#themoonshindmostwound — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #themoonshindmostwound, aggregated by home.social.
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12. Moon Rise (2/2)
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries
#wss366 #MastoPromptThat ended when Mao heard Jinshi say, “Someone is going to have to be punished for letting the assassin die. I suppose the mercenary woman will have to take the blame.”
Mao frowned upon hearing the guard mentioned.
“Steel?” she asked.—“Never make assumptions” was one of the things she had been taught, but she was sure of the answer.
“Yes, the woman Mù’er. She was holding the woman when it happened, and as a foreigner, no one will complain about her death.” As he spoke, Jinshi looked intently at Mao. From the squint in his eyes, Mao assumed he was wondering what she would say.
Mao should have been happy at this announcement, after all, she owed the woman for her early rudeness and for tossing her around like a sack of millet. Mao’s ribs were still tender from the pounding they had taken from the saddle horn. Still…
“It is entirely my fault. I was careless with the poisoned arrow, and Steel lost her grip because I stumbled into her.”
"What am I saying?" Mao thought. Judging by the stares of Basen and Jinshi, they were thinking the same thing. Suiren's glare was almost enough to kill her on the spot, which might be a mercy, considering the alternative.
“Pardon my wandering mind, but didn’t I hear it was one of the family members who stabbed her with the arrow?” Suiren’s statement stunned them all. Mao wondered what her intervention would cost her.
Seconds ticked by until Jinshi replied, "No, you remember correctly. Maomao would never be careless with a poisoned arrow, let alone leave it wedged in place for someone to impale themselves on.” To anyone less familiar with Jinshi, the sarcasm in his statement would have gone undetected. Mao heard the jab but was unbothered. It seemed a small price to pay for her actions.
“I think, as a reward for guarding our clumsy Xiaomao,” the Moon Prince continued, “we should permanently assign Mù’er to guard her. We can’t have Xiaomao carelessly harming herself.”
Mao shuddered.
*** Finis ***
#MicroFiction #TootFic #Serial #NMFic #NMV366
#ApothecaryDiaries -
12. Moon Rise (1/2)
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries
#wss366 #MastoPromptJinshi still looked pale, but thanks to Mao, he could work for short periods again. Not that either Mao or Jinshi’s head maid, Suiren, agreed.
“Maybe I should have used less of the antidote,” Mao grumbled to herself. She was in a particularly #crabby mood due to the nausea resulting from experimenting with the assassin’s poison. The fact that the rice cakes with persimmon #jam didn’t tempt her spoke volumes. Jinshi’s royal robes were too bright to look at. Fortunately, the muted colors of his office were easier on her eyes, and she kept her gaze on the mild yellow embroidered flowers on the curtain hiding Baryou.
She refused the dish of rice crackers that Jinshi pushed toward her. What she wanted to say was, “Go back to bed, you idiot.” That's what she felt the doctors should have said. Given Jinshi’s feelings for her, she would have survived the impertinence. However, with Suiren frowning at them both, she didn’t dare say it.
Instead, Mao eyed the wine, wondering if it would settle her stomach while Basen droned on about the events leading to the capture of the Shaoh assassin and the family sheltering her.
[Continued in next post]
#MicroFiction #TootFic #Serial #NMFic #NMV366
#ApothecaryDiaries -
12. Moon Rise (1/2)
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries
#wss366 #MastoPromptJinshi still looked pale, but thanks to Mao, he could work for short periods again. Not that either Mao or Jinshi’s head maid, Suiren, agreed.
“Maybe I should have used less of the antidote,” Mao grumbled to herself. She was in a particularly #crabby mood due to the nausea resulting from experimenting with the assassin’s poison. The fact that the rice cakes with persimmon #jam didn’t tempt her spoke volumes. Jinshi’s royal robes were too bright to look at. Fortunately, the muted colors of his office were easier on her eyes, and she kept her gaze on the mild yellow embroidered flowers on the curtain hiding Baryou.
She refused the dish of rice crackers that Jinshi pushed toward her. What she wanted to say was, “Go back to bed, you idiot.” That's what she felt the doctors should have said. Given Jinshi’s feelings for her, she would have survived the impertinence. However, with Suiren frowning at them both, she didn’t dare say it.
Instead, Mao eyed the wine, wondering if it would settle her stomach while Basen droned on about the events leading to the capture of the Shaoh assassin and the family sheltering her.
[Continued in next post]
#MicroFiction #TootFic #Serial #NMFic #NMV366
#ApothecaryDiaries -
12. Moon Rise (1/2)
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries
#wss366 #MastoPromptJinshi still looked pale, but thanks to Mao, he could work for short periods again. Not that either Mao or Jinshi’s head maid, Suiren, agreed.
“Maybe I should have used less of the antidote,” Mao grumbled to herself. She was in a particularly #crabby mood due to the nausea resulting from experimenting with the assassin’s poison. The fact that the rice cakes with persimmon #jam didn’t tempt her spoke volumes. Jinshi’s royal robes were too bright to look at. Fortunately, the muted colors of his office were easier on her eyes, and she kept her gaze on the mild yellow embroidered flowers on the curtain hiding Baryou.
