Gan Chono found himself shaking, and it was impossible to control. Aasem had quietly slipped around him and sat down. He could feel Gan Chono quaking, and he murmured, "Lean back when you wish." There was no sound, but Aasem could sense the fear, and he let Gan Chono ease towards him. There was a long pause as they barely touched and all at once Gan Chono collapsed against him. Aasem could feel the older man's freezing back through both sets of clothes. It was as if he was made of ice. And he said, "It is alright. Warm yourself. Eat and lean back. I do not mind. May I talk as you rest?"

He felt Gan Chono nod.

"There are still tribesmen who feel your pain, there are more than you think. They cannot do much. If there is a hint of rebellion, their women are confiscated and the men are sold into servitude. We are aware of the things being done to you. So we devised a plan. I began toadying up to Shuurga and his men, showing interest in becoming one of them. It took some time, but they are now allowing me this small job. It is not much, but at least I can see you, and perhaps even encourage you not to give up. If you can just hold on a while, your brothers will find you. We have gathered that our little Anshi is a strong and determined man. Davaajev is softer, more quiet, but also talented and determined. Chinua is highly placed in a monastery and his monks are looking for us. We must be prepared for when they do. This is all I know. I only had my one communication with the man helping. That was 2 years ago."

He heard Gan Chono lay the bowl and plate aside. The bowl was still half full.

"They will beat you if you do not finish."

Gan Chono shrugged but did not break contact. The warmth was creeping into the rest of his body, his core was beginning to take notice as well. They stayed that way for a small while until Aasem spoke softly. 

"I must go. They will become suspicious. I will return with your dinner." He felt Gan Chono wilt then he took a deep, steadying breath as he stood up, loathe to break contact with another human being. He bent and picked up the bowl, then moved to the pile of books, shifted them and dumped thecontents within the hole.

Aasem covered his mouth quickly to stifle a laugh. "Clever. I am impressed!" Gan Chono stared at him gravely.

 "I know you are taking a chance with me," Aesem stated with equal gravity. "Thank you for doing that. I will never betray you."

If you do, Gn Chono thought, I will not hesitate to kill you.  Another betrayal would break my heart in a way too deep for forgiveness. But somehow, I believe you may be my savior.

Dinner would be 6 hours away. After Aasem left the cell, he quickly wrapped in his blankets. He could not allow the warmth, still felt with every one of his frost-bitten molecules, to seep away. He tried to remember the last time he felt warm, but nothing rose to the surface. Suddenly he felt a surge of panic. What if Tazy did not come back? What if he had just been planted to glean information? Or worse yet, was he sent once, and they had no intention of letting him come back, demoralizing him even more than he had been since his captivity began? He began an incoherent plea to the gods. 

Do whatever you want. If you want me to willingly suffer this for eternity, I agree. But do not take this one small comfort away from me. Please.

He wrapped up tighter and began to wait.

He started as he heard the key and the guard allowed Aasem entry. Once again, there was the bowl of gruel, but the plate looked irresistible.. Stir-fried vegetables, steamed rice, and, unbelievably, a small slice of beef. As Aasem leaned down to place it on the dirt floor, Gan Chono raised his face in wonder,

Aasem smiled as he sat in front of him. When he spoke it was in a whisper. "Butcher Sang insisted I cook this for you. He has longed for your restoration, and he will send meat as he can. He is worried about your health."

With shaking hands, he used a pair of chopsticks lying across the plate. He immediately fumbled them and the sliver of meat fell back on the plate. 

His ears flamed in embarrassment. 

Aasem said, "Do not worry. I am still a slob when I eat. I am the despair of my mother."

Gan Chono tried again, this time successfully. The look of ecstasy as he placed the meat on his tongue tore at Aasem's heartstrings. The former Chieftain took the dull end of the chopstick and wrote in the dirt, 

Tell him Thank You for me. I have never eaten meat so lovely in my life.

"I will", whispered Aasem. " I will bring writing implements next time."

Gan Chono.jotted in the dirt. No! Easily discovered.

"Of course. This is safer."

Thank you for earlier. The warming lasted for several hours. 

"I do not need Thanks for something so simple. Gan Chono, I have been devoted to you and your brothers since childhood. How could I not help you all, if possible? I will do the same before I leave. It will help you sleep. I will also stoke your fire properly. It will last until breakfast."

What is it like out there right now? 

 "Full spring. Still a nip in the air some days. The willows are fully leafed. Do you remember how Chinua smuggled his current book with him and took refuge under willows to read?

He hated sword and combat lessons.

"He studies to his heart's content now. He is steeped in Academia, as he always wanted to be.

That makes me happy. And Anshi?

"Anshi suffered a great deal. But he returned wealthy, with an off-shoot caravan called The Lost Eagle Tribe. He had stopped singing but is in full-throat again. He wants to marry one day and breed a new generation of your bloodlines. Davaajav was taken and raised by your mother's tribe beyond the great desert."

That is good, although the idea of Anshi having a bad childhood upsets me.

"Do not let it. He is recovering, as you will one day."

Even if I leave this confinement, I have grave doubts about my worthiness to ever lead the caravan again.

Dinner was over but Aasem could see the tremors begin again. He had Gan Chono lay on his blankets and took his hands to chafe them. He did this for a long time as the man slowly fell asleep, then wrapped him up tightly. He moved to the door and called for wood and a fire stick. As the wood began to catch strongly, he banked the stove with several large logs. Then he checked on his charge once more.  

He brushed an errant lock of hair back into place as he gazed at the worn face, still lovely despite scars from years of beatings. One scar bisected the left brow. Another followed the contour of his bottom lip almost exactly.  A scar wound around his neck just under the jaw line and his heart clenched. It looked like he had been strangled...or it may have been self-inflicted. His Gan Chono, the only person he had ever loved, besides family, lay in this state, and he swallowed hard as he assessed years of imprisonment and abuse. Never again, he swore. Never again. Not if he had to kill Shuurga himself.