by Brian Thomas
Reaching for another one of the cloths used to prop his patient up Li Chin tied it around his forehead as an improvised headband, masking the symbol of which he had once been proud but now betrayed him. Li Chin uncovered his forearms. The sleeves of his gown had shielded them from the soot and the tattoos they bore still remained masked by the old woman’s magic. Telling people to rise and that he was merely a healer Li Chin deliberately displayed his arms, visibly free of any tattoos. He saw many in the crowd taking surreptitious looks at them and his now concealed forehead, wondering if they had seen correctly.
The wounded man’s friends placed him on to a broad board to carry him into the tavern while Li Chin recovered his herb bag from the wagon and signalled Zanwen to join him as he followed them in. The crowd remained excitedly discussing in fragmented groups first the accident, Li Chin’s ability to seemingly walk up walls, the miraculous treatment and then the magical revelation of Li Chin’s tattoo. Li Chin looked sideways at Zanwen silently walking beside him and gradually recovering his colour as they entered the tavern.
The wounded man was placed on a table to one side, his friends excitedly chattering and fussing around him, forcing him to lie still. Uncomfortable at being the focus of so much attention and in a lot of pain from his stings he was reduced to rolling his eyes from side to side as he tried to see what was going on. Li Chin reached into his bag and pulled out a jar of salve to smear over the man’s external stings, giving him a reassuring smile. If he had received many more stings his patient could well have died from them alone, regardless of the ones in his mouth almost suffocating him.
Closing the pot with its cork stopper, Li Chin returned to the table across the room. Zanwen sat watching him as he replaced the pot carefully in his herb bag. He sat at the table opposite Zanwen. “If there was indecision before it is certain we must go our separate ways now. Otherwise I will attract unwelcome attention to you and your caravan bringing down trouble you cannot escape.”
Zanwen nodded with resignation, Li Chin having effectively confirmed he had indeed seen the Temple tattoo. “So it is you then.” Zanwen seemed to have recovered from his initial fear of discovering who Li Chin might be and asked mischievously. “You do not seem the crazed killer described in the posters but are you possessed as they claim?”
Li Chin was rueful as he glanced across at the man he had saved from suffocation, wondering whether he would have intervened if he had known his identity would be revealed as a result.
The tavern doors flew open and a woman rushed over to the man lying on the table. She reached out to him tears streaming from her face as she looked at the piece of bamboo that quietly whistled and bobbed as he breathed. The man reached out to take the woman’s hand in his own, tears starting to fall from his own eyes as he tried to reassure her without being able to speak. Li Chin gave a small smile, pleased he had not had to make the decision but hoping if he had that he would have carried on regardless. “We all allow something to drive us and the worst demons are the ones we create to torment ourselves. Doubt, fear, indecision, jealousy there is no need for any additional demons.”
Zanwen raised an eyebrow, uncertain if the answer to his question was yes, or no, but decided to let it go. “The story will grow and it will only be a matter of time before the emperor’s soldiers come here for you. If you still wish to go to the barbarian lands head for Xian city. It is an empire border city where traders cannot pass beyond without the emperor’s express authority and the barbarians are not allowed through and into the empire. I have arranged to meet Ronan, the barbarian I trade with, at Xian city. If you inform him my plans have changed and that I must meet him at Tanyel city after I have secured more wagons and guards, he will be obligated to you. We will barter and exchange goods and Ronan will return to his barbarian lands. Travel with him to Tanyel city. When he comes to know you and with this obligation he may agree to escort you to his own lands.” Zanwen shrugged. “He may not, but it is the best I can do.”
Li Chin smiled at Zanwen. “It is enough. May I take the half wagon and the oxen?”
Zanwen spread his arms wide giving a slight bow and replied with a smile, though his eyes were deadly earnest. “All I have is yours, if you only ask.”
