The Emperor's Head

9. A River Escape

A hand rested on his shoulder, easing the burning, pulling the fire away from his core. Bolin's eyes flew open to see Jun shivering in front of him, his usually pink lips pale with an edge of blue. The priest stood over them with a hand on both of their shoulders, completing the bond. Bolin's throat felt raw, and he must have been screaming.

It didn't hurt this much last time.

Bolin felt for his bond with his teacher and found Jun's fire had burned it away.

How is this possible?

"It is done," Priest Shan croaked as his shoulders slumped. Slowly, the older man unwrapped the cloth that had bound Jun and Bolin. But Jun did not let go, nor did he open his eyes. Bolin could feel him drifting out of consciousness and caught his body as it fell. The fire had again consumed Jun's reserves; they needed a restoration stone, but the next waystation lay days away.

"He is weak," the priest acknowledged. "You will have to help him."

Help him? My blood bond with Teacher Oyun is severed, and I am left with a bond with this weak man.

Bolin glanced down at the man in his arms. His long lashes hooking together at the bottom hid the piercing darkness behind the subtle double lid. Drifting further down, Bolin absorbed his delicate nose, which turned down at the tip giving it a rounded appearance. On a longer face, it would have looked too small, but matched with his wider-set eyes and narrow but full lips; it blended in perfectly. Perhaps, it was this delicate nose that made people feel he looked feminine, or the lips. But to Bolin, his angled jaw and prominent chin gave enough masculinity to erase any thought of a woman in his appearance.

His mission was to protect Jun and bring him with the Crown Prince's head to his teacher. Creating this blood bond had been a means to the end, yet it complicated things more than Bolin could have ever imagined. The protectiveness that had already threatened to derail them several times roared up a thousandfold when Jun laid his head against Bolins chest.

"I will give him strength," Bolin declared, pushing some of his force through Jun. The ritual had diminished but not depleted his reservoir; he could afford to give some to Jun.

Priest Shan nodded and waited for Bolin to stand.

"Where will you have us go?" Bolin asked while he stood. Once standing, he settled Jun more comfortably in his arms. The priest had said there would be eyes on the rooftops, and Bolin knew he wouldn't have the stamina for that route after the ritual. There must be another way the priest planned for them to use.

"The river," the priest replied, beckoning him towards the altar. "I have prepared a boat."

Bolin missed a step.

He did not like traveling by boat, and there would be minimal opportunity to stop at a waypoint. Very few remained hidden along the Shuh River. He could not fully heal Jun without a restoration stone. Bolin forced even more energy into Jun, whose eyes fluttered open in response.

"You will exhaust yourself!" Jun whispered. Bolin shook his head and willed Jun to close his eyes again. Jun frowned.

"He is right. Take this." Shan tossed a stone at Bolin, who caught it effortlessly with the hand that held Jun's back. As they walked, Bolin rubbed the smooth rock and frowned. The weight was heavier than the size merited.

"A healing stone?"

"You are giving Tu your energy. It is good to continue, but it will not be enough. He should keep this on him when he sleeps. You can refill it, or another priest will exchange it. It bears my mark. No one will question you."