So, I love SxZ, but I also love Obi (and Izana, and MxK, and Ryuu!). This is my drama/action-adventure/romance/political drama for Obi. I hope you will have fun with me.
This is my first work to publish on this site, though I've published fanfic on other sites online...way back. I would love to publish for pay. I've got two books finished and a third in the works. Wish me luck - and please constructively comment!
Ryuu no Okaasan (because my kids wish they were dragons and I think they already are)
Update: I'm combining the sections into their proper chapters. Over one hundred sections is too much, IMO.
PROLOGUE
The cries of the carriage driver alerted the passengers of impending danger, but they had already heard the sound of crumbling rock that was quickly crescendoing into the thunderous roar of a rock slide. He jerked the head of the horse away from the path of the rocks, but here the road led right along the rocky cliffs climbing steeply up and away into the barren northern reaches of Wilant in the northernmost part of the kingdom of Clarines, while on the other side was a downward slope of rock and scrub. They had been heading back to the Lady's home, the Earldom of Farmor, where her husband had ordered her to return from her winter self-pity trip to the outlying village of Osterly.
It was justifiable, whispered the servants. He'd again had his fun while she was away and had only called for her after having sent his rough and rowdy friends and their women home. Likely as not he was ready now for her to come and clean up the messes, including soothing the ranting underlords. That had always been the job of the Earl's steward before he had married the Lady, but peculiarly, this time the steward had gone along with the Lady on her trip. The Earl himself had actually ordered it, claiming that he wanted to ensure that his Lady wife was not going off to have a tryst just to make him jealous, as if it were her fault that she wanted to keep running way. While the Lady was justifiably outraged at the insinuation, she was just a bit relieved. Her own jealousy would be a bit mollified by the arrangement.
The Earl was just a little too close to his steward for her comfort, and the years-old rumors that they - the Earl and his steward - had been lovers long before she came into the picture still regularly haunted her. What really rankled the most, though, was that the Earl had not deigned to raise her to the rank of Countess after the marriage. He'd promised many things before the wedding that hadn't been fulfilled, but that she still held over his head in the few moments of time she had opportunity to open her mouth in his presence. What could have been a marriage of convenience quickly became hell. At least the steward had been solicitous on the journey and had not been much of a bother at all, but then that was often the case at the Earldom proper as well. She really found the steward unfathomable.
As the Lady looked out her window, watching in horrified fascination her rapidly approaching death, she felt a draft come from the downhill side of the carriage. She turned to see that self-same steward glance at her, then leap from the carriage to go tumbling down the southern slope. The first rocks hit the carriage, sending it, and her with her two ladies-in-waiting careening forward slightly, then it fell crashing to the ground to be buried by the landslide. Her last thought was to wonder at the look in the steward's eyes. It was the same look of tender pity that she had caught being thrown her way before on this trip and wondered at. At least someone would regret her death, even if only slightly. But..., why would it be the steward?
CHAPTER 1 Finding a New Patient
"There's quite a bit of commotion all of a sudden." Shirayuki turned towards the sounds of soldiers and men milling about near the stables where she and her companion had just left his horse.
Obi shaded his dark golden eyes with his hand, peering in the same direction. "Shall we go see if we can learn something, Mistress?" He looked at her with that expression that was teasing and obliging at the same time.
"Mmn," Shirayuki nodded after pausing for a bit. They'd just arrived in Osterly, but Obi's business at the garrison there would be brief he'd already informed her, so they had some time.
Obi guided her, taking his usual care to ensure she was placed where she would be safe from the chaos itself, then snagged a passing man and began to question him. After all, it was his job to make sure that this special person of the Second Prince of Clarines was kept safe at all times.
As usual, Shirayuki smiled as she watched him, Obi finds it so natural to talk to perfect strangers as if they had always been next door neighbors.
She was watching the stable hand checking his work when the familiar warmth of her guardian and friend appeared at her side again. She looked up at him questioningly. I forget until we are standing this close that he is taller than me by a whole head.
The expression in Obi's eyes was somber, though his face was carefully neutral. "Mistress, they are saying that there has been a landslide back upon the road we just came in on. Apparently a passing carriage was caught in it. They are putting together a joint town and garrison search and rescue party."
"Ah, is it the one we passed on the way here then?" Shirayuki remembered that the carriage had been a private one, rather than one of the public ones that even she had rented a seat on.
"It seems likely," Obi nodded. "What do you wish to do, Mistress?"
Obi always seemed to know when Shirayuki was about to go into action, but then he'd been her guard for over five years now. "Do you know who is in charge, Obi?" and, as he pointed to one of the garrison soldiers, "I'd like to speak with him."
Obi deftly steered them through the concerned chaos until they reached the officer in charge. "Lieutenant Leeds, may we have a word with you for a moment?"
The Lieutenant looked across his shoulder at Obi and his companion, then respectfully turned to face them, "Certainly, Sir Obi." Obi, as a knight in the direct employ of Zen Wisteria, Second Prince of Clarines and Regent of Wilant (since seven months ago), outranked him. Even if the lieutenant hadn't recognized him, the wisp of brilliant red hair peeking out from underneath his companion's hood would have given him away just as immediately.
"Lieutenant, we have heard about the accident involving the carriage we passed on our way here. I am a Court Pharmacist and would like to offer my services."
"Of course, Miss Shirayuki, your skills I am sure would be of great use," the Lieutenant paused and Shirayuki's eyes widened slightly at not needing to be introduced. "But you are, I am sure, on important castle business. We are waiting only on the arrival of the garrison field surgeon at this time."
