"How beautiful can it be, the view from the top, when it cannot ever be shared?" --Shiromori poet, c. 750 AE
April 17, 1112 AE
Willow's Edge Inn, Koheno, Shiromori
Shao had once heard it said that the weakening of the Guild's hold could be felt as a Guildsman neared the completion of his true task. Indeed, he was supposed to have met Terrus in town for some trivial business, but he knew for a fact that one man could easily finish such a job on his own, so he had stayed at the inn instead--the former compulsion to follow orders in spite of his intuition all but gone.He couldn't describe it, just how the Guild worked. Somehow, he had to do as the Guild Master said. Several times it had occured to him to disobey, but for whatever reason, he just hadn't been able to follow through with any of his planned rebellions, as if he had been robbed of his free will. Until now, that is, he reminded himself with a hint of a smile.
He knew what he had to do, this one task that was required of him before he was done with the damned Guild forever. It had already begun; at this stage of the game, all he had to do was wait for the king's father to inform the princess of her mother's letters, and if his freedom from the Guild Master's every whim was any indication, then the natural course had been set in motion. The Guild Master might have been annoyed with him for involving an extra person, but Shao was long past the point of caring--the sooner that he could put all this nonsense behind him and go back to his life, the better.How much would he have missed by now? Far too much, at any rate. It wouldn't be long before his older daughters were having children of their own, and he doubted his two younger children would even remember him much at all. Once upon a time, he'd thought that six years was a relatively brief period, but now, he knew otherwise; his time apart from all of them had been an eternity.
But soon it would be over. He'd played time and time again the chain reaction in his head, and should anything go astray, he knew how to bend the process accordingly. As long as the princess ended up going to Shouchuen, he would be free.He was already planning what he would do when the Guild's hold on him was broken for good. He'd teach his son how to fence, demonstrating the art using any ardent suitors his girls might have--each of them would have had a handful by now, he was sure of it. He'd then take his family for a nice picnic in the countryside and if his little girl begged him, he might even relent to let her braid his hair. They'd go home and his children would fall asleep in front of a fire not unlike the one he prodded now, and then, he and his wife would whisk away to the bedroom and make passionate love all night long. It had been six years, after all--they both had needs that had gone long unsatisfied, and damned if they didn't see them fulfilled any time soon.
Today, the crackling of the fire was the only company Shao had, but the thought of his approaching release made such realities bearable. Soon, he would cease to be a Guildsman; no longer would he be some pathetic errand boy to a trio of goddesses who didn't even show their faces to their own servants. No, as soon as Marusake was safely in Shouchuen, Shao could go back to being what he truly was, and all he truly wanted to be.A husband and a father.
NEXT CHAPTER:
Sorry about the indirectly direct post. I finished the outline today and Part III will only end up being fifteen chapters long, so things are going to be moving fairly quickly (but probably in a slow sort of way, if that makes any sense at all).
ReplyDeleteAnyway, we first met Shao, a.k.a. Guildsman Aero, in Part I, Chapter Twenty-Two. This is also the same inn where Maru, Kawa, Covius, Danitia, and Caius stayed in Part II, Chapter Three, but that's more indicative of my not wanting to build another set than anything else.
And all those medieval-ish inns can't be do different, right? A few double beds in a room with zero privacy, dirt and grime all over the place, a bar downstairs and hey presto! You're done!
ReplyDeleteNow, if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to crossing my fingers that Shao gets back to his family, but before he goes back to his family, that getting Maru to Shouchuen involves good things, like, I don't know, Aurius waiting there for her with open arms?
Although, um ... geography isn't my strong point (I spring from a line of women who get lost in cul-de-sac), where exactly is Shouchuen?
Gorgeous, reflective shots of Shao, he is quite the specimen! Yes, I notice these things.That last shot with the flame lighting his face was wonderful. His thoughts touching and full of yearning, as only a warrior away from home would have, well done!
ReplyDeleteMorgaine: Yeah, that's what I figured too, so I don't feel too horrible about reusing that room :P
ReplyDeleteShouchuen is in Zhian. I don't have the exact geographical distance from Ayumora worked out, but it's where Maru's aunt and uncle live. Her mother lives there now too, and, most importantly, so does Aurius.
Drew: Thanks :) Heheh... he is rather good-looking :P
Shao's one of those guys who went into the Guild kicking and screaming. All he really wants out of life is to spend time with his family, and that desire has been denied for the better part of a decade (though really, he should be relieved it was only six years--Kitasaka had to serve seventeen, and his associate Terrus is nearing twenty years now).
Yes!!! Shouchuen means Maru and Aurius are in the same zip code! They have to work out their problems if they're that close!
ReplyDelete*does happy dance*
Heheheh :)
ReplyDeleteThis is so poignant and hopeful that I feel like it isn't going to happen. But Maru HAS to get back to Aurius and not marry that creep!
ReplyDeleteEven if Maru does get back to Aurius, some crazy drama could still occur. We're nearing the conclusion of this particular story, but the saga's far from over.
ReplyDelete