When someone was knocking on the
door, Bai He was trying to attach the forearm guards to her left arm. She felt
better not to touch her bow, so left it rest alone on the table. After today's
training, the nervousness took her again to make something meaningful before
the evening, making her feel that her career in the Guard was not entirely
hopeless. But since she had been bothered with the buckles for half an hour, she
finally abandoned the attempt, dragged down the armband and threw it it on the
bed grumbling. Then she still tiredly talked to the door with her back:
- I really do not understand why
you're bothered about me, Pei Pei. If I know, you have not been given a command
to bring me dinner even today.
- I do not know why I'm bothered
about you either... little sister. - Jian Ming replied slightly hurt as she
entered the room.
Bai He turned astonished, stared
at the other, and in her disarray did not know what to say. Jian Ming held a
basket in her hand. She took it quickly and put it on the table. But as she
looked, she saw no food, only bandages and balm pots. She sighed unwittingly.
- Are you hungry? - Jian Ming
asked with a smile.
- Yes.
- There will be no dinner here.
- What? Why not? - Bai He asked,
puzzled, but did not receive a reply.
The daughter of the blacksmith started
to study her with a searching look.
- How do you feel?
She looked deep into her eyes,
grabbed her hair, then lifted her arms and watched Bai He's face. She rested her
palm on the other's shoulders and nodded contentedly when she only took a very
soft breath.
- So ... how do you feel? Looks
like you do not have too much trouble.
- I'm fine ... I guess ... I'm
just dead tired.
- And what are you doing to do now?
- What?
Jian Ming laughed.
- Good heavens... Today's agenda
was archery, right? Yet you behave like someone who was hit in the head.
- I told you I am tired. - Bai He
raged, then turned back angrily.
- What do you want to do?
- Wha... I... what do you mean?
- Do you really want to be a
Guardian?
- Yes.
- Here?
- How do you mean here? Here…
where…?
- In here? In the barracks?
Bai He looked around. Ever since she
came here and had some time or strength, she tried to fight the desolation of this
neglected place. Obviously, she did not quite succeed, but Jian Ming did not
seem to mean that as she shook her head.
- You will never make a Guardian if
you huddle in here. This is not the sanctuary of lost little girls, but the
Royal Guard. If you want to be one of them, then forget this room and be with
your comrades. I can see that you have nothing wrong. That's why you're coming
with me right now.
She took her hand and pulled the
girl with her.
- Where are we going?
- Have dinner.
As the sun disappeared behind the
trees beyond the Camp, the shadows quickly began to deepen along the walls of
the buildings and the air cooled down noticeably. As the two girls crossed between
the barracks, others joined them heading toward the middle of the camp. Most of
them were still in full gear, but who had been relieved of their armor, they
held at least one piece of weapon with them. Bai He was embarrassed when she
noticed the bows they previously received on may Applicants’ shoulders. She did
not even get along with her armbands, and suddenly she had the feeling again
that she did not belong. In the past few days, there were moments when she had
to deal with this, but she always successfully depressed it. Jian Ming stopped
at one of the buildings, picked up a lonely lantern and pressed it in her hand.
Bai He was freed from the capture of dark thoughts, at least for a while, but
when they arrived, she tried to hide behind the other's back with her throat tight.
In the middle wide area, where small
campfires were lit near each other, almost everyone was sitting there except the
guards. They all seemed being occupied with something: picking the fire, or just
returning with some firewood. Others were managing their weapons and talking
about the training earlier that day. Bai He noticed the cook, who with the help
of an orderly shared vegetables and apples with those sitting by the fires.
There were no loud words beyond laughter, yet she felt that the strict
discipline of the daytime eased. The wind blew the sound of frogs from the
river tot he Camp, and the cicadas did their best too, entering the contest with
their songs. The evening was buzzing in her ears, so she noticed only in the
last minute that Jian Ming was heading straight to her brother. She stopped.
The Captain was explaining something to Lu Shan in a low voice, but with wide motions.
They have not noticed her yet.
