/ I have added another character, the mystic Guan Lu who appears in the Dynasty Tactics series (fantastic game by the way, and it has great movie scenes) and according to database he could successfully predict the future of people. I hadn't plan to add him previously, but this choice really helped the progress of my story.
I also need to say that while I was writing this chapter I started to feel discouraged because I see that many people read this story (judging from the hit count list) but very few bother to review (they help me a lot though). I don't know what to assume, but I really want to know how readers feel about the story. /

Broken Hourglass

Chapter 11

The silver drizzle was falling restlessly upon the Wu capital and the near regions for days. The whole city, every corner of it, was surrounded by a piercing damp.

Sun Ce listened attentively to each alteration of the music coming from the stringed instrument and the songs of his spouse whose tranquil rendering kept his focus on his plans and their making.

The warrior was determined and ready to move against the northern kingdom, but first it was necessary to prepare his people. He was sure that Wei had already sent spies and for this reason, he arranged the protection of regions and specific training places where the enemy could collect information about Wu's military power and forbade the access to these areas to anyone that had no business there. As for the trade of goods between the two kingdoms, it would continue, the only difference was the export of basic products exclusively and not materials that could reinforce the development of weaponry, such as lumber and iron.

He would have moved faster to the preparations of the offencive plan if this unexpected event hadn't happened...

Zhou Yu was missing for days. Sun Ce had no idea where he was. The warrior left without informing him, " Zhou Yu wouldn't agree to start a battle against Wei, I expected him to oppose me for this matter... but in the end he realized that I wasn't going to pull back, that I was sincere when I explained how I feel about battle, the last night we talked. Now, he might be angry because I didn't want to follow his advice, but is this a right way to act? It's strange, it isn't something he would do... on the other hand, I see I was unable to persuade my strategist... perhaps this indicates that my decision is incomplete, but this isn't enough to stop me from challenging chaos again."

He stood up and slowly went close to his wife once she stopped playing her music. A passing glint shone in Da Qiao's eyes and her lips parted seeming ready to say something... she hesitated for a small moment but then she spoke, " My lord, you mentioned that your return to the battlefield will help you regain your lost strength... I believe you." Da Qiao left her sit, her hair fell forward, hiding her profile as she stood up. " I couldn't prevent you from doing what you probably wanted from the start; to fight. Please don't walk this path as if there is no future beyond it. It is most likely that you will be called to give more fights and look after other matters so... don't ever think this is the end."

" Da Qiao, you have been by my side from the moment you decided to come." The lord said before he move past her until their backs faced each other, " I cannot predict how far I will go, but I have to find out on my own. I know this is unclear to others, but I ask you to understand me."

" It's just, that I am afraid, lord Sun Ce." She said with her hands clasped against to her bosom and turned her gaze slightly towards her husband.

" Me too, sometimes. But what can we achieve if we remain enchained by fear, being manipulated by doubt? It can be hard, but there's no meaning to stay behind even if we cannot discern what lurks in the future."

" How much longer can the power that lies so deep within you, bear this continuous unrest?"

Sun Ce turned to look at his wife and responded quietly, " Don't consume yourself with such thoughts...". Da Qiao wiped a tear from her eye and embraced her mate like a scared child.

Sun Ce lowered his gaze and added with firm voice, " I am not aware of the end... that's why I intent to lead things where the greater benefits will be possible to acquire, for all of us."

Da Qiao never looked so fragile before... almost as fragile as the threads with which time spun the balance of Sun Ce's power to control his fate.

XxXxXxX

The small temple that was hidden in the thick forest seemed empty but a more careful glimpse would prove the opposite.

An old man was sitting somewhere in the dark, motionless like a statue and staring towards a fixed direction. His whole countenance was so expressionless as if someone had drained his life force out of his existence.

Zuo Ci had been immersed in meditation for hours before he regain consciousness of his surroundings. " It appears no one can do anything about it. This young king has made his choice, yes... the strength of resolve has dispersed his confusion and now he will fight to claim future, although his decision is a bit reckless." The mystic concluded silently.

A laugh was heard in the room, following Zuo Ci's words, " Your attempt was good, master Zuo Ci. But I have foreseen much more, the future of this man is an unlocked vision to me."

The reply came from Guan Lu, who was also versed in the mystical knowledge and developed the ability to discern the coming incidents. His predictions were so accurate that he was also known, among the circle of mystics, as " the man who came from the future" to narrate what he saw. He knew that Zuo Ci wasn't interested to become aware of remote future events, as he believed strongly that future, as an essence, had a will of its own, a small, hidden factor that sometimes could overrule any prediction.

" I thought to persuade Sun Ce not to begin a battle against Cao Cao, even by force. I won't. Not only this move would make him more eager to fight it would disrespect lady Qiao's efforts."

Guan Lu was listening to Zuo Ci, when he suddenly lifted his gaze as if something, invisible to the common eye, had entered the wide field of his second sight.

" Oh... he's coming." Guan Lu muttered to himself with his eyes half-shut. He wrapped his cape around his body and walked over the entrance. " I should leave now. But before I do, I will tell you one thing master Zuo Ci; people's actions are often motivated by personal profit, not by selflessness. A kind, heroic soul is hard to be found, but either way, sooner or later, the chaos of this land devours it. You have to understand this, otherwise you will be filled with sorrow and overtaken by a strong need to escape this world." He didn't expect an answer, but he heard Zuo Ci's voice just before he disappeared.

