#plot what plot?

Chapter 4: Admission

“What is going on here?!!”

The two men looked up to see Am Lin holding a bundle of herbs and staring aghast at their situation. She glared up at the prince. Wenshu was still perched high above in the tree in full dragon form, dangling the large guard halfway off the ground in his dragon tail. 

The prince hastily released Hai Jun’s legs and let his dragon form dissipate. The guard scooped himself up and started gathering his shoes, “Sorry… we got into a little disagreement.”

Am Lin’s eyes blazed accusingly at the two men, “There are burn marks all over the ground!”

Wenshu opened his majestic wings and glided down from the tree, “It was just a little dragon fire, barely enough for a distraction. We didn’t hurt each other.”

She angrily put her hands on her hips, “You have no idea how much danger you just put yourself in! I told you not to cast forms… and not to fly!!”

“I only flew up to that branch! You’re overreacting!” 

The healer threw down her herbs and shoved her hands under the prince’s shirt. He jumped at the touch. She shot him a look that made him stay still. Her hands worked their way up his chest where she could feel the jagged scar, once again growing hot. “You’re having a flare up! When you work yourself up, your energy starts surging and gets trapped inside your wound. The point of our sessions is so I can guide the energy through your body until all the scar tissue heals.”

She spun around and shot Hai Jun a nasty look, “And what role did you play in this?!”

The guard looked sheepish but met her angry eyes, “I might have instigated a small challenge while you were gone.”

“Well, I hope you learned a little humility! Remember it the next time you feel the need to aggravate my patient!”

Wenshu glanced over at his friend. “Don’t be too hard on him. He just needed to blow off some steam.”

Am Lin frowned as she rummaged through her pocket belt looking for oils, “I hope that means he’s ready to make himself helpful!”

“What do you mean?” Hai Jun asked.

The healer found a small vial of oil and knelt down on the ground. “We need to conduct a healing session with the prince.”

Wenshu held his hands up defensively, “Wait a minute! We’re out in the open… I don’t want to do it here!”

Hai Jun started to feel a bit guilty for goading the prince into a skirmish. “Can’t we use the carriage to take him back to the palace?”

Am Lin shook her head, “The energy will have cooled down by then. It’s not worth risking a relapse.”

The prince took a step back, “But we’ve always been alone when you heal me. I don’t want… I mean, this is a little, um, uncomfortable for me.”

The healer shot a look over to Hai Jun. He could tell she wanted him to step up and say something helpful. The large guard came over and put a reassuring hand on the prince’s shoulder, “I’m sorry I teased you about overhearing your first session. You need to listen to her. The most important thing is that you get better.”

Am Lin motioned for the two men to sit by her on the ground. Wenshu felt bashfulness wash over him but nodded his head. He could feel his stomach already fluttering with anticipation. It was increasingly hard to maintain his air of dignity. 

“It will be okay. You are with friends. Let me take your shirt.” Am Lin felt her anger subside as she gently removed Wenshu’s silk tunic.

Hai Jun glanced at Wenshu’s bare chest. He was shocked to see how bad the lesion looked up close. Am Lin saw the guard’s astonished look, “Our prince puts on a very brave face, but yes… his condition is still quite serious.”

Wenshu felt color creep onto his cheeks, slightly embarrassed by her praise. “Would you still think I was brave if I took off running towards the hills?”

“Don’t you start with the jokes! You’re in trouble. I specifically told you casting forms would aggravate your condition.” Am Lin scolded mildly. She motioned for Hai Jun to scoot back and slowly coaxed Wenshu to lie down with his head resting in the guard’s lap.

Hai Jun could see the prince’s face tensing up in anticipation. He wondered how well he would withstand such attention. The guard reached out and took Wenshu’s hand, giving it a friendly squeeze. “You’re doing great!”

Am Lin opened the small vial of lavender oil and poured a generous amount of Wenshu’s chest. She closed her eyes and hummed softly, rubbing the oil into his upper body. 

Wenshu was so keyed up, giggles were already forming in the back of his throat. Hai Jun continued holding his hand for support. The prince tried not to struggle and covered his face with his free arm, “Ahhhh… is that oil really, hahaha, necessary??” 

Am Lin continued to work the oil into his chest, “Yes. Plant oil helps me conduct the energy easier.”

Hai Jun was trying to be sympathetic but he couldn’t resist the sight of Wenshu’s sweet struggle. “Awww, look at you. She hasn’t even started yet. I think you might be in for it.”

Am Lin worked the oil down the prince’s sides and over his stomach, triggering ticklish sensations. Wenshu felt his cheeks growing hot and clamped his arm down harder to hide his face, “This isn’t, ahhaaha, f-f-fair!”

The guard cracked a wry smile, “Seriously? You literally just had me in hysterics minutes ago!”

