I WILL FIND YOU.

Chapter 72: Mud

The next day Minda was still out of it as Kai carried him over to the carriage.

"Are we leaving?" Minda asked barely awake as he looked around the area.

"We are. Unless you don't feel well enough to go? It's up to you." Kai said.

"Let's... Cough! Cough! Let's go." Minda said while struggling to catch his breath.

"Rest for now and when we get to the next town you can look forward to the hot springs." Kai said thinking it would help energize him.

"Will we be able to go into the hot springs? I've read about them and my brothers have used them before. They described it as being better than a bath." Minda said clearly excited for it despite the intermittent coughs.

"I've never been in one but the General said they are known for their medicinal properties and should help you recover." Kai said.

Kai carefully placed Minda in the carriage and was careful to wrap him tight like a caterpillar rolled up in a cocoon made of blankets. Next to him he placed both snow leopards to act as heaters. He was also planning to lay down with him but needed to take care of several things first.

"MinMin, I'm putting your earplugs in." Kai said. Minda didn't mind the earplugs but only when Kai was close to him. Needing to wear them while Kai was away didn't make him happy. Kai knew this and tried his best to coax him.

"I'll only be gone a few minutes but everyone is rushing around with the gear and I don't want you slipping into a nightmare." Kai said.

Minda could obviously hear the sound of the soldiers around him. His body shivered but with his current health he couldn't be sure if it was because of the sound or his fever.

"MinMin." Kai said as he caressed Minda's pale flushed face.

"Okay, but be quick." Minda said as he turned his head for Kai to see his ears.

Kai carefully placed each earplug into Minda's ears. Once in place Minda found himself in a silent world unaware of the conversations and hustle and bustle happening outside the carriage.

"Wearing these isn't very comfortable when Kai isn't with me." Minda thought as he tapped the area in front of him and called both warm little snow leopards over to him. He hoped their presence could relieve some of his discomfort.

"Huan, Xianli, stay on guard and warn me if anyone comes." Minda whispered. Xianli lazily curled up against him and prepared to sleep again while Huan sat up straight and seemed to take Minda's words seriously.

"How did Kai train him so well. It's not like he's a dog." Minda couldn't help but wonder as he watched the attentive little Huan.

...

"Houtian thanks again for driving the carriage." Kai said.

"No problem. Your carriage is really comfortable to ride not like our beat up carts that nearly throw us off every time we hit a pothole." Houtian joked.

"The Chen family apparently had the best craftsmen in the Capital build it for Minda's personal use. Before now he never had the chance to really use it so it's still in great shape." Kai said. His words sounded good but his tone was solemn.

"You'll get a lot of use out of it now." Houtian said as he patted Kai's shoulder to cheer him up. Kai agreed and soon left to find Gen. when he found him Gen had already set aside the kettle with Minda's medicine.

"That thing is certainly useful." Gen said as he handed the kettle with hot medicine over to Kai.

"It is. I'd honestly like to buy another. Do you have any idea where they sell them?" Kai asked. The kettle proved to be extremely useful. If they had a second Kai could prepare and carry soup or some warm tea for Minda in addition to his medication.