- Light it... - Jian Ming noted
over her shoulder and walked to his brother. Bai He grabbed the short stick
holding the lantern and quickly turned her back on them.
She looked around desperately,
but had no idea where to escape. Nobody cared about her and she did not know
whether or not she was happy about it. Having no better hint she went right to
the nearest fire place, though she had no idea what to do with the lantern.
- Bai He, you came? - someone
behind her talked, that made her so frightened that she dropped the lantern.
Fortunately on of the Guardians, who was sitting next to the fire, caught it
with lucky hands and lighted it with a tiny woodstick. The flame began dancing
cheerfully, though its light could not compete with the campfire. Bai He wanted
to turn to see who she was thanking for, but she stumbled and if Pei Pei did
not hold her hand, she would have hit the bottom in a way very unworthy of the
Guard.
- Did you come to dinner? What do
you want to eat? - the boy asked her, as he helped her regain her balance. She
opened her mouth, but was interrupted.
- Where are the bowls, Pei Pei? -
Lu Shan said, who had just come to them. He sat down and looked up at the girl.
- Good evening, Bai He.
She went pale. She did not expect
an officer to greet her so simply, moreover in such a direct voice. She bowed
politely. Then she turned her back on the small group, planning to find Jian
Ming and the bowls. How could she remain invisible for the rest of the evening?
- Hurry up. - Pei Pei urged her
to follow and then walked forward. She caught up with some long passes, but by
then they already reached the fires. The boy greeted everybody, so whether Bai
He wanted it or not, everyone became aware of her presence within five minutes,
even those who had not been able to notice her before. Her ear was burning with
embarrassment and the attention towards her. Earlier that day, during the
trainings and exercises, she did not feel so uncomfortable. She bowed her head
and sighed heavily, having no better to do but say hello to everyone.
Pei Pei pointed at a basket when
they came to the kitchen.
- We'll take this.
Bai He took one handle of the
basket, then glanced up at the other. Something was missing.
- And the chopsticks?
- I'll take them. You can go.
She looked at him outraged, but
Pei Pei only pulled his shoulders with a hardly hidden grin on his face
- What? It is not heavy...
Bai He raised the basket full of
round bamboo bowls to her waist, and set off, keeping her comments to herself.
Pei Pei put the wood rollers, in which the chopsticks were kept into another
basket and followed her with a smile.
As Bai He walked by the fires,
hands were stretched to her to take the bowls. Around the third or fourth
occasion she was able to repay the smiles they thanked her with. She soon
returned to the fire place where she left the lantern. Only to face the General
and the Captain, who probably had enough of discussions, and now they were
sitting by the fire as well.
She bowed, and with her gaze on
the ground she handed out the remaining bowls. She remembered what the Captain
had told her this afternoon and looked up for a moment. Kai Xi Wang did not
smile like the others, only flames glittered in his eyes. Pei Pei came back
with the last of chopsticks. As soon as he got rid of them, he dropped himself
beside the fire, leaving the last place free, accidentally right next to the
Captain.
Kai Xi Wang raised his hand, but
could only send a dark look to the young Guardian, as he was already out of
range, picking the fire whistling. Bai He swallowed hard but sat down. Then Jian
Ming arrived.
- Our father eats in the
workshop. - she noted and knelt beside them in the grass. Bai He shuddered, but
then Xi Wang cleared his throat, and Pei Pei jumped to give place to her. Jian
Ming, however, shook her head laughing.
- At ease, Guardian. The service
is over.
- Sit down, Pei Pei. – said the
General and added: - You eat.
Then he began to talk quietly to
the Captain, while the others replaced the logs they sat on and moved closer to
the fire. They dropped pieces of meat and vegetables into the water to cook,
and while the food was cooked in the pot, they chatted on about trifles again.
From time to time someone reached into the pot with his chopsticks, but mostly
he placed the food in the bowl of someone else first, only then picked for
himself. Jian Ming began to eat only after she stacked some food in front of her
brother.
