The Journey - Part 15

Content Warning: Mentions of blood

The rest of the week passed by like sand through a sieve. As Leiyu and Prince Thallios approached the mountains, the air became colder and thinner. The ghost voices were also in full force, and their messages became more menacing by the day.

Ah, look there, who dares trample through the forest!

Hunger, hunger, hunger

Despair

Prince Thallios shivered and drew his cloak closer to himself. “Leiyu, can you hear all that?”

“Oh yes,” Leiyu said through gritted teeth. “Very loud and clear. The warding talisman isn’t really doing its job anymore.”

The flimsy talisman hovered above them like a lackadaisical moth. Leiyu was not sure whether it was worth switching to a fresh talisman if it was not going to have much of an effect.

As they crept closer to the mountain range, the trees took on a more skeletal form. The lush greenery of the forest gave way to dry brittleness. Lichens mottled the gnarled bark. Bare branches hovered overhead, as if they were waiting to close in and capture them. Dried leaves crunched under their horses hooves.

“It’s getting dark,” Prince Thallios said. “Maybe we could find somewhere to take shelter for the night.”

Leiyu looked around. Since the trees were becoming increasingly leafless, there were fewer places where they could actually find cover. Perhaps another cave would materialize along their path? Or they would just have to camp out in the open, under the scintillating stars and tree branches that looked like claws. He had done it before many times when he was traveling solo.

They eventually found an abandoned burrow that was large enough to fit two people. Leiyu tied the horses’ reins to nearby branches and fed them oats.

“Wait here,” Leiyu said. “I’ll find some food.”

“Is there anything here?” Prince Thallios asked. “It seems rather barren.”

Leiyu reached into his sleeve and gave Prince Thallios a dried-out piece of flatbread. “I’m running very low on these, but you can have it. I’ll try not to stay out too long.”

Leiyu ran out into the field of rocky soil and barren trees. Although the desert had been equally devoid of life, save for the oases, there was something about this place that seemed more dead, like a veritable no man’s land. The faint ghost voices were not helping. Maybe it was because there were trees. They must have been vibrant with greenery at some point. Was there something in the soil that leached the life out of them?

The air had a sharp coldness that kept him alert. His breathing was more labored than usual. How high up are we? he wondered. Will we have even more issues when we go through the mountains looking for the sword? How long has it been since I left the prince in the burrow? If I don’t find anything in the next quarter shichen, I really need to head back.

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of loosened gravel. He turned and spotted an unfamiliar sight in the distance.

Between the barren trees was a ghostly creature that looked like a small fox. It was skinny with pale fur and a bushy tail. The creature regarded Leiyu with vulpine curiosity.

Also hunting, I suppose, Leiyu thought. He readied his hand on the hilt of his sword. I won’t attack first, but I will definitely defend if it comes down to that.

He thought about the countless squirrels, sparrows, fish, and the sole hare that they had eaten along the way.

Maybe I’m being hypocritical then, he thought. But there was something fascinating about this ghostly fox. Perhaps it could guide them through the mountains? He shook his head. Don’t be silly. This is not a fox spirit from a storyteller’s tale.

The ghostly fox circled around him, slowly spiraling in.

That’s not typical behavior, Leiyu thought. Unless there are more of them lurking around.

As the fox approached, it bared its sharp teeth. Leiyu gripped his scabbard and pulled out his sword.

Hehehe, you will never make it! This place shall be your grave!

“Who’s there?” Leiyu shouted. The fox ran forward and sprang at him. Leiyu swung his sword.

In the next moment, blood splattered against the rocks. It became deathly silent.

***

“Leiyu! You’re back!” Prince Thallios exclaimed. He came out of the burrow and paused when he saw Leiyu with a large furry mass hoisted over his shoulder. “Oh wow, what is that?”

Leiyu laid the carcass on the ground. There was a gash running through the fox’s chest. Blood mixed into fur, like a crimson trail amongst dirty snow.

“Is this a fox?” the prince asked. “Where’d you find it?”

“It found me,” Leiyu said. “Came right at me too. No sense of self-preservation. Must have been starving and desperate. Ribs are showing.”

“Are you all right?” the prince asked. “Did it injure you?”

Leiyu shook his head. “Not a scratch. It was almost too easy. Almost like it wanted to…never mind.” He took his knife out. “At least we won’t be hungry.”

“And that was the only animal out there?”

