Chapter 250 - A Gift Under the Moonlight

“About your ‘secret admirer’, then.” Firuzeh said as they completed their circuit around the block, “Since we don’t know anything about them we can only wait until they show up again. There is little point in worrying about them at this point. Just keep an eye out and signal us if you notice them again.”

“Okay.” Char Char nodded.

Char Char followed Firuzeh into the inn. They proceeded up two flights of stairs and shortly found themselves in one of the premium suites.

Corbin was sitting at an antique table, sipping on a cup of tea as he stared out the window. He turned his head as they entered, “Everything is settled. I have arranged for the innkeeper to help me arrange a few business meetings over the course of the next few days to justify our story here. However, tomorrow will be a ‘rest day’, giving us the freedom to check out the shrine. I can move or cancel arrangements as needed, depending on what we discover.”

“You could just go to the meetings and Firuzeh and I can look after the shrine.” Char Char said dismissively, “We don’t need your help. Plus it’s not like you’d be any help even if something happened.”

“Ohhhh, how I would love to take you up on that offer.” Corbin sighed, having expected that response already, “But also I have a duty to your grandfather.”

“He doesn’t have to know.” Char Char sniffed, “Plus I know you’re more interested in your business deals.”

“It’s past ten, Char Char.” Corbin pinched the bridge of his nose, “How about we leave the arguing until the morning, at least.”

“I’m not arguing, you’re arguing.” Char Char retorted. She turned away, deciding to check out the suite. It was a luxurious suite, with a set of couches and fireplace in the main room, in addition to the dining area where Corbin was sitting. The master bedroom had a walk through closet leading to a bathroom with a gas-heated brass bathtub. The gas lanterns were activated by a switch, as opposed to having to be manually lit.

The third storey fireplace, heated bathtub and switched lanterns were all the peak of Kumin luxury. 

“There’s only one bedroom.” Char Char reported after her survey.

“The attached suite has another bedroom.” Corbin gestured to a door at the side of the main room.

Char Char quickly entered the guest suite and found a smaller suite that was no less opulent, except that instead of a single large bed there were two beds in the bedroom.

“The master bedroom is mine, so that means you’re in the spare bedroom.” Char Char declared, “No wait, then Firuzeh wouldn’t have a room to sleep in. Okay you can take the couch.”

“Go ahead.” Corbin said, not at all interested in arguing. He nodded to Firuzeh, confirming the arrangement. “We’ll discuss our plans in the morning, then.”

“My luggage?” Char Char asked.

“Already in the master bedroom.” Corbin took a sip of his tea.

“Okay.” Char Char nodded, satisfied, “Firuzeh if you need anything you can ask Corbin.”

“Absolutely.” Firuzeh smiled.

Char Char adjourned to the master bedroom, leaving Firuzeh and Corbin alone in the main room.

“I’ll see you in the morning, Firuzeh.” Corbin stood up, heading over to a small chest by the couch which contained his belongings. Corbin had spent enough time with Char Char in the past to predict the arrangement.

“You’re the client.” Firuzeh said, “I don’t need a room to myself.” 

“It’s fine.” Corbin said, not in the mood to argue, “Thank you for your help today. If we need anything in the night we’ll call.”

“As you wish, sir.” Firuzeh bowed, then adjourned to the other suite.

~

In the middle of the night.

Char Char’s eyes fluttered open as she felt a tug at her spiritual intuition. She sat up on the soft mattress, letting the down blanket settle at her waist. The soft light of the half moon shone in through the window, shimmering off the fabric of her silk nightgown.

Her eyes turned to the slightly opened window, which overlooked the plaza below. A soft breeze blew in, rustling the curtains that framed the window. The top of the city walls glimmered in the distance beyond the angular rooftops and pipe chimneys of the crowded city sheltered within them.

Char Char swung her legs over the side of the bed and quietly walked over to the window.

Outside in the plaza the half moon shone dimly on the statue of Lord Noga. Soft clouds passed overhead, casting drifting shadows across the town. A few sparse lanterns shone out against the darkness of the night, though none of the warm light reached the center of the plaza.

