Ma Chao's Wrath

Chapter 10

Into the Lion's Den

I played with my Lo Mein noodles and avoided eye contact with either my lord or his equally distant cousin. Dai had obeyed his orders and procured us accommodations for the night. In order to spite his cousin, he made sure he went above and beyond the call; we were now going to be staying in a small palatial estate a mile north of town. It was an extravagant house surrounded by an orchard and vineyards and it was by far the nicest home I had ever seen. The owner was fleeing as Dai rode up and the savvy young man had offered to rent it from him for the night. If we hadn't abandoned Pang De, this would be a cause worth celebrating. Instead the three of us sat in silence eating the finest meal we had seen in ages and I was uncomfortable enough to speak up. Without lifting my eyes I asked, "May I be excused?"

My answer was a fist slamming into the table. "First the silent treatment, now you don't even want to be around me?"

"I'll second that request." Dai said dryly and slapped his chopsticks down. "Request permission to retire for the evening, sir."

"That doesn't surprise me, cousin. However from my own bodyguard..." His voice trailed off as he baited me to look at him.

I fell for it, but my own anger had been festering all day and for the first time I looked back at him with ferocity instead of fear. "Don't you dare question my loyalty! Not after you abandoned your mentor!"

"I think I liked you better as a man, you were less opinionated." Ma Chao answered coldly and resumed his meal. "Just like a woman, always thinking you know everything even when it is none of your concern in the first place."

"You didn't have a problem with me being a women when you were crying like a baby." My retort was quick and I saw Dai's eyebrows furrow in confusion…but it was too late. No one knew about that incident except for the two of us and I had allowed my rage cloud my judgment. I knew that he would see that as a betrayal of trust, but I was furious. I was not the one wrong here and suddenly having my sex be tossed in my face….after everything he asked of me?

"You didn't have a problem respecting me when you were pretending to be a man." He stood up and towered over me as I glared at him in my chair. "Was that part of the charade as well?"

His voice had lowered to a mere growl and his nostrils flared blowing hot breath across my face. He thought I would back down, I always did. I could never hold his glare and would meekly comply….but I was beyond that. All I had endured for him including overriding my lust…now he was going to stand here and insult me? I knew I was out of line, but from what he was saying I wasn't welcome in his unit any longer. That pushed me over the edge and I stood quickly. "What would you know about honesty? All you have ever known is your own selfish drive for revenge!"

"Excuse me? Selfish? I'm not the one who walked out on my family just because I wasn't happy with my responsibilities! Who are you to redefine what is acceptable for a girl? If it wasn't for me, you'd have been executed! You ingrate!"

I kicked the chair out from behind me and straightened up. He crossed his arms over his chest, confident of a win. His robe fluttered as he shifted his weight and a wet piece of hair stuck to his face. Had I been in a better mood I would have thoroughly appreciated the sight of my lord in his thin silk robe and perhaps would have blessed his laziness for not wanting change into normal clothes after his bath. However that day was not an ordinary day, and I was challenging him…no I was insulting him. "You served me up for an execution! You coward, you should have taken my head yourself!"

"Coward?" He ground his teeth and I took his pause as a chance for an attack.

"How else would you explain leaving Pang De to die in your place?" I turned and began to walk away.

"You have no idea what is going on. You should keep your mouth shut before you get yourself in more trouble."

That struck a nerve. I hated threats and I was getting tired of him talking down to me. "The only thing I should have done was join the army sooner, then I could have died with your father and brothers in Chang An; Back when the Ma family crest stood for integrity." With that I walked out of the dining hall and marched to my designated room. I had enough of Ma Chao for one night, but he was far from done with me.