Shirayuki looked at Obi quizzically. He raised his hands indicating that she could choose. He knew she wouldn't be able to rest if she wasn't allowed to help. Her natural instinct to help anyone in need that she had the power to help was often bringing them to detours along the road, but he loved and honored her for that, among other thing. She is always pushing herself forward, he smiled inwardly.
Shirayuki turned back to the lieutenant, her face resolute. "We will come with you. Our business is not so urgent that we must leave behind us injured nobility and their retainers."
Lieutenant Leeds bowed in acquiescence and Obi took the opening to ask, "Who's carriage was it?"
"Earl College of Farmore's," the Lieutenant answered. "His Lady wife and her escort and ladies were on their way to return to the Earldom seat from this place."
Shirayuki, intent on her mental inventory of medicinal supplies she had on hand with her, completely missed seeing the uncharacteristically strong reaction Obi had to these words. "Will you please retrieve your horse again, Obi?"
"Obi?" She repeated and looked up when he didn't answer. The look of shock on his face disappeared in an instant, leaving Shirayuki to wonder if anything had been there. "Yes," he said, bowing to her, then he quickly turned away and headed towards one of the stable hands, leaving her temporarily in the care of the lieutenant.
Lieutenant Leeds immediately began to sweat slightly and look around the area with more keen and careful eyes. If he were to become known as the soldier who let anything harm this red haired common girl from the country of Tanbarun and sweetheart of Prince Zen, he'd likely never find honest employment again. Among the soldier ranks, who revered Prince Zen, she was the favored pick to become his princess because she had single handedly saved an entire garrison from death by poison, among other services to them. He was quite relieved when Obi finally reappeared with his horse in tow.
He and Shirayuki mounted it in their usual way, Obi holding the reigns and Shirayuki balanced comfortably behind him. Engrossed in their own thoughts, neither the lieutenant nor Shirayuki marked Obi's uncharacteristic silence and shadowed eyes.
The Osterly Garrison field surgeon, Bonner, a greying man in his fifties, stepped out of the small room he had been using as a surgery. He was feeling today like he really should have retired and settled down with a sweet plump woman somewhere warmer and quieter. Wiping his rinsed hands on a clean rag, he looked around the open room that served the village of Osterly as town hall and celebration center, and in the long cold winters of the North as the market place. Currently this corner of it, near the few offices and smaller rooms included at the edge of the open area, was a coroner's office and mortuary.
Miss Shirayuki and the village midwife, each followed by a young lady assistant, we're going through the few bodies, straightening them, washing them as best they could, and generally preparing them for delivery to Earl College. It was a little surprising to see that the young court pharmacist was keeping calm and working efficiently. While watching the young miss who had caught the eye of the Clarines Royals, he could hear Lieutenant Leeds wrapping up his report to the garrison captain.
"...Lady College, her two ladies-in-waiting, the two mounted guards, and the driver all dead by the time we found them. The horses as well. Miss Ilena was thrown from the carriage and is the only survivor. But a huge boulder has crushed her hip and the surgeon…"
"...Thinks she will survive." Bonner had moved over to join the conversation. Both other officers nodded acknowledgment of his arrival as he continued. "I've cleaned the wound and set the bones as best I can at this time. There is quite a bit of swelling of course and many of the pieces of the bone are no more than fragments. I expect some amount of infection and will likely need to perform more surgery later."
"But you think she will survive?" The young female voice at his elbow told him the Court Pharmacist had also come to hear his report. He nodded once. "That is good. Will she be able to walk again?" Shirayuki looked genuinely concerned for the long term welfare of the survivor.
"Miss Shirayuki, it is fortunate that this accident has happened so close to this garrison," Lieutenant Leeds told her somewhat proudly. "Our field surgeon here is the best in Wilant. He has set and repaired the bones of many a soldier that otherwise would have left them crippled for life. If there is anyone in all of Clarines who can help Miss Ilena at this time to walk again, it is Field Surgeon Bonner of Osterly Garrison!"
"Hrmmph. I'm not so sure about all of Clarines, Leeds, but I will certainly do my best, Miss Shirayuki. After all, the Earl greatly values his steward."
"His...stew-ard?!" a new voice broke in surprise and the little group turned to find Obi had silently joined them. It was apparent he had just come from cleaning up after helping to carry in the bodies of the dead. "You said her name was…?"
"Miss Ilena, Sir Obi," Obi's expression remained one of great surprise.
Shirayuki interjected, also with surprise, "The Earl's steward is…? The Earl has a woman as steward of his household?" She had visited with the earl's Head Gardener prior to their coming on to Osterly, as part of her spring rounds. It had been her last stop on her way back to Wilant Castle. They had only stopped in Osterly because of Obi's errand at the garrison there. Thinking back to when she had visited the earldom one time before, in the fall, she couldn't remember there being a woman in such a position. Perhaps she had mistaken the female steward to be a maid, ...or had Miss Ilena just not been present at that time as well? It seemed odd that such a rough, and somewhat scary man would have a female steward. Obi hadn't been able to be with her when she met the earl briefly last fall, just long enough for him to disinterestedly give her permission to carry out her experiments, and she'd been just as happy to not see him this spring.
"If you could call that one a woman," muttered Lieutenant Leeds. The field surgeon studiously looked down at his hands and wiped some possibly imaginary dirt off them.
Captain Grey threw the lieutenant a cautionary rebuking look, "Miss Ilena has worked very hard to become someone the Earl can trust completely, something he does not grant to anyone else. She is an exemplary servant to her lord, and equally, she serves all the members of the house and Earldom with equity and firmness. She is highly qualified for the position even given her young age." He continued apologetically, "Unfortunately, the Earl is known for his sudden bursts of anger and sometimes...erratic behavior. Miss Ilena has become expert at deflecting his outbursts and repairing his.… Well, let us just say that after observing the Earldom for fifteen years now, the eight years she has stood by his side have been much more stable than it ever was before. For the Earldom to lose her would be a great blow, in my opinion."
