Disclaimer: This author does not own any of the characters created by Tecmo-Koei.
Chapter Two: An Odd Woman
He watched her fidget over the clothes she had purchased in the market. He smirked, while admiring the contours of her body.
"Do I look good?" she asked, giving a twirl.
He gave her a nod of approval. "You look beautiful."
She gave him a short glare then a playful smirk. He assumed that she had been complimented too many times in such an offending manner.
"I am honest, my lady, you do not need to glare."
She sighed, "I got used to it. I've been too defensive around men, and now I find myself accompanying one."
He looked outside. "We're going to have to leave your dog behind though, my lady." It would be a hassle for them to bring one. Another problem would be that they might lose the dog along the way.
Lan nodded at him. "I understand, Lord Zhang Liao." She walked outside and whistled. The dog Chiu ran over to her and licked her cheek, and gave a joyous bark. "Sorry Chiu, but I will have to leave you here for the while." The dog gave her a sad whine as Lan stroked its fur. "Don't worry, I'll be back. You'll be taken with great care here, right Lord Zhang Liao?"
Zhang Liao nodded. "Yes." He called for the caretaker of his house and gave orders to keep the dog safe and healthy while watching over the house.
"Yes Lord Zhang Liao," the caretaker said with a bow. "I will do the best I can."
Zhang Liao nodded. "Good." He looked up to the sky. It was threatening to get very cold, winter was coming. He took something from inside the house and stepped outside once more; he approached the lady who was getting ready to ride on her horse. "My lady," he called out to her.
She turned around. "Yes?"
He placed the item on her hands. It was a thick scarf. She looked at him questioningly. "The weather won't seem to improve for the next few days," he said. "Apart from the cloaks we would be bring with us, this scarf will keep you warm as well."
"Lord Zhang Liao, I don't know how many times I have said this, you are too kind," she said. The more she accepted his actions towards her, the more it was driving her crazy. She unfolded the scarf and wrapped it around her neck. He was right though, it kept her warm.
"Let us depart then."
It wasn't that bad to have some company, he thought. The lady had proved to be an entertaining companion. They would talk of anything that passes their eyes' gaze. The roads, the fields, the things they would find. He had to admit that she was very knowledgeable of the different kinds of plants that they saw.
He looked at the sun setting over the horizon as they entered a small town. "It would be dangerous to ride tonight. How about we look for a place to eat and stay?"
Lan nodded. "I agree, Lord Zhang Liao. My butt's aching from riding all day."
He agreed to her statement, and his stomach agreed by grumbling. They had consumed their packed meal along the way.
They led their horses to the stable next to a tavern. Zhang Liao was about to enter through the curtained entrance when the lady behind him stopped.
"Please, wait for a minute," she spoke.
He watched her wrap the scarf, which he had given her before they left his house, around her face to cover most of her face except for her eyes.
"Now, do tell me the reason you would do that," he said.
He was very sure that Lan was smiling from behind the cloth. "It'd be dangerous for a woman to be in a tavern, right? It would be best I dress up like some frail traveler to throw off the suspicion."
Zhang Liao frowned slightly. He pushed down the part of the scarf that was covering her mouth. "You being dressed up like that would bring more suspicion. Perhaps just pretend to be a noblewoman, and I will pretend to be your bodyguard."
She was about to say something when both of their stomachs grumbled.
"You know what, Lord Zhang Liao? Let's just drop this disguising case and get something to eat," she said with a tone of finality.
"Good."
They took their seats in the upper floor of the tavern. Zhang Liao observed the surroundings. He noted a number of men from a table looking towards their direction. A waitress arrived, carrying their order. Some noodles, meat and tea.
"I would suggest you stop looking around, Lord Zhang Liao," Lan whispered as she picked up her chopsticks.
He picked his own and whispered back, "Those men on that table behind you are looking at our direction."
Lan remained calm and ate her food. "They must be adoring my rear," she said with hints of disgust.
"Then it would be best to leave after we eat," Zhang Liao said.
She nodded. "Agreed."
She had a bad feeling the moment they took their seats. From behind her, she could feel those wolves' eyes staring at her. It was always like this whenever she would enter a tavern without masking her face. Then again, even though she did masked her face, her figure would tip the others off to her gender.
