Racing Before Dark

After making our way off the Dragon's Back pass, the narrow crossing widened into forest, where an often-traveled footpath awaited us, buried under mounting snow. Predecessors had spent years carving out crude stone steps and paving wider paths for the benefit of the royal palanquins that would take this route every year.

The palanquin was unable to pass the fallen tree trunk – I was certain we would have to extend our stay at the temple now that reinforcements had to be called to take us all home safely.

After having sprawled and crawled in a very unladylike manner in order to pass the Dragon's Back, my traveling gown was now muddy, damp and worse for wear.

To make it worse, the snow wasn't stopping – it was only falling heavier as time passed. I sat on a fold-up stool we had managed to retrieve from the palanquins and watched the men work. Some members of the convoy were staying on the other side of the tree trunk in order to take inventory and go back to call for help.

Gu Yin had instructed the men to lay some even sized tree branches across the web of the branches, forming a bumpy but roughly horizontal surface across the length of the tree trunk. The rope that had ensured many of us safe passage was now transporting supplies across the tree trunk.

Our supplies had already been packaged in sturdy, oilskin packages and all that was left was to tie them onto the rope, toss them onto the top of the tree trunk, and the other team would pull it to our side.

"Noble Concubine Ling, please come this way to freshen up." Yun appeared behind me.

Xin and Fei stood guard outside a large rich purple tent emblazoned with the imperial insignia, guarding the tent. As Qiu Ci and Qiu Le were not fit to make such journeys, the female bodyguards doubled as assistants as needed, as they were the only females on the trip.

We had been stalled here for roughly 2 hours, and a small camp had been put up on a wider stretch just off the Dragon's Back. Amidst the howling winds, the men had managed to put together 3 tents, a collection of equipment and seats, and were bustling about getting lunch ready on a fire.

We would be here awhile.

I ducked into the tent, which was bare save for a canopy stretched over the ground, a stool, a modest table and a rack on which hung a change of clothes, set beside a change of gloves and boots. As the tents were only meant for temporary stops and we had proper accommodation at the temple, we had brought sparse furnishings to travel light.

Yun followed me into the tent.

"Let me know if you need any help, Noble Concubine Ling." She said as she turned to face the entrance.

I sighed and started peeling off the wet clothes.

I shivered. Despite the tent canopy providing some shelter from the wind, we were still on the mountain tops.

I changed quickly.

"Done!" I said to Yun, who followed me out the tent.

"Where's Lu- The Emperor?" I asked one of the convoy, who was holding up a rag to shield the fire from the wind.

He gestured with his chin in the direction of the Dragon's Back pass.

So he was still there, huh.

"Please have a seat first, Noble Concubine Ling." Yun said, bringing a seat over.

I sat down heavily, scooping up the bottom of my gown and tucking it beneath my knees. After muddying my traveling gown to such an extent just now, I was feeling a bit reluctant to get this one dirty again. I didn't have that many change of clothes.

Lunch was some dried rations and gruel heated up with some fungi the men had found foraging in the nearby forest. It was too cold, so most animals had already gone in hibernation, and those that weren't, you didn't want to meet.

We finished lunch and started packing up the equipment.

In order to reach the temple in time, we had decided to only bring over the necessities and leave the rest at the Dragon's Back for the reinforcements.

It would be dark soon and we didn't want to still be stranded in the middle of nowhere.

Palanquin forsaken, we set about on foot in a tight pack back up the mountain.