-1I

The Forbidden City

Beneath the light of a full moon, Peking glowed beneath a blanket of snow while elegantly sloped rooftops cut into a dark sapphire sky. Quiet as it sat, the city never truly slept. At all hours guards remained on a constant vigil to the temples.

For many weeks they had undergone preparations to carry out an effective raid on the city…

Already the English diplomat to China had his luggage sent to the ship, and already the Forbidden City knew him to be gone. It was not so. Lord Rathbone had lingered discreetly behind, with one more confidential mission to complete before he could return home.

The Boxers lined the walls at their appointed lookouts. A select few kept ready their crossbows on one shoulder and their grappling hooks on the other while many of the other Boxers kept their swords at their sides, ready for whatever needed to be done.

With silent nods to one another, they signaled that the first wall was safe to climb. With their ropes and hooks, the first four scaled the wall and disappeared over the tops of the snowy stonewall. A moment later and the gate would be opened from inside, the imperial guards lying dead at the Boxer's feet.

A large number of boxers were needed, for their steps would be easily tracked for miles afterwards. Among a sea of rebels, they swarmed inside the Forbidden City.

Through the elaborate labyrinth of buildings and gardens he allowed Lieu, head Boxer, to lead the way.

A row of lanterns ahead signified an entrance to a portion of the Forbidden City that no one had been permitted to view, save the very elite guardsmen and the family of the Keeper inside.

Lieu stopped the band and signaled them without a word. Silently they scattered into the shadows, taking immediately to climbing the walls. Alarmed, Rathbone stayed behind in the shade with Lieu, concerned as to what had brought them to a stop. They waited for a long time, looking about through the pillars and exterior hallways that were sheltered with only a rooftop. For long moments, Rathbone could see nothing but his breath on the wind and the occasional flicker of the torchlight that lined the pathway to the temple building.

Finally, a flicker of red and orange crossed the smooth surface of the covered walkway. A large decorative lantern hung by an extended hook, lighting the way ahead for the hooded figure.

Rathbone locked his gaze upon the figure and his eyes narrowed. The figure was walking swiftly from the covered hall and down into the courtyard, toward their destination. A moment of uncertainty passed as he studied the figure… it walked nothing like the old man Lieu had described.

The figure made it's way up the steps, the guards moved to open the door. When the doors were closed, Rathbone moved closer to Lieu and whispered silently, "Is he alone?"

Lieu shook his head, "His daughter." He informed in Chinese.

Rathbone nodded, calculating the complication while they waited a moment longer. When it seemed the hooded figure would not be leaving the confines of the building anytime soon, Lieu waved the rooftop Boxers on.

The four Imperial Guards stood dutifully at their task of watching the courtyard at the base and the top of the stairs. Watched as the Boxers stalked along the rooftops and began to lower a rope, rolling their wrists to cause the rope to curl into a twirl until they lowered enough to snag sharply around the guardsmen's necks.

The men gagged, and with the many hands atop the rooftops, the guardsmen were lifted from the ground. The remaining two guardsmen turned from the foot of the stone stairway, only to find spears upon the ground. Puzzled, and before the notion of alarm could set in there came arrows, zipping through the icy air. The first was killed instantly, falling to the ground with a silent thud. The second stared with shock, eyes opened wide as his knees buckled. He fell to the ground as a shadow crept over him. Looking upward, his widened eyes shown with realization.

Lieu glared down, his nostrils flared as he raised his sword high to finish the job.

"BOXERS!" The guardsman cried with his last breath before a spray of blood spotted the snow-covered steps.