It wasn't the first time Zhang He and Zhang Liao had been cornered, and they were hoping that this wouldn't be the last time either.
Liao gripped the pole arm tightly, as Zhang He shuffled closer.
The Shu Han troops were close now, merely peons, afraid to attack, but in such vast numbers it would be hard to fight their way out of even these unskilled foes.
"Where is Xu Huang with back up?" Liao sighed, his back pressing against the cold stonewall of the gatehouse.
"He won't get here in time, we have to fight out… or surrender?" Zhang He said.
His speech was met with an unappreciative grunt from Zhang Liao.
"Never suggest surrender, it is the cowards way out." Liao said, twisting his grip on Wyvern.
Zhang He sighed. "I'd like to live through this battle…"
As He spoke, Liao's grip tightened on his weapon, and with an almighty growl, lunged forward into the onslaught of Shu Han soldiers.
---
Another scream of agony arose as Jiang Wei's trident found its mark. He shuddered as the warm blood splattered up his face. This one had gotten too close, if he had struck…
"They… keep… coming!" Wei Yan Grunted, rushing to Jiang Wei's side.
Wei shook violently as the tore his blade from the dead soldier. Killing never got any easier.
Yan could see the fear in Wei's eyes and moved closer. "You… ok?" Yan asked.
Wei looked angrily at his friend. "I'm fine, I don't need concern!" Wei snapped.
Yan stood back. "Oh… sorry…" Yan grumbled, turning to fend off more Cao Wei soldiers.
Wei shuddered looking down at the dead man sprawled before him. This man's blood was on his hands. He could have been someone's father…
"Look out!" Zhao Yun's voice rose above the clattering of swords.
Wei looked up in time to see the massive figure of Zhao Yun slam into him and throw the both of them to the floor. Wei hit the ground as a volley of arrows flew over his head.
"You trying to get yourself killed! Watch what your doing!" Yun spat, half angry and half afraid for Wei's safety.
"I… I'm sorry." Wei stuttered as Yun leapt to his feet and took to the battlefield again, clearing the Cao Wei archers who had just ambushed them.
"Pick up the pace, we're pushing them back!" Huang Zhong's voice rang somewhere in the distance, barely audible over the clatter of blades.
Wei snapped back into reality and pulled himself up.
---
Sima Yi laughed under his dark fan. He surveyed the battle, not needing to fight himself. That's what his personal bodyguards were for. They were Cao Wei's best bodyguards, from Cao Cao himself, since Cao wasn't attending the battle; Yi had them all to himself.
Yi sniggered again. From where he stood he could see Zhuge Liang on the other side of the battlefield, bodyguard less and alone.
Liang returned his gaze with an acknowledging nod, his emotions masked by his white fan.
"Where are your bodyguards Zhuge Liang?" Yi sniggered to himself, turning to survey the rest of the battle.
Huang Zhong drew his bow with a strong arm and pierced two soldiers.
Wei Yan was making short work of Xiahou Yuan's bodyguards.
Zhang He and Zhang Liao were occupied with Zhang Fei and his men.
And Yi's gaze froze, a smile nipping at the sides of his lips as he saw what he was looking for, there, quite isolated in the centre of the field, stood the boy with the trident, Zhuge Liang's boy.
Yi was intrigued, watching the way the young one fought. He had great potential, shame it was being wasted with Shu Han.
His thoughts were shattered by the violent whinny of a horse behind him. He turned slowly to see Xu Huang.
"I'm here master Sima Yi, What are your orders?" Huang asked, giving a salute.
Yi laughed and continued his survey. He could see the two Zhangs were having problems.
"It looks like Zhang Liao could use a hand, go help him." Yi laughed.
"Yes sir." Huang said, turning his horse to leave but Yi checked him, raising his fan in the air.
"I have orders for Zhang He, if you can deliver them." Yi muttered.
"Of course sir." Huang said.
Yi pointed his fan across the field, to where Jiang Wei was fighting and grinned wide.
"Tell him to bring me the young Shu Han strategist, by any means possible."
---
Wei thrust his trident into another victim, pulling him around and using his body as a club to fend off other soldiers.
"You alright there kid?" The gruff voice of Zhang Fei rose next to him.
"Fine," Wei said, jamming his foot into the flank of the dead officer on the end of his pole arm and pulling his weapon free of the matted flesh and muscle.
Fei laughed. "Wow, you're tougher than you look little guy!" He laughed. But his laughter was checked when a scream of terror rose from somewhere close.
The two officers both turned to look, their gaze last in the sea of brawling soldiers.
"That sounded like Xing Cai..." Jiang Wei gasped.
