A few days later, Leon and Jin Li prepared luggage to take with them to Leon's village. Or rather, Leon folded and packed clothing and checked over the gifts that they had purchased and had prepared to take with them, while Jin Li drank tea and waited for his small alchemist to finish. Following that, the pair made their way to the stables as it was planned that they would take Wu Ye and Li Ming with them.
Li Ming leapt about Leon excitedly, rubbing his whiskered face against Leon's thighs, while Jin Li and Wu Ye looked on with sneers of disdain etched upon their respective faces. Just look at this pair of Master and Pet with their public displays of affection! However, the beast and Martial Artist opinions differed on just who should be the Master and who should be the Pet in the human and coeurl pairing.
Leon scratched beneath Li Ming's chin once more, before the 'family of four' headed towards the front gate of the Ramas Palace to meet with Sun. Older brother Mond was with the round faced youth, but he was not the only one.
"Please do forgive me, third brother, sixth brother," the girl, whose personal maid had been arguing that the sky was green with the personal servant of her sixth brother over some nonsense or other, suddenly spoke aloud as she noticed them appear in her peripheral vision. The two brothers looked momentarily confused, until they happened to notice Jin Li's approach and eye rolled inwardly. So that was the reason she was dilly-dallying around the front gate instead of instructing her maids to fix the problem that she had mentioned.
"I honestly assumed that the carriage was the one arranged for me by Grandmother!" Carmen added as she continued to glance through shuttered lashes at the dashing man walking her way. His servant was ever present, although of very low birth from what she had discovered, not even born within Jin Li family walls, at least he was attentive. Should he continue to serve her future husband well, she might even find him a good wife so that his sons could take good care of her sons...
Sun's words drew her from her happy thoughts. "Well, now you know otherwise, eleventh sister," he told her, referring to her address rather than her name. Their ages might not be so different, but there were far more sisters within the Ramas Palace than brothers. Sun could clearly see that Carmen was not looking at him at all, nor likely paying him any attention, but as his best friend and other friend had reached them, he couldn't not acknowledge their presence and keep closed the opening the girl was obviously waiting for. "Good morning, Jin Li, Leon!" He looked less enthusiastic than he sounded with his greeting.
Jin Li returned Sun's greeting with a small nod and acknowledged Mond with a slightly more respectful bow. Mond turned to the side as if he was not worthy of such a respectful bow and simply gave the youths warm smiles suggesting that they need not be so formal. "You are my little brother's good friends," he reminded them, "therefore, you can refer to me as older brother as well."
Both youths then bowed greetings towards Sun's cousin; she was still his family and this place was her home. She curtseyed in return and batted her long lashes towards Jin Li. Her grandmother had always complimented her for them that framed her beautiful eyes, making them stand out that much more.
She glanced over the two Coeurl beasts walking either side of the pair. "Are these your Coeurl?" Carmen offered a smile of appreciation. "They are young and this maiden's knowledge is poor, but even I can tell that they will become mighty and fine creatures in the future!"
Little Li Ming proudly glanced up at its human and nudged the youth's legs. Hee hee, I will be grow up to be awesome!
Fool. Wu Ye's eyes might have softened over Li Ming's antics, but it was not so easily tricked by pretty words. It was absolutely obvious that it was a mighty and fine creature and would be more so in the future. Did not need this little two-legged creature to throw meaningless compliments!
Wu Ye's instincts told it that the girl did not like them at all, despite her words. Indeed he was correct. In Carmen's eyes, the two Coeurl were not furry, small and cute, like her own pet, did long have delicate feathers and sing pretty like her Grandmother's caged birds, nor were as noble and useful as her daddy's equines. They were aggressive looking, ugly and vicious with unpleasant scaled skin. These wild things were better off dead and were definitely not suitable for her future husband to keep!
"You over compliment them, there is no need." Jin Li's words earned him a bitten arm, but the skin was not pierced so the black beast was ignored.
Carmen smiled covering her uncertainty on how to carry on the conversation, being cut short so neatly. Her maid tugged her sleeve discreetly and indicated the carriage waiting outside of the gates and she was enlightened. "Third brother arranged a carriage for yourselves and sixth brother? Would it not be alright for me to share it with you? I was planning to go into town to purchase embroidery threads that I might sew a new handkerchief...oops..." as she had been speaking, she had withdrawn a handkerchief from her sleeve, one embroidered cleverly with daffodils and butterflies. It was not actually sewn by herself, her own embroidery was not good as just with cultivation, she disliked spending time and patience upon it. The handkerchief slipped from her grasp only to float a little to Jin Li's feet.
