#TheMoonsHindMostWound.

8. Partridges by Moonlight. (Part 1)

#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries
#wss366 #MastoPrompt

Basen walked through the inn, tapping select soldiers on the arm and pointing outside. He toe-kicked those who were sleeping. Given his strength, Mao was glad that no ribs had been broken. The soldiers didn’t complain; they just rubbed their sides ruefully and exited the building as directed.

Mao followed and found half a dozen yawning soldiers assembled. Husky men and one woman. Unlike many nobles’ guards, these soldiers weren't selected for their good looks. Most of them were scarred veterans with equipment lovingly cared for. Even half asleep, they glanced warily about. Honor, not #greed, motivated these individuals.

“You sure you wouldn’t rather use the carriage?” Basen asked.

Mao snorted. “And let the whole valley know I’m coming?”

He nodded and turned to the woman. She was lightly armored, and Mao pegged her as a skirmisher. She had the pale-olive skin and high, wind-burned cheekbones of a northern rider. Her narrow eyes were beneath brows bleached by sun and dust. Women soldiers were rare but not unheard of. Like most female soldiers, she was probably a foreign mercenary, Mao thought, but she had to be dependable, otherwise she wouldn’t be here.

“Guard her,” Basen said, pointing to Mao. “The Moon Prince won’t forgive you if anything happens to her.”

“As you wish,” the woman answered. Her voice was husky, with a trace of an unfamiliar accent that rounded her vowels and clipped her consonants.

“Yes, definitely foreign,” Mao concluded.

The woman helped Mao up onto the horse. Leaning in so close Mao could smell the garlic on her breath, the woman said in a low tone that only Mao could hear, “Does the little #heroine need protection?” and clicked her tongue in disgust.

Mao gave her a sidelong glance, lips curling faintly. “Only from friendly fire,” she said, settling her grip on the reins.

The woman clicked her tongue again but said nothing more. It irked Mao that she was being treated like a helpless noble, but perhaps it was warranted. To a trained soldier, she would seem like a useless burden. However, she refused to stay behind. There were things she needed to do.

#MicroFiction #TootFic #Serial #NMFic #NMV366
#ApothecaryDiaries