Xun awoke to sunlight dancing on his eyelids. He rolled over. This quilt had the same smell…

"Good morning!" The same chirpy voice rang out. Zhang He was standing half out on his balcony admiring the world.

Xun sat up and shook his head. "Again? Ngh… is it morning already?"

"Sure is, Liao had quite a shock when he found you last night, we thought you'd had an accident or something!" Zhang He laughed.

Xun growled and shook his head violently. "I've gone and got you in trouble AGAIN haven't I?"

Zhang He tutted, "I told you don't worry about it, my reputation is not nearly as important as your safety."

Xun smiled. Zhang He seemed odd at first but he was a genuinely charming man.

He laughed a little. It was the first time he had in a long time. He jumped up, grabbed his hat and headed down to the storeroom.

As before the girls crowded around him, cooing like doves over him, they soon scattered when Locust's voice boomed from the other side of the room.

"Swallow! Where were you last night! Lord Cao Cao was looking for you! He was furious!" She growled.

"Sorry, I got caught up running errands…" Xun shivered.

"Tsk! What am I going to do with you? Look, Cao Cao requested your presence whenever you turned up so get down there and see him!" She said.

Xun nodded.

Cao Cao's room was in one of the side towers guarded heavily. The guards let him pass and he was soon standing at the door. Cao Cao answered.

"Ah Swallow, come in! Have a seat." Cao Cao said sitting down at a low table in the centre of the huge, well-decorated room. Xun walked in and sat down obediently. This man had lied to him. This man was keeping something important from him.

"So swallow, have you remembered anything from before the accident?" Cao asked.

Lie.

"No master Cao Cao, I still have not recalled anything." Xun said bowing low so Cao could not see the dishonesty in his face.

Cao Cao sat back and grinned. "That's a shame, please, tell me if you do recall anything, until then, return to your post."

Xun nodded. He turned swiftly and left the room, enraged by Cao Cao's coolness. He was lying! Xun was a soldier! He was born to fight, not to run errands!

He was so furious, he didn't notice Zhang Liao rounding the corner and ran straight in to him.

"Hey! Look out there kid!" Zhang Liao laughed.

The sudden burst of shock and anger erupted as tears and Xun threw his arms around Zhang Liao's waist and wept bitterly.

"Shh, don't cry Swallow, its ok…" Liao said stroking Xun's hair.

He tried to stop but couldn't, all the confusion and frustration of the last few days suddenly escaping.

"Don't worry, we'll help you get home, we promise." Zhang Liao said, rubbing the boy's shoulders.

The tears subsided and he looked up, Zhang Liao seemed like a beast but inside him beat a caring heart. It seemed a shame that not many others saw the same side of him that Xun had seen over the last few days.

"I'm sorry I've been such trouble for you…" Xun said, smiling.

"Kid, its never trouble, now you should get back to work, I'm looking into a couple of things I found out last night, it is surprising how loose ones tongue gets after a couple of wines!" Zhang Liao grinned.

"I can never thank you enough for all your help." Xun smiled.

"Don't need thanks." Zhang Liao smiled, turning and heading off down the corridor.

Xun stood for a while watching Liao walk away, until the memory of Locust shouting shook him back into reality. He rushed back to the storeroom to carry on working.

Xun arrived in the storeroom and carried on running errands. Eventually, he began to tire again. It was late morning and his vision was already starting to fail him. He couldn't stop shivering and had to sit down. Locust saw him sitting in the corner, wandered over and knelt beside him. "You alright Swallow?" She asked.

He shook his head. "I feel sick…" He said weakly.

She sighed. "You should try and eat something, you're looking pale! Wait right here." Locust said heading over to the preparing table. She came back with a small serving of rice and some tea. "Here you go sweetie, take your time." She said.

He felt terrible. He picked up the tea but his hands were shaking so much he had to put it down again. He almost spilled it. He managed to get a mouthful of rice but it was too course to swallow. He didn't want to try anymore.

"Its ok… I can get back to work now…" Xun said trying to get up but Locust stopped him.

"Oh no you don't! You're resting right here 'till you feel better!" Locust said.

"But, I feel fine." He lied.

"Do you think that'll work on me? I know you are sick, who do you think cleaned up after you when you were sick?" She growled playfully.

Xun looked embarrassed. He never thought that she would have to clean up after him.

"Sorry about that," He laughed a little, slipping his hand under the veil of his hat and rubbing the back of his neck.

She sighed and put her hands on her hips. "What am I going to do with you?"

He tried for another sip of tea and managed to keep his hands steady enough to get one. It was good tea.

"There! Now do that with some food and you'll be fine, you've been running off so much you haven't stopped to eat!" She said.

The two talked for a while, while Xun finished his rice and washed his bowl. His head didn't feel any better but the rice had quenched the growling in his stomach at least.

"You feel 'bit better now?" Locust asked.

He nodded, smiling.

"Now, you mustn't keep them waiting any longer! Lord Xiahou Dun and Lord Zhang Liao are going on a Hunting trip this morning and have asked that you prepare the horses. Lord Zhang Liao is waiting in the stables for you." Locust said.

Zhang Liao, he must have found something else.

"I'll get to it right now." Xun said turning to leave the room.

"Swallow!" Locust called after him.

"Yes?" He said.

"Nice hat!" She grinned.

As promised Zhang Liao stood in the stables stroking the mane of a proud white horse at least fifteen hands high. "Ah, Swallow, you made it!" Zhang Liao said, turning.

Xun nodded. "So, what do I do?" He asked.

"Well, do you remember how to saddle a horse?" Zhang Liao asked.

Xun shook his head. He couldn't remember if he had ever seen a horse never mind saddling one.

"Well its easy, watch carefully." Liao said. He opened the stable door and led out the fearsome white stallion. He picked up a cloth to rest on the horses back, saddle and reigns and showed Xun how to use them.

"You get all that?" Liao asked.

Xun nodded, "I Think So."

"Then you try, saddle up the horse in the last stall on your right." Liao said pointing down the room.

Xun agreed and wandered over to the stall, where stood a fine brown steed with piercing black eyes. He led the horse out of it's stall and it looked at him, both ebony eyes focusing on him, and it seemed happy.

"Use the saddle on the right." Zhang Liao said. Xun turned around to retrieve the saddle and saw that it was adorned with tassels of red and gold. It seemed so familiar.

So He saddled up the horse as told. The horse stood quietly the whole time, not moving an inch. When he had done, the horse turned and nestled it's nose into Xun's arm. Xun suddenly stood quite still, the sensation of being struck returning.

"This was my horse!" Xun cried, running his hand through it's dark mane.

He walked over to the saddle and put one foot in the stirrup. "Can I?" Xun asked and Liao nodded.

He pulled himself up onto the horse and sat in the saddle. He could see now…

He had prepared his horse that day… ridden out to meet his fellow officers… they were attacking Wei… The battle was serious… He cut down everyone he saw… Then Xiahou Yuan...

He quickly dismounted and sat on the floor, as if in a sudden swoon.

"I got you, you ok kid?" Liao said, catching hold of Xun's shoulders so he didn't fall over.

"I was fighting against Wei, I was a soldier in another army, that's why I was tied up and that's why Cao Cao didn't want me to know! I must be important!" Xun cried.

"There you go you've almost got it! Now you just have to remember you're name and we can get you home!" Liao said. "You should go tell Zhang He, He'll be thrilled!"

Xun couldn't thank Liao enough. There were only a few pieces of the puzzle missing now. He ran to Zhang He's quarters, for a moment forgetting about everything else.