Kind of Red in the Face

Shui slept, shivering in mid of his surreal dream images. He was sweating mightily, the sheets of his bed soaked. At times he could hear vague voices from somewhere above.

...the fever is coming down, I let him drink a healthy pint of An Mah's herb stuff...

...I will have to go back...

...worry not, Chen, he will make it... the wound has been cleaned and dressed...

...he is thrashing about...

...he may be hallucinating, the herbs may do that...

Shui was held in feminine, soft arms. Mother? He tried to mumble the word, but could not speak. His hands were small and chubby, and he felt protected. Shui saw Chen's face above him. She was humming, and lifted her face upwards, smiling at someone. She looked very happy, and very young.

Shui was hungry and reached for the soft mound of her swollen breast, reaching for it in frustration. As he finally reached it, he sucked in relief, but there was no milk, no matter how he tried to chew. He opened his mouth to protest, and saw the face, the face that was not his mother's. The glossy mane of reddish-brown hair hung above him, and she was smirking. Her breasts, naked and proud and hard, were dangling above him as she laughed, sitting atop of his chest.

- "Barbarian, you said? Barbarian, you thought?" But she didn't look angry, just amused.

- "You... you are beautiful..." Shui mumbled.

- "Am I, now?" she still laughed. "Really, Shui. I suppose this is an old culture and all that, but there is a thing or two you can learn from us 'barbarians'."

Shui was nodding to that. His mother had said the same before. He had an idea about something in particular he wanted to learn about right now.

- "Yes...yes...like that..." he murmured.

He slowly opened his eyes and the woman lifted her head, the powerful muscles straddling him. The grey eyes, the raven-black plait, the slanted eyes and high cheekbones. The Khan... oh, how powerful she felt, how strong...

- "Shui? Shui, are you all right?"

The voice from somewhere far away. Light penetrated Shui's consciousness, the peels on his eyes bright red. He pried them open. It was Peri again, but she seemed to have her clothes on this time.

- "There you are. You were kind of red in the face," she said in a kind voice.

- "The Khan..."

- "Yes, you were her prisoner," Peri nodded. "Did she hurt you?"

- "She... she is very beautiful..."

Shui could hear Sarevok's deep chuckle.

- "Indeed. So she didn't hurt you very much, then."

- "I didn't... tell..." Shui smiled proudly, and heard footsteps.

- "Son... dear Shui." It was his mother now, and Shui melted in an exhausted smile. "It brings my heart joy knowing no bounds that you are alive and well, for which we have chanshi Peri to thank for, may the Celestial Dragons always bring her luck and happiness."

- "I... didn't tell... the Khan..."

- "Shh. It seems there wasn't much to tell she didn't know already. Brave you were, as is fitting to an imperial officer... and my son."

- "Ankiang?"

- "It is under control. The reinforcements have arrived. With the aid of chanshi Sarevok and wu jen Winski and Imoen we were able to keep them from overrunning the city. And lady Jelena has saved many lives. The attackers seem to be retreating, but probably only temporarily."

- "Peri..." Shui tried to find words, "my gratitude knows no b..."

- "Ah come on, Shui, you are embarrassing me! It was kinda fun actually," the girl smirked in that barbarian brazen way that was actually pretty attractive. "We are leaving now. Take care and all that, okay? You will be a good soldier yet."

- "You saved my city, and my son. May the Celestial winds blow beneficially on your travel, the sea and its waves kind as you cross the Celestial sea," Chen said, standing stoic but a barely detectable flicker of profound emotion in her eyes.

- "I wish you well, commander," Sarevok replied. "Continue to be the dignified, true warrior I came to respect, and I hope we will meet again."