Night. The darkness that floods threw his open window is the only reason he knows. Having forced himself to stay in bed for the rest of the day, Zhang Liao feels no want to sleep further. He sighs softly. Why did he act so foolish when charging into the battle? Did he really think he was mighty as Lord Lu Bu? He chuckles at himself to even consider such a thought.
-0-
With the doctor's permission, Zhang Liao decides he will once more leave his room when dawn awakens. The obtained wounds are healing successfully. There is no reason for the warrior to remain within his room. Training must be done, orders must be abided, but world is not without condemned for foolery, however, for the wounded to exult themselves. Zhang Liao must be self-wary.
Visiting the stables is first. Well aware that, though the stable servants care well for the mounts, they do not ride them. As suspected Zhang Liao's mount is, indeed, happy to see him once more. It gratefully accepts his strokes to the mane, and back. Reining it, he walks it around the horse corral behind the stables. The magnificent white animal follows him willingly. Freedom is an obvious happiness for the horse.
-0-
Lu Bu strides briskly to the stables. His mood is bitter. Dong Zhou wishes to send him on another castle raid. Why abide him on such wasteful tasks? The swine is up to something, Lu Bu is certain. Quickly noting Zhang Liao on a roundabout with his horse, Lu Bu enters the corral instead of to his horse.
The subordinate General yawns. Stopping his horse he sighs. Though his wound may be healing well, he still lacks previous energy. Lu Bu observes with little interest. "You're tired," he notes. Zhang Liao turns. He smiles upon seeing Lu Bu.
"I slept restlessly," he replies. "Your upset. What's wrong?"
"Humph," Lu Bu replies. Zhang Liao knows him we'll... "Dong Zhou sends me on another useless errand to Chang Si Castle."
"A chance to use your skills in battle. Why falter?" Lu Bu's face burns with anger. Zhang Liao does not understand! "I must prepare to ride."
"You leave so soon?" Zhang Liao's voice is of surprise.
"The sooner the better."
"If you wait I could accompany you."
"No. I must leave now." Zhang Liao nods his understanding, though his face reveals his disappointment. "I will return. Then, together, we shall fight," Lu Bu assures as he walks away. Each step seems to drag him father from his friend. Zhang Liao is his friend, is he not? Lu Bu feels a strange emotion sting his heart. Perhaps he has gone to battle with the General for so long that fighting without him will feel different.
Lu Bu rides proudly from the stable with Red Hare. Marking him upon his exit, Zhang Liao watches the Flying General with empty eyes. Lu Bu's reasoning can be simple lacking any explanation, but the subordinate man knows with the wounds he's sustained and Lu Bu's decision, there is no point with persuasion. Lu Bu's notes his gaze. They exchange respectful nods of acknowledgement, a goodbye.
Zhang Liao stands with his horse watching Lu Bu leave with a medium sized army. Calvary, infantry, bowmen, and other essentials to overtake a castle are seen among the ranks. Even after they are no longer visible, he still stands idle watching. Perhaps he is waiting. Shaking himself from his daze, he wonders what is he waiting for?
-0-
Days pass slowly. Spring ensues too win the battle. Greenery returns to the world. Such beauty. Yet, Zhang Liao forces himself to enjoy the spring from his balcony. Worried that to leave his room once more would draw further attention.
Sighing, he walks back to his bed. Containment for so long has drawn out the impatient side of Liao. Wandering to his simple wooden table, he looks over a few scrolls lying upon it. Too unfocused to read them he busies his hands with shining his armor. Blood crusts it. He brushes away all filth with a dampened cloth.
Lu Bu has long since left. His arrival is anxiously awaited for. Hesitate to ask Dong Zhou of news since the warlord has taken interest in him; Zhang Liao contents himself with waiting.
Zhang Liao dresses himself in his battle attire. He misses the weight of the armor, and the security it provides. He feels the surge to go, the surge that follows him to battles and upon daring adventure. All of course with the company of the mighty Lu Bu. How often they fight and train together.
Does he desire the discontent towards Dong Zhou to prevent him from following Lu Bu? Cowardice. The word will not grasp him with its dishonor.
-0-
Dong Zhou's eyes rove over his body. He knows. "Go after Lu Bu you say?" He says. "What use is it? He's well."
