Payment
I am already awake when Jia knocks on my door. "May I come in?" I have been practicing walking and my telekinesis and illusion abilities. I have always had these powers. My 'shin' just helps me to amplify them and concentrate better.
"Yes." I run my hands through my waist length hair. It feels so strange to not be wearing my crown and even stranger not to have my face paint on.
She is carrying a tray of food. It's soup. I can smell the noodles. "I can tailor the clothes if you'd like." She eyes the baggy shirt and the too large pants.
"No need." I catch her gaze. " How long have I been here?" I nearly chuckle as I realize I don't even know where "here" is.
"Four days." My look of amazement prompts her to explain my miraculous recovery. "My father called for the local healer." She looks at her feet. " You would not have made it otherwise." Her voice is low. "She hurried the healing of your wound and the fever. Now it is up to you to rest and regain your strength."
"He is a very generous man." I wonder at Jia's father. -'Why would anyone ever heal a random man that was found practically dead? There is no reason for it?'-That kind of generosity is unknown to me. "Where are we?"
"Xi'an." I haven't even heard mention of it before. It is either tiny, remote, or both. "What were you doing in the desert? Why were you injured like that? Who did it to you?" She covers her mouth as if she didn't mean to ask anything. " I am sorry." She rushes. "It is not my place."
"No, it is not." I snap. This girl has no right to know about the Seiryu Seshi or the betrayal. "Do you have a map?" I can find Teniao-Lan and then from there I can find Koutu.
"No," she shakes her head, "but I am sure my father would know where to get one."
"I need to get to Teniao-Lan." I stand. -' The healer must have been very skilled.' I realize as I walk around. -' If not for the healer, I would be still be bed ridden or more likely dead.'
The door opens. Jia's brother walks in followed by her father. Her brother is a tall, big man and her father is only slightly less formidable in size. The father's eyes scan me. He is assessing me. I am like a horse he is thinking about buying. I can see his disdain. He thinks I am useless. Well, most people think I am useless. Only Nakago knew my worth. He confided plans with me; he asked my opinion, something he did not do with any of the other Seshi.
"What can you do?" Jia's father is a smart man. I can tell from his tone of voice. It was not dismissive, just enough tact to keep someone from getting angry. "Do you sing?" This question seems rather random, until I think about my appearance.
"No."
"You can't do anything physical, you're to small." I give the brother a glance that would have curdled milk. I am sorely tempted to push him across the room with a mental shove. Her brother doesn't shrink under my gaze, but he does under his fathers.
"What can you do?" Her father repeats himself. " The healer was expensive. You owe my family and tavern money." This is a statement not a request.
"I am an actor." It slips from my mouth before I realize what I am saying. "I can tell stories, perform minor illusions, the like." I must be careful. None of my tricks can contain actual power. I will have to rely on slight of hand. That shouldn't be a problem. I did it when I was younger as part of my act in the traveling group.
"Fine." His voice is gruff. "You will perform starting tonight. You will continue to perform until you have paid your expenses." He turns for the door.
"How much is it that I owe you?" I do not want to be stuck here longer than necessary.
He glances back at me. A light enters his eye. I can tell he liked that question. He is reassessing my intellect. "Plenty." They leave. I am alone again at last. Now I just have to wait for tonight.
I am already awake when Jia knocks on my door. "May I come in?" I have been practicing walking and my telekinesis and illusion abilities. I have always had these powers. My 'shin' just helps me to amplify them and concentrate better.
"Yes." I run my hands through my waist length hair. It feels so strange to not be wearing my crown and even stranger not to have my face paint on.
She is carrying a tray of food. It's soup. I can smell the noodles. "I can tailor the clothes if you'd like." She eyes the baggy shirt and the too large pants.
"No need." I catch her gaze. " How long have I been here?" I nearly chuckle as I realize I don't even know where "here" is.
"Four days." My look of amazement prompts her to explain my miraculous recovery. "My father called for the local healer." She looks at her feet. " You would not have made it otherwise." Her voice is low. "She hurried the healing of your wound and the fever. Now it is up to you to rest and regain your strength."
"He is a very generous man." I wonder at Jia's father. -'Why would anyone ever heal a random man that was found practically dead? There is no reason for it?'-That kind of generosity is unknown to me. "Where are we?"
"Xi'an." I haven't even heard mention of it before. It is either tiny, remote, or both. "What were you doing in the desert? Why were you injured like that? Who did it to you?" She covers her mouth as if she didn't mean to ask anything. " I am sorry." She rushes. "It is not my place."
"No, it is not." I snap. This girl has no right to know about the Seiryu Seshi or the betrayal. "Do you have a map?" I can find Teniao-Lan and then from there I can find Koutu.
"No," she shakes her head, "but I am sure my father would know where to get one."
"I need to get to Teniao-Lan." I stand. -' The healer must have been very skilled.' I realize as I walk around. -' If not for the healer, I would be still be bed ridden or more likely dead.'
The door opens. Jia's brother walks in followed by her father. Her brother is a tall, big man and her father is only slightly less formidable in size. The father's eyes scan me. He is assessing me. I am like a horse he is thinking about buying. I can see his disdain. He thinks I am useless. Well, most people think I am useless. Only Nakago knew my worth. He confided plans with me; he asked my opinion, something he did not do with any of the other Seshi.
"What can you do?" Jia's father is a smart man. I can tell from his tone of voice. It was not dismissive, just enough tact to keep someone from getting angry. "Do you sing?" This question seems rather random, until I think about my appearance.
"No."
"You can't do anything physical, you're to small." I give the brother a glance that would have curdled milk. I am sorely tempted to push him across the room with a mental shove. Her brother doesn't shrink under my gaze, but he does under his fathers.
"What can you do?" Her father repeats himself. " The healer was expensive. You owe my family and tavern money." This is a statement not a request.
"I am an actor." It slips from my mouth before I realize what I am saying. "I can tell stories, perform minor illusions, the like." I must be careful. None of my tricks can contain actual power. I will have to rely on slight of hand. That shouldn't be a problem. I did it when I was younger as part of my act in the traveling group.
"Fine." His voice is gruff. "You will perform starting tonight. You will continue to perform until you have paid your expenses." He turns for the door.
"How much is it that I owe you?" I do not want to be stuck here longer than necessary.
He glances back at me. A light enters his eye. I can tell he liked that question. He is reassessing my intellect. "Plenty." They leave. I am alone again at last. Now I just have to wait for tonight.