Stronger Than a Bronze Dragon

by Mary Fan

  “He sounds like my father.” My heart aches as I picture Father’s face. He didn’t smile much, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t happy. “I hope your father—and the rest of your people—are all right.”

  “I hope so too.” Tai leans a little closer. “Was your father a warrior like you?”

  “Yes. He taught me some of his combat skills to improve my Warrioress act. He meant to teach my sister too, but she was only eight when he died—too young to hand a blade to.” I blink back a sudden onslaught of tears. “I was only twelve, so he didn’t have a chance to teach me how to truly fight. There’s so much I wish I could have learned from him.”

  “I’m sorry.” He reaches as if to take my hand but hesitates and withdraws.

  I’m surprised by the twinge of regret that pierces me when he does. Part of me longs to speak more of Father and let the tears I’m holding back fall. But I don’t know if I’m ready to be that vulnerable in front of Tai. So I change the subject. “Did you learn to fight from your father?”

  Tai shakes his head. “He didn’t have time to tutor me himself. Though he sometimes gave me advice.” His eyes grow distant, and a fond smile creeps onto his lips. “Once when I was very young—maybe six—I found my way into the room where he stored his weapons. I wanted to know what it was like to be a great warrior like Father, so I took a staff from its rack. I couldn’t control it and ended up knocking down many of the bladed weapons stored there. Father, of course, was furious. But not because I’d made a mess—he told me he feared I might have harmed myself. The next day, he brought me a staff of my own—one more suited to my size—and told me that if I was going to wield one, I had to learn to treat it not as a weapon, but as a limb. An extension of my body rather than a thing I hold. Even though it was a long time ago, I remember those words each time I pick up a staff.” A wistful look crosses his expression. “I, too, wonder what I could have learned from my father if he were around. Especially since he could have been but chose not to be.”

  “I’m … sorry to hear that.” I purse my lips and wish I knew what else to say.

  Tai shrugs. “He always had more important things to worry about than me. I grew accustomed to it. So here we are, a pair of renegades who have managed to earn the disapproval of just about everyone.”

  “At least we approve of each other.”

  He widens his eyes in an exaggerated expression of surprise. “Did you just say you approve of me?”

  I grin despite myself. “Don’t let it get to your head.”

  “Too late, it already has.”

  It suddenly hits me that since he’s down here with me, no one’s keeping an eye out for Kang’s search party. I rise abruptly. “Don’t you have a ship to watch? I should have known better than to give you a second chance at that.”

  Tai stands with a laugh. “As if you could have made good on your threat to stay awake the rest of the journey.”

  I scowl. “Kang’s men are still looking for us. If you don’t go back to your post at once, I’m taking back my approval.”

  “All right, I’ll leave you alone now.” He moves toward the door, but his eyes linger on mine. “Whatever nightmares you’re battling, I hope you conquer them.”

  It’s not until after he’s left the small room that I realize I didn’t use my sword to secure the door before I fell asleep.

  The copper sphere Ibsituu gave us—the “map” to the Maw of Hell—hovers a few feet before me at the bow of the ship. Blue and gold sparks leap from its metal surface as I watch it keenly, not wanting to miss a single turn. I still find it hard to fathom that such a simple-looking object could carry so much power. The Maw of Hell is said to lie at the end of the world; Tai and I would hardly be the first humans to reach it, but it’s not exactly a common destination.

  The map remained still—a mere trinket in appearance—as we made our way back to the ship. But the moment Tai ignited the engines, it sprang to life and settled before the wheel, floating in the air like a butterfly.

  I risk a glance away from the sphere to check for any other ships. So far, the area we’re flying through seems fairly deserted. Still, a nervous knot remains in my gut. If we’re spotted, there’s no place to hide.

  Emerald earth streaked with rivers sweeps toward the blue horizon. I wonder what land we’re passing over—whether this is still part of the Empire of the Pearl Moon or if we’ve crossed into another nation. Since the sphere steered us in erratic zigs and zags, I’ve lost track of how far east or south or west or north we’ve flown.

