-Seven-

The entire forces of the Wall were plunged into sudden mourning. The Tao Tei had led them into a trap, costing General Shao his life. His final command was that the title of General fall on Commander Lin.

A funeral ceremony was held on the top of the Wall the following night. All to pay respects to their fallen leader.

Lin was clearly heartbroken by the General's death, but determined to fulfill her new role.

Following the ceremony they met in Strategist Wang's study, along with a young man who had apparently come from the palace in the Capital.

"This is envoy Shen from the palace," Strategist Wang introduced. "He has brought important records to help with the coming battle.

"A nine-hundred year old battle report," Ballard translated for the Europeans as envoy Shen began to explain in their language. "At the Hansha gates, three beasts mounted the Wall. They killed many men as they went forward. Then, by the grace of the ancient gods, the beasts stopped and sat peacefully as we slaughtered them." Then Strategist Wang began to speak, holding up William's magnet, and Ballard continued his translations. "At the Hansha Gate, there was a magnet just like this one. I believe this magnet was the reason you Europeans killed the Tao Tei so easily. I believe the magnet makes the Tao Tei deaf. Without instruction, they fall still." Lin, now General Lin, spoke. "How can we be sure?" Ballard translated.

"Why not try it?" William spoke up, suggesting. "Capture a Tao Tei. See if it works."

"You say it like it would be easy," said Constanza.

"Yes, how?" General Lin asked him. "No net is strong enough."

"Hunt them, like a whale. Hundred times the size of a Tao Tei. A spear that grabs. Hook the bone, pull them up. I've seen it done in Spain."

Strategist Wang translated this for the others, and, in agreement, the meeting ended.

"What the hell are you doing?" Pero demanded in a hiss, grabbing William's arm and stopping him before he could enter the barracks. "We need to be free when the attack comes."

"So you're really going forward with Ballard's plan?" asked Constanza.

"Yes, and how many chances do you think we will get?" Pero cried. "Be injured, be missing, be a coward," he implored his partner. "Get out of this. We did enough." With that, he stormed into the barracks, being sure to bump William's shoulder on the way by.

Her friends were divided, stood divided. William bound by his sudden loyalty to the Wall's forces, and Pero hell-bent on getting out of here.

She'd never seen them like this. Yes they had had many disagreements in the past, but nothing like this that she had witnessed.

"Are you going to ask what I want to do?" she prompted.

"What do you want to do?" Pero asked.

"Thank you. I think we should finish helping them. We're entangled in this now too."

"We never even officially started helping them. It's all just been William."

"Well I don't think we want them as our enemy. Running away will certainly make them that."

"I don't care if I am their enemy, I just want to get out of here. But I'm not leaving without William. Even if I have to drag him out of here myself."

She didn't doubt it.

William went over the Wall.

Pero followed, urging her to stay behind, leaving her a the top of the Wall, panicked and desperately trying to make out anything happening below through the dense fog that coated the landscape. Thankfully, both made it out alive, though barely, and William's plan worked, a Tao Tei was captured.

"You're really damn lucky," she said as he stirred on his cot in the medical wing.

"Tovar-"

She would tell Pero later that William's first thought had been not for his own well being, but for his friend's.

"He's fine. More angry than hurt. He says he only saved you so he could kill you himself."

"Sounds like him."

"Yes." Then she slapped his arm. "What the hell were you thinking?"

"Did it work?"

"Well, a beast was captured."

"Then it worked."

"But you were almost killed."

"But I wasn't. And our plan worked."

She rolled her eyes. "That reckless attitude of yours is bound to get you killed one of these days, William Garin. In fact I'm surprised it hasn't already."

"Not yet."

"The General wishes to see you," she notified him, and left him and Lin alone to speak.

"You wounded?" he asked Pero when he returned to the barracks. "I was looking for you, to say thank you."

Pero just scoffed. "You feel good, no? Maybe sing a little song, eh? I will join you. We can sing together how you saved these grateful people."

"You saw what happened out there and that's what you say?"

"I saw black powder. I see a man forget his friends."

"The black powder's not going anywhere."

"What goes nowhere is you." Pero rose to his feet and pointed an accusing finger at William.

"Pero, what's done is done," said Constanza. "William made his choice."

But Pero wasn't finished. "You'll never get what you want from this."

"Oh, and what is it you think I want from this?"

"You think they see you as some kind of hero? As a man of virtue? And your new lady friend, hmm. What about her?"

"What about her?"

"Maybe you can fool them, but I know what you are. You know what you are: a thief, a liar, and a killer. And you can never undo the things you have done. And you will never be anything-"

William had had enough, and responded by shoving Pero into the wall, blade beneath his throat.

"Enough you two," Constanza bade them.

William's actions made Pero grin and chuckle. "Good to see you again, Amigo."

William responded this time by stabbing his dagger into the table and storming away.

"You really had to edge him on like that?" Constanza scoffed. "And I for one don't believe that's true."

"What is?"

"That you are only what you have been, that you cannot change."

"I agree with Constanza." Now William stood in the doorway. "Evidently, we have all made our choices."

Pero glared at him. "Farewell, brother."

With the Wall's forces distracted by sudden Tao Tei movement, Pero and Ballard chose that as their moment of escape.

Ever since seeing the black powder in action while they attempted to, and eventually succeeded, in capturing a Tao Tei, Pero had been hell-bent on acquiring some of the destructive weapon himself.

Constanza caught them sneaking down the hall in stolen armour and cloaks, making their way from the armories. She had her bow out, arrow notched and ready, blocking their path.

"Constanza," cried Pero. "Ballard has planned well, getting out is easy."

"Is it?"

"They are distracted, we will slip out right under their noses."

"I'm not so sure it's that simple."

"Step aside, please. Or better yet, come with us."

"Sticking together is our greatest strength. I will not let you tear that apart."

"Me?! William is the one who is hell-bent on sticking around here! Just think, Constanza, the sooner we get out of here, the sooner we can move on with our lives, settle down - you can build that home you wished for."

His words shocked her. "How did you know about that? You were sleeping."

But apparently he hadn't been. "We could, we could-"

"Could what?"

"We could build that together!" Suddenly, she understood the weight of his words, what he was admitting:

He loved her.

He loved her and he wanted that with her, a home, a life.

"I-If you would like that together..."

He loved her, only he wasn't sure she loved him back.

He cupped her face in both hands, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead.

She took his hands. "Oh, Pero. I want that, more than anything, but I don't trust him. I think your greed is not making you see clearly. I can't come with you."

A deep, heavy sigh rumbled through him. They were standing so close she could feel it. "Can't or won't?"

"Don't, don't do that. You know my reasons."

She was so distracted, she didn't see Ballard light a fuse of one of the black powder weapons they had stolen. There was a blast and blinding flash, and everything went dark.

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed this chapter as always! :)