Chapter 10: An unfolding Betrayal...
Sun Jian and Liu Bei continue to hear out what this mysterious blacksmith named Zhang Yu can tell them about the vicious threat of Xiang Kou and his Black Cloud kingdom.
Sun Jian: If everything was going so well, why did he betray you?
Zhang Yu: It's more complicated than a simple "Betrayal"
Liu Bei: How so?
Zhang Yu is silent for a few moments...Liu Bei and Sun Jian give him his time to get back to reality. He finally does and continues...
Zhang Yu: It's amazing how a simple greed can ruin everything you've spent your life accomplishing...
Ji Province, 10 years ago.
It's late at night. Xu Tia lays on a bed within a camp set up by her and her husband's army. She's awaiting Kale's return from an assembly with his troops.
The tent flap opens, she quickly sits up and looks. It's not her husband Kale who enters, but Xiang Kou does.
Xu Tia: Xiang Kou? What is it?
Xiang Kou: This isn't going as well as it should...
Xu Tia: What isn't? What's going on?
Xiang Kou places his sword up against a tent wall near the door, then he goes to Xu Tia's bed and sits on the end...staying silent.
Xu Tia: Please, tell me what happened.
Xiang Kou sighs, then speaks...
Xiang Kou: When Kale was gathering troops...a messenger arrived...He told him that a nearby village he'd made a peace agreement with was under attack by an army of bandits. Kale took twenty men and was in a hurry to get there as soon as he could. I offered to go, but he told me I had to come here and tell you...he told me he'd be back before nightfall...I thought I'd wait until he came back without having to tell you...I didn't want you worried...
Xu Tia: Nightfall passed hours ago! Send another group of men! I'll go with you!
She frantically gets up to exit the tent but Xiang Kou holds her back down.
Xiang Kou: No. Kale told me to make sure nothing happened to you. I'll send Zhang Yu's unit right away.
Xu Tia: but...
Xiang Kou: I promised Kale. I can't let you go...
Xu Tia: very well...but hurry. And tell Zhang Yu to hurry as well.
Xiang Kou: Yes, my lady...
He kisses her hand and then gets up and retrieves his sword from where he left it.
He exits the tent and sees Zhang Yu's unit already prepared to go. He approaches them, and they all wait for his orders.
Zhang Yu: We're already prepared. You stay here and guard camp. If we don't return before Dawn, move camp. That's a direct order.
Xiang Kou: I understand. Be careful Zhang Yu...
Zhang Yu gives him a nod, then charges off on his horse while his men follow behind with equal pace. Xiang Kou watches until they're out of site. Then he walks off somewhere else in the camp.
Present Day.
Zhang Yu has another long pause...Sun Jian stands up.
Sun Jian: Bandits...I can already tell it wasn't bandits...
Zhang Yu stays silent and nods his head while staring at the floor...
End of Chapter 10...to be continued...