Chapter Fifteen: The South
Iolene shuffles behind Aaron as she is still getting used to the armour. Aaron couldn't help but chuckle. At this moment it doesn't feel like they are walking in enemy territory. Just another day the group enjoyed each other's company except Fred's.
Okimi shares space on Lei's saddle as she knows the south best and knows the customs. Even giving small history lessons to the group about their architecture, food and Daimyo leaders.
"Once upon a time… The south was once known as a separate country." Okimi begins. "My family was once a royal family until the North went to war with us for the land and we surrendered. We were greatly outnumbered… We have been a united nation for thousands of years since. My family has been established for thousands of years, even longer than the Ju-Long family."
"Yes, indeed…" Lei recounts. It wasn't his family who went to war with the southern Emperor, his family did not rule at this time. He would have to admit that without the help of the Sazan clan. Lei's family would not have the throne. History would have been different…
"It's just sad how times have changed…" Lei says sadly. "I never wanted this war and neither did my mother…"
"I know…" Okimi says as she squeezes Lei's waist.
It will take a week of travel to reach Unmei at a slow pace. So they all run at full speed. The sooner the war ends the better… It was a matter of time before they reached a massive draconium shield. Blue draconium pulsed like electricity as it shaped into a dome.
Okimi guides them around the impenetrable force field. "Inside that dome lives the family of Ogawa, one of the wealthiest families of the nation. Don't be surprised to see more of this… many of the wealthy families have measures like this." Okimi says seriously.
"Very powerful and expensive to use…" Lei replies. The Lan-Se palace and city have such measures of protection. Massive generators are built underneath
The past few days have been gruelling. For they had to move away from the path. The further they went the more soldiers there were. A few close calls of discovery, being saved by Okimi. This sealed the decision to pretend to be a scout group.
They managed to get more food rations from the southern army barracks before they left. Iolene used some of her knowledge to help look after injured soldiers. Giving the group an extra edge of payment. However, Aaron is a hunter he can easily go on trips for food. Iolene followed him close behind with her bow and Arrows. The bamboo forest is dense and hard to navigate. Aaron marks the bamboos with Iolenes dagger.
"You know Iolene you don't have to come with me…" Aaron says as he carries a deer on his shoulders.
"I'm here to protect you!" Iolene cheerfully says. Aaron laughs quietly at that response. Iolene continues on. "Also to learn how to hunt. Last time I was in the forest alone… It was not pleasant..." She thinks back to the time she had to live with little rations. She hopes to never be in that situation again, next time if it does though… She will be prepared.
Lexi creates a fire easily with her red draconium magic as everyone makes themselves comfortable.
"Iolene… Are you watching?" Aaron asks as Iolene looks at a beautiful blossom tree. "You said you wanted to learn how to hunt. So you also need to learn how to skin and cut the meat of the animal."
Lei is looking at Aaron intently as he is skinning the animal with ease. Deers are sacred to the southerner people. Okimi hasn't even dared to look at the kill. She will not eat the meat as she decided to eat only the rice. Aaron defending himself by that he simply didn't know… But throwing out the animal is a waste of food. The dragons agreed as they will happily eat the deer raw or cooked. So everyone but Okimi and Lei doesn't eat the deer. Okimi is surprised that Lei did not eat it… Deers are not sacred in the north.
"Deers are sacred in Unmei, because of their friendly nature. There have been stories that Deer are guardians of the bamboo forests. They will guide any lost soul to safety. It is bad luck to kill a deer…" Okimi explains.
After dinner, they rest as Aaron takes the night watch shift (as he does most nights). He looks up at the stars, no matter where he is. He can always count on seeing the beautiful stars at night.
Aaron can hear Iolene groans and murmurs in her sleep as she shifts around in her blanket pushing it off. She is dreaming again… As she does every day. Wonder whose eyes she's looking through now? He quietly walks over and places the blanket back on her. Then sitting back leaning on a nearby tree.
