Chapter 307

Chapter 307

Seeing her little brother consumed by anger, Alsantset kept a firm grip on his hand while they rode for the Canston Trading Groups merchant house. Mind your temper little Rain, she Sent, wishing sweet Lin was here to calm him down instead of sleeping in her yurt. The adorable girl was lovable to the extreme but far too lazy and spoiled for Alsantsets tastes. Do not do anything overly rash, not here and not now. Even with his backing, the Legate will not turn a blind eye to open slaughter.

Yes sister, Rain replied, using the same cordial tone he always used when humouring her. Shoulders tense and muscles taut, his eyes held a predatory cast to them, fixed and unblinking on what lay ahead. Shed seen the same look on Gerel dozens of times before, always in the calm before bloodshed which betrayed his longing for death and destruction. It seemed so out of place on her little brothers handsome face, yet somehow also fitting. Her poor, sweet little brother, a man grown yet so haunted by the memories of his past, even the mere mention of his former oppressors was enough to send him flying into a rage.

Not that she blamed him. Shed never forget the first moment shed laid eyes on little Rain, thinking her eyes were playing tricks when that frail, gaunt little boy emerged from the brush and blindly stumbled towards their well-hidden camp. Shivering from head to toe, he made for a pitiful sight, dressed in dirty rags which barely covered his sickly and battered body. His laboured, wheezing coughs and slow, wearied steps revealed he was close to collapsing yet he continued moving with careful caution, shuffling from brush to brush and resting in cover whenever he could find it.

It was such a heartrending sight, it took every shred of discipline she possessed to resist the urge to run over, wrap him in her cloak, lift him off of his bloodied feet, and reassure him that everything was going to be alright. It physically pained her to stand and watch as he continued his arduous trek, but she stayed her hand not out of malice or disdain, but because she needed to see how hed react to the light from their campfires. This far out in the wilds and with how much hed obviously suffered, it wasnt a far stretch to believe he could be Defiled.

Would his smile hold joyous relief or cruel anticipation?

When the dying boy rounded the bend and spotted the firelight, she discovered neither in his expression, for he didnt smile at all. There was no shock or surprise, no relief or joy in those lovely golden eyes, so similar to her husbands, yet wholly devoid of hope or expectation. The boy saw the light, instinctively took cover, and sighed. For long minutes Alsantset waited for him to take action, perhaps to move towards the camp, or maybe angle around and survey the area, or even try to signal his still unseen comrades, but the boy did none of these things. Instead, he hunkered down to watch and wait just as she was, though for what, she didnt know.

Why? Why did he stand there struggling with indecision? He was cold, injured, and helpless, while aid and succour lay within reach, yet he made no move towards it. Instead, after thinking things through, he staggered down to the river, filled his belly with water, then settled into the exposed roots of an overgrown tree to lie down and watch the camp. These were not the actions of an innocent in need, celebrating at the first sign of human presence, nor was she convinced they were the actions of a Defiled spy. The boy was clever enough to follow water downstream in search of rescuers and his body language told her he wanted to approach the camp, but fear and apprehension kept him rooted in place. The boy was cold, starved and injured, yet still he hesitated to trust the strangers before of him.

So shocked by his actions, she took a long time to piece together what shed seen. Golden eyes, like her husband and Gerel, this boy was one of the People. Defiled or not, she felt an obligation to help, either by taking him in or putting an end to his miserable experience. Believing he wouldnt survive until nightfall, she abandoned her post and returned to camp for permission to bring him in. She would have brought him in first and damned the consequences, but she didnt want to frighten the poor child any more than necessary. Papas Iron Banner mercenaries were not the most well-adjusted individuals living in the Saints Tribulation Mountains, and surprising them at mealtime with an injured, dishevelled child whose image screamed Defiled would not end well for either party.

Oh how hed run when she first approached, his frail body fuelled by fear and desperation. Determined and crafty too, giving up his struggles after she brought him in so shed lower her guard. Papa and her beloved still made jokes at her expense for letting little Rain slip from her grasp, but she took pride in his cunning and knew it would serve him well. Now, six years later, that scared, desperate young man held a special place in her heart, her driven, persistent, stubborn younger brother who could move mountains and drain seas through sheer effort of will alone. At nineteen years old, he was already the publicly-styled number one talent in the North and the youngest Second Grade Warrant Officer in the history of the Empire, all while hiding his most impressive Martial accomplishments like Awakening and forming a Natal Palace.

And today, she feared he would throw it all away in a fit of blind rage.

Knowing her words would not reach Rain, she turned to her husband for help. Meeting her gaze with a helpless shrug, he Sent, Unless you intend to knock him senseless, little Rain will do as he pleases. Better that he does this while we are here to watch over him. Trust him, my love. He will not act rashly, not with Tali and Tate here.

So you intend to stand by and do nothing?

I am ready to intervene if necessary. Shrugging again, her husband added, This is not the first time we have protected him without his knowledge, nor will it be the last.

Guiltily glancing at her little brother, Alsantset reassured herself there was nothing wrong. While she wanted to be as calm as her husband and trust her little brother, she couldnt shake her worry. There was a darkness inside Rain, a vicious anger so bitter and inhuman it took her breath away. He never spoke about what happened before they found him and no one ever asked, but his missing fingernails, shattered teeth, malnourished frame, and mangled body spoke volumes to his treatment, as did his actions after meeting his helpless tormentors. Though she treated him like family, shed always been careful to watch him for signs of Defilement, even going as far as letting him wander into the forest unsupervised to see what he would do. As time passed, her vigilance waned but even then she feared that someday his past would catch up to him and shed lose him to the Fathers vile lies.

