Chapter 14
The Beginning of the End

Xianghua was at the end of her patience and screamed, "Maxi!! Come on! We gotta go!"

"Just one more bite!" Maxi said through a mouthful of breakfast and held another piece of bacon in his mouth as he used both hands to put on his knapsack. He jogged to the front of the inn where Xianghua and Kilik waited for him.

"Good grief, just because it's a complementary breakfast doesn't mean you have to eat out their whole pantry!" Xianghua scolded lightly, stepping out into the morning air.

"Complimentary is as complimentary does," Maxi said indifferently. "Might as well make good use of the opportunity."

Xianghua rolled her eyes and let the discussion drop. The three of them headed out of town, and down the main road heading west once more.

The road they walked upon lead them into a bamboo forest. Tall and sturdy, the shoots were packed tightly with poor visibility beyond only a few feet. It was just the scenario Chen Lao wanted.

Several throwing knives flew through the air aimed at the side of Xianghua's head. Xianghua reacted to the sound of projectiles immediately stepping back, bumping into Maxi. Without time for words Xianghua turned to Maxi and raised her hand to strike.

Maxi didn't have time to ask what Xianghua was doing as she slapped his face. One blade barely cut into the flesh of his cheek as it passed his face and landed solidly in a bamboo shoot. Another rain of throwing stars and knives came out, not being able to move, Kilik brought out Kali-Yuga, knocking the weapons away with each masterful snapping movement of the red rod. Clanging off Xianghua's blade, the fallen throwing stars fell in a circle around her. Maxi, standing in between Xianghua and Kilik, had to be careful not to deflect the projectiles into either of his companions.

Once the last blade had been knocked away, the forest fell into silence.

"Sorry I had to slap you, Maxi," Xianghua said absentmindedly, keeping her guard up.

"Don't worry, I'll do the same for you one day," Maxi assured her, trying his best to detect any movement in the surrounding bamboo. His eyes stopped on a particular blade. "Uh-oh, take a look at that," Maxi said pointing.

One of the blades lodged in the bamboo shoot had a small scroll wrapped around the handle, tied with a red string. On the outside, it read "Wench".

"Guess it's for you," Maxi said, pulling it out and passing it to Xianghua.

She undid the string and unraveled the scroll.

"Aw man, it's in Chinese," Maxi grumbled trying to read over Xianghua's shoulder.

Kilik was too far to catch glimpse of the note that Xianghua held. As she read it, her face grew angry and full of bitterness.

"What does it say? Come on, what's it say?" Maxi nagged.

Xianghua crushed the note in one hand. She forced a smile when she turned to answer.

"I have some business to take care of. Please, sit down and stay here until I return, all right?"

"Why? What's going on? Where are you going?"

"Maxi, sit down." Kilik insisted gently as he took a quiet posture on the ground.

"I hate being left in the dark."

"I know. I'm sorry, Maxi. I don't have any right to ask it of you again, but believe me when I say it's because I care about what happens to you that I can't tell you anything other than sit down and stay here."

The disapproval on his face faded, and he gave a half grin. "Ok, China girl."

Xianghua turned and took a few steps, but Maxi calling her name made her stop. As she turned to him, she saw Soryuju in the air, and caught the nunchacku. "Might come in handy," Maxi shouted and winked.

Realizing the Maxi had just handed over his most precious possession, Xianghua formally bowed to receive the honor. Then slipped the nunchacku into her belt. She took off at a run down the path. The crumpled scroll fell into the dust.

Wench:

Your luck in escaping your punishment for your crimes has ended.
I will take my revenge through your life. We will fight one-on-one to the death.

If you refuse this challenge, my archers will kill your friends instantly.
And be warned they a ten times better with an arrow than a throwing star.

If you are not present in the clearing a quarter mile down the path in
30 minutes, your friends will be killed instantly.

If your friends move from that spot during our fight,
they will be killed instantly.

