Fate Guides My Steps
Chapter Two: Cracked
Author: YoseiAmbereyes (Jade)
Syaoran snapped awake at the sound of the village bell. The note filled his ears, making it impossible to ignore. He rolled from his bed, and pulled on a shirt. Not bothering with shoes, he left his house and hurried outside. Fellow villagers were doing the same, crawling from their beds, and pallets to answer the summons the bell gave. They all were surprised to find the Elder already awake and dressed. In fact he was the first one to the gate. Syaoran hurried to his side, slipping in-between the larger men that had already gathered around the older man.
"Patience, my friends, Patience. Allow the watch to speak."
The Elder's voice carried over the worried whispers of the awakened villagers. The watch this evening was a slight boy, probably only a couple years older than Syaoran himself. At all times, there was a watcher placed on the small platform built just above the wall to the right of the gate. It was their job to watch for any dangers that would threaten the villagers, visitors, and to keep an eye on the coming weather. Hanging from the base of the platform on the inner side of the wall was a warning bell. The bell could be rung, inciting a loud and startling alarm noise meaning danger fast approaching. However, the bell could he struck on the side with a mallet, giving way to the sad sound that had awoken everyone, which called for assistance to the watch.
"Elder, my eyes do not deceive me, there is a force of mounted soldiers waiting just inside the cover of the trees."
Instantly, all the villagers began to speak. Some turned and raced back to their huts to arm themselves, others snatched up children and made for their homes intent on returning them to shelter. The rest stayed and tried to talk at once, ask the watch for more details, did he see what colors they ride under? did they carry a white flag showing they meant no harm? how many were there? what weapons did they bear? Syaoran wisely stayed silent and watched the Elder instead. The older man stood still, his face showing little of his thoughts. After a few seconds of noise, he raised his hands and called for silence. The villagers slowly calmed, looking to him for guidance.
"Kosen, return to the platform, watch for any motions to attack or send a messenger."
The watch nodded and scrambled back up the ladder with quick proficiency, before laying down on the platform to both protect himself from an arrows, and to stay out of sight. Kosen narrowed his eyes, and watched the shifting shadows he had identified to be the mounted soldiers. They continued to wait just inside the forest cover and gave no sign of moving. The wind suddenly picked up and tossed about the tree tops. Moonlight sifted through the leaves, and one lone beam struck one of the soldiers, illumining him for a split second. Kosen's eyes widened. The soldier wore a piece of solid chest armor, the color of jet. But rather than reflect the shaft of silver moonlight, the armor seemed to absorb the light completely. A shiver ran down Kosen's spine.
Back on the ground, the Elder handed out orders.
"Assemble the men here, I want a solid line between the gate entrance and the rest of the village."
The men rushed to obey, calling for weapons and whatever armor or shields that could be found. The Elder then turned to the women.
"Ladies, this is most likely an over reaction, however I wish to err on the side of caution. I want you all to go door to door, clear out all the houses this side of the village, move the young and the elderly to the last few houses. Meling!"
The red eyed girl moved and presented herself to the Elder, straight backed and serious.
"Go to the back gate, child. Tell that watch to come here, and I want you to unlock the doors. We cannot allow ourselves to become trapped. Do you understand?"
The twelve year old nodded once and then scurried off to do his bidding. The women too moved quickly but silently to the first row of huts and houses, knocking on doors and entering. The men were beginning to return, their arms full of bows, quivers of arrows, swords and lances. Syaoran himself picked up a sturdy bow and a quiver of arrows that he fastened to his back. The Elder placed a hand on the boy's shoulder, making him look up from his actions.
"Syaoran, would stand with me?"
The fifteen year old struggled to hide his surprise and excitement. Not trusting his voice, Syaoran managed to nod, and then followed the Elder to the front of the lines forming.
"ELDER!"
The old man turned so quickly, Syaoran had to reach out and steady him on his feet. Both watched as the healer woman, Lady Nadeshiko push her way forward. One with a look of relief on his face, the other with a look of confusion.
"Lady Nadeshiko, I had my doubts you would continue to uphold you side of our agreement."
The Elder remarked, his relief fading and determination taking over. Syaoran, however, continued to be confused. Lady Nadeshiko finally managed to reach their side, once the men of the village realized the Elder wished to speak to the woman.
"I made a promise Elder, it is one I still intend to keep."
The woman remarked, her emerald eyes hardening slightly. The Elder chuckled, despite the serious nature of the situation they found themselves in.