Chapter 34
Sheywen had been gone three weeks and Mading was getting increasingly edgy. The commanders who had been dispossessed of their fiefdoms on Sheywen’s arrival were starting to feel more confident at his prolonged absence and testing Mading’s resolve to exert his authority. Mading had taken to walking the town’s streets to watch the other commanders, at least those he thought most likely to cause trouble so he could see the trouble coming soon enough to prepare for it. Mading’s own unit was the only one to regularly train or even practise with their weapons. The others were content to swagger in front of the citizens, plague the town’s taverns or shout unhelpful advice as his men trained, laughing at their own wit and at his unit’s expense. As a result they were increasingly undisciplined and bored; making Mading’s neck itch at the trouble he knew would start somewhere soon.
From the corner where he stood Mading could see Leywee and Gaow, the two commanders he trusted least. They were talking heads down so only they could hear each other and looking highly suspicious. Mading adjusted his position so he could see what had drawn their attention, catching sight of a family of new refugees entering the town centre. Walking alongside a cart being pulled by two men, he guessed were father and son, were a woman and two young girls, probably mother and daughters. It seemed to be the young girls who had caught the attention of the two commanders, causing Mading to narrow his eyes as he watched. The family were in the process of turning their cart around and taking the road leading to New Town. Probably the best place for them he thought. The two commanders watched the family closely as they manhandled the cart and got it going again. All too casually the commanders glanced around to see who watched, before heading off together in an oblique direction which would intercept the family outside the town.
Mading cursed under his breath setting out after the men, careful not to get too close and arouse their suspicions. He was confident he knew where they were going as these two liked to work out of the shadows and unseen, so he didn’t need to follow too closely.
Mading was soon passing through the outer edges of the town comprising mostly of ramshackle structures, lean-tos or tents strung from the carts and wagons used by their owners to get here. Beyond the carts and tents there was a wooded area which followed the stream up the hill to the stockade. The area surrounding New Town immediately in front of the stockade had been cleared for a clear field of fire from the walls but there was an area where the road followed the river between the two settlements and was obscured from both towns by the trees and terrain. Taking his time in following the two men Mading slowed even further as he heard voices, slipping from the cover of one tree to the next as he approached them. He was behind a thick bush and though he could hear the voices clearly could only discern individuals through the bush when they moved. Carefully Mading got to a position where he could see some of what was happening without revealing his presence.
Leywee and Gaow had stopped the family amongst the trees. Big men and armed they dominated the scene, the family obviously nervous in the presence of the two armed men aggressively questioning them. Mading had heard that both commanders preferred girls to women and they had been suspected of abducting a number of girls while they had been in the town. Since Sheywen had arrived they had kept a low profile but were obviously feeling bolder with Sheywen’s extended absence. Only last week Jierui had angrily stormed into Mading’s billet claiming the two of them had roughed up a father who had intervened between them and their unwelcome attentions to his young daughter. Mading had been to see them and they had been all innocence but their sneering expressions had merely confirmed the accusations, daring him to take it further.
Leywee made a grab for one of the girls, her father made to stop him and Gaow smashed the pommel of his sword
against the old man’s head as he went past to help his terrified daughter. The old man rolled in the dust, dazed and leaving a bloody trail as he turned on the ground. The mother screamed, torn between aiding her fallen husband and her daughter being held by Leywee. Leywee laughed as he twisted the girl’s arm forcing her to the ground and then dragged her off into the brush as she cried out to her distraught mother.
Gaow indicated to the other young girl that she should come to him, leering at her as she backed away and pointing his sword at the limply moving form of her father on the ground at his feet, the threat if she did not obey obvious. The young girl was terrified, not knowing whether she should run to save herself or go to Gaow to save her father. Mading started carefully making his way over to where Leywee was tormenting the first girl, now weeping uncontrollably as Leywee toyed with his victim like a cat with a mouse. Gaow was gesturing angrily again that the second girl should come over when the young man, ignored by them both, appeared from behind their cart swinging a hoe. It smashed Gaow on the head as the lad brought it down. Gaow staggered but didn’t fall, the hoe scraping along his skull and tearing a gash as it went. With a roar Gaow brushed aside the hoe and raised his sword to cut the young man down.
