Once the General issued his orders, Cetan moved to the front, signalling for the majority of the men to follow. Htoo and Denpa dropped back, taking their positions as rear guards.
Bayin fell into step with Kyaw and Soe, only to realise that General Min had slowed to walk beside her. Not close enough to draw attention, but near enough that she could sense him there.
He said nothing.
She felt his presence all the same, making her heart flutter.
Was he watching her? Guarding her? Or simply making sure she didn't slip away again?
Whatever his reason, she refused to let it unsettle her. She kept her gaze forward, pretending not to notice, schooling her expression into calm indifference.
But she couldn't help noticing the rhythm of his stride beside hers or the way his eyes occasionally flicked her way.
She resisted the urge to turn her head, to meet his gaze and lose herself in those pale eyes. She must act as Bayin, so she kept her posture easy and walked on as though his presence meant nothing at all, even while her pulse insisted otherwise.
Their progress was swift along the river, the flat ground making the path easy as the waters glistened like liquid silver under the sun. The tall reeds on the bank bowed gracefully with the breeze, their whispers blending with the soothing murmur of the current.
Occasional cranes were spotted, still as statues, rooted in shallow pools, waiting to strike their meal. The men saw this as a good omen.
Soe and Kyaw openly chatted, their voices carrying so that Bayin and the General caught every word.
"Hey old man, ya married your childhood sweetheart, huh?" Soe remarked.
"We weren't exactly childhood sweethearts. She was a friend for a long time."
Kyaw's eyes narrowed into a squint as he gazed towards the river, where sunlight fractured into shimmering shards across the rippling surface, dazzling him with its brilliance.
"Ah… ya moved from friends to lovers. You sly old man." Soe chuckled, patting Kyaw on his back. "It's hard to read a girl, no lie. They smile at me. They tease me. Then I get a smack when I try to kiss 'em."
He rubbed his cheek on reflex.
"You dummy, you can't just try it on," Kyaw said, shaking his head. "Gotta be sure the girl is interested before you make a move."
"How can ya be sure?"
"Talk to them y'know, com-mu-ni-cate," Kyaw jested. "Start with asking good questions."
"Ah is that what you did? You asked her like, hey, ya wanna have a bit of this old meat?"
A playful grin spread across Soe's face, accompanied by a bout of giggles as he clutched his stomach.
"No dummy. Like I said, when you show genuine interest and follow her story, you get to understand her and she gets to know who you are. We chatted about all kinds of stuff. And the time we spent… we were drawn to each other-"
"What like flies to a cow pat," Soe interrupted, unable to resist the urge to tease his friend and was consumed by more hysterics.
The joyful laughter briefly caught Bayin's attention, and with it came the low, unmistakable sound of the General's soft chuckle. The warmth of it tugged at her before she could stop herself.
Her eyes flicked towards him. He was already looking at her.
A slow, unguarded smile lit his face, accompanied by a look that suggested he knew exactly what she'd been doing.
She held his gaze. And for a long moment, neither of them seemed willing, or perhaps able, to look away.
"Very funny, dummy," Kyaw rolled his eyes, nudging Soe with his elbow. "I'm revealing the secrets to finding love. Wanna hear it?"
This peaked Soe's interest.
"I reckon the best way to get a girl is to start being friends. Too many folks rush in, thinking that love's something that just hits you all of a sudden. But what I've learned is that true love's built on a solid foundation, y'know, a good friendship. You gotta take the time to really get to know someone, see who they are on the inside, not just what's on the outside. So I knew, after getting to know her, she's the one. And she thought the same of me."
"Really? Good friends and then you knew."
Kyaw smirked, seemingly reminiscing as he said, "I knew she felt the same 'cause I could see it in her eyes. We just couldn't take our eyes off each other. It was so obvious. We're meant to be together."
"Ya were like, looking at each other? Just staring at each other and that's how ya figured it out?" Soe said, shrugging his shoulders. "I'm staring at you now. Does that mean I'm in love with ya?"