She refused the dish of rice crackers that Jinshi pushed toward her. What she wanted to say was, “Go back to bed, you idiot.” That's what she felt the doctors should have said. Given Jinshi’s feelings for her, she would have survived the impertinence. However, with Suiren frowning at them both, she didn’t dare say it.
Instead, Mao eyed the wine, wondering if it would settle her stomach while Basen droned on about the events leading to the capture of the Shaoh assassin and the family sheltering her.
[Continued in next post]
#MicroFiction #TootFic #Serial #NMFic #NMV366
#ApothecaryDiaries -
12. Moon Rise (1/2)
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries
#wss366 #MastoPromptJinshi still looked pale, but thanks to Mao, he could work for short periods again. Not that either Mao or Jinshi’s head maid, Suiren, agreed.
“Maybe I should have used less of the antidote,” Mao grumbled to herself. She was in a particularly #crabby mood due to the nausea resulting from experimenting with the assassin’s poison. The fact that the rice cakes with persimmon #jam didn’t tempt her spoke volumes. Jinshi’s royal robes were too bright to look at. Fortunately, the muted colors of his office were easier on her eyes, and she kept her gaze on the mild yellow embroidered flowers on the curtain hiding Baryou.
She refused the dish of rice crackers that Jinshi pushed toward her. What she wanted to say was, “Go back to bed, you idiot.” That's what she felt the doctors should have said. Given Jinshi’s feelings for her, she would have survived the impertinence. However, with Suiren frowning at them both, she didn’t dare say it.
Instead, Mao eyed the wine, wondering if it would settle her stomach while Basen droned on about the events leading to the capture of the Shaoh assassin and the family sheltering her.
[Continued in next post]
#MicroFiction #TootFic #Serial #NMFic #NMV366
#ApothecaryDiaries -
12. Moon Rise (1/2)
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries
#wss366 #MastoPromptJinshi still looked pale, but thanks to Mao, he could work for short periods again. Not that either Mao nor Jinshi’s head maid, Suiren, agreed.
“Maybe I should have used less of the antidote,” Mao grumbled to herself. She was in a particularly #crabby mood due to the nausea resulting from experimenting with the assassin’s poison. The fact that the rice cakes with persimmon #jam didn’t tempt her spoke volumes. Jinshi’s royal robes were too bright to look at. Fortunately, the muted colors of his office were easier on her eyes, and she kept her gaze on the mild yellow embroidered flowers on the curtain hiding Baryou.
She refused the dish of rice crackers that Jinshi pushed toward her. What she wanted to say was, “Go back to bed, you idiot.” That's what she felt the doctors should have said. Given Jinshi’s feelings for her, she would have survived the impertinence. However, with Suiren frowning at them both, she didn’t dare say it.
Instead, Mao eyed the wine, wondering if it would settle her stomach while Basen droned on about the events leading to the capture of the Shaoh assassin and the family sheltering her.
[Continued in next post]
#MicroFiction #TootFic #Serial #NMFic #NMV366
#ApothecaryDiaries -
11. Mercy by Moonlight 2/2
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries
#wss366 #MastoPromptShe paused, letting the woman think, then resumed, “You don’t have to tell me who your master is, but I must know what the poison contains. Tell me, and the arrow is yours.”
[Conclusion next Week in "Moon Rise]
#MicroFiction #TootFic #Serial #NMFic #NMV366
#ApothecaryDiaries -
10. Moonlight Snare
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries
#wss366The cavalcade moved down the hill toward the house. Each person carefully led their horse to avoid rocks and walked on soft soil whenever possible.
Halfway down the slope, the inevitable happened, and the sound of rattling stones broke the silence. Below, in response, a light flared in the house.
In an instant, Basen sounded a blast on a war horn, and the brassy #refrain of another followed across the valley. The troops sprang into their saddles.
Before Mao knew it, she’d been thrown across a horse’s back, and her guard had mounted behind her. “Be still,” the woman hissed.
From Mao's perspective, everything became a blur of confusion. The rhythm of the horse's gait, the rough hand holding her, and the vibrations of thundering hooves made it difficult for her to regain her breath. The ground beneath them danced as it raced by, making her dizzy. In that chaos, Mao could only form two coherent thoughts: "Don't vomit," and "Just wait until that woman needs medical attention." However, neither thought lasted long, as her ribs collided with the saddle horn with each stride of the horse.
As suddenly as it started, the mad race ended at the house. From her supine position, all she could see were shadowy figures jumping from their horses and rushing into the building. It was only then that they broke their silence, shouting out a variety of war cries.
Mao slid off the horse, holding on to it as the ground pitched beneath her. She took a few wobbly steps to follow the soldiers, only to feel the woman’s hand on her shoulder restraining her.
“I need to ensure that no one escapes,” Mao gasped.
“Don’t worry, little Apothecary Lady. None will escape this snare.”
#MicroFiction #TootFic #Serial #NMFic #NMV366
#ApothecaryDiaries -
10. Moonlight Snare
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries
#wss366The cavalcade moved down the hill toward the house. Each person carefully led their horse to avoid rocks and walked on soft soil whenever possible.
Halfway down the slope, the inevitable happened, and the sound of rattling stones broke the silence. Below, in response, a light flared in the house.
In an instant, Basen sounded a blast on a war horn, and the brassy #refrain of another followed across the valley. The troops sprang into their saddles.
