Solstice Souls: Solstice Sons (Book 3)

Then and Now

Wei Ying's POV

With every few steps he takes, Wei Ying forces himself to swallow down the queasiness of his nerves. He can feel his heart thrashing like a trapped rabbit behind his ribcage and wonders if anyone else can hear it. The fear he tries to conceal with a smile makes it difficult to breathe, its icy teeth nibbling their way up his spine.

The twenty Wen soldiers escorting (if that's even what it can be called) them to the palace keep an extremely tight formation around them. To Wei Ying, it feels like they're imprisoned within a moving, living cage. Bodies wearing Wen colors press together, a shifting sea of red and white. Yet, Wei Ying is still able to catch glimpses of their surroundings through the cracks of their welcoming committee.

These outer streets of Nightless City aren't much different from any of the other clans. Homes and businesses are made from the standard materials such as clay and wood. Their structures are simple yet adequate. Yet Wei Ying notices one commonality among all of them. The Wen flag is placed by every front door. Some are small while others are as tall as a man. They appear to be stitched by hands that know enough but don't have the skill to be considered an artisan.

Here, hard working inhabitants sell their wares and work hard to put food on their family's table. The people following them are dressed in modest clothes that are not torn or stained. The women are pretty, their hair styled simply and held in place by wooden or bone hair pins. Their fingers and ears are adorned with jewelry they most likely made themselves.

The few men Wei Ying sees mixed in with the women and children don't boast any elaborate guans. Their hands don't hold any swords and their robes aren't embroidered with shiny threads. Wei Ying remembers what the general who surrendered to them said. They had been forced to fight, torn from their homes and family to fight for a man they had most likely never seen.

Wei Ying's attention returns to the women following them. Their faces are bright and full of life as they jostle to catch a glance at Wei Ying. Their happiness catches him off guard until a hard reality slaps him in the face. The world these women are living in right now is one in which their husbands will be coming home. In a few days, these smiling eyes that sparkle with fascination at him will soon be bloodshot with the pain of endless loss.

Wei Ying's gaze falls to where small inquisitive faces stare back at him. Children with eyes as wide as saucers push to see who is behind the wall of red and white. Innocent souls that haven't been shattered by what lies beyond the city's walls blink at him owlishly. Their toothy smiles break Wei Ying's heart. How many of them will be orphans? How many tiny voices will blame him and his people for killing their fathers?

For now, all of Nightless City's inhabitants are clamoring for a better look at Wei Ying and his crew. As they make their way towards the palace, the robes and jewelry and faces around them morph into ones of wealth and higher status. However, the enthusiastic interest in them does not fade. In fact, it seems to be growing.

It's a stark difference from the last time Wei Ying was paraded through the streets of his enemy.

This time, people look at him in wonder and reverence, not disgust and hatred. Children the same age as Wei Yuan and Wei Xiang struggle to sneak peeks as robes float side to side, their chubby hands reaching out and their legs desperately trying to keep up. Many Wen citizens follow their entourage and Wei Ying can hear the murmurings of praises and babbles of wonder.

Today, voices call out Mo Xuanyu's name with excitement and happiness, not contempt and hostility. Shouts demanding the soldiers allow the talented dancer to perform in the streets rise above the footfalls of unrelenting boots. Praises for the performers fill the sky while blessings for a successful meeting with their ruler echo off the buildings they pass by.