Zhao Yun had not a clue what had happened. First him a Gan Ning were running for what little their army was worth the next thing they knew they were sitting at bottom of an underground trap! The only thing that occurred to him then was how careless he had been as Xu Rong looked down at them with a smirk. Now they stood behind bamboo bars, their fate undetermined.

"What now you think?" Gan Ning asked. Zhao Yun had not an answer. They were well guarded but why the people of Nanman took them captive was beyond him. All Zhao Yun cared about was Rayne. She must be worried sick.

"I take it you're thinkin about Rayne huh?" Gan Ning asked. Was it that obvious, Zhao Yun thought? Half-heartedly the young warrior shook his head.

"I try not to think about it," he replied, "as long as she's safe I'm content."

"We won't get out of here with that kind of attitude Zhao Yun," the pirate said, "I'm sure there's some way to get clear of Nanman."

"How?" Zhao Yun asked, "it's well forfified here in their main city."

"Well…I thought you might have an idea but scratch that I guess," Gan Ning scoffed. Zhao Yun propped his elbows on his knees and sulked his head upon them. Whether or not they could escape they still had the matter of the guards posted there. Like it not they were stuck here and for all they knew they might be executed by the so-called Daughter of Fire. Only time would tell.

"You're not exactly ruler type Meng," Zhu Rong replied, "I just thought that I should pull the strings more."

"As I remember I was King of Nanman," Meng Huo growled, "you're just my queen."

With that she gave him a deathly stare. With neither the will nor courage to face up to her he backed down.

"Zhao Yun came here as a peace liason anyhow," King Dousi replied, "why throw it back in their face if they were willing to just give us Chang Dong."

"Why just Chang Jiang?" Zhu Rong wailed, "I'm thinking all of Chin. I don't really think the Shui Dynasty has any real power other than its bark. No I think I would look better as a queen above them all."

Meng Huo face scowled as he watched his wife. He did not think that she of all people would stoop this low just for power but this was getting out of hand. What would she do now, dethrone him? She was not this adamant, or bloodthirsty, in the beginning. He was more than happy with Zhao Yun's proposition. The Shui would relinquish control of Yi Ling and Chang Jiang in exchange for Nanman defending their southern borders. Now it seemed the people of Nanman were Shui's growing threat. How did it come to this?

"My queen," Meng began, "it is foolhearty to start a war for now reason other than to be a pest."

"A pest you call me!!" Zhu Rong shrieked. Allright, he thought, bad choice of words. With that she stomped out of the room, the keys to lower dungeons in her hands.

"What do you plan to do?" Meng Huo yelled after her. She stopped at looked back at him with an evil.

"To show this pest can make an example," Zhu Rong said as she left for the lower cells. Little did she know two blue eyes watched her in the darkness then disappear amist the mists of the night.

Zhao Yun could hear someone coming down the stairs. At first he thought it was the guards with their meals but instead it was the great Daughter of Fire herself. Getting to his feet the two stared at each other, then she took the keys to their cell and opened it with a loud creek.

"Come here," she said pointing to him. Zhao Yun sighed and did as he was ordered. Gan Ning looked to him with an expressionless look as the young warrior held up his hand to calm him and left. The pirate didn't like it, she was up to something and it wasn't good.

Upon reaching the upper courtyard Zhao Yun walked quietly in front of her before feeling a sharp pain against his the back of his head. Grunting he weaved away and faced her as she held her strange tri-type weapon menacingly at him. No weapons, nothing but his bare hands, he prepared to defend himself.

"I see what this is," he said, "I take it killing me is your only way of seeming superior and doing so while I'm unarmed. I'm sure you must feel proud."

"Silence worm," she seethed, "I figure sending your head back to Shui will let them know we mean business."

"You coward," he growled, "you had to wait for me to unarmed and unable to fight back to take my life. You're no warrior…you're a murderer nothing more."

"It doesn't matter," Zhu Rong said, "either way, dead or alive, you'll prove usefull one way or the other."

"My sediments exactly," said an unknown voice.

Zhu Rong whirled around behind her to see something she had not seen since she was small. A tall, well built man, clad in the steel clad armor and a huge great sword nearly as long as she was tall. The man towered over her like a menacing monster, his blue steel eyes coldly staring her down.

"A…A Northman!? How?!!" she wailed.

She knew them, heard stories about them, had run into them a couple of times. They were tall, barbaric even godless in battle, with a fury that no one alive had neither the will nor strength to combat. Fearless and noble they were a force by themselves and near terrifying in great numbers. She had once heard her father say of when he had met their like in battle. He had been running a skirmish against a country to the north in friggid lands when he chanced upon a group of Northmen. He had sent nearly a whole regiment to fight them. They returned with only a handfull of survivors and tales of the huge men wielding swords of such incredible might and power that they were powerless to combat. One Northman could fight like ten men and their strength was almost magical, as if some greater power protected them. Since then he had always warned her never to combat them, to steer clear of them.

"My father always warned me of them," she remembered him telling her, "they are a strength of the old times."

Backing away her attention was not on Zhao Yun now but the large armored man stalking toward her. Letting her courage guide her she struck out with all of her strength. Steel met steel as the clash nearly sent her head askew. The man was large, strength bulging from his massive hands as he braced against her, his awesome power overwhelming her. Stumbling back she had just barely enough focus to see him grab her by the neck and hold her bodily in the air, his grip around her throat crushing like a vice. She could almost feel the bones breaking in her neck when he then loosened his grip and sneered at her.

"No," he said, "you're not why I'm here qui`nage." With that all she saw was him slam the butt of his sword against her skull. Zhu Rong witnessed a cockofiny of stars as her world suddenly grew black and silent. Zhao Yun could do nothing but gawk at the tall warrior. He couldn't believe a foreigner had just saved his skin. Turning away from Zhu Rongs unconscious form the tall man looked to him. Zhao Yun could really show his gratitude given his place nonetheless he tried.

"I thank you," he replied, "I don't know if you understand me but thank you."

"I know you're language," he rasped, "I am Damien."

"A pleasure it is I'm sure," Zhao Yun said, "I thank you for helping me." Damien then smiled evilly and looked to the growing twilight.

"Hmph," he replied, "thinks I helped him."

"What?" Zhao Yun said perplexed. At first he thought the Northman was joking then he witnessed as Damien brought forth his sword and flatbladed the young warrior across the head. Zhao Yun grunted from the blow as he collapsed to the ground, his eyes closing away as the tall warrior stood over him. His world began to fall into darkness as the Northman hoisted him up and carried him away into the night.

"Yes," Damien replied with a sneer, "you'll do just fine."

==++sorry about the wait people, had some business that couldn't wait. Left it on a cliffhanger yeah? What will happen to Zhao Yun and Gan Ning who is still imprisoned? Who is the mysterious Northman from afar? Wait until Chapter 4 to find out.