Before Mao knew it, she’d been thrown across a horse’s back, and her guard had mounted behind her. “Be still,” the woman hissed.
From Mao's perspective, everything became a blur of confusion. The rhythm of the horse's gait, the rough hand holding her, and the vibrations of thundering hooves made it difficult for her to regain her breath. The ground beneath them danced as it raced by, making her dizzy. In that chaos, Mao could only form two coherent thoughts: "Don't vomit," and "Just wait until that woman needs medical attention." However, neither thought lasted long, as her ribs collided with the saddle horn with each stride of the horse.
As suddenly as it started, the mad race ended at the house. From her supine position, all she could see were shadowy figures jumping from their horses and rushing into the building. It was only then that they broke their silence, shouting out a variety of war cries.
Mao slid off the horse, holding on to it as the ground pitched beneath her. She took a few wobbly steps to follow the soldiers, only to feel the woman’s hand on her shoulder restraining her.
“I need to ensure that no one escapes,” Mao gasped.
“Don’t worry, little Apothecary Lady. None will escape this snare.”
#MicroFiction #TootFic #Serial #NMFic #NMV366
#ApothecaryDiaries -
10. Moonlight Snare
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries
#wss366The cavalcade moved down the hill toward the house. Each person carefully led their horse to avoid rocks and walked on soft soil whenever possible.
Halfway down the slope, the inevitable happened, and the sound of rattling stones broke the silence. Below, in response, a light flared in the house.
In an instant, Basen sounded a blast on a war horn, and the brassy #refrain of another followed across the valley. The troops sprang into their saddles.
Before Mao knew it, she’d been thrown across a horse’s back, and her guard had mounted behind her. “Be still,” the woman hissed.
From Mao's perspective, everything became a blur of confusion. The rhythm of the horse's gait, the rough hand holding her, and the vibrations of thundering hooves made it difficult for her to regain her breath. The ground beneath them danced as it raced by, making her dizzy. In that chaos, Mao could only form two coherent thoughts: "Don't vomit," and "Just wait until that woman needs medical attention." However, neither thought lasted long, as her ribs collided with the saddle horn with each stride of the horse.
As suddenly as it started, the mad race ended at the house. From her supine position, all she could see were shadowy figures jumping from their horses and rushing into the building. It was only then that they broke their silence, shouting out a variety of war cries.
Mao slid off the horse, holding on to it as the ground pitched beneath her. She took a few wobbly steps to follow the soldiers, only to feel the woman’s hand on her shoulder restraining her.
“I need to ensure that no one escapes,” Mao gasped.
“Don’t worry, little Apothecary Lady. None will escape this snare.”
#MicroFiction #TootFic #Serial #NMFic #NMV366
#ApothecaryDiaries -
10. Moonlight Snare
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries
#wss366The cavalcade moved down the hill toward the house. Each person carefully led their horse to avoid rocks and walked on soft soil whenever possible.
Halfway down the slope, the inevitable happened, and the sound of rattling stones broke the silence. Below, in response, a light flared in the house.
In an instant, Basen sounded a blast on a war horn, and the brassy #refrain of another followed across the valley. The troops sprang into their saddles.
Before Mao knew it, she’d been thrown across a horse’s back, and her guard had mounted behind her. “Be still,” the woman hissed.
From Mao's perspective, everything became a blur of confusion. The rhythm of the horse's gait, the rough hand holding her, and the vibrations of thundering hooves made it difficult for her to regain her breath. The ground beneath them danced as it raced by, making her dizzy. In that chaos, Mao could only form two coherent thoughts: "Don't vomit," and "Just wait until that woman needs medical attention." However, neither thought lasted long, as her ribs collided with the saddle horn with each stride of the horse.
As suddenly as it started, the mad race ended at the house. From her supine position, all she could see were shadowy figures jumping from their horses and rushing into the building. It was only then that they broke their silence, shouting out a variety of war cries.
Mao slid off the horse, holding on to it as the ground pitched beneath her. She took a few wobbly steps to follow the soldiers, only to feel the woman’s hand on her shoulder restraining her.
“I need to ensure that no one escapes,” Mao gasped.
“Don’t worry, little Apothecary Lady. None will escape this snare.”
#MicroFiction #TootFic #Serial #NMFic #NMV366
#ApothecaryDiaries -
10. Moonlight Snare
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries
#wss366The cavalcade moved down the hill toward the house. Each person carefully led their horse to avoid rocks and walked on soft soil whenever possible.
Halfway down the slope, the inevitable happened, and the sound of rattling stones broke the silence. Below, in response, a light flared in the house.
In an instant, Basen sounded a blast on a war horn, and the brassy #refrain of another followed across the valley. The troops sprang into their saddles.
Before Mao knew it, she’d been thrown across a horse’s back, and her guard had mounted behind her. “Be still,” the woman hissed.
From Mao's perspective, everything became a blur of confusion. The rhythm of the horse's gait, the rough hand holding her, and the vibrations of thundering hooves made it difficult for her to regain her breath. The ground beneath them danced as it raced by, making her dizzy. In that chaos, Mao could only form two coherent thoughts: "Don't vomit," and "Just wait until that woman needs medical attention." However, neither thought lasted long, as her ribs collided with the saddle horn with each stride of the horse.
