236 A New Leader (2/2)

”He's really gone, isn't he?” His low voice echoed throughout the empty room. It felt void suddenly as he sat there, his eyes disregarding the quiet presence behind him.

An Rou looked carefully at his hands, roughened to his fingertips, often raw and aching from overuse. He felt something unfamiliar swell in his chest. ”All I did was work behind him, wondering when I would be able to step forward…to make something of myself.”

He heard the light footsteps behind him inch closer in the silence. ”I'm where I wanted to be; in exchange for my own father's death…” An Ruo's voice rattled as the words left his throat. He buried his face in his hands and did not speak.

The pale man only stood listening - quietly watching him ponder. His gaze wandered to the flickering, amber flame as if to read its depths. Its light dancing within the emerald hue of his eyes.

”If I may, Master Rou, I must inquire.” His eyes averted from the flame.

An Ruo turned to look at him, his gaze intent. The pale man lowered his eyes quietly. His face was in a shadow, the hair falling around his eyes. Suddenly, An Ruo reached out and pinched his chin, lifting his gaze.

”Say it, Shen. What is it?” An Ruo's thumb pressed into the man's pale and delicate skin.

Nodding his head gently, Shen lifted his gaze and parted his soft lips to speak, ”In truth, I do not think it is too soon. I do not believe the sudden-nature of this position's arrival changes your ability to rule. I think...I believe you have been ready since the beginning.”

An Rou's lips pursed in a thin line. Suddenly, a pair of white fingertips clasped around his hand holding the young man's chin. They felt cold.

”So, why have you begun to doubt yourself?” Shen asked softly, a few blonde hairs slipped forward to hang over his eyes.

Staring down at the pale man before him, An Ruo fell silent for a moment. Shen's eyes were green and brown as forest, and even in the dim light, An Ruo could see the gold.

He looked down a moment at where their hands joined. Then his hand ripped itself from Shen's and blurred past so swiftly one could not follow it. He turned, his back faced toward the window.

”Leave. I want to be alone.” An Ruo said.

Shen quietly nodded his head. ”Yes…Master Ruo.”

Behind him, An Ruo could hardly hear the man leave, had it not been for the sound of a door opening and closing with a creak. Standing quiet for a moment, he looked over his shoulder.

Shen was gone.

An Ruo lifted his hand. Clenching it into a tight fist, he braced both hands on the desk, shutting his eyes tight.

…

When dawn came, An Hongyu's funeral began. Clan members and soldiers stood in scattered bunches, their eyes still against the burning flames amongst the wood pyre.

The smoke curled against the gentle winds of morning, their eyes stung from the blowing heat.

An Rou's tensed hands behind his back fell beside him, and he spared a final glimpse of the fire that crackled in his ears.

He turned his feet against the ashy floor, casting a glance to the people that stood behind him. ”Gather around the main tent.”

Footsteps grazed the ragged floor, arms brushing against the opening of the tent. An Rou stood with a still gaze, his voice firm as it drew in the ears of others.

”Your ruler is gone, but I am going to keep us moving forward as the successor of my father.”

The men's faces held a sense of optimism as they listened to him speak. They did not doubt An Rou would bring them where they needed to be, despite the clear achievements of their previous ruler, An Hongyu.

An Ruo's hands braced on the wood of the short table. His eyes rose, ”We're going to attack the Western Empire at full force. Our last battle was merciful, to say the least.”

A sudden sneer spread across his lips. He licked at his bottom lip and cocked his head faintly.

”But they still have something that I want. Something I will fight them for continuously if I have to.” His voice was smooth to one's ears, but it held a familiar sinister intent.

Shen stood in the corner, his presence distant as he listened to his master's words. A cold smile on his face.