Chapter 12: The Traitor

Shang took an involuntary step forward, cringing as Chi Fu yanked Chen's head again. He could see how much Chi Fu was hurting his brother.

"Don't come any closer, Captain!"

Shang stopped. "Chi Fu, let him go. My weapon is down."

"I believe you have a dispatch for me, Captain."

"I have a dispatch for the Emperor."

"The Emperor is dead."

"What?" Shang gasped.

Chi Fu laughed, scornfully. "Oh, really, Captain, you're shocked. That is too much. Yes, well, there is someone else I prefer to have in power. And after the incident with that creature I had even more incentive to kill the Emperor. So, there we are. I am sure you were curious and now you know."

"I always knew you were a coward, Chi Fu, but I never thought you were a dishonorable traitor."

Chi Fu scoffed. "You probably never thought I was capable of killing anyone either. Don't underestimate me again. Especially with the little tyke here." Chi Fu stroked Chen's neck with the flat side of the blade as he said the last part and Chen shuddered. "And now, I think you should mind your tongue and not call me names."

Shang winced as Chi Fu stroked Chen's neck with the blade, realizing in that moment just how sick Chi Fu was, and he became even more fearful for Chen's life. Chi Fu really was capable of anything. Including hurting an innocent little boy. He had been worried sick about Chen all this time, and Chi Fu had had him all along.

He'd finally found Chen, only for this to happen. He was furious at Chi Fu, and as he looked at Chen's face he felt heartbroken and terrified. He didn't know what to do. Even if he had his sword in his hand, Chi Fu had such a tight grip on Chen and the knife was so close to his throat it appeared that the blade was actually touching his skin just over his jugular. If Shang made the slightest move toward him, it would take only a split second for Chi Fu to press it in.

He had been trained as a warrior all of his life, valuing honor and duty and a moral code. He had learned to fight face to face, to fight fairly and with honor. Chi Fu was a coward, but he knew how to be sneaky and treacherous; he couldn't fight with someone who was evenly matched to him. He could only bully women and children, and unarmed men. Shang didn't even know how to fight on that level and it was not in his nature. He couldn't even begin to think of how to rescue Chen in that moment. All he could do was try to appear strong for Chen so at least maybe he wouldn't be as afraid.

"Shang," Chen cried out, his eyes wide with fright, staring desperately at him.

"Shut up, you little brat!" Chi Fu ordered, beginning to twist his arm.

Shang glared at him, furious at him for talking that way to his brother, and he was about to speak, but Chi Fu silenced him.

"I swear, I will kill him, Captain. Now, you have a dispatch for me. Take it out and slide it across the floor to me."

xxxxxx

Mulan was frantic. Why hadn't Chen listened to her? She almost began to cry, for him and for Shang, but she forced herself to try to think clearly. She had seen weapons in the hidden chamber behind the room where Shen-Li had been.

She ran back to the room where Shen-Li was. He was gone. All that was left was a small pool of blood on the floor.

"Where did he go?" Mushu muttered.

"I don't know. I'll worry about it later."

Mulan found the weapons in the hidden chamber. She glanced over the weapons quickly and chose a bow and a quiver of arrows. She knew she had excellent aim in archery and she would need a method to strike Chi Fu down at a distance, in the event that she couldn't get close to him.

She went out to the passage within the walls. The room that Chen and Shang were in was on the same side of the hall as this one.

She turned out into the tunnel, running in the direction of the room where Shang and Chen were. She stopped at what she estimated to be the distance and ran her hands along the wall, feeling around for a door. She felt part of the wall give and a door opened. She stepped into the hidden room and crossed to the trick door, which was a sliding panel.

She could hear Chen crying through the door and Chi Fu telling him to shut up, calling him a little brat.

She slowly slid the panel in the wall to the side, just a small amount, and looked out into the main room. Shang's back was to her and Chi Fu was facing her.

She could strike Chi Fu with an arrow but she would need a clear shot. Right now Shang got in the way when he moved, and Chen was there. She needed to find a way to somehow signal Shang to move. Getting Chen out of the way would be more complicated. Chi Fu had such a rough hold on him and the knife was dangerously close.

"Give me the dispatch, Captain."

Shang pulled it out and dropped it on the floor, sliding it to Chi Fu. But Chi Fu didn't let go of Chen.

"You have the dispatch. Let him go."

"What else will you give me for him, Captain Li? Your own life?" the loathsome creature was sneering at Shang.

"Yes. Just let him go."

"Ah, ever the honorable Captain Li," Chi Fu taunted.

Chen whimpered and Mulan could see the terror and the look of pain on his face from the rough grip Chi Fu had on him.

"Chi Fu, my sword is down. You have the dispatch now. Let him go," Shang demanded firmly.

"You are in no position to make demands, Captain."

"Chi Fu, let him go. I give you my life for his. Please."

"You would beg me for his life?" Chi Fu mocked him. Chen cried out as Chi Fu cut the surface of his skin ever so slightly with the point of the knife. A trickle of blood appeared on Chen's skin.

"No!" Shang gasped as he saw the cut Chi Fu had made. "Please. Stop."

"Get on your knees, Captain," Chi Fu commanded him.

'Do it, Shang,' Mulan tried to will him with her thoughts. As much as she hated the idea of Shang groveling before that despicable creature, if he knelt down he would be out of the way. She would have a clear shot at Chi Fu without hurting Shang.

Mulan could sense how terrified Shang was for Chen's life and that he was trying to be strong and firm for Chen, to reassure him. Unfortunately, she knew that Chen could read his mind and his feelings, and no façade was going to fool or reassure him.

She was nauseated by Chi Fu.