Xianghua had broken into a light sweat by the time she reached the clearing. The sunlight filtering through the bamboo left only a small area of dappled sunlight. Even though she seemed to be alone, Xianghua had a solid feeling the author of that scroll was hiding amongst the shadows.

"I'm here!" she called out at last. "I've met your conditions, now face me!"

Chen Lao stepped slowly out from the shadows, an overbearing smile spread across his smug face.

"You've grown weak, little hornet. I can remember when lives meant nothing to you and now you meet your death to spare two stragglers."

"Stragglers? They are men of such quality you could only hope to lick the mud off their boots!" Xianghua retorted.

"I will not be spoken to in such a manner!"

"Then just try to shut me up."

Xianghua drew her sword with such speed, it flipped twice in the air before her hand wrapped around the handle and she slid gracefully into her ready stance, the tassel swinging slightly at the end. Chen Lao drew out his broad sword and for a moment there was absolute stillness as they stared each other down. Xianghua took note of the throwing stars and the sacks of powder hanging off Chen Lao's belt. The powder that had blinded Maxi at the inn.

He's come more prepared for long range battle than I have. Xianghua thought rapidly. I'll have to make him keep both of his hands on his sword, don't give him a chance to throw anything.

Xianghua thought rapidly.

Xianghua charged forward, bringing her sword down hard. Chen Lao brought his sword to block, he was in plenty of time, but the power Xianghua used forced him to firm up his grip on the sword handle. Xianghua repositioned her feet, in preparation for another swing, but Chen Lao knew her fighting style too well, and counter moved, bringing his blade around first.

Xinaghua ducked, while rolling her upper body backward and to the right, curving her sword around in such a controlled graceful movement, and swordsman would be in admiration of. But Chen Lao was not interested in style, or movement, or form, as he dodged, and retreated a few steps to reach for his powder.

Xianghua knew she couldn't cut down the sacks in mid-air, they would only split and spread the powder faster, and even Soryuju would knock the powder free. Chen Lao threw three of his powder sacks. Xianghua quickly threw her sword at Chen Lao, distracting him as she caught the first two sacks gently in her hands and the third in her mouth. Not one of them releasing the blinding contents.

"You think you can defeat me without your sword? You really are as stupid as you look."

Xianghua didn't bother to comment as she took Soryuju from her sash swung the end in tight fast revolutions.

Chen Lao came at her with more confidence, striking at her more frequently, leaving his left side unprotected for a few seconds. Xianghua could make little use of his negligence as she used her agility to dodge the blade and Soryuju's chain to block his blade. She would have to be patient.

"Looking for a chance to blind me with my own weapons?" Chen Lao taunted. "Forget it, if you break one now, you'll be blinded too!"

Or so he thought.

Xianghua found her moment. Instead of throwing them into Chen Lao's eyes, she tossed on lightly into the air and struck it hard with Soryuju. The sack burst and the powder flew everywhere. It landed in Chen Lao's eyes, and it would have been in Xianghua's too, only she had dropped her body to the ground escaping the initial burst. She closed her eyes and rolled away, cautiously opening one eye to make sure she was clear of the powder. She was.

"That will do you no good, wench!" Chen Lao shouted in frustration as he began to wildly swing his sword around. Xianghua took to the bamboo, kicking from one to the other. Once high enough, she kicked off, doing a back flip as she aimed her self for Chen Lao. He pulled a dagger as she landed hard on his shoulder, the force of it nailing him to the ground.

"Yield and I will spare your life!" She said sincerely.

Chen Lao pulled a dagger.

"Yield! I will let you live! You don't have to forgive me, but you don't have to try to kill me either!"

Chen Lao mouthed curses at her, ready to plunge the dagger into Xianghua's ribs. The tip only punctured the surface of her clothes and skin as Chen Lao's body went limp. Xianghua let out a deep breath and released Soryuju's chain from Chen Lao's throat.

"There she is!" Maxi announced standing up. He caught sight of the red soaking her side. "Hey, what happened to you?"