She placed fingers upon her lips in feigned worry, her large eyes glancing from the silk to the man shadowing it. But Jin Li was unmoved. Those aware of her scheme narrowed their eyes, though hid their irritation well, those not aware... Leon would have moved to pick up the cloth, politely, had he not be held firmly back by an overbearing Martial Artist, so it was up to the cute and mighty Li Ming to save the day it seemed!
Wu Ye shook its head, flinging it's long whiskers like whips as it did so, even causing a minor injury to the human standing beside it. It ignored the sudden glare it received as if it were nothing to do with it. Unknowing of the play behind it, Li Ming innocently dropped the picked up handkerchief at its owner's feet then looked up smugly, seeking praise. Smirks and chuckles were hidden poorly behind fists and flowing sleeves, while the girl who failed to scheme could only stare at her drool marked handkerchief before her. Her maid quickly removed it from her sight. "Thanks..." Carmen muttered between clenched teeth. She would definitely have the beasts killed once she married over...
"Eleventh sister," Mond spoke first, having the most control of his emotions, "I won't mention the inappropriateness of an unmarried maiden sitting in the same carriage as outside men, just that this carriage is not intending to head to the north town. So even if there was no other carriage for you to use, it is useless to consider sharing this one."
"Not going to town?" She tilted her head as if this had never occurred to her.
"No."
Carmen waited for one person to enlighten her, but no one felt like playing to her whims any longer.
"Shall we go?" asked Sun, brightly, having renewed cheer thanks to a silly Coeurl adolescent and a handkerchief.
"En," Jin Li agreed and ushered his small alchemist towards the gate and subsequent carriage.
"See you in a few days, big brother!" Sun waved purposefully as he hopped on the carriage and amused himself with Carmen's unhappy expression. Mond offered him a nod in acknowledgement then watched as the carriage rumbled away. He turned to renter the palace, heading towards his family's section of it, but not before giving his female cousin a knowing look. He wanted her to know that she was aware of her intentions and he did not approve. However, as both were aware, he was not her elders and while she had to be respectful to him, he had no say in her marital arrangements, thus she ignored his leaving look and turned to her maid instead.
"Do what you must," she whispered, "but find out just where they have headed to."
"Yes, young mistress."
The wooden carriage was a larger model with four wheels, crafted from a heavy, rich hardwood requiring two strong horses to pull it rather than a lone beast. It was not as ornate as many of the other family carriages, but it was clearly not so plain that the occupants might be mistaken as servants. Therefore it was not surprising that a certain country bumpkin was completely overwhelmed when it paused at the southern gate and opened its brocade curtains to allow him entry. He shook with nervousness, worried about marking the wood with his bitten nails, or dirtying the step with his dusty boots. His fears were only made worse when he came to see the inside of the carriage.
The opening was near the front of the carriage, which also lead to the carved bench that the driver nestled upon, while the masters sat comfortably in the rear of the carriage. Along the very back was actually nestled a bed with short curtains for privacy, while along its exposed length was cushioned seating. Nailed in front of this was a small table for tea and snacks. There was also a narrow bench, likely for servants nearer the entrance to the carriage and along the opposite wall. It was all a bit fancy for Russ, he wasn't sure what to do with himself.
The rear sofa was occupied by his friend Leo and the tall Martial Artist that had stood awfully close to his friend when he last saw them and was just as close to him now. Then leaving a more decent space was the young master he'd also met that day. A stranger, a man wearing simple cut clothes that were still better than his own, sat on the narrow bench with a straight spine and at readiness to move. And two other men sat in the driver's seat. The Young Master seemed to have no maids serving him, which was the only good point about this whole thing; he wouldn't know where to look at all if there were women on board too!
Leo waved him over and attempted to make room for him on the cushioned seating, pushing the Martial Artist over, who made a strange sound with his teeth and tongue... it sounded like he was a bit irritated. Russ wasn't sure what he had done, just scratched his head, before nervously making his way over. The Young Master hadn't said anything about him sitting on the sofa, so it should be alright.
"Hi, Russ," Leo smiled warmly as he gingerly took his seat next to him. "Ah, I d-d-didn't introduce you the other d-day, b-but these are m-my friends Sun and J-Jin Li." Russ failed to notice the slight shy tone as Leon said the latter's name, but he did see the Martial Artist give his friend a very unhappy glare. It seemed like the man named Jin Li really didn't like him, this fellow from the same village as Leo, maybe he had a dislike for mortal commoners...
