Shadows on Water

You nod. Ling grabs the arms while you grab the legs, and lift him onto a sheet you had brought for this purpose. Once in the sheet you roll him up, and tie off the ends with twine. You heave him up onto the extra horse with difficulty, the sheet is already heavily soaked with rain, mud and blood, and leave him folded over the horse's back. Ling ties him in place. The body will soon become stiff, so it's best that it sets in the position you want it, even though it will have to be straightened out again later.

And then you just leave.

A murderer, and now a thief, stealing his body away under cover of darkness.

"All in a day's work." says Ling, as if answering your thoughts.

Why, you think, does the emperor need his body? Are there further indignities in store for him? Does he wish his death to be kept a secret? But there were no orders for secrecy, if there were it would not be you with this burden, but an assassin....and you are not an assassin.....

"Good weather for fish." says Ling, as the rain relentlessly falls.

You spur your horse on a little, leaving the other two some way behind, with Ling leading the extra horse.