The tent was empty now, but for Zhang He and Jiang Wei. The soldiers had left along with Liu Bei and Wei was suddenly aware of how frightened he was. Although Zhang He was still knelt on the floor, at a stand he was a foot taller and undoubtedly stronger than Wei.
Zhang He grinned up at Wei. "Someone was missing from the council."
"Really?" Jiang Wei replied, his curiosity perked, "Can't say I noticed."
"Oh, I did, and he wasn't here..." He growled.
"What?" Wei asked.
"Oh, nothing." He mumbled. "So, how did I manage to get myself into this then?"
Zhang He's good nature remained. It made Wei wonder, why did he freak out before, was it because Zhang Liao got hurt?
"I guess that would be my fault?" Wei grinned inanely, rubbing the back of his neck.
"So, for what purpose am I here?" He asked.
"You're here because Huang Zhong wanted me to kill you and I didn't have the heart." Wei said.
"So, this wasn't planned?" He asked.
"Nope, spur of the moment thing." Wei laughed. It didn't seem like he was talking to a captured enemy officer.
Zhang He didn't look at Wei's face; instead, set his gaze intently on the boy's hands.
"What are you looking at?" Was asked, impatiently.
"Your hands..." He said.
"What's wrong with my hands?" Wei growled, pulling them close to his chest and curling his fingers around his fist.
"Nothing, I just didn't see your hands so often that time…" He continued, but Wei cut him off.
"Keep quiet about that! Master Zhuge Liang doesn't know I was captured and as long as he doesn't suspect we are friends, I can keep you safe from him." Wei spat.
"Keep me safe? From Zhuge Liang? What exactly do you mean?" He asked.
"Master Zhuge Liang doesn't try to hide the fact that he wants you dead, and if prime minister wants to kill you, he'll do it, lawfully or not!" Wei sighed.
He raised an eyebrow. "So, Liang keeps his grudges? You sound afraid of him Wei, anyone you know on his bad side… Wei Yan perhaps?"
Wei's eyes widened for a second. "How do you know about Wei Yan?" Wei spat.
Zhang He chuckled. "Oh, I have my ways." Jiang Wei still didn't know that Wei Yan had tried to poison Zhuge Liang, and Zhang He intended on keeping that piece of information for a time when it was most needed. "So, have you ever been on your master's bad side?"
"I told you, Master Zhuge Liang would never hurt me." Wei sighed.
"You don't sound sure." He grinned.
"Will you stop it? We're supposed to be friends!" Wei spat.
"Sorry, but I don't feel so much that you are my friend when you have me bound like this." He sighed.
"Would you rather be put to death?" Wei asked.
"I guess not, but I'd rather not be your prisoner." He said.
"I wouldn't call you a prisoner, more of a guest." Wei smiled.
"A guest in shackles?" He grinned.
"You know I can't free you, yet." Wei sighed.
"So, you will free me then?" He asked.
"When I think of a plan to get the blame away from me." Wei smiled. "But for now…" Wei continued, grasping his trident and pushing it gently into the Zhang He's back. "Please accompany me."
---
Zhou Yu lay groaning, covers pulled up far over his head. He wanted sleep but well-wishers wouldn't leave him alone!
He had had some time to think now, about everything. The errant arrow that nearly took his life gave him some insight.
He had been terrible to Lu Xun. All the torment and suffering he had put the boy through. Whatever jealousy or paranoia had gripped him, Xun hadn't deserved any of it. What had happened that he would sink so low? He'd even broken the boy's ribs, and for what reason? He had suspected him of treachery. Xun, treacherous? Never!
He pulled the covers further and curled into a ball, groaning. He was a failure.
"You alright honey?" A soft voice woke him from his daydreams.
He scrabbled to the surface of his sea of quilt to see the gentle face of his wife, Xiao Qiao staring down at him, smiling.
"Qiao…" He sighed, raising his hand to stroke her cheek. She took his hand gently in her grasp and caressed it.
"Its alright, I'm here sweetie, nothing is going to happen to you. I'll protect you." He sighed.
Zhou Yu chuckled. She always did want to protect him, now perhaps she had her chance.
He winced suddenly, the pain coursing through him once again. He looked up. Lu Xun had appeared in the doorway, twitching nervously at the sight of his former master.
"Lu Xun…" Zhou Yu called, his eyes lighting up, "Come here…" He beckoned Xun over with a hand gesture.
Xun jumped when his name was mentioned, and when confronted with a puzzled gaze from Qiao, obeyed.
He sheepishly walked over to Yu's side and knelt before him. Yu leant over and took hold of Xun's robes, pulling him closer. Xun tried to resist but even in Yu's weakened state he still overpowered the boy. He pulled Xun close and wrapped his arm around the boy's chest, in a gentle hug.
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…" Yu whispered.
Xun was terrified and pulled out of Yu's grasp, retreating across the room.
Qiao didn't know what was going on, buy Yu did.
It was understandable that Xun was frightened, all the things Yu had done to him, but he was hoping, hoping and praying that he could make Xun trust him again. Then it could be like it was before Zhuge Liang.
---
It was getting dark now.