As suddenly as it started, the mad race ended at the house. From her supine position, all she could see were shadowy figures jumping from their horses and rushing into the building. It was only then that they broke their silence, shouting out a variety of war cries.
Mao slid off the horse, holding on to it as the ground pitched beneath her. She took a few wobbly steps to follow the soldiers, only to feel the woman’s hand on her shoulder restraining her.
“I need to ensure that no one escapes,” Mao gasped.
“Don’t worry, little Apothecary Lady. None will escape this snare.”
#MicroFiction #TootFic #Serial #NMFic #NMV366
#ApothecaryDiaries -
9. Balanced on the Rim 縁にバランスを取って
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries
#wss366 #MastoPromptBasen’s company rode in a silence that was only broken by the hoot of an owl or the clatter of a rock kicked up by a horse. He called a halt just before the crest of a hill and signaled to two riders.
“Alert the guards and prepare to seize anyone who flees out the back. Signal with three short flashes when you’re ready.”
The riders #wheeled one to the right and one to the left and disappeared down paths. As they vanished, Basen signaled for the soldiers to dismount. They did so and began attending to their weapons and armor. Where possible, they made their weapons less lethal, such as by padding the tips of #lances or substituting blunt weapons for edged ones.
Mao’s bodyguard helped her dismount. Whatever resentment she might have remained hidden behind her professional manner. Mao returned the favor and didn’t accidentally kick her.
Once the weapons were secured, rations began appearing. Her guard produced rice cakes and dried fish. Mao eyed them hungrily. While they weren’t elegant fare, she’d eaten worse and, unlike the food at the inn, they were unlikely to make her ill. The question was whether her pride would let her ask for some.
“May I have...” she began asking, but stopped when the woman handed her a cake and some fish. The woman watched as Mao took a bite of the cake.
Seeming satisfied when Mao made no complaint, the woman said, “I’m Böktemür. It means steel, but I’m called Mù’er.”
The only part that stuck in Mao’s memory was “steel,” which was appropriate for a mercenary.
“I’m Maomao, but you can call me Mao. For the record, I’m an apothecary, not a lady.”
“Before, my tongue was rude. Forgive it, Apothecary Woman.”
“Accepted, Steel.”
They ate in silence and then sat waiting while the moon moved across the sky. When it #balanced on the rim of the far hills, Basen announced, “The signal. Advance silently until I signal, then ride like the wind. Capture, don’t kill.”
#MicroFiction #TootFic #Serial #NMFic #NMV366
#ApothecaryDiaries -
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.
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8. Partridges by Moonlight. (Part 1)
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries
#wss366 #MastoPromptBasen walked through the inn, tapping select soldiers on the arm and pointing outside. He toe-kicked those who were sleeping. Given his strength, Mao was glad that no ribs had been broken. The soldiers didn’t complain; they just rubbed their sides ruefully and exited the building as directed.
Mao followed and found half a dozen yawning soldiers assembled. Husky men and one woman. Unlike many nobles’ guards, these soldiers weren't selected for their good looks. Most of them were scarred veterans with equipment lovingly cared for. Even half asleep, they glanced warily about. Honor, not #greed, motivated these individuals.
“You sure you wouldn’t rather use the carriage?” Basen asked.
Mao snorted. “And let the whole valley know I’m coming?”
He nodded and turned to the woman. She was lightly armored, and Mao pegged her as a skirmisher. She had the pale-olive skin and high, wind-burned cheekbones of a northern rider. Her narrow eyes were beneath brows bleached by sun and dust. Women soldiers were rare but not unheard of. Like most female soldiers, she was probably a foreign mercenary, Mao thought, but she had to be dependable, otherwise she wouldn’t be here.
“Guard her,” Basen said, pointing to Mao. “The Moon Prince won’t forgive you if anything happens to her.”
“As you wish,” the woman answered. Her voice was husky, with a trace of an unfamiliar accent that rounded her vowels and clipped her consonants.
“Yes, definitely foreign,” Mao concluded.
The woman helped Mao up onto the horse. Leaning in so close Mao could smell the garlic on her breath, the woman said in a low tone that only Mao could hear, “Does the little #heroine need protection?” and clicked her tongue in disgust.
Mao gave her a sidelong glance, lips curling faintly. “Only from friendly fire,” she said, settling her grip on the reins.
The woman clicked her tongue again but said nothing more. It irked Mao that she was being treated like a helpless noble, but perhaps it was warranted. To a trained soldier, she would seem like a useless burden. However, she refused to stay behind. There were things she needed to do.
#MicroFiction #TootFic #Serial #NMFic #NMV366
#ApothecaryDiaries -
7. Sleeping Moon
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries
#wss366 #MastoPrompt
#burrow
“Burn these and dispose of the blood discreetly. Our lives depend upon it,” Mao said, pointing to the bloody wastes left over from her procedure on the Moon Prince.Tinkle nodded and began feeding the cloth into the braise.
Moa took some herbs from her robes. “Burn these too; it will help cover the smell.”
The next thing she did was exit the room and stop in front of the door. Turning to a guard, she said, “Get me Basen.”
When Basen arrived, he motioned to the door with a slight nod.
“He sleeps. Tinkle is seeing to him. Don’t go in until she leaves.”
