Chronicles of the West

I know it's slow, but I promise it picks up. Please review. The next chapter will jump forward a few years and check on everyone else too :)


Chapter Four

Aislin woke to Ippiku muttering under his breath. She sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "Ippiku?" she called softly, "What is it?" The little ice demon turned to look at her from his perch on the bedside table. His large aqua eyes blinking at her tangled golden hair. Like spun gold it was, or winter wheat.

"Nothing Aislin, rest yourself and go back to sleep. It's not yet dawn" he told her. She shrugged and rose, stretching. "This is an odd place" she announced, "There are no trees here". Ippiku picked at a tiny claw, "We are deep within a mountain Aislin" he told her. She nodded and reached out feel her way around. They'd found in time that Aislin didn't so much talk to the forests as they did to her. With her sight lost, she depended heavily on her keen hearing.

Ippiku watched her progress, "Left Aislin" he called out as she sought the chair near the hearth. "Where is lord Toga?" she asked. It was unlike him to stay away for an entire night. But then, they were usually outside. "I imagine that he is having discussions with the lady of this place" he admitted. Aislin nodded, her guardian was a strange one. Reticent and solemn, and always seemed to be hiding something.

"Ippiku? If Lord Toga rules over part of his homeland, why did he leave?" she asked. Ippiku was much easier to get answers from than Toga. Ippiku sighed, curious girl. "Lord Toga's father is very powerful, and his uncle as well. They are legend in Japan and on the continent. He wanted to make his own fame, not fall under theirs". Aislin didn't quite understand, but it was obviously of great importance to her lord and master.

Ippiku was good enough to turn away and she dressed herself, and then he helped her braid her long hair. "Shall we venture out Ippiku?" she asked. There was a sudden rap on her door and she stilled. Hearing the door swing open, she turned. "Lady Aislin?" came a voice she didn't know. Ippiku fluttered in front of her.

A tall wolf was framed in the doorway, he looked the ice demon up and down for long minutes. "What are you doing in here?" Ippiku demanded. The wolf shrugged, "I have come to show the lady to breakfast. Lord Toga will be along shortly" he said at last.

Aislin spoke up then, "And what is your name?". Her soft voice drew the wolf's attention back to her and he smiled though he knew she couldn't see it. "I am Gunther" he replied at last, moving forward and gently taking her arm. Ippiku watched the wolf closely as they walked, ready to freeze him and shout for Toga.

There was however no need, as the wolf did just as he'd promised. He was very patient with the human girl, kind even. His glares kept several other males at bay as he settled himself beside her. "So how long have you been traveling with the prince?" he asked. Ippiku shot him death glares.

Aislin's head picked up at his words, "Prince, you mean Lord Toga? For a little while now. He - he helped me" she said softly. Her guardian was not known for his forthcomingness in sharing information and Aislin didn't want to upset him by saying too much.

Gunther chuckled, "Do you know much about the land of Japan?" he asked. She shook her head that she didn't. Gunther smiled, "Well I have only heard tales but they say that it is beautiful. That it's a green island in the middle of a warm sea. Filled with clear lakes and green forests"

Aislin sighed, it sounded very nice. "Will you ever go Gunther?" she asked. The wolf sat quietly, he did want to go. "Maybe one day I will. I'll be sure to visit when I do" he told her. She smiled brightly, "I think that I would like that" she replied shyly.

Toga arrived a few moments later, his golden eyes taking in the brown wolf sitting beside his ward. He sniffed delicately but sensed no uneasiness in her. "Aislin" he said in somber greeting. She turned at the sound of his voice and smiled. It was a small smile.

"Good morning my lord" she said to him. He grunted and crossed the room. Gunther giving up his place without question. "The storm will be cleared in the morning I believe. We'll journey on then" he told her. She nodded and turned back to her meal. Elda had told him that her messengers were sighted a day's run away. She had seemed agitated by the news.

He didn't really care, it had nothing to do with him. He was simply her guest and for the moment her current bedmate. He let his gaze wander around the hall, the wolves were coming and going in their daily duties. Once or twice one in true form would trot by and he could have sworn that Aislin's ears twitched as though targeting the sound. A small frown would appear on her pretty face but was gone before he could ask. His ward was intelligent and he knew that she depended on her other senses.

"Aislin" he said and she blinked and turned to him. "Yes my lord?" she asked. Toga stood, "We are going into the forest" he told her. She nodded, extending her small hand to him. He glared at the wolves as he pulled her along with him through the stone halls and into the winter.

The storm was fierce but the wolves' den was nestled among dense trees, blocking most of the wind and driving snow. They crunched through the snow for several minutes before he paused. Lifting his head slightly, Toga sniffed the wind. Wolves were not here. He sat against the fat bole of a tree and pulled Aislin down against him, wrapping his cloak around her atop her own.

"Are you troubled?" he asked suddenly. Aislin shook her head, "No my lord, not truly". Toga felt her snuggle a little closer to him and he allowed it. He usually didn't like being touched, not in most cases anyway. However touch was imperative with Aislin and he'd found he didn't mind so much now. "I slow you down" she whispered to him.

Demon ears caught the sound from the wind and he sighed. She did slow him, that was true, but not greatly. "You regret coming with me" he said. Aislin shook her head again, "No I do not. You are right my lord. Home was my shackle" she told him.

He said nothing, merely held her against his chest as the wind howled in the treetops above and swirling white cascaded around them. "I hear them whisper" she admitted and his elvish ears picked up. "There are not people like me here. Or where you are from?" she asked. Toga tucked his chin over her slim shoulder and stared into the distance.

"There are Aislin, but they are usually old" he admitted, "My people don't suffer these things". She sighed and let her head fall back on his shoulder. His closeness soothed her, his scent like spring thunderstorms made her feel safe. She associated his touch, his presence with safety. He knew that as well, it was why he held her this way now.

Aislin thought about his words for a long time. A people not cursed with blindness. Was there really such a thing? She closed her eyes and concentrated her hearing. Toga's heartbeat was the loudest closest thing to her. The strong steady beat resounding in her head. Unlike the flutter of her own heart.

Toga inhaled deeply, drawing in the scent of winter and the warm scent of the woman in his grasp. As in inu scent was the basis of life for him. His first true memories were scents. The scent of spice and steel and male of his father. The softer scent of white tea and rose blooms, touched with metal that was his mother. He'd known their scents all his life, would always know them.

Aislin also had a scent. A warm, earthy scent. Like raw sugar and autumn figs. It was a scent that he had appreciated at once, and now was used to. It was the scent that found it's way into the folds of his clothing during the day and into the length of his hair. It surrounded and caressed him and reminded him of his duty to her.

It was the scent he had missed last night. He clenched his jaw slightly. No. No, he couldn't think of her that way. She was little more than a child, regardless of what men said. She was his ward, his to protect, his to teach. His. It was this that gave him pause.

He'd encountered far too many women, wedded and bedded too young and died too young because of it. Within his father's walls, children were just that, children. They grew and found themselves. They were not given away for treaties or the like. They were given time to grow and play and laugh, sheltered from the harsh reality of the mature world until they were ready to see it themselves.

Yes, that's what he wanted for her. Blinded by illness at a young age and left alone. She'd not had the pleasure of really living and though he wasn't the best candidate to show her, he was the only one willing to take the position. So he had. She showed all the promise of being beautiful and he'd not let the world taint her heart. He'd keep her safe, all of her. That was what a guardian was meant to do.