Mading cursed under his breath knowing he was too far away to save the boy and was as surprised as Gaow when a stranger burst from behind the bushes on the far side with a battle cry, forcing Gaow to face his new attacker. Mading could see the newcomer was one of Zun’s men, probably a perimeter guard, who was already trading blows with Gaow as they tried to spit each other.
Hearing the fighting Leywee emerged from the brush where he had dragged the first girl, drawing his sword as he broke clear and running to take their surprise attacker from the side. Mading had been expecting Leywee and as he stepped clear of the bush thundered his fist into Leywee’s mouth, giving a satisfied grimace as he felt Leywee’s lips mash against his teeth. Leywee flew backward off his feet and into another bush, which tore at his skin as he fell deep inside its thorny branches. Turning to the battling men Mading reached out and grabbed Zun’s man by the shoulder, pulling him back just in time to avoid him being skewered on Gaow’s thrusting blade. Gaow, his face set in a vicious snarl and intent on a kill overstretched as the resistance he had expected on the end of his blade didn’t materialise. Mading grabbed Gaow’s extended arm and pulled it wide as he kicked Gaow with sickening force between his legs. Gaow gasped and froze, slowly falling to his knees and dropping his sword to grasp his injured manhood as he did so.
The guard Mading had yanked clear of Gaow’s blade clambered back to his feet and stood facing Mading sword raised in defence between them but now uncertain what to do. Mading ignored him as he kicked Gaow’s sword clear and went to look at the fallen father. The man’s wife and youngest daughter were already at his side and the old man was starting to regain his wits.
At Mading’s approach they looked up at him fearfully, a look he had become accustomed to since he had acquired his burns. “Go and see to your other daughter woman, she doesn’t want an ugly man she doesn’t know following her into that bush.” With her attention refocused the woman swept past Mading to her elder daughter. The young man and Zun’s guard came to join them and Mading nodded at the lad who had swung the hoe. “That was a brave thing you did but if you are going to attack a man you had better make sure you do it properly and that he stays down.”
The young man was looking at him angrily and with a fierce determination in his eyes. “Don’t worry, next time I will have a better weapon and he won’t be getting up.”
Mading grunted and looked at the guard who had surprised them with his support, his sword wavering between rest and guard as it followed Mading’s movements. “Well, have you decided to kill me yet or are you going to put the damned thing away. It makes me nervous having an armed man standing behind me.”
The guard looked a little embarrassed, any lingering uncertainty gone but before he could respond another group of armed men led by Shushan arrived at a run. Mading groaned. Leywee and Gaow couldn’t have picked a better place than this to guarantee a full audience, the pair of them were worse than a waste of space.
Shushan took the scene in with a quick glance just as the woman and her daughter emerged from the bushes. The mother mirroring her daughter’s tears was doing her best to comfort the girl who had obviously been roughly treated before Mading intervened. With an angry gesture at the fallen pair Shushan snapped to her men. “Take these men.”
Mading held up his hand to the men as they started forward but he kept his eyes on Shushan. She was the one he had to convince here. “Can’t let you do that.” Shushan’s eyes grew hard and he could see her mounting anger but before she could speak he added calmly, “These people aren’t from your settlement and it was me that brought these two vermin down. So far there is nothing that would be cause for conflict between the two towns. You take these two and there will be war. Neither of us wants that, now do we?”
Mading’s tone had been reasonable as he sought to calm the situation but Shushan was still hot with anger, redirecting her contempt for the two men she wanted at Mading. “You would defend this scum? If you do then you are no better than they are and deserve to die along with them, which you will do if you stand in our way. Step aside!” The men with Shushan raised their weapons towards Mading, ready to pounce as soon as Shushan gave the word.
