Chapter 6: Regrouping

The delegation arrives just after sundown, having gone at a brisk pace taking into account the suspected guilty parties among their soldiers.Those detained remain silent and solemn, not fighting their fate even when finally entering the city.

The great stone walls surrounding the city proper, even if only faintly lantern-lit and barely visible in the night, astound Asa by their magnitude. She looks out the window curiously at Sehchoh, finally truly knowing the difference between knowing something and seeing something–the city was impressive to witness, especially since Asa had never left Ba’atan until very recently. She imagines what the city looks like in the daylight, having heard stories from Chui of the city by the sea.

Asa finally lets her thoughts drift as the carriage travels along the paved city roads to Chui, one of her fellow Saishu that was as close with her as a true sibling, and then to all the rest of the Saishu and people who called Ba’atan their home. Then, her thoughts inevitably drift to Bam and her words. “Keeping an eye on you.” “This is my duty.” “Our home is gone.” If their home was gone, where was she going back to? Who could give Bam of all people a duty to fulfill that she would follow if not for the Crowns? Could no one have survived the fires?...or was Bam truly lying? It was still hard to believe that Chui, the Crowns, or any of the Saishu would let their people die, especially when they’ve all dealt with wildfires before. However, it was even harder to believe that Bam would lie to her about this, let alone anything so serious.

Trusting her gut, Asa thinks hard about how to believe in her allies and in Bam under these circumstances, and a solution presents itself in her mind: maybe their home was gone but everyone was still alive elsewhere. Maybe the fires proved too strong and they had to leave the home Ba’ata have known for centuries for somewhere else in the mountains. However, the mountains are vast and if Asa is right, finding everyone will not be easy. Though her mind holds doubts, her heart tells her that there’s no way every village and the town center could have disappeared completely. Despite the difficulty of the task Asa set out for herself, she resolves to see it through–whether Bam would help her or simply keep an eye on her.

All things considered, though, she could not forget her promise to Hoen. She could not abandon them on the mountain to confirm her hunch lest she break her own promise and Ba’atan tradition–two things she would never forsake. Asa could only hope to encounter Bam again to confirm her suspicions sooner rather than later and put her mind and heart at ease.

Asa refocuses her attention outside and sees that the carriage is within a smaller walled structure, the city no longer visible out the window. The carriage comes to a sudden halt and Hoen speaks up at Asa’s curious expression.

“We’re at the castle kept by the Coalition’s Branch of Defense. We’re dropping off the soldiers we detained in Naiténoza. We’ll get out for just a moment, alright?”

Asa nods and exits first, looking around the castle and observing how it remains busy even at night, soldiers walking to and fro patrolling atop the castle walls and stationed various places in the courtyard. Hoen and his aides follow out of the carriage and Hoen, Jaemi, and Toge go to the open carriage behind them to collect the detained soldiers. Though Asa's attention stays on the castle where she sees guards salute as an austere and imposing looking man in armor comes out of the gate. The man approaches the carriages–or rather Asa, Wen, and Shou near the carriages–the soldiers that travelled with them saluting him before going off about their work unpacking supplies. The man stops in front of the trio and nods in greeting before speaking, his voice low yet clear giving off an air of integrity.

“Good night to you all. I hope you had safe travels. I see someone has joined you, Sir Wen, Sir Shou,” the man greets, bowing his head to each man as he addresses them each by name.

Shou nods back with a hum of acknowledgement and Wen bows back. “Hello, Chancellor Zadok. Thank you, our travels went smoothly, indeed,” Wen greets before gesturing to Asa, “This is Asa, a warrior from Ba’atan. She and our group are partnering for the time being. She will be our guide up the mountains and has also spent considerable time in the palace of Naiténoza.”

Chancellor Zadok’s eyebrows raise as his eyes go wide, the serious looking man seemingly quite expressive in actuality.

“Really? This is good news. I do hope you’ll join our meeting tomorrow, Miss Asa. You will be of very much help to us.” The chancellor bows to Asa in greeting, now knowing her name.

Asa nods in return. “Hello, Chancellor Zadok. I hope our partnership will be fruitful.”

The imposing man nods gently. “That is my hope, as well. Now, if you will excuse me.” The chancellor bows and then heads over to Hoen, Toge, Jaemi, and the detained soldiers, other Sehchoh soldiers escorting them closely. They begin talking after the chancellor bows in greeting and Wen turns to Asa.

“The chancellor will handle the soldiers we detained from here. We can go back in the carriage and the driver will escort us home,” he explains.

“Should I stay with the soldiers?” Asa asks.

Wen gapes at her in surprise and shakes his head profusely. “No no no– you’ll likely stay with Hoen as a guest. His estate is within the city walls. Here, come back in the carriage with us.”

Wen gestures anxiously to the carriage, opening the door for Asa as if to make sure she doesn’t think about setting up camp here in the castle courtyard. Asa nods and enters the carriage first, followed by Wen and then Shou.

Wen explains, “The others will be back soon…” He looks at ASa quite fretfully, his fingers fidgeting in his lap, before he suddenly asks, “Uhm, Asa?”