She quietly ate the meal that was prepared for them. She remembered that she did not have any weapons with her. Zhang Liao must had taken them from her tattered clothes when he was nursing her back to health. She scolded herself for not remembering to purchase at least a knife to bring with her. Once she finished, she set her chopsticks on the empty bowl and drank her tea. Zhang Liao had finished earlier before her. He signaled a waiter to come over, and he gave the waiter the payment for their bill. The waiter gave a courteous bow and left to hand the change to the owner.
"Let us go then," he said quietly.
She made no sign of reaction. She was immersed in thoughts of how they could deal with those men behind her. She was brought back to reality when she felt fingers intertwine with hers.
"What are you doing?!" she hissed, her eyes narrowing.
He remained calm, but there was this sense of seriousness in him. He gazed into her eyes and spoke slowly, "Let us pretend to be lovers."
"You're crazy!" she hissed.
She wanted to slap him there, but the way he gripped her hand meant that he was trying to keep her calm. She was then aware of herself; her free hand on the table was shaking in anticipation. She nearly jumped in fright when his other hand held her and intertwined his fingers around hers again. She could see him staring at her direction, but she knew he was observing the movement of the men behind her. She heard the screeching of the chairs against the wooden floors and the loud footsteps booming towards their table.
"I sense you are not afraid," he whispered.
She replied softly, "Maybe I am itching for a fight."
The information looked new to him, but he kept a calm facade. "That would help even the odds then," he continued in his low voice. "I count five big men with arms, but there could be possibly more here."
He silenced. She knew why. By the flickering of the lights, she could see the shadows of the men in front of her, shading her interlocked hands with Zhang Liao.
"Is that you, sweet cheeks?" a gruff man laughed. "Are you dumping me for some scrawny guy there?" He laughed more, inciting laughter from his friends.
Her nose twitched at the smell of alcohol coming from the gruff man.
Zhang Liao let go of one of her hands and stood up and walked to her side. "If you are done talking sir, I wish to leave with my lady."
She turned to see how Zhang Liao was no match in height for the man in front of him. The guy was huge.
The gruff man spat out to Zhang Liao's face. "You really intent on going out with this blasted woman?" He leaned close. "She killed my brother! Toyed his feelings before sending him to hell!"
"To my defense," Lan spoke, also rising from her seat, still keeping her hand locked with Zhang Liao's to keep herself calm. "I was paid to do that. Your brother was no good with those poor women. He toyed them and killed them afterwards." She laughed in an unnatural tone. "He had quite a big bounty on his head, I am surprised you haven't killed him yourself to satisfy your greed."
Zhang Liao could hear the whispers going on around the people in the tavern.
"Could it be the female mercenary?"
"I heard she charms her targets and kills them."
"For the good or for the bad, she just wants the money."
The gruff man would take no more of it. "How dare you insult my brother! You will go to hell along with your boyfriend then!" He drew out a long jagged sword from its scabbard. He raised it and let it fall towards her.
She was distracted by a thought. This gruff man believed Zhang Liao is her boyfriend?
Lan felt herself get pulled away by Zhang Liao as the jagged sword landed on the table. The gruff man yelled towards his comrades, "Well don't just stand there! Kill them!"
It was then that the gruff man's other comrades revealed themselves. Apart from the four that were standing with the leader, there was another table with another five who rose from their seats.
"Time to make our leave then," Zhang Liao said. He took a step forward when a knife was thrown at him. He dodged it and the knife lodged itself on a wooden post.
"That is if we can make out of this alive!" she exclaimed. She pulled the knife out of the wooden post and used it to block the incoming weapon headed for them. "Didn't you bring a sword or something?"
She felt him let go of her other hand and watched as Zhang Liao punched the lights out of another thug. It was then he drew a sword out from his side. "I did, but I find this fight pointless to engage with, my lady."
Lan nodded. "True, then we will just have to find a way to escape then."
The gruff man yelled out, "You're not getting away from me!" He lifted a table and threw it towards them.
Lan pushed Zhang Liao away as the table crashed on the wall, sending the customers into a panic and fleeing.
"Avoid as much casualties as possible," Zhang Liao said to her as they got back on their feet. He evaded another man's strike and knocked the attacker with the butt of his sword. "Ten of them against the two of us, it'd be a miracle to get out unscathed." He jabbed his elbow into another man's face, and heard a nose breaking.