  The sphere darts to the right and quakes in place. I twist the wheel in the direction it indicates, and machinery clangs and whirs as the propellers adjust to the new direction. Above me, the scalloped sail twists on its high mast. The wind picks up, speeding the ship, and I savor the rush.

  “Are we there yet?”

  Glancing back, I spot Tai emerging from below deck and rubbing his eyes. “If you need more rest, feel free to continue sleeping.”

  “Careful, I might take you up on that.”

  “You be careful, or I’ll take Ibsituu’s sword and slay Mowang alone before you wake.” I throw him a teasing smile.

  “You would.” He shakes his head as he approaches.

  A flash of purple light streaks the sky just as the sharp stench of sulfur crashes down upon me. An abrupt rumble shakes the deck, throwing me off balance. My hands slip from the wheel, and I stumble backward.

  Strong arms catch me as the ground stabilizes. Despite the unnatural purple lightning, I feel safe. I look up in time to see Tai flash a grin at me, and strange heat rushes through my skin.

  I quickly regain my footing. “What just happened?”

  “You fell. I caught you. No need to thank me.”

  “This is no time for jokes!”

  “It’s the perfect time for jokes. Who knows if we’ll survive this? It’d be a shame if we spent our final hours being glum.”

  “If we weren’t already heading to Hell, I’d toss you in myself.”

  The sky has turned from blue to black, though the purple flashes are bright enough to continue lighting the ship as if it were day. We must be getting close. At least Kang’s search party won’t be able to follow us into this otherworldly realm.

  I approach the bow. Heihuoshan juts before us, distant but nearing. Orange lava bubbles up its peak and streams down its steep sides, forming a wide lake at its base. It looks every bit as terrifying as in the illustrations Mother used to show me, but I refuse to be intimidated by the sight. The surrounding land is entirely devoid of life. Yellow and brown stone stretches into the horizon in every direction, carved by canyons and pierced by towering rock formations. No trace remains of the greenery that surrounded us moments ago.

  As we draw closer to Heihuoshan, I glimpse a wide, yellow arc stretching across its base—the gateway. Something dark moves before it. Considering its size compared to the mountain’s, it must be enormous.

  The Maw of Hell … and the demon that guards it. A tingly mix of fear and excitement shoots up my spine. I’m about to walk into a legend.

  “This is it.” Beside me, Tai glares at the Maw of Hell. The fierce determination in his expression gives his face a striking intensity. “Are you ready?”

  “Of course.” I wrap my hands around the leather strap carrying my sword. “Are you?”

  Rocky ground crunches beneath my feet as I land beside the ship. With no body of water to anchor it on, we had no choice but to leave it hovering a few feet above the ground.

  Beside me, Tai gives Ibsituu’s sword an experimental swing before tying it to his belt, using a piece of rope looped around the hilt. The River Pearl glows against his tunic, and the surrounding darkness makes its brilliance more acute.

  Rocky black land stretches before us, a lifeless plain broken only by jutting pillars of stone. Neither the sun nor the stars illuminate this desolate place—only streaks of purple lightning. Heihuoshan stands a field’s length away, the glowing gateway to Hel
l arcing across its front. Even from here, I can see the Guardian pacing before it.

  I march forward. From the stories I’ve heard, the Guardian is not an evil being. He may be a demon, but he only exists to do his duty: keeping the demons of Hell within and keeping all others out. Yet he must have failed in some capacity since the Ligui managed to escape. Maybe I can learn how while I’m here.

  There have been plenty of tales of humans—and Yueshen, including Warrioress—who have journeyed to the depths. Each depicted the Guardian as a bureaucrat, a reasonable and intelligent being who can be negotiated with. Though my instinct is to cut down anything in my way, I remind myself of those tales as we draw closer. Since the Guardian is said to be as powerful as Mowang in many ways, it would be better not to expend my energy—or risk failing—before I reach the target.

  “Just so we’re clear,” Tai says, “do not run up to the Guardian and start hacking him to pieces. We don’t want him to sic his demon dogs upon us before we’ve made it inside.”

  “I wasn’t planning to!” I shoot him a slantwise look. “Do you think he’ll grant us an audience with Mowang?”

