Shards

Chapter 69 - Chained

Ghost did not have the opportunity to escape.

Knowing he was a Shard, Captain Chiang had taken extreme measures to ensure his captivity and preserve House Zhai's reputation. It would be embarrassing if the Ruling House known for it's military prowess lost a lone prisoner on its own grounds.

Vice-Captain Xin was tasked with the job of watching the Shard since he knew the bodyguard's real identity. Xin did not take any pleasure escorting Ghost to the punishment grounds where several sets of stout wooden posts and beams were erected. The prisoner was then stripped of all his weapons and outer clothing while alert Elites pointed naked blades at him.

"Hey, what's wrong with your neck?" Xin eyed the double lines of angry red abrasions marring Ghost's neck. The scarf the Shard had worn to hide it was in his hands.

"Nothing."

"Did you get into another fight protecting Lady Shuang?" he asked.

"No ..."

"And she still condemned you?" he continued softly shaking his head in disbelief.

"I was not protecting her at that particular time, I ..."

"You what?"

Ghost sighed. His throat hurt and it was hard to talk. The blow from Captain Chiang did not help either, his cheek and jaw was still numb although the stinging had subsided. He was going to have a wonderful bruise there. His head was also beginning to throb again, the gash Glass had given him was acting up. The pain killer he had taken earlier was wearing off.

"Nothing."

Xin growled, the Shard was being secretive again. Even in this state the Shard was still protecting Lady Shuang, he marveled at the man. He was wrong about him. Evidently, the rumors about working Shards were true. They followed the letter of their contracts.

"I'm sorry, Ghost," mumbled Xin. He handed the Shard's dark scarf to a guard who folded it neatly. It was then placed together with the Shard's growing pile of belongings. "I'm just following orders."

"I know."

"For the record, we all know you're innocent."

Ghost glanced at him then at the Elites surrounding him. They were familiar faces, they had accompanied Shuang on her pilgrimage to the Moon Goddess Temple.

"We know you did nothing to seduce the lady, if anything it was she who did the seducing. We all saw how she behaved at the temple. If you wanted her, you could have coerced her then ... and on many other occasions."

"Be careful of your words Xin, someone might be listening."

"That's Vice-Captain to you ..." he corrected automatically then stopped. Ghost was right. What he had just said was treason. "Yeah, well ... " he cleared his throat. It was so weird that the man he was hanging up for a whipping was looking out for him.

"It'll be very cold tonight ... and tomorrow your punishment ... "

Ghost kept silent. He understood the Elite's need to talk, it was his way of dealing with his stress and guilt. Working quickly, Xin patted down the prisoner after confiscating various weapons from his person.

"Is that everything? Anymore hidden weapons on you?" Xin asked.

"I'm not telling."

"Huh?" Xin was caught off guard at the Shard's unexpected banter. "Ghost! I'm serious!"

"So am I. Surely you don't really expect me to tell you, right?"

"Ghost!"

Chuckling Ghost jerked his head to the sizeable collection Xin had taken from him.