Shadowed Footprints

 

Could It Be Miyu?

 

Okay, the second chapter is up! I haven’t got a lot to say except ‘ON WITH THE SHOW!’

 

*   *   *

 

The door creaked open and Miyu and Satsu emerged and a great silence fell across the bar. Satsu was dressed in a kimono of many colours with ribbons and bells lining the cuffs and waist. She had let her hair down and had braided many different coloured ribbons into the black strands. She looked like a wild gypsy compared to the simple but pretty clothes Miyu wore. Miyu felt uncomfortable, no……… uncomfortable was an understatement, she felt terrified. Never had so many people stared at her like this. In the palace she had only up to five people looking at her at a time and they kept their gazes bowed, respectful, but now over thirty pairs of eyes watched her with unhidden scrutiny and she felt her stomach contract. Satsu gave her a little push and propelled her onto the stage where Miyu stood stock-still, breathing deeply. Satsu waltzed onto the stage and waited for her accomplice to start. Miyu continued to stare wide-eyed at the crowd. Someone coughed. That awoke Miyu from her thoughts. She must look ridiculous, just standing there. She had to play or else Maria wouldn’t be able to help her flee the city. Her eyes flicked to Satsu who wore a look of deep grief. Miyu smiled briefly and nodded and lifted the flute to her lips and blew a sweet note. It was a dance so Miyu chose a fast song with an obvious beat. Satsu paused for a moment, surprised at the sudden start of the song, and then she too began to dance. She spun and leapt and twirled in a country waltz and with the bells jingling and the ribbons whipping and twirling round her. It was an impressive sight to behold.

 

Miyu continued to play and she caught Maria’s eye, who gave her the thumbs up. Whilst she played she scanned the crowd for any signs of guards. Everyone was clapping and laughing and drinking and all the faces seemed to roll together until Miyu couldn’t recognise one person from the next. Suddenly one man caught her eye. She stared at his stunning features, like aqua hair and shining red eyes, but she realised then he was avidly staring at her too. She saw him fish into his black robes and pull out a picture, glance at it and then glance at her.

 

*   *   *

 

Larva stared at the flutist and back at the picture. He had been surprised ever since she had walked out into the bar, but was it really Lady Miyu? She was darker skinned and with darker hair. Her eyes seemed to slant more and it was difficult to decide her length of hair seeing as it had been tied up into a large plait. She would no doubt stop for refreshment and he would then talk to her. Larva suddenly froze as he saw the girl watching him as she played, her eyes never leaving his face. He quickly put the picture away and spun round to face the bar and took a sip of beer.

 

*   *   *

 

Miyu was still staring at the man’s back when Satsu few by, her face red from exhaustion.

 

“Wrap it up, will you?” she panted. “I can’t dance forever.”

 

Miyu quickly drew the piece to a close and Satsu slowed to a halt, and then bowed. The bar roared and clapped in approval and Satsu sauntered over to Miyu. She was smiling, even though many strands of her hair were plastered to her sweaty face.

 

“So,” she sighed. “Want to wet your whistle?”

 

Miyu nodded noticing her throat was bone dry, but she also wanted to get closer to the man who had been watching her. She followed Satsu off the stage and towards the bar. The audience parted to let them through and then returned to their conversations. When they reached the bar Miyu climbed onto a stool and slammed her head down on the counter. She felt fingers lift her face and raised her head slightly to see Maria beaming at her.

 

“You little, darling, you were brilliant!” she laughed.

 

“I wasn’t that good,” Miyu murmured modestly.

 

“Mum, stop smothering her and give the poor girl a drink!” Satsu cried helping herself to a bottle of ale. Maria turned and swiped the bottle out of her daughter’s grasp and then poured both girls a drink of water. Miyu sipped it gratefully whilst Satsu grumbled about being deprived of alcohol.

 

“You performed well,” a soft, low voice spoke from behind. Miyu turned and was surprised to see she had sat down right next to the blue-haired man without noticing.

 

“Thank you,” Miyu sighed making an effort to sit up straight. There was a pause. “Who might you be?”

 

“My name is Larva,” the man replied, his eyes never leaving her face. “I work at the palace.”

