House of Chen

We'd reached the next sweep in the river and passed out of Shipao land into Chen. To the left bank we were home, and to the right we still had the cushion of Liú Province. Stroking away on the poles, we travelled the short distance to that final fork. Here the river had lost it fervor but we still had to work to remain left. Ahead was the fork to Tanguin and although it took the majority of the flow it's way, it fought us less and we were able to remain on the correct trajectory. We were getting better at the pole work and it showed in our progress. I think both of us wanted to reach somewhere where we could stop and rest up before our work really began. Taking a left fork once more, we entered a familiar lake complex. We were home. Surrounded by Chen land, we felt the sensations of safety because we were home,  but also vulnerability, for the same reason, we were home. What had the Mu army and bandits done to our lands? "Let's stay up river of the lake for now. When w...

We did little that first night. We ate, cleared up, set up our sleeping area and set a fire, then collapsing under our respective skins, we fell asleep almost instantly. The next morning was a different matter! I went to move and found my shoulders and arms had seized up over night, I tried to roll over and the pain shooting down my arms was immense. I groaned. "Xin, you awake?" I heard a groan and a yelp, "I wish I wasn't. I hurt so much, even my teeth hurt from gritting them so hard." She suddenly laughed, then winced, the laughed again. "We're mighty warriors and yet we are rendered useless by the power of the water, how completely ironic!" She turned to face me, "how are you doing? Any better?" I'd managed to face her, but my body was screaming just to lie back, "I can honestly say I've not felt like this in so many years. We must be getting soft." "Or old" "Or both!" I laughed, "any salve in...

Allowing the river to carry us forward, we needed to expend very little energy on the way to Shuān Hé. Following the line of mountains on our left, we saw rich, fertile land, landscaped into tiers of green. Now and then, we saw the glistening of the water in the fields; paddy fields. People were dotted about, heads down, tending to the crops.  It was hard to believe a war of such magnitude had been fought in the north, such a short distance away. So many lives had been lost.  Further south, another type of war raged, but this one was against women and old folk. So many homes ruined and yet, here, the world seemed tranquil, untouched.  "Almost surreal isn't it." Xin read my mind as usual. "One part of the forest ignores the chaos of a kill in another, knowing as long as they get their fill, they won't come their way for a while." I looked at Xin, she smiled slightly, understanding my words. "The kills have been fierce. In human terms, it's us who hav...

Following a very emotional night, new bonds had been forged. The four of us spent more and more time together,  lying in pairs under the stars until rain forced us into the sleeping hut. Bǎo was the first to notice our activities. "When are you two leaving?" Xin laughed, "can't keep anything from you can we. We're leaving the end of the week and heading back to Chenxi. There's lots to do and many more women like us, barren and feeling useless. We want to give them purpose and value, that way we too will gain purpose and value in Chenxi's eyes." "We'll miss you." Bǎo looked protectively at Xin, "are you two sure about this?" "We've talked long and hard," Xin looked over at me and I nodded. " We'll take a half cart to the next town, sell that and buy a punt. That way we can take medicinal plants and herbs as well as other things we'll need to get started." "I'll take a few hammers and oth...

  Xin and I sat at the hut. We'd been developing our skills during the winter months and were almost ready to leave.  Xin had spent her time learning more about herbal medicines, garden techniques and millinery skills as well as developing her physical stamina when it came to fighting. She was already very skilled with her twin knives and practiced regularly with that sling of hers. She was deadly with it. That, coupled with her knowledge of poisons was both impressive and scary at the same time.Not a lady to be on the wrong side of, that's for sure. She knew what she would be doing when we left and was ready. All she had left to do was gather together the supplies she wished to take from here Me? I'd used the winter to learn new fighting techniques from other clans. We had a group of monks come down from the hills and they imparted a new way of fighting which felt right to me and fitted in with the flow of my world. I soaked it up and by the end of the winter period, had b...