“Hm?” Asa replies.

“I remember what you said earlier about your, uhm… punishment, but I agree with the chancellor–you should attend the meeting. I, uh…” Wen drifts off, thinking hard about whether to say his next thoughts.

Shou seems to sense his hesitation and speaks for him. “Hoen was only joking when he told you to sit the meeting out. You’ll attend.”

Asa blinks at him. “...really?...I see. I will attend then.”

Wen adds on quickly, “I-It’s okay! It took me a while to know for sure when Hoen is joking, too! I thought you might’ve been joking back, but …”

The carriage is silent for a moment before Wen speaks up again sheepishly. “You, uhm, seemed a lot like him when he jokes–you’re a lot like Shou, too, in my opinion! The way you all have a deadpan sense of humor.”

Asa furrows her brow at that in confusion. Shou matches her expression and she and Shou both utter, “What?” at the same time.

Thinking her expression a bit severe, Wen hurries to explain himself, waving his hands in front of him. “I just meant that you all are straightforward and sincere! And you talked about being detained and going on a rampage so seriously, I thought maybe you and Hoen joked alike. It isn’t a bad thing!”

Her expression relaxes and she simply says, “Oh,” satisfied with Wen’s explanation.

Shou, on the other hand, looks out the window as he stifles a chuckle at Wen’s panic, causing Wen to fluster even more. Before he can stutter out a chiding complaint, however, the door opens and Jaemi, Hoen, and Toge enter the carriage. Jaemi notices Wen’s expression right away as he sits down and chuckles, “What were you talking about that’s got you so red, Wen?”

Wen stops trying to explain himself and stews in his embarrassment silently, his hands folded on his lap sheepishly. Shou speaks up as the carriage starts moving, “Everything is handled?”

Toge grunts, “Yea, we can all go home now. I don’t think anyone will forget, but we’ve still got our meeting tomorrow, too.”

“If you know we’ll all remember then why remind us?” Jaemi asks innocently.

Toge huffs and turns to Jaemi, saying, “Because one of us likes to show up late despite coming from the same place as me and Hoen!”

Shou cuts in, “Asa can join, too, right?”

Hoen smiles and says, “Of course. There’s no need to exclude yourself unless you really want to, Asa, especially not so severely.”

Asa studies Hoen’s demeanour carefully before she nods. “I see now what you mean, Wen.”

Hoen tilts his head curiously at that and turns to Wen. “Hm? What does she mean?” he asks.

Wen clears his throat awkwardly and says, “Nothing important, I just mentioned that you and her were similar, that’s all…”

Hoen studies Asa for a moment, but Toge speaks up first. “Huh? I say she’s more like Shou–she won’t talk unless she needs to.”

Shou nods at that, humming in acknowledgment while Jaemi lets out a loud laugh, clutching his stomach.

“You’re so right! And they have the same blank expression all the time!” Jaemi exclaims excitedly.

Shou and Asa look at one another as if to affirm Jaemi’s statement and this time Asa nods and lets out a hum as she studies him. “I see,” she says.

“You’re too funny. So serious, “Jaemi sighs in satisfaction as he wipes a tear away, “Do you ever joke?”

“...I’m not sure. Maybe,” Asa admits after some thought.

Toge cuts in, “He’s just amusing himself. You don’t have to entertain him.”

Asa shakes her head, “I don’t mind.”

Toge raises an eyebrow at that but Jaemi speaks before he can. “Really? So I can bother you some more and you won’t mind?”

“Please don’t try and bother me. I don’t mind you talking, though,” Asa replies. At that, Toge lets out a laugh in surprise and a quiet chuckle escapes Shou’s lips as he crosses his arms over his chest.

“You’re right, Toge,” Hoen says with a smile, “She is like Shou, except I get the feeling she isn’t joking when she says things like that. Though maybe we just can’t tell when she’s joking yet.”

“So like you, Hoen? Wen was right, then,” Jaemi adds.

“Hm? What do you mean?” Hoen asks innocently.

Asa has a thought that she should clarify for the group that she wasn’t joking, but she decides to stay silent seeing them enjoying themselves.

Soon, the carriage stops in front of a row of businesses with apartments above and Wen and Shou disembark. Then the carriage continues going north through the city. Hoen turns to Asa.

“You’ll be staying in a room at my family estate. It’s on private land in the northern residential district. I hope this doesn’t bother you,” he says.

Asa shakes her head. “Not at all.”

Hoen smiles at her kindly and Jaemi speaks up, leaning in like he’s about to reveal coveted gossip.

“I also stay at his estate when I’m in the city. We’ll all be like roommates–you’ll meet his father tomorrow morning if not tonight. He’s a cool guy, don’t worry.”

Asa nods and says, “I see. Thank you all for having me.”

When they arrive at the gates, guards approach the windows. Hoen waves a hand and they are let through onto the private Imperia estate, the grand manor sitting at the end of the paved path and the lawns surrounding it. They exit the carriage and are greeted by servants at the door. Toge waves goodbye as he walks down a westward path to a smaller house and Jaemi, Hoen, and Asa enter the manor.