 

Miyu tried to hide her horror and she heard Satsu suddenly spit out her drink. Larva raised his eyebrows and peered round past Miyu. Satsu looked up apologetically.

 

“Swallowed a lump of ice,” she lied. Larva nodded dismissively and turned back to Miyu.

 

“So, what is your name?” It had to be her, Larva thought. Close up she bore the same strange beauty as the girl in the picture. But what had happened to her?

 

Miyu’s stomach tightened as she struggled to think of a title and quickly. She cast her thoughts around until they fell on her sister.

 

“Yui,” she smiled and wiped her forehead in the heat. “Yui, that’s my name.”

 

“Yui?” Larva smiled and Miyu felt herself melt at the sight of Larva’s delicate features. Oh no, she thought horrified. They sent a handsome guard to interrogate me and then return me home. Well, it’s not gonna work, she thought indignantly. “What a pretty name,” Larva commented.

 

“Thank you,” Miyu said now in a tight voice. She should have been flattered but seeing as it wasn’t her name……… There was a loud cough from Satsu. Miyu ignored it. “So, why are you here?” she asked, trying to sound casual. The question seemed to take Larva aback.

 

“Came for a drink,” he answered truthfully. “Why are you performing here? Most girls work at the dressmaker’s guild.” Satsu made a gagging noise but when Miyu and Larva glanced at her she was smiling sweetly.

 

“I……… er, I love to perform here. The crowd is so, um, friendly,” Miyu hazarded gesturing towards the rowdy mob that filled the Moonwhistle Inn.

 

“You looked terrified on stage,” said Larva but he wasn’t now concentrating on the conversation. He thought he had been seeing things but now as he looked closer, when Miyu had wiped her forehead from the heat the skin had seemed to lose a shade of dark. He then realised, makeup! Miyu looked worried for an answer.

 

“Well, everyone gets stage fright once in a while,” she squeaked. She noticed how closely Larva was watching her and shifted uncomfortably. “Is there something on my face?”

 

“An eyelash,” Larva lied. “Here.” He extended a hand and stroked the side of her face. Miyu felt numb as the fingers caressed her cheek. She felt the colour rising in her cheeks from under her makeup.

 

“Excuse me,” she whispered and spun round to Satsu. “Satsu,” she then whispered. “I need to go. That man is from the palace. I think we’ve made enough money for supplies. Please explain to Maria. I’ll see you in the morning.” She slipped off her stool and hurried up the stairs.

 

Larva watched her leave. He glanced down at the pale tips of his fingers to see them stained with a tanned powder. A disguise? It had to be Lady Miyu. Larva ordered another drink and started to mull over how he would steal the Lady back to the palace. She knew nothing of defending herself so he supposed he could just smuggle her out in the night. Then he could return to the palace and he and his brothers would be safe once again.

 

Satsu watched Miyu hurry away with slit eyes and then turned and glared at Larva. She rose from the barstool and leapt over the counter to whisper something into Maria’s ear. The barmaid’s eyes widened and she glanced at Larva before hurrying up the stairs after Miyu. Satsu remained a little longer, watching Larva intently before swinging round, her hair flying and stalking up after her mother.

 

*   *   *

 

Slowly the customers milled out of the Moonwhistle Inn and sauntered off home. Only one figure remained. Larva sat at the counter, beer untouched watching the door. Maria, Satsu and Miyu had not reappeared and two choices battled it out in his mind. He could leave and return the following day hoping the girl would still be here or he could steal her away in front of Maria’s eyes and explain later. Well, he couldn’t just sit there all night. Sighing, he rose from his stool and approached the door wearily. He opened it a crack and peered up the stairs and in what was visible of the hallway. It was deserted. He smiled and crept up the flight of stairs, checking each step in case it creaked. At the top in the hallway Larva glanced up at the dusty rafters holding up the ceiling. It was too dark to make anything out. He crept nearer to the door and pressed his ear to the wood. He could hear the sound of a girl trying to stifle tears and Maria trying to comfort her.

 

“Don’t you see, Maria?” Miyu sniffed. “He has come to take me back to the palace.”