Captain Grey turned to Obi, who was still looking mildly surprised. "I would like your opinion, Sir Obi, as to whether or not you suspect or found evidence of foul play. It is unlikely that the Earl would have allowed his steward's life to be threatened, but it was common knowledge that his wife was a thorn in his side, though it was not all her fault by any means."
"Ah...You assume it was the Earl himself who ordered it, and not outside assassins?" Obi raised his eyebrows, then frowned. "Or even the steward herself? It sounds like it would have been a good way to remove a potential rival."
All three men shook their heads. Apparently the reputations of all parties involved were well established at this garrison. "The Earl is not very...creative, and he was bound by the oath of his marriage vows. Though there have been rumors in the past about the Earl and Miss Ilena, they do not bear out. Their relationship is strictly as it should be. The Lady's father's house will likely complain bitterly that it was spousal murder, but because he is such a minor lord, in the end he will not be able to receive redress. Steward Ilena would not involve herself in any such activity. Rather it is she that does her best to dissuade the Earl from entering into such wicked schemes, at least as much as she is able."
"How is it you know this?" Obi asked.
"Well, confidentially mind as it is part of our being able to maintain the peace here in Farmore without direct conflict with the Earl," the Captain lowered his voice sufficient to exclude all but those directly around him, "but Miss Ilena has on important occasions managed to get information to us that has allowed us to prevent somewhat nefarious deeds from being perpetuated. Of course she is extremely limited in her capacity, having to remain trustworthy in the eyes of her lord, but she is able to turn a blind eye towards our secret investigations."
At this, Lieutenant Leeds nodded. "It's creepy, actually, how she is able to know when there are spies about, where they are, and even who they are. She has called me by name when my own mother and father wouldn't have recognized me...if they could have even spotted me, though she never gave away my position."
"The rumors she is a magus or a ghost are quite false, I assure you," Bonner interjected dryly. "After all, ghosts don't get their hips crushed and bleed that much and a magus would have been able to escape unscathed, if such creatures existed."
Obi, having once been part of the professional group of nefarious-doers, didn't have much respect for the soldier spies and their capabilities. They were quite capable of missing the presence of all but the most junior thief, and all who walked the dark paths learned to instinctively recognize when a soldier, disguised or in uniform, was around. But Miss Ilena's capabilities were intriguing. He wondered how they could say she walked in the light when her master walked in darkness. No. Not light. Twilight. Balancing between the darkness of House College and the light of Wilant and Clarines.
"Besides," continued the captain, returning to his defence of the steward, "she was here with the Lady, which is very unusual. It would be like the Earl to think that because they were together he could say he couldn't have been the one to have ordered the murder of his wife, as that would have put his precious steward at risk."
"But she very obviously jumped from the carriage before it was buried under rocks, based on where we found her," Obi objected. "Would she have allowed the assassination of the Lady if she is as upstanding as you say?"
"I do not know why she jumped, Sir Obi, but she and the Lady were here for nearly three months. That is plenty of time for the Earl to have planned this murder without her knowledge. I do not believe she would have allowed it to happen if she had known about it."
That was long enough for her to plan it herself, thought Obi.
"There is one other clue, Captain," the lieutenant added. "Miss Ilena was only partially buried under small and medium rocks where we found her, but below her was one large boulder that we believe caused the damage to her hip. Above her we found traces of blood and marks on the rocks. It is possible that the carriage driver's head wound was caused by a staff that was then used to send the boulder down upon her."
Captain Grey pursed his lips. "Well, I admit to being puzzled as to why Earl College would be willing to place her life in danger, or even to end it. But either way, it is fortunate she is alive."
Obi nodded. "Indeed. It will be interesting to hear what her answers are when she regains consciousness. I will expect her to be guarded at all times and to be informed when she awakens. If the Earl comes for her himself, he is not to be allowed to see her nor to regain her until Regent Zen is satisfied that the investigation is complete." The soldiers, used to hearing and obeying orders, straightened as they received his words. "When will she be able to be moved into the garrison?"
Bonner looked into the distance, then said, "It would be best to leave her here for at least three days, and maybe for a week, at least until I am able to complete the second surgery. To move her any more than we already have at this stage would once again place her life in critical danger. Even moving her after the second surgery would not be advisable. I believe at minimum a two week period will be necessary for her to reach sufficient stability to be transported to the garrison."
"How long for her to reach sufficient stability to be moved to Castle Wilant?" It was the soldiers' turn to be surprised.
"Do you really think that will be necessary, Sir Obi?" asked the captain.
"If, as you say, she knows what the Earl has been doing, I don't think he'd take kindly to having her questioned in an official investigation. I think it would be wise to assume that he will try to have her removed. While it can't be helped that she can't be moved rashly, I believe it will be necessary to take her to the castle as soon as possible."
Bonner answered, "To move her even that distance...a month at least would be best - and then only if the wound is sufficiently restrained so that it does not shift. She must lie flat on her back for six weeks, only beginning to rise slightly at four weeks, for the hip bone to repair itself sufficient to be walked on again." He paused a bit, then added, "However, there's one complication. Three tendons in the hip have been torn, two partially. The third, which attaches the main front leg muscle to the top of the hip, has been torn completely. I can repair the bone and the first two tendons sufficiently, but the third one I may not be able to correctly repair. If not, while she will be able to sit in a rolling chair for some limited mobility, Miss Ilena will not be able to walk again."
