The Last Avalon
By Angelic Princess
Disclaimer: Thanx for reviewing everyone, and as something special, I uploaded two chapters at the same time. CCS DOES NOT BELONG TO ME!!! BTW, sorry bout the under construction thing, I just wanted to try sumthing out.
Chapter 5: Confrontation
THE NEXT morning, Sakura sought him out. Somehow, she had to ensure their survival. The knowledge weighed heavily on her. In the cold light of day she did not feel so confident.
Pausing in the courtyard entrance, she watched talk with his men. She studied the way they interacted. Some were younger then him, most were older, seasoned veterans. By the timbre of their voices and the way they stood, it was obvious that they deferred to him, not just because of his rank, but out of respect.
In their eyes, he had proved himself. She would have to remember that. What ever she might think of his coarse, barbarian ways, he had proved himself to his peers.
She would not approach him until his men left. To accept advice from a female would demean him in his men's eyes. A small smile tugged at her lips. Already she was beginning to think like them. As Nadeshiko said, to know your enemy is to know how to manipulate him!
She did not want to weaken the General's position. It might force him to make a show of strength, maybe to sacrifice her or her grandmother.
General Syaoran threw back his head and laughed. Sakura shivered. The men echoed his deep-throated laugh.
For a moment she experienced something unfamiliar--they shared a camaraderie. On the battlefield, they were equals. Yet when he looked at her, she read his reaction despite his guarded expression. He despised her.
Resentment burned in her chest, and all her good intentions were forgotten as she stepped into the morning sunshine.
The men parted, and the General spun on his heel, cloak billowing. He noted how sharp his eyes were as he scanned the courtyard. This man missed nothing. A shiver of awareness crept up her spine.
The bustling courtyard surged around the General. His soldiers were victorious, but forbidden their rights of plunder. Consequently, they laughed to loud, swaggered too much, and looked threateningly at the frightened people that had sought shelter within the Palace. The Palace Guard stood by, unarmed and resentful, bristling at each unspoken threat. Amid all this ran geese, ducks, dogs and small children.
Syaoran inhaled the rich autumn air, savoring the scent of woodsmoke. This small, fertile island was so different from his homeland. It wouldn't grow cold for several months yet. Already, he could feel a chill in the air, and his senses quickened with a strange anticipation.
He stiffened as the Avalon woman stepped from the shadows. Her gold auburn hair held an unearthly radiance in the pale early sunshine. When she lifted her chin and met his eyes, he felt his body tense in response. His heart lifted up a notch as if expecting battle.
There was no mistaking it, she meant him to see her. She was approaching him where any of his men might see. Had she no shame, no fear?
She gave none of the deferential signals a normal Li woman gave to a high-ranking male. Her rudeness was sure to irritate his men on his behalf. Syaoran understood that she knew none of his country's customs, and so didn't know better. Obviously, she considered herself the equal of any male. She would never have grown so bold in the Li Kingdom. Any sign of it would've been beaten out of her. Strangely, this caused him a moment's disquiet.
As she strode towards him, he couldn't help but admire the very boldness that set his teeth on edge. Yet, for her own protection, he must lead her away, find a private place where his men couldn't see her lack of respect.
Again he felt an inexplicable surge of desire. He had been without a woman for too long to respond in this way to a female--especially one of the Avalon, who was regarded as less than human.
Less than human she might be, but the intelligence that gleamed in those feral green eyes was unmistakable and dangerous. His mouth went dry as he sensed her anger, held tightly in control.
When she stepped within what was considered polite speaking distance, he caught a faint whiff of her scent. There was no doubt about it. He would have to find one of these Palace women and bed her tonight--anything to get rid of this longing for this Avalon woman.
Inclining her head in a gesture that was the nearest she had come to deference so far, the Avalon met his eyes, another unintended insult.
"I would speak with you, General."
Syaoran stiffened. She accorded him his title, but her face revealed no deference and her body shouted a challenge to his. What trickery did she plan?
"Speak,"
She glanced around, probably wishing more privacy. Perversely, he decided to confront her in the midst of the busy courtyard. Let her show him what she made of it!
"In thirteen days, it will be Harvest Moon. It takes several weeks to harvest the grains. Normally, at this time, the people would be half-way through it, preparing for the harvest feast. I don't know what it is like in your homeland, but here, Winter can come rapidly. Soon the snow will lie thick on the ground, and the days will grow short. If we do not fill the store-rooms with grain, my people-your people-everyone will starve. The farms between here and the north-west coast are ruined, and the cattle slaughtered."
He tensed. "A travelling army must eat."
"And empty fields mean little resistance from the people. I know!" her eyed him narrowly.
A frisson of danger danced across his skin as he sensed her animosity. She did not defer to him. She met his eyes, met his challenge. Her mind was as sharp as his, and he resented having to acknowledge that.
"You think like a man!" It annoyed him. Her eyes widened, then narrowed.
"And you think like a Li!"
What did she mean by that? Why did she say it with such mockery? He had the uncomfortable feeling that he had not bested her in that match and he resented it.
"Make your point Avalon,"
She flinched. Good. He meant the name as an insult. He wanted to unnerve her.
But she continued in a measured tone. "Even your Elite Guard must eat, and only the lands from here and southwards hang heavy with grain, ripe for picking. We can't afford to lose this harvest, but the farmers left are either very young or very old. They cannot bring the crops in. You must order your army out into the fields, to help harvest the crops. The harvest must then be brought back her to be stored, for in no time, the survivors from the north will be coming here pleading for food. We must be able to feed our people, your army, and the refugees."
"We?" he bristled. She stood there, telling him what to do, without deference to him or his position as the representative of a conquered people. But as much as he resented her tone, he knew she was right. He did not know the climate of the southern regions, and during the long campaigns, he had learnt the folly of not listening to the locals.
"Your men grow restless. Only this morning I had to stop one of them from raping a kitchen maid."
"It is the custom for the conqueror to take the women. It is their right of conquest."
"It is uncivilized. By the terms of our agreement-"
"By your surrender, you mean!"
Her dark green eyes flashed with rage and color stained her cheeks. He could see her chest rising and falling under her thin garment. He felt his body react instinctively and scorned his physical response. What was wrong with him?
The silence stretched between them and the clamor of the courtyard seemed to fade as the moment hung in balance.
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I want to do a poll. Who thinks Sakura should be with Syaoran, and who thinks that she should be with the new, drastically improved Yukito???? Tell me your opinions!!!!