Peri saw the dust cloud and released her horse. Probably the troops were on lookout. There was still one charge left in the ring of Invisibility. As she approached, the scale of the operation started to dawn on her and she swallowed in awe. Infantry. Carrying heavy shields nearly covering their whole bodies. Archers on horseback, also armed with lances and swords. Behind the troops, siege towers and catapults. So they intended to bombard the wall and break inside it. They meant business. And if the Khan was wise, this was only a portion of her army. She wouldn't put all the eggs in the same basket. What made Peri's unease even more intense was the faces of the warriors when she was close enough to see them. They were enjoying this.
At one point she saw a woman on the horseback. A woman who reminded her of Sarevok, especially at the height of his madness when Bhaal's poison ran in his veins. The woman radiated power and purpose, her noble and proud posture inspiring loyalty. Her face, its sharp angles and savage nobility, spoke of intelligence and absolute ruthlessness. That had to be Yun-Men Khan. The others' pose of respect, even reverence also indicated this.
Sarevok had killed an army of orcs by himself - but these were no mercenary orcs. These were fanatical, well-trained and disciplined soldiers. Not only that, she didn't have a plate mail and the missiles would pierce her leather armor. No, she had to get Shui out stealthily. When she even found him, that was.
Why did I agree to do this, Peri thought in irritation. It is not as if we owe anything to Shui and Chen. We have not even known them for long. And not only that, I have always been lecturing Jelena, Immy and Sarry about getting sidetracked with the worries of strangers and here I up and offer to take an extremely dangerous rescue mission behind the enemy lines like some flaming paladin or a... *shudder*... hero. Not to mention that Umi is certainly better off if the Khan and her soldiers don't skewer me and ride to Ankiang with my stupid head on the pike. Brain malfunction, no doubt.
But truth to be told, it was the idea of being in Chen's place. That Umikaze would be somewhere in danger, and I would be forced to put other matters before that. That hundreds of people would depend on that. Well. Too late to ponder that now. Must find Shui and get us both alive out of here.
There were a few wagons. Peri approached them and peeked in the first two. Supplies. Ammo. But the third one contained what she was looking for. A prisoner. The familiar form slumped on the hay, his hands tied behind his back, guarded by a mean-eyed young soldier. Oh, poor kid, Peri thought. I bet he is scared witless. His haughtiness suggests that he has never experienced anything really scary before.
Peri crept next to the guard and snapped his neck. The incredulous Shui turned his head as the corpse slid down to the floor. Peri, now visible, crouched next to him.
- "Peri...?" Shui whispered, a new hope flickering in his eyes.
- "Yeah. Came here to rescue you. Now we have only to figure out how to get out of here. Let me untie your hands."
She did just that and Shui started to rub his wrists.
- "The Khan. I saw her..."
- "Shhh. Later. How bad are you off?"
- "They knocked my head. It hurts. I am very thirsty. But I will manage."
- "Good. Can you use a Western shortsword?"
- "I can try." It was a barbarian weapon, but Shui figured that a barbarian weapon was better than no weapon. And barbarians, both Peri and these ones seemed surprisingly resourceful to him.
- "Naturally we are dead if they notice us on the spot. Stuff that ridiculous uniform up your a... er, I mean change it to the guard's stuff."
Shui did as he was told, and privately wondered about Peri's motives. This was an insanely dangerous mission. He had heard that a Kozakuran samurai would accept it without hesitation, but in Shou troops no-one would be forced to go behind the enemy lines to rescue an imprisoned comrade. A volunteer would be greatly honored and gain a lot of face, though. The Shou believed deaths should be avoided if necessary, but for the Kozakurans death was often desirable over what they considered honorless living. But why Peri?
- "Okay. Now we try, really nonchalantly, to get out. Walk confident, like you belong here and know where you are going. We try to steal a horse and then we ride, calmly, away from the range of their bows and then we ride the hell out of here."
Shui swallowed in apprehension and they stepped out of the wagon.
As they were about to step away from it, someone approached. It was the Khan with a male soldier in tow. She was carrying a water skin, but as soon as she saw them, she dropped the skin and drew her katana in one fluid motion, slashing it at Peri. Peri dodged just in time and was able to draw the large two-handed blade, parrying Yun-Men barely. The male warrior was attacking Shui, who in his weakened state and with an unfamiliar weapon was really in trouble. The Khan yelled something to him, and locked Peri's blade between two of her own. The women stared at each other, neither making a move to get out of the situation.
