by JC Kang
Horns blared, and the gatehouse opened. Kai-Long took the lead, followed by mounted senior staff, then the imperial guards surrounding her palanquin. The ranks of soldiers narrowed to six men abreast and filed out, their broadswords clanging and spears pounding. A light breeze caught the blue imperial banners.
The unit she’d joined, with the supply wagons and medics, followed on the order of a mounted officer. Luckily, years of dancing allowed her to imitate their body language and marching. As long as she made it past the gatehouse and all the familiar palace staff and guards, there would be little chance of anyone recognizing her.
“You!” a familiar male voice barked.
Kaiya turned, only to have the helmet slip and block her vision. She adjusted it and looked.
Just a dozen paces away, Minister Hu jabbed a finger at a clearly drowsy Secretary Hong, flanked by the two guards she’d sung to sleep. “It is your fault she is missing. If any harm comes to her, the Tianzi will have your head.”
Heavens, this was a mistake. Perhaps she could force Minister Hu’s silence by threatening to reveal his indiscretions with the Night Blossoms. However, it would have to wait until a successful return from Wailian Castle. And success wasn’t guaranteed.
What a dilemma. Four people might face severe punishment if she didn’t intervene; but then, her singing Lord Tong into submission might be the only way to keep the realm from sundering.
Shaking the uncertainties out of her head, she lifted her chin and marched. Through the plaza, into the gatehouse. On the other side, yet more soldiers assembled, joining the procession. By the time they reached the capital’s north gates, they’d grown to nearly a thousand strong.
Thank the heavens Kaiya had gotten her second wind. What made her think it was enough to make it to the Great Wall, let alone Wailian County? She set her eyes forward, concentrating on the rapid rhythm of boots.
Boots! In her haste, she hadn’t thought of that. She wore silk slippers. Perhaps no one had noticed in the dark, but at dawn…and that was assuming she didn’t wear the soles through or give her poor feet blisters.
“What’s your name?” she asked the young man.
“Su. Yours?”
“Wang.” The truth was easy enough to remember.
The column of soldiers turned north to the gatehouse and the bridge beyond, but her supply unit continued west. She leaned over to Su. “Won’t we travel with them?”
He laughed. “Where did they find you? They are marching too fast for the wagons to keep up for long. We’ll take river barges to Honggang and meet up with the army. That Lord Peng is a genius.”
Kaiya’s chest swelled with pride. Cousin Kai-Long was already proving resourceful on a military operation. And they’d take a boat. At least that would save her feet; maybe even give her a chance to rest. Unless the river barges foundered and capsized in the dark…
Her unit arrived at Songyuan Quays, where the Jade River emerged from Sun-Moon Lake. At this late hour, light bauble lamps posted along the warehouses illuminated the wooden docks. Several river barges had already disembarked, while soldiers worked at loading others. With Little Su’s prodding, Kaiya joined in the effort, hoping not to embarrass herself as she moved the heaviest loads she could.
Which were about half the size of the others. With a shake of his head, Little Su helped her. Within half an hour, her unit boarded a barge. A drummer set the rhythm for the rowers, and, combined with the spring melt current, they set off at a brisk pace.
For the first time in what seemed like forever, Kaiya had a chance to rest her feet. Back against a crate, she sat cross-legged. It was thoroughly unladylike, but it kept her slippered feet out of sight. Before long, they passed her wedding procession. At the head, she ducked, just in case Kai-Long or the imperial guards recognized her through the helm’s T-slot.
After a while, the Iridescent Moon reached full. She sucked in a breath at its beauty. Usually in bed before midnight, she rarely saw Caiyue in its full glory. Depending on the outcome of this battle, she might never see it again. Never see Hardeep again, if he didn’t survive. Her chest squeezed, foreboding thoughts bouncing in her head.
“Wake up!”
Kaiya’s eyes fluttered open. Little Su came into focus as he shook her shoulder. The boats were docking and unloading at a town. An officer on horseback bearing the red wolf emblem of Cousin Kai-Long’s Nanling Province oversaw the loading of twelve new horse-drawn carts. It was amazing to think Kai-Long had devised such a complex plan and coordinated the logistics in such a short time.