-o-o-o-
"Mistress?" Obi knocked at the guarded door, then entered.
"Oh, Obi! You've returned." Shirayuki looked up from the table where she had been working, her red hair reflecting the candlelight in front of her.
Examining her closely, Obi smiled wryly. "You have been working hard again."
"Well, it isn't as if there is much I can really do," Shirayuki admitted. To Obi, she was looking rather disappointed. Typical court pharmacy cases were resolved in a few hours to days at most. Sitting for the length of time it would take surgery and bones to heal would be different. Regardless, he knew Shirayuki would not give any less of herself to the duty she had claimed, though it might be a bit misplaced. Of course it wasn't his duty to tell her that, right?
"Well, it is evening already and the dinner meal done." Noting the empty dishes beside her, he added, "It looks like you've appropriately taken care of yourself in that matter, at least."
Shirayuki glanced towards the dishes as well, following his look. "One of the village ladies came and brought the food, and also a bit of water for Miss Ilena. I seeped a few herbs in it to help keep down any infection and aid in the healing."
"We're you able to get any of it down her?" Obi wondered, trying to imagine it.
"Well, between the two of us - Alise and I, that is - we managed to figure out a way."
"Then, teach it to me, too," Obi couldn't help but smile at her determination yet again, "and I'll help next time." As Shirayuki nodded he added casually, "Ah, but for now, you should get your rest, Mistress. After all, Master will not like to see your eyes so shaded when he arrives tomorrow."
"Eh!? Zen? He's coming tomorrow, here?" Shirayuki bounced up from her seat in shock and guilt. Zen was infamous among his aides for becoming sternly unhappy with them when they did not take proper care of themselves. She knew better, but when she was caring for patients she had a tendency to forget herself. Obi was right. Zen would be unhappy...and he would notice. She hadn't been able to hide exhaustion from him since the garrison poisoning event. That time he hadn't noticed and had gotten angry with himself and scolded her for taking it all upon her own shoulders.
Obi grinned at her, happy he could tease her. She always had the best reactions whenever Zen was involved. He loved both his Master and his Mistress, especially when they were together, so he was also looking forward to the next day. "Since the castle is close, I thought it best to send my report immediately. Especially since Master would worry when we had not arrived to report our progress by evening. I have just now received his reply...by bird."
Shirayuki raised her eyebrows. The beautiful blue island birds that were trained now as messengers for the crown were still fairly rare and prized, particularly here in the cold north. They were native to a warmer climate island that was part of Clarines in the southwest sea. Originally trained to find mineral ores beneath the sea waves by the islanders, Prince Zen, with the help of Shirayuki, had tested their capability as messenger birds for the kingdom in order to save them from being hunted down by the new lord of the island as beautiful prey with feathers to be prized. The test had been successful, though not without mishap, and now the soldiers of Clarines had a messenger bird squad, which Zen had secretly trained with. If a messenger bird had come to Obi from Zen, it would have been Zen's personal bird. He must have been worried by their lateness and at the arrival of a report, rather than two of the people he loved and called friends. Shirayuki sighed. As much as she loved Zen, on occasion she wished he would worry just a little bit less. After all, nothing had happened to them, they were just helping to take care of someone who needed their help.
Well, perhaps if I am more honest with myself, I am not really required to stay, it is true. This is not Castle Wilant, so it is out of my jurisdiction. There is the field surgeon and even the village girl, Alise, who can watch over Miss Ilena. But Obi has taken responsibility for this investigation as well, even going so far as to take it directly to Zen's attention. I am sure the captain and his men could handle the investigation. But I wonder why… "Obi, why did you bring this case so quickly to Zen's attention?"
"Ah, even when tired, Mistress is still sharp, eh?" Obi attempted a slight deflection by teasing. He'd been looking at the still-unconscious Miss Ilena and the question drew his attention back. Seeing his Mistress would not be quite so easily turned from her quest, he continued vaguely, "Well, such things as lords who will not act as lords are things Master wishes to directly address himself, and we have here a valuable informant full of proofs. I should think if I had not done it I would have received a super scolding when we returned. While I do like Master's scoldings so, his super scoldings are a bit … severe." Obi shuddered remembering the few he had received - most of them because of the Mistress herself, but she didn't need to know that.
"You like his scoldings, Obi?" Shirayuki asked, her eyes wide.
Obi grinned back. "Of course. They let me know Master loves me." He continued to grin, seeing he'd managed to confuse her yet again. Plus having the hidden distraction win out was always a pleasure. Mistress was still so innocent, even though she and Master had promised themselves to each other. What is it now...almost five years ago? Isn't that too long to keep the innocence going, Master? Will you really make me force your hand in this matter? Obi had threatened, only half-teasingly, on more than one occasion to take his Mistress away from his Master because of the slow deliberate machinations of royalty and lords, but really. Master was going to get forced into marrying some girl he neither knew nor cared for, likely within a year, if these two didn't pick up the pace. Actually, I'm surprised it hasn't already happened, Obi thought unhappily, his good mood gone again. He sighed inwardly. Really, I can't leave their sides, but there are times that it's such trouble. "Well, Mistress seems to enjoy his scoldings as well," he put a knowing smile on his face as he responded to her.
Shirayuki put her hand to her chest, her hand slightly clutched - a subconscious defensive move she made whenever she felt insecure or frightened. "No, not really," she said weakly.
