Chapter 20

While Tao fetched the horse from the stables, Kouha and Shian waited outside. The former maid was oddly quiet, her thoughts keeping her voice hostage. Kouha didn't care too much, but he did notice the change that took place after he announced their next destination.

Parting from Yun and Kuron didn't take long, Shian just jotted down their names and how to reach them and then they were off to go their own ways.
Additionally to her keeping quiet Shian was also fighting with the embarrassment over her clothes, so she partially hid behind the young prince, who didn't seem to mind her predicament at all. Maybe he didn't understand either; he was running around in this daring outfit of his all the time after all.

It didn't take long for Tao to emerge from behind the inn, the horse by the lead. As far as Shian could tell it seemed rather impatient and her guess was confirmed as it broke free just meters in front of the two. Although the inn keeper was not a weak man and his sheer mass alone gave him an advantage, the horse didn't have any trouble escaping his grip.
It leapt forwards and with a high pitched squeak Shian dove out of the way. Not so Kouha, who simply opened his arms and let his steed charge at him. Having just stumbled to the ground Shian only saw it out of her peripheral vision so she wasn't sure if it really happened.
But it seemed as if Kouha just wrapped his arms around the muscular neck of the animal and with a quick swing he sat upright in the saddle. Instantly the horse calmed down, looking downright content with its own actions.
Its expression almost matched that of his owner, who looked down at Shian equally as satisfied.

Shian on the other hand remembered another problem. Last time she only managed to get up the horse with the help of one of the other servants and Tao was way too short to heave her up on a table, yet alone a war horse.
First things first, she told herself and got up. A look at her legs confirmed what she could already feel – in addition to the pale blue ink stains, there were red patches of sore skin where she had scraped herself against the rough stones. With a sigh she lifted her head to look at Kouha who at this moment seemed to remember the problem as well.
His eyes shifted between the back of the horse and the helpless servant and for a second they just exchanged a clueless glance.
"Alright, I guess there is no other way". Kouha finally broke the silence and slid of the horse's back again. Then he bent down in front of Shian while entangling his fingers to provide her with something to step onto.

Not really believing her eyes, Shian hesitantly hooked a foot onto his hands and steadied herself against the horse, which, now that it was reunited with its partner, stood perfectly still. She took a deep breath and with a boost from the prince, she finally managed to get up behind the saddle. Now that she was up there all alone it seemed even scarier than before. Not for too long though, as Kouha followed after her so effortless, she got embarrassed all over again. "Thank you, my Lord", she mumbled quietly after he had settled into the saddle.
His response was him shaking his head. "View it as compensation for those scratches."

He gathered the reins and steered the horse in the right direction. They were still deep inside the city so he kept a slow pace, careful not to endanger the civilians. It gave Shian the opportunity to find a halfway comfortable sitting position. She would have to remain like this for a couple of hours after all.

The slow speed allowed for a conversation too, something Shian wouldn't have dared during their hasty trip there, out of fear of biting her tongue.
"Would you mind explaining to me why you look as if we're about to head into a cave filled with angry hornets since you saw that map?"

The question came out of the blue; Shian hadn't expected the prince to be so attentive.
"The village we're heading to is my birth place", she finally mumbled. Kouha knew about her life on the streets – he had been the one to rescue her from it after all – so she did not see the need to elaborate any further. Thankfully he seemed to pick up on the fact that she was not too keen on delving deeper, so he just nodded to himself.
"Will that influence your ability to do your job?"

The way he said it didn't carry any disdain in it; still Shian felt a wave of shame well up in her. Hastily she shook her head, before realizing that Kouha couldn't see her with his eyes fixed on the road beneath the horse.
"No, My Lord. I will manage. If you allow the question, what exactly are we going to do once we're there? We can't exactly force the merchant into health."
Kouha pondered the problem for a bit. "It will be fine if we just take the wares, right? He can cure himself all he wants and then return to wherever he gets his products from. No time lost."
The way he said it really sounded incredibly simple.
"Do you really think we would be able to transport everything with just a horse?"
"Oh, how much can it be!?"

