#capered — Public Fediverse posts
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8. Partridges by Moonlight. (Part 2)
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries
#wss366Soon, Basen led the squad out of the courtyard.
Mao’s horse #capered nervously at its owner's inexperienced handling.
Her guard took the horse’s reins and looked at Mao, daring her to object. This time, Mao shrugged. If she were baggage, she should expect to be treated as such. Of course, that ran both ways. If the woman was ever wounded or ill, aid she would get, but no mercy.
Once they were out of the courtyard, they stopped. Basen came over, took the reins, and handed them to Mao. This prompted her to smile at her guard as if she were a novel wound. A cobra would have been friendlier.
The woman returned her smile with a stony gaze. The dust of the Steppes had prepared this woman, and Mao had been prepared by growing up with the madam. Neither gave quarter nor flinched. Mao approved.
“Explain,” Basen asked, forcing Mao to break off the duel of stares.
“We’re going to raid a house,” Mao said. “I want to question the occupants. Capture, don’t kill. Some may try to kill themselves; you must stop them.”
“Treat her words as if the Moon Prince had uttered them. If any of you misunderstand her instructions, you will have to wrestle with me when the Prince has finished with you.”
The soldiers were stoic, but each glanced at the other upon hearing the threat. Wrestling a man who had single-handedly beaten a lion was not something they would look forward to, especially if he was in a merciless mood.
“And if you capture everyone as directed, I’ll buy rounds,” Basen added.
There was an approving murmur.
“Let’s go. The night and surprise are on our side,” he finished.
There was nothing more to be said, and the group moved out, quiet as partridges in the moonlight.