Julian Stockwin - THE SILK TREE

But before he could move, she was clinging to him, her face buried in his shoulder, weeping brokenly.

His arms went around her in an instinctive comforting but he felt her body pressing into his.

With a roaring in his ears he held her closer.

The warm, soft form yielded to him and they slowly slipped to the floor in each other’s arms.

Images intermingled: robes in disarray, a flash of nakedness, a shoulder, a young breast.

Ying Mei looked up at him, her face impossibly beautiful, dear and precious.

He kissed her again and she responded passionately. Her body under him came alive, awakening and arousing his own in a sweet agony.

Finally, in an uncontrollable ecstasy, they came together in a hard, thrusting convulsion, leaving them both spent.

They clutched each other for a long time as if desperate to hold on to the moment; wild-eyed, ecstatic – fearful of the storm that had passed.

Nicander gathered his robe about him and rose to the couch, fighting back tears at the sight of her naked form, still shuddering with passing spasms.

She collected her scattered garments and joined him, both lost in a haze of unbelief and joy.

Her hand crept into his. ‘I-I’m sorry,’ she said in a small voice. ‘I’m truly sorry. It… it just happened, I couldn’t stop myself.’ Her head fell.

‘Ying Mei, don’t say that!’ he stammered. ‘I love you! So much, so very much – this happened because we love each other, we need each other!’

‘I have disgraced you. You will hate me for seducing you like a common whore.’

Hardly believing his ears he seized her hands and forced her to look up. ‘What are you saying? I don’t understand.’

She looked up at him tearfully. ‘You will never forgive me, for I’ve done something that is wicked, yet I ask you to-’

He stared at her in amazement. ‘You’re saying things that don’t make sense. Please tell me!’

‘Your calling is now affronted. As a holy man you have your standards and-’

‘A holy man!’ he gasped. ‘Is this…’

‘Since that time in the desert you pulled me out of the sand, I’ve looked up to you, admired you – and then loved you as I knew I must not. Now I’ve dishonoured you, shamed you and I bitterly regret it.’ Her eyes filled, imploring his understanding.

At first he couldn’t answer, struck dumb with what he was hearing. Then he tenderly lifted her chin and looking deeply into her eyes said simply, ‘My love, I never was a holy man.’

‘You… you’re saying this to comfort me.’

‘No, it’s true. I couldn’t admit I was not a holy man or you wouldn’t trust me. And then it went on for so long, if I admitted it you’d despise me for an impostor.’

‘Then you’re really not…’

‘No.’

She flung her arms around him and wept in release.

‘My very, very dearest, it should be me who should beg forgiveness. You are a noble lady and… and have a future… and I…’

Touching his lips she murmured, ‘When we’re married…’

‘Married?’ he stuttered, overcome.

‘When two people love each other, it’s the usual thing, I believe.’

In a whirl of emotion he blurted, ‘My darling! I… I…’

‘Dear Ni K’an Ta, we’ve always been meant to be together! And now we shall!’

‘I… I…’

‘And you’re not Ah Yung any more. I’m going to call you the same as Ah Wu does – Ni K’ou. It’s a fine ancient name, and one for the man of my heart.’

He swallowed, hardly able to speak. ‘And you, my very dearest, I shall call you… Callista, the most beautiful.’

She looked long and deeply into his eyes. ‘We will live and love together, you and I, for always and always, to the end of time.’

In a delirium of feeling he pulled her to him, crushing her with tenderness.

‘But what now?’ she whispered.

‘Well…’

‘We’ll live here in Samarkand, but… but I really don’t know that much about you, Ni K’ou. If you’re not a holy man then…?’

‘It was only a means to protect us while we went on our mission.’

‘For the king! How wonderful – do tell me about it!’

‘Later, Callista. Shouldn’t we…?’

‘Oh, yes. They might be back early.’

She gave him a kiss then left the room, calling back, ‘I won’t be long. Don’t go away, Ni K’ou!’

When she returned, sparkling and radiant, he had restored his outward composure but inside he was nearly overwhelmed in an unstoppable tide of happiness.

She came and sat by his side. ‘When will we tell everybody, Ni K’ou?’ she said dreamily. ‘It will surprise them both, don’t you think?’

‘Ah. This could be a problem. Could you hold off telling Tai Yi until after I’ve spoken to Marius? He’s going to need careful handling.’

Nicander walked down the road to the caravanserai in a blissful haze. To have been granted by the gods the highest felicity in this life…

But his mind suddenly slammed in to the present. If he was to live in Samarkand, what was he to do? They couldn’t live off her capital indefinitely. Would it be enough to start some kind of business?

And there was the matter of the grand mission he and Marius had embarked on all those many months ago. Was it right to let his friend go on alone when he’d sworn to stand by him? He would have no regrets about letting Marius keep the secret of silk for himself, but he had to make it to Justinian first. And while the proud legionary had his strengths, this arguably needed both their talents.

Did this mean he must see it through first then return to her? Would she wait for him? Was it fair to expect her to?

But to leave her now was more than he could bear to think about.

The thoughts raced through his head and as he came up to the caravanserai cell he made a decision. He owed it to his friend to tell him about Ying Mei right away; he’d work the other things out with him afterwards.

He opened the door but before he could enter he was slammed to the floor.

‘What the…?’ he spluttered, staring up at Marius.

‘I thought it was… bugger that. Where’ve you been? You took your time saying goodbye!’

‘Well, I’ve-’

‘Save it. We’ve got big trouble.’ Marius went to the door, checked outside, then closed it quickly.

‘That clearance the caravan master had to get? The fucking Persians now know there’s someone here who’s come from China and heading through. There’s rumours of foreign devils talking to Sogdians, holy men who aren’t what they seem… Nico, they’re out looking for us. We’ve got to get away!’

‘You mean leave Samarkand?’

‘Of course I do! What’s wrong with you? This is bloody serious – we’ve got just hours before they find us.’

‘But if we can’t go by caravan then-’

‘For Christ’s sake! I’m saying now! Get out by any means as long as we’re gone from here!’

‘What about Ying Mei?’

‘Those two takes their chances, o’ course! Nico, there’s no time to argue, we’ve got to move.’

‘They have to come with us.’

‘Are you crazy? Whatever plan we come up with things’ll be rough, women’ll get in the way and we’ll be caught. No, they stay behind.’

‘Marius, we agreed to deliver them safely to the west. This is the west, but they’re not safe. I’m not leaving them here while they’re in danger.’

‘ You’re not?’ Marius rapped.

‘No.’

‘So I go alone?’ he said with a steely edge of menace.

‘And break your word to Kuo?’

Marius flinched then gave a twisted smile. ‘You bastard. All right, they come. But let’s get out of here fast. We’ll hide with them while we come up with something – anything!’