The Mad Frank's Dreams: Post 9 Of Garrotes and Battle Plans

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#Wss366 Hinge #MastoPrompt Mend

Mao eyed the garrote in Chue’s hand, then the cell, and finally Chue herself. Mao waited for her companion to explain.

“I’ll strangle the one with a cudgel while you throw the blanket over the other. Hold on to him and don’t let go. Everything #hinges on whether you can keep him busy until I've dealt with the first one. Can you do it?”

Instead of answering, Mao nodded and asked, “How long until they come back, and what if there are more than two?”

“Who knows how the bones will fall, but the moon hasn't turned its face from us yet.”

Mao clicked her tongue at the courtly language but said no more.

With the plan settled, the two waited. Mao held the blanket in her lap while Chue pretended to entertain her with the flags or to #mend the pennants. Each of them listened and watched the door, waiting.

The hours crawled by, and the light that crept through the boarded window dimmed. Mao had slumped, and her face had turned a sick green. Another one of Chue’s candies helped, but Mao’s hands still shook, and her eyes were dull. When Chue felt her forehead, it was hot, and her hair was damp with sweat.

“You should sleep,” Chue said.

Mao shook her head. “If they come, I need to be ready.”

“As you will, but only until there is no light. Then, go to sleep. I'll wake you if I hear anything.”

Mao nodded again. As much as she hated to admit it, sleep was the only reliable remedy for a head injury like hers. She would just have to hope there was no internal bleeding.

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The Mad Frank's Dreams: Post 8 The Robe of Wonder

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#Wss366 Spat

Mao scanned the small room, taking in the boarded window, the heavy door, and the image of the Crucifixion on the wall. Her gaze lingered on the latter for a moment, then she refocused on Chue.

“What do they want?” she asked.

“The Shaoh wish to make trouble, while The Mad Frank dreams he can use you to bring down fire and destruction upon Li.”

Mao lay back down, muttering. Chue couldn’t make out most of what she said, but picked out “wind in his head,” “apocalypse,” and “mushroom princess.” Then, with a sigh, Mao began breathing evenly, asleep.

When she awoke, she looked at Chue and said, “I’m glad you’re here. What are we going to do?” Her voice was uncharacteristically feeble, and Chue reproached herself once again for failing to protect the Prince’s favorite.

“First, eat and drink. You’ll need energy,” she said.

Mao looked at the cold, congealed millet and turned green. She pushed the bowl away but took a swig from the gourd, #spat, and then took another swallow. “Maybe I could eat something salty.” Nodding at the congee she said, “That would just make me sick.”

Reaching into her robes, Chue pulled out a golden crystal. "Honey candy. I was saving it for you." Her eyes fixed hungrily on it, but she handed it to Mao.

Mao put it in her mouth and then, speaking around it, said, “What else do you have?”

"They took most of my things, but they missed this." She pulled out her flags with a flourish, grabbed the far end of the braided silk cord, and snapped it as if wrapping it around something. It was a remarkable feat done with only one hand.

“Miss Chue has been practicing.”

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The Mad Frank's Dreams: Post 7 Mao Dreams No More

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#Wss366 Boring #MastoPrompt Visitor

By the time Chue stirred, the simple millet congee prepared with ample, if common, vegetables had grown cold. It wasn’t prison slop. They evidently were going to treat their prisoners humanely.

She attempted to rouse Mao, who only groaned in response. To Chue’s relief, Mao’s eyes now reacted normally to light, and she drank a trickle of water poured into her mouth.

Having done everything she could to help the woman, Chue sat down and inventoried the items hidden in her robes: her flags, some candy, and a few coins. She unfurled the string of pennants and began playing with them to keep herself entertained, while thinking about how to use what she had found the next time she had #visitors.

When that grew #boring, she took a nap.

A groan from the bed woke her, and she was at Mao’s bedside in an instant.

Mao stared up in a daze, then asked, “What happened?”

“Chue thinks The Mad Frank kidnapped us. He’s been seen with Shaoh agents. The Shining Prince thought I should keep an eye on you. Chue has failed.”

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Least Kan Lakan be Forgotten: April Fools Edition 3 of 3

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#Wss366 Fool / #AprilFools #MastoPrompt Cruel #WordWeavers April Fools.

Mao took a sip under Lakan's watchful gaze.

“What’s that?” he asked.

Clack!

“Is it good?”

Mao shot En'en a piercing look. “Come on, woman,” she thought. “Tell him.”

Clack!

Onsou leaned down and whispered, “It’s a scholar’s elixir.”

The relief Mao felt didn’t reach her face. Her ally had failed her, but the enemy had come to her rescue.

Lakan watched as she took another drink. “Can I try some?” he asked.

Mao hesitated, then pushed the juice toward her father, and finally beckoned to En’en.

When En’en leaned down, Mao said in a stage whisper, "Tell him he shouldn't drink that."

“That should placate Grams,” she thought. “I tried to warn him, as if the Freak would ever listen.”

En’en repeated, “She says not to drink that.”

“Anything my daughter can drink, I can,” Lakan said, taking a swallow. “Ahg! What’s in there?”

“Sweet flag, polygala, and ginseng,” Onsou said.