 

“Larva is a good man,” Maria protested. “I’m sure that is not his intention, Miyu.” Larva shook his head, smiling to himself. So, it was Miyu for sure.

 

“One guard is like another,” Miyu replied. “He will somehow take me back.” There was a sorrowful pause. “I can’t go back!” Miyu suddenly burst out. “No one can understand how much I suffered there. I was not a human. I was an object. I may have lived in grandeur but I was confined to a fancy cage, just waiting for my father to sell me to some wealthy lord’s son. I am told how to dress, how to speak, what to like even! My father made the maids teach me to sew. He would have been horrified if he knew I wanted to learn how to fence. I was told how to live and if I got married it would just be worse. I would be a nobody bringing up five children and never even speaking to my husband. I will not return!” Larva was forced to pause for a moment. He could not deny the pity he felt for the girl. It was true, she was an object in her father’s palace. But the life of his brothers came before sympathy for a Lady. He pressed his ear to the door to hear Miyu now talking in a low voice. “You must get me out of here. Do we have enough to order a cart? What about supplies?” Larva’s attention was drawn away from the conversation, as a sharp pointed object was poised at his throat. He recognised the point not as the tip of a blade but the head of an arrow.

 

“Turn around,” snapped a woman’s voice. “Slowly. Any sudden moves and you’ll be impaled to the door you had your ear to.”

 

Larva turned slowly, hands raised to see Satsu with a bow in hand loaded with one arrow. She must have been sitting in the rafters watching me, he cursed to himself. Satsu eyed his face.

 

“Mother was right. You do have features most men would remove their own limbs for. I can see why women like you.”

 

“You however, are not attracted to me?” Larva said with mild amusement. Satsu was only 5’ 3” whereas he was nearly 8’ but here the small girl had the advantage.

 

“I do not like eavesdroppers. Sly and prying men are what tear this city apart,” she snarled, her ferocity greater than her height. “Now you are going to answer my questions clearly and truthfully or you’ll end up with an arrow through your windpipe which I can assure you is not a pretty feature. And in case you think I’m bluffing, I wouldn’t.” She pressed her arrow harder against his skin. “I know exactly how to end your life in one shot. Or I could miss-aim and let your death be slow and painful. Either way would be satisfying. Now, what’s your name?”

 

Larva knew the fiery girl was serious so he answered each question truthfully.

 

*   *   *

 

Miyu carefully wiped the makeup from her face with a soft flannel and the tears with it. She composed herself and tried to be forward thinking. Maria had informed her that they had enough money for food supplies but not enough to be escorted all the way to Iktyo. Miyu at that point had buried her face in her hands but was then informed all was not lost. A man who had been drinking in the bar had told Maria he would escort them as far as the province’s border for a cheap price.

 

“So,” Miyu summarised. “We will travel as far as the border, and then Satsu and I will walk up through the village of Daie to the town of Genawa, refill our supplies and then head on up the mountain to the quiet town of Iktyo. There will be another two villages for us to pass through but it is not a necessity to stay there. It would be faster just to pass on through.”

 

Maria nodded and was about to reply when a shout interrupted her.

 

“Maria!” It was Satsu. “Miyu!”

 

Maria hurriedly unbolted the door and gasped at the sight that met her eyes. Satsu had forced Larva onto the ground into a dusty corner with one deadly arrow poised at his throat. Maria stumbled forwards but Satsu fiercely shook her head.

 

“Our good customer Larva was just listening to your conversation. It is his intent to kidnap Miyu and return her to the palace,” she informed her mother.

 

“Bringing a girl back to her home is not what I’d call kidnap,” Larva croaked.

 

“You can stay silent,” Satsu growled prodding the arrow into his neck. “It is his duty to bring Miyu back and he would even attempt a kidnap right in front of your eyes, mother. I understand that you like Larva as a customer but Miyu is our main concern, thanks to Chisato.” 

 

“Chisato is in danger if Lord Yamano ever discovers she assisted to help his daughter escape,” Larva muttered. Maria’s face contorted in horror.

 

“You wouldn’t dare hurt my Chisato!” she cried, Miyu clinging desperately to her dress to hold her back.