"When you look at me like that, it's a wonder I managed to doubt you at all."
"Elder? What is going on?"
Syaoran finally asked, unable to wait any longer for an explanation. The Elder turned to the young heir, and moved his head in the direction of the gate. Understanding, Syaoran lead the Elder, who leaned on his arm, away from the lines of armed men. Nadeshiko followed closely. Clearly, Syaoran realized, what was going to be said need to be kept a secret.
"Syaoran," the Elder began, "the men stationed outside our village are of course there for a reason."
The fifteen year old didn't say anything, knowing that any sarcastic remark on his part would earn him a cuff on the ear.
"They are here for something the Lady Nadeshiko has in her possession."
Syaoran snapped his gaze to the healer, who looked at him with a guilty smile. She removed her shoulder bag from across her body and opened it. Feeling about for just a moment, she drew out a deck of cards and showed them to Syaoran, making sure her back was to the men of the village. Syaoran's eyes widened as he felt the magic coming from the cards. He closed his eyes halfway, and he could make out a hazy aura...they seemed to give off a pink color.
"I have been pursued for three years by the High Lord of Hummai. He has chased me across half of this continent, trying to take this family heirloom from me. They are called the Seer's Cards. The High Lord believes them to have great powers of foresight."
Syaoran noticed her choice of words and spoke.
"But he's wrong?"
Nadeshiko returned the cards to her bag, but did not put the bag back across her body. Instead she continued to hold it in her hand.
"He is wrong in a way. These Cards do have some power. But they cannot foretell anything alone, they need someone with magic, who knows how to use and interpret them to accurately foresee. My family are the only ones who know how to properly use them, luckily, this knowledge has not reached the High Lord's ears."
Syaoran looked to the Elder, who nodded, confirming this was what he knew as well. For Nadeshiko, she chose her words carefully. She did not lie to them, but rather...refrained from telling them the complete truth. For the sake of her daughter, and the protection of the Cards, no one could know the full extent of the Cards' powers.
"Why didn't you give the cards up ages ago? Especially if they have no power in anyone else's hands, why give up now?"
Syaoran asked, watching Nadeshiko's face carefully. The woman sighed and explained.
"In the beginning, the High Lord ordered his men to not only capture the Cards, but myself and my children as well. He meant to make me his oracle and use my children to make me obey his orders. I knew that if I waited long enough, the High Lord would grow impatient and eventually tell his men to capture the Cards, no matter what. I just needed to know when that would be. So, naturally, I asked the Cards. They foretold this day."
The Elder picked up the explanation.
"When Lady Nadeshiko came to our village six months ago, she explained the risks to me, Syaoran. I felt I could not turn her away, not after she had just helped save half our people. So I made a deal with her. I would give her and her children safe haven here in this village, but when this day came, she had to give up the Cards without any resistance."
Nadeshiko shrugged and smiled.
"And I agreed. Thus, here we are. We just are waiting for the soldiers to make the first move."
Syaoran looked between the two, then at the gate, as if it might burst open any second now.
"What if the soldiers want to take you with them anyway, simply because you're here?"
Nadeshiko paled, and the Elder's gaze darkened.
"That I am prepared to face as well. I will go with them. I only ask-"
The Elder interrupted, placing a comforting hand on the healer woman's arm.
"Don't worry about your children, Lady. I promise, we will protect them."
The Elder sent a meaningful look to Syaoran, and the young heir understood. The Elder was not just making idle comforts, he was serious. Syaoran could understand why, many people of the village had grown close to Nadeshiko and her children. The children were now under the full protection of the Li Clan.
"Elder! A rider approaches! And he bears a white flag!"
Kosen called down from his perch. The Elder waved to the village men, beckoning them forward to open the gate doors. The heavy wooden gates creaked open, just enough to admit the single rider. A long line of men formed a semi-circle around the entrance, making sure the rider did not enter any further into their village than necessary. Nadeshiko caught sight of the man's face, and stiffened. She recognized him from many encounters with him over the past few years. The General Asagawa, leader of the Eastern Armies.
The General dismounted, holding on to the reins of his horse. This was going to be a very delicate operation. The people of the village had received no word of the invasion of Arcadia. But they were clearly suspicious of foreign forces on their land. A smile quirked on his lips, smart people. However, the General had feared that the seer woman would have known in advance what was going on, what they were going to do. But they were not ready for a fight, that he could garner that from the half clothed nature of their men, and the sign of activity in the back of the village. He hoped that by taking the Cards from the woman he recognized standing next to what he assumed to be the village leader; the village would think the excitement would be over for the night. After securing the Cards, he would order his troops to attack.