Making no move to push past her into the room, Basen relaxed slightly after the reply.
“Did you find the carver?” she asked.
“Yes, and we have guards hidden on all the roads. They still feel safe in their #burrow.
“Get your best men: quiet, trustworthy, and able to follow orders to the letter. No one must be killed. And a horse for me. I’m going too.”
Basen looked like he would protest and then swallowed his words.
“Don’t worry, I have no intention of being a hero.”
Next week, “Partridges by Moonlight.”
#MicroFiction #TootFic #Serial #NMFic #NMV366
#ApothecaryDiaries -
6. Bleeding Moon 出血月
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries
#wss366 #MastoPromptShortly after Basen left, Tinkle arrived with additional cloth and a flask of spirits.
Mao took the flask and set up a table with her tools next to Jinshi's prone body. Among them was a slender, sharp lancet.
"Please get me a clean bowl or vessel for liquid. It must be clean."
She frowned, then continued, “Then I’ll need your help. If you’re going to be squeamish about blood, then leave. I won't hold you back. If things go wrong, it will cost us our lives. Decide by the time you get back.”
The girl soon returned with a bowl and handed it to Mao.
“Hold the bowl so it catches any blood,” Mao said. “Be careful not to cast a shadow on the patient. When I ask for a cloth, hand me one. There is an iron in the brazier. If I need it, fetch it instantly.”
#Loosing no time, the woman nodded, moved the candle to better illuminate Jinshi, and picked up the bowl again.
Mao nodded almost imperceptibly in approval. She wouldn't need to worry about her help.
"I'm going to bleed the wound to remove as much poison as possible. That just leaves the tainted blood that has already spread to his body."
The woman nodded again and stood ready.
After washing the area with alcohol, Mao carefully cut two diagonal lines across the wound, ensuring it bled freely.
Mao glanced at her aide once. Satisfied, she looked back at her work. Tinkle held the bowl steady and deftly handed her the cloth when needed.
Mao gently massaged the tissue around the wound.
"Hand me the packets next to the cotton," Mao said. Tinkle held them out to her, the bowl barely trembling.
Mao tore open the packet and began sprinkling its contents onto the wound. The faint smell of #gall scented the air as she did so. "That's to help stop the bleeding."
"Cloth," she ordered.
Again, it was handed to her flawlessly, and she bandaged the wound while applying gentle pressure to the area.
"If you have any gods, pray to them." Not having much faith in gods herself, Mao didn’t follow her own advice. Beyond downcast eyes, it didn't appear that Tinkle did either.
“He should live for a while,” Mao resumed. “Hopefully, that will give us enough time to identify the poison and find an antidote.”
Continued next week
#MicroFiction #TootFic #Serial #NMV366 #NMFic
#ApothecaryDiaries -
5. Pigeon Moon 鳩の月
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries
#wss366 #MastoPrompt #ScribesAndMakersSatisfied that she had learned all she could about the assassin, Mao waved Basen away. "Send Tinkle in," she said. "And don't come back until you are called. If you hear something, pretend you didn't. You don't want to be here."
Crag-like furrows reappeared on Basen’s forehead. Mao held her breath. It really was better for him not to be there. He might try to stop her, and the emperor would hold him accountable if something went wrong.
Basen pulled a face as if he had swallowed vinegar and said, “Guess that makes me the fourth monkey. Blind, deaf, dumb… and Basen, none the wiser.”
Mao just blinked. Was he trying to be funny at a time like this?
Basen glanced over at Jinshi, shook his head, and muttered, “Tiss #folly.”
As he left, candlelight #shone on Basen’s face, highlighting #pigeon-gray strands among his black hair. "Serving a master like Jinshi must be hard," she thought. "And today will earn him a few more."
Continued next week in Bleeding Moon 出血月
#MicroFiction #TootFic #Serial #NMV366 #NMSAM
#ApothecaryDiaries -
4. Detective MoaMoon 探偵猫月
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries
#wss366When Basen reentered the chamber, he had the requested cloth under one arm and held a steaming kettle. “You wanted me?” he asked.
“I want to see the would-be assassin and the arrow that caused this wound, as well as anything else associated with the incident. Put the cloth over there and the kettle on the brazier.
“The assassin escaped. A watch is out for a wounded person, but if the person has allies…” He shrugged helplessly and lifted a blanket covering a table near the door, revealing a broken arrow, a plain hair stick with a few strands of hair, and some blood-soaked leaves.
Mao almost brushed aside the leaves wondering why they had been brought. Basen divined her thoughts explained. “We brought everything. I knew you’d be asking. I didn’t know what would be useful.”
Mao nodded. That was best if they’d only brought what appeared useful, some seemingly unimportant clue-bearing items would now be absent. She stirred the leaves looking but found nothing.
“Any footprints?”
“Small, clad in light traveling shoes.”
She turned from that to identifying the poison. If she could heal Jinshi, she would leave the rest to others.
First, she examined the arrow. Its tip was narrow, grooved along the sides, and slightly blunted.
While not an archer, she surmised it was designed to carry poison rather than strike lethally. Whoever made this knew what they were doing. Not a local, though the taper and polish weren’t typical of Li soldiers.
Blood had washed the tip clean of poison, so there was nothing more she could learn from it. With a heavy sigh, she returned to her inquiry into the culprit. Perhaps the poison’s origin would hold a clue.
