Lu Xun was startled into consciousness by a noise close by.

He was gagged, an unpleasent tasting rag in his mouth tiedtightlybehind his head. He tried to open his eyes but when he felt the abrasive rub of cloth against his eyelids, he knew he was blindfolded. He shifted, trying to move his arms and legs, but they were tightly bound and he couldn't move an inch.

Xun cursed silently, still attempting to escape by writhing his hands. He only managed to tighten the ropes, the thick twine cutting mercilessly into his wrists.

Stupid… so stupid…

How could he not check? The one time he didn't check the room, and now it was too late. He was alone, bound and helpless. He didn't know if it was day or night. He didn't even have any idea where he was now, he could still be in Wu, could be in Liang, by now he could be on a slave ship bound for a far off land. He shivered, tears pricking at his eyes with the thought.

Please no… Someone save me….

He sobbed for a while, the tears sinking into the blindfold and irritating his eyes, but when he heard a sound he stopped dead, silently listening.

Footsteps, footsteps on a wooden floor, somewhere close… and getting closer.

The sound of a wooden door creaking open soon filled the air. Xun held his breath trying to hear something, anything that would give him a clue where he was. The footsteps were close now; he could feel the floor vibrate with each step.

Then they stopped, the only sound was the breathing of the person standing above him. Whoever it was, they were close.

Xun let out his breath slowly, listening for any sounds, when, out of the blackness, he was suddenly in terrible pain. Whoever it was had kicked him in the flank, their hard boot crushing into his ribs.

Xun hadn't expected the blow at all and cried out when it collided, his voice muffled by the gag. He instinctively leaned over to nurse his ribs, but being bound he just slumped over helplessly, not even able to defend himself.

He screwed his eyes up tightly, expecting another onslaught from his attacker, but it didn't come, instead they walked away, closing the door behind them.

When the last footstep had died away into silence Xun began to cry again, His eyes filling up with tears. Someone would hurt him… There wasn't even an explanation, no justification. Where was he? Who was his tormentor?

Xun whimpered, no longer caring if he was heard.

Am I going to die here?

---

"Good morning!" Zhang Liao's voice aroused Zhang He from his slumber.

He looked up, trying to focus his eyes, then smiled when his friend's face came into view.

"Oh, good morning." He yawned, pulling his hand up to rub his eyes.

He had rested his hands last night, still bound in chains and they had left unpleasant red marks in his skin on the wrist that was not bandages.

"Sleep well?" Liao asked, not really expecting an answer. Zhang He had slept like a log. They had talked until late, after the doctor had bound the wound on Zhang He's arm.

It turned out the wound wasn't as bad as they first thought. The snapping sound He had heard when the wolf bit him was not his bones, it was in fact the wolf's teeth colliding with the chains in his wrists, they had blocked it's bite somewhat. In that respect He was thankful for the bonds, if they were not there, the wolf may have killed him.

"Slept like a corpse" He muttered, smiling at Liao, Liao hated it when his friend used morbid metaphors and Zhang He knew this, using it to annoy him.

Liao grinned, punching his friend playfully in the arm.

"Damn you Zhang He!" Liao laughed.

"Should we get something to eat?" He asked.

"Ah, doctor said I'm not allowed out of bed yet…" Liao said.

"No problems, I'll bring you something ok?" He said.

Liao smiled. "I'd like that."

---

Zhou Yu hadn't slept a wink. He had stayed up all night, just waiting for them to find Xun, but they hadn't.

He wouldn't run off like that, no matter how angry he was.

One of the serving maids entered, a solemn expression on her face.

"Have you found him yet?" Yu asked, trying to sit up, but the pain was too much and he plummeted back down into the covers.

"I'm sorry sir, we haven't." She sighed, pulling forward Xun's hat, covered in dirt. "But we found this outside in the courtyard I believe it was his…" She continued, placing the hat on the table.

Yu's eyes widened. Xun would never leave behind his hat.

There was no doubt in his head now. Something must have happened to him.

---

Zhuge Liang had shut himself into his tent, denying anyone entry. He sobbed bitterly.

At some point in the night, Red Hare had returned. Rider less.