The General bowed to the old man next to seer woman.
"Pardon my late intrusion good sir. I am looking for a woman going by the name Nadeshiko Kinomoto."
The Elder looked at the General with a critical eye, taking in his mud stained boots, and the various dark splatters across his personage.
"Aye. This is she. I take it she has something you want."
The General raised an eyebrow. The woman wasn't a prisoner, he could see no ropes, or weapons pressed into her body. She stood there, pale and nervous, but without a sign of preparing to run. He wondered what had changed in her, and immediately became suspicious of a trick.
"She does. She carries a deck of Cards that are highly sought by my Master. Will you give them to me Lady, or will we continue our game of cat and mouse?"
The General let his last statement address the woman directly. Nadeshiko swallowed and very slowly held up the plain leather shoulder bag that was clutched in her hand. The General took it from her with only little difficulty. For a split second, when she had held fast to the strap for a moment longer than necessary, he worried he would have to chase her again. But Nadeshiko released the bag, holding fast in her mind to an image of her children, waiting for her in their hut. This was for them. Nadeshiko glanced to the villagers, people she had come to like and respect. This was for all of them.
The General opened the bag and took out the Cards. He looked them over, and then counted them. The High Lord had given him extensive descriptions to prevent deception or forgery. They were the genuine article. He smiled at the woman, and gave her a small bow.
"Thank you, Lady."
Nadeshiko's eyes narrowed and a splinter of anger rose in her.
"Don't thank me, General. I betray myself by doing this."
The General shrugged, not interested.
"Then be thankful this is the end of our little chase game. And be glad the High Lord has no want of your presence in his court any more. Impatience and the discovery of a new text on card readings have replaced you in his mind."
Nadeshiko tensed, her mind falling into a rambling prayer that whatever texts the High Lord discovered it did not revel how to properly use the cards, or what they were truly capable of. The General carefully took the whole bag and put it in his saddle bags.
"I can see my presence here is anything but welcome. So I will take my leave. Have a good rest of the night."
The General mounted his horse and turned it around. Nadeshiko stepped forward a little, the urge to snatch back what was her daughter's quite strong. But Syaoran placed a firm hand on her shoulder, and pulled her back. She cast him a grateful glance, but then turned to watch the man ride out of the village with her family's legacy.
"I'm sorry."
The General rode the short way back to the edge of the forest and his men. In the end, the Vasan King had suggested that Asagawa take all of his troops and rout the northern half of the Arcadian forest while he was here. The General would stay, directing his men for the defeat of this village, and oversee the death of the woman. Then he would take two soldiers as escorts and return to the High Lord's capital to give him the Cards personally. He would leave his Lt. General in charge in his absence.
The General turned his horse again, once more facing the gates of the village. It was now just a matter of doing it. He had seen the state of their defenses, none of them stood a chance against the forces he lead. The General drew his sword. The company parted behind him, and several foot soldiers came forward, bearing on their shoulders a tree truck freshly ripped down from the forest that housed them. Sap dripped off the tree's exposed white insides like blood from a severed head. Asagawa knew he would see plenty of those tonight.
The General Asagawa swung his sword in his hand one revolution. The men bearing the massive tree trunk surged forward, their boots crunching the leaves underfoot. The distance between the gate and the forest wasn't great, but it was enough for the men to get a good charge going. They rammed the tree trunk against the gate with a satisfying crack. The gate doors looked like they might hold, but then gravity took hold and did the rest of the job. The gate's fell inward, the hinges ripping away from the support beams.
The sight that greeted them was not what they expected. The way was empty of anyone. The General frowned. Had the woman known what was going on all along? Then why give the Cards over?
He turned on his horse to his men.
"Let's go, but enter cautiously, be ready for traps."
He said, knowing the words would be passed all the way back to the rear guard. Settling forward again, he urged his horse forward at a slow trot. His men followed closely behind. They entered the suddenly deserted village.
A/N: I do not own the characters used in this fictional piece, nor do I stake any claim on them with the publishing of this work.
Please forgive this exhausted, exam-crazed college student of any spelling or grammar mistakes she missed in her late night editing.
And so the action begins...next chapter will be called "Shattered"