Tales of the Borun-Ma by Ruth Miranda

Author:Ruth Miranda
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, LGBTQIA+ Fantasy, Queer, Sword and Sorcery, Danmei
Publisher: Ruth Miranda
Published: 2023-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

4

Second Sho-Dan of the Third Infestation Era

Zijiang

Yunau

Dashià stops, straightens his back, heart lurching. The sword hums against his spine so strongly he can feel its energy prickling his skin. Head swerving in the direction it indicates, he peers into the long stalks of bamboo surrounding him, sees nothing. Except for his Doshien, hidden like him amidst the vegetation. The air is redolent with a scent of freshness, but decay lingers under the smell of greenery. To his right, the abandoned town of Zijiang looms darkly, its spirit hauntings already seeping into the forest. He can feel their silent, keen cries, their demands, their misery. No one is as attuned as him to the wails of this kind of spirits.

Has he not been haunted all his life by the unrelenting ghost of a mother he was forced to kill? The woman who gave him life, and whose he took, hasn't she wailed in his mind constantly, especially in his sleep? Has she not visited in his nightmares and sapped the energy from his limbs, the peace from his mind, the joy from his heart?

What can these spirits do to him, when faced with the likes of a mother who will never forgive him?

He signals Li Ahn forward, tugs on YiZu's sleeve, and they move on. His head snaps back, where he knows she must be. Why has she come here? He was on his way to the Bircken Fields, when word reached him of this manifestation, already bleeding into the forest, making its way to the nearest villages. There was no way he could ignore this. But what's Falken doing here?

It's of no consequence, let her come to the abandoned town, he'll protect her, if needs be. Not that Hawkeye has any need of his protection; she’s as powerful, as talented as he. Can take good care of herself and has no need for him, which only makes Coriahn want her more. They'll be together today, tonight, for brief moments if it must be, for longer, luck willing it. He'll try to convince her, Zephyr, of coming to the mountains for visiting the Pavilion. And then he'll show her the library, and which books to read, and Falken will finally know the truth.

But she still won't see eye to eye with him.

For she must know by now just how much death and destruction he’s reaped upon her people. She must know by now how he led a group of Wu-Zhian Seal Triads to hunt those from the Raszen Shield, killing, maiming all they could get their hands on. She must know, and won't forgive. No matter how strong what she may feel for him, a part of Falken will always hate him for being this ruthless killer.

And she's right, he enjoys the kill. He enjoys seeing life seep from his enemies' eyes, has enjoyed it since he watched his mother die at his feet, blood pooling at her side, running down her chin, her voice bubbling with it, while she begged for his compassion, his mercy.

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