" You are wrong if you think I will give up easily my beliefs. There isn't only darkness and vanity in the hearts of the people."

XxXxXxX

The cold wind impaled the rider's body like a thin blade as he had been galloping in full speed for the last few hours. He later forced his horse to slow down, so they could both rest after the long ascent of the rough path.

Zhou Yu wondered for the umpteenth time if he had lost his grip and now he chasing an impossible fulfilment of his hopes... no, it was something more than this, he demanded the right to interfere in the course of Sun Ce's life and close this dark chapter the way he wanted. Sun Ce had to let him decide the end, because... no one else cared about it more than him!

There was no logical consequence. The warrior's thoughts had become turbid. He seemed deeply confused, but before he depart from the castle Zhou Yu knew exactly where he wanted to go, his destination was set. From the moment Lu Su told him about that place, Zhou Yu couldn't pass the idea to find something hopeful there. Everything seemed like a desperate, mettlesome fight that probably wouldn't yield fruit in the end, but it wasn't deprived of meaning... no, it wasn't.

No matter how the warrior felt, he was also certain that his lord wouldn't overlook this long absence, the sudden leave; It is necessary for a leader to know the location of each of his warriors, either in times of war or rest. The particular thought formed an imaginary scene in Zhou Yu's mind, in which Sun Ce was saying to him, " Who needs a lecture now?"

After a while, he stopped once he realized that he had gotten close to his destination and checked the area... the rain and fog had reduced the visibility and the unknown scenery seemed to hide its secrets well.

The rider proceeded a bit more, looking for the village that was supposed to be somewhere nearby, until he noticed a steep, downward path on the right. It was impossible to ascertain how long it was from the point he stood, so he decided to check out where it leaded without any hesitation...

A huge building was shown at the end of the twisty road and yes, it appeared to be a monastery.

Zhou Yu bound Fleeting Cloud -the steed- and walked up to the landing of the building, taking off his wet cape.

He looked around before he pushed the door. He saw no one.

He imagined that many pairs of eyes would turn towards him to see who intruded, but it didn't happen. Only the sound of the rain filled the room.

Then, a sudden chill surrounded the visitor, as though a violent current of wind had rushed inside.

It stopped, once an unknown voice emerged from the silence, " Only the effort to change someone's life, can flood the heart with so many expectations that it becomes painful to endure." The words came out without haste from the lips of the strange man who had just appeared from the dark corners of the temple.

Zhou Yu frowned and averted his gaze from the unknown person for a swift moment, feeling almost unable to suppress a sudden uneasiness which also affected the usual rhythm of his breathing...

Whoever this man was, he appeared to know.

" How...? How can you say this...?" Zhou Yu's voice was barely audible as he started to speak, but it became louder in then end.

" I am Guan Lu and my foresight allows me to discern many things about the future. I hold its knowledge in my hands." The man said calmly, with no sign of complacence in his voice. He made a few steps towards the warrior and continued, " Perhaps what I am saying makes you feel embarrassed. But you will understand soon that I am not trying to fool you. Lord Zhou Yu."

The warrior was astonished and felt that Guan Lu couldn't be an ordinary individual. " Then I guess I don't have much latitude for doubt. You must know what urged me to come here."

Guan Lu nodded slightly. His moist eyes darkened and seemed to become deeper as he spoke, " You are afraid that king Sun Ce is dying. You cannot bear the thought and this prompts you to move heaven and earth to change this. I won't be the one to criticise you. But I can't assure you either, or give you the hope you need. The curse of the dead exceeds the glass shield of time and is often able to carve a mortal life until its end, to drain its energy. The extend of one's time depends exclusively on the actions and mental resistance of the person who suffers from the curse. This is the answer of truth you have been seeking."

Zhou Yu listened very carefully. Then he told Guan Lu what he hadn't revealed to anyone, " It's hard... impossible to accept there isn't anything I can do for Sun Ce. I don't care if it's beyond my control, I refuse to use this as an excuse to feel better. I made an oath, the most sacred promise I ever gave... never let him suffer alone and always help him with any problem. This is important to me... and I don't think I could face Sun Ce again if I break this oath."

" You won't have to. There is one way to give your support. It might sound simple to you, but it's not." With amazing swiftness, he seized the warrior's sword from its scabbard and held it horizontally in front of Zhou Yu, " What lord Sun Ce needs most from you, right now, is to trust him. To have faith in his resolve. Like you did, years ago, when you joined him in the fights to unify the south lands."

Zhou Yu lifted his hand, wrapped the hilt in his fingers and put the beloved sword slowly in the scabbard, " So, only Sun Ce can redeem himself... through battle, the essence of his existence."

" It's time you returned now." Guan Lu said. Zhou Yu sensed an enigmatic tinge in the mystic's voice but he didn't let it bother him.

" You have cleared my mind from many tangled presumptions. I feel I should thank you for that."

" Don't. I haven't done anything important."

Zhou Yu walked up to the entrance but before he get out, he turned and faced Guan Lu. " You said that you are aware of the future... that means you also know how Sun Ce's story will unfold?"

"...Yes." Guan Lu responded with no particular expression on his face or the tone of his voice. " But does it really matter to you?"

Zhou Yu smiled, " No, because nothing has happened yet. Time will show whether your vision will come true."

The unlikely meeting had ended. Guan Lu was no longer inside the temple.

Zhou Yu mounted his horse, ready to leave, to return back to the side of his lord.

Much to his contentment, the rain had ceased.