Morning came reluctantly. The valley seemed unwilling to accept the dawn.
Grey clouds hung low over the mountains, smothering the sunlight before it could fully reach the earth. Snow continued to drift across the estate in slow, silent sheets, settling atop broken stones and shattered wood as though attempting to bury the evidence of the night before.
It failed.
Some wounds could not be hidden.
The eastern section of the courtyard wall remained cracked from foundation to roofline.
The plum tree stood stripped bare of snow.
Several stone lanterns had toppled during the confrontation, their pieces scattered across the flagstones like broken teeth.
The estate looked older now.
More vulnerable.
As though a secret it had protected for years had finally been exposed.
Mojing stood beneath the covered walkway overlooking the courtyard.
He had not slept.
The sword rested across his forearms.
His eyes never stopped moving.
Every shadow.
Every rooftop.
Every section of wall.
Watching.
Waiting.
Expecting.
The attack had lasted only minutes.
Yet it had changed everything.
Three years of hiding.
Three years of relative peace.
Gone.
The sound of a sliding door interrupted his thoughts.
Nainai stepped into the corridor carrying a steaming bowl.
Her face looked pale in the morning light.
She crossed the walkway and handed it to him.
"You need to eat."
"I'm not hungry."
"You weren't hungry yesterday either."
Mojing accepted the bowl anyway.
The broth had gone lukewarm before he took his first sip.
For several moments neither spoke.
The silence between them felt heavier than usual.
Finally, Nainai looked toward the damaged wall.
"Do you think they'll come back?"
Mojing's answer came immediately.
"Yes."
No hesitation.
No uncertainty.
Just truth.
Nainai lowered her eyes.
The certainty frightened her more than any attempt at reassurance would have.
Inside the house, a floorboard creaked.
Both turned instinctively.
Old habits.
New fears.
Su Su appeared in the doorway.
YOU ARE READING
Choices and Consequences
FanfictionThis story has been swirling around my head for quite some time but I couldn't find the courage to write it because I am no writer. Nevertheless, I have decided to take the plunge to just get it out of my head. This story is based on my favourite...
