The Silent Guard (mxm)

Chapter 1

(This story is loosely set in historical China, with some obvious changes. I've been watching a lot of Chinese dramas, and they even have a few amazing BL ones called Untamed and Word of Honor, if anyone is interested. I think both are on Netflix and Viki. But yeah, I kept seeing scenes for this story in my head everyday so I'm just gonna write it out and see where it goes.) 

The horses snorted as the small, inconspicuous carriage moved through the bustling city capital. It had been a week's journey to such a distant place, and more than a few bandits and assassins had tried to block their way. Of course, it had been expected, even with the direct invitation from the neighboring emperor. The entire venture had seemed like a trap from the beginning, but he'd had no say in the matter... nor had he wished to have one. 

Zen looked up as a faint brush of wind rustled his long black hair. Part of it was tied back into a lengthy ponytail while the rest stretched all the way down to his lower back. It was perfectly soft and shone as the sun's rays caught it every chance it managed to peek through the looming gray clouds overhead. 

He rapped his knuckles twice against the hard wooden seat beside him, alerting his master within that they would be approaching their destination in an hour or so. There was no response from inside the carriage, and he hadn't expected one. 

Reaching up, he tugged his dark gray mask a little higher over his nose as his eyes inconspicuously scanned the growing crowd. The sheer amount of people had slowed their two horses to a walking pace, making him uneasy and hyperaware. 

They were approaching a bustling market, the noise alone making him hesitate. Many things could happen in such a confined area and his senses would be dulled as the volume rose and the scents of fish and cooked food overtook his nose. 

It would be safer to go a different route.

"Forward, Zen," came a soothing, familiar voice from behind him. 

He obeyed immediately, refocusing his attention on reaching out with his ability instead of trying to watch so many people with just his one pair of eyes alone. The faintest bit of pressure began to settle against every person and object in the area as he started guiding their horses on their trek through. The pressure would be undetectable to most, but those who had a decent understanding of energy skills would know that someone was presently using one. 

It was a very rare type, the ability to control the very air around oneself, and he did not use it often. When he did, however, it was either in very abrupt bursts to permanently dispatch an enemy, or in such a case as they were in now, to be able to sense the movements of everything within a certain distance from him. 

 He was immediately aware of twenty or so people who were watching them, specifically. Most were off near alleyway entrances or trying to look inconspicuous as they pretended to shop around, but bought nothing before moving on to other, closer stalls. 

Licking his lips beneath his mask, Zen rapped his knuckles on the seat again, sensing several of the people he was tracking begin to move closer. He hoped that they wouldn't attack them right there in the market, but even if they didn't, they'd definitely set up ambushes farther down the road. 

"How are you feeling about it, Zen?" came the familiar voice in response, drawing a frown to his hidden mouth. 

He took a moment to think as the horses plodded along, then tapped his fingernails against the seat three times. 

"Unsure of your remaining energy? We could turn back and try to run, but we are out of food and water, and if we arrive late, the emperor will surely fault us. Even if it was his people that had caused our delay time and again," the voice said, always one for understanding situations.