Author's Note: This is progressing more easily than I thought. Expect an update at least once a week if I'm able to keep up this momentum. Also, just like to thank you for your reviews and support.

Dynasty Warriors: Allegiance

Chapter 5

A lone rider calmly approaching an enemy troop probably seems beyond suspicious, Jiang Wei though dully, tamping down the fear that was starting to rise now that he was so close to the enemy. More than the Wei army itself, it was the memory of the commander-in-chief's cold eyes and condescending smirk that chilled his heart. He truly did not wish to meet this Sima Yi again, the man who had so easily seen through him and taken control, as naturally as one introducing himself. A strategist like that could be an equal match to his prime minister, much as Wei hated to admit it.

A soldier's call of alarm broke Po-yueh's train of thought and he realized that he had come into sight of the temporary guard post that Xiahou Ba's troop had erected across the third pass. No more than a makeshift wing of the main camp, the station consisted mostly of a motley wall of soldiers, many sitting on the ground beside their weapons, regaining their energy after the previous fight. Wei had to admit that this was an efficient arrangement, allowing the troops a shorter distance to travel if ever they were to engage the Shu soldiers again.

Many eyes were trained on him as the strategist-in-training slowed his horse to a stop a short distance away, keeping just out of bow range. He remained cautious despite his intent to appear submissive, unsure as he was if Sima Yi had even cared to share the news of his possible "surrender" to the other officers.

The answer to this was likely in the negative, since Jiang Wei noticed the confusion amongst the ranks at his appearance. This continued for a short while, with him waiting patiently for them to order themselves, until the general Xiahou himself was called forward from the back of the post to assess him.

The general immediately recognized Jiang Wei, but failed to comprehend why he had returned. Then again, he had not even understood why his commander had let the boy go so easily when they had cornered him a few hours earlier—now, perhaps he would find out.

"State your name and purpose here, Shu scum," he sneered haughtily, not intending to be intimidated by the younger man.

Hesitant to admit his weakness aloud, false as it might be, Po-yueh answered obediently but rather vaguely, "I am Jiang Wei, answering a summons from your commander." He noted Ba's suspicious glare and added, "I understand your wariness, so if it's necessary for me to disarm myself to gain his audience, then so be it."

The strategist-in-training dismounted, leaving his steed to return to the camp as it had been trained, and walked forward with his trident held loosely at his side. His ankle throbbed in protest, but he held his expression in check and did his best to mask the limp. The blue-clad soldiers nearest him stiffened, fearing a trap, but Wei took little notice of them as he stooped to place his trident on the ground. He then straightened up, stoically meeting Xiahou Ba's eyes again to wait for the verdict.

The Wei officer looked him over carefully, still unable to think of a reason for this boy to so readily walk into the lion's den. His misgivings still not satisfied, he ordered a nearby lieutenant over to Jiang Wei to inspect him for hidden weapons.

Po-yueh stood rigidly through the inspection, watching a foot soldier carry his trident away, safely out of his reach, and frowning against the lieutenant's unnecessarily invasive search for non-existent assassination tools. It took several minutes, but eventually he was proclaimed virtually harmless. At this, and a signal of approval from Ba, the Shu officer was promptly surrounded by an escort of five soldiers, who began to walk him up the path towards the main encampment.

Jiang Wei felt exposed and rather helpless without his weapon, particularly now that so many enemies surrounded him, any of which could dispatch him within seconds in his current state. To remedy his unease, he began to survey the surroundings as his wary guard hustled him along, both in an attempt to distract himself and to be armed with knowledge of the enemy base.

First to come into view were a scattering of relatively small cloth tents, each one enough to fit a score of men, arranged around the perimeter of the camp. Progressively larger, grander ones followed these. Wei guessed it had been arranged by rank, with the commander-in-chief's quarters placed wisely at the far corner, protected on all sides by soldiers and sheer, fenced-off cliff. He knew Sima Yi awaited him there, possibly with a mounted messenger by his side to spring the trap on Po-yueh's family if the boy failed to come by the deadline.

As the Shu officer took the landscape in, focusing his energy on memorizing the layout of tents and on ignoring the pain in his steps, he failed to pay attention to his immediate environment. This led to him colliding rather ungracefully with the guard in front of him as his escort came to a halt, resulting in several sharp blades being stabbed warningly in his direction. He snarled slightly, more against the twinge in his ankle from his misstep than from the affront.

There was a momentary pause as Po-yueh stared down the soldiers, but even he had to admit that he hardly appeared threatening. The warriors around him remained motionless, perhaps waiting for him to try something. But even had he wanted to, Wei didn't have a chance to move when he heard a familiar, rather chilling voice ahead of them.

"Stand down men, is this any way to treat my guest?" Sima Yi asked, his voice light but with a dangerous undertone that none could miss. The blue warriors hastily obeyed, lowering their weapons and moving aside to allow their commander a clear path to Jiang Wei.

The apprentice straightened as best he could, steadily watching the enemy strategist's approach. Though he had not been so successful on their first encounter, he refused to show Sima Yi any more weakness, for fear of disgracing his master if ever he was found out. Though, he realized, there was a chance that he wasn't even known to be Zhuge Liang's student since he was such a recent addition. Perhaps the commander had simply wanted control over an officer on the inside, without realizing that his catch was more valuable than he thought.

"A wise decision to surrender," Yi said smoothly as he drew level with Jiang Wei. "Perhaps you're smarter than I gave you credit for. Now, come with me." The strategist waved off half-hearted offers for extra guards to accompany him, and instead headed back towards his tent, calmly fanning himself with the black feathers he clutched.

Wei hesitated briefly before trailing after his enemy, head down in seeming disgrace. His attention, however, was turned to a soldier standing to his right who was muttering a comment to his neighbor. Darting a discrete glance at the spearman's scabbard, the strategist-in-training passed unnecessarily close to the man but brushed past him without apparent incident.

As he continued up the path to the commander's tent, Wei carefully tucked the short, wood-handled dagger into his arm guard.