RTYY 292 - Finally Some Good News

The precision with which CalRimRan stopped halfway in the middle of a beautiful high kick, and the fluidity with which he quickly reassumed his normal standing position, his clothes miraculously perfectly arranged, made FeiWan blink. His face showed nothing at all, the same indifferent, uncaring expression he had worn all throughout his entire practice. And yet something had obviously interrupted his graceful dance.

It didn't take long for FeiWan to realize what had caught his attention, even though he looked as uninterested as always. The sound of running footsteps reached his ears, and he knew with an inner grunt that CalRimRan had obviously heard them way before he had. And then one of his servants was running up the pathway to meet him.

He really wanted to incinerate the poor bastard. Because of him, his entertainment had sadly been curt short. Not to mention that lately good news were rare, to say the least. And so he didn't feel one bit eager to hear what the man who fell on his knees right in front of him, bowing respectfully, had to say.

"Greetings noble El'Gin. We've just received news from outside the Palace!" the man announced, his forehead glued to the white gravel that paved the paths of the back courtyard.

FeiWan sighed.

He should ask the Grand Varsen to read the stars for him. He was sure that there was some kind of supernatural planetary alignment working against him. On second thought, he better not. Having someone else tell him how unlucky he was bound to be who knows until when would hardly pose any advantage. He may as well conform with the fact that, for now, things just weren't going according to his plans, and try to adapt and act accordingly to the situation he was dealt.

Releasing another sigh e stretched out his hand.

The man quickly straightened his back and respectfully deposited on his open palm a small metallic tube containing the report that one of his men, posted outside the Palace walls, had sent him.

"You may go," he dismissed the servant with a wave of his hand and the man bowed again, before rising to his feet and quickly making his way down the path again.

Peering in CalRimRan's direction, FeiWan noticed that he had silently walked away, his long white hair glistening under the pale light of the day. So, he was respectfully granting him some privacy, FeiWan considered. Or maybe he simply didn't care about such things. CalRimRan had clearly voiced his lack of interest regarding Wen's inner politics more than once. Well, his Clan did hold the reputation of being impartial and of not interfering in any of the three Empires' politics and governments.

Opening the small tube, FeiWan reached inside it and pulled out the single piece of paper that it carried.

Unfolding it, he quickly read through its contents. And then read again, a smile stretching his lips, his heart racing inside his chest from pure satisfaction. Finally! Finally the Heavens had decided to send some blessings his way!

Firmly holding his report in one hand, he quickly made his way to CalRimRan.

"I've just received news from the north!" he announced, his enthusiasm clear in his voice, and CalRimRan slowly turned his head to look at him.

"I gather they were good news?" he wondered, clearly uninterested, but FeiWan was already nodding enthusiastically.

"Good news indeed! Good news for you too, I believe!" he quickly added, but not even that was capable of breaking through CalRimRan's indifferent expression. "My brother, GinWan, who was sent to capture the Lun Calzai, failed his mission," he declared. "Apparently they were tipped off. And when GinWan reached the village where they were supposedly hiding, it was practically empty. He only managed to capture a few villagers that as they tried to escape. It would seem that my royal father's loyal dog really decided to rebel against his master!" he added, chuckling.

"Given your Highness's open animosity towards the Lun Calzai, I would have thought that you would be pleased, should your royal brother succeed in his mission," CalRimRan pointed out and FeiWan immediately frowned at that.

"As if!! Sure, I can't stand that bastard, always groveling and begging for scraps from my father's table! And yes! I do want to see him captured! But if I have to choose between having him escape and having him being captured by GinWan, I rather have him escape! You should too, since you seem to place so much importance on the one traveling with him. If GinWan were to capture them there's a high probability that they would never reach the Palace alive. And even if they did. They most certainly wouldn't arrive in one piece. GinWan would never be able to resist the temptation of torturing them all the way here. Either that, or that bastard would lose his mind and would end up killing my brother. Which would inevitably sign his death sentence, and those of all the people under his service. So, if you're really hoping to see that child of yours alive again, you should pray to the Heavens that GinWan never finds them."

CalRimRan didn't even answer, his gray eyes as cold and calm as the silvery waters of an undisturbed lake.

FeiWan shrugged, too used to his lack of reaction. Which didn't mean that his head wasn't quickly processing all the pieces of information he was giving him. After seeing him explode in anger a few, although rare, times, FwiWan had come to realize that CalRimRan wasn't as indifferent to the world around him as he would like others to think.

"Well, not that you have to worry anymore. If there's someone good at running away with his tail between his legs is that damned dog. GinWan will never be able to track him down a second time. Not as long as he's on the run."

"Even though the honorable El'Gin clearly dislikes the Lun Calzai, you do seem to know quite a lot about him. Not only that. Hearing your Highness speak one would almost think that you may even admire him."

FeiWan's green eyes widened in shock and horror at that.

���Admire him? Me? That bastard??"

Slightly tilting his head to one side, CalRimRan actually managed to look innocently at him.

"Am I wrong?"

"Damn right, you're wrong! That disgusting dog!!"

"Your Highness keeps calling him a dog. And yet you clearly hold him in high regard, at least as far as his fighting skills are concerned. You obviously find him at least capable enough to defeat and escape your royal brother."

"GinWan! It's GinWan we're talking about! No matter how cruel he may be, enjoying killing more than anyone I know, he's hardly an example of military prowess! Of course that dog would easily defeat him! If he weren't at least that capable the El'Dur would never have chosen him to be his favorite pet."

"So you do recognize that he's at least good enough for that."

FeiWan pursed his lips, clearly fuming in frustration, his cheeks reddening from contained anger.

"From what I heard, the Governor of Nox has quite the reputation," CalRimRan went on. "He's well-liked by the common people. Feared as a ruthless man by those that live outside the law. And despised by most noble Clans."

FeiWan's frown deepened as his annoyance at the sudden subject of their conversation escalated.

"As I understand, he is quite accomplished in military strategy and he was the youngest boy to ever receive the title of Swordmaster. I wonder. Since your Highness clearly seems to think that his royal brother wouldn't be able to defeat him, would you be able to do so in fair combat?"

"You're goddamned right I would!" FeiWan immediately spat, but the fast, fluid movement with which CalRimRan suddenly leaned closer to him made him hold his breath. Bending his head ever so slightly, they were suddenly standing eye to eye, CalRimRan's face so close to FeiWan's that he could almost swear he could feel his warm breath on his skin.

"Are you absolutely certain?"

FeiWan blinked and swallowed. There was something in those gray eyes that effectively stole his boastful self-confidence.

"I've told you before. Instead of meddling in other people's affairs, you should look into your own Household. There's plenty of problems there to entertain that brilliant brain of yours," CalRimRan declared, his low voice sending shivers down FeiWan's back. And then he was walking away. Walking away! Just like that.

Frowning, FeiWan ran to quickly catch up with him.

"What do you mean? What are you talking about? Hey! Can't you hear me?" he demanded, and demanded again. But no matter how he formulated his question, how much he begged or threatened him, CalRimRan didn't utter another word.

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Is CalRimRan openly provoking him or what? 😁😁 😁

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