Clearly the young prince imagined a backpack full of Aloe Vera or something similar and Shian had to chuckle to herself. "We'll see. At the very least we can get the most important things. I packed the list Liang gave me."
"Who?"
"The head physician."
"Hm."

And that was the last thing they heard from each other for a while; as they had reached the outskirts of town. A few shanties ducked alongside the city walls, before civilization made way for vast bamboo forests. As soon as the crude cobblestones under the horse's hooves turned to dense earth Kouha spurred his steed and soon Shian found herself again in between fearing for her life and enjoying the wild ride.

Kouha could feel Shian tighten her grip once they accelerated, like she did during their first ride. She didn't seem used to the speed at all, but he could tell that she wasn't totally new when it came to sitting on horseback, no matter what she told him.
He only tormented her with the quick tempo for a few minutes before he tucked at the reins, causing them to slow down significantly. There was no way to gallop like this all the way to the village without straining his horse to death.
As soon as the world stopped being a blur around them Kouha felt the woman behind him relax and as her hair brushed against his neck he knew that she was looking around. Admittedly, the view was rather nice.
To their right, a river accompanied them, the clear water sparkling in the summer sun almost blindingly. The river snuggled around the city too, entering the ocean miles behind the city in the other direction. Here it was wide but calm, good news for everyone trying to fish in it.
To their left, the forest stood tall, the light that shone through the leaves reached the ground tinted a friendly green. Birds could be heard and Kouha couldn't help but search for the familiar "woo hoo hoo" that his brother seemed to like so much. But if there were any there, it had been drowned out by all the other birds that competed for attention.

After an hour or so they stopped. The river made a nice little detour, making for a good spot to rest. The bank was shallow too, so as soon as Kouha had helped Shian to the ground, the horse made a beeline for the fresh water and guzzled down what seemed like half the river. Having solid earth under her feet again, Shian seemed much more comfortable and she giggled at the sight of the thirsty animal. With a quick glance to Kouha she followed its example and kneeled down by the shore.

After she turned around again she had to pay attention not to burst into laughter again. The look she got from the prince could only be described as sheer horror.
"That's river water!"

He said it the same way someone would say "Those are bloody entrails".
With all the earnest Shian could muster she nodded. "Indeed. Water from a river tends to be river water."
"Don't mock me. Who knows what creatures could swim around in there!" A shudder went over his body and he grimaced at the thought. A tiny smile spread over her lips as Shian answered: "Fish, mostly."
Then her expression turned curious. "Why do you think it is so bad? Your horse is drinking it too."
"Yes, but it's an animal!"
"Well, where do you think your drinking water comes from?"
Kouha sighed, and before he answered he produced a blanket out of the saddle bag. "It's boiled and filtered, isn't it?"
Shian had to admit that this was indeed a difference. She still didn't mind.

"Now stop musing about water quality and help me."
The order brought her back to reality and hastily Shian grabbed the other two corners of the blanket. Together they put it neatly on the grass and Kouha didn't lose any time, plopping himself down right in the middle. He pulled his crown (hat? Shian had no idea) over his eyes and laid back, his body clearly relaxing under the warm rays of the sun.

Shian looked at him for a few seconds before speaking up again. "My Lord? Would you mind if I took a quick bath?"
The ride really hadn't helped with the condition of her legs, which still sported a blotchy red and blue look.
Kouha glanced up at her with one eye, his expression quite smug.
"You don't have to ask my permission to get naked."