Bai He felt the night pulling her
in. The scents of smoke and food dazed her, the quiet conversations murmured in
her ears, and when Xi Wang's hand moved to put a piece of boiled meat into her
bowl, she looked up involuntarily. The Captain looked back at her, only nodding
once, then he turned to the General again. She wondered if he was watching him
or just sensed her watching him. She put the chopsticks in her mouth and did
not even notice that she had nothing to chew. She followed the sparks of fire
toward the dark sky with her eyes, and suddenly the simple idea bumped her
saying she was here, not alone because the whole Guard was with her. When she
reached for water, halfway there someone was already passing her the jar. When she
darted toward Jian Ming, she smiled back broadly. And when she had gathered enough
courage after a long time to put some food in the Captain's bowl, he gave a
surprised but happy look as her reward. However, when the General addressed her
in the next moment, she almost choked.
- Have you ever been riding, Bai
He?
The Guardians went silent around
the fire, everyone looked at the girl, and she swallowed hard to answer, but
the General did not really insist on that.
- Captain, it's time to see the Applicants
riding tomorrow. Take care that the Patrol will not start before noon.
- Yes, General. - Xi Wang nodded,
then turned sideways, and there was no escape for Bai He. - Well? Have you ever
been riding?
She shook her head and felt a
strong temptation to jump and flee into the night. But she looked at Jian Ming for
help in vain, she was shaking her head. She took a deep breath. After all, that
was her decision. And if she did not want to run away like a coward, she had to
get herself together. But she could not get along with her own thoughts. She
still did not find enough time to think about it, what could be so disturbing. She
had no idea how to behave in the presence of Kai Xi Wang. As if it was not her,
but the Captain himself who would have forgotten the fact from time to time,
that Bai He was just an Applicant. All she could do was dig her nails in her
palm and sit still.
- Jian Ming, you're singing us
tonight, are not you? - He Bian called out from the nearest campfire.
Immediately several voices joined him and demanded for the performance. She
laughed.
- Rather not. I do not want to.
- Please... - Pei Pei began nag
her, and Lu Shan jumped in to follow him.
Bai He's eyes glittered
curiously, and looked hopefully at the other girl. But she was still laughing:
- What a soft bunch of you! Since
when do you need my lullaby, should I even shake up your pillows too? How will
you make a Guardian now? - she teased the others as some of them nearby their
bowels began to knock on the bottom of their bowls with their chopsticks.
- You know how it ends, sister. -
Xi Wang said, smiling. - Spare the time and give in. You'll get rid of them
sooner.
- Okay, one. Just one song...
There was a short cheering, and
then they all went silent. Everyone moved closer to the other by the fire to
give room for Jian Ming and the Guardian, who came out of nowhere, holding a
flute in his hand. They both sat down by the fire. Bai He suddenly noticed that
her neighbor pushed closer, so she immediately moved away to the other
direction. But her leg came close to the Captain’s, and she could not go
anywhere else. She did not know what to do, where to put her hands or to take any
more breath. Xi Wang did not look at her, but she knew he was aware of all her
movements.
Jian Ming began to hum, and the
flute quietly followed the melody. Pei Pei apparently could not hold back his
opinion and grinned:
- I knew it... my favorite...
Lu Shan hushed him and slapped
his head. Jian Ming was singing with a smile:
Like the waves on the water
Your soft voice in my heart
Like the bird flying with the
wind
Gentle kiss on my lips
And like open fountains
Sparkling in moonlight
My dark eyes on your skin
Like Saturn I am within your
rings
From my dreams I’m not rising
Like the moon pulls the ocean
Your strong hands hold me close
Like the seasons run in circles
Spinning top is my heart
And like open fountains
Sparkling in moonlight
My dark eyes on your skin
Like Saturn I am within your
rings
From my dreams I’m not rising
Kai Xi Wang felt as if all his nerves
got tense and threatened to split in two. On one side Liang Dao, the General of
the Royal Guard was sitting with an all-knowing smile, thus allowing the
Guardians out of service to spend the evening with such common vanities as
listening to love songs. On the other side there was a girl, young and fragile,
beaming a weird, stubborn and inexplicable force, together with all its
inconsistency. As Bai He touched him, he shuddered, and he was already ashamed
of himself. And he had hoped that no-one noticed. To conceal himself, he
thought of having a drink. As he could not use his closer arm, he was forced to
stretch out the other. However when he straightened and looked back, it was
like a strike of lightning. Bai He was staring at him, and her look was one huge
question mark. Xi Wang swallowed hard. He was now revealed, but here and now he
was helpless. Having nothing better to do he took a deep breath, turned back to
the fire, he gently put his hand, which no-one could see on Bai He's waist and
smiled to himself.
