Gaiden 5.6
Marta sat in the branches of one of the flowering trees lining the main promenade of the peaceful stronghold known as the Plum Blossom Retreat. She loved to sit up here and watch the comings and goings of all the strange and wonderful people who walked these grounds.
From her perch, she was always among the first to see when newcomers passed through the gates. She always wanted to be the first person to welcome Nathan home, to see that he had returned safe and whole. Today, though, as with most days, Nathan was off on some mysterious errand, and Marta had to content herself with waving hello to one of the directional teams as they returned from the wilds of the hills. She couldn't spot Hsuan Lin, who was undoubtedly elsewhere seeking her mistress, Sapphire River at Midnight, but the others were all here: Grave and somber Lu Fei, with that adorable kitten in tow; Bones Like Jade, the affable and forthright lizard...dragon...sage...thing; and Shai Mei, the Little Tree, a pleasant woman who somehow seemed to end up in a lot of fistfights.
Many other familiar faces walked the grounds today. The Twins stood in a shady nook between a pair of outbuildings, taking turns sipping water from a jade bottle. Here was Serrakeen, red as coals, trading boasts with the proud, easygoing men of the First Marukani Legion. There was her cousin's aunt's youngest daughter, cheerful Merya; she tended the enormous ovens that baked scores of loaves for the retreat's innumerable servants and scribes and guards. And of course Pham, The Gardener, was always near at hand.
And then, coming through the gates, a new arrival set Marta's spine to shivering. She'd always had a sense of when trouble was coming, and she felt it now. Many times in the past, she found herself powerless to stop the troubles. The Retreat, however, was her home; here she was far from powerless. She quickly surveyed the courtyard and found that everything was in place, everything she needed.
"Pham? Ah, there you are. I'm heading back to the gardens, but I need to talk to a few people first. Come come, let's see to this quickly."
Clearfield made an appreciative whistle and flashed an impish leer at Shai Mei as she passed by. "Little tree, little tree, it is so hot today. How I long to rest beneath your loving branches!" She matched his leer with a wicked grin. "Alas, brave rider, I've met your steed, and she is a fine mistress. I would hate to make her jealous."
Blacksaddle, stting next to Clearfield, gave the sharp-eyed scout a friendly shove that sent him sprawling out of his chair. "You hear that, Clearfield? You lose the bet! I think it's your turn to buy a round." For his part, Serrakeen was roaring with laughter.
"Take care, boys." she flashed another grin, and walked on,
Shai Mei continued walking straight up the center of the road. Shortly, she heard hoofbeats behind her, followed by the sounds of a man clearing his throat theatrically. She turned. Before her stood an imposing Marukani rider, an ox of a man, and a self-important one at that. "I am the Four Flags Chieftain," he bellowed, "here on an errand of my clan. Out of my way, woman." Shai Mei looked him in the eye and smiled. "Why, sir, I am small and the road is wide. I am surprised that so mighty a chief rides a horse so dullardly that he cannot simply step to one side or the other."
The chief turned beet-red and visibly puffed up in the saddle. He started to reach for his spear and bluster a threat, but before he could open his mouth a pair of blurred figures intervened. In a heartbeat's time, Shai Mei had vanished from sight... and Cynis Lachid stood in her place. The dragon-blood agent bowed deeply to the chieftain. "Greetings, mighty and honored sir, I do believe that Warmaster Nekuto is expecting you. The garrison-ward is just up ahead. Come right this way; there is fresh-baked bread for you plenty of grass for your mighty steed. Please follow me." His pride soothed by this sudden display of deference, he grunted his assent and followed.
Shai Mei blinked, and suddenly found herself in the shadow of a nearby garden shed, with Cynis Laochi's hand clamped tightly over her mouth. The dragon-blood released her hold, bowed, and said "Forgive my expedience, Little Tree. The Lady Marta wishes to speak with you. Please follow me."
Marta had scarcely waited for five minutes when Cynis Laochi arrived at the gates of the garden with a bewildered-looking Shai Mei in tow.
"Lady Marta, I've brought her as you requested."
"Why thank you, Layochi, that was kindly done. And please thank your brother for his part."
"It is as already done." Cynis Laochi bowed and left.
Young Marta turned to the tree-blooded woman and curtseyed. "Walk with me, Shai Mei. Have you ever seen the Inner Gardens? I think you'd really enjoy them."
They walked together for a time amongst the groves, and once again all was peaceful in the Plum Blossom Retreat.