"Chen Lao."

"What? Not him again, where is he, I'll knock all his teeth out."

"He's dead. I buried him and said prayers for his soul."

"That was very honorable of you, Xianghua," Kilik said while getting up.

"It's cruel isn't it... both Chen Lao and I were only doing what we truly believed was right and just. And because our intentions threatened one another, one of us had to die. It just doesn't seem fair somehow," she mused. " If it wasn't for this I might have been dead in his place," she said returning Soryuju.

"Then, it is safe for us to go now?" Maxi asked.

"Yes. Oh, but one more thing," Xianghua said taking a small sack of gold from her sleeve. "Archers! Chen Lao is dead! I offer this gold for you if you will let us pass safely!"

Suddenly an arrow pierced the sack, ripping it from Xianghua's hand and split a bamboo shoot.

"It seems they agree," Kilik said pleasantly, walking forward to Xianghua. Maxi stared at the arrow incredulously.

"You mean that whole time we had archers ready to kill us!?

The rest of the day was uneventful when compared to the confrontation with Chen Lao that morning. Without secrets, without burdens, they were happy to be in each other's company. It was a small blessing they could enjoy this portion of their travels not knowing they would be torn apart in the near future.

That night they settled in a forest with thin foliage of red-gold for autumn. It was Kilik's turn to gather firewood as Maxi and Xianghua set up for the evening meal. Finding little more than fallen leaves, Kilik wandered out to the forest's edge.

Suddenly his Seed throbbed. It lurched with such force, Kilik fell to his knees and took a moment to reclaim his breath. Slowly recovering himself, he looked out over the horizon, dreading to see what would cause the Evil Seed to react in such a way.

An imposing silhouette of a mighty castle, was set against a dark sky and clouds ready to release their rain. Torches were lit up like tiny candles around the perimeter of the structure. Dark figures, like an army of ants came to the gates. The gates opened slowly.

Astaroth stepped forth.

He seemed to welcome them, letting them in one by one. But any that he deemed unworthy felt the weight of his ax on their necks. Kilik shuddered and tried to look away, but his Seed was in such jubilation. Such a company of evil it could draw out!

Kilik held Dvapara-Yuga tightly, trying to draw from its strength. The sharp crystal cut into his flesh, spilling blood across his palm. Focusing on the pain, Kilik was able to gather himself and get away from what he had seen.

When he returned to the camp, Xianghua was alone. Kilik rushed to her side and spoke in a low voice.

"Where is Maxi?"

"Answering a call of nature," she said raising an inquisitive eyebrow. "What's up with you?"

"Shhh, listen. I saw... I saw Astaroth's castle."

"Who?" Xianghua said with a confused look.

We never told Xianghua about Astaroth! Kilik realized suddenly. Maxi would be coming back any second. "Even though my Seed drew him there, Astaroth killed Maxi's crew. Maxi only traveled with me because his one goal in life is to kill Astaroth to avenge the deaths of his crew."

"So? Can't he take down this Astaroth?"

"I-I don't know. Astaroth is not entirely of this world. He's huge, a golem. He beat down Maxi once already. Now Astaroth has a fortress, an army of lizardmen, demons, assassins, every form of evil you can imagine. I don't think any man could survive it."

"That won't stop Maxi..." Xianghua thought of the pirate's stubbornness.

"I know. That's why I need you to help me to convince him not to go west, but north west until we are past Astaroth's castle."

"More lies and secrets," Xianghua breathed wearily.

"I don't look forward to it either. But I would rather have Maxi hate me for the rest of my life than see him die."

"Me too." Xianghua said. "I'll keep the secret from him."

Unbeknownst to Kilik and Xianghua, Maxi had heard every word.

Author's notes and comments:

After glancing over some past chapters, I don't think Kilik and Maxi ever told Xianghua about Astaroth or his killing Maxi's crew. But somehow she already knew Maxi's crew was dead in Chapter 13.

Oops. :-P

Happy Thanksgiving!