Her exasperated gasp was drowned out by the prince's laughter. He seemed rather content with his own joke, so Shian let him be. She just mumbled something about "inappropriate suggestions" and marched right into the river. The shorts she got from Kouha were so skimpy, there was no reason to hike them up any further.
A few meters into the river bed, the water only went up over her knees, and she heavily enjoyed the cold sensation on her heated-up skin. She was sure to get sunburned at this rate and she guessed that Kouha wouldn't be any better. Hopefully he wouldn't blame her – the prince was always so particular with his complexion.
Carefully scrubbing along her shins, Shian cleaned the inkstains, the blood and the dust off her legs and after splashing some on her face too, she felt way better than before. Although still sweaty; after returning to the palace she felt like taking a dip into the tub in the communal bath she now shared with Liang. It was fed by a small natural stream, a sidearm of the very river she stood in. It came from underground, so it was always incredibly cold, but at least also very clean.

After splashing around a bit she returned to her companion, who appeared to be sleeping. A few meters away the horse was peacefully grazing. Everything was so calm and nice; it was hard for her to imagine coming back to her village. Everything would be calm and nice there too, she suspected. If anyone even remembered the family up on the hill? Surely, it hadn't been that long. If they cared that they were gone was another question.
With a quiet sigh she sat down next to Kouha and wrapped her arms around her knees. It didn't take long for her skin to dry in the sun and she looked up at the sky; the light blue only disturbed by a few fluffy clouds.
Without even noticing, her mind wandered back a couple of kilometers. Back, to where the same sun would shine through the open windows of the palace and onto the back of an ever-working prince. Shian could see it clearly in her imagination, his hunched figure over the dark wood of the desk, the countless papers flowing over its edges. He wouldn't have opened the window himself, one of the servants must have. Maybe Mai? There would be a candle on the desk too, the incoming sunlight blocked by Koumei himself.
They were only gone for a couple of hours, and still Shian missed him already. Another sigh escaped her lips, she was so hopelessly in love she was ashamed of herself.

"Thinking of a certain someone?"
Kouha's voice tore through the singing birds and the quiet gurgle of the river. Shian's head whipped around to look at him; he had propped himself up on his elbows, his headwear back where it belonged.
Silently cursing herself for the blood that crept into her cheeks Shian tried to play innocent. "Not at all. Just work."
"Suuuuure"

The way Kouha stretched the word made clear that he didn't believe her at all and Shian couldn't blame him – she probably hadn't sounded too convincing.
When she didn't answer Kouha sat up entirely, his hands crossed over his lap.
"You know, there is no shame in a prince having a concubine. None at all."
His words made Shian flinch. A wife needed the respect of her husband and his trust.
A concubine just existed as a pastime, to amuse and entertain her master. The last thing Shian wanted was to be the plaything for another man. Not that she would accuse Koumei of only viewing her as such; but the thought of landing in such a position again made her shudder.
She shook her head before facing Kouha again.
"I am happy the way it is now. I won't ask for more."

Kouha could only sigh at the finality of her words. He was not used to not getting what he wanted and the fact that Shian apparently was not interested in reaching for the stars confused him. It was apparent that the two palace scribblers liked each other but none of them wanted to take the next step. Why? Was it fear that made them hesitate?
Koumei most likely just suffered from poor self-esteem, the possibility that someone could love him this way probably went over his head.
But he would not give up just now. Scooting closer to Shian, Kouha's knees now almost touched her thighs and when he leaned closer he could tell that his actions made her a bit wary.
"You should talk to him. I know that he allowed you to drop the formalities around him, so what's the big deal?"
"What's the deal!?" Before Shian could stop herself she answered, her voice higher than usual – almost a squeak.
"If I tell him that I love him I could lose everything! My job, my home, his friendship-!" As soon as she noticed what she had just blurted out Shian slapped her hands in front of her mouth. Behind her fingers Kouha could see the redness roll onto her face like a glass of wine being emptied onto a white tablecloth.
"Please don't tell him I said that."
She sounded both defeated and desperate and Kouha couldn't help but feel sorry for her.
"I already knew, I won't tell." He grinned from ear to ear. "You will!"
"What!?"

