151 Old friends

"Don't you recognise me? It's Madam Min"

I recognised her voice but her appearance was nothing as I remembered. Madam Min had always been a stout person with long, dark hair, beautifully arranged with pins and combs and flowers, making her the belle of the tavern. From the smell of stale body odour and the state of her hair and clothes, this was far from the Madam I expected.

"Please, Niao, lower your knives you're making me feel nervous and I get silly when I'm nervous." 

I lowered the knives and stepped back just in case. Madam Min turned round and faced me, "Please excuse the state of me, it's been tough times here, but it is so good to see you. We thought you were dead. We didn't know what was happening, all we knew was to run in this direction and hide in the woods." She attempted to push her hair back and straighten her rags, but it didn't make any difference. I felt sad for her. Her appearance was everything and now she was being reduced to a begger.

"Madam Min," I bowed in respect to an elder, "I'm glad to see you. You said 'we', does that mean there are more of you?" I hide the crossed fingers but prayed she would mention Second Master's wife, Yiran.

"There are." She gestured behind her up the hillside, " There are about twenty of us, all women and children. We left as soon as we heard there were Mu soldiers coming towards the capital. We did take supplies, but as you can imagine, they ran dry ages ago." She stopped and reflected. "We've lost a few of the children and some of the women to disease and hunger, but on the whole we have managed to keep going on the slim rations we have." Again she paused and I could tell from her expression she was reliving some of the losses. "We buried them under rocks. We didn't dare carry out a burning, just in case it attracted the wrong people." Suddenly, her face brightened, "And the army? Is it here? Is it going to rid us of the demons? Or," and her face fell into anguish once more, "are they totally defeated?"

So many emotions ran across this woman's face, I had a problem keeping up with them, but the overall impression of her was she was beaten by the past few years and only kept going for the children and the other women.

"No, we aren't beaten, but we did lose a lot of soldiers in the fight. The army is much stronger and bigger now, but that is for another day. The others? Where are they? I can help. There are others who have come with me. We can all help. We have found the remnants of the Seventh Infantry and once they are restored, they too can help. There are quite a lot of us now so we can come through this," I placed my hand on her arm, "Madam Min, we can get through this I promise."

 

 "Can I help you, Sir?" a servant stood at the entrance to a modest villa.

"Yes, I hope so. I have come to see Poom Kan, if that is at all possible. If it isn't convenient I fully understand. Can you tell him it is Commander Chen."

"Certainly Sir," and with that, he bowed and retreated into the depths of the entry lobby. Within a few minutes, he returned, "Sir, if you would come this way, our Master will be with you in a few moments. Would Sir like some tea?"

Second Master nodded and, entering a modestly furnished living room, took a position by the window. He looked out at the beautifully manicured garden and heard laughter coming from the shrubbery. He watched, as two adorable children came into view, chasing and laughing as they went. He smiled, but it was tinged with sadness. Where were his two? Were they even alive after all this time?

"Commander," a voice he recognised came from behind, "come, sit down, share a tea with me and tell me of your news. How was the meeting with our illustrious leader? Was he open to suggestions?" He poured the tea as he spoke and handed a drinking cup to Second Master.

"Mm, this is a tough one to call. Its one reason I am here actually, I want to run some ideas past you and see what you think."

"Okay," Poom said, smiling, "I'm all ears, fire away."

 

 

I mewed out into the air, "come, its safe." Then I used other sounds, "bring three blades. we hunt." The reply came quickly. I turned to Madam Min, "We should see three of my pack very soon and they will help hunt and gather food for you. How many are there did you say?"

"About twenty in total, but most of them are children."

"And where are you all? Are you in one group or are you scattered?"

"Scattered. I thought it was safer to split us. That way, if one group were caught..."

"The rest could stay safe." I said it for her. From the way she responded, I took it, some of them had been taken but I wasn't sure. "Tell me, and I really need to know this, are Yiran and her two children in the group?"

Madam Min shook her head. My heart sank. If she was alive, where was she?

A short, but distinctive bark came from further down the hill and alerted me to the three Blades. They had covered the ground quickly and were after my exact position. I mewed back. They would find us. Within minutes, three very large, well fed men arrived, beaming at Madam Min. Each bowed to her out of respect and then silently turned to me awaiting instruction.

Using sign, I gave the instruction to take Madam Min back to the groups and locate all the women and children. Bring them back for the infantry men to protect.

I then headed off to collect that half a stag I had left in a tree. No tree dwelling carnivores here, it would be safe (except for those blasted ants!) I shuddered. How I really had gone off them after the night Alpha died. As I approached the carcas, the sound of rooks and crows filled the air. 'Its going to be one of those collections is it,' I muttered to myself as I girded myself ready for pecks from those viscious beaks.

 

"So do you think this will work Poom?"

They had sat and talked for what only seemed like moments but in fact had been hours.

"I believe so," Poom said as he stood up, and gesturing to Second Master, "let's make our way to my study. We can eat and continue this conversation there. May I suggest you stay the night? It is already getting late," Second Master looked outside only to realise then, how much the sun was setting, "I would deem it an honour, so please, no protestations." Poom turned to the lobby where a servant hovered. "Can you ask the house keeper to prepare the guest rooms, and serve us dinner in my study."

"Of course Sir."

"That's settled." With a sweeping gesture of his hand and a guiding arm, Second Master was accompanied into the study of this most charming man, who had, at one time, been an enemy and prisoner.