Ma Chao scowled as the sun dipped low in the sky. He disliked being in a bad mood, but this afternoon's events had forced it out of him. The day was supposed to be joyful, and one bastard from Wei had ruined it all. Well, perhaps not everything was a waste. Man Zhu and Jiang Wei had just left him. The three of them had been discussing Lady Yang's sudden dash after Teng's attacker fled. Zhu proved to be a wealth of information, but not all of it was to Chao's liking.
"What kind of dark power is she harboring?" Jiang Wei asked. "I thought her power was a direct result of her curse."
Man Zhu sighed. "It is. Zhang Jiao's magic usually kills whomever it touches, but he was unable to finish Xing off, so much of his magic remains inside of her. Yang Shui's insistence on his people learning magic only strengthened it. But she rarely uses her gifts. When she does, it is for the benefit of those she cares for."
"I do not like this, and I suspect Master Zhuge will not either, once he hears of it."
"No one likes it. But would you rather have Wei continue to spy successfully, or would you rather let Xing take care of the problem right now?"
"Lord Man, I have heard the rumors with my own ears," Wei said. It was hard to tell if he was angry or frustrated. "I want some kind of proof that Lady Yang's magic will not force her to turn on us…or us on her. These people have been through enough."
"Hold your tongue, Lord Jiang," said Ma Chao. "Both Jiang leaders have worked hard to earn the trust of both the people and us officers. Neither of them have given us cause to doubt them."
Jiang Wei frowned and collapsed in a chair. "I know. But I am thinking of Lord Liu Bei and his people here. I do not wish for Yang Xing to lend evidence to the rumors of her powers. I just need something concrete." He leaned back and looked up at the ceiling. "But I suppose I will get no answers from anyone. Not even Lady Yang."
"If you ask her," Zhu said, "she will tell you what you need to hear. But it will not be what you want to hear."
"Can you tell us yourself?" Chao asked. He wasn't sure he wanted to hear what Xing would say either.
Man Zhu was silent as he collected his thoughts. "We rebel leaders have always relied on…less popular methods to rule our territories. Outsiders fear us, and with good reason. Lady Yang is among those whom they fear the most. You already know about her curse. You have also heard of the love her people have for her. At a time when magic was most feared, she was able to prove to us all that she deserved both respect and loyalty, and that she would give us nothing but that in return. She showed us this with her ability to track down enemies." He paused, deciding the best way to word what needed to be said. "Xing's instinct was already strong before Zhang Jiao's magic touched her. Because of that, she thinks differently than most people do. She thinks like she is a part of her environment. In most cases, it means hunting like an animal. Her magic allows her to smell a person, making it impossible for them to escape her. She is also unnaturally fast. But she cannot act like that all the time. Only when she feels threatened or someone she cares for is in danger does the magic show itself."
"So she cannot control her own abilities?" Jiang Wei looked concerned.
"When they appear, she is in complete control. What she cannot do is call them up at will. There must be an immediate threat for her to use them."
Wei was still frowning. "But what," he asked, "of her ability to leave no trail? Or no body? I hear she has never let anyone escape."
"I cannot answer that, for I do not know. As for her ability to remove a corpse, that is learned magic. Anyone can recite the spell. But her own leaves no trace. Most of us are able to decompose a body beyond recognition. She, on the other hand, can dissolve it completely. I have asked where she learned it, and Xing does not actually know. My guess is that it came with Jiao's curse. He was always good at that kind of stuff, the scoundrel."
Ma Chao let the conversation stray from his mind. He did not want to think of Xing as a murderer. And yet, the evidence was enormous. For hours, he had tried to justify it in his mind. He knew that she only killed when it was necessary. Hadn't everyone? It was part of fighting, part of the warrior's path. It was her magic that made her dangerous. He scoffed at the moon that had risen above him. Magic made everyone fearful, regardless of who practiced it. Zhuge Liang was quite accomplished in it. People viewed him as dangerous as well. But Xing was a woman. Powerful women always seemed to draw negativity to them. It hurt Chao to admit it, but there was no way around it.
"Master Ma?" There was a whisper at his door. He opened it to reveal one of Liu Bei's servants. "Master Man passed me in the hallway and asked me to deliver a message. He said Lady Yang is back, that she is in her room, and that you should go and speak with her. He assured me that she would still be awake." He bowed low and disappeared back into the shadows. As soon as he was gone, Chao slipped into the hall after him and headed towards Xing's room. He wasn't sure why he was so desperate to see her. But Man Zhu must have sensed something. Otherwise he would not have gone through the trouble of sending him a message. The conversation began to swirl in his mind again.
He reached her door and gently knocked. When no one answered, he knocked again. Still nothing. Fear began to well up inside. Zhu would not have assured him that she was there and awake if it was not true. The Jiang leader was as reliable as Lady Yang, and he trusted both of them. When a third knock failed to produce an answer, he tried the handle. The door was unlocked. Slowly, he opened it and looked around. A single lamp was lit by the bed, but there was no sign of Xing. As his vision adjusted, he noticed a figure out on the balcony. "Lady Yang?" he whispered into the darkness. "Are you alright?"
The figure turned its head. "I'm here, Chao." He could tell that something was wrong. Even though they were close friends, she rarely used so informal a greeting unless there was a problem. He crossed the room and joined her on the balcony. She had her arms crossed, as if she was trying to keep herself together. There was no evidence of tears, but sadness was still present in her eyes. "Did you need something?"
"Man Zhu left a message to tell me to talk to you. What's wrong?"
She attempted a smile and leaned against the railing. "I am wrong."
"I do not follow."
"Chao, how much did Zhu tell you about my abilities?"
"Just that…" He paused, trying to think of some way to soften what had been said. But he could find none. She would see through him anyway. "Everything. Or at least, as much as he felt he could tell me. Jiang Wei was there for our conversation, too."
