Still resting my arm, sorry! If you guys have suggestions for future chapters, let me know! At a crossroads right now in my plot.

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Yuqi rested against Minnie’s back as the party settled into a comfortable trot through the forest. They were heading to the rendezvous point, but taking a roundabout way. Yuqi sniffed. The air felt heavy. She looked up. Massive thunderheads gathered overhead, blocking most of the moon. Soon, the forest would be plunged into darkness and rain would pelt from the skies.

Ahead, Yuqi watched as Soyeon and Shuhua talked. She couldn’t hear what they were saying, but it seemed serious. Probably Soyeon’s plans for Shuhua’s marriage. Yuqi still felt shocked that this was their plan. Of course, Yuqi knew Shuhua’s duty as the sole heir to the throne was to marry well, preferably to a prince with a strong army. But this? This was gambling with one’s eyes closed. There was no telling how Shuhua’s newly betrothed would react. Maybe he wouldn’t want to invade their homeland to get back the throne. Maybe he’d have the entire party killed and enslave Shuhua.

Yuqi felt Minnie’s hand caress her own. Some of her fears died down. At least for now, she and Minnie were together. She hadn’t given much thought to what their future held. Minnie always expressed a desire to return to a simple farmer’s life. She had signed up to be part of the King’s Guard to provide for her family. But a bout of the pox had left her an orphan, and now she had no need to make a wage.

“Are you all right my love?” Minnie asked, turning around in the saddle to give Yuqi a quick kiss.

“Mhm,” Yuqi hummed in reply, hugging Minnie tighter around the