To the most esteemed ladies of the Zhao household,
Our mission has been a complete success so far. The villagers were grateful for the supplies and have not stopped praising the name of Liu Bei since our arrival. Zhao Tong and Zhao Guang busied themselves with repairing damaged buildings and tools. I have been tending to the other needs of the people. It is times like this that remind me why I continue to serve our lord and why he is held in such high regard among his people.
Our supplies continue to dwindle but the praise only grows. By the time this letter reaches the two of you, we will be preparing to leave. It is my hope that we will return in five days. I send my love to both Mei Li and Zhao San. There will be no rest for me until I have returned to my loving wife and my strong daughter.
Zhao Yun
San smiled as she read the note again. Although she was still disappointed that she wasn't allowed to go, the fact that her family was making a difference eased it a little. Her father had always told her that the path of the warrior involved more than just fighting. They fought for the people and for the land, not just their lords and themselves. Missions like this one showed the other side of the warrior. She knew all of Liu Bei's famed and trusted officers went on trips like this sometimes. Helping the less fortunate, they had told her, was as rewarding as winning a battle.
It was also good to know that Zhao Yun hadn't forgotten his family back home. Not as though he would, mind you. San just liked to know that she was on her father's mind. She had worked hard to live up to her family's name. It was her father's praise that reminded her of what she had achieved.
"Lady Zhao!" A voice pulled her from her thoughts and she looked up to see Lu Ba coming her way. He was without his usual troop of guards. But San had been sitting in the garden, one of the few places that was crawling with soldiers along the perimeter. Ba wouldn't have been able to try something even if he wanted to.
"What is it?" she asked him as he bowed.
"Your mother told me to come and find you." He glanced at the note in her hand and grinned. "Huh. I guess I didn't need to tell you about that, then. Never mind. I'll return to my duties."
"No, stay here." San patted the empty part of the bench next to her.
"Uh, okay." He sat down as far away from her as possible. To show respect, San told herself. He was still her servant and a prisoner of Shu.
San folded the note neatly and tucked it into a pouch at her belt. "Is that why my mother sent you? To tell me about the note?"
"Yes. She wanted to make sure that you had a chance to read it. Master Zhao Yun sent her a separate note."
"I'm not surprised," she said, making a face. "I'm sure its full of words not meant for my eyes."
He chuckled. "Perhaps. Your father seems like the type to speak tender words, though, not lustful ones. And I'm sure he passes valuable information along to her to give Liu Bei."
"Yeah, I know." San felt a blush creep over her cheeks. "My brothers must be rubbing off on me." She turned around so she was facing Ba, bringing her legs up and resting her chin on her knees. "May I ask you something?"
"Of course, Lady Zhao."
"I've heard the rumors about your parents and your uncle. My mother has also told me some things, although she refused to elaborate. Could you…will you tell me the truth? I want to know what happened with your parents and what your missions with your uncle were like."
Ba stared at her for a moment. She could see the wheels turning in his head, making her uncomfortable. "What brought that on?" he asked.
She shrugged. "My mother suggested that I ask you, back when you first became our servant. Guan Ping and Zhang Shao also told me to ask. I think they're as curious as I am."
"The three of you have a strong bond. I see them looking out for you all the time."
San nodded. "We've been friends since we were children. Ping's the oldest out of our group, and he sees himself as founder. Shao was always getting into trouble when he was younger, and Ping was always bailing him out. Their friendship fascinated me. I started following them around, and eventually they let me practice with them. Once they saw that I was no pushover, the three of us became inseparable. Our parents always approved of our friendship, which helped a lot. I am a girl after all."
"A very strong one, though," Ba said.
"Don't you have a similar bond back home? You hinted as much before."
"I have one very good friend. He's been my constant companion since we were both able to walk. Most of the other children are younger than us by a few years, and they all tend to cling together. The oldest of our generation is twenty-four and married."
"What's your friend's name?"
Ba grinned. San noticed that it was a sad one. "Zhou Xun, the oldest son of Zhou Yu and Xiao Qiao. He was born one year before me. Xun's always been the smartest, and I've no doubt that he'll continue in his father's and Master Lu Xun's footsteps." He paused for a moment. "That's what everyone says about us. Xun is the smart, tactical one. I'm the strong and courageous one. Together, we will be an unstoppable force."
"You're lucky," San said softly, "to have such a true friend." She wanted to tell him not to worry, that Zhou Xun would be waiting for him when Ba returned home. But that would mean that her new friend would, indeed, be leaving. San wasn't ready to entertain that idea just yet. "You didn't answer my first question, though."
A chuckle escaped him. "No, I didn't."
San waited for him to elaborate. "Well, are you going to tell me?"
"Nope." The usual, mischievous grin spread across his face. "I kind of like the mystery that surrounds me right now. Plus, you haven't told me the story of your parents. Theirs is a much of a legend as my parents'."
"You tell me first."
"Okay, I'll make a deal with you," Ba said. "I will tell you my story when I feel that you are ready to hear it. Then you have to tell me yours."
His words felt like a slap in the face. "You're saying I can't handle it?" she asked angrily.
Lu Ba merely shrugged. "I don't think anyone here can handle it. I know what Shu thinks about my people back in Wu. I don't think anyone would believe the truth yet."
San made to answer back when she heard a familiar voice on the other side of the hedges. "Curses," she hissed.
"What's wrong?"
"Liu Chan." She slowly got up and crept to the edge of the bushes in front of her. Lu Ba joined her. Peering over them, they saw Liu Chan walking with Xing Cai. A few of her handmaids were behind them, giggling to themselves. Chan said something in his bored tone. Cai responded with a nervous laugh. She may have been as tough as they come on the battlefield, but when she was around her future husband, she was quite the love-struck woman.
