It was snowing… It was cold. Every breath left hews of white in front of their faces, like little white dragons coiling.
And there he was, Gao Lan, his dark eyes glinting in the light. His hair hung in a loose ponytail well below his shoulders and his face adorned a handsome beard and moustache. He grinned wide, patting his fellow on the shoulder.
"Don't be so nervous, our lord has everything under control…" Lan smiled, his white teeth reflecting snow.
His hand left his shoulder and he mounted his horse riding off ahead.
He was left alone now, a single hand still stretched after Lan.
"Don't go…" he whispered, before mounting and riding after him.
He caught up in time to see Lan's impressive blades cut into his foe, and Liu Pi spitting blood, fell from his steed.
Lan turned and grinned, blood splattered up his face.
But he didn't want Lan's attention. He wanted him to turn in time… to see the man on the white horse, spear set to strike.
He shouted too late and the spear came crashing into Lan's shoulders, spewing crimson blood and throwing him to the floor.
He quickly dismounted, rushing to his friend's side.
The blood on Lan's wound had quickly frozen over into a sheet, and when he tried to move, it shattered, sending white cracks across the surface, like lightning.
Lan spluttered a few whispered words, through a mouth fast filling with blood, and he watched in horror as Lan's beautiful dark eyes quietly faded.
The rider on the white horse…
---
Huang Yue Ying rushed across the packed earth after her husband.
Zhuge Liang didn't seem to have noticed her as he took casual strides.
"Wait! Wait! Will it kill you to wait?" Yue Ying Panted, gasping for breath.
Liang kept his expression characteristically unreadable as he turned to see his tired wife toting her scythe. His eyebrow rose slightly.
"Yes, my wife?" Liang said in his calm monotone voice.
"Where are you going? You said you'd teach Zhan how to play 'Go' today, he's waiting for you!" Yue Ying panted.
"I've been called to council, and then I'm studying with Jiang Wei. It'll have to wait till tomorrow, or, get Guan Yu to do it." Liang said,
"Get Guan Yu to do it? This is important! You need to spend some time with your son!" Yue Ying spat.
"If I have some time after studying, maybe, but it's more likely to be tomorrow." Liang sighed.
"Can't you just forget the studies for one day?" Yue Ying asked.
"No, Jiang Wei is too close now. I need to teach him the proper usage of spies." Liang said
"Oh that Jiang Wei! When will you ever spend time with your own son?" Yue Ying growled.
"Tomorrow." Liang said, slipping under the heavy canvas door of the tent.
Yue Ying stood alone now, clutching her scythe so tightly in hand that her knuckles went white. Ever since that boy had come along, Liang suddenly didn't have time for her, or Zhan.
---
Xu Huang had fallen into a light sleep, waiting for Zhang Liao to wake up. The doctors had said it wasn't a bad injury, but the shock had knocked him out cold. After a few weeks for the wound to heal over fully, he'd be fine.
He was woken up when Liao shifted, letting out a sigh.
Huang looked up and Liao had rolled over, he was twitching from the pain.
"Zhang Liao, are you alright?" Huang whispered.
Liao groaned, his eyes clenched tight against the pain. "I've felt better…" He muttered, rolling over slowly to look at his concerned friend.
Huang smiled. Liao didn't look so bad after all. The colour was steadily returning to his cheeks.
"Thanks for helping me." Liao said, inspecting the bandage across his shoulder and chest.
Huang bit his lip. How was he going to tell Liao?
"Well… actually Zhang He is the one that saved you…" Huang sighed.
Zhang Liao laughed a little. "Yeah, He was always looking out for me! Where is he anyway?"
Huang looked down at his feet, a grim expression set on his face. And Liao could read him.
The smile flushed from Liao's face like blood in rain.
"No! He can't…" Liao muttered, tear welling in his eyes.
"He's not dead… but Shu Han took him." Huang said, shifting his chair around so he couldn't see the pained look in Liao's eyes.
"No! How could I have been so stupid? Lecturing him about death over surrender! Don't die Zhang He! You're too important to die!" Liao spat.
