Shadows on Water
Rain. Drenching the mountainside, crashing down into this little valley. Trees offer no protection from it when they are already saturated. The horses are tied up and the three of you, are huddled under an overhanging rock by the grey swollen river. The body remains lashed over the little tan-brown horse. Ling has, somewhat miraculously, got a fire going.
Ling says you need new shoes. He mentions Huan Tan's look your size. You tell him to shut up.
For the second time tonight, you take out your dagger to wash it in the river. You have just begun to get a little dry, and going down to the river would mean getting drenched again, so you fill a bowl with rainwater, place it near the fire, and try to clean the blood which is difficult to get at near the hilt.
The fire dances in the reflection of the water. You use it as a mirror to study your companions without them noticing. Ever silent Chen plays a fitful tune on a simple flute. You didn't know he had a flute. You don't know much about Chen. He doesn't reveal much. Moreover, he tries hard at not revealing much. That, to your mind, reveals much about him.
Ling on the other hand cares not at all for what he reveals. You watch him now, as he lies uncomfortably against a rock. Various emotions flit across his face. Annoyance, perhaps at his cramped position, perhaps more general annoyance. Mirth, maybe some amusing story he's just remembered. All expressed openly on his face for all to see, even when there is no-one to see it.
And there just outside the overhang is the body on the horse. But it is not hung over the horse, it is upright, staring right back at you.
You drop the bowl of water with a cry.
"What is it?" asks Ling, concern on his face.
You point at the body, but it's hung over the horse again as before.
"It was.....I thought I saw something."
"I'll take a look," says Ling and before you can stop him he's off into the nearby forest looking for bandits.
"What did you see, a ghost?" says Chen, smiling.
"It was nothing," you say, not trusting his smile.
Ling says you need new shoes. He mentions Huan Tan's look your size. You tell him to shut up.
For the second time tonight, you take out your dagger to wash it in the river. You have just begun to get a little dry, and going down to the river would mean getting drenched again, so you fill a bowl with rainwater, place it near the fire, and try to clean the blood which is difficult to get at near the hilt.
The fire dances in the reflection of the water. You use it as a mirror to study your companions without them noticing. Ever silent Chen plays a fitful tune on a simple flute. You didn't know he had a flute. You don't know much about Chen. He doesn't reveal much. Moreover, he tries hard at not revealing much. That, to your mind, reveals much about him.
Ling on the other hand cares not at all for what he reveals. You watch him now, as he lies uncomfortably against a rock. Various emotions flit across his face. Annoyance, perhaps at his cramped position, perhaps more general annoyance. Mirth, maybe some amusing story he's just remembered. All expressed openly on his face for all to see, even when there is no-one to see it.
And there just outside the overhang is the body on the horse. But it is not hung over the horse, it is upright, staring right back at you.
You drop the bowl of water with a cry.
"What is it?" asks Ling, concern on his face.
You point at the body, but it's hung over the horse again as before.
"It was.....I thought I saw something."
"I'll take a look," says Ling and before you can stop him he's off into the nearby forest looking for bandits.
"What did you see, a ghost?" says Chen, smiling.
"It was nothing," you say, not trusting his smile.