Tuang Chen was a light sleeper. She heard the timid knock at the door and, grim-faced, started to don the armor before the servant had time to come wake her and inform her of the visitor.
- "Commander Tuang, sergeant Wen is... oh, you are awake already."
- "Yes, I heard the knock. Ask him to come here."
Wen appeared without delay, startled by the sight of the commander dressing in the full armor.
- "Yes, sergeant?"
- "The guards didn't report back at dog's hour, general. Lieutenant Tuang went to investigate and ordered me to come report here."
- "Right. I will go to the commanding center. Go immediately to An Mah's inn and ask for chanshi Sarevok, and tell him to come meet me there. He will know what this is about."
The sergeant, looking grave, hesitated for a moment.
- "Well? Get going, sergeant!"
- "Yes, commander. Is... is this war?"
- "Assume that it is. Now, go!"
First Chen went to the barracks. The dispatcher was yawning at his desk, oblivious of the threat to the empire. Suppose it was nothing? Chen shrugged the thought away. It was her duty to be paranoid.
- "Alert everyone, be ready to move in full defensive formations at my command."
She didn't stay to evaluate the dispatcher's reaction. She had to have faith in her troops and what she had taught to them.
As she made her way to the commanding center, her gait was that of a professional soldier's she was, her actions just as she had prepared them in advance. But behind commander general Tuang Chen, the 43 years old professional warrior wearing the imperial armor was something else. Something emotional and muddled, wanting attention from behind the shield of all that was professional. It was the woman Tuang Chen, a mother of a young, haughty, impressionable boy. A worried loving mother. Where was Shui? If the guardsmen had not reported back, what kept them? Shui had gone to investigate... and whatever it was awaited him there too. Yes, Chen would be glad if she was wrong, if there was no danger. Never mind how much that would amuse the marshals once they heard of her alerting the whole garrison in the middle of the night. Chen angrily shook the thought away. She could not afford to get emotional now. The best way to help Shui was to think straight.
Sarevok and his family were already waiting for her at the commanding center. The warriors carried two bags with them. Magical bags that were really a hole in the astral plane, they had explained to Chen. They were capable of carrying an amazing amount of gear that weighed virtually nothing. Needless to say, such items were extremely rare and expensive. Chen explained what had happened, and was pleased to note that the people were capable of listening intently and taking the information in without stupid questions or unnecessary emotional reactions. Soldiers or not, they could act disciplined if they so desired. Chen wished she would live to ask about their previous adventures.
- "Right. We didn't choose the gear yet, as we didn't know if a stealthy approach was necessary. Our best gear isn't exactly the thing for that as it is magic and glitters like a solstice tree..." Peri noticed Chen's blank look and continued, "er, something very... glittering. Not to mention the clanking."
- "The garrison is ready to assume their positions, but we naturally don't want to just storm there. We have rehearsed a stealthy approach, but still I fear for my men's safety. The attackers are aware, and probably more skilled as well."
- "There is not much time," Sarevok said.
- "I suggest that me and Imoen will go investigate," Winski said. "We will walk invisible and collect as much information as we can without attracting attention. If something goes wrong, we have quite a lot of magic power to protect us. If you hear sounds of magic combat, you might as well launch a full scale counterattack."
Imoen covered her pink hair with the dark hood and nodded at Winski.
- "Take care, Winski. We will meet soon enough," Jelena said.
There was a moment of quiet as the warriors contemplated the various possible scenarios. Jelena approached Chen, as she was already able to detect the subtle emotions under the stoic mask the Shou generally faced the world with.
- "There is something else, Chen," she said.
- "What do you mean, sweet lady of Ilmater?" Chen replied, smiling sadly.
- "I mean that you worry about Shui. You are a mother. And you think you should not prioritise him more than any other young officer, but the feeling nags just the same," Jelena said.
- "Most perceptive. I am ashamed of my loss of face at this weakness," Chen whispered, lowering her eyes.
- "Hey Chen," Peri said. "Screw the Empire if it is your kid!" Sarevok gave her an arched look, after which she continued, "Er... I guess you can't think quite like that but I am no soldier and no Shou. What I am is a mom and a warrior. You and Sarry take care of the battle stuff, I'll get Shui back to you. I'll make that my first priority. Deal?"
A smile of deep relief spread on Chen's face.
- "I thank you, young, yet immortal, friend."
- "And I will call all my powers to help as well. My priority is to ease the suffering," Jelena said. "That is the way of the Ilmatari."
- "Now where is the Armor of Deep Night," Peri muttered, rummaging the Bag of Holding. She found the matte back leather armor and started to don it, aided by Sarevok. A painful emotion flickered in her eyes.
- "If anything should happen to me... I know you will take care of Umi," she said to Sarevok, who merely nodded.
Peri grinned ironically, mock-saluted, and went her way.
- "Ilmater's blessings on that reckless child," Jelena sighed.
