The Destined Path, Chapter Ten: Storm on the Horizon.
For most, to take a life is a hard choice made in defense, or one made in the heat of passion. There is always fear, rage, or some other emotion to drive them to the point to strike out, for some it even brings a thrill. To know you have the power to end another, is there a strength more intoxicating? Is there a high more satisfying?
That is not how the Order of the Lotus thought. Does a farmer feel remorse for the trees felled in the clearing of his land? Does he weep for the lives of the undesirable plants he pulls from his garden?
The Order of the Lotus were the keepers, and the whole of the Empire was our garden. We cut the weeds before they took root to poison the lives of those around them. We were the Emperor's hidden hand, keeping peace in the Empire by ending the lives of those who would do harm. We, also, felt no remorse when cutting the weeds from the garden.
At least, that is what the Order used to stand for. We were assassins, but we had principles, we were peacekeepers. We killed one to save the many. The work we did was just, until the Great Drought.
When the farmers' crops turned to ash, when the rivers ran dry, the enemy to the Empire grew immensely. When the poor began to starve, they came to the cities demanding something be done. Their demands fell on deaf ears. When the riots began, the Emperor dispatched his assassins to cut down those who threatened his Empire.
We obeyed without question.
After twenty years, Zu could only look back and wonder why they had. They'd liked to call themselves 'honorable assassins.' They knew there was no honor in cutting down the starving, but they had done it anyway. When the Emperor came calling, they'd answered.
It had been so long, but Zu could only assume that their principles had been flawed. When one looks upon murder as a trivial thing. Comparing lives of people to weeds, teaching that to kill is a just cause, that their Order were only tools to the Emperor, what else could have been the outcome? When someone grows accustomed to death, there is no hesitation nor remorse. When one thinks of themselves as nothing but a tool, their master calls the shots with no questioning needed.
Honorable assassins, what fools they'd been.
The warm wine sent a river of heat down Zu's throat. He tossed the bowl down and ordered another. Twenty years he'd been running and now here he sits in the Heart of The Empire, the Imperial City, for what?
Because you owe the girl.
Zu emptied the second bowl of wine faster than the first. Perhaps he did owe her. His brother assassins had cut down her mother, but Zu had been the first to reach the crib of the newborn baby girl. She was surrounded by soft blankets lovingly placed around her. Zu thought she would be asleep, having only been born a few hours before. But her beautiful eyes stared into him when he approached. The foolish child giggled at him, oblivious to the danger he was to her. It was if he'd been struck by lightning. He was nearly sick when his consciousness caught up with him, when he realized what he'd been about to do...
An innocent baby was no threat to the Empire.
Unfortunately, his cohorts hadn't felt the same. When the walls were painted red and his brothers broken on the ground around him, Zu snatched up the baby and ran as far and fast as he could.
Saving one child wasn't enough to repay the sins he committed during the Drought. He knew nothing could erase what he'd done, yet why was he here? Some foolish old man still guided by a misbegotten sense of honor? Was he tired of running and sought the end to it all?
No, he was here because she was. He owed it to her to make sure she made it out of this alive.
Just being around her placed a burden on Zu, however. A part of him wished to confess his sins. Tell her that her Master Li, if he truly was the Emperor's brother, was her father. But perhaps it was better for Dawn Star not to know the violence that took her from her family. Who was he to decide anything for her?
No, he would confess his sins only to the gods upon his death.
Zu tossed some silver on the table. At least that foolish Purveyor had been of some use, the silver statue Zu had taken from him had been worth two hundred silver.
For twenty years he'd stood watch in the swamps outside Two Rivers, and he would continue to do so until she no longer needed him, or his death, whichever came first.
The Imperial city was bathed in the light of sunset when Jen Zi and Sky made it back to the flier bay. They had set up camp in the far corner, most of their group gathered by the small fire on the stone. Wild Flower was asleep on her makeshift bed, while Dawn Star and Hou spoke quietly near the corner. When Sky made no move to join their companions in the bay, Jen Zi turned to him. "I can sense you have a question to ask."
With a heavy sigh, Sky finally broke the silence that had been hanging between them since they left the Black Leopard school. "I was wondering if you knew Smiling Hawk's soul-stealing magic was going to have no affect on you."
Jen Zi quickly descends back into the silence, meeting the cold stones at her feet instead of his eyes. "No, I didn't know," she finally gets out after she cant stand the tension in the air any longer. The anger touches Jen Zi's senses again, she knows Sky isn't happy.
"You can't be risking yourself like that. What if he'd killed you?"
"I couldn't just let him kill you," by the gods, even getting those words past her lips was difficult enough. "I... I can't lose you too." Her voice became choked, eyes dutifully keeping watch at her feet.
Sky's anger dissipated faster than mist in the afternoon sun. He couldn't possibly be angry at her for sentiments he felt himself. Sighing, he combed his fingers through the top of his hair knot. The poor woman had lost much in the last few weeks, it was no surprise she did everything within her power to ensure no one else got hurt. He waited patiently for her to meet his eyes, after a time he couldn't stand her looking so sullen and gently pulled her hands into his. She immediately moved her eyes up, questioningly. "I'm not going anywhere until this mess is over."
A sad smile lit her face. "Unless you want me to, of course," he continued, "I have this horrible habit of putting my foot in my mouth. I wouldn't blame you if you sent me away."
There it was, her full smile in all its majesty. It always made Sky's heart beat faster to see it. "But if I have my way," he continued, "we'll be traveling together long after this mission ends."