Jian Ming did not sing another
song, which finally made the others bored of picking at her, and everyone returned
to their dinner. Those who finished, stayed a little longer, then as the fire
went out slowly, they all went back to the barracks one by one. Only the two siblings
and the General remained, who continued the discussion of next day’s tasks with
the Captain. Bai He, who felt more and more exhausted, did not dare move. Xi Wang's
hand was still resting on her waist secretly, and somehow did not want to
leave. She gave in and remained. She began to count the stars, and Xi Wang soon
felt that her head weighed on his shoulder.
- It's late and tomorrow is
another day. Good night. - the General said suddenly, he stood up, and in the
next moment he was gone in the dark. The rest of ember now lost battle against
the lantern light, Jian Ming could hardly find his brother's outlines in the
dark.
- Have you thought about it,
brother? - she whispered at the moment that the General walked far enough from
them.
- I do not know what you're
talking about. - Kai Xi Wang said, but he pulled the sleeping girl closer to
him, as her head was threatening them with falling down, and wake her up.
- You know it well. If you make
the decision, you have to take the responsibility.
- I'm pretty sure my common sense
will not have a word in it.
Jian Ming shook her head, but
then said nothing. They just sat in the dark and listened to Bai He breathing.
- It's dark, nobody sees you. - Jian
Ming finally muttered and stood up. - Hurry up. Her shoulders still hurt.
Kai Xi Wang looked back at his sister,
but remained silent. His sister took the lantern with her and all sank into darkness.
He took a deep breath and moved cautiously. Then he turned aside very slowly
and put his free arm under her knees. He lifted her up and started slowly
toward the barracks. Burning torches between the houses showed him the way, but
he was careful to stay away from the bright circles. As he reached the
barracks, he stopped. There will be no more such occasions, he persuaded
himself, and before his conscience could protest, he kissed her forehead.
Bai He shivered and Xi Wang felt
her arms tighten around his neck. He opened the door with his foot and laid the
girl on the bed carefully. He covered her and he was in his own bed just a
minute later.
- Responsibility... - he
whispered, then turned sideways, though he doubted he would be able to sleep at
all.
- Isn’t this heart-warming? - Yan
Zhu noted as she was hanging her legs from the tree. She was on one of the
nearest oak trees at the edge of the Camp, from where she could see the people
sitting by the fire. She confirmed with a satisfied grin when Snow Bird appeared
next to her, accompanied by a cool breeze, but he replied only when Jian Ming finished
the song.
- The mortals?
- No! When did the mortals ever interested
me? You know me. I speak of the Fire Princess.
Snow Bird did not answer, and did
not look into the other's eyes.
- Whom do you want to protect me
with your silence, Guardian? Do not think that you and your little prince can
prevent me from recovering what's mine.
- What do you want, Yan Zhu? Why
are you here at all?
Some dim glow was crawling out of
Yan Zhu's body. Until now Snow Bird was replying to the Ancient Spirit of the
Fire Clan from a nice distance, with his back pushed against the tree trunk. Now
he straightened himself with a stretch and prepared for the firestorm. But the glow
did not leave Yan Zhu's body, it just wrapped her around like a blanket. Now it
was uncovered that she was wearing a simple-cut, light-brown dress, more common
than those of the mortals. She would have looked like a young girl only, if
Snow Bird did not see the flames of the uncontrollable fire in her eyes. Now
she could no longer deceive him.
- Tell me, Xian Xue ... You knew
that it was not the princes of the Ice Clan, who have pushed me into the
Infinite Space, did you not? Did you know that the stupid luck a mortal brought
death upon me?