"Where is he, Lord?" Dong Zhou chuckles at Zhang Liao's persistence.
"At Chang Si castle awaiting my orders."
"I am well enough to assist him in any cause you send him upon, Lord Dong Zhou." Clicking his lips in thought, the Lord gestures for two guards near the door forward. Mistaking the motion as one to a servant, Zhang Liao is caught unprepared when the two grab both his arms.
Dragged to kneel before Dong Zhou, Zhang Liao endures this silently with head bent to avoid looking surprised. Surprise is ignorance. He will not look weak.
Following another motion of Dong Zhou's hands, the General finds himself too close for comfort from Dong Zhou. "What is the meaning of this?" demands a angered voice. Dong Zhou stands in surprise knocking Zhang Liao backwards. "You are to be at Chang Si! Return to your post," the tyrant replies, regaining himself efficiently.
Shaking himself loose from the nervous guards' grip, Zhang Liao moves to Lu Bu's side without hesitation. "I will leave with Zhang Liao," the Flying General spats. Ferocity burns strongly upon Dong Zhou's face. He makes no attempt to stop the Generals, however, as they leave the room.
The walk to the stables is brisk and silent. Lu Bu mounts Red Hare immediately. For a moment Zhang Liao suspects he may ride without him, but the furious man merely waits silently.
As they exit the stable, Dong Zhou is seen standing upon his palace steps. "Zhang Liao will remain behind," he commands.
"He will come with me," Lu Bu retorts. His voice is strong with a passion to obtain what he desires. Zhang Liao can distinguish this. "Please, allow me to follow, Lord Lu Bu," pleads a sweet soft voice. Both mounted Generals turn to see lovely Diao Chan mounted upon a snow white horse.
Further infuriated upon seeing his new Concubine eager and willing to leave, Dong Zhou is nearly unable to find words. "Dismount you ungrateful whore!" he orders Diao Chan, before addressing both Generals, "Witless mutts, you dare to defy me? You shall pay with your lives!"
"It is you who shall die maggot!" Lu Bu retorts. However to assure the success of these words would disable their escape. The gate of the castle is closing at a determined pace. "We must escape, Lu Bu!" Zhang Liao shouts, grasping his fellow counterpart's armor. "The gate is closing!" Lu Bu's face etches all hints of anger, but he too sees the gate. Bolting forward, Lu Bu races towards the gate. Zhang Liao and Diao Chan follow in his wake.
Dong Zhou shouts orders frantically trying to prevent their escape, but in vain. The three riders gallop across the grassy landscape. Lu Bu leads by afar. He stops, however, to allow his comrades to catch up.
Lu Bu watches Diao Chan with little interest. His thoughts upon her following are hidden to Zhang Liao. "There is no place for weakness here. If you have a home, return to it," the great General finally says. "Please honor me with the pleasure of traveling with you, Lord Lu Bu," she replies in a voice of silk.
"Till the next Providence." Not awaiting her reply, he nudges his horse forward.
Had Zhang Liao known the young lady, he would assume she wore an annoyed look upon her face. Lu Bu was not a man to become befriended easily, even if you should have the courage to try.
Moving to his lord's side, Zhang Liao notes how Diao Chan tries to keep Lu Bu attention on the opposite side. Surely she doesn't see him as a challenge? Oddly, Lu Bu hardly notices her constant gently flowing words. "We should hurry our pace. Dong Zhou might send forces after us," Zhang Liao says, interrupting the young woman.
"I suppose... The swine's maggots would be no match for us though," Lu Bu replies.
-0-
Darkness greets the traveling group as they enter a Providence. As said, Lu Bu told Diao Chan to leave, but with polite words. Not swayed easily, she stays in a bar room next to their own. For security reasons, Lu Bu purchased a room that both Zhang Liao and himself could rest in. Two simple beds are a welcomed sight.
Tired from deep thought and long travel, Zhang Liao immediately lies upon the bed left for him. Unable to stay awake any longer, the General drifts of to sleep easily.
