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Chapter 63. Xue Xue |
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or a long time Lemony embraced nothingness wrapped now in the safety of home and friends. Once she had bathed and taken Xiang Yi’s draught, she slept as she had not for weeks, only awakening a few times in confusion when one of the servants stirred and startled her. Someone lay beside her when she finally opened her eyes to the soothing purple twilight of early morning. Rolling over, she saw the diminutive shape of a child curled up in a ball beneath a blanket beside her. “Xue Xue!” she cried and lost herself to tears of relief and joy. The little girl latched onto her like a barnacle, “Thank the gods.” “She would not stay with the orphans,” said Mai apologetically, “Shikai felt it was better if she were allowed to stay with you.” “I am glad,” Lemony said, reassuring the young woman nothing was amiss. Little Xue Xue wept softly now that she was being held. The poor little thing must have gone through a horrible ordeal, “Everything will be alright now, sweet one, I’ll take care of you.” The child seemed consoled by this and grew calm though her grip did not diminish. Lemony gently stroked her hair and kissed her brow until the child relaxed and sighed softly. “Is there anything I can bring you, Sister?” asked Mai, “Tea or some breakfast?” “That would be very nice. I think I shall get up and do my morning prayers. Would you like to come with me, Xue Xue?” “Yes.” Lemony rose and was about to ask the servant where her things were when she spied her little traveling chest. A strange swell of emotion gave her pause. It was good to be home. It was good to be safe. New clothes were laid out for her over the back of the chair where Mai had been keeping vigil. She dressed after splashing her face with rose water at the wash basin and smiled when Xue Xue imitated her. Once the two of them were dressed, she led the little girl outside to the garden as the first golden light of the rising sun made the flowers blaze with color. It was the sacred hour of Dwayna and she smiled to find the little shrine she had built out beyond the sigil pad was still in good repair and well attended. Xue Xue clapped and prayed beside her as the sweet spicy odor of sandalwood curled slowly from the freshly lit sticks of incense. “What are you praying for?” Xue Xue whispered as Lemony sank into a meditative calm. “It is dawn. I am just glad there is a new day so I can start fresh,” Lemony replied. “Is the bad man gone?” “Yes, he is, and he is never coming back.” Xue Xue tilted her head and smiled. “I will say thank you for that.” Lemony could not help but chuckle at the little girl’s earnest statement. The two of them lingered a while longer to gather flowers and place them on the shrine before going back inside for breakfast. “Will you be my mother now?” asked Xue Xue as they walked up the garden path. Lemony hesitated, brought up short by the child’s directness. “I was thinking perhaps you should stay with your grandparents,” Lemony began then paused when she saw Xue Xue’s stricken expression, “but sure, I will be your mother.” This seemed to satisfy the child for she said nothing more as Lemony returned to the peace and quiet of her rooms. Mai awaited them in the sitting room and had already set out bowls of sweet rice gruel and a fresh pot of green tea. Lemony was heartened to see Xue Xue eating with an unusual degree of enthusiasm. “I’d like you to stay with Mai while I go visit Mog,” Lemony said when they were finished. The young servant was sitting nearby sewing and glanced up from her work anxiously. “No,” Xue Xue said firmly. Lemony was quite taken aback. “I think it would be better, Xue Xue. He’s not well and it’s no place for a little girl.” Lemony hesitated when the child began to cry. She glanced helplessly at Mai but the servant only smiled apologetically, indicating they had faced Xue Xue’s unnerving storm of tears a few times already. The girl clung to her when she rose. It suddenly occurred to Lemony that she had not the faintest clue what she was supposed to do at this point. Xue Xue was still raw and frightened and Lemony was the only friendly face she knew after their time together. Torn between her desire to be with Mog and protect Xue Xue, she decided to take the girl with her. If Mog was still raving mad, Xiang Yi would tell her and they could both depart. It was unlikely he would be coherent enough to remember her visit if that were the case. Still, duty to her friend required her to at least try for his sake and she clasped the child’s hand and smiled, urging her gently to let go so that the two of them could set out together. It was a short journey down the hall beyond the new kitchen and the great dining hall. The infirmary overlooked the garden, which Xiang Yi had insisted upon. In the warm light of morning it seemed a tranquil place despite its currently sad state filled as it was with the wounded from the prior night’s battle. Lemony was still vague about the details of what had befallen Zhou and his guild members or even how Xue Xue had been delivered to safety. She hoped someone would tell her soon. Xiang Yi greeted her with steepled palms and a shallow bow. His warm brown eyes gazed down upon Xue Xue. “I see our little one has found her guardian.” Xue Xue gazed up at him with a shy smile, then hid behind Lemony. “Is Mog alright?” “Through here,” Xiang Yi said, nodding, “He is doing better than I hoped.” Mog was being kept alone in the little side room where she had left him. The cramped chamber contained little more than the narrow bed with a chair on either side of it. Armand was already there looking wan and tired. Mog was sitting up in bed amid a mound of pillows putting on a brave face and chuckling at something the two of them had been discussing before she arrived. Lemony, however, could tell that he was in pain and drowsy from whatever Xiang Yi was giving him to ease his suffering. His blue eyes were rheumy and his skin had a waxen sheen. “Lemmy!” he rumbled, “An’ that mus’ be th’ little one ye were tellin’ me about.” “Hello, Mog,” she replied, sitting on the end of his bed while Xue Xue went shyly to the empty chair. Armand nodded at her and she wondered vaguely why Brigit was not with him. The two were nearly inseparable. “I’ll be back in a while,” Armand said, rising from his chair and gesturing toward it for Lemony’s benefit. She shook her head and smiled at him. The two mesmers were so unlike one another and at first she had not realized they were close friends. Today Armand’s normally inscrutable face was lined with concern for Mog as he nodded and took his leave. “How are you?” “Been better,” Mog replied, “’least I’m not ravin’ mad, now.” “Are you in pain?” “Yus. Me dreams are none too pleasin’.” “Poor Moggie,” she murmured, squeezing his hand through the blankets, “You do look much better, though.” “Aye, th' healer says I’ll be up n’ aroun’ within a week.” He paused for a moment and gazed upon Xue Xue. “Hullo, lil birdlet.” Xue Xue stared at him for a moment, then glanced at Lemony, clearly not understanding a word he had said. “He called you a little bird,” Lemony explained in Canthan. For the first time an unabashedly delighted smile lit the child’s face and she giggled. “I like the giant fox man,” Xue Xue said. Lemony chuckled and Mog looked askance at her. “Would you like me to get anything for you?” “Aye. If ye know where me kit is, I wouldn’ mind havin’ me tin whistle,” he said, yawning. “I’ll be sure to ask around. They moved me inside and a lot of the tents are gone now. I assume they must have given you your own place, too.” A rumbling sound was his only reply. Lemony smiled and rose to her feet. His fitful snores amused her as she rearranged the pillows so that he would not get a crick in his neck. Once upon a time his snores had driven her mad on sleepless nights and now it seemed precious, an indication that all was well once more. “Sleep well,” she said as she drew the blankets gently under his chin and smoothed them tenderly over his chest. “I think we should go out and enjoy the sunshine.” |