 

“No one knows about Chisato’s involvement except you,” she nudged Larva’s head with the arrow point. “Mother, we need to silence him. I can do that permanently.” She grinned tugging the arrow back a few inches on the bow, ready to release.

 

“No!” It was Miyu who had spoken. “I may refuse to return to the palace but I want no deaths to be caused due to my escape.” She watched Larva with her unblinking golden eyes, thinking. “Tell me, Larva. Do you think Lord Yamano would ever know if one of his guards went missing?”

 

Larva blinked. “I believe not,” he answered truthfully.

 

“Very good. Satsu it is my sad duty to inform you that we shall not kill him.” Satsu’s shoulders slumped in disappointment. Larva breathed a sigh of relief. “I am glad however, to tell you that we have our first hostage.” Satsu’s smile nearly extended past her ears as she fished into her pockets and drew an object out Larva couldn’t quite see.

 

“Wha-?” he shouted in horror but then his head drooped sideways as he felt a small needle penetrate his skin. Satsu removed the dart from her hostage’s neck and grinned.

 

“Useful little tranquillisers,” she said airily. “Useful for shooting at unwanted guards. It’s how I enter the palace.”

 

“Satsu?” Miyu murmured a little nervously. “You dance with those in your dress?”

 

“I stick bungs over the needles,” Satsu replied chucking the empty dart into the corner. Miyu shook her head and Maria wrung her hands in frustration.

 

“Maria,” Miyu looked up at the worried woman. “Get the horse and cart ready. I think Satsu and I shall leave tonight. I’ll fetch the food supplies.”

 

“What of Larva?” Maria asked.

 

“I’ll take care of him,” Satsu cut in. She pulled out a length of rope from the rafters. “Hostage style.”

 

Miyu nodded worriedly wondering if they ever see Larva alive again. She took a wad of notes from Maria and followed her downstairs. Pausing by the bar, Maria turned to Miyu with a caring expression. She ducked under the counter and pulled out what Miyu recognised as the sheath of a sword. It was black with small silver runes running down the length of it and a leather strap attached so the fighter could carry the sheath on his back.

 

“Miyu, this belonged to my brother.”

 

“Not another gift!” Miyu cried. “Maria, these are family air looms. You should keep them.”

 

“I prefer putting items to use,” Maria retorted. She touched the sheath lovingly and then removed the sword within with an expert flick of her wrist. “This is a katana. My brother was a samurai, but he died in the wars. I want you to have this, so you can protect yourself. Satsu is equipped with all sorts of weaponry but I feel you need something to hold when the time comes.”

 

“Maria,” whispered Miyu taking the sword and swishing it through the air. The blade hummed gently with each swing. “I cannot handle even a simple short-sword but a katana!”

 

“Satsu will teach you,” Maria smiled proudly. “She is no samurai but a swordsman to make any mother proud.”

 

Miyu placed the katana back in the black sheath and swung it over her neck and shoulder. She hovered before hugging Maria and then hurrying out of the inn, a strained expression on her face. She was never good at goodbyes.

 

*   *   *

 

When Miyu returned she saw a rickety cart with a cotton hood roofing the passengers within parked outside the Moonwhistle Inn. Maria was standing in the doorway discussing the prince with an old man and Satsu was leaning against one of the cartwheels with an exultant expression. Miyu sauntered over.

 

“Satsu, why are you beaming?” Miyu watched her expression never falter. “Where’s the hostage?”

 

“In the back,” Satsu grinned. “Mother wouldn’t let me lash him to the wheels.”

 

“I wouldn’t either,” Miyu muttered heading for the back of the cart. She turned to see Satsu still standing with a merry look on her face. “Satsu? When I see him will our hostage still have two arms and two legs?”

 

“I kept all his limbs intact,” Satsu sniffed as Miyu proceeded to the back of the cart.

 

She pulled the heavy curtain aside to peer into the gloom in the cart. She could just make out the outline of a figure slumped in the corner. As her eyes adjusted she saw the handsome Larva, rope coiled around his stomach, hands and feet lashed together, mouth gagged and blindfolded. His head still lolled onto one shoulder. Miyu shook her head and hauled herself up into the cart. She warily approached the guard, hands hovering forwards.