She returned what she held to the table and picked up the fletched end. The feathers were tan with some yellow along the edge, nothing she recognized. She looked up at Basen. “Do you recognize this feather?”
“No, it’s not something we use around here. I can ask around.”
“In a moment, I may have other questions.”
She picked up the hair stick and hair, rolling the hair between her fingers.
"It's dyed with something permanent, but look—red roots." She showed it to Basen, who nodded.
Finally, she examined the hair stick itself, running a finger along the grain. Interesting. Jichimu. The wood was a specialty item not found in the #market. No average soldier or paid assassin could afford this.
New, the stripes haven’t mellowed. She sniffed the wood, noting the scent of sesame oil and freshly worked wood: sweet, light, and fleeting. “Very new. Only a few days old. While you're finding out about the feather, also check for a local craftsman. Someone who works with fine wood, maybe a foreigner. But do nothing yet and be sure not to arouse any suspicions.”
Continued next week in Bleeding Moon 出血月
-
3. The Hind Most Wound
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries
#wss366 #MastoPromptThe Moon Prince lay under thick blankets, head #cushioned on a rolled-up cloak. Even from afar, Mao could make out his sickly green pallor, his labored breathing, and his slack skin. A lone woman was watching him silently from the corner.
“I’ll need hot water,” she said. The room was now her territory. Short of a high noble, no one would question her here. “Be sure it’s boiled, and have someone with clean hands do it. Not ‘Filthy Hands’ out there. Also, bring the finest clean cloth you can, and plenty of it. I can use coarse cloth or cotton batting for some of it. I have alcohol, but I may need more. Get the strongest you can find. No one’s private stash is exempt.”
“I’ll get right to it,” Basen said, but instead of leaving, he #snapped his fingers at the young woman in the corner. Mao frowned. The girl had been watching, sharp-eyed despite her silence. Snapping was wasteful noise, like shouting orders at a wall. Still, the woman neither flinched nor looked away. That steadiness was more interesting to Mao than Basen’s brusqueness.
“Meiling (美玲),” Basen continued. “You’ll help Maomao. Do whatever she asks! Anything!” He turned to Mao. “You can trust her. She’s reliable and knows about the Moon’s lotus mark. There’s just one thing: she can’t talk. It was deemed most suitable for someone who would serve the Moon Prince so closely.”
Meiling, “Beautiful Tinkling Jade,” Mao thought, an ironic name for a mute. Then, she turned to Jinshi.
The first thing she noticed when she removed the blankets was the bandage on the prince’s flank. Seepage stained the freshly applied cloth greenish-yellow.
As she removed the bandage, she asked, “Did you apply this?”
She glanced back and saw the girl nod.
Mao pointed to the stains. “Any change?”
The girl motioned, indicating less.
“Is he more or less active? Moaning? Rolling? Anything?”
Again, Meiling slowly brought her hands together.
“Less? That’s serious,” Mao said.
Mao returned her attention to the patient. The flesh around the wound was white. When she pressed on the tissue, she found it hard. Thin, yellowish-green fluid oozed from the wound. Mao sniffed it and wrinkled her nose. She pressed again harder noting the lack of reaction by the Prince. As she had suspected, the poisoning was quite advanced.
“Dispose of this bandage where no one will find it,” Mao ordered the woman. “Then get Basen. I have more questions. You can take his place in gathering my items. I’ll send for you as soon as I can.”
Continued next week in Detective MoaMoon 探偵猫月
#MicroFiction #TootFic #Serial #NMPrompts #NMV366 #NMMP
#ApothecaryDiaries -
2. The Moon in a Sty 豚小屋に宿る月
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries
#wss366 #MastoPromptBasen and Mao passed the guards and entered the inn. The air inside was as noxious as the courtyard had been filthy. This was not a place for Jinshi. Who knew what foul toxins #distilled in this fetid environment?
Mao surveyed the room. Soldiers slept under tables while a worried innkeeper served thin millet stew to the soldiers who were still awake. Seeing the innkeeper’s filthy apron and grimy hands dashed Mao’s waning hopes of being fed. She would skip eating, hungry or not.
The smell of huangjiu and millet wine hung in the air: a sour, stale odor. The fresh smell of recently served beverages was absent. Willingly or not, the troops were sober. The captain of the guard was on top of things, keeping the troops ready for anything.
Basen led her across the floor to the cloth-covered doorway that probably led to the owner’s quarters. A shaman’s #ward against disease was crudely painted on the blanket. Mao had never noticed they did any good, but they did no harm.
Her guild stopped, waving away the two guards standing there. “The Moon Prince sustained a wound in a sensitive place,” he began in a low voice. His mouth tightened. “And for reasons you know, the royal doctors cannot treat this wound.”
Maomao didn’t need the reminder. There were things about Jinshi’s body that were best left unspoken.
“That is one reason we summoned you. You are also the best person to treat a poisoned arrow wound. I needn’t tell you that this is all secret. We are circulating the story that the prince has detoured to a small lake and is recreating there. You have called to keep him company.”
Mao wasn’t happy about being summoned to “keep Jinshi company.” The implications would make her life difficult, but she could deal with that later. She would ask them to change the story. They had wanted her either because of a rare medicinal plant or because a minor official had been poisoned. Either excuse would be better.
