::Huifeng, I see Xan Luan and your father.:: Blackflame’s mindvoice was distant, but clear, and there was surprise held within it as well, ::Do you have a minute? I think you should see this…::
Huifeng shrugged and settled down into his chair, letting his muscles relax and eyes close. It had come as a surprise the first time that Blackflame had ‘shown’ him something, but he had gotten used to it with practice. Show me then.
Within seconds of thinking those words, an image came into his mind, from the point of view of Blackflame, who was gliding a fair distance above the people below.
And what a party it was. Luan was in the lead, with Xuan next to him, and behind stretched a column of warriors that made him start. Several he recognized, even if only vaguely, as officers who had formerly been under Zhan Tan, and if that was true…
Could all of them be?
And what were they doing with his father?
He was a bit disoriented when Blackflame finally released him from the vision, and took a few seconds to reorient himself to the world about him. When he stood, it was with one hand resting on the back of his chair, just in case.
I should go tell my lord and the other two, it wouldn’t do for them to appear unaware of things.
With that thought in his mind, Huifeng walked up the stairs and, with barely a hint of warning, entered Tan’s room.
“What?” Tan twisted around in his seat to look at who had entered, though he was getting used to Huifeng’s rather… informal manner when it came to this.
“Xan Luan and my father will be here soon,” Huifeng paused slightly, mentally gauging how far they had yet to travel, “I suspect by mid afternoon they will have arrived.”
“How do you know?” Zhan Tan tilted his head, looking Huifeng over with curiosity.
He, in response, just shrugged, “A mercenary has his ways. One doesn’t survive otherwise.”
“I… see.”
Huifeng turned then, leaving the room and shutting the door behind him, knowing that Tan’s eyes were on his back as he did so, but not really caring.
At the door to Zhun Yan and Sun Zhen’s room, though, he paused, listening to their conversation with slight interest.
“I don’t know how much more of this waiting I can handle, Zhun Yan. We’ve planned and re-planned and planned yet again, and yet we can’t actually do anything yet.” That was Sun Zhen, sounding frustrated.
“Your brother should return soon, with Huifeng’s father following him. Then we won’t be waiting much longer. Cultivate patience in that thick skull of yours, student.” Was Yan’s response, followed by a laugh.
“Oh! You wound me teacher-mine! How could you ever say such blasphemy as to suggest that a nomad lacks patience!”
At this point, Huifeng was leaning against the door frame, having opened the door softly enough that neither had realized that he was there yet. While he listened to the friendly banter between these two, he felt a small desire to join in, even if only for a short time. It had been so long since he had joked around…
And so, concentrating slightly in order to put haughty arrogance into his voice just like many so called royals did, he spoke, “Tch, neither of you know what patience is.”
Both of them turned to stare at him, obviously surprised by his words. Their stunned faces almost made him burst out with laughter, as they simply stared at him, mouths open slightly. So, not only are they surprised at my sudden words, but by the fact that I’m not wearing my customary black. Time to snap them out of that.
With a slight smirk, he pushed away from the doorframe and strode deeper into the room, speaking as he did so, , “What, can’t find words to refute what I said?”
Yan recovered himself first, and waved off Huifeng’s words with a hand, “And why should we believe the words of one no better than a nomad?”
He couldn’t resist the urge to strike a pose, grinning internally when he saw them fighting not to laugh, “Ah! You cannot even recognize the magnificence of the hunter even when you are faced with one! Such a pity!”
“We are? Where?” Zhen looked from side to side as if searching for the hunter that Huifeng had spoken of.
He smirked slightly, then darted forward, pinning Zhen’s arms to his side and growling out, “Right here, simple one!” To his amusement, Zhen was startled to the point where he didn’t even struggle, “Tsk! You of all people should know some of what I am capable of.”
Zhen blushed slightly in embarrassment, as Yan leaned against the table, laughing.
“Well, enough of this,” Huifeng spoke as he straightened up, releasing Zhen as he did so, “I originally came to speak of Luan and my father. I believe they will be here later today, and I came to warn you in case you didn’t want to be surprised. Though,” his eyes glittered with amusement, “perhaps I shouldn’t have said anything and let you two learn of it second hand, or at the last minute.”
With that, Huifeng bowed once to them, and strode out, closing the door softly behind him.
::I’ve never seen you like that before.:: Blackflame commented as he landed once more on Huifeng’s shoulder, ::Why are you so serious all the time?::
The world is a place where foolishness can get you killed, especially in my line of work.
::But that doesn’t mean you have to be serious all the time. That’s not good for you either.::
There is little to laugh about with humans. I play like a kitten with the great tiger, that is enough.