 

“That Satsu goes to far,” she muttered and carefully removed the blindfold. Larva let out a faint groan as the drugs began to ware off. Miyu gently lifted his head from his shoulder and leant it against the wall of the cart. She paused for a moment before leaning forwards to place her hands at the back of his head and untying the gag. Larva murmured in his sleep and his head rolled forwards onto her chest. She let out a quiet squeak of alarm, leaping back as the guard flopped forwards. She chucked the gag and blindfold into the corner but decided on that moment not to untie his arms or feet. At that moment Satsu appeared at the entrance.

 

“Hey,” she whined, her eyes full of betrayal. “You took off the gag and blindfolds. They were the best bits!”

 

“They were unnecessary,” Miyu snapped without intending to. “Is the driver ready?”

 

“Yeah, he’s up front now. Mother haggled with him and we’ve got ourselves a bargain.” She beamed. “Got the supplies?”

 

“Yes. Let us not waste any more time here,” Miyu said.

 

Satsu nodded approvingly and leapt out the cart to bid farewell to her mother and inform the old man of their departure. Miyu slid down the wall and found herself squashed next to the unconscious Larva sprawled on the floor. She sighed in aggravation and hauled him against the wall to make space for herself and Satsu.

 

The sound of running footsteps announced the arrival of the thief. Satsu leapt into the back of the moving cart through the curtain and slumped to the floor. She yawned loudly and threw an arm round Miyu. Miyu smiled and rested against Satsu’s shoulder.

 

Larva was just wavering on the edge of waking. His eyes were blurred but he realised the blindfold and gag had gone. He moved his head slightly and through half-closed eyes saw the outline of Miyu leaning on Satsu’s shoulder. He could feel the effects of the tranquilliser returning. Before he drifted off into a sleeping stupor he heard Satsu say one line of comfort to Miyu.

 

“You sleep softly. Miyu, you are free now.”

 

*   *   *

 

The night was upon them when Larva finally came to his senses. The cart was still rolling forwards at a gentle pace along a quiet track. Larva propped himself up carefully, slightly numb from the dart but managed to balance himself so he could get a look around. He realised that Satsu was nowhere to be seen and this relieved him deeply. He had concluded that there was a definite friction for the first time between him and the angry daughter of Maria. He turned to see Miyu sleeping soundly on the floor, a thin shaft of moonlight falling across her delicate features. For one moment he felt pained by the fact that she was so near that he could just grab her and run for it, but the bonds restrained him. He knew Satsu had taken his sword and the picture of Lady Miyu Yamano so there was no chance of cutting his bonds. Instead he had to be content to stare at the sad girl before him. He remembered her crying words.

 

“I can’t go back! No one can understand how much I suffered there. I was not a human. I was an object.”

 

He thought them over and the familiar feeling of pity washed over him. He remembered in the picture how he had admired her beautiful face but had not taken time to notice her expression. It had been sombre, pained and the eyes did not look at you but stared off into the distance as though somewhere else. His red eyes glittered in the night as he repeated quietly the words Satsu had uttered.

 

“Miyu, you are free now.”

 

*   *   *

 

Miyu awoke in the early morning with a layer of damp dew on her face. Surprisingly, she enjoyed the sensation. Wanting to see where the cart had stopped off she pulled back the curtain and was met to the beautiful sight of the wild valley outside the city. Trees grew wild and bushes untrimmed, flowers over spilling into little ditches and the road was made of dust and stones, not neat little cobbles as there were in the city. The sheer untidiness of it all was what enthralled her. She turned to find Larva’s crimson eyes watching her.

 

“A pretty sight,” he said in a soft voice. “Not as pretty as the palace gardens, I’m sure.”

 

“As a matter of fact I prefer here,” Miyu retorted. Surely he had given up tempting her to return. “The gardens at the palace had no charisma unlike here. However, I do not care for I shall never see the palace or the city again. As you are our hostage I doubt you will either.” She hadn’t meant for her tones to sound so harsh, but they reflected her feelings to all associated with returning to her home.