  “We’d hardly be the first.” Tai shrugs. “I’ll say I’m here to negotiate for my peoples’ release. That should be reason enough for him to let us through.”

  “I hope so.”

  The Guardian towers over us as we approach. I crane my neck. Dressed in a warrior’s armor, he’s almost human in shape. But his grotesque red face, with its protruding fangs, giant eyes, and sharply slanting brows, reveals his demonic nature. Black talons protrude from the long fingers gripping a glowing orange staff. Spotting us, he bends down on one knee to get a closer look.

  “What brings you to the Maw of Hell?” His low voice shakes the ground.

  I expect Tai to answer, but he doesn’t. The Guardian peers right at me with his penetrating black gaze. I suck in a breath and glance to the side, wondering where that quick mouth of Tai’s is when we need it.

  “Do not look away when I am speaking to you!” The Guardian leans closer. “Answer me.”

  I straighten. Though terror courses through my veins, I won’t let any of it show on my face. “My name is Liang Anlei. I am here to negotiate with Mowang for the release of the people of Baiguang and to learn why demons are being allowed to escape to Earth.”

  “Is that so?” The Guardian furrows his brow. “I have not heard of these matters.”

  That’s strange. The Guardian is supposed to be aware of all major happenings in the Courts of Hell so he’ll know who to let in and out. I also find it odd that Tai doesn’t respond. I reach over to nudge him, but my hand meets empty air.

  I jitter, fumbling for words. Why am I the one doing the negotiating? “I assure you, it’s true—”

  “Wretch!” The Guardian’s roaring voice shakes the ground so hard I stumble. His eyes flash red, becoming twin fireballs above his snarling mouth.

  I seize my sword, wondering what I could have said to enrage him so, but then I realize he’s not looking at me anymore—his giant hand now grips a squirming Tai around the waist.

  “Did you think you could sneak past the great Guardian?” The giant demon squeezes his fist around Tai.

  What happened?

  The Guardian flings Tai to the ground. He lands hard, a pained cry escaping his lips.

  “Tai!” I rush over with half a mind to kill him myself. “What—”

  “Gun kai!” The Guardian waves one enormous arm in our direction. “Get out and never return!”

  Tai stands, though he seems a little unsteady on his feet. “Guardian—”

  “How dare you address me?” The Guardian leans down, his face inches from Tai’s. “You are a dishonorable rat! Gun kai!”

  He rises to his full height and slams the end of his staff into the ground. The impact shakes the earth so hard I fall backward. Tai lands beside me.

  I scowl. “What were you thinking?”

  Loud barks fill the air. I twist to see several demon dogs crawling down the sides of Heihuoshan, their fangs and eyes glowing yellow. Pointed ears top their broad heads, and their muscular red bodies ripple as they move.

  Ta ma de! Cursing, I spring up. We’ll have to hack our way in after all. I’m better at hacking anyway.

  One of the demon dogs launches itself at me. Eager for action, I arc my sword, slicing it in half, and quickly jump out of the way. A pained howl explodes in my ears as it dissipates into red smoke.

  A flash of white catches my eyes. Tai wields Ibsituu’s sword, fending off two of the demon dogs. But he doesn’t notice the third that leaps at him from behind. Its huge paws land on Tai’s shoulders, pinning him to the ground.

  “Tai!” Panic floods my chest. I race over. Tai struggles to free himself, the monster on his back must be too strong.

  It’s going to kill him. It’s going to kill him.

  The demon widens its fanged mouth. I lunge at it, throwing every ounce of strength I have into the jump. A feral cry bursts from my throat as I sink my enchanted sword into the monster.

  As the wisps of smoke dissolve, I grab Tai’s arm and pull him up. A powerful welling makes my eyes sting, and I don’t know if it’s from rage or relief.

  Demon dogs pour down the sides of the fiery mountain, flowing alongside the lava. Their growls rumble like thunder across the dark landscape as they approach at a menacing walk. The Guardian stands before the gate with his arms crossed, looking down at us with disdain. It’s a warning … he’s giving us one last chance to leave before ordering them to tear us apart.