Having overheard this remark, Bayin suddenly became aware that she was staring at General Min, and had been for far too long.
Had anyone noticed? Was she being too obvious with her adoration for him? Heat crept up her neck as she quickly diverted her attention to Kyaw and Soe.
"Alright, alright. I'm just messing with you," Soe said, raising his hands in surrender. "Go on then, tell me. If I like a girl, what am I supposed to do?"
"Just be yourself, Soe," Bayin joined in. "The right girl will like you for who you are."
This got a broad grin from the boy.
"Sure, Bayin," Kyaw commented. "But in Soe's case, he needs to work on being less kitten and more a real tiger."
"What ya talking about, old man? I'm no kitten," Soe nudged Kyaw, but Kyaw sidestepped quickly to avoid Soe's elbow. "I'm a tiger, yeah huge, dangerous one. As gorgeous as you can get. See these muscles?"
He held up his arms, flexing his biceps. "I'm definitely no kitten."
Both Kyaw and Bayin glanced at each other and burst into laughter.
"What's so funny? Wanna see my abs?"
"No!" Kyaw and Bayin answered in unison.
Bayin turned back to General Min, although his gaze was elsewhere, the faint smile on his lips made it clear he had been listening to their chatter.
A call which sounded much like a hooting owl echoed through the trees, halting any conversations.
General Min commanded, "Guard and stay alert."
This was directed at Htoo and Denpa. He immediately sprinted off towards Cetan, his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"Oh Spirits," Kyaw muttered. "Are we under attack?"
Without hesitation Bayin tried to follow the General but Htoo stood in her way and glared at her.
"General has ordered us to stay put." Denpa spoke up. "There's a possible threat ahead."
Bayin quickly scanned the area using her senses. She didn't pick up any evil spirits on her radar so she relaxed a little.
If the enemy were mortals, she was confident General Min could take care of them, having seen him in action.
She glanced at Denpa and Htoo. Both men seemed a picture of calm, though Htoo's sharp eyes were roaming the forest.
Then he stared at her, eyes full of total contempt. She'd never been keen on him, who often appeared out of nowhere when she was with Zeya, to take him away from her. She sensed this dislike was mutual.
Denpa on the other hand was always friendly and relaxed. His eyes were focused on the dazzling water as the breeze picked up, sending a stream of cool air over them.
"I have a feeling this river is full of fish travelling upstream," he mused openly. "Perhaps we might be lucky enough to catch one for dinner."
"Ah yes," Kyaw said, looking a little more at ease. "Fish would be nice. I really like fish when it's just fried until the skin's crispy."
"Everything tastes better when it's fried," Soe piped up. He too stood casting his eyes over the water. "And with chilli sauce."
"Nah, a squeeze of lime or lemon, that's all you need," Kyaw insisted. "Salty and sour."
"Alright then, spicy, salty and sour," Soe declared. "Yeah, that'll do it for me too."
"Right now, I'm happy to eat fish, any way it's cooked," Denpa admitted.
Bayin remained quiet, lost in her own thoughts. The longer they lingered behind, the more her impatience grew. Up ahead, the General and the others were advancing towards a possible threat, while she and the boys were held back.
Was General Min concerned about their safety? Or had he simply decided they were more liability than help?
Her gaze shifted briefly to Htoo and Denpa. Were they guarding them… or babysitting them? Before she could dwell on it further, another low, bird-like call echoed through the trees, snapping her attention back to the present.
"We can go ahead," Htoo spoke up.
The group walked on pondering what had occurred. Kyaw and Soe were clearly anxious, scanning for danger. They picked up their pace, marching on in silence.
It was well past middle of the day and they trudged on without a break or to stop for lunch. Water skins were passed around as they walked.
Once the stretch of land by the river emerged from the cover of trees, the sun's intensity was immediately felt. The afternoon heat was evident on the men's faces, beads of sweat forming as the temperature climbed.