The first time she thought him lost was when Yan clued her in to his actions against the Defiled, seething with hatred and torturing them until they screamed for mercy. The second was during the duels with the Society, when hed allowed rage to overcome reason after killing a young man in cold blood and finding himself matched against a bristleboar slave. In his mind, bristleboars and Defiled were one and the same, his most hated enemies who deserved no mercy, but as abhorrent as their practices were, the bristleboar were merely slaves serving their master. If little Rain overstepped his bounds and killed one inside Nan Ping, not even the Legates goodwill would save him from the lash, or worse, the hangmans rope.

After ducking back for more instructions, Chuwon reappeared and said, Very well, but I fear our humble merchant house too small to accommodate so many soldiers. As you said, with an Imperial Decree keeping the peace, you have nothing to fear, so you wont mind having your soldiers wait outside.

Sure. If youre so worried about little old me, Ill come inside alone, Rain replied, taking every chance he could to mock them. Once the gates cracked opened, he rode through the tiny gap alone and the gates slammed shut behind him, as if the guards feared Rains retinue would rush through. Stuck outside, the Divine Guardian voiced her squeaking dissent and Alsantset immediately realized why little Rain was so insistent on going inside, as did mister Rustram. Pulling the retinue away from the distraught turtle, they stood and watched as the Divine Guardian grew more anxious and concerned with each passing second, but no matter how loud she cried, little Rain did not return.

The minutes passed quickly and after a quarter-hour of restless, foot-stamping anxiety, the Divine Guardian had finally had enough. Unleashing a hellish shriek at the guards, they had just enough time to leap aside before the Divine Guardian burst through the reinforced double-doors, revealing a surprised Chuwon approaching them. Bringing a good portion of the wall with her, the Divine Guardian stepped into the merchant houses courtyard, barely pausing as she searched for a path around the main house. Finding none which could fit her bulk, she made her intentions clear by smashing through a wall of the house with her head and waiting for the inhabitants to flee, stomping and screeching the whole while. Finally deciding enough time had passed, she ran straight through the main house and out the other side, leaving nothing but ruins in her wake as she disappeared into the river and swam away.

Choking on his laughter, mister Rustram coughed and said, Escort the Divine Guardian and keep her safe. Leading the charge, he brought little Rains retinue around the merchant house in an orderly fashion, ignoring the chaos left behind them. Overwhelmed with shock, Chuwon stood with jaw agape as he gazed upon the destruction around him, unable to believe his eyes.

Remembering the painted fool was headed for the gate shortly before the Divine Guardian charged in, Alsantset rode over to question him. Where is the Warrant Officer? she asked, concerned they might have done something to little Rain.

She asked twice more before the buffoon snapped out of his daze. The Warrant Officer... he remarked on the beauty of my pleasure barge, he said, voice heavy with regret, and asked to borrow it for the afternoon. Since he conceded to all our terms readily, I agreed. He wanted to take it out immediately, so I saw him off and was on my way over to inform his men when... when... Waving a hand around him, he gestured at the destroyed merchant home.

Hurriedly voicing her thanks, she rode away like the wind and caught up to her husband before bursting into laughter. Barely able to contain herself, she explained everything through Sending to her husband between breathless gasps, delighted by her little brothers crafty ploy. He slipped out the back and took the boat upstream, knowing the Divine Guardian would sense him getting away and stop at nothing to find him.

Not sharing in her mirth, her husband frowned and shook his head. I suppose little Rain will claim the Divine Guardian acted on her own accord and refuse to pay, but his story wont hold if the Disciplinary Corps get involved.

Even if hes forced to pay for the damages, it was well worth it, Alsantset replied. I imagine the Canston Trading Groups reputation will plummet once the public learns the Mothers Sacred Servant destroyed their merchant house in a pique of rage. There will be whispers of Heavenly Justice for decades to come.

Its not payment Im worried about my love, her husband Sent, his brow furrowed with worry. While little Rain followed all the rules, he skirted dangerously close to breaking the peace and intentionally at that. What if the Legate takes issue with his actions? Or worse, looks into why the People and Rain in particular have such enmity with the Canston Trading Group?

Her mirth and good mood spoiled, Alsantsets stomach flopped as she considered the consequences. Unable to find blame with her little brother, she scowled and glared back at the ruins of the merchant house. We should have killed them all years ago, removed them all root and stem for daring to enslave one of the People. Closing her eyes, she prayed that the Legate had a sense of humour and many, many more important matters to attend to. Wealthy though they might be, the Canston Trading Group was merely a merchant group while Falling Rain was a rising dragon of the Empire. Surely the Legate would take their side in this, so long as little Rain didnt go overboard.

Or well any more overboard...

Most likely, nothing would come of this, but just in case, Alsantset changed her plans. Initially, she intended to conceal her strength and go easy on her challengers, but no longer. The more Experts the People revealed, the more valuable they would be.

Today, a new name would be added to the Empires Roll of Experts: Tigress Alsantset, Flower of the North.

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