The shrill cry of the rooster's morning crow, lashed against my ears for the third time since daybreak. Now, I was up.
And today was the day. It had been a bit under a week since I had talked to Big Randy about Wan Cheng. I'd done all I could to prepare. I had a small bag with rations, good food, and some medicine in them that I had gotten from Healer Po. She wasn't pleased with my decision to go but it seemed my wounds were healed enough to where she didn't object too hard.
The girls, Huo Xue and Huo Mei, were still sleeping. They even had their own room now that we had moved into this house.
I went to go get washed up, drawing the ice cold water from the bucket, and pouring it over my face. The shock from the cold chased away any remnants of sleep I had left. I wanted to be gone quickly. The faster I got there, the sooner this would be over with, and I could get to what I really wanted.
By the time I was completely done only Huo Qianlei was up, milking the old cow, Bai, as she had gained some weight and could produce proper milk now.
Huo Qianlei refused at first, but I made sure to give him some money, so he had enough in the house while I was gone before waving goodbye, and leaving.
I wound through the streets just outside my home. Stepping over at least three drunk men on the road as I did so. Even being this close to the Silverscale district didn't stop the ills of the Humilis one.
The stench invaded my nose, making me scrunch it immediately. Resisting the urge to pinch my nose, I put a wet cloth across my nose and around the back of my head, then moved on.
Even with all this time, I couldn't get used to the smell.
Then, I was out of the city gates before I knew it. Heading to Far Hollow. I used the forest this time. I wasn't prey anymore, as I could now defend myself. The problem with taking the forest path was that I would be much slower than going on any beaten out path.
I wound across the trees, the sunlight from the canopy coming down like water through a thick sieve. Soaking the forest in shades of dark and streams of light.
It was like I was at home. My real home. Being outside like this. Alert, hands sunk into the dirt checking for any tracks or if I'd wandered into some beast's territory filled me with a great pleasantness. Like sniffing a forgotten food from your childhood. The scent dragging you back to a different world entirely.
I was glad I used this route. I made sure to take note of the dwellings of the animals I had never seen before, and those that would fetch a higher price in this cold weather.
It was still early so the dew of the morning was still on the leaves and the grass surrounding me. The only difference was that they were harder now and more clumped together. The dew, now looked like glass droplets with shards reflecting the light.
Were the forest not so dangerous, I would have loved to share it with someone. I heard a pained roar somewhere deep in the forest, where I was headed and immediately chose a new path. Running as I did so. One of the best skills I had as a hunter was avoiding trouble.
After hours of this dance with danger, I was nearing Far Hollow. I'd had to take up refuge in the canopies of a few trees more than once, and even had to shoot down a small pack of wolves. They left after I had killed a few of them but, their quickly souring carcasses and air dried blood would have brought more predators to my roots, so I left.
I ran. Backpack and quiver holding to my body tightly. It was getting dark. The kind of beasts that came out when it was dark were far more dangerous than those in the light. Especially since they were harder to see. And to hear.
It took longer than I expected but I was at Far Hollow now. Panting at the edge of the forest. Sweat and the stink of the leafy jungle behind me wrapped my body like bark on a tree.
I took a short rest. Enough to get my breath under control. I didn't want a whole brigade of soldiers seeing me in a weaknd state. Especially not Wan Cheng. If he saw me like that, who knows? Maybe he might decide he could shaft me one more time. I hadn't forgotten Big Randy's warnings about him.
After the repose, I set off walking towards the military camp again. This time I had taken just as long as Big Randy had predicted. I slowly removed my quiver as I got closer, putting it and my dagger right in front of me.
I saw the first soldier about 1 and a half miles from the forest. He was patrolling with a sword behind his back and a club in his hand. The nasty kind. It was made of some thick wood… or metal I wasn't sure. It was too dark to see properly and had nails and shards of glass wedged into it.
He didn't look like a very kind man.
I waved and shouted as I stopped walking. Making sure he heard me. "Senior, I'm from Wan Cheng." I repeated this three different times to make sure there would be no room for misunderstanding. I wasn't going to let myself die over something so trivial, like him not knowing who I was.
He was already looking at me so I was sure he heard me.
"Walk forward. Slowly. Keep your hands there!" His voice sounded like he drank alcohol and acid every night.
