The next day Guangfeng made sure Yuelan was settled on Byakko’s back safely and the group headed back toward the river where they had left Leila’s people. The trib back went more easily than the trip to the temple. The magic creatures living in the forests were hardly seen, almost as if they were hiding themselves. The ones that they did see were spotted only from a distance and quickly disappeared.

Leila’s people were all excited to see them return and they spent two days celebrating Yuelan’s success before setting off back upstream. Yuelan spent most of her time resting in the small room she shared with Willow as she didn’t have much energy. Every morning she woke up feeling just as tired as the one before, causing Willow to feel concerned. Byakko stayed in his small, house-cat sized form curled up on Yuelan’s bed and watched her pale, sleeping face.

When they reached the first city in Longuo, the boats stopped for supplies and to let Yuelan, Willow, and Guangfeng off. It had been a week since they’d left the eastern temple and Yuelan was still exhausted. One look at her pale face had Guangfeng’s lips turned downward and he hurried to her side.

“Haven’t you been getting enough rest?” he asked her, concerned.

Yuelan gave him a tired smile. “All I’ve been doing is resting, Guangfeng. I thought I was sleeping too much and tried getting up to walk around the boat every day, but I couldn’t last more than about five minutes.” She covered her mouth with her sleeve and yawned.

Guangfeng frowned and reached a hand out to gently stroke her cheek with his fingers. “I’ll find the most comfortable carriage I can for you,” he promised. “You stay here with Willow and Byakko. Don’t strain yourself.” He waited for her to nod before heading into the city.

Leila had watched the whole interaction and had a slight frown on her face as she approached Yuelan. “He treats you well. Like you’re a precious treasure to him.”

Yuelan nodded. “He does. I want to do something for him when I get back to the capital.” She turned to study Leila’s expression. “Is something wrong?”

The Hechuan woman shrugged. “It’s just different from how my fiance and I interact. He doesn’t come to look for me. I always have to go find him.” Leila looked off toward a group of men that were working on repairing one of the boats.

“Perhaps that’s because you don’t treat him well,” Willow suggested from nearby. “You treat him as though he is inferior to you, speak to him the same way, and make demands. Men have pride. Perhaps you have wounded his.”

Leila frowned at Willow. “What would you know?”

Willow shrugged. “I was a maid in His Highness the third prince’s palace before he sent me to serve Miss Yuelan. Your culture is different, but people are still people. I am a servant and have signed my life away to my master, but even I am still a person with pride.”

“She isn’t wrong,” Yuelan added. “If you treat someone like an object then they won’t be happy. If you treat them with respect and show that you treasure them then they’re more likely to reciprocate.”

Leila looked over at the group of men again. “I suppose so…” She looked back at Yuelan. “I have a favor to ask. I’d like to go with you back to Longuo. Men aren’t allowed to get too close to you, right? Then you need a woman who can stand at your side and go with you everywhere to provide protection. I can fill that role.”

Yuelan studied Leila. “Are you sure this is something you want to do? What about your fiance?”

Leila shrugged. “I’ll talk to him about it. And about our betrothal. If it’s something he still wants then he can come along. If it isn’t, then I guess I should set him free to find someone else. I don’t want to be with someone who doesn’t want me, after all.”

“In that case, you’re welcome to come. And don’t worry about needing to sign a life contract or anything like that. I’ll give you monthly wages, but I don’t believe in slavery.” She looked over at Willow. “I already gave all my servants’ contracts back to them. Or tried to. Most of them refused to take them.”

Leila smiled. “I’m glad to hear it. We don’t believe in slavery either.”

Yuelan nodded and covered her face with her sleeve as she yawned again. “Gather your things, Leila. We’ll leave when you’re ready and Guangfeng is back with the carriage.”

The Hechuan woman nodded and first went to speak with her fiance, one of the men repairing the boat, before going to pack her things. Yuelan caught a glimpse of something shiny sliding down Leila’s cheek as she left her fiance’s side and headed into her boat to pack her things.