Kang shook his head. “Maybe. Maybe not.” He let out a long sigh. “Shall we find out?”
Thirty-Four
The dark cloak of night bathed the landscape in deep tones of purple and blue before Mulan and Kang crept closer to the camp. With each step, it became easier to make out more.
Five yurts stood near the water’s edge within a stone’s throw of each other. A row of horses grazed at the western edge whilst sheep and goats bleated in a makeshift pen formed of weathered stone and wood in the eastern side of the camp. Smoke danced in the air from an unseen fire. Aside from the animals and the gentle flowing of water, no other sounds floated back to them.
When they stood only thirty meters away, Kang stopped her with an arm. Apprehension stretched over his features. “Something feels wrong. I don’t like this,” he finally muttered.
“Why not? Perhaps they can help us?”
“Or maybe they’ll try to kill us.”
Mulan released a tired sigh. What she wouldn’t give to simply lay down and sleep for a month. The Sacred Jewel may have replenished their energy during transportation, but the fight with the monster and hours of walking had soon drained her once more. “Well, we’re going to have to find out sooner or later. Might as well be now.”
His face took on a grim expression as he glanced over at the horses, already equipped for a getaway. Whoever owned them had either not bothered to unload them or planned to leave soon. “Perhaps we could borrow some horses and return them later,” he said, a hint of questioning in his tone.
A month ago, Mulan would’ve simply smacked him and asked where the honour in that was. Now, however, the fate of the world depended on them getting to the ancestral cave and destroying the seal. Did they even have time for honour?
Thoughts reverberated around her mind for several minutes until she finally shook her head. “Let’s see who’s at home first.”
Silently, they continued walking towards the camp. The wind changed direction, blowing acrid smoke in their faces. Without saying anything, Kang broke away, circling around the yurts, his finger pressed against his lips. Mulan kept her mouth shut as he disappeared, but a frown etched lines over her brow.
Mulan stepped into the camp. Orange flames licked lazily over a few pieces of wood, casting shadows on the surrounding yurts. “Hello?” she called, glancing around but finding no one. “Is anyone here?”
The only answer she received was her voice, echoing on the wind.
With five yurts, a pen of sheep and goats, and a line of horses tethered behind, the camp should have been bursting with life, especially with night falling fast. Women should’ve been cleaning away supper right about now, the men singing songs and drinking wine as young children danced and giggled. Three generations in camp, minimum.
Where were they?
A niggle of unease oozed down Mulan’s spine as her hands pulled back the flap of material used as a doorway, followed by a gasp she quickly silenced.
Spread on several blankets lay three men, their snores echoing around the yurt. Dishes containing remnants of soup and dirty spoons lay on the ground, alongside cups and several jugs of wine. The stench of several days hard riding assaulted her nostrils, along with other body odours that she no wish to identify wafted on the air. Mulan’s eyes fell onto the armour. She recognised it immediately.
They’d stumbled into a camp of Tuoba imperial soldiers.
Dropping the material as quietly as she could and holding her breath, Mulan stepped backwards, her heart pounding in her chest. What were they doing in Hulunbuir? Prince Jizi was meant to be in Bingzhou looking for the tomb.
She smacked into the hard lines of a chest, sending her heart jumping into her throat.
“It’s only me,” Kang said, his voice low and calm. Mulan whirled in his arms, her breathing heavy. As soon as he glanced at her face, he frowned. “What did you find?”
“Soldiers. Our soldiers. Three in that tent,” she whispered, using her thumb to indicate where she’d just been.
“Jizi?” he asked, incredulous, his dark brows rising towards the heavens.
Mulan shook her head. “I don’t know, but they’re definitely wearing our armour.”
“Fuck. I found a large suspicious pile of earth not far from the camp,” Kang said, his features tightening. It didn’t take Mulan long to realise what he meant. “We won’t find any honour here. Let’s grab the horses.”