- Yes.
- I must erase this disgraceful
memory from my soul, and I must have revenge for having violated my pride.
- Revenge... Is there nothing
else in your heart, just the cold vengeance?
Yan Zhu's ringing laughter flew
far into the night. Snow Bird looked around, but she only waved.
- They can not hear us. I wanted
to be alone. - she added silently.
- You destroyed the Sacred Snow
Mountain, with every mortal on it. Only out of vengeance, because you did not
find the sword. And now you are here lurking near the mortals. Do you really
want to revenge the old strike you've suffered on them?
- I told you I was not interested
in mortals. - Yan Zhu hissed angrily, and the light cover flashed around her. -
I want what's mine. The other half of my soul.
Snow Bird was listening stunned
and tried to understand the truth hidden behind the words. He did not
understand everything, but he did not want to confess his insecurity.
- Oh yes, you think right.
Princess Yan Da is the one I want. Your little prince has done me the favor of
awakening her in the Infinite Space. He just forgot to look after her again.
Yan Da told me everything on Earth. I listened to her... I understood her...
Snow Bird watched nervously that the
dim light cover on Yan Zhu's skin began to blink, and with each word of the
girl there was something flashing. She did not shout, yet it was even more clear
that she is angrier. Xian Xue did not move from the tree trunk, but he thought
it would do better to prepare for all possibilities.
- Yan Zhu... - he was trying. -
She is just a mortal there. Jian Ming is her name, a blacksmith's daughter, and
she has no idea that her soul has ever belonged to the Princess of the Fire
Clan. You can take away nothing from her.
- Really? Maybe I should be more
patient this time?
No matter how surreal it was, Snow
Bird shivered. He shook his head, but Yan Zhu laughed.
- Your little prince will
hopefully be so kind and awaken the Fire Princess again for me. And before he
can betray her for the third time, before my princess can sacrifice her life
for the third time, I'll save her.
- Yan Zhu...
- Too late, Xian Xue. You had a
couple of thousand years to think about it. I do not care anymore, if you ever
understand what you've done to me. It does not matter anymore... Because I'm
about to end this unfortunate case now.
Snow Bird pushed away from the
tree trunk, but he was late, as Yan Zhu turned into a thousand small sparks, and
with a hissing sound she melted into the sea of night stars.
- Ying Kong Shi... – Snow Bird whispered,
after reciting the names of some especially repulsive swimming monsters, which
ever floated in the Endless Sea. - I think it's time for another conversation.
The sunbeams shining through the windows
drew razor-sharp stripes on the floor of Mirage Hall, but it was not the
morning light that awakened the Prince. Snow Bird came at such a speed that he
had changed into his human form only by the Prince's bed, accompanied by a little
snowstorm. Shi blinked, trying to wake up as the blue flames of a protective
spell already blurred around him. Of course he was not fast enough. The first
thing for Snow Bird was to freeze all doors and windows. Shi stared at him with
surprise, but he was just pacing up and down, as though he did not know where
to start.
- What…
- Shut up! – Snow Bird stopped
him. - Now I ask, and you answer.
Shi swallowed and nodded. He
dropped his hand and the spell faded away.
- What was the last thing you
said to Princess Yan Da on Earth?
Silence.
- I’m listening to you…
Still silence.
Snow Bird moved one step forward,
so Shi shook his head confused.
- Nothing? Seriously? It's the
truth? Did the Princess really die without having a good word from you?
Shi bowed his head, then emerged
from the bed in the shadow of the other’s accusing gaze. He stopped in the middle
of the hall and stared at the Six Leaf Ice Crystal pattern on the floor.
- Brave Prince. Or rather conceited...
and boastful... There you were crying to me at the Northern Ice Peak that you
wanted to give back her old life. What do you think she will tell you when you
wake her up? Will she run into your arms with a grateful heart after you've
hurt her so? I would not be surprised if she would break your neck with her
pretty hands.
He paused and Shi looked up.
- Did you finish?
