Disclaimer: I do not own Seirei No Moribito or any of its characters :)
Balsa climbed the last few steps to the top of the hill. She leaned comfortably against her spear as she looked over the city in the New Yogo Empire she had left the year before. The smell of spring was in the air and the recent rain had given the air a sweet, pure scent. She breathed deeply, then sighed. It had been an entire year since the Second Empress had sought her out to protect Chagum. Since leaving the palace, Balsa had not seen the young prince once.
Sighing again, Balsa started walking down the road toward the city. With any luck, she would make it to the city in time to find a place to stay before night fell. She would go to the house Tanda had found for Tohya and Saya. No doubt business was bustling. Tanda had written to her to tell her that Zen, the man that had introduced himself as "Chief" to Tohya in order to locate Balsa and Chagum, had not only continued to do business with him, but had also introduced many other businessmen to him.
While she reminisced, she soon found herself in the bustling city. The sun was just beginning to touch the mountains to the west. She continued on to the business district as men were lighting lanterns to light the streets. She stopped in front of a building and smiled. Indeed business was bustling. Tohya had put up a request board similar to the one Tanda used. There were several orders hanging, waiting to be retrieved. Balsa walked in the open door.
"Tohya! Saya!" Two faces she expected to see and one she didn't responded to her calls. Balsa showed none of her surprise on her face, but her voice was enough.
"Tanda!?" Tanda's face lit up upon seeing her. He smiled gently as he looked at his childhood friend.
"Balsa," Tanda said and Balsa could detect a hint of relief in his voice. She smiled at it.
"Balsa-nee!* It's been a while!" Tohya's grin almost split his face, like always as he lifted a hand in greeting.
*Note: Balsa-nee is the way Tohya refers to Balsa, he is essentially calling her his sister though they are not related by blood.
"Balsa-san*, welcome back." Saya, the most reserved of the three, was smiling as she bowed.
*Note: Balsa-san is the way Saya and most other characters refer to Balsa, it is simply a respectful reference.
Balsa walked the rest of the way in at their beckoning. Tanda held the curtain aside and let Tohya and Saya through first, then followed them next to Balsa.
"Your letter said you were on your way back. I didn't expect you so soon though," Tanda said. Balsa laid her spear against the wall and removed her bag and cloak as she responded.
"The weather was good, so I got through the mountains quickly." Saya smiled as she reached for Balsa's cloak and hung it up for her. Tohya and Tanda were already sitting around a pot that was hung over the fire. Bowls were sitting in front of them. Balsa sat down and Saya had soon retrieved another bowl. She put in rice, then curry before handing it over to Balsa, who thanked her as she took it. The four were quiet for a while as they ate, then Tanda broke the silence.
"How long will you be staying?" He didn't look up at her, but Tohya and Saya did. All of them were hoping to hear she would be staying. Balsa smiled and gently laughed. She lowered her bowl and chopsticks slightly.
"I have saved eight lives. I have kept my promise to Jiguro. I have no reason to leave." Saya's and Tohya's smiles widened. Tanda felt his lips turning up, then he looked at Balsa. Her eyes were distant and she looked back at her spear.
"I may no longer be Chagum's bodyguard, but if the need ever arises, I will still protect him," Balsa said gently. Tanda sighed as he returned to his curry.
"And I suppose that means I will be the one patching you up time and again still." Balsa looked back at him with a smile. She knew how much he worried about her. She looked down into her bowl, which she had lowered to her lap.
"Sorry, Tanda. I guess I still haven't changed." He sighed and started eating again.
The next morning, Tanda left to check the message board in Upper Ougi for orders while Tohya started making his deliveries. Balsa decided to go see the blacksmith that had forged her spear. She was still curious about the incident with the Kalbo warrior. Why had her strike not killed him? Or at least wounded him? After thinking about it on her own, she had decided to ask the old man about the Ultimate Blade he had mentioned that day. Saya bid them all farewell as she collected the orders on the board for Tohya.
Tanda and Balsa walked side by side for a while. Balsa again had her spear balanced comfortably on her shoulder. Tanda looked at her, then looked forward again before speaking.
"Where will you stay? Now that you have decided to settle down? With Tohya and Saya," he asked? Balsa's expression didn't change as she answered.
"No, I don't want to impose on them like that. I haven't put very much thought into where I will stay, it didn't seem important at the time." Tanda's gaze flashed to her and her gaze slipped to his. Her eyes were searching his.
"At the time? What do you mean by that?" They had stopped walking and were now almost in a stare-down.
"I know you didn't come down because you thought I was going to be here. And you didn't come to deliver medicinal plants. I checked your board on my way in. You haven't put up the sign to let your customers know you are in town." Tanda's gaze became more troubled.
"It has been almost a year to the day since the water spirit was born. Tomorrow night is the full moon. I have been uneasy since last month," Tanda confessed. Balsa nodded.
"The same for me. Even so . . ." Balsa looked away, her gaze ended on the palace towers. Tanda followed her gaze.
"You are wondering if Chagum felt the same thing. I didn't tell Tohya or Saya. I didn't want them to worry. I was hoping to run into Zen and get some news of the imperial family." Balsa started walking again.
"A month ago, on the night of the full moon, I woke up in the middle of the night. It felt as if I was being attacked by La Lunga again. It was not a dream," she said. Anyone, but Tanda, would have been convinced that Balsa wasn't worried about it. Tanda, now slightly behind Balsa, looked down. He knew better than that. She was worried more than she had been in a long time. She stopped again a moment later and turned to look at him. His knowing eyes saw the worry and determination that arrayed her expression.
"Do you think it is possible that perhaps tomorrow night we will all cross over into Nayug again? And that perhaps it isn't just those that carry the water spirit's egg that La Lunga find to be a delicacy," she asked? Tanda sighed.
"Whatever we suspect, we will find out tomorrow night. There isn't anything else we can do," he said as he started walking again. He turned in the direction of the message board before saying, "I am meeting up with the Chief today. There was a message for me on Tohya's board this morning." Balsa nodded and walked in the direction of the smithy.
"Tell me what he says tonight. But don't tell Tohya and Saya until we know for sure."
"I agree, but they are sharp. I think they already suspect something. They are still wary after what happened before." That said, both turned and continued in their respective directions. However, neither made it to their destinations.
"Spear wielder, we meet again." Balsa, who had felt the presence of someone following her since she had left the shop that morning, didn't even flinch as four men surrounded her.
"Herbalist, if you would come this way please." Tanda stopped and looked up in surprise at a man directing him onto a side street and four additional men cutting off his escape routes.
More to come on this story, please R&R so I know how I'm doing (I'm a beginner) :)