“There’s no honour to be found here for you, Prince Kang, that’s true.” A gruff voice boomed out of nowhere. Their heads swirled in all directions until they located its owner. Somewhere in his thirties with black hair pulled away from his face and a nose that looked as if it had been repeatedly broken, he stared at them with a haughty expression. His armour marked him out as an officer within the imperial army, but Mulan failed to recognise him. “But for the one who finally captures you and brings you to your brother, there will be glory and riches.”
Kang sucked in a loud breath. His eyes narrowed in the officer’s direction. “So, my brother is here?”
“He’s here and dying to see you again.”
Beside her, Mulan could feel the rage radiating off Kang’s skin. The sounds of rustling floated on the air. A second later, three men suddenly appeared behind them, their weapons drawn.
Mulan’s fist tightened around the hilt of her jian. Kang’s face morphed into a scowl as he withdrew his own blade. “My brother will pay for this.”
The officer nodded. “He will. Most handsomely.” His eyes flicked to the men behind him. “Capture them both.”
The soldiers raced towards them, no grace, no feinting, just a rush of feet and shouting. Sweeping the jian free, she sliced the blade through the air, the sounds of metal on metal ringing in her ears. Parry, strike, repeat – she moved automatically, her weapon an extension of her mind.
The metal sliced through the belly of one soldier, his guts spilling onto the dusty ground with a sickening splosh, then swept up to meet another blade.
Beside her, Kang’s sword danced with lightning speed and grace. Drops of crimson laced the air, mingling with the familiar sounds that came with fighting; the song of swords, the cries of pain, and the final gasp of breath as the spirits wrapped their arms around the soul of the newly dead and carried them away.
The tip of a second sword flashed in front of Mulan’s eyes, grazing the tips of her eyelashes, forcing her backwards. Inhaling deeply, she kicked out with her leg, then the other, her body swirling through the air and wrapping around his head. Using the momentum, she whipped his body over and over until his back smashed into the ground. Dazed, he put up no resistance as Mulan brought the jian straight down into his chest. Blood bubbled over the corners of his mouth, his eyes bulging out their sockets as his weapon fell to the floor with a clang.
A second later, the third collapsed beside her feet, Kang’s foot over his throat, pushing him into the ground.
Breathing heavily, Mulan glanced over her shoulder to watch the officer riding off into the distance eastwards, the shadows of night drawing its murky cloak over him. Her stomach clenched in a cold, icy knot. “Should we go after him?”
“No,” Kang said. “We don’t have to. This one will tell us what we need to know, won’t you?” The soldier beneath him flailed, his hands gripping Kang’s ankle but having no luck trying to remove it. Mulan pressed the tip of her sword between the soldier’s eyes. His hands dropped to the ground. Kang lifted his foot just enough to allow him to breathe. “Now, where is my brother?”
“I don’t know, sir,” he stuttered, his eyes round with undisguised fear. “They said they were checking things out. Preparing.”
Mulan frowned. “Preparing for what?”
“I don’t know that, either. We were told to wait here.”
“Have they found the cave?” The soldier fell silent at Kang’s words. Mulan’s blade split the delicate skin between his eyes, sending a trickle of scarlet liquid down the side of his nose and beneath one eye.
Kang’s voice dropped menacingly low. “Have they found the ancestral cave?”
The man nodded. “Yes,” he whispered.
“Where is it?” When he didn’t say anything, Kang pressed his foot down once more. Squeals of pain escaped from his mouth. Kang repeated the question, the words edged with steel and released the pressure.
“Twenty li north. Follow the water for another ten, then northeast towards the mountains. I overheard them say it’s nestled at the base between two peaks that resemble horses.”
“Thank you. You’ve been most helpful.” Swiftly, he brought down his foot, crushing the man’s throat. The sickening sounds of his gasp echoed through the air until they finally died into silence, but Mulan couldn’t find any pity in her heart for him. Along with the others, they’d killed the rightful inhabitants of this camp. His death was justified.