Snow Bird threw ice cubes on him,
that the Prince turned into snowflakes easily.
- No, I have not finished yet.
Last night Yan Zhu and I had a little chat by the campfire.
- What?
- Oh yes. - he smiled, but his
eyes were still angry. - And she was kind enough to share her thoughts with me.
You know, about how she will conquer the world and how she will regain the last
pieces of her power.
- But she does not know where the
sword is. - the Prince objected. - That's why she was so angry, right? Because
the sword was not on Sacred Snow Mountain.
- You're stupid! Your father's
sword is only one thing. Yan Zhu is hunting for her soul right now.
Shi stared in front of himself,
then shook his head.
- That is impossible. Absurd!
- You can deny it, but in vain.
- Xian Xue... would it be
possible that on Earth when Yan Zhu invaded the Princess, she left a piece of her
soul there?
Xian Xue laughed bitterly.
- I wish it would be so simple...
I wish we could get away with it so easily…
- Get away with it? We? You and
me…?
Snow Bird sighed, walked past the
Prince and sat down on the bed. Then he glanced beside him. Shi stared back,
then shrugged and sat down beside him.
- Yan Zhu has always been strong
as the Ancient Spirit of the Fire Clan. Yet, the time came when she betrayed those
who were important to her out of weakness and whim.
He went silent, but Shi felt that
he hasn’t finished yet, so did not intervene. Both of them sat silently on the
edge of the bed, staring at the floor. Eventually, Snow Bird broke the silence
and gathering his courage continued:
- Yan Zhu loved me. But I could
not appreciate this love and I could not keep her from being disappointed and
lonely. When I sacrificed myself on the Rock of Prison to save She Mi, she lost
all her hopes. And to protect herself from further pain, she tore out of her
soul everything that was the source of her suffering.
- No...- Shi groaned, but Snow
Bird only waved.
- Yan Da being the Princess of
the Fire Clan inherited a heart from the Ancient Spirit, that treasured the
desire to love and to be loved behind the shield of toughness. Even death could
not be strong enough to destroy it. When you gave her a new life in the
Infinite Space, she probably repelled with joy of becoming another chance. But she
failed again. And Yan Zhu, who probably kept her on a short leash, found out
everything when she invaded her body. She’s not angry only at me any more, Ying
Kong Shi. But you also. For everything you did to the Princess. More
specifically, for what you did not do for her.
She took his head in his palm.
- Yan Da is in danger. She saw her
in the Camp, right?
- You are wrong. Jian Ming is
safe. Yan Zhu cannot reach her until she's just a mare mortal.
Now it was the Prince’s turn to
laugh.
- That's it? Leave the Princess
in peace and Yan Zhu will be weak? Find the sword and she has absolutely no
chance? Defeat her in the easiest and simplest way possible?
- Good idea. – Snow Bird nodded,
and as he did well, he stood up. - We'll do this.
Ying Kong Shi jumped up and
started arguing with anger.
- No way! I will not make the
same mistake for the third time. And you? Are you ready to give up?
Snow Bird turned his back on him.
- If you awaken the Princess,
there is nothing that we can do. - he whispered. - Neither the strength of the
Ice-Fire Clan nor your stubbornness will help. We will all be vulnerable to Yan
Da's feelings. And if the Fire Princess decides not to fight anymore, if she
gives up, then Yan Zhu takes back that was hers with a delicate flick of the
wrist, and the Princess will just be destroyed.
- Snow Bird… - Shi tried. - What
if the circumstances were different this time? What if we did this time what we should have
done long ago?
- You're stubborn and confident,
Prince. Are you so sure you will be able to persuade the Princess that she is
no longer alone?
- I'm not sure. But I have to
try. And you should try too, Snow Bird.
- Any why?
- You said so. Yan Zhu loved you.
You just have to convince her that there is now nothing to distract you from her
any more. She does not need the Princess's feelings. But yours.
Snow Bird turned and looked into Ying Kong
Shi's eyes. Then he lifted his hand and removed the ice blocks from the walls
of Mirage Hall.