And Fei's face flushed with fear. "I'm coming sweetheart don't worry!" Fei cried out, a look of panic in his eyes. "Can you handle things here?" Fei asked.
"I think so," Wei said.
"You're a good boy!" Fei said, before rushing off to find his daughter.
Wei turned in time to see Zhang He and Zhang Liao coming fast towards him.
---
Zhang He slowed when he saw Wei before him, twisting his trident in hand.
Zhang Liao stopped by his side. "He, What are you waiting for?" Liao snapped.
"I… I can't do it!" He sighed, letting his battle stance drop.
"What? Sima Yi gave you an order, you aren't seriously going to disobey him are you?" Liao gasped, looking around to see if Sima Yi was watching.
"Wei is my friend, I can't hurt him!" Zhang He cried.
"Then I'll do it!" Liao said, pushing He out of the way and rushing towards Wei.
The two met in a deadlock, spear caught between the forks of the trident. Liao's brow furrowed and he pulled back and assaulted again, this time repelled by the side of the trident.
Zhang He stood back, he could not disobey his lord but Jiang Wei was a friend…
But all thoughts were suddenly wiped away when an arrow pierced Zhang Liao's shoulder and he fell to the floor.
---
"Zhang Liao!" He shouted, rushing to his fallen friend's side and pulling him up into his arms.
"Got him!" Huang Zhong laughed, rushing to Jiang Wei's side.
Wei looked horrified as Zhang He started to cry over his injured friend.
Zhang He turned his head, tears rushing down his face, and spat abuse at Huang Zhong.
"Well," Zhong said.
"Well what?" Wei asked.
"Kill 'im boy," Zhong said.
Wei swallowed hard, looking over at Zhang He. He couldn't hurt Zhang He. He had been so kind to him.
"Go on! If you don't I will" Zhong said drawing an arrow and setting it into his bow.
---
Zhang He gulped as he watched the arrow notch in Zhong's bowstring.
"Re enforcements!" Xu Huang's voice laughed behind them as he rode up close.
Zhang He spun around. "Quickly! Get Zhang Liao to safety!" He called, hoisting the injured man up onto his shoulder.
Huang quickly helped and soon he was riding away to safety with the unconscious Liao draped over his horse like a rug.
He turned and focused again on his target, enraged now. Liao was hurt and it was all because he hesitated. There would be no hesitations this time.
He rushed forward, claws in hand, so quickly that Zhong didn't have time to loose his arrow, and with one swipe, the bow was cleaved in two.
Zhong stood back in surprise and He vented his anger on Wei.
---
Jiang Wei barely had time to block as Zhang He lunged towards him, slashing violently.
Wei held up his trident, eyes wide as another flurry of slashes came too close. He tried to step away and stumbled, falling backwards in to a sit.
Zhang He laughed and slashed. Wei leant back and the blow missed his chest, instead shredding the green scarf that covered his breast.
Zhang He was going to kill him! He shouldn't have hesitated!
But as He pulled back for another slash he paused, his face set in a shocked expression, and fell to the ground, slumping into a heap.
Xing Cai stood behind him, shield in hand. She had knocked He out.
"He's all yours now." Zhang Fei laughed, walking to his daughter's side.
Wei pulled himself to his feet, taking his trident in hand once again.
Wei couldn't forget what Zhang He had done for him…
Wei turned to some Zhong's guards and called them over. "Bind him and throw him with the other prisoners." Wei said.
The guards agreed and quickly obeyed.
"Why not kill him?" Fei asked.
"He could be of some use to us." Wei said, averting his gaze. He knew Sima Yi was watching him.
---
Lu Xun shivered involuntarily, pushing his arms close over his sides to press his robes close to his skin. He'd had peace with Zhou Yu gone, but he was coming home now, he had been injured in an arrow ambush and was coming home.
Xun sighed. Yu had no power over him now, but memories of the torment he had endured under his former master still resounded in his head, like a mantra.
"Lu Xun, you alright?" Taishi Ci asked, noticing how the boy shivered.
He looked up into Ci's dark eyes and smiled.
"No, I'm fine, just a little cold…" Xun lied convincingly.
A Small smile spread on Ci's face and he took off his outer robe.
Xun was slightly curious until Ci walked behind Xun and draped the robe over his shoulders and back.
"That ought to warm you up." Ci smiled.
"Thanks" Xun whispered.
They could just see the procession of soldiers cresting the hill, Zhou Yu's banner flying low.
"It'll be nice to see Yu again eh?" Ci asked
Xun shivered again. The name… He clutched Ci's robes close.
"Qiao will be here soon…" Xun said, half hoping that she would arrive before Yu did. Yu had always been nice to her, and nice to Xun when she was around. He prayed that she would come soon as he could hear the marching drums rolling in the distance.