Just a little low-down, this is the sequel to 'taming the unicorn' but I've changed the style a little:

Characters are now referred to by their first names e.g.: Jiang Wei is called Wei.

Forces are now referred to by their full names:

Wei Cao Wei,

Wu Sun Wu,

Shu Shu Han.

Please enjoy. It's a little slow to start off but I'm just getting into it!

---

The blade met the feathers at an odd angle, cutting into the side and sending a few fluttering into the air. Zhou Yu's angered gaze set on the eyes of his rival. He sneered as one of the plumes brushed his cheek.

Zhuge Liang wasn't a man to show his emotion on the battlefield and although the Sun Wu strategist had just damaged his favourite fan, his emotionless gaze remained unwavering.

It still shocked Yu every time, how could a fan of white crane feathers hold back a blade of the finest Jiang Dong iron?

They broke the deadlock and stood facing each other, Zhou Yu panting with a mixture of fatigue and rage. Liang still seemed eerily calm; hardly fazed at all by the twenty or more bouts he had just fought with Yu.

His cool exterior just served to intensify Yu's anger and with a snarl, he raised his blade high above his head and ran towards the Shu Han strategist.

And when his blade slid against metal, not feathers, he opened his eyes to see what had happened and met the even gaze of the younger strategist, Jiang Wei.

"Prime minister, Lord Liu Bei wishes for you to pull back." Wei said, keeping Yu's sword blocked between the forks of his trident.

"As you wish," Liang said turning and walking away.

"Get back here! I'm not done with you yet." Yu snarled, seeing his attempts were fruitless he turned his gaze, now focusing on his rival's apprentice.

"This is your fault you little wretch! We'd be allied with Cao Wei if you hadn't messed things up!" Yu spat.

Wei just smiled and twisted the trident in his hands, bending Yu's arm and forcing his blade to the ground.

Yu fell to his knees clutching his arm and Wei gave his famous inane grin of victory, before turning to leave.

Yu sneered, scooping up one of the fallen feathers from Liang's fan and tucking it into his belt.

"I'm not finished with you, I will take revenge for what you did to me!" Yu snapped.

---

The calligraphy brush swooped across the surface of the wooden scroll, leaving thick lines of black ink. Zhang Liao tilted his head, trying to see over his lord's shoulder to what he was writing, but he was denied.

Cao Cao put down the brush and admired his work, Liao still trying to see.

"What does it say lord Cao Cao?" Liao asked.

Cao grinned. "It is an invitation for Lord Sun Quan of Sun Wu to come hunting with me."

Liao looked puzzled. "Hunting? But is he not the enemy?"

A deep and bitter laugh emanated from the entrance of the room.

"Poor foolish Zhang Liao, do you not see what lord Cao Cao is doing?"

Liao furrowed his brow, turning to see Sima Yi in the doorway, fanning himself with his black feather fan. Liao disliked the cocky strategist.

"Enlighten me then." Liao growled softly.

Yi grinned and glided into the room, followed shortly after by Zhang He.

"It is quite simple, 'hunting trip' is a metaphor. A metaphor for an alliance with Sun Wu! If they decline, we will attack them and, with their current troop states, wipe them out!" Yi Laughed bitterly.

Zhang He twitched, his discomfort obvious.

Cao smiled.

"You think they'll accept?" Liao asked.

"What choice do they have? Their troop numbers are severely diminished from their constant skirmishes with Shu Han, if they do not accept, they are sealing their fate." Zhang He said. He was given an approving smile from his master.

Liao turned away and sneered. Liao despised Sima Yi and what he had done to Zhang He. He had always been a brave warrior with the strength of ten men, but under Sima Yi's 'care' his spirit seemed broken, he was even afraid to speak out of turn.

Cao Cao rolled up the scroll and called his messenger.

"I'm sure I can trust you with this." Cao muttered and the soldier left, making a respectful gesture.

"Let us hope that we do not have a repeat of last time." Cao muttered.

Liao smiled a little. He remembered how miserably the alliance attempt had failed last time, mainly due to the intervention of one, Zhuge Liang to save his apprentice. Liao had his hand in the rescue too of course, although the little apprentice hadn't realised it.

---

Lu Xun let his grip loosen on the reigns. The sun was fading fast above the canopy but small slivers of light, like white arrows, still shot down through the leaves. He looked up and squinted slightly against the rays dancing across his eyelids. It was a nice change to get away from Zhou Yu, from Sun Wu. He slowed his steed to a halt and dismounted, his feet slipping slightly. The horse was far too tall for him. This was the right place. He remembered the trees. In a small clearing three grand old trees stood in a triangle, their leaves eclipsing the sky.