Wiping the blood from his sword on a fold of the dead man’s clothes, Kang sheathed his weapon and looked straight at Mulan. “It won’t be long until my brother returns.”
Quickly, they hurried to the horses. A quick look in the pack bags revealed some medical supplies, food, and a few flagons of water, all of which Mulan had no doubt they’d need. They untied the horses, slapping the rumps of all but two and sending them galloping into the darkness. If anyone did come back here, it could possibly stall them for a little while.
Mulan’s gut churned as she watched them disappear into the horizon. Lifting her head, she watched as the moon peeked softly out from behind a thick dark cloud, reflecting its shy beauty on the water. It would take them where they needed to go.
Jumping on the last two, Mulan and Kang rode north, where the past, present, and future merged into one.
WEAK SUNLIGHT SPILLED through the curtains of clouds that hung low in the sky. No rain fell through the night, thankfully, but it was only a matter of time before it did.
They’d spent a fitful night camping at the edge of the water, unable to ride any further in the darkness. Kang took the first watch, allowing Mulan to get some much-needed rest. Unable to light a fire and give away their positions, it didn’t take long before the warmth of his body to lull her into a deep sleep. A few hours before dawn, they’d swapped roles, leaving her with the sounds of the stream and the munching of the horses to keep her company.
As soon as Kang rose, they’d set off once more. The distant views of mountains soon crept closer, stretching as far as the eyes could see and, with it, a sense of dread.
How far behind were Jizi and the Rouran sorcerers? Were they waiting in the shadows of the mountain, ready to pounce like tigers stalking their prey? Were Daocheng, Chuo, and Zong safe or dead somewhere, their bodies a feat for carrion? The questions kept coming, one punch to the stomach after the other, but the answers remained elusive.
Finally, they reached the foot of the mountains and jumped down from the horses. For hours they searched, exploring nooks and crannies, pulling back twisted undergrowth and startling small wildlife, but found nothing but horse prints that didn’t belong to them.
A gust of cold air skimmed her cheeks. “Are we looking in the wrong place?”
Kang shook his head. “No, it’s got to be here.”
“I can’t find anything that resembles two horses,” Mulan replied, her tone matching his taut features. “Do you think he lied to us?”
“A man that scared wouldn’t dare. We’ll just keep searching.”
They continued to look, leading the horses around the base, yet finding only signs of others who’d arrived before them. Above their heads, the soft grey stone almost seemed to shimmer in the weak sunlight. The air was fresh, infused with the soft scent of pine and ash trees. Stretched out behind them lay open grasslands, the expanse of green meeting the blue horizon blurring at the very ends. It should’ve been beautiful, if it wasn’t for the reasons that had brought them here.
Mulan dropped the horse’s reins and raised her head, gazing upwards for any sign of horses etched into the rock. “What are we going to do when we see your brother?” She kept her voice deliberately soft as she asked the question plaguing her mind.
Kang didn’t look at her. “I hope I’m going to be able to talk some sense into him.”
“Do you think that’s possible after everything?”
“Of course.” Mulan twirled to face him, her brows raised high, shock blazing across her face. “People have the ability to change, you know. Huang, my eldest brother, has managed to.”
“You think Jizi could?”
“Not a chance, but it would be wrong for me to simply not try.”
“And if he doesn’t?”
Kang drew a ragged breath and leant against the rock. Tendrils of black hair, framing his gorgeous face now painted with raw emotions. “Then I’ll kill him.” Mulan said nothing but continued to watch him. He chewed on his words for a moment then continued. “Peasants, merchants, soldiers – any brothers in these families would come together, work with each other for the family’s benefit. But brothers in the imperial family – ha! It’s an endless game of politics, power, and blood. Family is nothing but a pawn on a chessboard, something to be sacrificed for one’s selfish goals. I’m sick of it. It has to end now!” Kang’s fist smashed into the rock, causing loose stone to come flying down around him.
Mulan took his hand in hers, stroking the rough flesh with gentle fingers. Leaning into him, she brushed her lips across his. When she pulled back, she offered him a small smile.