"Well, then," Obi put his hands behind his head, interlocking his fingers, and stretched, then leaving his hands behind his head he looked at his Mistress from the corner of his eye, "I guess Mistress had better take the other bed. Obi will take the chair and keep watch over both Mistress and Miss Steward. We weren't expecting to stay overnight anyway so nothing's been prepared. This should be sufficient if Mistress approves."
Giving her the reward of remaining close to her patient seemed to do the trick. Shirayuki nodded once and obediently climbed into the second bed, only pausing to take off her shoes. "Wake me if anything changes, Obi."
"Sure thing! Good night, Mistress."
"G'night," she managed to mumble before falling quickly to sleep.
Shirayuki had learned to fall asleep quickly while working odd and long hours at the research facility in Lyrias in the far northwest of Wilant, Clarines. Obi knew it well. It wasn't like they slept in the same room often - in fact it was rather the opposite - but Obi had always found it difficult to sleep. It had started when he was very young and it had been reinforced by his time in the underworld. It still hadn't really changed since he'd given his reins to Master. Castles made him nervous, and when he and Mistress were away, there was only him to watch over her. The evening he'd been unable to prevent her from being kidnapped, after promising Master he'd keep her safe, still haunted him. That had been from a castle as well, though admittedly a foreign one.
Master, his other aids Mr. Mitsuhide and Miss Kiki, Obi himself, the First Prince of Tanbarun, and several others had all been required to fetch her back safely. He wasn't about to let it happen again, so he often stayed awake, or relied on the thieves trait of being on alert while sleeping, when they were out of the castle. And he always took a room next to hers. With the precise cat-like hearing that went with all of his other cat-like traits, he had memorized and categorized all the sounds she made as she prepared for bed, slept, woke, and prepared for her day. That way he would always be alerted if anything odd would happen in her room and he be needed immediately.
This room might perhaps be the most dangerous room they could stay in in that village, since the Earl would be likely to send in assassins at some point. But tonight Mistress would sleep easier close to her patient and he would be more at ease being able to keep his eyes and ears on both young women.
Obi slid immediately from light sleep into still alertness. A muttering noise nearby had awakened him. He waited without motion for the sound to repeat itself. The candle was out, of course, but there was faint light from the town hall room seeping around the edges of the door. It was enough for him to see that everything in the room was as it had been when he had dozed off. He heard the two guards at the door shift slightly to relieve tired cramping muscles. Still third watch, then. Probably the early hours, maybe two or three hours after midnight. A faint groan -coming from Miss Steward, Mistress doesn't make noise when she sleeps- followed again by a mutter like what had woken him.
Allowing his knife edge awareness to ease, but keeping carefully alert, Obi slipped one of his throwing daggers silently into his hand and carefully crept up to the bed Ilena lay on. He listened closely as Ilena slipped further into this state of talking in her sleep.
"No, Master, please! … Please, stop. ...Please...!" Ilena's face held pain.
Well, the pain wasn't that much of a surprise. She probably was in quite a bit of pain. The pain of her current ordeal was surely causing her sleeping mind to remember a thing she would rather forget. Obi replaced his dagger and waited, but no further words were forthcoming. Then, he noticed Ilena's breathing was a bit ragged. He shifted so the light from around the door reflected better off her face. There, shining on her face...!
If anyone had been able to see it, on his face they would have seen cold, hard anger. But the finger that reached out and brushed away the tears from her's was infinitely gentle. Ilena's mouth moved, but no sound came from it. Then she was still, once again succumbing to unconsciousness. The remainder of Obi's night was restless and full of his own dark thoughts.
-o-o-o-
Zen reigned in his white horse at the top of the last of the rolling hills between Castle Wilant and the beginning of the snow covered rocky mountains that were the north border of Wilant, Clarines. He'd outrun his aides and the now-required security detail, but he could see they were just coming out of the valley and heading up the slope behind him. He was glad to see that his close aides and personal knights, Mitsuhide and Kiki whom he considered friends, would reach him ahead of the security detail. He scowled. It had always been his way to escape when frustrated, but it was even more difficult now that he held the position of Regent of Wilant. Even a short one or two day trip required more than just the two aides, who had been all that followed him since he had been given Mitsuhide. It was suffocating sometimes, having to follow protocol. He would have liked for at least this trip to have been just the three of them.
Kiki had arrived back at his side within the last week, while Shirayuki had been away on her pharmacy business. After the debacle a year ago in which Mitsuhide had been framed for injuring several lords who were potential suitors for Kiki, who was the heir to the Earldom on the other side of the lands of Castle Wilant from their current position, he had lost her constant support. He'd already by that time kept her over the originally agreed upon five years by nearly three years, but even so, it was still difficult to let her return to the duties to which she was required to go. The agreement for now was that during the deep frozen time of the winter, when travel was severely restricted by the weather, Kiki would go to her father to be trained in the duties of becoming the lord and administrator of the Earldom. During times of nicer weather she would travel between the two so that when Zen had need he would have both of his quite capable swordsmen by his side but her father would also have her to introduce her to the land of the Earldom and its people.
Glancing at them one more time before turning to face the valley and its village on the other side, Zen wondered once again what had been the agreement between Mitsuhide and Kiki. They had been partners at his back for so long they trusted no one else, really. While Mitsuhide was really dense when it came to matters of the heart, and Kiki severely restrained, it had been no secret to him for quite some time that Kiki loved Mitsuhide and intended to make him her lord husband, even if he might refuse the title of Earl. Mitsuhide had been given to Zen when he was in the rebellious stages of his childhood by his lord brother, then-First Prince Izana, and turned him around. Mitsuhide, who had hoped to serve by the side of Izana, had at first served Zen for his love of Izana, but had quickly come to love Zen as well. He would not willingly, nor easily, be pried from his position as top aide and second big brother and shield.