Xun rested his back against the worn old bough and sighed, closing his eyes against the light. When a shadow danced across his face his curiosity was aroused and he eased them open gently to see a single white feather fluttering down in front of him. He grasped at the feather and it evaded his grip, floating softly to the ground.

"You're late." A voice laughed from above. Xun looked up and smiled. He would have been surprised to see Jiang Wei cradled in the branches grinning, if he didn't know him better.

"I'm not late, I just didn't want to be early." Xun sniggered.

He could see Wei's teeth in the shadows as he grinned inanely. He shifted and with one jump, fell from the tree and landed in front of Xun.

"I trust you weren't followed." Wei said, reaching down to pick up the feather he dropped and examining it in the light. And that's when Xun noticed, Wei adorned an extra sword belt slung over his shoulder and bound to the back like a pair of white wings, lay Zhuge Liang's prized feather fan. The surprise on Xun's face must have been obvious as Wei Let out a hearty laugh, patting his friend on the shoulder.

"Does Zhuge Liang know you have that?" Xun enquired.

"Why? You think he'll miss it?" Wei laughed, tilting his head on one side like a confused child. He rubbed his thumb along he base for the feather until each strand separated out like frayed silk.

"You shouldn't pull the feathers out like that, you'll break it." Xun protested.

"Will you relax? It got damaged in the last battle with your good friend Zhou Yu, it's already broken." Wei said, and when Xun twitched, he knew the though of his ex-lord bothered him. "Don't worry, I'm sure you won't have to work with him anymore." Wei continued, positioning the feather into Xun's hat. It lay back like a white tassel.

Wei expected the feather to be swatted away, but instead Xun sunk closer into the tree, sighing.

"I'm not so sure…" Xun sighed, folding his arms and turning his gaze from his friend. Wei looked puzzled and shifted into Xun's view, but he turned away again.

"What's wrong Xun? You seem… worried." Wei asked, concern tinting his voice.

"Its just Sun Quan… he's ordered me to…" But as he spoke Wei put his finger to his friend's lips, quieting him.

"Swallow, we agreed that if we were to meet outside battle we would not discuss the issues of the land." Wei smiled, his dark eyes reflecting Xun's surprised gaze.

Wei was getting far too close and Xun felt uncomfortable, pushing him away and turning. Wei was surprised by Xun's sudden change of attitude.

"I thought I could trust you with anything…" Xun muttered.

Wei didn't try to hide his shock. "Swallow, you can trust me, I just don't want you telling me anything you shouldn't. You can tell me if you want."

Xun looked up, his eyes dark, trying to smile. "I…" He swallowed hard. "I think I might have to work with Zhou Yu again." He sighed deep.

Wei's gaze softened. "Even if you do I'm sure you can handle it, after all you got through it before didn't you?"

Xun sighed. Although his friend spoke true he knew it wouldn't be so easy. It was never easy.

"Come on now, cheer up! How often do I get to see you? I don't want my memory of you for the next month to be sad like this! I know what'll cheer you up!" Wei grinned, reaching for the fan suspended from his back.

Xun laughed, wondering how Wei would try to 'cheer him up.'

"Why did you bring that old thing along anyway?" Xun enquired as Wei dislodged the fan from the sword belt.

"Well, for this of course!" Wei grinned, taking the golden hilt in his right hand and the feathers in his left. He laughed and with a soft gliding sound, slid a small dagger from the handle.

Xun jumped in surprise. "I didn't know it did that!" Xun gasped.

"No, not many people do." Wei grinned. He tossed the feathered sheath to Xun, who was surprised and almost dropped it.

Wei turned the blade on the bark of one of the trees, etching out a symbol in the dark brown surface. His work done he shuffled to the next, then the next, wood shavings tarnishing his boots. His task completed, he stood back admiring his work. On each of the three trees, facing each other he had etched the words for three elements, earth, water and fire. This indeed did raise a smile from his young friend as Xun's face lit up with joy.

"It's like we always said, it is as if forces of the land have risen against each other…" Xun gasped.

"Just like the three kingdoms." Wei finished the sentence.

And Xun did truly relax. They were friends.

Wei took the sheath from Xun and replaced the dagger, slipping it back into his sword belt.

"It'll be dark soon, you should go. We don't want anyone getting suspicious do we?" Wei laughed.

"No we don't… but… what about Zhou Yu?" Xun asked and Wei's gaze softened once again.

"If you're still worried I'll be here again in three days, same time ok?" Wei said and Xun nodded.

Wei gave his friend a reassuring hug, before turning and walking off into the trees.

"But I!" Xun called but was cut off.

"Three days", Wei called, giving a salute before disappearing completely behind the boughs. Xun sighed. Such a confusion that boy was.