“Where are we?” She asked.
“Honggang.” Su passed her half a pork bun. “Two-thirds of the way to the Great Wall.”
And right on the border of Hongzhou, one of the rebellious counties. She’d visited it last year, and there appeared to be more docks now. Hills rose up not far past the town, and beyond, the dark outline of the mountains demarked the starry sky.
Once they’d loaded the supplies, they resumed their march. She gripped her spear haft so tightly, her knuckles turned white. Without the bulk of the expeditionary force, it was up to her unit of thirty exceedingly young men to defend against rebels and bandits. And the weapon in her hands…she could reasonably not kill herself using a straight sword and dagger, but a spear was another story.
Two hours, marching uphill at night. At least the paved highway made it a little easier. Windows lit up in the villages and towns along the road, but they didn’t encounter any resistance. Only at Chengfu Township, in a dale next to the Great Wall’s gate, did she feel safer. Home to the gatehouse’s imperial garrison, they would gain some reinforcements as they crossed into Wailian County.
Or would they? Their unit’s commander refused an armed escort. “This is all part of Lord Peng’s plan,” he said. “The garrison needs to defend this town, since it effectively cuts the rebellion in two. In any case, the rest of the procession is just an hour behind.”
It meant travelling through the hotbed of rebellion for an hour, though Kaiya didn’t want to draw undue attention to herself by speaking up about the danger. Instead, they continued through the gatehouse to the other side of the wall.
She scanned the darkened land below. To think that not long ago, this region had belonged to the Nothori Kingdom of Rotuvi. The march down the mountain took less effort than the march up. Still, Kaiya’s entire body ached from the most continuous strain ever. Thankfully, she would never have to walk such a long distance again in her life.
As they descended, the Great Wall and mountains blocked the view of the Iridescent Moon behind them. Without it, she lost sense of how much time passed. Up ahead, the black of night began giving way to the inky blue before dawn.
The commanding officer called a halt at a bluff overlooking the next town. He pointed at it. “Wailian Township supports Wailian Castle, with barracks for many of Lord Tong’s soldiers. We will wait here until the rest of the army arrives.”
Kaiya squinted. In the low light, it was hard to make out the size of the town, but beyond it, the green-tiled roofs of Wailian Castle’s central tower sparkled in the first rays of morning. A single bridge traversed the ravine, which yawned between the town and castle battlements.
What had General Lu said? A ravine surrounds the castle on three sides, and a sheer cliff drops away on the other side. The rustling of water indicated a river running through the ravine. It was impossible to take by force, which meant Kai-Long’s plan hinged on her decoy eliminating Lord Tong.
And somewhere, hidden in the roar of the river, was the clopping of horse hooves. Hundreds, rumbling like thunder in the distance, but getting closer.
Tugging on Su’s sleeve, Kaiya pointed in the direction of the approaching horses. “Do you hear that?”
He stared at her, brows furrowed. “Hear what?”
“Horses!” she called out to the commander. “Horses!”
The commander met her gaze and scoffed. “I don’t hear anything. It’s…”
Some
of the other boys’ ears picked up. Others shuffled uncomfortably. Now, even the commander looked.
Cresting the path were dozens of mounted soldiers, all bearing the green banners of Lord Tong. The boys around her started backing away from the carts. Kaiya’s heart pounded faster than the horses’ hooves.
The commander lowered his hand. “Steady, boys. Don’t flee. We are still flying Wailian’s banners. Let me talk to them.”
The Wailian cavalry surged up and surrounded them, training bows on the outnumbered boys. Their leader pointed a broadsword toward the supplies. “Surrender. Put your weapons and armor in the wagons.”
How did the enemy know they were with the imperial army? Kai-Long’s logistics had failed. They should have just waited for him instead of going ahead alone. Kaiya joined her trembling unit members in looking up to the commander. Surely, he would order surrender.
“Do as he says,” the commander said.