Beau, Iymp, Ponderrah and Duryss sleep in a huddle behind the bush. They found the grass most comfortable to lie there.
Okimi wakes up and walks to Aaron and sits next to him.
"Can't sleep?" Aaron asks.
"No… How can I?" She whispers back.
Fred's snoring disturbs the quiet serenity as he sounded like he was dying. The guttural noise can be mistaken for a dying dragon.
Lexi groans soon after Fred's loud snore and throws a nearby pebble to him. Fred shuffles around and resumes snoring less loudly.
"I am tempted to grab that man's nose and make him stop…" Aaron says annoyed. He cannot stand Fred's snoring. He preferred Iolenes talking, at least she has something interesting to talk about the next day.
Okimi chuckles as quietly as she could.
Aaron after apologises for killing a deer to Okimi. She smiles and said that she should have told him… They both smile and stare into the flame.
Aaron and Okimi remain silent, keeping to their own thoughts. After the long silence, Aaron decided to ask questions.
"What are going to do when we reach Unmei?" He asks.
"Kill my father… But that is Lei's honour." She says, taking out her wakizashi. She hands it to Aaron as he looks at the small blade.
"It's unique… Smaller than a sword, yet larger than a dagger." Aaron begins to flip it, it is so light and sturdy, and the make is impeccable. He then hands it back to her and she places it back in the sheath.
"What is your relationship with Lei's mother? Empress Zhen? " Aaron asks as nicely as possible.
"Empress Zhen is like the mother I never had… My mother was never around. I was a disappointing girl… Same with Mei my younger sister. Zhen and I got close, I wrote many letters to her. She gave me advice when I needed it, she paid for my secret sword training. When I'm in Lan-Se she welcomes me with open arms." Okimi grabs a leaf and throws it into the fire.
Okimi then asks to Aaron about his life. Even grabbing his wrist and looking at his chain-link tattoos. Aaron gives the basics of his childhood and enslaved life. However he quickly changes to his recent development with Mali.
"Mali is interesting… He drinks an excessive amount." Okimi says smiling.
"Oh, he does… But he has gotten better, he is after all Iolenes guardian. Can't afford to be drunk…" Aaron smiles and looks down at a sleeping Iolene. Still, she ran away…
Okimi sighs and keeps staring into the flame. Thinking of her life… This is the first time she feels that she has comradery. She smiles… Friends… Like Lei as a noble, you can't choose the friends you want. Status and family honour before all others. After all, court reputation is most important… Lei as she thought was both lucky and unlucky. Lucky that he managed to find friends throughout his scandal. Unlucky he doesn't realise the scandal is still going strong behind his back… Many nobles believed Sazan Jona. Even if this war ends Empress Zhen will be investigating the nobles and aristocrats of the south. It is still going to be a turbulent time.
She looks at everyone asleep, A red priestess, a gifted healer from Aquarius City, an asshole of a prince from Demir, Iqosha slave, the dragon from the northern wilds, people and dragons with different experiences in life. Before she knew it her eyes closed and drifted into a deep sleep.
The next day they had to take a longer route as explosions and shouts can be heard in the distance. They can't afford to get close to a battlefield.
They climb up a small mountain and reach the top. To everyone's relief, the mountain is nothing like the Green Empires of steep cliffs and the constant danger of falling. Okimi points to the city as Unmei can be seen in the distance. Iolene turns around… "Wow…" She says.
Everyone turns as the devastation of the war can be seen. Blue flashing lights and Smoke can be seen everywhere with much of the forest being burned and farmed. The northern armies are getting closer to the city…
Okimi's face turns pale. "They pushed quicker than expected… This is…" Okimi had no more words To say. Her fathers' war is failing… Lei places his hand on Okimi's shoulder. She looks at Lei's face as she couldn't hide her sorrow. "Let us go…" Okimi says. Looks their wish of the war ending will be granted.