Part II, Chapter Twenty: Maru Distinguishes Taking and Giving

Part II: Shiromori

"Saying too much and saying too little are oft the same." --Zhi proverb, c. 210 AE

April 24, 1110 AE
Shiromori Castle, Ayumora, Shiromori

"Well, it's about time!"

Maru hadn't slept at all the night before. She'd tried for all of five minutes before deeming it pointless. How could she sleep while the father of her child sat in some filthy dungeon several storeys underground? And for some crime he never committed, no less? And--by Kitasa--incarcerated by her own father? Sleep had been out of the question.

Her father's severe mouth curved into a scowl. "You mind your tone, young lady! Also, what are you doing in your nightgown? Have you any idea what time it is?"

"Time to sort out this whole fucking ordeal, maybe?" she snapped in reply, his jaw dropping in shock. "Where's Aurius?"

Kohashi sniffed, his disapproval evident in every aspect of his manner. "Well, you certainly aren't going to find out if you don't ask nicely."

Doubtful of her ability to contain her anger, Maru clenched her fist tightly her nails breaking the skin of her palm. "Do I look like I'm capable of asking nicely right now? Tell me, where the hell is Aurius?"

"Watch your mouth!" her father spat, a glint of disdain in his eye that he typically reserved for beggars and criminals. "Why should you care about the fate of a stranger who tried to steal your honor?"

How was it that her supposed virginity was synonymous with honor in his mind? It seemed to her that he must have thought it the only honor she could ever hope to have. "He didn't try to steal anything! And he's not a stranger; I met him in Tasius. I've known him for a year! Where is he?"

Judging by her father's bulging eyes, the question was not the part of her spiel that he was considering. "A year? Kitasa be damned! He's already taken it, hasn't he?"

She returned his scornful accusations with a glower. "Who's to say I didn't give it?"

She watched as the color drained from his face, leaving him pale as some sort of graveyard ghoul. The look suited him. As of this moment, she held him in no higher regard than the most irksome of poltergeists. Even his lips were the bleached, cracked pink of a dying rose as he opened his mouth at last. "I don't think I can look at you."

Maru tapped her foot. "Good. I don't want you to look at me."

"And I shan't," he promised, turning on his heel and bursting through the door to the corridor. "By the way, your Tasian is dead. He was hung this morning on account of some injustices to his own king. Don't ask about the body, because we burned the remains. Have a nice day."

And with that, he slammed the door shut behind him.

It was just as well that he had left, because she didn't think she could bring herself to speak. It wasn't true... was it? Perhaps he had lied, just to spite her? Yes, that must have been it; he'd lied, and Aurius was still in the dungeon, just waiting for her to break him out.

And yet, the tears fell. She couldn't fool herself. He was gone; he was gone, and she'd never even told him.

It wasn't long before she was no longer conscious of her own crying. She didn't realize that her hair was sticking to her sweaty face, nor could she have cared. She didn't notice her racing heartbeat, nor the sharp cramping of her middle. She didn't even notice the drop of warm, thick liquid trickling down her thigh.

END OF PART II

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