There.

Char Char found herself surprisingly calm as she laid her eyes on a figure that was standing at the base of the statue. He was tall with a thin build. He wore a half cape with a brooch that glimmered when the moonlight hit it. He had soft, wavy blonde hair.

They met each other’s gaze, each understanding the other in that moment.

Neither of them had really expected the other to appear, yet neither of them were really surprised.

As they stared at each other, Char Char gained an understanding of this stranger. It was in the way he held himself, the look in his eyes, the bearing of his shoulders. The unfaltering way he met her gaze. The slight upturn of the corner of his lip.

We need to talk.

This sentiment was wordlessly, gesture-lessly communicated across the plaza to Char Char.

She nodded at him, then stepped away from the window.

Firuzeh was wrong. He knows who I am. Char Char quietly slipped on the uniform pants, throwing her jacket over her nightgown blouse. But he’s not with Lord Noga…

He had been looking for her. Her sixth sense had been what had woken her, but it was too far away for her to sense whether he had any dangerous belongings on him. 

Still, there was something inexplicable about his aura, a sensation that was familiar yet different.

It reminded her of the White Maiden.

She didn’t bother putting on her boots. She didn’t want to wake Corbin or notify Firuzeh. She didn’t sense that the man below was dangerous. And somehow she felt that this meeting was something she needed to take alone.

As an afterthought she grabbed Hakuya’s sword, holding onto the sheath as she quietly exited the room. She tip toed across the main room, paying close attention to Corbin’s snores as she slipped out the door into the hallway.

Moments later she found herself outside walking toward the statue. The smooth cobblestone street was cold under her bare feet. She’d done up her belt in the hall, so that Hakuya’s sword hung comfortably at her waist.

She knew that the man had disappeared before she even reached the statue. Her eyes scanned the quiet houses and shop fronts around her.

“Where did he go…?” She muttered to herself with a frown.

As she looked around her eyes finally fell on the statue of Lord Noga. She stood in front of it, looking up at the one storey-tall stone sculpture. The regal man with curly hair and a flowing cloak stood in a heroic pose, looking down the road that led toward the west gate. 

Something glimmered at the statue’s foot, at the edge of the dais, a small golden pearl no bigger than a grape seed, encased in glass. A subtle energy radiated off of it. Char Char bent down, taking a closer look, though she resisted the urge to reach out toward it.

“You’re not going to pick it up?” A voice spoke out.

“What is it?” Char Char asked, calmly straightening up as her eyes rose to see a tall man with long blond hair walk out from behind the statue. He had an androgynous face that was both handsome and beautiful, with a narrow jaw line, delicate lips and long eyelashes. 

He dressed like a noble, with a frilled shirt and tailored pants that accentuated his long legs. He wore a half cape around his shoulders clasped at the front with a golden brooch, giving him a more antiquated style.

“A gift.” He said, “In honour of our first meeting.”

Char Char stepped away from the dais, smiling even as she mentally raised her guard, “Thank you, I’m afraid I will have to decline.”

She kept a distance of ten paces from him as he reached down and picked up the pearl, his expression as if he’d been rejected by a girl he was courting. 

In fact, there was no malice behind his gift. Though Char Char did not know it, what he had left for her to pick up was a precious fate aspected sarira. Any exalted with experience would know what it was simply by feeling its energy, the lure of obtaining such a treasure would be very difficult to resist.

There was only a trap, a tiny trap that had not been sprung. That is, if Char Char was not attuned to fate, then upon reaching for the sarira it would react subtly to the dissonance in their energy, and the man would be able to confirm that she was or was not an Exalted of Fate.

As it was, though, he still was not certain of her Domain.

Char Char did not know who this man was, or what a sarira was, nor did she sense any danger around the gift or doubt the man’s intentions in offering it to her.

Her main reason to reject the gift was simple, one learned from years of experience with nobility and wealthy aristocrats.

She never accepted gifts from a man, to avoid giving them the idea that she was interested in them!