Kaiya let out her breath. At least for now, they would live. Except that beneath her armor was the silk inner gown she’d butchered. One by one, the boys placed their swords and spears inside the nearest carts and started removing their armor.
Her hands trembled as she surrendered her own weapons. She was a prisoner of war, and that fate sent a chill up her spine. They’d find out she was a girl, and no one would recognize her as the princess. Revealing her true identity would spare her gang rape, and get her an audience with Lord Tong, where she could try the magic of her voice. No, she was too exhausted for that, and even if they believed her, it would end all chances of her decoy getting close to Lord Tong.
“You, too.” One of the Wailian soldiers prodded her in the back with the butt of a spear.
She stumbled forward, with Su grabbing her arm for support. Brushing him away, she removed the helm. She shook out her hair, lifted her chin, and faced the leader. “Sir, I am the daughter of Tai-Ming Lord Zheng Han.” Never mind that Tian didn’t have a sister, these rank and file soldiers wouldn’t know that. She lifted the armor to expose the fine silk underneath. “He will pay handsomely for my return.”
“I knew something was off,” Su said, eyes wide.
The leader’s expression hardened. “Take off your armor and put it in the cart.”
She crossed her arms and shook her head. With the gown shredded and the mismatched leggings, she’d look ridiculous.
“Or shall I have my men confirm your identity the hard way?”
Several of the soldiers closed in. Little Su backed closer, arms outstretched in protection. Her limbs froze and refused to obey. With fingers stiff, she worked the armor off. Around her, the men laughed. Heat flared in her cheeks, even as the cold bit her exposed, armor-chaffed shoulders.
The leader unpinned his cloak and tossed it to her. “Now march. Not a word.”
Their own commander looked over the defenseless boys and nodded. “March.” His voice sounded wrong.
Something heavy settled in Kaiya’s gut. His tone didn’t gutter in defeat. And Heavens, they were providing supplies for the rebellion! Still, her comrades obeyed without question. What choice did they have?
At the point of rebel spears, they trudged through Wailian Town, which now roused with dawn. Men with picks and shovels walked in queues, humming in unison. Kaiya listened for the marching song’s spirit, in hopes it would invigorate her.
It didn’t work. She was a lone girl surrounded by many men, none who knew her true identity.
CHAPTER 35
Failing to Plan, Planning to Fail
The sound of defeated boys trudging over the highway pavestones rang in Kaiya’s ears, so different from their confident march just earlier in the morning. Their supplies seized, taken prisoner by a rebel lord, exhausted from the long night…and who knew if they’d survive the day?
She shuddered as she walked through the town. Who knew how long her maidenhood would survive?
Right before the bridge, the enemy leader called for a halt. “Leave the equipment here. Follow me.” He rode ahead. The bridge was wide enough for five of them to walk abreast.
Their own officer raised an eyebrow at the leader. Kaiya’s stomach knotted. Her instincts were right; he’d betrayed them. He dismounted and beckoned. “Come.”
Something sounded wrong, a tension in his voice. The rigidity of the rebels. Kaiya looked among her fellow young soldiers. Eyes down, shoulders slumped, it didn’t appear that any of them shared her suspicions as they plodded across the bridge. Up ahead, the castle gates opened, and a several armed men marched out.
Halfway onto the bridge, their commander turned around. “Sorry, boys.”
From his saddle, the enemy leader twisted around, unslung his bow, notched an arrow, and shot. It lodged deep into their commander’s back.
The commander choked on blood, his voice coming out in wheezes. “What about the deal?”
“The lord said to kill the entire unit, including you.” He raised a hand and made a fist.
From the town side of the bridge, bowstrings twanged. Kaiya glanced back. The cavalry were loosing arrows. Screaming, several of the boys scrambled forward and trampled over each other. Maybe in their panic, they didn’t see that up ahead, soldiers were advancing with spears.
Her heart rapped hard in her chest. This was it. An ignoble ending to her noble intentions. All these poor boys, most no older than her, slaughtered on Lord Tong’s command. The bridge vibrated with their frantic steps.
