The Barbarian's Tale

Five petals freshly plucked from a lunar orchid.

Half a cup of mountain moss, dried.

A spoonful of honey sugar.

Pounded to a pulp, and mixed with a little water. Best served slightly warmed.

Sebi spoon-fed the mixture to the Shak, who was barely hanging onto consciousness. His black hair was mussed from fretful sleep, and his skin flushed by a mild fever.

Sebi sighed. It was one bad thing after another.

It had been two months since he had been dragged, kicking and screaming, from his quiet life of study into the Shak’s camp. He was used to running errands for Duke Bejuk and the other senior healers, but never had he been worked so hard as he was here.

The late Shak, the Shana, Jiwat li Ashem, and now the new Shak too.

“Am I in heaven?” the Shak asked, peering at Sebi, “you look like a heavenly maiden,”

Sebi sighed again. His otherworldly appearance caused no end of trouble.

“No, I’m Sebi. Do you remember how you got here?”

“…was I… was I sick?” he asked, in a voice as fragile as glass.

“You were very sick. And you also fainted. Someone has drugged you,”

“I feel sick…” the Shak moaned, struggling to keep his eyes focused on Sebi. There was something so innocent, so childlike about the Shak’s vulnerable expression… It was a good thing Sebi was used to remaining impassive.

“This will help settle your stomach-“ Sebi said, pressing a spoon of the warmed tonic to the Shak’s lips, “- your majesty will feel better soon,”

It had been one of the rare afternoons Sebi had all to himself when Ven Ashem had burst into the courtyard of the Bejuk residence, calling for someone, anyone to come help the Shak.

The patient was already past the point of delirium when Sebi got to him, and spent the following day and night slipping in and out of a muddled, half-conscious state. The vomiting hadn’t cleared the drug from his system, but his periods of wakefulness were gradually growing longer.

“Ven… Ven Ashem was with me,” the Shak said.

“I sent him away, he said you had been eating some sweets. Did he give them to you?”

“No… but the tea house. They were given to me at the tea house,”

Sebi frowned. This was the most coherent his majesty had been since the incident, and he knew his Duke was running himself ragged with worry over the Shak’s condition.

Ven had dragged him over to where the Shak had collapsed, face pale and eyes red-rimmed. He had never seen Ven Ashem so out of sorts, and he had seen that man embarrass himself in many creative ways over the years. Despite their history, Sebi didn’t think him capable of harming the Shak. But given the Duke Ashem’s ambitions… He had to be sure.

“The tea house? Which tea house?”

“… don’t know… not far…” The Shak’s forehead was tense with effort as he mumbled an incoherent description.

“It’s alright, I’ll ask again later,” Sebi said. The honeyed moss tonic was getting cold, so he returned to spooning it into the Shak’s mouth. His majesty pressed his eyes tightly shut as he ate.

“Does it taste bad?” Sebi asked. If it would make the Shak more comfortable, he could stir in more sugar.

“No… it’s sweet… very nice…” the Shak murmured. He had a few more spoonfuls, before slipping back into sleep.

Sebi had gone to great lengths to perfect all the treatments listed in the Bejuk clan’s records and earned much acclaim for his thoroughness. Effectiveness, the cost and availability of ingredients, and preparation time: all of these were concerns when practising the healing arts. But no matter how effective a treatment was, the pungent aroma and strong flavour of most conventional healing herbs were hurdles Sebi had struggled to overcome. Hearing his work praised so sincerely, by someone in such a meek and delicate condition…

Sebi made a note to use this formulation again in the future.

“Young master Sebi, do you need anything?” Laela, a serving girl in the inner palace, asked.

He had rarely seen her so serious, but he supposed the dire state the Shak had been in would dampen anyone’s spirits.

“Nothing else. All he needs now is rest,” he said.

Laela hovered by his side for a little longer than necessary.

“He looks so small. So helpless. Poor thing,” she said.

“You should watch your words. His majesty might remember this,”

“No no. His Majesty and I get along well. I’ve said much more embarrassing things to him before. I’ve even told him about-“ Laela crept closer to Sebi and whispered, “-the list,”

“You haven’t-” Sebi gasped.

This girl…

“Yes, yes! I’ve told him everything,” she grinned.

