155 Moving on

 "Thank you for granting me this audience, and I am hoping after this meeting, we can part amicably with some trading initiatives in place between our provinces. Having sampled your fayre this past week. I am certain there is much trade here." he then reiterated, "We and the other provinces I represent, would be very interested in."

Second Master paused and taking a deep breath, began his explanation and apologies for what had been the underlying cause of the war, the aggression between neighbours and the drawing in of others in the fight. 

He spoke candidly, not glossing over any of the sordid detail regarding his father. He tentitively gave his views on the reason behind Commander Zhang's hatred towards Chen and the understandable abhorrence of the senior Mu family.

"So, gentlemen, I am not attempting to ask for forgiveness for my father's actions, but I am asking for this sorry episode to have a line drawn beneath it. We are the offspring of this man, we are not the perpetrators, we are the victims of a feud which has gone on for too long and claimed the lives of too many. I do not expect Commander Zhang to ever embrace me as his half brother, any more than I can lessen the ridicule and beatings of his childhood. I can only add that we too, suffered greatly at my father's hands after the death of his wife, our mother."

Second Master scanned the assembly. They were all listening.

"As far as I am aware, the man who started all of this is dying in a small villa in Shipao. During one of his lucid periods I informed him he would not be returning to Chen land in his lifetime or upon his death. I have asked for him to be buried in an unmarked grave somewhere in the wasteland outside Shipao. He will be noted as a traitor in our Ancestral Hall and his memory wiped from the roll. I can do no more, and bow to your judgement."

At this, Second Master took up a deep bow of respect and remained silent and in position waiting to be invited to rise. 

 

The physicians were summoned. Old man Chen had stopped eating days ago and was now refusing water. Slowly, he was withering away. He cried silently, his eyes swollen and reddened by the continuous tears, his face sullen. As he moved, the flesh hung like curtains off an animated skeleton. He was dying, he was dying of grief, remorse and through an act of starvation.

The physicians took his pulses and, shaking their heads, retreated from the room.

Closing the doors, the House Keeper summons the senior aid.

"Ask the grave diggers to attend Master Chen. It won't be long before he will need a burial."

The aid nodded, and left.

 

 "Where are we headed?" Hao looked at her as she walked up the forest path, "your place on the rise?"

Niao nodded, "If Yiran has gone somewhere safe, then this is the most likely place. I need to check," She didn't turn round, she just kept going. Hao followed on behind.

"And if she isn't there? What next?"

 "We back track to the old Forge house and follow the markers. A woman and two children will not vanish without a trace. There will be clues, even if they are a few years old."

They carried on in silence keeping an eye out for any clues of recent activity in the area. At one point they both crouched down, thinking they had heard a voice, but it was nothing.

Following the stream now, they continued the climb. 

Hao had forgotten just how steep it was here. He had walked it a thousand times in the past and it never seemed that much, but his legs were older, his body worn down by endless war.

He lifted his head and watched Niao, as she effortlessly scaled the steep rocks. 'Does she ever get tired? Does she ever slow down?'

It was getting dark by the time they reached the house. No lights shone, no sounds could be heard. Slowly moving up to the porch, Niao looked through the window. It was empty.

She turned to Hao with worry in her eyes. They had both been banking on her sitting peacefully inside with the two children sleeping soundly on the cot. 

She wasn't.

Niao cautiously went inside whilst Hao checked outside. The wood store had been partially used, he remembered making sure there was a full barn when he left. Moving round the back, he opened the door to the cold store of dried meat. Some was gone, not all. Checking around, there was no sign of animal attack, so he could only presume a human had used it. It hadn't been vagrants or trouble either; the place was too tidy, the door, firmly closed.

He finished making a sweep of the outside before he joined Niao inside. She was sitting at the desk with a small piece of parchment in her hand. She handed it to him. She still hadn't learned to read.

It was his sister-in-law's handwriting.

Not safe. Moved on. Lost eldest. Fever. Youngest sick. Caves.

Niao looked up, her eyes brightening. She smiled, "Did you say caves?" Hao nodded, "let's rest, eat and sleep. Tomorrow we find Yiran."