-THANKS for reading and sticking with me this long. Phew its been a hell of a journey, and its about to get even longer, with the addition of Chapter 7- Pride. Remember to give my story a good review, full of constructive criticism. If you were waiting to read this, wait no more! Enjoy...-
"I knew I have heard of that name and your face from somewhere my lady. But how would Zhuo capture you so easily?" He asked.
"My lord," The smiling man asked. "If I may?"
"Go ahead Liang." Liu Bei said looking up at the man who had reacted so well to her. So this is the great sleeping dragon, Zhuge Liang, I had heard he had joined Liu Bei as his strategist, Xao thought. He nodded.
"She must have been tricked, Zhuo can be very slippy, if you know what I mean. The fox must have had no choice but to go with him."
"My lord, what master Liang has spoken was true. I would like to take Zhuo's head myself, if I could, but with so many bounties on his head, and by the looks on your friend's faces it seems they want to claim it too." She looked at the clean shaved man to the right of Liang. He had a long, dark beard which nearly reached his elbows. To the left of Liu Bei though, there was another man, who had a bushy beard, which in comparison to the longer beard of his friend was very short. They both smiled at each other, snorting quietly under their breaths.
"My lord, I know this may sound a bit rude, but I have heard from these two loyal officers that you are valiant and noble. I would be happy to aid you, by becoming a part of your kingdom." She bowed down low. Liu Bei blushed scarlet, while Xao kept a straight face, this was the lord she was searching for, she didn't want it to go all pear-shaped after working so hard to get to the place she wanted to be.
"How do we know this isn't a trick my lord? It could be that Dong Zhuo is trying to infiltrate us, through the girl." Wei questioned. After he had said that, Xao wanted to kick him in the gut so much, but holding back her temper was the only thing that was going to get into his ranks. "How about we give her a test? Maybe then we should let her join Shu, my lord."
"Your maybe right Jiang Wei. Did you have anything in mind?" He asked, looking serious all of a sudden. Wei stuck up one finger and looked as though in thought.
After a few minutes of waiting, it looked like he had come to a decision. "My lord, I have resolved to make Xao, as she wanted, to cut of the cruel tyrant's head and bring it to us. Thereafter will be heavy celebration for this justice, and of course, she will join as a proud officer of Shu."
"Fair enough, Wei. Guan Yu get her a sword from the storage tent. Zhang Fei, take her to get cleaned up first, she looks like she hasn't had a wash in days. Then when Zhuo's head is stuck on a pike outside his castle, Cai Xao will be initiated into the ranks of Shu as a loyal officer."
Xao rode Ares towards the castle, there were dead bodies lying all around the roads. Zhuo seemed to have sentenced most of his men to death, by the hand of a weapon. The sword lay uncomfortably inside its glossy sheaf. She was glad though that the maids had helped her to clean up, not only were the men of Shu brave fighters, but also were hospitable and kind. Well, everyone but Jiang Wei. The scare trees whizzed by until she got to the castle gates. She peered round the corner, there wasnt anybody nearby. She snook into the courtyard and tip-toed around the side of the castle.
Sniffles and small sobs emerged from inside the stable. "Diao Chan...Why...?" It wasn't Lu Bu, definatly NOT Lu Bu, she thought to herself. She peeked inside to find her target, Dong Zhuo, kneeling beside the body of Diao Chan. Her mangled and bloody corpse of the kind lady who had treated her wounds, being mourned by the man who had supplied those wounds.
She crept behind him silently, unlocking the sword from it's sheaf, without even the sound of metal moving. She placed the sword around the back of his neck. At least he would die, they way he lived, next to a beautiful woman. She slid the sword along his neck quickly. The deed was done. The decapitated head, was thrown near to the doors, leaving a trail of blood behind it. She walked over carefully to his disgusting head, and slowly picked it up cautiously, she had just gotten herself cleaned up and she was not willing to get washed and redressed again... especially with the addition of Zhang Fei watching her. She shuddered lightly. She needed to get back to the camp, before anyone spotted her carrying back her old Master's head. She heard Ares whinny from outside the gate. He was munching on a nearby weed growing near the walls of the castle. She was still running towards him before she heard the small clack of metal boots against the stone path.
"What are you doing while my adopted father's head, you filthy little whore!" Xao turned to see Lu Bu, half limping coming towards her. He had a giant wound that opened up his leg, and showed all the blood pouring out, it was pretty fresh. And he still looked pretty pissed about it too. He hobbled over to Xao, pointing his finger at her. "Give me his head... I want to be known as the one who killed my own father!" drawing his finger back, he reached for his halberd which was attached to his armor at the back. Xao reached for her bow, dropping his head onto the floor.
"Ah! So I get to see the fox in battle with my eyes, before she has been killed by my own hands."
They both danced for several minutes before one of them was claimed. Xao's breath raced, as Bu fell to the ground. She took the sword out of its sheaf once again. She would have two trophy's to take back to Liu Bei, one from Zhuo and one from Bu. Placed both of the heads into a carefully lined saddle bag, she took of from the castle for the last time.
"Lord Liu Bei! Lady Cai Xao is approaching the gates, her bags bulge with blood and bone! Should we let her in?" A troop yelled from outside the tent.
"Of course!" he shouted. "Send her to my tent immediately. My friends tonight we feast and we also welcome Xao into our ranks."
Xao came flying into the room a few minutes later, carrying a large saddle bag, and large blood stains were covering her robes. She must've been successful.
"My lord, I come bearing Zhuo's head," She said shoving it from the saddle bag onto the small table in front of Bei. "Plus a little extra. I took it while I had chance." Delving in Ares' saddle bag once again and placing Bu's head in front of him also. "I thought it would give me more of a chance of getting into your ranks, my lord, Liu Bei."
"My Lady, I shall gladly accept you into the Shu ranks as an officer alongside my brothers and me. At the celebration I shall introduce you to every officer that shall serve by your side, in battle and in life."
Jiang Wei looked into the tent quietly. But he didn't really know why he was there, all he did know was that he was glad that Xao joined the Shu army. While Liu Bei initiated Xao into his army, he gave her the seal of Shu and the small medal that is awarded for massive pride.
"Why are you so interested in her joining our army, Wei?" Yun said from behind him. "You seem as engrossed as I am into this. She is such a nice girl, maybe you should try to talk to her at the feast?"
"Yun we all know that is not a good idea." Wei protested.
"You'll have to talk to her sometime, you wont be able to avoid her forever!" Yun snapped back. "Therefore you should be the first to congratulate her, and to apologize for what you did."
Wei flew round in an angry flurry. "Why?" He shouted back. "I'm leaving." He shoved Yun out of the way. When he got into a temper like this it was best to leave him alone, it wasn't very often, but when he did, you didn't want to disturb him.
Yun walked into the tent swiftly, making as little noise as possible. He bowed to Bei who was looking straight at him. Xao looked up at him, with a giant smile spread across her lips. She was now cloaked in a green vest top and purple leggings.
"Yun, nice of you to drop in. Why don't you be the first to congratulate Lady Cai Xao on becoming the newest member of the Shu army?"
-Sorry it's a bit short! I would've edited it to make it longer, but the parts I was gonna' put in but the lines just didn't fit in, plus I don't really have the time to write anymore... *sigh* Exams...well I only have 1 left! So expect to hear from me again soon! Thanks for the reviews!