Sweet dreams lead him threw the night until dawn. Bolting awake dampened in a light sweat, Zhang Liao lifts himself upon his elbows. He pulls down the blanket to cool his body. A frown crosses his face. He did not put a blanket over himself, nor did he remove any of his armor. Lu Bu's bed is empty when he glances towards it. Shaking the notion as an unusual act of kindness, he refreshes himself before dressing in his armor.
However, as he finishes an early meal, he finds he cannot throw off the gesture. Not allowing it to distract him from his duties, he hurries to the stables. Worried that he may be slowing Lu Bu's progression, he must, however, stop when Diao Chan acknowledges him. Her words are soft. Together they walk to the stables.
He saddles her beautiful mount for her before his own. Standing near the doors with hands clasped in front of her, Diao Chan truly is a magnificent sight. Her beauty, however, holds no sway over Zhang Liao. "Where will you ride, Lady Diao Chan?" he asks while buckling her saddle. "I fear I do not know..." she softly replies, "To what home may I return when mine is no longer?" Silent ensues. This a question Zhang Liao cannot answer.
Gratefully taking the reins from Zhang Liao, Diao Chan says, "Perhaps I could travel with until I found a lord who will treat me well? I will not hinder your journey."
"It is not my place to decide," Zhang Liao gently replies.
"Surely you have some persuasion. You do not follow like a dog upon heels!" Her words slightly jolt him. He does not reply until he has his horse prepared for riding, only then can he find the words. "Lu Bu is not man to succumb to persuasion easily. His passion may lie with fight instead of words, but he will hold his opinion. Though... Perhaps he would not mind too much if you were to accompany a little farther."
"I would be most grateful..."
Zhang Liao and Diao Chan meet Lu Bu on the road opposite the one they enter. The suspecting of Lu Bu's position was based off Zhang Liao's gut feeling. Lu Bu is not easily impressed, but he does seem intrigued that the General has grown to know him so well. However, his attention sways to Diao Chan quickly. "What is she doing here?" He questions. "She wishes to travel with us until she finds a suitable lord," Zhang Liao replies. "I will not hinder you journey. Please, Lord Lu Bu, allow me to travel with you," Diao Chan pleads. Her voice is genuinely innocent; the words are as though they come straight from her heart. Lu Bu snorts, but seemingly reluctantly agrees. He glances sharply at Zhang Liao. Knowing that he is most likely being blamed, Liao simply gives Lu Bu a short smile.
-0—
Lu Bu leads them father East, before during South. Travel is quiet. They sleep under stars or a roof, depending on where the darkness leaves them. As spoken before, Diao Chan does not hinder their journey. She speaks often, but nearly always to Lord Lu Bu. Zhang Liao does not mind. He simply saddles her horse, and occasionally asks her questions or answers them. Her superior over him is questionable, but he respects her as she is a noble woman, or so she claims.
Zhang Liao leans against his saddle. Silence hovers over the campfire as usual. Diao Chan has long since fallen asleep. She has come accustom to sleeping in the wilderness. Though Zhang Liao believes she despises it, he has not heard a complaint from her yet. Lu Bu sits opposite from the General. He examines his halberd. "Where are we going?" Zhang Liao finally asks, shifting for comfort. Lu Bu chuckles. It is a strange question to ask after traveling so many days without knowing, Zhang Liao supposes. "To battle," Lu Bu replies. "With whom?"
"Whoever desires victory."
Bloodlust. It forever leads Lu Bu to battle. Zhang Liao is not surprised when the words slip from the man's mouth, 'to battle'. To fight is all Lu Bu desires. Surely the great General realizes that he must become loyal to a side? Dong Zhou will desire Diao Chan and perhaps himself. Zhang Liao shutters involuntarily at the thought. Lu Bu glances at him, but says nothing. "To fight loyally with a lord would be easier than to fight treacherous against them all," Zhang Liao voices. Lu Bu snorts.
"We will fight with a lord… one who is worthy."
Lu Bu lifts his saddle; walking around the campfire he thumps it next to Zhang Liao's. Diao Chang stirs in her sleep, but does not wake. Neither notice. Zhang Liao finds their distance… close. They sleep near normally, but this feels different somehow… Lu Bu does not seem to notice. He says, with eyes closed, "We rest for now."
Zhang Liao closes his eyes…. Perhaps it is just a hope.
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