The Tiger and The Bird

Chapter 7

Two carriages snaked through the jungle led by a small group of Lotusian soldiers on horseback. A smaller team following from the rear. They had been traveling for two days sticky with the southern temperatures. Soon though, they would break out of the jungle and into the dry plains that would lead them to the cold North.

The carriages were purposely plain and small. The King didn't want anyone to find out that the Bird Witch was among them. She was just too precious he had assured her. Prince Edan would be wise to never let her out of his sight. Governess Gao was commanded to keep both of them in check. But Nong felt terrible thinking otherwise. Little by little – she felt like something was unfurling before her...like her mother's tapestry she'd seen the other day.

Her head was spinning with questions. Did her mother know about Ru Feng? Will she run into the same rebels out here? She felt a jolt of fear and backed away suddenly from the window where she had been admiring the view. Her knees bumped in to Ru Feng's. He glanced at her.

She felt somewhat safe with Governess Gao riding in the first carriage along with their things. She and the beast named Ru Feng rode together posing as Prince Edan and his personal maid. They were travelling back to a northern village that was now under the Lotus banner to look for a special engagement gift. Since the carriage was so small, he noticed her every movement.

"It's...beautiful out there," She coughed clearing her throat. She caught herself fidgeting with her braided hair.

"It's too cold!" Ru Feng snarled snuggling into his fur lined emerald cloak even though they'd barely left the jungle.

"This is the first time I've been outside the palace," Nong tells him.

"That explains all of extra guards," He responded.

Nong's thought went back to the rebels.

"How did you end up in the Lotus Kingdom anyway?" Ru Feng suddenly asked. "Isn't the Bird Clan a Northern clan?"

Nong turned back towards the window. "I was born there. But my mother, the previous Bird Witch was from the North. She told me she met and fell in love with a handsome Lotusian general. Her family disapproved and they came back to live in Lotus,"

"I heard what happened to them. I'm sorry about your parents,"

She gave him a polite smile. "How does that work? Your ability to inhabit someone's body? What about your real body?"

Ru Feng shrugged. After a few minutes of silence she thought he wouldn't answer the question.

Then he said, "Some years ago...I learned that when people come close enough to me I can jump into their body and kick their spirits out," He rolled his eyes at Nong's horrified expression, "They are still alive and can wander freely but no one will be able to see them except for me...and probably you," He nodded at her.

"In my natural form, I can't escape my chamber. But when I'm in someone else's body I can roam freely outside of the ruins. I even have all of their skills and memories,"

"So did you try to run away?" Nong asked.

"The first time I saw my true self lying there in the darkness...encased in cold stone. I was a beast through and through. The man's spirit I had kicked out trembled in fear. He mumbled something about the curse of the ruins. How I was going to end the world. He was so scared...so was I. That was how I really learned of the prophecy. A crazed man telling me my fate. I let go of his body and he scrambled away,"

Ru Feng shifted in his seat. This time he sought the window on his side though he didn't open it.

"Afterwards, yes, I tried anything and possessed any lost folk, thief, or vagabond to find a way out. But I couldn't ever find a way to break my curse. And then one day...your Prince and his army came...And I saw you,"

Nong was quiet but her heart beat loudly in her ear. She hoped he couldn't hear it. She thought about the story on the tapestry.

"You don't remember anything from before?"

Ru Feng's eyes shadowed, "I woke up in darkness and it's all I can remember,"

Nong frowned.

"So you don't want to know what I really look like,"

"Oh?"

"It's not a pretty sight. Especially for someone who's never left the shiny castle,"

Nong pursed her lips. She leaned over to Ru Feng inches from his face. "I wonder who's arrogant face this is then...it's definitely not Prince Edan's?"

He raised an eyebrow.

"There's a glittering shroud over you but..." Nong's fingers curled trying to catch the glamour, "You have tan skin, dark eyes flecked with gold...brown hair...and...you smell nice like..."

He brushed her away before she could touch him and sunk deeper into his cloak. "That's enough," He mumbled ending their conversation.