. “Well, wild isn’t necessarily fair. It’s just a label given by their kindred in the two civilized elven realms. During the War of Ancient Gods, the ancestors of the wild elves didn’t share their brethren’s belief that Aralas was an Elf Angel, prophesized to lead them in their uprising against the orcs. After the orcs’ defeat, the wild elves refused to acknowledge Aralas’ heirs. They stayed in these forests, making their homes in treetop villages.”
Elf matters. It had little bearing on Tian’s current mission, except… “Are they dangerous?”
Fleet chuckled. “They’ll be the least of your worries. In all likelihood, you’ll probably never see them. No, the greatest danger is from the hill ogres in the northwest. As long as you avoid that area, your journey should be safe.”
The madaeri handed Tian a brightly painted, thumb-length woodcarving, of a bird of prey with its wings tucked. “This is a token of the Kanin Tribal Council. Present it to any of the tribes, and they’ll provide food and shelter. From here, you’re less than a month away from home. It might be faster if you can trade for a canoe, though the waters may be too shallow this time of year—ask the natives. They’re simple, honest people, especially in the western reaches of the plateau. Hurry, because once the snow starts falling, it’ll become virtually impossible to travel.”
Tian repeated the instructions to himself several times before bowing low. “Thank you. For guiding us. I hope we meet again. So we can repay you.”
The madaeri just smiled. “I’m sure our paths will cross. Your enemy is mine, and I have no doubt that the winds of war will blow us back together. Remember, stay in the east. Ogres are in the west.”
The princess bowed low as well, and all of her retainers dropped to one knee. “I thank you for your generous assistance, especially as it has slowed your own mission. If your travels take you to Cathay, rest assured that you will be given a warm welcome.”
She then turned to clasp Brehane’s hands. “You will always be a sister to me. I hope you will be reunited with your son soon. Please bring her to Cathay when you have a chance. I will be sure to introduce you to our enigmatic elf lord.”
From a pouch in her robe, Brehane withdrew a small glass ball with a soft white light glowing inside. “Aksumi cities are all lit with these lights. It is the first incantation we learn, so there are plenty. I have made countless in my life. It will never go out, unless dispersed by magic. I hope this will help you on the rest of your journey. Be safe, Princess Kaiya!” She took her up in a long, warm embrace, finally releasing her with a heavy sigh. Both wiped away tears.
The Hua waited and watched as the other group continued down the road, waving as they disappeared into the trees. Now it was just the five of them: Tian, the princess, the doctor, and the two imperial guards, Chen Xin and Ma Jun. Tian hoped that Fleet’s assurances of safe roads would hold true.
“It looks like we are on our own now,” Chen Xin said.
“And we will be finding out just why the Wilds are so wild, I’m sure,” muttered Ma Jun.
Hill ogr
es in the west, Tian repeated to himself.
CHAPTER 37:
Hill Ogres in the East
Kaiya awoke to Tian’s gentle shakes. The sound of the babbling river next to their campsite coaxed her head to clarity.
The crackling fire sent flickers across Tian’s face, the dancing shadows emphasizing his eyes. Your watch, he mouthed.
In the three days since they’d parted ways with the Southerners, the men always insisted she take either first or last watch, allowing her uninterrupted sleep. If not for her command, they would’ve taken longer intervals and let her slumber through the night. Kaiya smiled back at him as she abandoned the warmth of her bedroll.
He cast his eyes down, and then looked back up. His lips, glistening in the flames, formed the words, Goodnight.
Heavens, staring at his lips? Kaiya gazed at the nearly pitch-black sky, with the White Moon shining as a thin sliver, the Blue Moon almost hugging the horizon. When she looked down again, he’d settled into his bedroll. Shaking her head, she paced over to a boulder, just inside the dim circle of wavering firelight.
A cramp clenched her belly. If only she had more herbal medicine from Hua. Massaging her stomach, she closed her eyes and listened to the chorus of the night.
Gentle wind sang, set to the beat of crackling fire. Nocturnal animals danced in tune. The river rustled…
No.
Something was wrong with the sound of the waters. All the animal sounds fell silent.
The ache in her belly went from wail to whimper, almost forgotten as a chill crept up her spine. Gathering up her two straight swords, she crept toward the river to investigate. She held up Brehane’s magical bead toward the inconsistent sounds, but the soft light only extended about thirty feet out into the dark waters.
Which meant that if something was out there, she stuck out in a mantle of light. Kaiya closed her hand around the light bauble, sending the surroundings into darkness. Eyes shut, she listened.