Huang Yue Ying listened at the door; the sound of her husbands grieving greatly affected her. Perhaps she was wrong about Jiang Wei, She always thought it was Jiang Wei stealing her husband away, but it seemed it was Liang himself. He had a deep respect for the boy. She lamented now. She should never have treated Jiang Wei so harshly; he was the only thing holding her husband together. Without him, Liang was a wreck.

---

Jiang Wei awoke to the sounds of activity echoing in the large room. He rolled over; slowly easing his eyes open to see Sima Yi dressing. He quickly closed them again and turned back to the wall.

It wasn't a dream.

He cursed silently. He was in the jaws of the black wolf now.

Sima Yi must have heard the boy move, because when he finished donning his robe he walked over to the bed, looking down at his fellow.

"You awake Jiang Wei?" Yi asked.

Wei rolled over again, looking up at the man above him. "Yes." He said.

Yi smiled. "Good morning." He laughed, pulling his belt tighter around his waist.

"Erm, Good morning." Wei sighed.

Yi looked at Wei, turning his head slightly on one side. "What's wrong Wei?" Yi asked.

"Nothing… I'm just tired." Wei sighed.

Yi let out a hearty laugh. "Its understandable, after what happened yesterday. But you can't stay in bed all day!"

"I guess not." Wei said. He shuffled to a sit, shifting the covers off him. He stood up, pulling the robe tightly into his body. He didn't want Yi to see him.

Yi could sense Wei's apprehension and a wicked smile spread across his face.

Wei tried not to make eye contact with the man, he went to the corner of the room to pick up his clothes but found they weren't there. He was suddenly worried.

"Sima Yi, where are my clothes?" Wei asked.

"Those old things? They were dirty so I had the maids take them away." Yi said.

"What will I wear?" Wei asked, clutching his robes closer to his skin.

Yi laughed. "Why so worried Wei? Don't worry, there are clothes for you…" Yi said, walking over to the entrance and picking up a large wooden box from the doorway. "I wanted to keep these for a while longer but… well I had these made for you." Yi said, handing the box to him.

Wei looked down at the box, an elegant phoenix carved into the lid. He turned around, resting the box on the bed and opening it. Inside was clothing. A beautiful robe of blue silk, embroidered with phoenix and dragons. There was armour, shoulder and hip in deep purple, and leather gauntlets dyed blue and purple with long purple ribbons flowing from the front of each. There was a headdress, a bandana in purple with a silk veil hanging down the back to cover the back of the neck. There was no cloth along the top like a turban, so his hair would stick out the top. And lastly a long scarf in purple with a mask to cover the mouth and nose of the wearer.

Wei pulled out the robe, looking at it. It was indeed a sight to behold.

"Do you like them?" Yi asked.

Wei smiled. "They are beautiful." He said.

"This is what I went to do last night, those tailors worked harder in one night then they ever have in their lives!" Yi laughed. "So, try it on!"

Wei's eyes widened. "Right now?" He gasped.

Yi saw the shock on Wei's face and chuckled. "If you're embarrassed I'll leave the room, just call me in when you are done alright?" Yi sniggered.

He turned around, the ribbons of his robe flickering and left the room.

Even though Wei was alone in the room he still went into the corner before getting changed. He was very shy. He slipped off the night robe, folding it neatly before putting it down. He rolled out the robe, pulling it on over his shoulders. It was exquisite. The sleeves only came a short way down, not covering his elbows. It was all right; he quite liked it that way. He put on the rest, donning the gauntlets scarf armour and headdress. He thought the scarf quite odd. Why on earth would Sima Yi want him to cover his face?

"I'm done." Wei called eventually, examining his attire before Sima Yi arrived.

When Yi walked in, his face lit up with Joy.

"There, you look wonderful!" Yi said.

Wei was silent. He didn't know whether Yi was complimenting his dress, or the fact that all evidence that he had worked for Shu Han was gone.

"Lets go and show Zhang He." Yi said, taking the boy by the arm. When Wei resisted slightly, Yi turned around to look at him. "Is something wrong Wei?" Yi asked, finding it difficult to read his emotions now his mouth was covered.

"No… nothings wrong." Wei sighed, following his new master.

Nothing, except I want to go home