::Oh…:: Blackflame carefully folded his wings, hooking his claws carefully into the silver fabric that cover Huifeng, tilting his head to one side and looking the shimmering silver material over carefully, ::Never seen you in anything like this either!::
A small laugh escaped his lips, as he reached a hand up and stroked the dragon’s head, It was a gift, for saving the life of a young heir despite all odds. Ricca has kept it for me until now, when she became absolutely convinced that I needed to wear it.
::Speaking of Ricca…::
Hmm? He shot Blackflame a look, wondering what the little creature was getting at, until…
“That outfit suits you, Huifeng,” Ricca’s voice was warm as she fell in beside him, matching his pace with hers, “You should wear things like that more often.”
It was only through force of will that he didn’t strike out at her, or jump in surprise. She was good, and that was a fact. Female mercenaries were few and far between, but Ricca was one of the best mercs anywhere, and it showed.
As usual, it took him a few quick seconds to understand what she had said, her accent was so thick sometimes, and other times she’d just up and speak her native language… whatever that was.
“It paints a great big target that says ‘Here I am, shoot me now!’. I do not really like it.”
Ricca laughed, “That is true, but its not like your out on a mission right now!”
Huifeng snorted, “All of life is a mission, Ricca. You should know that by now.”
“Awww, spoilsport!” laughing still, she reached out and tweaked his nose, darting away before he could really react, “C’mon Hui! I have enough experience to deal with anything, give me that much credit at least.”
He merely gave her a look, before returning to walking in silence, though he did mutter out one quick sentence almost to quiet for her to hear, “And your childishness makes you appear to young to know anything.”
“Does not!” she growled in mock anger at him, “I just know when to have fun, that’s all!”
Huifeng simply settled for another exasperated look, the fact that Ricca was one of the only people he’d ever allow to do or say those things to him held him back from any of his more extreme responses.
::Oooohhhh, you like her, don’t you!::
He growled mentally, Whether I do or don’t is not for you to stick that nosey snout of yours in.
::Sorry:: Huifeng rolled his eyes, Blackflame did not sound sorry, and he probably never would.
And yelling at the little beastie wasn’t like to do anything but amuse Blackflame more and annoy Huifeng even more.
“Where’d you get this cute little guy, anyway?” Ricca asked as she stretched a hand out to tentatively run it over Blackflame’s body.
Huifeng gave Blackflame a small glare, before responding, “He found me, then adopted me, then tagged along despite all of my protests.”
She laughed, “Like a cat!”
“Very much so.”
They walked in silence for a while, Huifeng with the appearance of one lost in thought, apparently unaware of the sideways glances that Ricca was giving him. Until, that is, he stopped suddenly, watching with an expressionless face as Ricca whirled to face him, having barely taken a single step away from him.
“Ricca.” He grimaced, crossing his arms over his chest, eyes narrowed in thought. He was used to speaking with her, but with her being a mercenary too… his arms uncrossed, fingers flicking into the mercenary’s sign language. She and he had long ago turned it from a few simple phrases to an entire language in which one could comfortably converse at length.
‘Ricca. My lord needs men, good fighting men to help him reclaim his throne. I am afraid that even with the men that my father is bringing, it will not be enough.’
She nodded just slightly, tilting her head to one side, lips thinning in thought as she answered him, ‘You want mercenaries. That will not be cheap, friend. You should know how much even a single mercenary of the caliber you’re looking for costs, much less a group.’
‘I have money. There are those that owe me, as well.’
Ricca sighed just slightly, then nodded, ‘You have more than enough money. Very well. You call in your favors, and I’ll go hiring.’
Huifeng smiled at her, flashing the sign for ‘thanks’ before dropping his hands and continuing on his way towards the tavern.
“One thing though, Huifeng.” The sound of her voice made him turn, and the look on her face made him instantly wary.
“What.”
“I’m getting these people together, but you’re leading us.”
He felt himself freeze, and fought to keep shock from showing on his face, “You want me to lead?” he hissed, “Are you insane?”
“Of course not.” One hand moved to rest at her hip where a sword hilt would be if she was wearing one, “I know you can do it, I’ve seen you handle groups of ragtag mercs that employers have thrown together and turn them into a fighting force to be reckoned with. In fact, I was in one of them, if you’ll recall.”
“I don’t like to lead!” the protest sounded weak even to his ears, because even if he didn’t like to lead, he could, and did when there was no one else more suitable, “I only did that to save my own skin, Ricca! If I had not have been hired to be part of those groups, I would never had helped them! It was sheer self preservation, girl, nothing more and nothing less.”
“Then consider this the same way.” Her mischievous grin told him that he had already lost the argument, and it would be best to quit while he was ahead.
“…..Fine.” Huifeng grumbled, turning away, “But make sure those you hire have some form of skill.”
“Of course, Captain.”