I did as he said, making sure to move extra slow. When I reached, he looked me once over and then grabbed me by the arm, leading me to the encampment. I would have liked to argue but the man seemed like the type to kick a puppy for yipping.
He took me over to the camp. To the place I had come when I first visited this area.
'Has this place gotten bigger?'
I looked around. I was sure the place was larger. It certainly had more people. The man brought me past the check point—the gate I had gone through previously and to Wan Cheng's command pavilion.
It was set in the middle of the whole camp. Almost as long as it was wide. In a pristine white color, and banners flown all around it. It was too high for me to see but they didn't look like the banners of any noble I knew.
The brute stopped. Still holding my arm. It had been so long that they were starting to get tired from holding up the quiver and dagger.
He looked straight forward, then brought up his right hand to his forehead in an open palmed salute. The palm facing outwards, before swiftly bowing his head, palm still up.
"Commander. I've brought the courier boy."
The two guards standing at each side of the tent, continued to look forward. Not bothering to glance at the gruff man. Then, the man who had led me to the commander before, walked to the edge of the tent. I was assuming he was the commander's right hand man. "Let him in."
The guards at the entrance of the tent moved their spears out of the way, allowing passage for me to enter. The gruff man let go of my arm, allowing me to finally bring down the quiver and dagger, but before I could go in, the guards at the entrance of the tent took my quiver and dagger away. The other one. The one on the left, removing the bow from my back and the bag with my goods.
'Damn it. ' I wasn't sure if I would get that back. If they kept it, then this whole trip would have been for nothing.
The man who had announced that I should be allowed in, led me inside. The gruff man doing th salute and head bow again before leaving.
The commander sat at the head of his table. A long rectangular one. There were no ornaments or designs on the table save for the scars and wounds left on it by the swords and daggers of the men who had been around it.
He was dressed in military attire. A dark red, almost purple scale armor. This time he wasn't just wearing normal garments. The armor was made of metal plates laced together, they resembled the scales of a darkly colored snake. The scales glistened and gleamed like dark gold. If it was day, I was almost sure they would blind me.
Underneath his armor, he wore a silk, charcoal colored garment, and sashes tied with knots adorned his right arm. He wore no headgear, his hairless visage and head further reflecting the moon's light.
A heavy cloak, lined with fur draped across his massive back. I didn't know what it was made of but it felt like a spirit beast.
The difference between the table and his clothing was like a palace in a neighborhood of shacks. He lived up to the reputation Big Randy had told of him.
His right hand man move to stand beside him. Not motioning for me to sit. There were no other chairs in the room except the one the commander sat on so I doubted he would have offered regardless.
I stood there, waiting as the man at his side eyed me. He was tall, and stoic. Like a wall with emotions. The helmet and weapons by his side didn't help the situation in the least but I refused to show any emotion on my face either.
I didn't get almost killed by a spirit beast and have my father die for me to come here and shiver in my boots. I made sure not to look straight at him though. Focusing on the commander's gleaming scalp.
Looking the man standing right in his eyes seemed like a bad idea.
Finally the commander looked up from the table. Putting the quill down in the ink jar and looked right at me. I tried not to show any surprise as there was a new scar right above his eyelid.
He smiled with his eyes, but his lower face stayed the same, crows feet accumulating at the corners of his eyelids. It was unnerving.
"My courier." He stretched out his hands, showing off his extensive wingspan, and then clapped, a loud almost booming sound. It looked unintentional, like he did it out of habit, but I knew better than to trust that.
"I'm glad you are here." He continued to smile that, unnatural, smile of his. Lower face unmoving.
"I assume you've come for your missive?" The question was framed the same way men of power framed questions. As fact.
I nodded.
"Good, good." He turned towards the stoic man on his right, "Mo Jian," that was all that had to be said and Mo Jian stepped forward, taking the bamboo tube filled with the scroll I was supposed to deliver and bringing it to me along with another scroll.
I held out my hand and took it and he turned around on his heels and marched back.
The commander opened his arms again, but this time his elbows were on the table. Only his forearms and wrists moved. "You will take that to our other encampment. Camp Yi. There is a map next to the bamboo tube," he motioned at the scroll with his burly forearms, "Memorise it. Then burn it."
He lit an incense stick. "You have this much time."