An occasional breeze drifting over the water brought brief moments of coolness, but the humidity still clung to their skin.
Bayin naturally used her cloth power to keep herself cool. Her clothes shielded her from the worst of the sultry air, and she extended that protection to Kyaw and Soe, allowing them to carry on in good spirits.
She could tell Htoo and Denpa were melting somewhat. With a gentle touch, she cast her power over Denpa. She'd always liked him. Htoo, however, she left to manage on his own.
Her thoughts turned to General Min, but he was too far ahead, and she couldn't catch sight of him to offer relief from the relentless heat.
The unmistakable sound of cascading water reached her ears before Bayin glimpsed a spectacular waterfall in the distance. Its powerful stream churned into frothy torrents, casting a fine mist that swirled gracefully through the air.
At its base lay a pristine pool, wide and clear as glass. The still waters near the edges mirrored the drifting clouds above, blurring the boundary between earth and sky.
Smaller waterfalls trickled gently along the shoreline, their soothing rhythm beckoning those seeking refuge from the searing heat.
By the time Bayin's group arrived, this area had already been secured by the General's men. One of them gave a brief signal as they approached, a subtle exchange clearly meant for Htoo and Denpa alone.
Whatever danger existed earlier was gone. This was a rest stop.
Bayin scanned the surroundings, the wide fan palms casting generous shade, the neat piles of gear and weapons abandoned near the water's edge.
Then her eyes widened.
Several men had shed their clothes completely and was wading into the water. She froze, mortified, but unable to look away.
"Holy spirits," someone gasped, quickly retreating his steps, triggering a wave of chuckles from the men already in the water.
"I'm freezing my nuts off," someone else yelled.
Howls of laughter rippled through the group, catching like wildfire and fuelling the playful chaos.
"You ain't got no balls to start with." A lean man started splashing the other.
"Piss off, turtle head!"
A broad-shouldered man waded in with little care for those around him, sending a wave crashing into his comrade's face.
"Get yer peanuts outta my eye!" the other man bellowed, wiping water from his face.
"Jealous of my coconuts, huh!"
A water fight erupted as more men joined the fray, their movements turning the trickle of splashes into a full-blown deluge.
With wide-eyed wonder and a smirk curling her lips, Bayin continued to observe the glistening bodies. These were warriors. Men hardened by battle, disciplined and formidable.
But give them water and a moment's respite, and they were boys again.
Bayin's attention was diverted as she sensed the spirit, Shwe Kyi, welcoming her with a greeting. She heard his gentle voice clearly in her mind, despite the din in the background.
She quickly asked permission for the men to enter the water, apologising for their current appearance and uncouth conduct.
"Not a problem," Shwe Kyi replied, with a deep chuckle. "I was once a man myself. I understand them entirely. I see they do not mean any disrespect."
Bayin relaxed hearing this.
I wish I understood men! she thought.
"The water here is pristine. It's from the northern mountains," General Min spoke up, causing Bayin to abruptly end her conversation with Shwe Kyi.
Her focus shifted to the handsome man standing in front of her.
"Are you coming in?"
"…"
Bayin hesitated, not sure what he meant, then watched in astonishment as he unfastened his shirt slowly.
While maintaining eye contact, he stripped off, bearing his chest and said provocatively, "Wanna cool off?"
"…"
Bayin remained speechless.
Just then Kyaw and Soe bumped her arm as they rushed past.
"Come on, Bayin, get in the water," Soe shouted. "Last one in, is a POTATO."
They had fully stripped off, their white cheeks shining like double-moons.
Bayin's eyes never left the General, having unknowingly scanned his torso. His body, though slender was well-defined; his muscles were sculpted by years of training.
Her gaze lingered on a small scar on his shoulder, marring his otherwise flawless skin. Then she was drawn southward to his toned abs, sparking a fleeting curiosity about the rest of his physique.
