Lin XinYin was very unhappy with the new development, she had to watch Young Mistress Wang had to hold the younger urchin, Feng Yue, he was an orphan as was his brother. They had no right to even be in the vicinity of Young Mistress Wang. So, Lin XinYin watched, slightly disgruntled.
Laquetta knew of Lin XinYin's discontent, she spoke to Lin XinYin, "What is the problem XinYin?"
Lin XinYin huffed, so Laquetta slowed her horse to a stop and told Feng Mian to ride it with his brother. Laquetta jumped up on Lin XinYin's horse and sat behind her, taking the reigns and they all moved at a small trot. They would be in Longdu in the next 50 minutes if they went a bit faster and as evening fell, Laquetta knew of the dangers of camping out at night, so they needed to get to Longdu quick.
"Guys, we need to ride a bit faster to get to Longdu," she motioned to the setting sun, "We need to get there before nightfall to be safe. We don't want to deal with bandits"
"Wait. There are bandits?!" exclaimed Lisa.
"Yeah," answered Charlotte making the 'duh' face.
"Oof. Let's hurry, Laquetta, lead the way. If we gallop wouldn't that be faster with small intervals for the horses to rest?"
"Yeah, that should be better," agreed Laquetta, "I shall lead. The gates close at midnight."
Laquetta tightened her grip on Lin XinYin to make sure she wouldn't fall off and dug her heels into the horse's sides and urging the horse into a gallop. The rest followed suit and soon enough they were all racing down the path to Longdu, it seemed as if they were almost racing with the sun itself, they flitted past the undergrowth that covered the sides of the road; the horses' hooves thumped on the worn road like battle drums.
They got to the Gates of Longdu just before the sun went down, they showed their passes to the guards who gave a deep bow after giving back their passes.
"Have a nice stay milady."
"Thank you," answered the girls who were giggling at the now blushing guards.
They entered the town and got off their horses, the stable boy took their horses into the stable and they went to their provided rooms and set out their stuff. They didn't have enough money to give the two brothers an individual room, so the girls changed their minds and decide to pool together and have a massive sleepover party and give a room to the brothers.
"Thank you Young Mistress Wang."
"No problem, but it's not me you have to thank, you have to thank Young MIstress Yue (Charlotte) for suggesting it."
Feng Mian turned to Charlotte, "Thank you," then looked at all of them before dropping onto his knees and telling Feng Yue to do so as well, "Thank you all, for your generosity. Thank you for giving me a chance to protect my little brother and to be able to live in comfort. Thank you, I pledge my life to you."
"Shit! No, I don't take this. Just get up," Lisa said whilst beaming, "It's nothing, and you shouldn't be thanking us too much, Laquetta was the one who found you even though you tried to kill her."
"Young Mistress Wang, please forget this transgression!"
Laquetta rolled her eyes, "I will forget this transgression if you take your brother to bed and get a good nights rest."
Feng Mian nodded and hurriedly took his brother to bed, and he watched the shadows on the screen move about for a bit. Thinking how lucky he was to have such a nice Lady to serve, she and her group of her friends were people that they rarely would have ever come across. They had such genuine kind hearts, and were so capable, unlike some of the other Young Lady's he has had the misfortune to meet them.
He smiled as he heard the girls giggle quietly before Lottie hushed them so they didn't wake the supposedly asleep brothers up; Feng Mian was touched by their consideration. Curling around his brother protectively he comfortable sleep. The first comfortable sleep in his life.