"With the way things are going, I guess we can spare a few thugs alive," she replied.
Lan plunged the knife into another man's throat and pulled it out. She bent down and swiped at another attacker's belt, sending the man's pants down, tripping the man on his own pants. She smirked at the brief victory when it turned into a shrill scream. The leader of the thugs charged towards her and grabbed her, intent on throwing her off from the second floor.
"LAN!" Zhang Liao cried out for her. He couldn't go to her aid, he was busy with the other men.
She fidgeted over his grip as the large man made his way to the balcony of the second floor. She could see the thirst for revenge in the man's eyes. "You are going to die! Let hell welcome you!" He lifted her body up high in his arms. Lan returned to her sense of self that she still has the knife in her hand. She twisted and plunged the knife into the man's arm. The gruff man howled in pain. He was about to let her fly from his hands when something hit him from behind the knee, sending not only the woman in his hands flying off the second floor but him as well.
Lan quickly undid the scarf from her neck and lashed it upwards to whoever would be there, while holding on to the other end of it.
From the second floor, Zhang Liao was the one who was able to strike the gruff man. He watched how Lan was able to move in midair and reached out his hand and held on tightly to the end of the scarf that had headed his way. He felt himself get dragged over to the edge when Lan had reached the end of her drop, but he held on still, finding anything to hold on to keep him from falling off.
Lan opened her eyes. Her limbs were curled on the scarf. She looked down to estimate the distance from where she was and on the ground. Without even warning Zhang Liao, she let go of the scarf, flipped over and landed on the first floor with balance of an acrobat.
She could see on the second floor, Zhang Liao suddenly jerked and looked over. She giggled at the sight of his horror-stricken face. She waved towards him, "Lord Zhang Liao, I am safe here on the ground floor! Do come down!"
Zhang Liao was relieved to see her safe there. He pushed himself back to his feet. He glanced at the damage done. No one among the customers were hurt, just the thugs who were groaning in pain, and some dead. He immediately made his way down. He could see where the gruff man landed. There was a pool of blood around the gruff man. Zhang Liao could tell that the man had died with the way the head was turned to the side.
"I am very sorry for the damage done..." Zhang Liao heard Lan talking.
He turned around to see Lan was talking with the tavern owner. He saw her place a satchel to the owner's hands. He approached them.
"...was a bother in town, always harassing us into giving in to their demands. It was a blessing from heavens that you and your friend were able to finally put an end to their harassment. You do not need to pay for the damages."
Lan shook her head when the owner. "No, please. Take it. I feel bad for causing a lot of trouble here. This would help with the repairs of your wonderful tavern."
The owner thanked her once more and went to his employees telling them to start cleaning things up. Zhang Liao turned his attention once more to Lan, to find her already walking out of the tavern.
"I suppose you have heard about her, my lord?" the owner spoke, he had returned carrying something.
Zhang Liao shook his head. "From what I heard from your customers, she was a mercenary of some sort."
The owner nodded. "That is true. That is true. But sometimes, she does things out of her own free will. Doing her work, even without pay." The owner smiled towards Zhang Liao. "She is a casual customer of her my tavern. It is rare to see her with company. Are you a friend?"
Zhang Liao nodded. "Yes, sir."
The owner nodded more. "Ah, I know what would be good." He looked inside the bag to find a lot of coins. "There are guest rooms in the west wing of my tavern. You can stay there for the night. How many rooms would you need?"
"Two would do, thank you, sir." He believed that Lan would refuse staying in one room with him.
The owner grinned. "Alright then. Alright then." He bowed to Zhang Liao. "The rooms will be ready in a few minutes." He left, still carrying that cheerful aura.
The solitary man made his way out of the now messy room. He stepped out of the tavern.
"Lady Lan?" he called out, looking for the woman. He found her sitting at the edge of a pond. The scarf was still in his hand. He walked over to her.
"My lady," he softly called to her.
She was sitting at the edge, her knees brought close to her chest with her arms around them.
"The tavern owner was kind enough to give us lodgings for tonight," he spoke.
She still remained unmoving from her place; her eyes were staring blankly into space.
"My lady," he called out to her again. Darn this, was she just this difficult?