With a gruff clearing of his throat, Zu interrupted their moment. Sky instantly glared daggers at him, while Jen Zi, being as uncertain with affection as she was, pulled away like a girl caught doing something unsavory. Her face was crimson.
"Here you stand, like two love-sick children," his voice was reproachful, "need I remind you we are in the heart of the Empire, the home to the Lotus Assassins? Your minds need to be clear for what is to come." He then turned his ire to Jen Zi. "As protege of the great Sun Li, I expected more restraint."
Sky nearly knocked Zu in the jaw, if Jen Zi hadn't put a restraining hand on his arm. Still, the desire was overwhelming. Zu knew how to wield his words as an effective weapon, hitting Jen Zi as if he'd thrown a physical blow. Sky knew he didn't like the man, but now it was personal.
"He's right," Jen Zi managed to say, shame tainting her voice. She pulled back her hand, allowing distance to come between them. "I have been acting a foolish girl when I should be focused on saving my Master. Let us join our companions at camp and speak no more of this."
Zu nodded when her eyes fell to him, but Sky would not meet her gaze, instead he continued to aggressively stare down his adversary. His muscles ached to strike against Zu, and he knew he was in no mindset to sit at camp with the man. He didn't want to cause any undue stress on Jen Zi, so instead he stormed back out into the city streets. He could almost feel Zu's superior smirk follow him out of sight.
Jen Zi ensured Zu followed her to camp, not wanting him to follow Sky. It wouldn't do for the two of her companions to come to blows. She wanted nothing more than to find a dark hole to crawl into, but she made due with her bed roll. Feigning exhaustion, she turned her back to camp and tried to sleep. Regret for her childish actions prevented it for quite some time. She prayed that tomorrow she could face the day like this embarrassing event hadn't happened.
Sky awoke to the sun high and an empty camp. Having drunkenly stumbled back in the night, it wasn't surprising. The noon-day sun was torture to his eyes, perhaps he had overdone it, but he rose. His vision when black for a moment at the effort.
Yes, definitely over did it.
His sluggish, wine-addled brain couldn't remember what was so important about today. He wanted to talk to Jen Zi to apologize if he'd been too strong with his advances. Suddenly his mind kicked into motion. Jen Zi had another fight today.
With as much speed as his sluggish muscles would handle, Sky rushed to the arena. It appeared that his Lady Z had drawn the attention of the crowd. The arena was much more crowded than normal for a lower tier fight, but the winner of the match will continue on to the Silver Division. Sky had to settle for standing up in the heights of the public boxes, for the pit-side seating was full. It provided a great vantage point for watching the crowd, but Jen Zi was harder to see.
"... facing Crimson Khana!" The announcer bellowed, "Let the fight commence!" The arena crowd howled with excitement. Jen Zi was a rising star, and the arena-goers loved her. Sky watched the combatants collide mere moments after the announcement. Both fighters moved with intriguing grace, Crimson Khana twirled her double blades like a master, but Jen Zi made Fortune's Favorite dance to the awe of the crowd.
"She's your companion, is she not?"
Nearly jumping out of his skin, Sky gripped the pummel of one of his swords as he turned around. It was Sweet Poison Lyn. Suppressing a growl, he turned his back on her to continue to watch Jen Zi. "I'm sure it's none of your concern."
"But her safety is yours," she answered, "and you should be concerned." There was a raw sincerity to her voice that begged Sky to listen.
He turned to Lyn, there was worry in her eyes. "What's wrong?"
"Before the fight my boss mentioned he was going to try to bring your friend into the Guild. I was to offer my services to her to poison Crimson Khana to guarantee her position into the Silver Division."
"Let me guess, she refused?" Sky knew his Lady Zi.
Lyn nodded. "Lucky Cho took it as an insult. I think he's going to try something, I'm not sure what; but I thought I should warn you."
Their group had no interest in the Guild, just drawing the attention of the Lotus Assassin's. It seems his Lady Zi drew the attention of some dangerous people. This Lucky Cho could be a problem. "Thanks for warning me, Lyn."
Lyn bowed, "I wanted to apologize for the comments I made... before, about Mei. We had been friends once, and it was unbecoming for me to speak of her as such."
Sky returned her bow with a small one of his own. "It's forgotten."
Lyn hesitated, eyes dark with thought.
"Is there something else you wished to say?"
Combing her fingers through her hair, Lyn looked... almost scared. "Be careful of the Guild. The organization has changed much in the years you've been gone, they're more... violent. I've put myself at risk just speaking to you."
"Then why take that risk?"
She looked deep into his eyes. Her mask of indifference, the one she wore since the days he'd known her, melted away leaving a vulnerable woman standing before him. The moment was frozen in time, her eyes trying to convey her feelings past the years. They had been lovers once, when they had been foolish youth. But Sky had changed, while she had not, leaving a friendship in ruins when he left.
Finally she broke eye contact. "Take care of yourself, Sky." Without another word she melted into the crowd leaving him alone with his thoughts.
"Silver Phoenix has won! She is now the reigning champion of the Bronze Division!" The announcer's voice cut through his tormented thoughts. The crowd below him bellowed jovially when Jen Zi brandished her sword for their amusement.
"Silver Phoenix may now enter the Silver Division, how much higher will she climb?"
Though he had been dreading it, he hoped the Lotus Assassin's contacted Jen Zi soon. Her honorable ways had earned the ire of the Guild, and from Lyn's reaction, he wasn't sure he could keep her safe within the Arena walls. The Guild was master of this domain and didn't take lightly to insults.
A/N: Thanks for taking the time to read!