Leiyu nodded. “This place is pretty barren.” He wondered whether he should tell the prince about the ghost voice’s message. No, it won’t matter. Those ghouls don’t ever stop talking anyway.

Leiyu gutted the fox and cut up the meat. He went through the usual motions of setting up a fire and roasting the game. Prince Thallios sat and observed him. Once the meat was cooked, they ate in silence.

“Eat as much as you can, since the meat isn’t going to last long before spoiling,” Leiyu said. “Really should have brought some salt when I started traveling, just so I could preserve these larger animals. Or hunt earlier in the day so I can dry the meat in the sun and we could bring it with us.”

“Ah, I don’t know anything about those things,” Prince Thallios said. He took another bite. “What will happen to the rest that we don’t finish?”

“Other animals will come by and take care of it,” Leiyu said. “It’s nature.”

Prince Thallios gulped. “Is that why you stuck to hunting smaller animals?”

“Sort of, and it was also easier,” Leiyu replied. He took another bite. “This fox didn’t really seem to be at full strength though. Almost felt like it was an unfair fight. Hopefully it wasn’t ill and we catch something from eating it.”

Prince Thallios gasped.

“Well, we had limited options,” Leiyu continued. “Also, I think it wanted to eat me, from the way it was snarling when it attacked.”

“Yea, better alive than dead, I guess,” Prince Thallios said. “When this is all over…” He sighed.

“What’s that?” Leiyu asked.

“I’m speaking nonsense again, but when this is all over and we restore the empire, I’ll provide you food for the rest of your life. You won’t have to hunt ever again.”

Leiyu laughed. “Well, I don’t mind hunting, even if it’s a little gruesome. But free food sounds nice.”

“It’s all nonsense, I swear,” the prince said. “I’m acting like the food just materializes into existence, when it’s really the efforts of countless people. I took them for granted before, and I’ll make sure they’re all richly rewarded once we get the empire back. With what, I do not know…”

Leiyu smiled. He wanted to cherish this moment of simple idealism before the doubts and worries about the prince’s other side returned.

***

Leiyu exhaled an ephemeral cloud against the backdrop of the star-spattered sky. He wrapped his cloak around himself and joined Prince Thallios in the burrow. The prince was curled up as compact as possible, hood covering his auburn hair, quivering like a leaf in the wind. Leiyu saw those amber eyes turn towards him. He opened up his cloak and the prince quickly huddled in next to him.

“I wonder if we could make use of the fox fur,” the prince said.

Leiyu shrugged. “If you don’t mind the blood, Your Highness. Don’t really have anything to clean it with. It’s not really big enough to keep either of us warm.”

Prince Thallios leaned in closer. “It’s sufficiently warm here.”

Leiyu smiled. He could feel his heart speed up, and exhaled another breath cloud.

“Do you think we’re getting closer to the Sword of Ages?” the prince asked.

Leiyu shrugged. “I don’t think we’re getting any further from it, Your Highness. The ghost voices are getting louder. It’s almost like they’re trying to scare us away.”

“Oh, I hope nothing bad happens.” Prince Thallios shifted position and his fingers accidentally brushed against Leiyu’s.

“Hm,” Leiyu said.

“What’s wrong?”

“Your hands are like ice, Your Highness,” Leiyu said. Then he added, “Forgive me if I should not have said that.”

“They do feel a bit numb,” the prince replied. He brought them to his mouth and huffed. After moving his hands away from his mouth, he asked, “Are your hands any warmer? They’re always half covered.”

“Not sure if they’re any warmer, Your Highness,” Leiyu said. “I’m just used to the cold. Spent many nights outside.” The amber eyes looked at him with a silent question. “Do…do you want me to warm your hands up, Your Highness?”

“Oh…” the prince looked flustered. “Only if you want to…”

Leiyu lifted his hands and cupped them around the prince’s frozen fingers. He felt tiny lighting bolts shoot up his arms. After he stilled his beating heart, he gazed at the prince’s porcelain face.

“Sorry if my hands feel rough, Your Highness,” Leiyu said.

“Oh, I don’t mind at all,” the prince said. “It’s kind of nice, actually.”

Leiyu raised an eyebrow. Would certainly never have heard that compliment back home. “Are your hands feeling warmer, Your Highness?”

“Mm-hmm.” The prince looked at Leiyu in earnest. “Although I’m afraid the warmth might not last on its own. Do you think…”