Entering the room, she noticed it had been hastily cleaned and a brazier lit to warm it. Jinshi lay pale and still on his travel bed.
She stopped, and the words, “This is bad,” escaped her.
#MicroFiction #TootFic #Serial #NMPrompts #NMV366 #NMMP
#ApothecaryDiaries -
2. The Moon in a Sty 豚小屋に宿る月
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries
#wss366 #MastoPromptBasen and Mao passed the guards and entered the inn. The air inside was as noxious as the courtyard had been filthy. This was not a place for Jinshi. Who knew what foul toxins #distilled in this fetid environment?
Mao surveyed the room. Soldiers slept under tables while a worried innkeeper served thin millet stew to the soldiers who were still awake. Seeing the innkeeper’s filthy apron and grimy hands dashed Mao’s waning hopes of being fed. She would skip eating, hungry or not.
The smell of huangjiu and millet wine hung in the air: a sour, stale odor. The fresh smell of recently served beverages was absent. Willingly or not, the troops were sober. The captain of the guard was on top of things, keeping the troops ready for anything.
Basen led her across the floor to the cloth-covered doorway that probably led to the owner’s quarters. A shaman’s #ward against disease was crudely painted on the blanket. Mao had never noticed they did any good, but they did no harm.
Her guild stopped, waving away the two guards standing there. “The Moon Prince sustained a wound in a sensitive place,” he began in a low voice. His mouth tightened. “And for reasons you know, the royal doctors cannot treat this wound.”
Maomao didn’t need the reminder. There were things about Jinshi’s body that were best left unspoken.
“That is one reason we summoned you. You are also the best person to treat a poisoned arrow wound. I needn’t tell you that this is all secret. We are circulating the story that the prince has detoured to a small lake and is recreating there. You have called to keep him company.”
Mao wasn’t happy about being summoned to “keep Jinshi company.” The implications would make her life difficult, but she could deal with that later. She would ask them to change the story. They had wanted her either because of a rare medicinal plant or because a minor official had been poisoned. Either excuse would be better.
Entering the room, she noticed it had been hastily cleaned and a brazier lit to warm it. Jinshi lay pale and still on his travel bed.
She stopped, and the words, “This is bad,” escaped her.
#MicroFiction #TootFic #Serial #NMPrompts #NMV366 #NMMP
#ApothecaryDiaries -
2. The Moon in a Sty 豚小屋に宿る月
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries
#wss366 #MastoPromptBasen and Mao passed the guards and entered the inn. The air inside was as noxious as the courtyard had been filthy. This was not a place for Jinshi. Who knew what foul toxins #distilled in this fetid environment?
Mao surveyed the room. Soldiers slept under tables while a worried innkeeper served thin millet stew to the soldiers who were still awake. Seeing the innkeeper’s filthy apron and grimy hands dashed Mao’s waning hopes of being fed. She would skip eating, hungry or not.
The smell of huangjiu and millet wine hung in the air: a sour, stale odor. The fresh smell of recently served beverages was absent. Willingly or not, the troops were sober. The captain of the guard was on top of things, keeping the troops ready for anything.
Basen led her across the floor to the cloth-covered doorway that probably led to the owner’s quarters. A shaman’s #ward against disease was crudely painted on the blanket. Mao had never noticed they did any good, but they did no harm.
Her guild stopped, waving away the two guards standing there. “The Moon Prince sustained a wound in a sensitive place,” he began in a low voice. His mouth tightened. “And for reasons you know, the royal doctors cannot treat this wound.”
Maomao didn’t need the reminder. There were things about Jinshi’s body that were best left unspoken.
“That is one reason we summoned you. You are also the best person to treat a poisoned arrow wound. I needn’t tell you that this is all secret. We are circulating the story that the prince has detoured to a small lake and is recreating there. You have called to keep him company.”
Mao wasn’t happy about being summoned to “keep Jinshi company.” The implications would make her life difficult, but she could deal with that later. She would ask them to change the story. They had wanted her either because of a rare medicinal plant or because a minor official had been poisoned. Either excuse would be better.
Entering the room, she noticed it had been hastily cleaned and a brazier lit to warm it. Jinshi lay pale and still on his travel bed.
She stopped, and the words, “This is bad,” escaped her.
#MicroFiction #TootFic #Serial #NMPrompts #NMV366 #NMMP
#ApothecaryDiaries -
2. The Moon in a Sty 豚小屋に宿る月
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries
#wss366 #MastoPromptBasen and Mao passed the guards and entered the inn. The air inside was as noxious as the courtyard had been filthy. This was not a place for Jinshi. Who knew what foul toxins #distilled in this fetid environment?
Mao surveyed the room. Soldiers slept under tables while a worried innkeeper served thin millet stew to the soldiers who were still awake. Seeing the innkeeper’s filthy apron and grimy hands dashed Mao’s waning hopes of being fed. She would skip eating, hungry or not.
The smell of huangjiu and millet wine hung in the air: a sour, stale odor. The fresh smell of recently served beverages was absent. Willingly or not, the troops were sober. The captain of the guard was on top of things, keeping the troops ready for anything.