How can he be this good to look at?
General Min noticed her admiration and offered a grin, slow and self-assured, as if savouring the moment. She turned away embarrassed, only to be blinded by naked men in the water.
She diverted her eyes onto the ground, and her breathing paused, wishing she could perish on the spot.
"What are you nervous about?"
General Min took a step back, giving her space.
"If you'd rather not join in, you might wish to take the first watch," he suggested, one eyebrow raised.
A trace of the old playful Zeya was there. He moved his hand to unbutton his trousers.
That was enough, Bayin was out of there, calling back, "I'll take the first watch, sir."
Bayin briskly retraced the path they had come. She distanced herself from the hawk eyes of Htoo whom seemed to be constantly watching her every move.
Did the General tell him to keep an eye on her?
Once she was out of his line of sight, sensing no danger, she leaned back against a small tree, covering her flushed face with her cool hands.
I'm sure Zeya was teasing me. He must know who I am.
When Bayin closed her eyes to block out the world, her mind gifted her an image of Zeya with wet hair and glowing skin.
I've seen him drenched in water before, she giggled.
***
The start of a new year was marked by the Water Festival, a tradition in which water was sprinkled on one another, symbolising the cleansing of past misfortunes and mistakes to welcome a fresh beginning.
At the palace, this ritual was carried out after a decadent meal, in a dignified and restrained manner. A splash of clean holy water was used. A small amount was dabbed on each other's shoulders, as wishes for the new year were exchanged.
However, the festivities taking place on the streets of the capital were vastly different. Zeya and Sein heard stories from Saw Win of water fights, dancing until dawn, and feasting at the city's food stalls. They were curious to see these much talked about events and sneaked out together in the afternoon.
Once outside the palace walls, a shared ease settled between them. Moving in tandem, his hand gently pressed against her back, an unspoken connection as they moved through the bustling crowds.
Having never attended a public celebration of this type, they didn't know what to expect. As a result, they were wholly unprepared for the onslaught of water assaulting them from all directions.
After being drenched to the skin, it was clear why it was called the Water Festival.
Many revellers carried containers and various contraptions to soak each other and passersby, shouting, "Happy new year!" or "May your bad luck be washed away!"
Everyone looked like they had been caught in a monsoon, but nobody minded as it was the hot season. The water provided much needed respite from the heat. These celebratory battles continued all afternoon.
When the crowd grew so intense that Sein and Zeya lost sight of each other several times, they decided to venture off the main thoroughfare.
"I suggest we head westward, it seems less busy." Zeya motioned to Sein.
Their feet carried them towards the Harbour District as they followed the path less travelled. This area was a maze of narrow, winding streets, lined with old, weathered houses whose faded paint and worn woodwork spoke of better days.
"I'm dying to throw water back at people," Sein said. "We've had our share of water thrown over us."
She pulled her long hair into a ponytail and squeezed at it to remove excess water.
"Then shall we use some of these abandoned containers," Zeya said, picking up a small wooden bucket lying on the ground. "Here, you take this one. I'll look for another."
"Zeya, there's water left out next to this house," Sein pointed out. "Do you suppose we can use it?"
"Absolutely, I mean, why else would they have left it here so conveniently for us?"
After securing another container, Sein and Zeya joined in the act of throwing water at others until they encountered a group of well-coordinated revellers who were far more efficient at dousing, prompting them to retreat into a deserted laneway.
"I've never been this wet and dishevelled in my life," Sein said, tugging at her long skirt clinging to her legs. "My mother will freak out if she saw me like this. I must look an absolute mess."
Her lashes fluttered as she cast him a sidelong glance, her smile demure yet deliberate.
Zeya laughed softly, positioning himself in front of her, his eyes sweeping over her with a hint of admiration.
"You look perfectly fine to me. Isn't it fun playing with water?"
Sein nodded.
