14 A waiting game

I sat at the entrance to Chen Manor for some time, but my appearance began to attract attention so I retreated to the edge of the forest, leaving tracking signs for Xin to follow. I set up camp and got a small fire going. I had a rabbit we'd killed earlier that day so I set about skinning and gutting it.

The old alpha wolf sloped in, holding her head and tail low in submission. She circled by my side and lay down facing the fire. She, like I was an outsider now. She was only tolerated when she was useful and that grew less with every passing day. She spent most of her time with us, eating and sleeping in our camp and acting as another pair of ears to any unwelcome sounds.

I suspected she only had a couple of years left in her and then she wouldn't be able to follow. I absentmindedly stroked her neck and she raised her head to look at me.

Rubbing the side of her head on my hand she settled back down to sleep. Yes, I would share a meal again with her tonight and snuggle up to her warm fur as I slept. I would miss her gentleness when she was gone.

Some time later Xin returned, all hot, bothered and excited. She was full of news and couldn't wait to spill it all out. She sat down, patted the wolf and began.

"So, the guy we helped in the second son of the Master of the manor. His name is Hao Yang and he is seventeen, the same age as you. He was given his own troop six months ago and has been going out on missions to keep the roads open to trade.

The skirmish we came across was his men against another manor from over the hills back there." She pointed at the set of hills we had travelled through and I began to see why the forests were unsettled.

"There has always been animosity between them but recently its spilled over into armed combat. I think that's why the forests have been so unsettled, it seems these fights have been happening all round the area." She paused and took some of the vegetable soup which sat on the fire. "any meat available?" 

I handed her a strip I had saved for her, "Thanks," she said, and chewing whilst she spoke, " Its expected he will take over the manor once his father dies. The older brother is a black smith so runs the forge. He is responsible for making the swords, knives etc." Xin paused to take another bite and sitting silently for a moment, concentrated on her food, "this rabbit is really tender, thanks. Anyway, where was I? Oh, yes, the sons. The eldest one is called Yong le. He's married and has two children, both very young.

So the group flying blue flags are the House of Wu and they want to take over the farming land given to the Chens by the emperor. As yet, Master Chen has not had a reply to his plea for support in this matter, but they expect a runner in the next few weeks with news and hopefully an edict which calms the situation down."

Xin stopped again and looked at the vegetable soup, "do you want any more of this, 'cos if not, then can I have it?" I gestured she could take it and she readily removed the pot from the fire and gingerly held it on a skin. "Thanks, I'm so hungry and they were cooking in the manor when I left. The smells were so tempting." She stopped to eat some more. "Oh, yes, and Haiyang? He has joined up but is training at a camp somewhere. He won't be back for a couple of months."

With that, she stopped talking and went about finishing the food in front of her.

"I'll wash up," she said with a satisfied sigh, you cooked and set up camp, the least I can do is tidy after us. With that she got up, and looked at me, "the stream?"

"That way about twenty paces." I pointed in the direction of the water. With that she nodded and disappeared into the undergrowth.