"Er, hullo," Russ greeted the two other young men. The sunny faced Young Master gave him a bright grin, which put him a bit more at ease, despite the indifference from the Martial Artist.
"This is exciting!" Sun cheered. This was like going on an adventure! The hero, the best friend of the hero and the hero's wife, all travelling with a guide to the middle of nowhere to find the hero's wife's lost family members and reconnect with them! Perhaps at the end of the day, there would be a family heirloom that was stolen and the hero's entourage would need to go liberate it... Sun quickly became lost in his own fantasies, dreamily glancing out at the rolling green pastures and burbling brook outside the carriage's wooden window.
Of course, Russ wasn't aware of this, he was too busy trying to eat a flaky pastry given to him by Leon without the crumbs falling upon the silk cushions and carpeted floor. Leon and Jin Li were not worrying over Sun either as they leaned lightly together drinking hot tea.
Inwardly, Leon was actually quite nervous. All of his knowledge regarding his family in this life came from his own diaries and while they had only mentioned his grandfather, he felt as if there should be someone else as well. Vague impressions had disturbed his dreams this last few nights and he even recalled the image of a crusty old man with white bushy brows and thick glass spectacles, believing this must be his elderly relative. But what then had happened to his parents, his mother and father in this world, why couldn't he recall nothing about them? The diaries hadn't mentioned either, indicating that he was raised by the elder. The curiosity got the better of him and he turned to Russ and began to inquire.
"M-my m-m-memory is still n-not g-good," he mentioned to Russ, "I only remember m-my G-grandfather. Is there n-no one else in m-m-my family?"
Russ looked at Leon with heartfelt sympathy, before finding his own feet more interesting as he shook his head. "I heard tha' yer mamma died when ye were like one or two. Of sickness. Don' know about ye da'. Oh but I guess there is yer aunt, just tha' yer granda' don' really get on with her."
A flash of fragmented memory came to the fore. In it, there was the figure of a petite, scowling woman with her arms crossed about her ample bosom. Leon felt that she should have been pretty, but her frown wrinkled her forehead and her almond eyes were narrowed due to her scowl. Her lips were stretched thin and curved downward as well. His aunt was his mother's older sister, he suddenly recollected and he liked her no more than his old grandfather.
"She married landlord Arion as his second wife and she bore him like four kiddies, they bein' ye cousins," there was a slight glint in Russ' eyes as he warmed to the subject and began to share gossip. "Me mam said tha' this made ye old granda' mighty unhappy, 'cos like old Arion already had a couple of kiddies by his dead wife. So ye aunt married in as a stepmam. Me mam said tha' she only married him 'cos he has some money, bu' he inna all that rich really. There was this big arguemen' when ye aunt wanted t' move the family to town, bu' old Arion refused. Me mam said tha' was 'cos it's expensive t' move int' town."
"So I have c-cousins as w-well?" Leon asked after absorbing all of this information. He didn't recall anything about this argument that had clearly become the gossip of the entire village at some point, perhaps it had happened once he'd already left, but he did feel as if this was in line with his feelings regarding his aunt's character.
"Aye," Russ continued and began counting them off on his fingers as he named them. "Yiaren and Eries being Arion's from his first wife. They be married an' gotten theirs wives pregnant a few times so ye aunt can be counted as a grandma herself. Then there be Sanri, Siri, Wuren and Luron. Sanri be ye senior by two years and Siri be ye only girl cousin, and Wuren and Luron be twins. Sanri be engaged, due to marry the village chief eldest daughter in the spring, so I reckon ye aunt'll tell ye tha' when she hears ye back."
"Okay," Leon felt that his cousin's marriage had nothing to do with him anyway so had no opinion on it. However, Jin Li caught some unspoken words in Russ' narrative and reached sneakily about Leon's waist.
"Could it be that your aunt wants to steal the family heirloom from you to gift to your cousin on his wedding day?" Sun said suddenly, causing all attention upon him.
The other three stared at him in complete confusion. "What are you talking about?" Jin Li sneered. Sun shrank in his neck realising he'd let his imagination run away with him again.
"Um... nothing?"
Author's note; Because some of this chapter is from Leon's friend's point of view, there was some switching between Leon's two names on how I deemed it was more appropriate. It’s not necessarily a mistake.
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