He thought of some way to snap her out of her blank daze. He knew he would get slapped by this. He reached out and held her chin and forced her to look at him and then kissed her on the cheek.
There was the resounding slap that echoed the night air. He closed his eyes and held his burning cheek.
At least that snapped her out of her mindlessness. He opened his eyes and saw her cheeks flushed red and her breathing loud.
"You kissed me," she said in disbelief, holding her cheek. "You kissed me!"
"You weren't listening to me, and you would freeze to death just sitting here. I had to do something!" he immediately retorted back. "And your slap hurts," he mumbled.
"I'm sorry," she muttered.
They sat there in silence.
"The tavern owner had two rooms prepared for us, right?" she asked.
He nodded.
"He's such a nice man."
"Indeed he is."
She pushed herself off from the edge and stood up. "I know you have a lot of questions, my lord. Perhaps you can ask me when we are in the warmer area."
He stood up as well. "Wait, my lady."
He handed in her hands the scarf he had given before they started their trip.
Inside her own room, Lan sat on the edge of the bed. Was it a wrong thing to have went along in this trip? To still be intent on repaying her debt to him? She'd been to worse brawls than this, but it just didn't sink in to her to have someone share the blame for it. What's more, he found out what she actually does to survive. Killing targeted men in exchange for money. He would most probably be curious as to where she learned it.
She touched her cheek where he kissed her. It burned a mark into her memory. He was burning down the walls she put up.
There was a knock on the door.
"Come in," she spoke.
Zhang Liao gave a light bow. "I thought I should check up on you, to see if you're alright."
"I am fine, Lord Zhang Liao, thank you for the concern."
He entered the room and closed it behind him. "You moved pretty well earlier," he commented. "It was like watching a dance."
"You flatter me, Lord Zhang Liao," she said.
He smiled at her. It made her uneasy, but she willed herself to accept anything that would come out of this interrogation. "I told your earlier, I would answer any questions you would ask of me."
He nodded. "Those targets you killed before," he spoke in a low voice, "are you not bothered?"
She shook her head. "I knew I would be killing for a purpose. Their death could be proven good for whoever paid me to do the kill. The usual would be cheating husbands, thugs, bandit leaders, even some officials."
"You were paid well, I suppose?"
"Well, yes," she said. "But the last one, I took on a job that I thought I could take." She stared once more into the empty space. "I failed it."
He leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. "What happened there?"
"I made a wrong throw with my knife. Instead of eliminating the target, I killed an innocent child." Her voice stuck itself in her throat. She choked on herself. It strained itself out to continue her tale. She gripped hard on the scarf. "It caught the attention of the target. I eliminated him at once and fled. But that image... the image of one so young so... pure... lying dead on the floor. I felt too distraught.
"And it haunted me..."
She could feel his eyes staring at her. She didn't want to talk anymore. She lied down on the bed, her back facing him. "I'm sleeping. Good night, Lord Zhang Liao."
"Good night, my lady."
She heard the footsteps leave and the door click close. Her hands still held the scarf. She pulled it close to her face and went to sleep.
Morning came. The ground floor and second floor look considerably cleaner without the bodies of the thugs. Some of the tables were repaired and breakfast customers are coming in.
"This should keep you full along the way," the tavern owner spoke cheerfully, placing a small pack in Zhang Liao's hand.
"You have been too kind," Zhang Liao spoke, giving a respectful bow. He nudged lightly on Lan's side. She bowed as well.
"Well, I am going to get the horses out of the stables," Lan said.
"Wait, Lady Lan."
She turned around. "What is it this time, Lord Zhang Liao?" her voice was annoyed. At least she's back to her normal self.
She stopped and took a slight step back when he took the scarf from her hand and he wrapped it around her neck. She felt like a child being pampered by a doting parent.
Lan flushed and frowned, "Like I said. I will get the horses out of the stables." With that, she stormed out.
The owner smiled and said, "That is good. That is good." He handed something else to Zhang Liao. By shape and weight, the soldier could tell it was a knife. "Give this to her," the owner continued. "A sign of thanks from the people of this little village."
Zhang Liao smiled and bowed to the owner. "Thank you very much. I will give this to her, although I fear she would ignore me for showering her with too much kindness."
"Not to worry. Not to worry," the owner spoke. "It is all part of her playing hard to get. No man treated her this kindly before."
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