Hear the waves and allow them to lend you their strength. The memory of Lord Xu’s lesson sounded in her mind, almost as if he spoke to her now. Tired as she was, she could borrow the sounds of chaos and the vibration of the bridge.
She gripped the stone with her toes through the tattered slippers. Her blisters protested, lending an edge to her voice. “Stop!”
The boys froze in place. The ambushers ahead halted in the charge. The rain of arrows stopped.
Kaiya gaped. It had worked—on the first try, no less. Still, her energy guttered, buckling her knees and sending her panting for breath. Once they came to their senses, the murder would resume, and she didn’t have the energy to reprise the feat.
Shaking the fatigue out, she reached up and grasped the side of the bridge for support. Gaining her feet, she squared her shoulders and strode toward the leader. Her hand found Tian’s pebble.
She summoned a tone of command, speaking as she would to a palace servant. “I am Princess Wang Kaiya, here to meet my betrothed, Lord Tong Baxian.” She gestured to the cowering boys. “These are my honor guard. An attack on them is an attack on me.”
The leader favored her through slitted eyes. She’d just betrayed Kai-Long and the decoy, and there was no guarantee Lord Tong would spare any of them, let alone believe her in the first place.
The sound of drums in the distance drew Kaiya’s attention from the enemy leader on the bridge to the road behind her.
A man on horseback, flying Lord Tong’s green, cantered through the city. “Princess Kaiya’s procession is coming, maybe half an hour away.”
The enemy leader turned back and frowned at her, then beckoned the prisoners. “Hands on your head. Come on, hurry. Help your wounded comrades if they need it.”
Kaiya evaluated her unit. A few lay unmoving on the bridge or sprawled over the edge, and those at the back of the line appeared to have suffered varying degrees of arrow wounds. Still, most seemed uninjured. Many bowed their heads to her as they passed.
She searched for Su, the boy who’d travelled with her, helped her pick up the slack when her energy flagged. There he was, his arm hanging from another young man who helped him limp along. An arrow protruded from his back. Kaiya pushed her way through the others and took his other arm.
He looked up at her through drooping eyes. “Are you really Princess Kaiya?”
Despite his labored breaths, his tone sounded…hopeful. She nodded.
“Then it is my honor to die for you.” He started to drop to a knee in salute.
She claspe
d his hand. “You aren’t going to die.” Not like she could tell, and blood flecked his lips.
The boy on the other side of him met her eyes and shook his head. “You saved us all.”
Not all. Now that many of her adopted unit had been taken to the castle, she could see arrows protruding from some of the bodies. Doctor Wu had taught enough about anatomy for Kaiya to recognize at least two of the boys would not draw another breath. Her stomach churned, and it was all she could do to force down the vomit. Even now, Lord Tong’s men were throwing their remains off the bridge. Others, like Su, might not survive.
With much of his weight on her shoulders, she trudged over the bridge. At the gatehouse, she risked a glance back. No sign of the imperial banners, even though the drumbeats grew louder.
On the other side of the gatehouse, she walked out into another bare yard, surrounded by high, crenelated walls. If an invading army somehow made it over the bridge, they would be trapped at low ground, easy targets from all sides. Just like she and her comrades were now. The men atop the walls trained repeating crossbows on them.
The gates ahead were open as soldiers escorted the prisoners and pulled the stolen supply wagons through. If they were to be slaughtered here, the gates would be closed to bar escape. Passing through the second gatehouse, the commander led them not to the next part of the castle, but down into rough-hewn tunnels.
The air grew chill and stale, and Kaiya’s skin crawled as the walls pressed in around her. “What is this place?”
One of the boys ran a hand over a column. “I would guess these were mines.”
Kaiya shuddered. If Wailian had that much firepowder, and if it were stored down here, one accident could cause the supposedly impregnable castle to implode. And she’d be buried under it all, unable to breathe…
Sweat gathered on her neck as her hands trembled. She turned to their nearest captor. “I am Princess Kaiya. These men need medical attention. And I demand to speak with Lord Tong.”
He shoved her in the back. “Keep moving. Someone will confirm your identity soon enough.”