HIS STUTTERING PRINCESS

The sounds of awakening birds accompanied Shiquan and her father. He was there for the fishes and she for the dew kisses herbs. “Father! T-there's somthing in the r-river” He was holding the torch, of course he’d seen, but he couldn't be bothered with it. The clothes were foreign.. Possibly a spy from an enemy nation. He kissed his teeth “it's just cloth— the splashing of water from Shiquan’s diving drowning out his words. Hong turned to see his daughter swimming after the floating stranger. “Careful Quan’er!” Why did I come with her today? A stab wound the smallest a blade cut and I would leave him to fate out here. Shiquan quickly reached him. She’d thought a neighbour’s cloth had got carried away by the currents but this... This was a man! “A-are you— he was unconscious, there was no use asking any questions. She could smell blood but could figure out where it was from. His fingers were clenched around the handle of a satchel. Firmly holding on even through his unconscious state. It must be important. Not trusting him to keep holding on to it she pried his hands open. Her breath seized for a moment when he grabbed her hand “Y-you're awake?” but before she could say more his eyes closed and he fell back into unconsciousness. She grabbed the bag that almost escaped with the current and with all her strength she kicked against the current pulling the unconscious man along with her. Hong was already waiting at the river bank helping her ashore, “He’s a man, Quan’er where is your sense of propriety?” She didn't know that before diving in. Was she supposed to abort mission to observe propriety? “He’s bleed-ding.” Hong shook his head, alas the heavens took pity on him and granted the stranger had a stab wound. Now he could turn a blind eye with an easy conscience. “He might be dangerous, you've done enough, I'll sit him under that tree, leave it to fate” “That’s too cruel papa, the p-poison would certainly kill him.” “Poison?” She ripped the sleeve of his bleeding arm, ignoring her father’s pale complexion, “He is a man Quan’er!” “H-he’s bitten.” Hong found the pierced skin. Not a blade wound He raised an angry fist to the brightening sky, swallowing back a string of curses. Shiquan wrung the water off her hair her clothes sticking to her in ways that betrayed virtue. Hong took off his coat and wrapped his wet daughter. “Next time you tell me before you act.” she nodded “Sit here, I'll start a fire so you don— “I can st-start the fire, j-just help him” “Fine” he murmured. How could he ever say no to her? ~.~.~ “Will he be ok?” He would be but Hong chose to ignore her question. She shouldn't care so much. “He’s not from here, Quan’er” “I know,” she retrieved a token from his bag. “This pattern isn’t familiar, his clothes have unusual embroidery” “Then you should understand why we can't do much for him. This is the border; spies constantly try to breach here. We can't afford to show blind kindness. This could account for treason” “We don't know t-that he is an enemy fa-father” “We don't know that he isn't.” He saw her eyes get misty “It was so hard saving him, he's s-so heavy and you want to waste m-my efforts. I don't mind that you turn him over to the author-rities once he awakes just let him leave our hands alive a-and well” Hong sighed. “What if he kills us once he wakes? “He has no weapons in his bag and on his person.” “You searched him?!” Shiquan bit her lip affirming with a small nod. “When?” “When you went looking for herbs. B-but i swear i shut my eyes and only patted him down. I d-didn't strip him” Hong smacked her head “how many times must I tell you, men and women must keep their distance.” “I was worried he might be a bad person” He scoffed “so you still have some sense of reasoning” “Did you catch a lot of fish?” “I did!” Good. Go home and get the wagon. Get some blankets too and tell your mother to prepare a bed in the barn. You can't let anybody know were bringing in a stranger. Hurry before the others come down to fish too.” “I’m going papa.” she gets to her feet ready to sprint all the way to their home “take the herbs too!” “Yes papa” She was faster than Hong expected “Did you fly?” he joked, she fell flat on her back. “I'm tired” “I know, I smoked some fish for you. Go on and eat, cushion the rock so your bottom doesn't get sore.” Hong headed to the spot where he hid the stranger with ropes and blanket in hand “Did your mother ask why she should arrange a bed in the barn?” With a mouth full of fish Shiquan shook her head. Hong sighed, what am i to do with these two angels lacking basic survival instinct He bound the strangers limbs and gagged his mouth —Definitely wealthy, I've never seen a woman with such soft hands let alone a man.—Wrapped him up in the blankets leaving little room for breathing. He tossed the young man onto the wagon as roughly as one would a sack of potatoes. He sat to eat with his daughter, then sat her on the wagon and loaded the basket of fish. If he stirs, knock him out. Be subtle.” “Yes papa” Shiquan sang along with Hong as he pulled the wagon. A ritual they started from her childhood, a few years ago his off-key singing had embarrassed her into hiding but how she didn’t care. She just wanted to enjoy cool mornings like this, after all, she'll soon wed and leave her beloved father. Hong paused to catch his breath and shiquan took that chance to leap out of the wagon. She handed him the water bottle and motioned for him to bend so she could wipe the sweat sliding down his forehead. “Get on p-papa I’ll pull” He laughed “With which arms?” She flexed her non-existent muscles bragging “I-I could take on a couple of men on my own, d-don't underest-timate me” “Of course. Quan’er is strong. Quan’er is mighty” He teased “Get back up,” lowering his voice he added “you need to keep an eye on him” A quiet gasp escaped her lips “I completely forgot” Hong resisted the urge to bang his head on a tree trunk a couple of times Absolutely no survival instinct. But she didn't need that as long as he was around, she only needed to live, he would ensure her survival with every fiber of his being.