  As much as I hate to surrender, there are simply too many. Even I can see that.

  Tai doesn’t seem to—he starts forward, as if to charge at them.

  I seize his arm. “Don’t!” He tries to yank himself free, but my grip is too tight. I glower at him. “I swear by the Gods of Heaven and Earth, if you don’t come with me, I’ll knock you out and drag you back to the ship!”

  He scowls but glances back at the advancing demons. A look of defeat descends into his eyes.

  I march toward the ship, pulling him along. He jerks his arm hard and manages to free himself this time. I’m tempted to grab him again to make sure he doesn’t try anything stupid, but since he heads in the same direction as me, I refrain.

  I feel like my role has inverted somehow … I should be the one exploding with action despite the obvious foolishness. In the Dailan Guard, I was always the one who had to be held back by my more practical teammates. Yet if I’d let my usual instincts take over this time, we’d both be dead.

  Behind me, the demon dogs continue barking. I quicken to a run. By the time I reach the ship, I don’t hear them anymore. The Guardian must have called them back. I guess the stories about him being a reasonable being were true then; he could easily have shredded us instead of letting us go.

  Not that it matters much since we failed to enter the Courts of Hell.

  I pull myself onto the deck and glance down at Tai, who is climbing up behind me. I snatch the rope and yank him up as hard as I can until he stumbles onto the deck beside me. “You were the one who told me we should negotiate. Why did you try to bypass the Guardian?”

  “I saw an opening.” Tai strides to the bow, his expression stormy. “He was focusing on you … I had a chance to slip by.”

  “So you were going to leave me behind?”

  “No, that’s not—”

  “Then what?”

  “From where I stood, I could see the torments beyond the gateway. My people are inside … I could feel it. I couldn’t stand the thought of them suffering a moment longer, so I made my move.” He rakes his hand through his hair, which has come loose from its topknot. “I’m sorry. I realize now that it was a mistake.”

  “A mistake that could have killed us both!” I clench my fists. If I hadn’t slain that demon dog in time, if he’d died … I fling the thought from my head. It hurts too much to even consider. “We had a plan. How dare you abandon me?”

&nbs
p; “I wasn’t—That’s not what I was doing!”

  “Oh? What did you think would happen if you succeeded? I would have had to deal with the Guardian’s wrath alone! I thought I could trust you as a partner, but it looks like that was my mistake.”

  “I didn’t think of that. I didn’t mean to …” He sinks against the railing and looks away. “Again, I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”

  “That’s not good enough!”

  “How many times must I apologize?” The look he gives me is half angry and half pleading. “I wasn’t thinking, okay? Those are my people—my family—trapped in the Courts of Hell, suffering right in front of me. How could I turn away?”

  I start to retort but stop myself. Barely a week has passed since I abandoned Pinghua to pursue the Shadow Warrior. She survived—no thanks to me—but that doesn’t change what I did. I let the hunger for justice overwhelm my sense of reason. I’m in no position to judge Tai for doing the same.

  He bows his head. Usually so assured and arrogant, he suddenly seems vulnerable. “It was only an instant—I barely took a step before the Guardian caught me. But in that instant, I failed both my people and you. I … I’m sorry. I wish I could take it back.”

  Though I haven’t quite forgiven him yet, I hate seeing him so defeated. I wish I knew what to do, what to tell him.

  Tai may have cost us the most straightforward way into the Courts, but we can’t give up. The peple of Baiguang are counting on us. “We haven’t failed yet. We can find another way in.”

  Tai gives me a sad smile. “Xie xie.”

  “What are you thanking me for?”

  “For saving my life. Again. And for … being here.” His eyes meet mine, and I wonder what it is about them that always seems to pull me in. There’s something strangely beautiful about the way he looks at me—not just the striking planes of his face, but the warmth in his expression, the meaning in his gaze.

  My pulse hums at an uncomfortable pace. I turn away. The Maw of Hell still gapes before us, and the Guardian still stands in our way. I pull Anshui’s spectacles out of my pocket and fiddle with them absentmindedly. A yellow flash glints in one of the lenses. I pause. What was that?