 

Larva seemed to have no answer so he dropped his gaze. Miyu tried to feel guilty but then she realised one of their crew was missing.

 

“Have you seen Satsu?” she asked. When the guard looked up and shook his head Miyu glanced about worriedly. “Satsu!” she called.

 

“Yes?” said a voice by her head. Miyu leapt in surprise and cried out to see Satsu’s head hanging upside down from the roof of the cart. “Personally I don’t like sleeping in confined spaces so I spent my night under the stars. Plus, I don’t like the hostage.” She smiled cheerily at Larva who darkly bid her good morning. Satsu turned back to Miyu with a concerned look. “Miyu, there’s lots of wild magic in the air round here. In cities it all gets covered up and controlled but out here magic is wild so people can easily bend it to their wills. Can’t you sense it?”

 

“Magic?” Miyu noticed Larva also look up interested. “I’m not sure I understand you.” There was little talk of magic in the palace so Miyu was genuinely interested.

 

“Well,” Satsu swung off the roof and landed cat-footed on the grassy bank. “The legend goes that long ago magic flowed freely throughout the valley in the time before humans and cities. The animals were intelligent and nature bloomed. But then some animals began to crave for more power and evolved into humans. Humans began to manipulate the free magic to their wills and thus mages came to be. The other species knew a secret however that the mages did not. They knew that one day, years from then, a child would be born purely of magic. A sorcerer. The magic however had a power and mind of its own. If the humans and mages ever discovered that a sorcerer was coming they would try to manipulate the child into using free magic for their own purposes. So the magic made the animals dumb and the humans ignorant of its existence. The mages forgot their spells and the humans formed cities and towns all over the land. The magic did not mingle well with these gatherings of humans and slowly diminished. Some say it became tame and lost its magical purpose, others that it just vanished from existence. There is still wild magic where there are few humans.” Satsu paused, slightly overwhelmed by the direct attention being paid towards her. “One can always sense magic. There is a lot round here.” She glanced about.

 

Miyu paused and let herself think. Yes, she could feel it. The atmosphere was tinted with a feeling of electricity. She continued listen and after a moment felt it moving in a current towards them. “It’s coming,” she murmured.

 

“What?” Satsu asked.

 

“Nothing.” Miyu shivered. “Let’s get moving. Wake the cart man. I’ll get breakfast.”

 

Satsu walked out of sight to the front of the cart and Miyu plunged her hand into the bag of goods she had bought. Pulling out a large bunch of berries she laid them on the floor and pulled out a loaf of bread. Taking three wooden cups she squeezed the berries sweet juice into them and balanced them on the floor. Larva blinked in surprise. So Miyu was actually going to feed him as well? She broke the bread into three equal pieces and then picked up one cup and the piece of bread she was holding and leant out of the cart.

 

“Satsu!” she called. “Breakfast!”

 

A hand reached down from the roof and took the grape juice and bread. Miyu smiled and laughed at something Satsu said and then turned back to Larva. Her gold eyes were shining with a happiness that had not been there before. She picked up her grape juice and drank it quickly and then took a bite of her bread. She then hesitantly picked up the third cup and approached Larva warily. She seemed so frightened, Larva thought. Did the prospect of returning to the palace scare her that deeply?

 

“Miyu,” he said softly and she halted in her tracks. “I am firmly bound to the floor. There is no chance of me returning you to Lord Yamano. Do not look so frightened.” Miyu attempted a smile and came nearer, kneeling before him.

 

She watchfully bought the cup up to his pale lips and tipped the grape juice down his throat. Once he had finished Miyu brought the cup back and gently wiped a small trickle of juice from the side of Larva’s mouth. Her delicate movements enchanted him. She acted so carefully as though one wrong move would grievously harm him. She paused as she saw him watching her.

 

“Would you like your bread now?” she asked. Larva nodded, not really hearing the question.