Though it would be difficult to have both of them leave his side, what really mattered to Zen was their happiness. He wasn't sure they were that right now, though. Zen had only been able to assume it had been a neutral parting at best before winter set in. Kiki had kept her emotions locked tightly away as usual when they left her with the Earl on the way to the castle for Zen to take the position of Regent, though she had surprisingly embraced them both before sending them off. When they arrived at Castle Wilant, Mitsuhide had thrown himself, alongside Zen, into the work of beginning in a new place. He still hadn't said anything, though occasionally Zen had caught him staring into space with a perplexed expression, muttering to himself quietly, so potentially the partners had at least talked. He actually hoped it wouldn't be too much longer before Mitsuhide made a decision and talked with him.
A slightly queasy feeling of unease came over Zen as he looked down upon the village of Osterly below him where another relationship was a bit unsteady. Shirayuki had not minded that he was in the main too busy to spend much time with her. That was nothing new for the two of them. They were both glad they had been assigned together to Wilant Castle. She had been busy getting used to the new pharmacy arrangement, though it was eased by the fact that she was still working with her one-time trainer then research partner, now boss, Wilant Head Court Pharmacist Ryuu. It was Zen that was the problem, really. Not only had he been trying to get the lords of Wilant to fully accept him, train up new aides to replace Kiki (it was going to take more than one to replace her efficiency, apparently, and he was having difficulty finding anyone that was a good match for him and Mitsuhide), but he was having trouble coming up with the next step in making it possible for Shirayuki be able to stand by his side as an accepted Princess of Clarines (or even Wilant).
He was determined to make it happen, and his brother Izana, now King for four years, had been his ally in having Shirayuki perform tasks that put her in front of the lords of Wilant. So far that had been only in the capacity of Court Pharmacist, the path Shirayuki herself had chosen, and that wasn't sufficient for the lords to be willing for her to be added to the list of acceptable potential wives that still sat inside his desk. The pressure was again mounting for him to at least begin having marriage interviews with the ladies on the list. If he couldn't come up with the next step in strengthening Shirayuki's position, he would have to submit again, like he'd had to once roughly three years ago. He'd had the interview with Kiki in secret to protect her, her name being on the list protecting him at the time also. He wouldn't be able to repeat that. Really it was very complicated, this part of being a Prince.
His brother had married for convenience quite obediently, a woman of good pedigree, training, and beauty great enough to match Izana's own radiance. (It was often said when they were together that they were a match so pleasing on the eyes one could not look at them together very long.) From what Zen could see, that was all that it was. Maybe his brother was being soft on him in letting him try to marry for love, but that didn't mean the King could wave his hand and make it happen by ordering the lords to accept it. But what was the next step? Izana was surely waiting to see what move Zen would make, testing him yet again to see if he was still serious about his commitment to that path. What should he do next? Argh! It's so frustrating!
"That's quite the scowl, Zen," Kiki said, pulling her horse to a stop beside her young liege, though truly she wasn't much older. "You'll scare the guards."
Zen pulled a face at her as Mitsuhide came up to a stop on his other side. "Was the run not sufficient, Zen?" Mitsuhide's question was spoken blandly, but for Mitsuhide it was a cold comment. Normally he would have begun his kindly scolding before even reaching Zen's side.
Zen, seeing the other guards rapidly approaching, looked at him with barely recognizable mild surprise wondering what his two aides might have said to each other after he kicked his horse into a gallop and left them behind. They had all been together long enough that Zen recognized that Mitsuhide's anger was not really because Zen had run off ahead of the rest. Mitsuhide had come to expect such things out of Zen from a long time ago. It was the only small rebellion Zen still allowed himself, and he had been learning proper restraint. After all, he'd stopped at the top of the hill, still within sight of his guard, rather than continuing on into the village as he would have before and during the early years that Shirayuki was with them.
Mitsuhide sighed briefly and gave him a half-bow from the saddle. "My apologies, Zen."
Zen looked from Mitsuhide to Kiki and back again. "I hope the two of you can resolve this soon." Both aides looked down meekly, unwilling to look at each other or him. Zen sighed, turning back to face Osterly. Such open repentance only meant they had actually argued, even if it had been only a few words. His mood was certainly not improving much, even for all he was out in the open world and had been riding for more than half the day. He shrugged one shoulder, an expression his aides recognized as irritation bordering on anger, and urged his horse down the hill towards the village and the mountains rising up behind it. "Let's go."
Kiki commanded her horse to follow after Zen, naturally falling into her usual position. She snuck a brief glance at Mitsuhide. His stiff back, riding half-way between her and the Prince when he would normally be in stride with her, his cold comment to Zen, and his silence. All these things telling her loudly that she had offended him by her comment, though no offence was meant. Rather she had been trying to tell him that she missed being with them. She stifled the sad sigh that threatened to escape.
With the guards there, they were all three wearing their public court faces, of course. The ones that gave little to no true emotion away, yet spoke volumes with the faintest of expressions. Those masks Zen and she had learned from birth and Mitsuhide had learned standing behind Zen. If anything was the most frustrating for her, it was that it was obvious there was little opportunity for Zen to be just Zen with the people he cared about the most. With the additional guard required when he left the castle, the additional people being trained who either could not or would not accept his preferred casual manner in his office, and all of the worries weighing on him, he was just not being able to find moments to relax.
