Okay, well…so much for updating quickly…so busy arghhhhhh
But for now I'm off to business:
AI: go Ai go! Lol thanks for sticking with this thing…. it's starting to bore me…
MSD: well, I updated…so yay! Another short chapter…but you know…so yeah.X-x coughs x-X
Duni: hehehehhhheh yeah…and of course Zhuge is likeable especially his hot mustache )
Rubyphoenic93: YAYS another reviwer X-x hugs x-X well, thankies…. trust me I appreciate it! Stay with it!
Chapter 20-The Death of a Hero part 2.
Zhuge Liang yanked me into a dark corner and led the 4 of us down the narrow path.
"Ma—"
"Shhhh," he whispered. I could hardly see what was going on. Right outside our hiding place stood a small group of officers bearing Wei insignia. One was short and stocky, sputtering and panting after a short run. The second was indignant, lanky, and much more fit.
"Where did they go? I could have sworn—"
"You didn't think they'd just come quietly, did you?"
The first shook his head, "No, but Sima Yi sounded rather anxious for us to capture them. He fingered his fan and a made a gesture something of this." He stood up straight for the first time I'd seen him do so and puffed up his chest, trying and failing to wave discreetly toward the second officer's head. I wasn't sure if this was purposeful or not, but it was still amusing.
"Sima Yi wants a wife—"
"—And Cao Cao another harem girl." The first finished expertly.
"Mmmm I heard Master Sima has known the girl for years."
"Yes, but I fear discord among the strategist and the master if we should manage to capture this girl. The last time she was caught, Cao Cao was not made aware…" A third stepped up.
"Yes, but with the girl comes two tiger generals and that pesky strategist."
"He's the only one that stands in our lord's way. I heard he sent Zhou Yu to his death."
"That could just be peasant talk. But Cao Cao has been known to remark that he's the only threat in Shu."
"Overconfidence I say, mindless and empty boasts. Don't hear a word of it."
Soon under the watchful gaze of some higher Wei officer, the men split up to search. I hadn't noticed that I clutched Zhuge's arm in fear until I rose.
"We must return to the carriage," Kongming whispered. We all nodded, "However, together we are far too noticeable, we must split up and meet there."
"Isn't that risky?"
"We'll have to take the chance."
"You? Take a chance? Perish the thought."
"There's always a first." I didn't want to leave the Prime Minister's side, but I had no choice, we all went separate ways. I blended with the crowd until I split off a ways and sneaked casually into a little field a short distance from where the driver was waiting. But an interesting conversation had me ducking behind a cart. I soon recognized the men as Xiahou Dun and Xu Huang.
"It's your fault we lost them."
"Maybe losing that eye of yours made you delirious."
"Shut up or you'll lose more than one eye."
"Just because you're Cao Cao's pet cousin doesn't give you the right to push me around. Our lord put ME in charge of this mission."
"And you've done a wonderful job." Dun said sarcastically.
"Shut your mouth! Let our blades speak for us!" he said, brandishing his axe.
"Pitiful." Dun drew his scimitar, waiting for the other man to make the first move. Huang made the mistake of letting him do so. Huang swung from his left side in a cut toward Dun's right. Cao Cao's cousin simply stepped to the side at his opponent's overzealous strike, causing his his axe to dig into the ground at their feet. Dun struck on the right, tierce side, but Huang easily parried it and slid across the scimitar toward his opponent's head. Dun met it in a quick quarte on his left and swung a riposte to his flank. The battle continued on and I watched in interest, fingering the grip of my own blade. Finally, the battle would end in one horrifying stroke. I watched, trying to find out who would be the victor. Would it be my worst enemy or a high-ranking officer of Wei?
