The Wandering God

39 Goose Claws In The Snow 3/3

雪泥鴻爪
Xuění hóngzhǎo
Goose claws in the snow.
Traces of past events. The fleeting nature of human life.
*~*~*~*~*~*

Sanli did not understand his actions over the following days.

It had become clear to everyone that what had initially only been too-long glances and lingering thoughts had developed into more between Zakhar and Ao.

The two were frequently absent from the cabin, always with the same excuse. Zakhar would declare he was going hunting, and Ao would agree to go with him. They would disappear, and reappear hours later, usually empty handed and with some reason as to why.

It was mid winter, but Sanli knew Zakhar was a good hunter, and game was not that scarce.

Again and again Sanli found himself needling his way into whatever it was that was occurring between his two friends. He would ask Ao questions he knew she did not want to answer, about her past, or her desires. He would tease Zakhar, relentlessly, over the smallest of things, and always when Ao was present and could intervene. He had become an annoyance when he had no wish to be one.

Am I trying to push them together or apart?

Finally all his little efforts earned him Ao's undivided attention. Though not surprisingly, not in the way he had hoped.

They had sat down at the cabin's small table for a game of five colored cards. During the game Sanli said things that he himself agreed were foolish. But it seemed regardless of what he thought, they exited from his mouth all the same.

"What about the story of you being lovers with Liu Zhua? And the Golden Emperor? Are those both true?" the prince pressed Ao.

"A gentleman doesn't ask a woman about past lovers," Ao said, unperturbed, eyes on her cards.

"What about present ones?" asked Sanli, eyes flicking to Zakhar.

"Watch it, prince," the big man growled back. Zakhar's foot found Sanli's shin under the table.

The game ended abruptly after that, with unpleasant feelings and a sore leg on Sanli's part. Zakhar left to hunt, Kageyama disappeared to take care of some task outside the cabin, and Sanli was left alone with Ao.

Sanli heard Ao sit beside him on the kang. He kept his eyes on the fire. "Look at me, prince."

Sanli turned his head sulkily, hating the gesture even as he did it.

Ao bent to meet his eyes. "When I made you that promise, in the cave, to stay with you, I meant it," she said, face serious.

Sanli stiffened and looked away, eyes tracing over the playing cards still spread over the table. He had assumed Ao would not speak of what transpired between them in the cave again. Assumed her words simply spoken in the moment. A promise not meant to be kept.

But no, Ao was recalling her promise, and in earnest, her face serious. "I will not leave you. However, that does not mean I have to endure your whims, or be with you every moment. And I will not tolerate your rudeness, toward me or Zakhar. Do you understand?"

Sanli did not know what to say. He mumbled something like a response.

"Good. I do not like jealous men, remember. Do not make me regret agreeing to stay by your side." Sanli felt Ao's eyes studying his face. "And do not pout so, wrinkles will form between your eyes." As she spoke, Ao's finger poked at the offending lines.

She really sees me as a chil-

Ao's lips found where her finger had just poked, as if to soothe the hurt. Sanli's whole body heated and then froze solid as an ice block.