She nodded. "No doubt because of Zhuge Liang. As a magician himself, he would be the most interested in my gifts. I am sorry that I did not tell you myself. A part of my hoped that knowing of my curse would be enough. But it seems that fate wanted the rest of my story to be told." She looked up at his face, and he saw fear in them for the first time. "I hope you do not think any less of me, but I understand if you do."
He frowned. "Now that is the most ridiculous thing I have heard all day, and I have heard much. Xing, do you really believe that you could frighten me away so easily? Remember that, of all those in Shu who know of your curse, I was the only one who actually witnessed it. I fought alongside you when our armies met the Yellow Turbans again, and I saw how your magic was able to keep them at bay. And tonight, when a little boy was injured, I discovered how the gifts you possess can bring another man to justice."
"It does not make me any less of an animal."
"You are not an animal, Xing. If you need proof, look at yourself right now. You are sad, scared, and tired. You are worried about what Shu will think of you when you should be glad that a spy was removed and a child saved. Animals do not care about such things."
Ma Chao watched as her eyes welled up with tears, but none fell. "Who are you?" she asked. "You are not the same man I have known all these months, nor the boy I grew up with many years ago."
"And you are not the same girl I knew back then, nor the same woman who has saved my friends twice now."
"How is that?"
He smiled and gently lifted a hand to her cheek. Emotions raged inside of him, but every move felt instinctual. It felt right. "The Xing I knew before would have refused to let a single tear fall. The Xing I see now, I hope, is willing to let them go." This time, her smile was genuine. She let go of herself and wrapped her arms around Chao, burying her head in his chest. His own arms moved to keep her close and protect her from anything that dared to interrupt this precious moment. Even after Xing had finished crying and the night began to grow old, the pair remained on the balcony, unmoving. Neither knew how long they were there before exhaustion finally overcame them. But it mattered little. Despite the trying events of the day and the rumors that were sure to spread by morning, both Ma Chao and Yang Xing slept more soundly than either thought possible.
Zhang Rui grinned as he watched the two boys practice. He had been keeping a sharp eye on them for the past month, making sure that they continued with their training despite Man Zhu's absence. They were two of Jiang Si's most promising warriors. It would have been a shame to let them slack off. Zhu would be proud of the work done when he returned. "Okay, your two. Put your spears down and see if there's work do be done elsewhere." Both boys stopped, bowed, and ran off towards the fields. He watched them go before heading into the castle behind him. There was work for him, as well.
By the time he reached the library, both Pang Qui and Deng Liao were already inside. They smiled as he let the curtain fall behind him. Qui waved a letter in his hand around. "Rui! The bastard finally sent one!"
All three men seated themselves around the desk in the center of the room. Qui opened the letter and spread it out on the table. Liao began to read its contents.
To our most esteemed rebel leaders of Jiang Si,
My apologies for not sending anything previously. The damage done to Cheng Du was nearly a mirror image of what we all returned to after our battles with the Yellow Turbans. Xing and I have done nothing but work from sunrise to well after sunset. The rewards have been beautiful. Xing managed to win the trust of the villagers by telling her story, and we have held it firm since then. The friendships gained by the officers and Lord Liu Bei have also strengthened beyond my own expectations. My wish is that you all could be here to share in it with us. We remain unaligned with Shu, as was agreed before our departure. But I feel honored to count them as friends. Our help has also put an end to some of the rumors about our people. Perhaps a more harmonious time is indeed on the way, as Lord Zhuge Liang recites to everyone daily.
I only wish that our stay has been nothing but joyful. A recent incident has marred it slightly, and I seek your advice in what to do. While replanting the fields just outside of Cheng Du, a Wei spy was intercepted by a young boy. The child was injured and the spy fled. Angered, Xing raced after him with speed and accuracy seen only by those of us who know her. The curse she carries is known to members of Shu. The abilities that come with it, however, have also surfaced because of this event. A child was saved and information to Wei successfully cut off. But there is a dark cloud hovering over Xing. I do not think anyone realized how much she feared showing this part of herself to those of Shu. She has been particularly concerned with how Lord Ma Chao would be affected by it. Their friendship has evolved, although neither of them will admit it to anyone else. I am unsure of how to present this information to Liu Bei and his closest companions. They must be told before tensions begin to mount.
We have worked tirelessly to rebuild what was destroyed in the provinces. I ask for guidance and support in this time of trial for both Yang Xing and our own people. A letter would suffice. A visit would be welcome. I eagerly anticipate your reply.
Man Zhu
Pang Qui chuckled as Liao finished. "So, Xing and Chao, huh? Ling Mao should hear about that. I wonder what he'd say about it."
Liao nodded, although his face was more solemn. "A fine match, indeed," he said. "My concern is still for Xing's emotional state. We should also take into account what would happen if this relationship between them flourished even more. Your thoughts, Rui?"
"I echo both of your sentiments," the old man replied. "Perhaps a visit would be the best option for both Shu and Jiang. Xing's own abilities are being questioned, and Liu Bei should be made aware of them now that he has employed her help in rebuilding Cheng Du. We must also address this interest that she seems to have for Ma Chao. Until the full extent of her feelings are discovered, I can offer no advice."
"Who's gonna travel to Shu?" asked Qui.
Rui thought for a moment. "I think just two of us should do the trick. Deng Liao, can I leave you and the other three leaders in charge while Qui and I are gone? Unless you feel that the others will be fine and you wish to join us."
"I will remain to take charge. Send word to the members of Shu that you are arriving so they are not taken by surprise. I will inform Su, Quan and Mao of this decision."
"Allow them to read the letter as well," Rui added. "It was meant for their ears, too. They should be aware of how their fellow leaders are faring in Shu."