The nursemaid's name was Min, and her husband, Sam, was a soldier and the son of soldiers. They had two small children of their own, a boy and a girl, who was Brendan's age. They were a kind family as far as Chenzhou could tell. They'd packed their entire life in a single wagon in a day to accommodate Chenzhou and Eirian's desire to return to the Camelia as soon as possible, and they treated Brendan like one of their own.
Sam rode his mount, gifted to him by the Imperial Army, while Min manned the wagon, and Chenzhou and Sam let the children take turns riding in front of them while Eirian kept guard.
She was still nervous around the children, especially Brendan, but she didn't go out of her way to avoid them like Chenzhou had worried.
Brendan was terribly shy and much more comfortable with Min than anyone else, but that was to be expected, especially when she opened up enough to tell them about the day-to-day living situation in the Soliel Estate. There was nothing horrifying, and Chenzhou hadn't even been willing to admit to Eirian how far his worries had gone, but neither Soliel seemed interested in their child unless it was to show him off. Lady Soliel told delightful anecdotes of breastfeeding and crawling and walking that she was never around for when they actually happened.
Min had learned quickly not to disturb Lord Soliel with anything related to the child unless there was absolutely no one else available, and that Brendan had been struck with colic for several months and nearly been banished from the estate for keeping everyone awake. Min had resorted to sneaking him down to the servants' quarters, where her family lived, until it had passed.
Chenzhou couldn't understand the lack of interest in their own child.
Not only that, but Lord Soliel hadn't been interested in Eirian either. Why bother having a second child at all?
His delusions about taking on a leadership position in the family was still going strong, but Chenzhou expected that something significant would happen in the next few weeks as he realized that he'd lost his last chance.
Eric was already anticipating trouble, and Eirian had been brooding since they'd left.
She hadn't said anything about her father, but she and Eric had talked quietly for a bit after he'd spoken to Chenzhou, and she'd been quiet as they set out.
The first few days had gone without issue, even the weather had been in their favor so far, and they hadn't passed anyone else on the road. Everyone had relaxed when they continued to make good time.
One of Yuze's hawks found them on the fourth day with letters for Chenzhou and Eirian. Yuze and Mingzhe were looking into something happening with one of the patrols, but they had nothing solid yet. Yuze had included a short private note to Chenzhou that he was looking into a possible leak in their intelligence, which made sense if someone had made it into the Camelia and the issue with the items being stolen from the vault.
Chenzhou scowled to himself, the anger still bright over the realization that someone had made it that far inside and his own failure to prevent it.
Mingzhe was a skilled commander, and if he was worried, Chenzhou was worried.
Eirian agreed, had even wondered if this was part of the same plan as the miasma or if it was something or someone else on top of everything else.
They'd debated trying to travel faster, but the children were simply too young. Chenzhou and Eirian had written back for Yuze to send them a message if Eirian or Chenzhou needed to rush back alone, and then continued on.
They stopped at a small spring for several hours on the fifth day, letting the children play and then washing themselves for the first time since their journey started.
It was more refreshing than Eirian anticipated. She'd gone without before, for deployments and trips, but the cool, clear spring water and the last of the hot summer afternoons were better than she remembered, and she floated in the water longer than she'd planned.
Chenzhou, prude that he was kept his eyes closed so tightly he'd stubbed his toe twice since they'd gotten in. Min and Sam had gone first while Eirian and Chenzhou, mostly Chenzhou, had watched the children, and now they were feeding them while Eirian and Chenzhou bathed.
The birds were singing, the last of the summer flowers were in full bloom, and there was nothing but forest, all green trees for miles.
For all that Eirian couldn't stand to do nothing, it was certainly peaceful in a way she could relish.
For a short time.
She peeked at Chenzhou as he scrubbed himself with the sweet-scented soap she'd brought. Under all those robes, he was still gaining back weight, but he looked much better than he must have when she'd first cured him. Pale skin stretched over taut muscle, a few scars that she could make out from a few feet away, his long hair floated around him and mixed with Eirian's.
Obsidian and silver.
Midnight and moonfire.
It looked good together.
Like Mingzhe's would if either man were actually interested in her.
She sank under with a gurgle.
There was time for Mingzhe to change his mind. Sometimes she honestly wasn't sure, because she'd catch him watching her.
And then Chenzhou had kissed her…
She screamed and let the water carry the sound away before bursting out of the water with a gasp.
Chenzhou turned a shade of red she'd never seen before, and she realized belatedly that he'd gotten a full view.
"You have seen them before, Chenzhou." Rock's sake, he was kind of adorable when he sputtered in embarrassment.
"Not-not yours!" He gestured and then seemed to realize he'd given her an eyeful at the same time and immediately ducked back into the water.
Eirian cackled.
He was definitely worth looking at. Anna was a lucky woman.
~ tbc