Xianghua had finally gotten some time to herself on the ship. Talim was off assisting the sailors with the wounded and looking for any more pirate ships that may attack. Rajit was sound asleep in the quarters downstairs, so Xianghua found a stack of crates to sit on and look at the ocean.
"I sure am a long way from home again…" the young woman thought to herself as she watched the waves rise up and down. The word "home" was always a little funny to her, as it never really seemed to point to a specific place.
"Sure I guess the palace could be called home…" she thought to herself. Guarding the palace was the only thing Xianghua ever really knew, but it never really conjured the image of safety and warmth like the word "home" should bring up. Xianghua thought back to just before she started her journey, and remembered that fateful day the Emperor set her off on this quest.
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The sweet sound of a mandolin wafted through the air of the gardens surrounding the Imperial palace. Xianghua was resting on a rock, letting her toes splash the surface of the cool pond. She was in her usual nook, hidden away within the garden in a place where no one would find her. The trees overhead softly filtered out the rays of the sun, only allowing small slivers through. A water lily floated past Xianghua's feet, and she marveled at its simple beauty.
"When was the last time I got some time to myself?" she thought as she relished the peace and quiet. The young woman's mind turned to the long trip home from Europe. The battle against Inferno had gone well all things considered, and today it was Xianghua's duty to report to the Emperor about the "Sword of Heroes". An image of the demonic Soul Edge flashed across her psyche, its shrieking howl still fresh in her mind.
"Some sword of heroes. Just goes to show you the Emperor shouldn't put so much stock in fairy tales." Her moment of quiet contemplation was broken by the sound of someone rustling in a bush nearby. Xianghua smiled and got off her rock, slowly creeping behind some tall shoots of grass. The perpetrator would invariably believe she was still unwittingly sitting on the rock, and she would catch him as soon as he came out. A young boy emerged from behind the bush and yelled out "gotcha!" only to be met with silence.
"Looking for me?" replied Xianghua as she rested both hands on the boys shoulders. Startled, the child turned around and yelped once he caught sight of Xianghua grinning sardonically.
"Peng, did you really think you could catch me off guard?"
"I thought I had you, jie jie!"
Xianghua laughed and rested a hand on the young boys shoulder. Peng was a bright young lad of twelve, his face always cheery and his temperament never down.
"I knew you'd be around her somewhere. I mean whenever you have an important meeting with the Emperor you come here." Peng adjusted his cap and sat down on the rock.
"Well I didn't know you were keeping track, otherwise I would've picked a different spot."
"I just think you enjoy being moody," replied Peng with an incredulous smile. Xianghua crossed her arms and gave him a look. It was sometimes hard to believe the boy was only twelve.
"Well I guess it's time I get going. The Emperor is going to want to see me soon. By the way, aren't you supposed to be with your tutor?"
"Oh, Lao Gong? He nodded off in the library while I was reading another one of his boring books. Old people like to sleep a lot I guess."
"Hey don't talk about your elders like that! Although it is true, Lao Gong almost fell asleep during a meeting with the Emperor." The two shared a good chuckle for a few moments.
"Well I'm off. You get back to your studies, and don't let me catch you slacking off like this again."
"Don't worry, I won't let you catch me next time." Peng grinned big and wide and scampered off.
Xianghua hurried through the garden and into the grand Imperial Palace as it was soon time to present her findings to the Emperor. Her heart began to pick up speed as she got closer to the palace.
"What am I going to tell him? 'Sorry there's no great sword that will save our country, but I did find a demon bent on destruction.' He's really going to believe me then…"
Xianghua was part of a special team of warriors the Emperor had collected for his personal protection and the defense of the Middle Kingdom. The team was a fantastic group of martial arts experts. There was Fei Hua, a renowned spear master, Ai Xia the kung fu specialist, and Lin Feng, a swordsman. No one seemed to mind the fact a woman was part of the guard save for Lin Feng, who always tried to undermine her at every turn. He always tried to make her seem unfit for the position in the Emperors eyes, and even engineered the situation so that Xianghua would have to go to Europe if she wanted to remain high in the emperor's regard.
"He may have thought that he had won when I volunteered to go to Europe last time, but I went of my own accord and not to save face in front of the Emperor. I'm glad I went though, who knows what would've happened without my mother's sword to protect me from the evil of that sword. Oh well, I'm sure the Emperor will be able to appreciate what has happened and give up on this wild goose hunt."
She made her way into the throne room, and waited by the door for the other guards to appear. The elderly court steward, Lao Lin, nodded to her. Xianghua waited impatiently for the other members of her unit to arrive. The first one to appear was Fei Hua. He was an imposing man with a long queue that stretched all the way down his back. He stood at least a head and a half above Xianghua, a large spear fastened to his back. Despite his appearance he was always gentle and Xianghua often joked he was like an oversized stuffed animal. Next came Ai Xia, the Kung Fu artist. While still a young man, Ai was nicknamed the Wild Stallion, as he his speed was unrivaled throughout the kingdom. The last member of the entourage, Lin Feng, entered the court in his usual pompous member. Xianghua snickered to herself, thinking that Lin resembled an ape thumping his chest.
