LATE NOVEMBER 844 AQE
By nightfall, Wujun’s resolve had deepened. Lying awake in bed, waiting for the house to settle and Soki to fall asleep in the next room, Wujun didn’t feel a shred of apprehension. He wasn’t certain if that was good or bad. He knew he had to do this, that he couldn’t remain cooped up and sheltered forever. If they weren’t willing to give him freedom, then he would take it for himself.
Finally, the light creeping under his door winked out. Wujun felt a surge of elation. A few minutes more and he would make his move. The wait was excruciating!
Unable to endure it any longer, the young man swept the covers back, revealing that he was fully clothed beneath them. Carefully, afraid the bed might creak loudly if he moved too fast, he sat up and reached down for his footwear. He was wearing his oldest attire, the outfit he used to go riding or to do tasks that might otherwise ruin his better clothes. The boots were his favorite pair, the broken in set that he had saved from being thrown out when they’d left the capitol. They slid onto his feet with ease, the fit perfect and snug.
Last, he grabbed a heavy cloak. This late in the autumn the nights were chilly, and it was wise to dress warmly. Besides, the hood would hide his face and make him less recognizable should a servant spot him from a distance.
Wujun crossed over to the window, picking his way over the floor to avoid the spots he’d noticed were creaky. One loose floorboard was enough to alert Soki, who he knew was not a deep sleeper. The next obstacle was pushing open the window in complete silence…
Placing his hands on it, Wujun held his breath as he slowly, inch-by-inch, raised the pane just enough that he could squeeze out. Once it was positioned, he paused, straining his hearing to determine if anyone had been disturbed. He feared the light scraping of wood might alert the entire household. Wujun held his breath, waiting and listening. He imagined Soki and Goratsu barging in, ready to fend off a murderer.
What would they say if they caught me like this? They would both be furious, I know that much…
The house remained silent.
Wujun allowed himself to breathe again. He turned back to the now open window and started crawling out. This was easier said than done. Thankfully, he had a slender frame and was of average height. Had he been taller or broader, he might not have fit, even with the pane pushed fully up. More than once he stopped, anxious that someone would hear and come to investigate. Getting caught sticking out the window would have caused a tremendous uproar. It was a scenario he didn’t want to deal with.
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Finally, he was out and jumped the short distance to the nearby oak tree. Goratsu had fussed about this very tree, concerned an intruder might use it to gain access to the window. Disgruntled, Wujun had put his foot down, insisted his tutor was paranoid, and refused to change bedrooms. He’d already been planning his escape and knew getting to the ground otherwise would be too dangerous. In the end, much to Wujun’s surprise, Goratsu had relented.
He hadn’t hesitated in his plans until that moment. But one concession was not enough to erase the restrictions placed upon him or the secrets kept from him. If they ever found out about his excursion tonight, he hoped they would forgive him. This was something he had to do for the sake of his own sanity.
Getting to the ground was a straightforward matter once he was in the oak. As a boy, he’d climbed his fair share of trees, at least until Goratsu heard about it. A frown creased his brow as he turned his back on the cottage and tugged the hood over his shock of platinum hair.
I need to stop thinking this way… I’m supposed to have fun tonight.
Wujun shook the negativity away, imagining it was dead, brown leaves falling from the branches of a tree. He would not let sour memories taint his first adventure.
He checked if the grounds were clear before trotting out from beneath the naked boughs and darting for the fence. Wujun was athletic enough that with a running start he caught the top and dragged himself up. Swinging his leg over, he tumbled, with far less grace than he’d intended, to the ground on the other side.
Once again, he paused and allowed himself a moment to breathe. He’d done it. He’d snuck out of his room and across the grounds. Wujun was finally free!
Not wanting to celebrate too early and get himself caught, the young man put as much distance between himself and the house as possible. As he made the short walk to the village proper, he kept glancing over his shoulder, just in case someone had spotted him and was following. So far, he was in the clear.
When he finally arrived in Tiguri he found that it was not so vibrant and bustling this late at night. Wujun noticed as he strolled through the nearly empty streets that most of the windows were darkened and only a few lanterns were lit along the paths. He stayed clear of any dim roads or alleys, knowing better than to venture into the shadows, lest he be assailed by the town’s seedier population.
I make an excellent target… he mused to himself, turning down another street that was much more brightly lit than even the one he’d just been on. The difference was so stark, it took a moment for his eyes to adjust. It didn’t take him long to figure out why; up ahead was the local tavern.
Fresh excitement jolted through Wujun; he quickened his pace. This was the perfect place to spend some time before returning to the cottage. He could get an alcoholic beverage, maybe strike up a conversation with the regulars, join in some drinking songs… The possibilities were endless!
The freshly painted sign above the door only heightened his enthusiasm. It read in blocky, silver writing; The Fainting Damsel. Expectations swirled in Wujun’s mind, but the instant he pushed the solid wood door open every single one of them was shattered.