Then she glanced up.
Tilting her head back and creasing her forehead into a frown, she took several steps backwards. When she was far enough away, she pointed upwards and squinted. “Do they look like horses to you?”
Kang joined her, looking to where she indicated. Thirty meters above their heads, the two jagged edges of the rock formed what looked like the neck and head of one horse facing the other. Below it, vines and other vegetation clawed up the sides. Mirroring her actions, he squinted and pulled a face. “Maybe,” he finally said, drawing out the word, as if reluctant to confirm.
Excitement bubbled within her stomach. It may not be much to go on, but at least it was something. Racing forward, she started to clear away the vines, the miniscule sharp hairs on the stems digging into her flesh. Kang appeared at her side, helping.
Within a few minutes a stone plaque emerged from the greenery. “Lifeforce,” Mulan whispered, running the tips of her fingers over the three characters carved into it. No magic suddenly sprang to life, no sudden rush of hot or icy air. Just the feel of normal rock. A sharp edge bit into her. Kang’s hand encircled her arm, pulling her backwards as he stepped forward.
A hiss of pain escaped her mouth as a sharp sting shot over her finger. A drop of blood swelled at its tip. It wasn’t the worst pain she’d experienced since leaving home, but damn it still hurt.
“I wonder ...” Kang’s words trailed off as he lifted her hand, swiping the crimson drop over the characters.
The first crackle of energy shot through the air. There it is, Mulan said to herself as they stepped backwards. The rock groaned, and the magic merged with the sound. Hot air sent their hair flying behind them as a crack appeared below the characters, growing larger and larger, until the magic suddenly dissipated and a doorway emerged.
Mulan’s stomach floated up and stayed there for what seemed forever. Kang slid an indecipherable look her way.
They stepped inside.
Thirty-Five
Shadows spilled around them with each step they took through the stone-lined passageway, tall enough to walk through with their heads held high. The air remained still as a lake, tinged with an edge of mustiness. The sharp crack of their footsteps echoed off the stone walls, their hearts racing within their chests.
Slowly, Mulan and Kang continued down the corridor, leading them away from the light of the outside world until it finally faded into nothing. I can’t see a thing,” Mulan whispered, her voice reverberating through the air. Running her hands over the wall, they foun
d the outlines of what seemed to be a torch. An empty hook sat on the opposite wall where its twin once stood. What she wouldn’t give for it to magically set alight as back in the tomb.
“I think there’s a flint in Jiangnu’s bag.”
The sounds of rummaging filled her ears, followed by several loud bangs. Kang’s body brushed hers and suddenly a spark burst within the darkness, just enough that she caught the silhouette of his face. A few seconds later, tiny orange flames licked their way through the shadows, casting a warm golden glow over his features.
Mulan glanced around. Far behind her, the mouth of the cave seemed to have closed its jaws entirely. In the opposite direction lay complete darkness.
Kang’s fingers closed around hers. Glancing up, she watched him stare down at her, not saying a word. Something within that glance filled her with warmth. She couldn’t explain it. Kang was unlike any other man she’d known; passionate and sweet, protective yet understood she could fight just as well as he did. A man who had her back in all things, who wouldn’t force her to be someone she couldn’t be. He accepted her for who she was, as she did him.
Dragons were forces of nature no one dared trifle with. The Long Wang may be bringers of life with their association with the water yet took it away when angered. Water could irrigate farms and paddies, allowing crops to grow to feed the masses but floods destroyed entire villages and even cities. Dragons such as Kang were often regarded as harbingers of destruction, of bad omens. Most believed they were evil, simply because they weren’t fully human.
But if Kang could be considered evil, then she was a silver goose. Honour ran through his veins, unlike that of his mortal family.
Mulan gave him a nod, and together they set off down the dark corridor.
They walked for several minutes until a light emerged at the end. With each step they took, the light grew larger and larger, appearing from beyond a rounded opening, and more details came into focus.
Honour, She Obeys Page 39