Restless sleep was the only sleep Taoru got that night. He woke in a sour mood, his chest still aching with regret and sorrow for all that had passed between him and Lian the day before. His first impulse was to check on her. Perhaps seeing her sleeping face would ease him somewhat, but just glancing toward her door erased the notion from his mind.
I don’t want to make it worse. I need to be patient and let her come to me when she’s ready. It was the hardest thing he’d had to do, retrieve her dishes from in front of the lattice door without sliding it open to check on her. He took some comfort in the fact that at least she’d eaten the food he’d prepared.
Stepping to the kitchen, he sat the tray down and began to clean the dishes. Taoru tried to focus on his plans for the day. Like it or not, he needed to finish the current piece, even if his heart wasn’t fully in it at the moment. His work may have been stupid, but selling it put food on the table and had done so all of Lian’s life.
Her words cut into him again, the renewed hurt taking him by surprise. Without realizing it, he squeezed the clay bowl with such strength it shattered in his hand. One piece sliced a small gouge in his palm that began trickling blood onto the broken shards of what was once a handsome dish.
Frustrated with himself more than anything, Taoru took a clean cloth and dabbed at the wound, trying to clear the blood away without the use of water. As a fire Zosara, pouring water into the cut would have been most unpleasant. Giving up on the rag, he instead placed his fingers over it, summoning a heat that would have pained most people. To Taoru, however, it was rather soothing and took away the uncomfortable stinging sensation.
It wasn’t so much a method of healing as cauterizing the wound to stop it from bleeding. The cut would still be there and would need time to mend itself. The only other added benefit was the purifying quality of fire that cleansed the site so there wouldn’t be infection later on.
“Niami!”
Taoru was just wiping the stray streaks of blood from his wrist and arm when Lian’s shrieking voice came from outside. The sound of it sent a piercing jolt of fear through him and caused cold sweat to bead instantly on the back of his neck. She hadn’t called him the draconic word for father since she was a small child. Without thinking, he bounded to the door and slid it open.
The sight that met his gaze only drove the fear deeper. Never mind the fact Lian should have been asleep in her room, that question could be answered later. That she raced toward him, covered in mud and sweat, her face white with terror, was all he needed to fly into action.
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He dropped the cloth in his hand and ran out to meet her, unconsciously pausing just long enough to slip his shoes on at the edge of the porch. When he reached her, Lian fell into his arms, her whole body shaking as though she’d been standing outside in freezing temperatures for hours.
“Niami!” Lian sobbed, clinging to him even as her legs gave out and she collapsed to her knees. “I’m so sorry… I’m sorry, Niami, please…” she choked the words out in between gasping breaths.
Taoru was trying to make sense of what had happened, the possibilities whirling through his mind scaring him more than anything in life ever had before. “It’s okay, Lian.” Their argument was forgotten now; all he cared about was being there for his daughter. “I’m here, Miryu. Tell me what happened.”
From over her shoulder, he got his first answer. Galloping toward them was a group of horses, several more than the three that had ridden out yesterday. Once again, Captain Juzo was at their head, leading the charge.
Oh, no… What have you done, Lian?
He hardened his expression, rising and pulling Lian with him. She leaned heavily against him, his tunic clenched in her fists. Taoru kept one arm around her, both for physical support and comfort. Whatever was going on, he would never forsake his daughter when she clearly needed him.
“What is the meaning of this, Juzo?” Taoru demanded, purposefully leaving out the man’s title.
The captain didn’t dismount when he stopped this time. He remained seated, towering above the pair of them with an air of superiority that was most unbecoming. “I have bad news, Master Taoru… Your daughter attacked some men in town, quite unprovoked, I might add, and nearly burned one to death with magic.” A smug smile tugged at his lips. “I must take her before Warlord Nagisa, I’m afraid.”
Lian was still panting for breath. She began shaking her head, unable to speak beyond once again begging her father’s forgiveness.
Taoru was certain Juzo was exaggerating, or even outright lying, about certain facts. He could sense, however, that Lian’s depleted fire was not just because of physical exertion. For some reason, she’d revealed herself and now was being vilified. His fears were becoming reality…
“You’re not taking my daughter anywhere.” There was a threatening edge in Taoru’s voice. He paused there, his gaze boring into the captain without wavering. Even without Lian to back him up, Taoru could have wiped out the half-dozen men by himself. They could then flee northwest to Wukita Province, which was Baisho’s bitter rival.
But what sort of life would that be for Lian?
It was better in the long run to deal with this matter head-on. For that reason alone, the proud man added, “Not without me.”
The sergeant beside Juzo opened his mouth to protest, but his superior waved him to silence. “If you want to try pleading her case, I won’t stop you. Though I warn you, I saw the entire exchange with my own eyes. Lian is guilty.”