Zhang He walked along; he could feel the sharp tip of Wei's trident press into his back.
"Is the trident necessary?" He asked.
"Why, can I trust you?" Wei asked.
"Well, you'll have to find that out won't you." He grinned, "Where are you taking me anyway?"
"I don't know, to be honest I didn't really think this through." Wei sighed.
"Zhuge Liang's boy not thinking things through? Heaven forbid!" He laughed.
"Well, I guess it's to my tent then, since we don't seem to have anywhere else to go." Wei laughed.
"Taking a prisoner to your own tent? A little odd don't you think?" He asked.
"I keep telling you, you are a guest here." Wei said, taking his trident away from He's back and pulling back the tent door with it. They were both quite surprised to see Zhuge Liang standing inside.
"Master Zhuge Liang! What are you doing here?" Wei asked.
"I wanted to talk to you, please, step outside for a moment." Zhuge Liang said, keeping his voice flat and his face unreadable.
Wei nodded and followed his master outside, leaving Zhang He alone in the tent.
After a quick look around to make sure no one was watching, Zhuge Liang began to talk.
"Why did you go against my judgement Jiang Wei?" Liang asked, his voice tinted with anger.
"It was not to disobey you sir, I merely thought that Zhang He could serve some purpose to our cause." Wei said, looking down so his master could not see his eyes.
"The only purpose that man would serve is to fill a hole in the ground! Zhang He is a dangerous foe and you have allowed him into our camp. You must be very careful of him, or we'll all be in trouble." Liang growled low.
"Do not worry sir, I believe that I can persuade him to defect to us." Wei said.
Liang's eyebrow rose. "Mark my words Jiang Wei, I will not be content until that man is dead."
Liang turned to walk away but Wei checked him.
"Why do you hate him?" Wei called.
Liang turned, his expression blank. "Ask Zhao Yun." He said before walking off in to the distance.
Wei sighed, turning to walk back into his tent, but a heavy pole collided with his flank and he was flung to the ground. Winded and bewildered, he looked up to see Huang Yue Ying standing above him, scythe in hand.
Wei tried to get up but Yue Ying forced the blunt end of her scythe blade into his neck, pressing him to the ground. Her eyes were dark and full of hatred. Wei had never seen her like this.
"Stay away from Zhuge Liang!" She growled.
"What?" Wei gasped, trying to push the weapon away, but she pressed harder.
"I said stay away from Zhuge Liang!" Yue Ying snapped, watching the boy struggle under her weapon.
"But I haven't done anything!" Wei choked he could barely breath now. He scrabbled at the blade with his hands to try and get free but she was strong and he only managed to cut his fingers on the sharp side of the blade.
"You've taken Zhuge Liang away from us for the last time! If you don't leave him alone…" Yue Ying snarled, pressing her weapon down hard until she heard Wei cry in pain, "I will kill you."
She pulled away her scythe and Wei rolled on his side, coughing and instinctively bringing both hands up to his neck to protect himself, leaving patches of blood on his scarf from his cut fingers.
She sneered at the boy. "I don't know what my husband sees in you. You are pitiful!" Yue Ying spat, jabbing him in the flank with the end of her pole arm before retreating into the shadows.
Wei lay on the floor for a while, still coiled over into a ball. He could still feel Yue Ying's weapon against his throat… she would have killed him…
"What happened?" Zhang He's concerned voice called in the darkness.
Wei looked up to see He's face peering around the canvas door of the tent.
"Nothing…" Wei said, aborting his defensive position and pushing himself shakily to his feet, his hands were covered in blood and dirt.
"Are you sure, you look hurt?" He asked, looking at Wei's hands.
"I'm fine!" Wei snapped angrily, but when he saw the shocked expression on He's face, apologised. "Sorry, I didn't mean to shout…"
"Its alright… did he hurt you?" He asked.
"He?" Wei asked.
"Zhuge Liang, I saw him walking away just now." Zhang He said, pointing over towards the tents with his still bound hands.
Wei's expression fell into one of terror. Zhuge Liang saw that and he didn't stop it?
"Are you sure it was Zhuge Liang?" Wei asked, distress in his voice.
"White Taoist robe, feather fan, stupid hat…" He said.
Wei was shocked. He stood and pushed past Zhang He, walking into his tent and slumping on his bed.
"Jiang Wei…" Zhang He sighed, his voice soft. He walked over to Wei's side but he buried his face deeper into the covers, not wanting to be seen. He wasn't sure, but he thought Wei was crying. He sighed again and sat on the bed next to Wei, he stretched out his shackled hands and patted Wei on the back, trying to soothe him.
"You know, you could go to sleep, I won't try to escape tonight." He said.
"Really? How can I be sure?" Wei sniffed, his voice muffled by the covers.
"I'm returning the favour. You didn't try to escape when you were my captive." He smiled.
"Ok…" Wei sighed. "Thank you."
"Its alright." Zhang He said, walking over to the centre of the room and laying down on the floor himself to sleep. It was uncomfortable.
"Goodnight…" Wei absentmindedly muttered.
"Goodnight." He returned the phrase.