- We're both crazy. We want to
persuade two souls of burning vengeance to choose us instead of war and
destruction, us, who have betrayed them and pushed them away.
Shi grinned wide.
- You see? This is the easiest
and simplest solution.
When Xian Xue left, Shi called
the guards and asked for the High Counsellor. Liu Shu bowed in front of the
Prince with a perfect self-control, but he allowed curiosity to sparkle
unveiled in his look. The Prince's behavior in the last few days was a bit
weird, at least, as far as he could observe. Shi smiled suspiciously.
- High Counsellor... I bid you a fair
good morning.
Liu Shu stepped back with an
elegant move, and in the next moment a strong freezing spell sparked at the end
of his wand, which surprised the Prince.
- Three heartbeats... Before I'm alerting
the guards. You get that much time to tell what happened to Prince Ying Kong
Shi.
Shi straightened and smiled.
First he changed himself into the figure of the High Counsellor, who lowered
his wand dumbfounded seeing himself, then he changed back, and as he walked
closer to Liu Shu, turquoise snakes climbed down from the walls of Mirage Hall to
crawl up Shi’s back and cover his shoulders like a robe.
- High Counsellor... We should rather
talk about where the Sacred Snow Mountain disappeared from our map.
Liu Shu blew out the air loud and
kneeled.
- I beg for your forgiveness,
Your Highness. There are so many gossips in the Palace lately.
- We do not have more time, High Counsellor.
We cannot wait for the clan chiefs any longer. Our opponent is not a faceless figure,
but Yan Zhu herself. The question is no longer who is stronger, but who is
faster. By whatever methods we can gain advantage, it can mean survival.
- I see, Your Highness. It is a
fortune that the rumors proved to be untrue. I would have been sad if it was
true that the last member of the royal family turned his back on the Ice Clan
for a mortal.
- A mortal? - Shi asked, but then
in the next moment he added with complete self-confidence. - That's not it. Not
that anyone else has a word say in it.
Liu Shu politely bowed.
- I’m listening to your orders,
Your Highness. The clan chiefs are already on their way here.
- All of them?
- Unfortunately not. Hui Heise
has not returned ever since.
Shi walked to the balcony door thinking.
He stared at the snow-covered peaks painted by the pink morning lights and
argued with his own thoughts. That's too simple... Hui Heise would be a
traitor? A thief who stole his father's sword right under Yan Zhu's nose? A
lonely warrior who was willing to lower himself to some earth-bound mortals
just to hide? And what does he want to do with the sword? Nobody can be so
foolish to throw gloves by himself in the face of an Ancient Spirit. He turned
back to the High Counsellor.
- We have to get him. Tell Qian
Zhenzhu Praedor and Hei Zhao to gather their best soldiers and send them to the
Shadow Cave. I'd be surprised if that rogue had stuck his plans under the nose
of his men. For now, it's even better if he follows it alone. The Praedor and
the Bear should keep back the clan members from any rash steps. Mi Feng Hua should
go to the Royal Guard. They will soon need his knowledge if the Guardians are
forced to fight. All Healers will be needed. Yu Yan will stay with you here in
the Palace. He and his clan get the most difficult task. I want to know about
each and every thought, whoever's mind raised that dream, that can threaten our
loyal clans or the Mortal Kingdom. Let him send me a Dreamcube when he finds
something.
- And where is Your Highness
heading? - Liu Shu asked as the Prince finished.
- I'll be with the Guard. There's
a trace I cannot let disappear. I want to check it.
- I understand, Your Highness.
Everything will be as you wish.
Shi nodded to acknowledge the High
Counsellor’s bow, and after Liu Shu left, he walked back to the balcony.
- Ka Suo, my dear brother... I
think now I could use your experience and your wisdom. - he whispered to the
wind. - No matter how much I want to do good, I'm afraid this will not be
enough.
The wind however did only its
job. It blew away the morning mist toward the Endless Sea, and did not waste a
moment to chat with a young, snowwhite-haired man about transience.
⤻ Listen to Yan Da's Song here: 💖