Hoen says to a maid who greeted them upon their arrival.

“Please take our new guest Asa to her room and bring her the necessary supplies for a few nights stay.”

The servants all bow and the maid Hoen addressed leads the way up the stairs, going the opposite direction of Hoen once they reach the top.

“Goodnight, Asa, Jaemi,” Hoen says, waving goodbye as he goes to the east wing while Asa and Jaemi are led down the west wing. Jaemi says goodnight to Asa and goes to his own room before Asa is led to a room a little further down the hall. Asa takes in the well furnished bedroom with its plush cushions, blanket, and curtains and intricately carved wooden bed posts, vanity, and chair and stands awkwardly in the middle of the room before noticing an attached bathroom that’s just as impressive. Soon, the maid comes back with clothes and toiletries and Asa accepts them before the maid asks if Asa would like any dinner before going to sleep. Having eaten on the trip, Asa declines and the maid bows and leaves with a soft, “Goodnight, Miss Asa.”

Feeling a bit out of place, Asa washes herself–fumbing with the private bathtub controls–before changing into the pajamas offered to her to go to sleep, not wanting to dirty the pristine space. Asa climbs into the bed carefully and stares up at the canopy for a long while before she falls asleep.

When she wakes, Asa goes out into the hallway in search of a maid or servant in the manor. Finding one nearby in the hall, the maid seems to notice her as well and bows, saying, “Good morning, Miss Asa. We’ve sent someone to get clothes you can wear. Please wait comfortably in your room and we will bring them to you once they arrive.”

Asa stops in place, listening attentively before bowing back to the maid and turning on her heel and re-entering her room. She sits at the vanity, staring at herself, at a loss for what to do. She spots the comb and decides to comb her hair as she waits, not having done so herself since before staying at the palace in Naiténoza. Soon enough, the maid knocks and hands her a couple of modest sets of shirts and pants much like the soldier’s trousers and tunic she had before along with other pajamas. Asa washes again and changes clothes, the garments fitting her well this time, and exits her room. The maid approaches her with a bow once again and says, “Hello, Miss Asa. We are serving breakfast downstairs in the dining room if you would like some.”

Asa nods and replies with a bow of her own, “Yes, please. Thank you.”

Asa follows the maid downstairs and finds Toge, Jaemi, Hoen, and another man at the table already. Asa sits across from Jaemi and Toge along the long side of the table while Hoen and whom Asa presumes is Hoen’s father at the heads of the table. The maids promptly bring out and serve the food.

Asa bows her head toward the man she does not yet know. “Good morning, sir. Thank you for allowing me to stay in your home. I am Asa.”

The man laughs and waves his hand, smiling kindly at her. “No need to bow to me, Asa, when we aren’t at work. The boys here were telling me a bit about you. You seem like the principled kind. I’m happy to have you work and stay with us.”

Asa raises her head and hesitates a bit before uttering a soft, “Thank you.” She picks up her utensils and freezes, realizing she doesn’t know the first thing about Sehchoh etiquette. She should’ve learned some from Chui when she still could. Jaemi chuckles and says, “You don’t need to worry, just eat like you normally would. Unless you eat really messily, then don’t.”

Asa nods and starts to eat quickly and quietly.

“My name is Warren,” Hoen’s father says, “Feel free to call me that in private, Asa. Otherwise, I’m Administrator Imperia.” He laughs at his own joke, Jaemi chuckling along with him.

Hoen adds with a smile, “In the meeting, I am Vice Administrator Imperia. You can address my aides as Sir and you’ll learn everyone else’s names and titles once we get there. It’s a lot but I’m sure you’ll catch on quickly.”

Asa listens attentively and nods seriously before Toge informs her, “He’s joking, by the way. If you get it all, fine, but if not there’s no penalty. Everyone will know you’re an outsider, so no pressure,” before going back to his breakfast.

Asa replies resolutely, “I will do my best.”

After breakfast, the group talk at the table for a bit before the carriage is called to bring them to the Coalition’s main building in the eastern district. They all go outside and Jaemi points off in the distance to their left. “See that taller building? That’s the Coalition headquarters where we’re going, Asa.”

Asa nods and soon after a carriage pulls into the driveway similar to the one they travelled in from Naiténoza. Despite Hoen’s disendorsement of the grandiosity of the Coalition’s carriage before, Asa couldn’t help but think his own family’s carriage was just as impressive– and the rest of his estate, for that matter. As they board the carriage, Asa’s thoughts wander back to the events in Naiténoza, the day King Inei died, and the meeting she had with Hoen and his aides. Hoen, noticing her being lost in thought, offers some consolation.

“Really, don’t worry Asa. You won’t have to speak much, and if you do just be honest like you were with us,” Hoen says.

“I understand,” Asa replies with a nod and, looking out the window as the carriage embarks, hopes that despite everything that’s happened that Chui and her other allies are out there somewhere, keeping Ba’atan alive in their hearts even if none of them could return home again.