She'd discreetly carried a container of water, hidden from view. Seizing her chance, she rose onto her tiptoes, reached over, and poured the contents over Zeya's head, saying, "Happy New Year."
Zeya was not entirely surprised. Dripping wet, he reached for the container in Sein's hands, but she managed to fling it just out of his grasp.
He lifted an eyebrow, clearly weighing how best to retaliate, and she met his look with a bright, unapologetic grin.
"You've got me absolutely and utterly," he said with a resigned smile.
His fingers combed through his wet hair as he returned, "Happy New Year."
He shook his head in an attempt to flick some of the water her way.
Without thinking Sein reached out with one hand to cup his face, and gently caressed his cheek with a thumb to wipe a trail of meandering water.
He'd always been handsome but with glowing skin and wet hair, she thought him even more striking. Mortified, she was being overly intimate, her hand shrank back immediately.
But Zeya caught her wrist and pulled her gently towards him, until she was enveloped in his embrace. They gazed at each other wordlessly.
In that breathless moment, Sein's eyes flicked to his lips. As if sensing her desire, he leaned forward until his nose lightly brushed hers.
She caught his scent of bergamot citrus and a note of lavender, a familiar smell that was both comforting and dangerously alluring.
She pressed closer without thinking, drawn by the magnetic pull between them. His lips hovered just a breath from hers.
Was he going to kiss her?
Just as their lips were about to meet, he paused suddenly. His attention was drawn elsewhere as his eyes darted sideways.
That was when hurried footsteps reached Sein's ears.
"Whadawe have 'ere," a rough voice snarled. "Lovers in our backyard?"
Sein and Zeya pulled apart.
Immediately Zeya stepped forward in front of Sein to block the unwanted strangers.
Three men stood shoulder to shoulder, between the ages of twenty five to thirty. They were presumably dock workers with bulky physiques to match, bronzed skin and dressed in well-worn working clothes.
One of them sneered. "I like the look of the girl. She's a real beauty. A right delicate flower."
"Yeah whada dish," the one standing in the middle agreed, blatantly ogling at Sein. "Why don't ya share her with us, brother? Why ya hiding her?"
"Stay where you are," Zeya warned, his voice firm.
"So ungenerous. Typical of nobility," said the tallest man, his tanned face was marked by a few scars, suggestive of his past misadventures. "I've never had a girl so fine before."
"Me neither," the middle man snorted.
His face was rugged and weathered, just like his voice.
"Let's have a bit of fun."
"Go fuck yourselves," Zeya said.
His stare was sharp, like the edge of a drawn blade, yet his posture remained unnervingly calm.
Sein was astounded. She'd never heard him swear but coming from him, it sounded pleasing to the ears.
She observed his subtle stance, poised for attack, having watched her brothers train in martial arts.
There were cackles from the men.
"Cocky bastard. Take the fucker down," the middle man ordered.
The two men on either side pulled out knives from their back pockets. Seeing this threat, Sein reacted automatically, stepping forward to shield Zeya.
Thura had taught her how to defend herself, and she knew although the men were stronger than her, she was quick and agile. She wouldn't fight fair.
Instead she'd aim a blow between their legs which would give them a chance to run away.
Zeya was taken by surprise but he firmly shoved Sein behind him and said in a quiet voice, "Allow me to take care of this. Trust me."
She did trust him but it had been a natural reaction to protect someone she cared about. She simply couldn't bare the possibility that he could get hurt.
Harsh laughter rang out as the men were amused by their actions. Zeya moved purposely forward a few steps to distance himself from Sein and paused.
The man on the left immediately charged, bearing teeth.
In a blink of an eye, Zeya sidestepped the attack, swiftly reaching behind the man's head to deliver a precise jab to the back of his neck.
The flick sent the man buckling to his knees, the knife falling from his grasp with a sharp clang. Zeya followed with another strike aimed at his throat.
The man crumpled immediately.
Thud.
Seeing what had transpired, the other man holding a knife, hesitated.
