Lymee was worried with her. She had told Keo that she needed to speak her mind when she thought Lymee was about to say or do something stupid. After all Lymee was in a position where she could possibly start a much bloodier war if she said or did something that offended one of the other Dynasty Lords.
“Was that everything?” Lymee asked looking up at Keo.
“That was, my Lord,” Keo bowed her head. “I shall leave you to your rest.”
“Thank you,” Lymee smiled. She continued to smile while she watched Keo make her way to the entrance of the tent and walk out.
“Now,” Lymee looked down at Yoni with a devious smile. “Let’s try this again.”
***
The war camp was far larger than Lymee had expected it to be. It was easily the size of any major city Lymee had seen. But considering that the camp held upwards of two hundred thousand soldiers its vast size was not surprising. On top of the number of soldiers there were countless others milling about. Servants, slaves, merchants, there was even a market area where people had set up their shops and sold their wares to the different soldiers. Lymee was sure that the merchant who was selling extra blankets was making a killing.
But despite the overall business of the camp things came to a near standstill as Lymee and her entourage rode through. The onlookers stood off to the sides lining the path as Lymee and her men made their way towards the center of the camp where they were to meet the other lords. Many whispered to their friends while many others did not say anything at all. But every single one of them were looking directly at Lymee.
And this was not simply the standard adoration that was shown towards nobles. Lymee was, relatively speaking, a very minor noble and not even a Dynasty Lord. Her rank and current standing did not merit such attention.
At least not yet. Once Alia died that very well might change.
Lymee shook her head brushing the thoughts aside. That was the last thing she should be thinking about right now.
“Jeez, do I have something on my face?” Lymee snorted to herself trying to make light of the situation. She absently rubbed her hands together before bringing them up to her mouth so she could blow hot air on them as she tried to save off the cold. She was wearing riding gloves but even those did nothing to fend off the winter cold.
“They have gathered to get a look at the famed Heavenly Fox,” Keo stated raising her voice only slightly to make sure that Lymee could hear her.
“Not all of them seem happy to see me,” Lymee said noticing the dirty looks she was receiving by several of the soldiers as she passed.
“Some see you as some kind of threat to either them or their lords,” Keo explained. “While others see you as an imposter tarnishing the name of The Heavens by claiming to be sent by them.”
“I sort of am,” Lymee looked down at Kitsune draped around her shoulders.
She realized then having a fox wrapped around her shoulders probably was not helping to disprove the idea that she thought herself a real Heavenly Fox. But it was cold and Kitsune was warm and far better than any scarf. She reached up and scratched the fox before returning her hand the horn of the saddle.
Lymee looked at some of the other people that had gathered alongside the path. They seemed to have an almost reverent look about them. Many of them even refused to make eye contact with her.
“Those are the ones who see you as a divine being,” Keo whispered seemingly reading Lymee’s mind.
“We’ll at least they’re not bowing,” Lymee mumbled letting out a deep breath that turned to fog as it left her mouth. “That’s something at least.”
“Only because to do so would be considered treason to their lords,” Keo explained. “I have no doubt given different circumstances they would gladly press their heads to the ground for you.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” Lymee asked turning around in her
“Was that everything?” Lymee asked looking up at Keo.
“That was, my Lord,” Keo bowed her head. “I shall leave you to your rest.”
“Thank you,” Lymee smiled. She continued to smile while she watched Keo make her way to the entrance of the tent and walk out.
“Now,” Lymee looked down at Yoni with a devious smile. “Let’s try this again.”
***
The war camp was far larger than Lymee had expected it to be. It was easily the size of any major city Lymee had seen. But considering that the camp held upwards of two hundred thousand soldiers its vast size was not surprising. On top of the number of soldiers there were countless others milling about. Servants, slaves, merchants, there was even a market area where people had set up their shops and sold their wares to the different soldiers. Lymee was sure that the merchant who was selling extra blankets was making a killing.
But despite the overall business of the camp things came to a near standstill as Lymee and her entourage rode through. The onlookers stood off to the sides lining the path as Lymee and her men made their way towards the center of the camp where they were to meet the other lords. Many whispered to their friends while many others did not say anything at all. But every single one of them were looking directly at Lymee.
And this was not simply the standard adoration that was shown towards nobles. Lymee was, relatively speaking, a very minor noble and not even a Dynasty Lord. Her rank and current standing did not merit such attention.
At least not yet. Once Alia died that very well might change.
Lymee shook her head brushing the thoughts aside. That was the last thing she should be thinking about right now.
“Jeez, do I have something on my face?” Lymee snorted to herself trying to make light of the situation. She absently rubbed her hands together before bringing them up to her mouth so she could blow hot air on them as she tried to save off the cold. She was wearing riding gloves but even those did nothing to fend off the winter cold.
“They have gathered to get a look at the famed Heavenly Fox,” Keo stated raising her voice only slightly to make sure that Lymee could hear her.
“Not all of them seem happy to see me,” Lymee said noticing the dirty looks she was receiving by several of the soldiers as she passed.
“Some see you as some kind of threat to either them or their lords,” Keo explained. “While others see you as an imposter tarnishing the name of The Heavens by claiming to be sent by them.”
“I sort of am,” Lymee looked down at Kitsune draped around her shoulders.
She realized then having a fox wrapped around her shoulders probably was not helping to disprove the idea that she thought herself a real Heavenly Fox. But it was cold and Kitsune was warm and far better than any scarf. She reached up and scratched the fox before returning her hand the horn of the saddle.
Lymee looked at some of the other people that had gathered alongside the path. They seemed to have an almost reverent look about them. Many of them even refused to make eye contact with her.
“Those are the ones who see you as a divine being,” Keo whispered seemingly reading Lymee’s mind.
“We’ll at least they’re not bowing,” Lymee mumbled letting out a deep breath that turned to fog as it left her mouth. “That’s something at least.”
“Only because to do so would be considered treason to their lords,” Keo explained. “I have no doubt given different circumstances they would gladly press their heads to the ground for you.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” Lymee asked turning around in her
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