Basen led her across the floor to the cloth-covered doorway that probably led to the owner’s quarters. A shaman’s #ward against disease was crudely painted on the blanket. Mao had never noticed they did any good, but they did no harm.
Her guild stopped, waving away the two guards standing there. “The Moon Prince sustained a wound in a sensitive place,” he began in a low voice. His mouth tightened. “And for reasons you know, the royal doctors cannot treat this wound.”
Maomao didn’t need the reminder. There were things about Jinshi’s body that were best left unspoken.
“That is one reason we summoned you. You are also the best person to treat a poisoned arrow wound. I needn’t tell you that this is all secret. We are circulating the story that the prince has detoured to a small lake and is recreating there. You have called to keep him company.”
Mao wasn’t happy about being summoned to “keep Jinshi company.” The implications would make her life difficult, but she could deal with that later. She would ask them to change the story. They had wanted her either because of a rare medicinal plant or because a minor official had been poisoned. Either excuse would be better.
Entering the room, she noticed it had been hastily cleaned and a brazier lit to warm it. Jinshi lay pale and still on his travel bed.
She stopped, and the words, “This is bad,” escaped her.
#MicroFiction #TootFic #Serial #NMPrompts #NMV366 #NMMP
#ApothecaryDiaries -
2. The Moon in a Sty 豚小屋に宿る月
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries
#wss366 #MastoPromptBasen and Mao passed the guards and entered the inn. The air inside was as noxious as the courtyard had been filthy. This was not a place for Jinshi. Who knew what foul toxins #distilled in this fetid environment?
Mao surveyed the room. Soldiers slept under tables while a worried innkeeper served thin millet stew to the soldiers who were still awake. Seeing the innkeeper’s filthy apron and grimy hands dashed Mao’s waning hopes of being fed. She would skip eating, hungry or not.
The smell of huangjiu and millet wine hung in the air: a sour, stale odor. The fresh smell of recently served beverages was absent. Willingly or not, the troops were sober. The captain of the guard was on top of things, keeping the troops ready for anything.
Basen led her across the floor to the cloth-covered doorway that probably led to the owner’s quarters. A shaman’s #ward against disease was crudely painted on the blanket. Mao had never noticed they did any good, but they did no harm.
Her guild stopped, waving away the two guards standing there. “The Moon Prince sustained a wound in a sensitive place,” he began in a low voice. His mouth tightened. “And for reasons you know, the royal doctors cannot treat this wound.”
Maomao didn’t need the reminder. There were things about Jinshi’s body that were best left unspoken.
“That is one reason we summoned you. You are also the best person to treat a poisoned arrow wound. I needn’t tell you that this is all secret. We are circulating the story that the prince has detoured to a small lake and is recreating there. You have called to keep him company.”
Mao wasn’t happy about being summoned to “keep Jinshi company.” The implications would make her life difficult, but she could deal with that later. She would ask them to change the story. They had wanted her either because of a rare medicinal plant or because a minor official had been poisoned. Either excuse would be better.
Entering the room, she noticed it had been hastily cleaned and a brazier lit to warm it. Jinshi lay pale and still on his travel bed.
She stopped, and the words, “This is bad,” escaped her.
#MicroFiction #TootFic #Serial #NMPrompts #NMV366 #NMMP
#ApothecaryDiaries -
1. Summoning Moon
#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries
#wss366 #MastoPromptMao pondered the woman she’d just met. There was something very affable about her, windy thoughts and all. What kind of husband or father would let her wander around? For her own safety, they should lock her up before she poisoned herself or turned her brain to barley porridge.
Something this long #carriage trip threatened to do to her. It was a mystery why she had been summoned. One minute she was sorting medical supplies, and the next moment, Dr. Lu told her she had a quarter of an incense stick’s worth of time to prepare for a trip.
They should have inspected the carriage instead of rushing her. Losing a wheel had cost them more time than they had gained by hurrying her.
It was late when the wagon pulled into a dark, ill-kept inn. Even in the dark, Mao could see that the incident that had required traveling to the country was bigger than she’d imagined. A dozen soldiers stood around looking solemn. Her breath caught in her throat. They were Jinshi’s guards. Had he been ambushed, fallen ill, been poisoned?
There was no point in speculating; she would find out soon enough.
Ignoring protocol, Mao jumped out of the carriage, almost running into Basen, who had hurried to meet it.
“Come, you’re late,” he said by way of greeting. She wanted to protest that it wasn’t her fault; instead, she focused on what was important: “What’s going…?”
Basen didn’t let her finish. “Not here. I’ll explain inside.” His voice was tight, and his brow furrowed with worry lines that reminded her of his father’s.
Dodging unsavory objects #mashed into the muddy ground, she struggled to keep up with Basen as he crossed the courtyard. It wasn’t until they reached the door that she could try again. “He’s not dead…?”
Basen cut off again. “Not here, Niangniang. Soon.”
So what did she know? When they called for her, Jinshi couldn’t have been dead yet. No one needs an apothecary for a corpse. The same logic held now. The rush meant he was still alive. But why her? Poison was the only reason she could think of, unless the Moon Prince wished to say something to her before he died. That was an eventuality she wasn’t prepared to deal with, nor was she ready to confront the feelings it aroused.
#MicroFiction #TootFic #Serial #NMPrompts #NMV366 #NMMP
#ApothecaryDiaries