Normally, Shirayuki would have been a place of refuge for him, but Mitsuhide had confided to Kiki earlier that week in a rare moment they had been alone. She had asked after Shirayuki and Mitsuhide had told her that just before Shirayuki had left on her current assignment, Zen had made one complaint too many to her and she had snapped, firmly telling him that, "If you have the time to complain to me so much about the people around you who are trying to do their best for you, you have the time to properly train them." Such a harsh statement from Shirayuki to Zen was rare as Zen spent a lot of time trying to live so as to avoid them - a good thing from his aide's perspectives. That he had slipped up and said something to earn it meant he must truly be nearing wits end. It wasn't too hard to guess that Zen had probably, at least for a day or two if he still wasn't, hung onto his pride. Not that it wasn't reasonable. There were times when it would be appropriate for the one he loved to show sympathy for his difficulties so that he could for a brief moment lay the burden down. Well, it was likely the same problem for both sets of couples. Things were changing around them and unsettled, but they stumbled in the ability to talk properly about them. Ah, I'm in complete agreement with Zen. I hope this can all be resolved soon, too.
-o-o-o-
Obi had managed to coax his Mistress out of the little room long enough for them to breathe fresh air. He had been afraid she was about to walk on top of him for pacing, though she had been restraining herself. The room was rather small for such a thing as pacing with two beds and a desk and chair taking up most of the space, along with three bodies. He had alternated between being in the room and talking with the other soldiers of the garrison and villagers who came to visit together in the hall. Shirayuki had remained in the room, studying her current herbal book after making up another tincture to coax down Ilena's throat. Obi had watched closely so as to learn how she had managed to get liquid down the throat of a person flat on their back and unconscious - normally a dangerous idea. It had been mostly a process of infinite patience as only tiny amounts of liquid could be dosed at a time.
As Shirayuki stretched her arms above her head and took a deep breath of the spring mountain air, Obi called out. She turned to see him looking away from the majestic mountains, his hand shading his eyes.
"Is that Master and his men?" He pointed to where he was looking. "There, just coming down the hill?"
Shirayuki strained to see. "I guess it could be," she frowned, not really sure she was seeing horses moving on the hill or just wishful thinking. "You have very good eyes, Obi, if you can see them from this far." She turned back to look at him, then her eyes popped. "Ah! Zen!" She froze for a moment her face going pale, then red, as she remembered the last time she and Zen had spoken before she left. "Obi!" She turned an exasperated expression on her teasing friend.
"Oh. My bad." he raised his hands. "Here they are." He turned to Zen and the cadre following him, a smile on his face, watching as they came across the open space between the stables and the town hall. Zen's gaze was as hungry as usual when he looked at Shirayuki, but his face was still darkened. Obi pasted his open smile on his face for all he was worth, but worry crept into his heart. If Master was still angry with Mistress this meeting would not go as well he would hope. The worry relaxed a bit as Master's eyes moved to look at him and a light came across his face. Ah good. If it wasn't possible for Mistress to calm Master, at least Master was willing to be cajoled by Obi. That meant it wasn't all lost - just that Master was sufficiently burdened that a happy friendly face was a rare joy today. Well, but really, it isn't good for Master to look at me like that and not Mistress. "Welcome, Master. If you keep looking at me like that, I'll have to steal you away from Mistress. Would you like a hug?" Obi spread his arms wide as if to embrace Zen, Mitsuhide, and Kiki all at once, and tried to look alluring.
That definitely got the reaction he wanted. Zen stopped in the midst of his stride and he was unable to restrain his usual look of pleased revulsion whenever Obi teased him this way. Pleased because he's happy the hug was offered. Revulsion because Mistress is the only one he sees that way. Obi sighed sadly and began lowering his arms. Before he could complete the motion he was totally caught off guard. Someone had thrown their arms around him.
"Pfft!" Zen was holding his hand over his mouth "Your expression, Obi!"
But Obi wasn't liking the expression he was seeing on Mitsuhide's face. He put his hands down and gently pushed away the person holding him and looked down. Miss Kiki was the second shortest of the group after Shirayuki, and this was most definitely Miss Kiki having just done a very uncharacteristically Miss Kiki action. She was smiling her slight smile and her eyes were bright. Tears?! That is even less Miss Kiki-like!
"You're expression is indeed most rewarding, Obi," Kiki said.
Obi allowed his surprised look to fade into wariness. He made a show of looking her up and down. "Is this really our Miss Kiki, back from the barrens of her home? What a strange thing to have happen to this poor heart. And here I thought you hated me."
Kiki gave him a proud look and raised her head slightly. "And shall I never do it again, then?"
"Ah," Obi raised his hands in negation and defence. "Well," he looked up at Mitsuhide again around her, "I think that perhaps you should reserve them for the one who really wants them, eh?" Ah, that isn't a good thing. A cold shock to the system, followed by feigned indifference. Ah, Mr. Mitsuhide and Miss Kiki. What are you two doing?
Thankfully the interaction was interrupted by Shirayuki flinging herself into Kiki's arms with a cry of delight. "Kiki! It is so good to see you again!"
Thankfully?! Ara! Is that really better, Mistress? Shirayuki was also not known for demonstrative acts of affection. It looked like Master had just received a punch at the belt-line.
Zen recovered with shake of his head and a small smile played on his lips. "I got it, you three. Good grief, I must be in a state to make even Kiki and Shirayuki join in on Obi's jokes."
Hah, Obi sighed inwardly. If only it were that simple. I do not think the ladies are joking so much as you might think. But at Zen's words the whole atmosphere seemed to become less oppressive. As is often the case, Master can calm the seriousness that rises all too often in Mr. Mitsuhide.
Zen placed his hand on Shirayuki's hooded head. "It is good to see you again, Shirayuki. Have you been well?"
Shirayuki smiled up at Zen. "Yes! It is good to see you and Mitsuhide and Kiki again."
