The Arrangement

Chapter 13

They had been on the road again for another month, and with the Emperor and his bride-to-be riding their horses on and off, it was going a sight faster than it had been before. This was a relief to all of them.

They no longer had to worry about the bumps in the road jostling those riding in the carriage if they went too quickly, and were able to plan ahead for rough roads with the help of their scouts.

On one such day as they were riding out in the sunny weather, Du Fen was somewhat hoping that there would be more of a breeze. He puffed his breath and wilted a little in his saddle, thinking that if it weren't for the rotten stretch of road that he might ask to go for a bit in the carriage.

"Young Lord Du, you are looking a bit flushed. Are you okay?" One of the emperor's guards who was riding nearby asked him. The Emperor looked over with a worried glance and noted the lad looked a bit more flushed than usual.

"I am fi...." Du Fen started to answer and then a sudden thought struck him. The others did not look like they were tired or hot. In fact, if he counted in his mind backwards, then he had a worrying thought of what could be the matter. "Oh dear."

"What is it?" The Emperor asked politely. He glanced at the man with a worsening blush on his cheeks.

"I think I need to stop. I'm sorry. I know we aren't due for dinner yet, but I need to get something from my luggage." He managed to say with a steady voice. The Emperor looked a little curious, but just gave the order without asking any more questions.

Du Fen dismounted as the rest of the group pulled off into a farmer's field. He went from cart to cart, searching through the piles of wooden boxes for what he needed. The first two were fruitless, and as he got down to the last of the boxes in the third and final cart...

"It's not here. How can it not be here? I know my mother packed it." His voice was sounding a little panicked the further he looked.

"What are you looking for, Young Lord?" One of the guards asked with a frown. Du Fen turned to him with an anxious face.

"There was a box, and it was stained dark with carvings on it. I swear it was on that cart there, but now I can't find it. I need it." He motioned with his hands the approximate size and pointed at the middle cart as he spoke.

"Oh, I think the thieves actually took that." Another guard said with a frown. Du Fen paled and looked at him horrified.

"They took it? I thought you said that nothing was stolen." The Emperor interjected. The guard looked shamefaced.

"Well... I forgot about it until just now. It didn't look very expensive or important so it slipped my mind." The guy said. Du Fen cried out suddenly and kicked the man.

"You didn't think it was important! Your mother isn't important! Your grandmother isn't important! Your whole family isn't important!" He raged as he kicked the man in the shins until he was in tears.

"Du Fen, Du Fen, please calm yourself." The Emperor pulled him away from the abused guard and held the shivering boy in his arms. "Why is the box so important? What was inside?"

Du Fen froze and closed his eyes. To admit what was in the box was like showing your underwear to the general audience. He couldn't do it with so many guards standing around looking at him like a madman. He shook his head. Nope. He couldn't say it.

He stood there with his flushed face and allowed himself to be comforted as the others slowly walked away under the orders of the Captain to get the camp ready for a longer stay than they originally thought.

"Dearest Du Fen, please tell your husband-to-be what bothers you. I shall not tell a soul." The Emperor said softly so that others might not overhear. He pulled him to the side and sat him down on a fence, rubbing his back soothingly.

"We have been on the road for two and a half months." Du Fen said sullenly. He looked up at the Emperor expectantly. He was a little mystified by the serious look. He ran the words through his mind, trying to glean their significance.

His Captain got his attention with a wave just behind the boy. He pointed furiously at the young man and then held up three fingers, then mouthed the word 'Ger' to him with a significant stare.

"OH! Oh... You mean there was... that." He didn't say the word but bit his lips in newfound anxiety for his bride-to-be. The young lad nodded his head and teared up.

"W-w-whut am I-I-I gonna d-d-do?" He wailed before bursting into tears. The Emperor was panicked at the sight of those lovely eyes watering and he hugged the boy tightly.

"Easy now love. I'll have the Captain go and ask at the farm if they know where we can get something for you. Don't you worry now. I'll take care of you. I'll protect you the whole time." He patted the Ger and talked gently as he could to ease him.

"Shall I head out right away, Your Majesty." The Captain asked quietly.

"Yes, immediately. Don't tell any of the others where you are going. Oh, first have Lord Du's tent set away from the guards' tents. Put it between the carts and cook fires so no one will be close during the night." He ordered hastily.

"Of course Your Majesty." He rushed off to do as he was told. That left Jian Jun, the Emperor of all the land for too many acres to count all around them, awkwardly comforting the small young man that was still sniffling pitifully.

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