"Well everyone is here. There Emperor will be here momentarily," stated Lao Lin as he moved next to the throne. Within moments the Emperor appeared flanked by several of his court ladies. Everyone got to the floor and kowtowed with their foreheads touching the ground, the sound of a gong ringing throughout the air.
"The Emperor will now receive his personal guards report of the quest for the Sword of Heroes," boomed Lao Lin, who had a surprisingly loud and stately voice for an elderly man. The Emperor clasped his hands and eyed Xianghua as she moved forward ahead of her comrades, her face still low to the ground.
"Why is the great sword of Heroes not within my grasp, Xianghua Chai?" The emperor's voice made the young woman's skin crawl. The tone was anything but regal, and the low hissing sound reminded her of some type of reptile.
"I must report that there is no such thing as the Sword of Heroes."
"No such thing? But I heard from couriers that a powerful sword had appeared in the far off lands of Europe! Have you kept it for yourself!" The Emperor slammed his hand on the throne, causing everyone to jump except Xianghua.
"You were not lied to Emperor. The Azure Knight known as Nightmare was indeed the owner of a very powerful but very evil sword."
"Then why is it not here! Was my faith mistakenly entrusted to you!"
"The Sword of Heroes does not exist Emperor. The sword I found was a twisted, evil blade that devoured men's souls. It had taken possession of a knight named Siegfried and slaughtered thousands of innocent people across Europe."
"If want you say is true then…"
"Yes, two friends and I fought the spirit of the sword and shattered it! It's evil could not be allowed to walk the earth."
The Emperor contemplated for a moment, his brows furrowed in deep thought.
"There is a sword of Heroes my liege!" exclaimed Lin Feng. A hush went over the court, and Xianghua felt tension run up and down her spine.
"How can you say this? Xianghua has just reported…"
"We have reports of a powerful sword in Xinjiang province, and the Governor there holds onto its power. He plans to use it to conquer all of China once he has mastered it. This information comes from a very reliable source my liege."
"Then what of the sword in Europe?"
"Mayhaps you have overworked young Xianghua, and instead she took a pleasure trip?"
Xianghua seethed, gritting her teeth in frustration. "How far will his jealousy take him…"
"I do not enjoy veiled threats Lin."
"And none was said, my liege. I just wished to inform you that the sword was right in our own backyard and we didn't even notice. If you will it I and an armed force will head to Xinjiang and take the sword by force."
"But Emperor," interjected Xianghua.
"Silence. I will have to confirm this new information for myself, as I do not want to take such decisive action and have been too hasty. We will adjourn this session for now. Be ready when I call you, my guards, for I will need your services soon enough." The Emperor stood and left the room, all of his lady's in waiting in file.
Xianghua and the others stood up and left the palace. The young swordswoman could feel Lin Feng looking at her from his periphery vision, silently mocking her.
"I wonder how long he'd been planning this. I doubt there is any such sword in Xinjiang. Who is he working for…" It was at that moment she silently decided that she was the only one capable of doing anything about the situation.
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It was twilight and the sun was slowly setting into the mountain range for its nightly slumber. Xianghua was gathering her things in a small sack for her very long trip to Xinjiang. As she was finishing up with the last of her things, Peng stuck his head in the door.
"Going somewhere, jie jie?"
"Nowhere that you need to be tagging along, Peng, so don't even think about asking."
"I wasn't, you look so serious so it probably isn't a fun place at all. I just wanted to see you before you left is all," retorted Peng as he crossed his arms, trying to maintain a prideful look. Xianghua giggled to herself, in wonderment that anyone so small could have so much pride.
"When are you leaving?"
"Tonight. I can't waste any time as I have to beat the Emperors men to Xinjiang before anyone innocent gets hurt."
"Crack a few of their heads for me!" Xianghua bent down and hugged the young boy.
"Be a good boy."
"You know I won't" he smiled mischievously.
Xianghua gathered everything and saddled up her horse Nightstar. She saw Peng run down the street back to the palace chambers. Wu Ma, the palace maid and apothecary appeared from down the alley and walked up to Xianghua.
"A lovely night for a ride isn't it?" the old woman remarked as she looked upward at the twinkling sky.
"Well I don't think I'll get much of a chance to enjoy the view."
"Oh you never know you might. Be sure to keep safe, Peng will never forgive you if you don't return in one piece." Xianghua always marveled at just how knowledgeable and reticent Wu Ma was.
"That boy needs you. After his mother left us he thinks of you as his big sister. Blood or not you're family and he relies on you. I want you to remember that," the old woman said as she clasped Xianghua's hands and looked into her eyes.
"I know, and I'm not going to let anyone down. I have to get going Wu Ma."
"Good luck! I'll make sure Peng keeps at his books while you're gone. Someone has to reign him in."
Xianghua waved and rode out of the castle and into the night…
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Xianghua came to from her daydreaming when Talim gently nudged her on the arm.
"You need to get some rest Xianghua, it's getting dark and we're getting near the end of our voyage," sweetly cooed Talim as she gently pulled Xianghua back into reality.
"Oh I didn't even notice night had fallen. Alright, I'll get some rest. I'll be happy when this is all over with."
Xianghua turned around, looking at the rising and falling waves of the open ocean.