Part III, Chapter Twelve: Maru Hears What She Did Not Expect

Part III: Zhian

"The trouble with secrets is that they have a most annoying tendency to become public." --Tasian novelist, c. 430 AE

April 27, 1112 AE
Sky Dragon Inn, Shouchuen, Zhian

"Well, as I live and breathe! Maru!"

A smile broke on Maru's face when she recognized the young man behind the counter. "Qian!"

He had been the apprentice of the Zhi merchant who had escorted her and her party from Tasius to Shiromori over two years ago now. She hadn't expected to ever see him again, least of all behind the counter of a tiny little inn such as this; still, she'd found him a pleasant enough fellow, and after days of perpetual travel with only her horse for company, it was nice to see a familiar face.

With surprising athleticism, he propelled himself over the counter, then opened his arms for her to run into the embrace. "Now, would you mind explaining to me why the Crown Princess of Shiromori might just walk into a place like this--and in men's traveling clothes, no less?"

"Ever tried riding in a dress?" she teased. "It's a pain in the ass. These are much more comfortable--in fact, I might start wearing men's clothing more often."

"You do wear that outfit better than most men would."

"Exactly." She brushed a stray lock of hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear. "Anyway, long story short, I found out my mother is living here now."

A frown curling on his usually jovial face, Qian raised an eyebrow. "It took you two years to figure that out?"

Maru scowled; she knew he wasn't being serious, but it stung all the same. "If that bastard who calls himself my father hadn't been hoarding her letters, I would have known earlier. Anyway, I can have a room? And would you by any chance happen to know where I can find my mother?"

"Yes, you can," he informed her with a wide grin, seemingly ignorant of her bile, "and yes, I do. She lives right in town, actually."

Maru felt her eyes widen in interest; she hadn't guessed it would be so easy to find her mother. "Where in town?"

"She runs a flower shop over on the west side, in the commercial district. It's the only flower shop around, so you'll know it when you see it." Qian tossed back his curly-haired head and laughed. "You know, it was quite the piece of gossip when she first arrived; we don't get many Shiromori setting up residence in these parts, and of course the fact that she arrived with a Tasian only made things seem more inter--"

"Wait, what?" Of all the things he could have said, she never could have expected that. "A Tasian?"

Qian nodded. "Some young fellow she sprung from the castle dungeons herself, believe it or not! Apparently her husband wanted him dead, so she freed the man to spite him. You Shiromori women really are more capable of surprising the world than anyone bargains for, you know that?"

"Indeed." And we're not the only ones, she added to herself, hoping the bitterness didn't show in her face. "He told me he'd had the man killed."

"Probably just trying to save face, if what I've heard about Kohashi is any indication," sighed Qian, his curls flying every which way as he shook his head. "I take it you never saw the body?"

"He told me it had been cremated." That liar. That fucking, cunt-faced liar.

But she'd already known that Kohashi was a liar; what she hadn't known was that Aurius was still alive. Finding her mother was even more urgent now.

"Thank you for the information, Qian," she acknowledged him, turning and her heel and heading toward the door. "It was nice seeing you again."

"Likewise."

She briefly looked back and sent a parting grin his way, then placed her hand on the doorhandle and stepped onto the street; she had a Tasian to find.

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