The evening had drawn in at the Wu camp and most of the officers had retired to their tents for the night. Jiang Wei was hungry, very hungry. He felt sick from earlier, his stomach was unsettled from the 'meat' he had eaten. He started rocking back and forth to keep his mind off it. He tugged at the ropes around his wrists and tried to wriggle them loose, but Lu Meng had secured them tightly when he had come earlier. He wondered if Wei Yan would come back, but he was probably back at Shu's main camp by now.
He looked over at the now dry puddle of vomit not far from him. The sun had been hitting it all day and it was beginning to smell really bad. He shifted his legs and kicked earth and dust up to try and cover it over.
"What are you doing?" A voice behind him made him jump. He looked over to see Lu Xun holding a bundle in his arms.
"I figured since Zhou Yu hasn't come to kick me since I mutilated his hand he was probably going to get me while I'm sleeping so I thought I'd dig my grave, save him the trouble." Jiang grinned, readjusting his legs into a more comfortable position.
Lu Xun looked around, his eyes shifting like a mouse looking for eagles.
"Hungry?" Xun asked in a low whisper.
Jiang looked up at him, one eyebrow raised slightly.
Xun fumbled with the package in his arms and produced half a meat bun. He knelt down next to Jiang Wei and waved it under his nose. It smelled fresh and good but Jiang turned away.
"What's wrong? I saved it for you!" Xun said moving it closer.
"Is it poisoned?" Jiang growled.
Xun lifted it up and took a bite. "If it is then we're both in trouble." Xun smiled.
What was with this kid? Zhou Yu would tear him to shreds if he was caught but he still wanted to help.
"Are you going to eat it or not?" Xun snapped, looking around to make sure no one was watching him.
Jiang warily took a bite and chewed it well. It was good. It was very good. He took another bite, making sure not to bite Xun's fingers. He finished it quickly and Xun knelt by his side watching him.
Jiang swallowed his last mouthful and looked around to Xun, who was still watching him.
"What are you waiting for little bird? The sky to fall?" Jiang smiled, snapping at Lu Xun's face. Xun fell back and Jiang laughed, "Thanks for that, I appreciate it, but it still doesn't mean I trust you ok?"
Xun laughed and rubbed the back of his neck. He was soon silenced to see Zhou Yu standing over him, looking down at his young apprentice laughing on the floor.
He quickly stood and straightened up as Zhou's emotionless gaze met his. Zhou glanced over at the prisoner and smiled.
"Lu Xun, Meng said that Shu troops have been sneaking around trying to free the prisoner, we need to keep him out of the open tonight so they don't come back." Zhou Yu grinned.
"So, where should we keep him? There's nowhere that isn't in the open." Lu Xun asked, already knowing the answer.
"Well," Zhou said, the sides of his mouth turning into an almost undetectable smile. "How about your tent? There's plenty of room." He continued.
"Yes sir." Xun said.
"Good, I'll prepare you're dwellings, you get the prisoner." Zhou Yu said, heading off to Xun's tent.
Xun stood quite baffled and looked down at Jiang Wei, whistling and rocking back and fourth.
"Well, you've done it now, now I have to spend my night next to you! I bet you snore!" Jiang grinned.
"Oh stop complaining, at least you're out of the cold!" Xun said kneeling down behind Jiang Wei and loosening the ropes. As soon as they were clear of the post he quickly bound them again. He didn't know how strong Jiang was but he didn't want to find out.
Jiang wasn't bothered about trying to escape, Wei Yan knew he was here, so Shu would definitely come and save him eventually. If he tried to escape on his own he could just get into more trouble.
So, Lu Xun led Jiang Wei to his tent by a rope, like leading a horse. Jiang didn't bother to resist there was no point. Zhou Yu was already at Xun's tent when he got there. They walked in to find Zhou had pulled aside the cloth covering the floor and driven a heavy wooden stake into the ground in the middle of the room.
"Oh goodie! Another post to be tied to! I feel like a king!" Jiang grinned.
Zhou turned around, pointing the back end of a horsewhip at his face.
"Watch your mouth boy!" Zhou growled.
Jiang watched the whip waver in front of his face. "Ah, so the strategist has learned to keep his fingers out of the way! Shame your apprentice has to sleep sometime, if he rolls over he'll be sorry!" Jiang said grinning wide.
Zhou's nose turned up slightly as he noticed spots of red flesh still stuck between Jiang's teeth.
"See you in the morning Lu Xun." Zhou growled turning to leave.
"Well, most of him!" Jiang laughed.
"Stop making a scene. You'll only make it worse for yourself!" Xun said leading the boy inside.
"What can he do? Nothing that's what, and don't worry, I have no intention of eating your fingers, I don't know where they've been!" Jiang laughed.
"Everything is a joke to you!" Xun said, spinning round and looking into Jiang's dark eyes. "Do you have any idea how much danger you are in? Zhou Yu's probably going to sacrifice you to the flag!" Xun shouted.
Jiang couldn't help but laugh. "I can't believe it, you really care about me don't you? What is wrong with you? You risk everything you have being nice to me!"
"Well you are only making your fate worse with all this, I mean, biting the commander-in-chief, what were you thinking?" Xun shouted.
"I was thinking, 'I bet it'll rile up that lecherous old goat if I bite him'. I might as well give as well as I get. There is no point in trying to prolong whatever fate has in store for me, if I am to live I will, if I am not to so be it. Time moves on." Jiang said.
Xun smiled. It was noble. Noble and stupid. Xun tugged on the rope and motioned his captive into the room.
"Sit down here," Xun said and Jiang sat. Xun bend down behind him and loosened the ropes. When Xun was done he sat down facing Jiang and brought a bowl of rice from the corner Jiang shifted to find only one hand was bound to the post and the other was free.
"Hey, little bird, you missed some!" Jiang said waving his free hand in the air.
"On the contrary, how are you supposed to eat your rice when you're tied up! I'm not going to hand feed you like a horse you know, you're a big boy you can do the work yourself!" Xun laughed.
Jiang Wei's emotionless gaze softened. This boy was just genuinely caring. He didn't care that Jiang was the enemy. He didn't want to see him hurt.
Jiang took the bowl and poured the rice into his mouth. It was nice.
"So, Swallow, tell me all about yourself, what's this obsession you have with keeping me safe?" Jiang muffled through a mouthful.
"Well, I guess it's just nice to have someone my own age here for once, it gets quite lonely having to be the adult all the time." Xun smiled.
Jiang nodded. "I know what you mean, before Zhuge Liang I was just a soldier to protect my mother, now suddenly I have all this weight on my shoulders." He paused and Xun was watching him intently, holding onto every word he said. He softened up. Whatever he told this boy was between them. He could see it in his eyes. He almost trusted him.
The two talked late into the night and into the early hours of the morning until they both fell asleep.