Mading curbed his anger and ignored the threat from Shushan’s men. “Lord Zun came across to see Sheywen, specifically to ensure there would be no conflict between us. He has left you to stand in his place while he is gone, trusted you with the lives of your people. Take these men and I will not be able to hold back those who would use it as an excuse to launch their own attack. Many on both sides will die and the responsibility will be yours. Think carefully before you give up the lives of your friends so easily and ask yourself how you will explain to Lord Zun why so many of your people died after he left them in your care, when it need not have happened.”
Shushan’s eyes narrowed as she glared at him but some of her heat was replaced by concern. “We already know these two and they do not deserve to live.” Mading relaxed, she could bluster all she liked now but she wasn’t going to instigate a fight any longer, not over this at least. Without warning and with a speed that impressed Mading Shushan had drawn her sword, which gave off a clear chime as all other sound seemed to have ceased. Striding over to the stricken Leywee who was regaining consciousness but still held by the bush’s thorns, Shushan placed the point of her blade under Leywee’s left eye. “This time you live. But as soon as you give us cause, and you will, I will hunt you and this other dog down and remove your stench from the land.” As she finished Shushan drew the blade down Leywee’s check leaving a wide gash. “Lest you forget my promise.” she hissed.
Mading was relieved he had read her correctly but as Shushan returned to her men she stopped when level with him, her frustrated anger barely contained and dangerous as any coiled snake. “Misfortune or error may take you down a wrong path to run with dogs. But to remain on that path and to be part of their pack means you are just a cur like the rest.” Shushan shouted out an order and her men began gathering the family together, starting them on their way again.
Mading glanced over his shoulder when he heard Zhi and a dozen men burst on the scene. He signalled Zhi to stand back and let them leave. Shushan was the last to go, her expression cold and fearless as she watched Mading and his men on the fringes. When the others had all gone she turned and calmly walked after them, her proud and haughty departure a sign of her contempt for what she left behind. Mading watched her go, admiring her pride and courage while feeling dirty by his association with the men he had protected from her anger.
Zhi came up beside him. “What’s happening Sergeant?”
Mading spat before giving the groaning Gaow another savage kick, in the ribs this time. “Trouble, that’s what, and I don’t like the side we are on.”
Sheywen had been gone almost five weeks when Zhi came to tell Mading a group of nomads had been seen riding towards the town heading for the buildings where Sheywen had established his headquarters.
By the time Mading had reached the buildings the other commanders had also arrived. He swore under his breath at seeing Leywee and Gaow disappear inside the commandeered tavern well ahead of him. A mounted band of dark-skinned men dressed in furs and leathers remained in a loose group outside the building, light spears in hand and glaring at those who came too close. Mading ignored them and pushed the tavern doors aside, causing everyone inside to turn to him as he entered.
Two nomads dominated the room. One obviously the leader sat sprawled in a chair. A personal guard bristling with weapons stood close behind. Leywee and Gaow bristled as they saw Mading enter. They had kept a low profile since the incident by the river but Zhi had reported they were building a growing dissent against Mading with the others. Gaow had lost his limp of the last few days but Leywee bore a vivid scar left by Shushan’s sword below his eye. Leywee had killed the first man who had enquired where he got it but the story had quickly become common knowledge. Leywee had railed about how he was going to skin the bitch alive and openly questioned Mading’s loyalties for not siding with them against her, his hatred as Mading entered the room plain to see. Ignoring them Mading focused on the two nomads. Their leader looked as hard as nails and had a scar just as Sheywen had described. “Mishka.” Mading said.
Mishka studied Mading suspiciously for a while. He nodded, replying with a heavily accented and guttural voice. “Where is Sheywen?”
“He is away, but Sheywen told me to watch for you. He said you should wait and he would return soon.”
Mishka’s suspicion grew further, clouding his features. “When?”
Gaow interrupted belligerently. “He’s late, how do we know he’s still coming back at all?”