Mulan exhaled with relief as Shang lowered himself to his knees, and out of the way.

"Please," he pleaded, his voice just barely above a whisper. "Let him go. He's an innocent little boy. I give myself up. There is no other need for him…"

"Oh, but there is, Captain," Chi Fu answered, a nasty, vengeful glint in his eye. "To hurt you."

Mulan hated Chi Fu more than she had ever hated anyone in her life.

"Mushu," Mulan whispered, watching. "Would you go to Chen?"

"What do you want me to do?"

"Just be close to him. And see if you can put some distance between him and that knife. If you can, pull him out of the way so I can have a clear shot at Chi Fu's chest."

Mushu rushed over to Chen. Chen's eyes were filled with terror, but a glimmer of desperate hope flashed in them as he saw Mushu. Mulan watched as Mushu put himself between the knife and Chen's neck, somehow managing to wedge a little bit of space between them.

Mulan inched the panel open a little more, took the bow and drew an arrow out of the quiver, knocking it on the bow. She had it aimed and ready, but waited. Chi Fu was holding Chen off of the floor and he was cursing at him as Chen tried to wriggle out of his grip, probably reading her thoughts and intentions and trying to get out of the way, she realized. She didn't want to hit Chen. She heard Mushu tell Chen to stop moving and leave it to him and Mulan, and she watched as Mushu began to wedge Chen further away from Chi Fu. Chi Fu became distracted by the sudden unknown force that seemed to be pulling Chen away from him and his grip slackened enough for Chen to drop back down to the floor. She now had a clear path to Chi Fu's heart, several inches above Chen's head, and she released the arrow.

Chen gasped out an anguished groan, as if he had been the one hit by the arrow that pierced Chi Fu's heart. Chi Fu went rigid and then his grip on Chen released completely, causing Chen, who was gasping for breath in the same way that Chi Fu was, to stumble and lose his balance.

Shang fainted.

"Shang!" Chen shrieked, stumbling over to his brother and kneeling beside him. He shook him frantically.

Mulan slid the panel open all the way, shut it behind her and rushed out into the room to both of them.

After a minute Shang opened his eyes and saw his little brother. "Chen!"

He sat up and grabbed Chen, pulling him into an iron-gripped embrace.

Chen buried his face in Shang's shoulder and cried.

"Oh, Chen," Shang whispered, kissing the top of his head. Then he pulled Chen into an even tighter hug, closing his eyes. "You sounded like you were…I-I thought you were the one hit."

"Shang, they're coming!" Chen cried out suddenly, squirming and trying to break free of his grip.

"He must mean the guards who were under Tang's orders," Mulan said, gently placing her hand on Shang's shoulder. "They have orders to arrest you and are probably on the way to do so."

Shang raised his head and stared at her, looking as if he had just been woken from a dream.

A minute later the sound of footsteps could be heard running in the hall toward the room. Shang let go of Chen and stood up, picking up his sword and the dispatch and tucking the message back into his waistband for safe keeping. He motioned to Mulan to keep Chen safe.

Mulan took Chen's hand and began to pull him back toward the hidden panel.

Three guards came running into the room and attacked Shang, who did a beautiful job at deflecting all of their swords.

A moment later, the hidden panel opened behind her and the Emperor stepped out.

Mulan knelt down, pulling Chen down with her.

"Stop. All of you," the Emperor commanded, his voice calm but firm.

They abruptly stopped fighting. Shang and the three guards all approached and knelt down. Shang looked shocked to see the Emperor.

"Your Majesty," one of the guards spoke up, "we have orders to arrest Captain Li for leaving his post. He is a deserter. And now he has killed both Captain Tang and Chi Fu. He is a murderer as well."

"He is neither a deserter nor a murderer. He was fulfilling his duty and protecting me. Captain Tang and Chi Fu were both traitors. And you have been following the orders of traitors. Anyone who continues to do so will lose his head. Is that understood? His head."

"Your Majesty, with your permission," Shang began, pulling the dispatch meant for Chi Fu out of his waistband and holding it out for him. "This is the dispatch that was on its way back to Chi Fu from the Henan Province. The rebels are on their way. They will be here in two days."

The Emperor took the dispatch and read it. Then he spoke to the guards.

"We don't have much time. Summon my council to me immediately."

The three guards bowed and left.

"Captain Li, I am pleased that your little brother is well and has been found. And now, assemble your regiment and bring them here to me. We don't have much time to plan."

Shang stood up and bowed, then turned to leave, glancing at Mulan and Chen.

"Do not worry, Captain Li. You will see Fa Mulan and your brother shortly," the Emperor told him, a hint of a smile on his face.

Shang left the room.

"Fa Mulan."

"Yes, your Majesty."

"You and Captain Li have both done very well."

"Thank you, your Majesty. May I have your permission to speak?"

"Granted."

"Even though Chi Fu and Tang are both dead, you may still be in danger. Until this is all over, you need to remain hidden and someone should be assigned to guard you."

"Agreed. Shen-Li is wounded. You will need to take his place."

"How is he?"

"He is in good hands. My medics are caring for him. It will take some time, but he will recover. And now, you and I should confer with him if he is awake. I believe you have gathered much information."

"Yes."

He gestured for her to follow him back into the hidden chamber. But they didn't stay there. He indicated that she should bring Chen, and she followed him out to the passage with him. He led her down to another room and they went in.

"Your Majesty," said Shen-Li, starting to sit up.

"Stay as you are, Shen-Li. You do not want to re-open the wound. I am glad to see that you are awake. Fa Mulan is with me and we have much to discuss before I meet with the rest of the council and the troops."