Then hearing his comrade behind him say, "Fuck this, I'm outta here."
He took a step backwards.
Zeya raised a hand, silently beckoning to him to come forward. Realising he was left on his own, the man cussed under his breath, pivoted and ran off.
Pathetic, Sein thought.
Zeya picked up the dropped knife and discarded it into the river. He turned to Sein who was staring at him, awe radiating from her face.
"Let's go before he recovers," Zeya advised.
They hurriedly retraced their steps and found the main street, still packed full of revellers and merged into the crowd.
"You were incredible!" Sein exclaimed, unable to contain her relish of what she'd witnessed.
She reached for his hand and he firmly gripped it, not wishing to be pulled apart from her in the throng of New Year partygoers.
"I have been training all my life!"
Zeya glanced at Sein, with playful sparks in his eyes.
"What were you planning to do? Never mind. I'll leave it up to you to take out the thugs next time."
"There's not going to be a next time, Zeya Arkar," Sein chided him. "How did you do that? Will you teach me?"
When Zeya and Sein approached the west gate of the Royal Palace, guarded by two giant white elephant statues, they didn't expect to find Khin Yu casually leaning against one of the elephants. He immediately straightened and bowed to Zeya.
It had become so natural that Zeya and Sein didn't realise they were holding hands, until a single glance from Khin Yu, ensured they let go.
They both looked down, their guilt apparent, as they were caught sneaking back, fully aware they must look an appalling sight, with their clothes and hair still damp.
Khin Yu's face remained placid as he softly cleared his throat.
"Your Highness, Her Majesty sought your presence this afternoon. I hope I was not out of line by informing Her Majesty, Your Highness has been resting and would join the evening supper instead."
"Much appreciated," Zeya responded, glancing back at Sein who had dropped a few steps behind.
"Lady Sein, until next time," he said, with a formal head bow.
"Your Highness." Sein curtsied.
She stood still, aware of how her clothes clung to her figure, making her feel exposed. Under the scrutiny of the guards on duty, she waited until Zeya and Khin Yu were out of sight before proceeding to the palace compound.
Returning to her room unseen proved challenging. Her mother had their cousins over and there were too many people going back and fourth from the kitchen.
Sein quickly ducked into the hallway only to bump straight into Thura.
"I saw you with the Crown Prince just now," Thura said, looking sternly at her.
He stood in her way to block her retreat.
"And look at the state you're in. Do not let mother see you like this. What were you doing?"
"…"
As Sein didn't respond, Thura folded his arms and continued, "You are not a girl anymore. You are a lady. You cannot be sneaking around with… of all people, the Crown Prince, to … to… I do not know what! But let me say this because I am your brother and I love you. Do not be reckless. He is the Crown Prince. He can have whatever he pleases. Whoever he pleases."
"What are you trying to say?"
"You know he will be married to Princess Nanda in less than a year. Then will you be happy being his mistress?"
"It's not like that. We… we're just friends. There's nothing between us."
In her mind, she thought of the moment Zeya's arms embraced her. A gentle brush of his nose. His lips nearly touching hers.
"I only wish for you to find someone who is worthy of you," Thura said kindly, softening his posture. "Someone who will respect you and cherish you."
Seeing that he'd made his point, he stepped aside for Sein to enter her room.
She shut the door behind her, grateful to be alone. Her thoughts immediately raced back to what had almost happened earlier.
Zeya had been about to kiss her.
She lifted a finger to her lips, lingering there, wishing they hadn't been interrupted at such a crucial moment.
As she peeled off her damp clothes, Sein realised her feelings for Zeya had slipped beyond her control. She needed to rein herself in and face the facts.
He was the Crown Prince, and he was betrothed to Princess Nanda.
Thura was right, of course. She had no desire to become his mistress, something she knew she could never stomach.
Would he give up his engagement to be with her? She doubted that.
I'm probably just a passing fancy to him, she thought bitterly. Stop deluding yourself.