---
Zhang He woke up with a pounding headache. It was to be expected; he'd been foolish and not checked behind him before he attacked. He opened his eyes slowly to survey the situation.
At first, all he could see were boots, and a few injured Cao Wei soldiers lying on the floor.
Xu Huang must have come back for me.
He tried to shift to a sit but when his hands wouldn't move he realised the truth.
Nope, they hadn't come back for me after all.
He tugged his arms round to his face so he could see his hands. His wrists were shackled together.
Shu Han.
He pressed his bound hands against the hard wooden floor and shifted himself to a sit.
He could see clearly now, he was surrounded by captured soldiers, all Cao Wei, some of them were his men, but there were many men he didn't recognise.
It appeared that they were all inside a prison cart, a wooden box with barred windows, like a mobile cage.
He laughed a little under his breath. He had underestimated Jiang Wei, seemed he had a lot of friends in the force.
He yawned. He wanted to go back to sleep. But he was startled awake when the door was unlocked and flung open, and two heavily armed Shu Han soldiers entered and dragged He to his feet.
He momentarily obeyed, trotting along as the men hustled him forward.
When he was pushed through the heavy canvas door of a large tent, he knew this to be his judgement. All the Shu Han officers were in attendance, all lined up along both sides of a red carpet. Sat in the throne at the far end of the room was Liu Bei, accompanied by Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.
Somewhere behind Guan Yu's massive figure, Zhuge Liang Stood, masking his expression with his white feather fan. Jiang Wei stood at his side, like a loyal dog. That's all Shu Han are, dogs.
Liang was keeping his gaze Set on He. His brow furrowed with anger. Liang was obviously quite upset with He's presence here.
The soldiers forced him to his knees before Liu Bei, who carefully inspected his prisoner.
Stop looking at me, my hair is a mess.
"So, you are Zhang He?" Liu Bei said, not expecting an answer and knowing full well that the phrase was meaningless.
Zhang he nodded, trying to keep his fear in check.
"Yes, that is I, Zhang He of Mao." He said, cautiously inspecting the surrounding officers.
"Zhang He," Liu Bei said, his tone softening, "I have heard much of you. You are a fine warrior."
"I have participated in many campaigns, if that is what you mean." Zhang He said, still shifting his gaze to try and locate one of Liu Bei's officers.
"Indeed and I believe we can make an arrangement." Bei said.
"Oh, how so?" He asked, knowing full well the answer.
"Join us, and you will be welcomed highly." Bei smiled.
Never suggest surrender, it is the cowards way outZhang He laughed. "My allegiance is with lord Cao Cao, and will remain so."
Bei was obviously quite disappointed by the answer.
"Put him to death!" Zhuge Liang shouted, stepping forward from behind Guan Yu.
Liu Bei sighed, and signalled for the men to take He away.
"No, wait." Jiang Wei spoke up, stepping forward of his master.
"Oh, what is it Jiang Wei?" Bei asked.
"I'll take him." Wei said.
Liu Bei's brow rose. "You will take him?" Bei asked confused.
"He may still be of some use to us, allow me please to find that use." Wei said, swallowing hard. He wasn't sure if this was going to work.
Liu Bei looked intrigued. "Very well than, Jiang Wei, you can take it from here." Bei said. He would rather Zhang He not die, and the young strategist was said to have a good tongue. If anyone could persuade Zhang He to defect, it would be him.
Jiang Wei stepped forward to collect his prize and Zhuge Liang was noticeably angry.
"Lord Liu Bei, I beg you reconsider, Zhang He is dangerous and if you allow him to live you are only risking further trouble!" Liang Said, his voice set with a tinge of desperation.
"I think Jiang Wei can handle this. But if he fails then by all means we will do as you say." Bei said.
Zhuge Liang fell silent. "Your judgement is good, my lord." Liang bowed after a brief silence.
And the council was dismissed.
---
Xiao Qiao watched as the marching men passed, knowing that in the central carriage, her poor husband lay wounded.
Lu Xun sighed. He didn't know what relieved him more, that Qiao was here, or that Yu wasn't.
He watched the last soldiers pass and followed them into the castle, still clutching Ci's robe tightly over his sides.