 

Miyu recklessly tore off a lump of bread and then paused before Larva, eyeing his ropes critically. He could see she wanted to tear them away but didn’t trust him enough not to steal her away when Satsu wasn’t looking. In his mind he laughed dryly. He didn’t blame her for not trusting him, he wasn’t sure if he trusted himself. He was broken from his thoughts by the large clump of bread hovering before his face. He tried to lean forwards to bite it but it was just out of reach. Miyu sighed to herself and tucked one fragile hand behind his aqua-haired head and helped him lean forwards to eat the bread without hands.

 

Miyu watched as the guard ate the bread with difficulty, spraying crumbs down his black robe. She found herself absentmindedly running her fingers through his silky hair, twining the blue locks between her fingers. She realised Larva had stopped eating and she drew her hand quickly away in embarrassment.

 

She tripped and stumbled across the bumping floor of the cart until she reached the ragged sack. Placing the cups back in the sack as well as the remainder of the bread and berries she suddenly froze. She could hear it again. The magic surging like an electric current. It was drawing nearer………

 

Larva stared as the girl suddenly went rigid, her eyes unseeing. She gasped and clasped her hands to her ears, her knees bending. She then went limp and fell to the ground, her breathing short and ragged.

 

“Miyu!” Larva cried but the girl did not respond. Satsu poked her head down from the roof at the cry and stared at the now unconscious Miyu. She swore violently and leapt down to Miyu’s side.

 

“What did you do to her?” she demanded at Larva angrily.

 

“I didn’t do anything!” Larva retorted. He shifted in his bonds. “What precisely could I do?”

 

Satsu just continued to scowl and lifted Miyu’s head onto her knee. She plunged her hand into the food bag and groped about for something that smelt salty. Pulling out a Dindi fruit triumphantly (the only fruit to naturally have salts within its skin instead of sugar) and squeezed a bit of its juice into a discarded cup. She placed the cup under Miyu’s nose and called to her. Miyu did not respond. Satsu snarled in frustration and looked sharply up at Larva.

 

“I have a use for you,” she said. Larva instantly became fearful. Satsu placed her arms under Miyu’s shoulders and hauled her across the floor to Larva. She laid the girl’s sleeping head on Larva’s lap and continued to waft the salted fruit under her nose. “I have to stay on the roof to watch out for disturbances,” Satsu explained to Larva who now looked worried at having a girl lying on his lap. “This road is known for having numerous attacks from thieves. By protecting the cart I’m protecting Miyu. I’ll keep the Dindi fruit by Miyu’s head but I need you to act as a pillow and call her name so often.”

 

“What’s wrong with her?” Larva asked concernedly as Miyu suddenly writhed in her sleep, letting out a fresh moan. Her hand reached out and clutched a bit of his robe. She looked in pain.

 

“The magic here has a great affect on Miyu, it seems,” Satsu replied walking to the back of the cart. She paused and then stalked back, flicking knife from the insides of her travelling jacket. Larva drew back was surprised to find Satsu slashed through his bonds. He flexed his long pale fingers. “Remember,” Satsu snapped. “Don’t try running off with Miyu. I’ll see you escaping and I’m a good shot with my arrows. I won’t even hesitate to kill you.”

 

Larva nodded. Right now, he couldn’t care about returning Miyu to the palace. As Satsu left he stretched his hands out to the sides and lovingly combed his fingers through her hair. She let out another small moan and he took hold of one of her hands.

 

“Miyu,” he called to her softly. There was no reply. Larva smoothed the hair on her head and let her grip his hand tightly as she was tormented in her sleep. There was a moment’s peace………

 

“Oh, crap!” the sound of Satsu’s voice was heard from above. “Larva, we’ve got company!”

 

Larva sat straight as the sound of an arrow hissed past the cart. There was a dull thud and a cry from the cart man as he fell to his fate. Larva picked up Miyu’s limp form and held it close to his heart.

 

“Larva!” Satsu now sounded quite hysterical. “Get your butt out here! It’s an ambush!”

 

*   *   *

 

To be continued………

 

Oh, the suspense……… sort of. Sorry if the chapter up to that point wasn’t that eventful. Please read and review! The more reviews I get, the more inspired I am to write the next chapter. If some of you want more Miyu+Larva, I’m working on it. I personally don’t like the whole love at first sight so I’m building at it. You might have to wait a bit for next chapter.