Sebi was speechless. This serving girl and her friends- had they no limits?

And now the Shak knew how those girls talked about him. Like he was some… some mythical beast. Hair as white as snow, some mountain spectre. So pale and gaunt and so ill-mannered. He could see them now, laughing as they discussed this strange new creature, ranking and assessing him.

“Hey hey, I didn’t say anything bad. He thought I was silly too, don’t worry,” Laela said, breaking Sebi out of his imaginings.

It was silly to be so sensitive. Not manly. Sebi hardened his heart.

“His majesty won’t want to hear any more jokes,” he scolded.

It was time for Sebi to return to his room and rest. He tidied his equipment and slung his fur coat over his shoulders.

“There’s one more thing, young master Sebi,”

“What is it?” Sebi paused.

“The Dukes have returned to their residences, but young master Ven has been waiting in the courtyard since yesterday. Should I send him away?” she asked.

Sebi pondered it for a moment.

“No, you watch over the Shak. I’ll see to him,”

“Go back to your residence,” Sebi said when he saw Ven.

There was a chill in the air, and Sebi didn’t want to drag this conversation out any longer than necessary. The lanterns had been lit, and the moon was out, but the oppressive gloom still made one want to hurry home.

“How is-“

“His majesty is improving, he just needs rest,”

Ven hadn’t changed clothes since Sebi had last seen him. It seemed he really had been waiting in the courtyard for news for the entire night. His hair was greasy and his forehead creased.

“You must be frozen,” Sebi said, undoing the clasps on his cloak.

“No, no. I can’t accept that,” Ven said, ever uncooperative.

“Don’t be foolish,” Sebi said.

“Keep it. I know you’re sensitive to the cold,” Ven said and when Sebi shot him his most stubborn glare, he added “I’ll go home now if you say he’s doing well,”

Despite everything, Sebi felt secretly grateful. He could bear the cold for a few minutes if he had to, but he truly didn’t want to part with his furs.

The Bejuk residence and Ashem residence were next to each other, so the two of them walked together. Over the last day, Sebi had been turning over a dozen questions in his mind, inspired by the confused mumbling of the unconscious Shak. Was Ven really pursuing the Shak? Was the Shak allowing this? How could something like this come about?

Now that someone with answers was before him, he didn’t know where to start. He didn’t want to appear judgemental, or a gossip, no the worst thing of all, jealous. Best not to pry too much, but he couldn’t just drop the matter completely.

“I’ve never seen you go so far for someone you fancy,” Sebi gathered his courage as they drew close to the gatehouse, and levelled his accusation.

He’d asked Laela to ask the other serving girls what they knew of the relationship, and their information had been enlightening.

Ven Ashem was a flighty flirt. He met his success via his fine looks, his powerful father, and his complete lack of self-consciousness. Of all the beauties who’d known him, his sincerity was never what they praised.

“What do you mean? you know better than most what a hopeless romantic I am,” Ven smiled. But it wasn’t his usual smile. Not teasing. Not hungry. It was a smile to mask his exhaustion. Sebi eyed him carefully. He’d never seen him so genuine.

“I see… You have every reason to be suspicious. I owe you an apology. Two years ago, I said you were the most beautiful man in the land. More fitting to be a courtesan in the imperial court than a flower blooming on these windswept peaks. I even swore that-“

“Don’t mention that!-” Sebi snapped. Far too shameless! “-What if someone heard you?!”

Ven chuckled, and Sebi wanted to storm off and hide away somewhere no one would see his beet-red face. But that would only make Ven more self-satisfied and would do little to soothe Sebi’s worries. He quelled his anger and spoke seriously.

“I do not doubt that your intentions are impure, but I know you don’t mean any harm. If you intend to go on with this, tread carefully. And keep your guard up, at least until we find who is behind these poisonings,”

“Don’t worry, I won’t cause you any more trouble. Nor the Shak. His Majesty put his trust in me to help settle this matter, so I’ll earnestly try my best,”

Now that it was time to part ways, Ven’s mood had improved significantly, and Sebi’s exhaustion had seeped into his bones. He hurried through the gloom alone to the warmth and comfort of his room.

Ven Ashem, you’ve never done anything earnestly…