“Y-y-you stahaharted it!”

“You tied me up in your giant dragon tail! How fair was that?!”

Am Lin clucked her tongue, “That’s enough bickering. I need to concentrate.” She opened her eyes to see dark energy was indeed starting to pool dangerously around the throbbing scar. She scanned the prince’s body to see small swirls of moody light dancing around his lower abdomen. She couldn’t help smiling to herself, “Oh dear, it seems like you want your belly tickled this afternoon.”

Wenshu audibly gulped at the suggestion, “I don’t! I really don’t…!”

Am Lin smiled knowingly, “Your body says you do. Now don’t worry, I promise to tickle your belly all over. I won’t even make you ask for it.”

The prince had never felt so flustered before. He knew he could insist they leave him alone and they would listen. He also knew this was what he needed. There was still so much conflict between maintaining his proud image and the freedom of being vulnerable. Wenshu took a deep breath and continued to hide his face. “I, um, won’t be able to stay still for you.”

Hai Jun beamed, “I’m happy to be of service, your majesty.” The guard took Wenshu’s arm away from his reddened face and firmly pinned both of the prince’s arms to the ground. 

Am Lin straddled the prince to immobilize his hips. Wenshu gazed up at the two large Wolves who seemed poised to devour him. They were both incredibly attractive, long black braids cascading down their backs, outlining their ample forms, their dark skin glistening in the afternoon sun. It was impossible not to reflect on their beauty. The prince grinned up at the healer cheekily, “There has to be an easier way to get you into my lap.”

Hai Jun snickered, ever amused by Wenshu’s flirtatiousness. Am Lin was less than charmed. “You know, I find myself almost feeling sorry for you… until you speak!” 

The healer focused on the grass surrounding them. Making a small magical gesture, a patch of fountain grass sprouted up, yielding tall blades with long plumes of soft bristles at the top. Wenshu felt the need to recoil from the feathery grass but was easily held in place by Hai Jun. The guard smirked, “Those weeds seem to be giving the prince cause for concern.”

Am Lin plucked two long stems and swirled them slowly in front of Wenshu’s face. “Oh, he shouldn’t be worried… he’s getting exactly what he needs.” She brought one blade down and with its plume, began lightly dragging it across the prince’s belly. Wenshu was a lean fighter who trained often. Surprisingly, his stomach wasn’t lined with hard abdomen muscles. Instead, it was supple and curved, not to mention quite sensitive to touch.  

There was a moment of resistance as soft bristles slid across vulnerable flesh. In a matter of seconds, the strength Wenshu used to restrain his laughter dissolved and a soft stream of giggles poured from his lips. Am Lin watched the energy of his body suddenly shift, illuminating a shimmering path from Wenshu’s neck down to the lowest dip of his stomach. She grinned, “How cute… it seems our prince wants to play a little game.”

Hai Jun glanced down at Wenshu, who was tittering helplessly from the single blade of grass. “It certainly seems like he’s in a playful mood.”

Am Lin leaned forward and flicked the long plume across one side of Wenshu’s neck. The prince tried to protest but all he could manage was half-formed words through a barrage of snickers. The healer slowly traced the grass down his neck, swirling it under his arms, over his ribs, lingering on his sides before letting it lazily brush up and down against the soft skin of his belly. She took in his giddy frenzy, “What do you think he’s trying to say, Hai Jun?”

Hai Jun gave Wenshu’s arms a friendly squeeze. “It sounds like he wants you to do the other side.”

The prince was primed to launch several rude words at the guard but was soon rocked with more giggles as the second blade of grass traced the same maddening route down from his neck, under his arms, along his sides and finally lingering on his hopelessly ticklish stomach. He was so firmly pinned, he could hardly squirm. There was no protection for his exposed torso nor was he afforded any range of motion to evade the gentle attack. All the powerful prince could do was laugh, struggling underneath his friends in the afternoon sun. 

Am Lin started dragging the plume back up the other side, chuckling as the prince went into another fit of laughter. “I think he likes this game! Don’t you agree?”

The guard nodded, “I’ve never seen him happier.”

“Aww, look. He’s trying to say something. Please? Please what?”

“He’s probably trying to say how pleased he is. I think he likes getting attention from you.”

“That must be it! Of course, I’ll give you the attention you deserve, sweet prince. Up and down your sensitive body, is that how you like it? Underneath your arms, over the ribs, dancing on that little belly of yours. Oh yes, let’s spend some extra time on this sweet spot here… tickle, tickle, tickle!”

Wenshu’s face burned. He shook his side to side as if to avoid the teasing words. Their taunts only made him laugh harder as he crumbled, completely at the mercy of a woman armed with two pieces of grass.