He winced at that title. Captain. Mercenary Captain Huifeng, leader, commander…
Heavens, what have I gotten myself into?
I can’t believe I just agreed to that…I am not one to whom leading comes naturally!
::You could always have said no.::
But then I’d have been left to hire the group on my own, and she’s the one that knows the mercenaries around here, not me. And then there would always have been the chance that I’d have been placed in command in any case.
::Ah, I see. So, it was better to submit and give her her way than to fight back.::
Yes. Huifeng watched the procession of men that followed Luan and his father, This way I get her talent as Second. He could feel the eyes of his father on him, before the entire group dismounted and knelt before Zhan Tan.
::Would you like to explain how, exactly, you know people that owe you things? I thought you didn’t like people.::
I don’t. But I do what I’m hired to do, and I make sure to do it well. There are more than several mercenaries I’ve saved because an employer hired me to do something and I happened upon them while doing my job. Everyone needs help eventually, I have made sure that there are those who feel that they owe me help.
::You are… surprisingly thorough…:: Blackflame’s mental voice was a mixture of slight awe and disbelief.
“Son…” Xuan’s voice made Huifeng’s gaze snap onto his father’s face swiftly, “It has been a while.”
“Years.” Don’t expect me to spill everything to you, father. I’m afraid I’ve grown too apart from you to do that.
“Ah… yes, it has been, hasn’t it. Come, let us talk about what has happened these past few years, shall we?”
“….” Huifeng just looked down calmly at his father, realizing with some surprise that he had become taller than the pirate during his time away, a fact that apparently Xuan knew as well.
::If you don’t talk with him now, will either of you ever have a chance, or courage, to speak again?:: Blackflame bit lightly at Huifeng’s ear, ::Go, speak with him, despite how long you’ve spent apart, he is your father after all!::
Huifeng winced internally, making sure to keep himself from sighing, “Very well, let us speak somewhere private.”
At his father’s nod, he strode into the inn and up the stairs, opening the door to his room and motioning for his father to enter first. Closing the door behind him, he settled down into a chair, letting his father choose whether to sit or stand.
An uncomfortable silence descended upon the room, as both of them watched each other warily, sizing each other up, tallying up the differences.
Of which there were many, or, at least, more than he had expected. His father seemed to have calmed down quite a bit, and apparently had turned his hand from pirating. And, of course, there were the subtle things, like the small lines that creased his father’s face, the shining of the few strands of hair that had gone pure white, giving the man’s hair an almost frosted look to it, those few subtle changes that spoke of age, pure and simple.
How old is he anyway? I’ve never heard anyone mention his age, not even anyone of his crew. Not even mother ever said anything…
I wonder how she is doing, anyway…
With a slight clearing of his throat, he decided to break the uncomfortable silence with a question on fairly safe grounds, “How is mother?”
Xuan face lit up slightly, a smile forming and his eyes glittering, apparently, mention of his wife still did have the same effect as ever, “She’s fine, Huifeng.” He grinned slightly, like a cat. It made Huifeng slightly nervous, especially as Xuan kept speaking, “And she really does wish to see you, you know. She has a surprise for you.”
“….. Dare I ask?” He was definitely nervous now, what surprise could his mother have for him, and that his father looked so cat-smug proud about?
Xuan’s grin only got wider, “I think I should let you either figure out for yourself, or go see for yourself.”
Huifeng crossed his arms over his chest, trying to keep his curiosity out of his face, oh how he burned to know what his father was talking about! “You have not changed much, father.”
“Of course I haven’t,” that almost annoyingly self satisfied grin spread across his father’s face.
And then Huifeng took a closer look at his father, noting the brightness of those eyes, that particularly self satisfied look that went even beyond the norm, that small curl of the lips that he had always gotten whenever he spoke with someone about Huifeng.
He felt himself go pale, and struggled to speak coherently, “I… I have… a sibling.” He didn't really know why it affected him that way, but, well, the news was a shock, and he had never expected to hear that he had a sister or a brother...
Just to see his father throw his head back and begin laughing, and it was several long seconds before he managed to control himself enough to answer his son, “Ah! Sorry, but you just looked like someone had hit you over the head with a board! I told her you’d guess, but did she believe me?” Xuan doubled over into laughter once more, leaving Huifeng to attempt to gather himself once more.
A sibling! After all those years of him being the only one, of his parents trying, but something always going wrong…
“But you are partially wrong, son,” Xuan grinned at Huifeng’s stricken look, “You have two siblings, a brother and a sister. Twins.”
There was absolutely no way to respond to that.
He stared in shock as his father started laughing again, trying to gather together all of his shattered wits to piece together a response, and failing miserably.
Of all the things he had expected his father to say, the fact that he now had a brother and a sister wasn’t even on his list.