Lord Kan took another sip and made a sour face. “One more,” he said, taking a gulp, then stuffed a large handful of sugared walnuts into his mouth.

Clack… Clack… Clack…

“Lord?” Onsou said, frowning at his lord’s last move.

Clack!. Mao captured Lakan’s pieces, breaking his formation.

Lord Kan blinked, picked up a piece, and then set it down again. “I need to take a nap,” he said, his head sinking to the table.

“Then I am no longer needed,” Mao announced, rising.

Once they were out of the room, Yoa asked, “What happened?”

Mao smiled. “Onsou forgot to mention the alcohol from the ginseng tincture.”

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Least Kan Lakan be Forgotten: April Fools Edition 2 of 3

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#Wss366 Fool / #AprilFools #MastoPrompt Cruel #WordWeavers April Fools.

The room looked much as it had in her recent dream. Courtesans lounged on pillows while Joka played the erhu, looking bored. The air was thick with the scent of high-quality incense. While not as expensive as the frankincense and myrrh in her dream, it was still too costly to waste on this guest. He probably didn't even notice it. There was no wine present either. At Verdigris House, it was well known that Lord Kan was allergic to alcohol; the slightest amount would render him comatose.

Mao wordlessly sat down at the Go board across from Lord Kan. Her father had already placed nine black stones on the board. Mao studied them as if they would reveal her opponent’s strategy rather than merely representing the handicap he had given her.

“Evening, daughter. I'm pleased you joined me,” Kan began.

.…

"As you can see, I have given you a full handicap. If you want more, you can rearrange them.”

With a sharp clack, Mao placed a black stone on the board.

Kan nibbled on a lotus seed cake, crumbs dropping onto the Go board. He silently placed a white piece on the board.

"The cakes are excellent. Would you like one?" Lakan offered.

Clack!

“Or some sugared walnuts?”

Clack!

This went on for minutes on end, with Lakan placing his stones and chattering at Mao. The only response he received was the irritable sound of Mao placing her pieces.

This went on until the lord captured his first group of Mao’s pieces.

“This won’t do,” Mao muttered. She looked at En’en. “My drink.”

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Least Kan Lakan be Forgotten: April Fools Edition 1 of 3

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#Wss366 Fool / #AprilFools #MastoPrompt Cruel #WordWeavers April Fools.

As soon as Mao and her party were out of the madam's earshot, Mao said, "I need to stop by the apothecary for a moment. There's something I need."

Onsou raised an eyebrow, so Mao hurried on. "If I am to play Go with that goblin, I need every advantage. I wish to fetch a 'Scholar's Tonic.'”

Onsou nodded.

“And I need fruit juice, not wine. We’ll need to stop by the kitchen.”

“I’ll see to it,” Onsou said, summoning a girl to fetch it.

Once in the apothecary, Mao announced what she was getting, making sure Onsou heard.

“Scholar’s tonic: sweet flag to clear the mind and polygala to open it. And a vial of ginseng tincture for clarity.”

“And juice,” Mao said as a girl entered with it. “Not wine, which would cloud the mind.”

She took the bottle, added the Scholar’s Tonic and the ginseng tincture, then said to En’en. “Give this to me when I ask for it.”

En’en glared but took it. Ignoring the look, Mao said, “It’s a mental stimulant. If the Freak complains, just tell him that.”

She turned to Onsou. “Since I'm forced to, I’ll play Go with the Freak, but I won’t talk to him.”

He nodded, looking troubled, but turned and led the way to the main guest room where Kan Lakan waited. No one heard him mutter, “#Cruel, cruel woman.”

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The Mad Frank's Dreams: Post 6 Chue’s Con 2 of 2 parts

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#Wss366 Rack #MastoPrompt Volume

“How much do they pay you?” Chue asked. Her voice was still hoarse, but her words were clear, the #volume steady.

“What’s it to ya?” the elder said.

“Because whatever it is, it’s not enough,” Chue said. “Take us out of here, and you can claim a reward for the lady over there. Then take your money, go to another city, and live like nobles for the rest of your life.”

“Ya turn us in and get the whole reward. Hah! Serpents, that’s what Prophet calls ya jeses,” Cudgel said.

“You can collect it all. Once we get out of here, I’ll vanish if you want. The Moon Prince will pay you a fortune to get her back. Why settle for a few spilled grains when you can have the whole harvest?”

“Juda Prince,” the first man laughed. “He’ll pay, oh, he’ll pay—pay in lamb’s blood, that’s what the pilgrim said. Fire and brimstone, aye, he’ll bring it down. Burn out the serpents, the dogs, all of ’em. Prophet says so—us clean ones take what’s left.”

He pulled a wooden crucifix with a crude iron nail hammered into it from under his robes. The tip was bloody where it had gouged its bearer. His brother produced a similar one.

Since she couldn’t convince these two zealots to help, she decided to gather what information she could. “This prophet, he wouldn’t be The Frank?” She omitted the word “mad.” It wouldn’t do to antagonize them.

“God speaks to that one. Promised to bring down fire on the land,” Cudgel said while the elder nodded.

“Been here too long,” said the one with the tray, putting it down on the floor. “Ya be feeding the jese princess when she awakes.”

With that, the two departed, while Chue slumped against the wall.

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