Am Lin gazed affectionately at the prince, now beside himself with laughter. “You are too cute for your own good, Prince Wenshu. I could tickle you all day.” She paused, observing the grass all around them, which grew even higher. She whispered to the plants, asking them to work their magic. The enchanted grass gently poked and wiggled against the prince’s bare sides, eliciting small titters as healing light sparkled from the blades, their magical touch working its way into his body.

Hai Jun was impressed. He had never seen the healer work plant magic before. “Did you do what was needed? Is he out of harm’s way?”

Am Lin scanned the prince’s body once more. The same moody energy from before spiraled insistently on top of Wenshu’s stomach. She chuckled, “It looks like I may have missed a spot.”

The prince was snickering softly as the tickly grass continued to tease his sides. His eyes opened wide at her words, “No… hahaha, no, you got all the spots!”

Am Lin shook her head, “It’s my mistake. I let you distract me with your little game and forgot about what I promised you.”

Wenshu felt a whimper creep into his sputtering laughter. “Whahaaahat… ahaa, promise?”

Hai Jun remembered, “She promised to tickle your belly all over.”

The prince shook his head, trying to insist through his giggles that his belly had just received enough attention. 

Am Lin looked up at the guard, “I’m not sure I would really call that a proper belly tickling. Would you?”

Hai Jun smiled back, his voice laced with mischief. “I think something like that should involve your fingers, at least.”

Wenshu tried to sit up but was still anchored down by his two hulking friends. “Ahhhahahaa, waaait!!”

The two friends paused, as did the grass, so the prince could continue. Wenshu caught his breath, realizing everyone was actually waiting for an answer. He swallowed hard and looked away, unable to state his case out loud. Am Lin was happy to help. “Wait for what, sweet prince?”

Wenshu blushed deeply, barely able to stand their undivided attention. “I’m just… I’m very….”

Hai Jun jumped in, “Ticklish? You're very ticklish on your tummy. Is that what you’re trying to say?”

The prince closed his eyes, regretting that he initiated this line of questioning. He could feel his ears growing hot with anticipation. Somehow, the teasing was harder to endure than all the tickling. 

“Aren’t you going to answer your friend? He asked you a question.” Am Lin placed her hands on Wenshu’s belly, drawing out a quick gasp from her patient. 

The prince couldn’t remember a time when he felt more exposed. The answer was obvious, he was clearly a very ticklish person. But the words kept getting stuck in his throat. Why was this so damned flustering?! He took a deep breath, summoning his royal pride. “I would rather… not answer that particular question.” 

Am Lin nodded, “It’s hard to be vulnerable but it’s doing you a world of good. Tell you what, when you’re ready to answer his question, I’ll know you’ve had enough.” Before the prince could protest, the healer began lightly scrabbling her fingers over the soft landscape of his belly. 

Hysterics erupted from his throat as expert fingers danced on top of the sensitive skin. Am Lin gently squeezed and poked his helpless stomach, admiring how the energy brightened and flowed freely under her fingertips. All pretense of his pride vanished. Despite all his riches, his status and his dragon magic, the prince was powerless as ten fingers skittered over his ridiculously ticklish belly. The peaceful hills echoed from his peals of uninhibited laughter as Am Lin mercilessly explored his trembling stomach.

Sensing his fatigue, the healer grinned at the guard, “See if he’s ready to give you an answer.”

Hai Jun couldn’t help but chuckle, trying to elicit a confession over the raucous laughter. “Are you ready to answer? Do you have a ticklish tummy? It looks very soft and tender. Is that why you’re laughing so hard… because your soft little tummy is so very ticklish?”

Am Lin eventually paused, letting the prince gulp in some much needed air. The energy in his body danced merrily, appreciating the much needed release. She gazed down at her hapless patient, “As much as you love this, I think you should give him an answer.” 

Wenshu sighed out his remaining giggles. There really wasn’t another way out of this. He stared up at Hai Jun who was sporting his roguish smile. The guard winked at the breathless prince, “Come on, you made me talk earlier.”

The prince nodded, feeling his telltale blush deepen. “Yes, for the record, I have, umm, a ticklish tummy.”

Am Lin started massaging the dark wound, incorporating the healing energy into his body. Wenshu closed his eyes as relief washed over him. The healer smiled up at the guard, “Will you go ready the carriage? I have a feeling our sweet prince is about to drift off to sleep.”

Wenshu wanted to argue with her and insist that he could walk himself over to the carriage. His body felt weightless as her trained hands worked their magic. The prince simply couldn’t resist any further. Drained of every prideful impulse, Wenshu closed his eyes and let his friends tend to him. 

___________________________________________________________

Meanwhile…

In a small village, several miles away from the royal city, the Golden Sage surveyed the damage. They had flown for hours, hoping to prevent this very thing. A terrible evil had just been unleashed on their world and they had arrived too late.

To be continued!