Ah, there is the light I was looking for, Obi smiled to himself as he drank in the sight of the pair greeting each other in their usual happy but awkward and restrained manner.
As Kiki leaned in to talk quietly to him, Obi braced himself for one of her typical biting comments. Instead she shocked him again. "Thank you for being here for Zen, Obi." He stared at her, seeing her face was soft, giving truth to the statement, and for a moment her eyes were bright again before she turned away hastily.
He looked once more at Mitsuhide, but the man was warmly returning Shirayuki's welcome and had not seen. Was there more going on at the castle while they were away than he would have thought? Certainly, the stress and cabin fever had been bad there just before the spring thaws had released them from its confines. Or was there something more going on? He would definitely need to corner Miss Kiki when Mr. Mitsuhide wasn't watching and press her for information. At the very least to understand where her tears came from, since Mr. Mitsuhide wasn't at all capable of it. As for himself, he felt the usual calm from being in his Master's presence well up in him again and settle like a warm blanket over his own dark worries, though they would not calm completely. Though Master had never demanded that Obi tell him words about his past, he would have to find the courage to speak them, he knew. Else they would eat at this happiness he had finally found.
Zen turned and looked at Obi, his face recomposing into the careful neutrality he carried everywhere he went in public, but his heart seemed lighter finally. "Obi, I would like to see Earl College's steward first, please. Then we will go and speak with the garrison commander."
"Yes, Master," Obi bowed slightly and gestured with his hand towards the town hall and it's room with two attendant guards. It wasn't all that unusual to the five to have this kind of interaction when meeting, so they were not affected by the fact it had been in public, but several of the onlookers, including garrison soldiers, were having difficulty keeping their eyes in their sockets, or the grins off their faces. "It is a small room, though."
"That is fine, Obi." Zen nodded at the guards as he passed them to enter the room Ilena was recovering in. Obi followed him in.
"Kiki, did you know that Earl College's steward was a female?" Shirayuki asked Kiki as the two of them followed Mitsuhide into the room. Obi jumped slightly at the question and Zen looked back at him, his eyes kind. Deciding to hang on to those kind, brilliant blue eyes as his life preserver, Obi ignored Kiki's answer. However, because he was focused on looking at his Master's eyes, he missed seeing the shadow of concern that came over Zen's face.
"Obi," Master's voice was reassuring, "What has happened here since you sent your report to me?"
Standing at a relaxed attention, the bed containing Ilena to his right, and continuing to stare only in his Master's eyes in an unfocused way, he gave his report smoothly. He hoped it came across as militaristically trained, but as he spoke he could only feel the way he had often felt when giving reports of completed jobs while standing in front of a person he had received much darker orders from. Divorce yourself from your emotions. Don't see the person on the other side. Expect swift payment or punishment at the end. Show only a relaxed exterior that is proof of internal strength and confidence, but doesn't provoke. It was a brief report. Even the further questioning he had made of the villagers about their overlord had not revealed much more than the garrison leaders had said the day before.
"Thank you, Obi," Zen said when the report was completed. Obi bowed slightly, his right hand coming to his breast formally, then returning to his left hand behind his back.
Zen turned to Shirayuki. She looked guilty and he smiled gently for her. "Shirayuki, it is not good, nor necessary for you to sleep here. Kiki and Mitsuhide will go with you to the garrison and requisition for you and Obi sleeping quarters there. That is if you wish to stay. I will have Obi stay for the two weeks it will take for Miss Ilena to be moved to garrison quarters, and maybe for the two weeks more to move her to the castle, but you could return with us." Obi relaxed just slightly.
"Ah, well." Shirayuki's guilt and desire warred within her, and therefore in her eyes and face. "I realize that I am not a surgeon, nor really in a position of responsibility here, but I already would like to continue to do what I can here. Ryuu is…"
"Ryuu is handling the castle pharmacy easily with the assistants he has now. With the spring release the number of cases is diminished." At Shirayuki's wide curious eyes, Zen smiled. "I spoke with him last evening. Obi made it fairly clear in his report that you would likely wish to see this through to the end. Ryuu has sent you a packet of herbs that Mitsuhide is holding for you."
As Shirayuki took the package from Mitsuhide, she smiled happily at him and Zen. "Thank you, Zen." She bowed slightly. "I will do my best here, then."
Zen nodded at her, still smiling gently. This determination and care of others of hers was an endearment for them all. It would be good for her to be here with Obi, even if she could be of no further use to Miss Ilena, though she would surely still be of benefit there as well. Mitsuhide deferred to Shirayuki and allowed her to exit the room first, then turned back and looked at Zen briefly. Zen nodded slightly at Mitsuhide and Kiki's unspoken question as they obviously looked at Obi's back, then him, allowing the concern in his heart to be reflected in their faces. Obi was definitely acting strange.
At the sound of the closing of the door, Obi began trembling. "Obi," Zen called softly, placing his hand on his sworn man's shoulder, feeling the trembling that was no longer controllable.
Obi looked at his Master with a torn expression, still looking for safety in the blue eyes he loved. "Master," his voice was rough but soft, "I left her behind. I abandoned her!"
Careful to control the emotions he showed Obi, Zen could only watch in amazement as the man who had stood strong in even the agonizing period of Shirayuki's double kidnapping, began to cry. His tears were silent and seemed to be unnoticed. There was only agony and a cry for salvation in the eyes that unwavered from his own. Here, in this place, at this time…. It is only right. Zen moved forward, wrapped his arms around Obi, and held him.
Only then did Obi begin to sob quietly into his Master's shoulder, his body wracked with deep grief.