He hadn't meant to make her feel bad, but it was rather interesting to watch as the blood drained from her cheeks even faster than it had appeared.
"Calm down, I'm just saying. I talked with him too, right? And while he does deny having feelings for you with a passion, I can tell you he's lying." He leaned even closer, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "And is there something better than a secret, forbidden palace romance?"
Despite the two of them having completely different outward appearances Shian had to think of Mai. Yeah, she would agree with the young prince on this one.
"I think those romances are only nice when you're not part of them yourself. Also they usually don't end well, especially not for the lower ranking person."
The last part she mumbled to herself, but Kouha was so close he understood her nonetheless. He huffed to himself. The problem was that she was right.
Neither of Koumei's siblings would have any second thoughts about him having a nice relationship but their father, the Emperor, probably wouldn't approve of it. He sighed.

"To bad you're not a noble. It wouldn't be the most welcomed sight, a prince with a common noble, but at least not impossible."
He had looked to the ground in thought and as he raised his gaze again he paused. Shian had lowered her hands again but now she looked downright…guilty? An expression had settled on her face as if she knew something he didn't.

"Shian? Is there sooomething you want to tell me?" "No!"
The answer came way too fast and hefty to be true but it seemed to trouble her greatly, so Kouha decided to let it slide. For now.
"Well then. Good talk, but we should continue now. I really don't want to return home after dark."

He stood up and brushed a few lost grass blades off his clothes before returning to his horse; leaving Shian with the blanket.
She fumbled around a bit before she managed to fold it properly and when she finally stuffed it back into the saddle bag, Kouha already sat on the horse's back, looking down at her.
"You could at least try to get up here on your own. It's not that difficult."
He had clearly forgotten about her predicament and now was too lazy to get down again to help her, but obviously Shian wouldn't say anything. She just examined the horse and sighed to herself.
"And how do I do that? You occupy the stirrup." As far as she knew, when mounting a horse like a normal person one would hook their foot into the stirrup and propel themselves up. Not that Kouha would need those profanities.
With an annoyed groan Kouha unhooked his foot from the footrest and scooted closer to the edge of the saddle to make room for her.

Hesitantly Shian rested her hands on the back of the horse. It seemed to notice that someone highly insecure was about to try and get onto it and it let out an impatient snort; which really didn't raise her spirits.
Trying to steady herself she swung one leg up into the stirrup. As exposed as she felt in Kouha's trousers, she had to admit – they really did allow a lot of movement.
With all the strength she could muster Shian pressed down onto the horse's back and pushed herself up in the air. For a second she felt as if she would just fly down backwards onto the ground, but her momentum carried her over.
With a dull thud she found herself sitting behind the saddle, legs dangling left and right as she didn't have to accommodate for a skirt anymore. A factor she hadn't even noticed after departing from the city.

When she looked up she met the prince's eyes which expressed a mixture of smug pride and surprise; both feelings Shian could understand all too well.
She smiled sheepishly. "I guess that works."
An amused huff was his answer and Kouha pressed his heels into the horse's flanks, causing it to start with a little jump. Hurriedly Shian wrapped her arms around Kouha's waist again but now that she sat properly she felt much more secure.
Kouha steered his horse into a stable trot and they made way fast. Soon they ventured off the nice path near the river and rode onto a "proper" lane, solidified by years of constant travel.
With a little shock, Shian realized that she recognized the area. She had only walked it once on foot, when she made her way into the capital after the attack, but the boulders lining the way and the distinctive dark trees had been engraved in her memory.

When the trees parted and revealed the sight of the village in the near distance Kouha flinched in surprise. Shian, who until now had leaned against his back rather relaxed, had suddenly tensed up and her formerly loose grip tightened almost painfully around his waist.
He turned his head to look at her and paused.
Her gaze was fixed on the nearby houses and her skin had turned pale.

When she noticed him staring at her she twitched a bit and shook her head as if to call herself to order. "It's nothing", she mumbled.

Kouha obviously didn't believe her but he was not eager to discuss it now, on the outskirts of their destination. So he simply shrugged and continued, steering his horse between the first little huts.
They had arrived.