Lu Ba frowned. "Liu Bei's eldest? He prances around like he already rules the kingdom."
"Have you interacted with him much?"
"No. The only time he's spoken to me was when you bumped into me the other day." San nodded, still staring at the pair. She had tried to burn that memory from her head. "I dislike being quick to judge, but that boy annoys me."
"Believe me, I understand," San said, remembering what Chan had told her about her servant. "Ping and Shao think he sees you as a threat."
Ba snorted. "A threat to what?"
"To him getting what he wants. Rumors are flying that he wants to break off his engagement to Xing Cai and try for me." Ba's face turned a dull shade of red. He was angry, San could tell. His mouth was set in a grim line and wrinkles were forming on his brow. "I would never consider him for a future husband," she added quickly. "My family wouldn't like it. Ping and Shao would never speak to me again."
He relaxed a bit. "I don't like him, San. I know its not my place to say, but there's something…dangerous about him. Be careful."
"Like I would let my guard down around him," she mumbled. They watched the pair until they had disappeared around the corner, then headed their own separate ways. Lu Ba had to return to his own chores. San had some work of her own to do.
She headed back to her room, picked up her two staffs, and headed to the training yard. Even after a few days, her strength in her left arm was getting better. Holding the staffs now felt comfortable on both sides. She was still having trouble with the moves, but there had been noticeable improvement. She whirled them around, focusing on her balance, but she couldn't keep her thoughts straight.
It had been obvious from the first day that Liu Chan hated Lu Ba. The latter hailed from Wu, making him an enemy. He also hated him because she had saved the boy's life. Most likely, Zhao Yun's immediate acceptance of Ba into the household didn't help, but no one, not even the heir to the throne of Shu, disputed the Little Dragon. Chan would likely continue his silent ritual of hate until Ba either left Shu or died.
Now Lu Ba hated Liu Chan as well. San could understand part of it. Ba had been a known officer in his own kingdom before being lowered to servant status. Being pelted with insults from Chan wouldn't help that situation, especially because Ba couldn't fight back. But there had been something else written on his face when they watched him. Was it…jealousy? Surely he didn't really think San would fall for an idiot like Chan. And yet the doubt had been there. Chan wasn't as dangerous as Ba made him out to be. But the concern was there nonetheless.
San smirked to herself as she continued her practice. Chan thought he had a chance but would never make it as far as she was concerned. Ba wanted a chance but would never try because of his station. A dilemma, for sure. But hadn't she always risen to challenges? This would be no different. Satisfied with herself, San focused again on the whirling staffs in her hands.
Something wasn't right. The moon was still high in the sky when San suddenly woke. She had been in the most awful nightmare, where Liu Chan and Lu Ba were fighting to the death. She couldn't stop them as they swung their swords around and cut into each other's flesh. She sat up and tried to catch her breath. But something still felt wrong. Was she still worried about the nightmare? Or was something else afoot?
San decided that some fresh air was needed. Throwing a robe over her night clothes, she opened the door and stepped out into the hallway. A few guards were stationed around the area. All of them bowed to her and continued their long vigil. She wandered down to the balcony that overlooked the courtyard, one of the few places where there were no sleeping chambers and no guards. For a moment, she merely stared into the darkness.
After a few minutes, she had calmed down a bit. But something still gnawed at her mind. She thought about sharing her suspicions with one of the guards. They wouldn't laugh at her, even if nothing happened or they didn't share her feelings. No, she shook her head. There was no need. She was just sleep deprived.
Something moved nearby as she turned to go. San automatically slipped into a defensive stance. She didn't have any weapons, which was a problem, but she still had her fists and her feet…and her voice, if need be. "Who's there?" she hissed into the blackness around her. Something moved on the other side. "Come out before I alert the guards!"
It was almost too fast for her to react. A fist came out of nowhere and nearly caught her in the face. San evaded the attack and swung her leg around to meet her attacker. He grabbed it and attempted to flip her onto her back. Instead, she brought her left foot up to meet his face and rolled out of the way. There was a grunt as the man staggered back. San turned to face him again and stopped cold.
The man had his face covered, but he was wearing the garbs of a servant. In fact, it looked eerily like those worn by Lu Ba, to distinguish him as a prisoner instead of a common born slave. This man was the same height and the same build. There was no way he was Ba; there were too many guards around his room. And yet…
"You're in my way, Lady Zhao," her attacker said softly. Gods, he even sounded like Lu Ba.
"Sorry, but I think you've got it wrong. You're the one in my way."
"So be it." He charged again, but San was ready for him. They exchanged a few punches and kicks. This man definitely had some skill, San noted, but the way he fought…it reminded her of Lu Ba. Was this a trick? Or had he deceived them all into thinking he was a good person? Her questions made it harder and harder to fight him, and he was quick to pick up on it.
Eventually she found a hole in his attacks and rolled to safety. She grabbed his right arm and pinned it behind his back. The man grunted but did not break free. San grinned. "Nice try. But if you were really Lu Ba, you would have broken free."
"I still can." She caught a flash of something shiny and staggered back as he whipped a small knife around in his left hand. His hold was unsteady but still managed to slice through her arm. Angered, she kicked the knife away and tackled him. Somewhere in the struggle, San managed to give him a good blow to the cheek.
Still, he managed to break free. As he ran to the balcony to jump off, she grabbed his arm and raked her fingernails against his shirt. She cut through the cloth and heard his grunt as she cut into his flesh. He made his escape and left her standing there.
"What the…" San didn't get a chance to finish her thought. Drawing herself up, she rushed back to her family's wing to confront Lu Ba, if he was still there. She noted the absence of guards but brushed it off through her worries. Her banging on Lu Ba's door didn't even bring them running. Great, one more thing to worry about.
Lu Ba looked exhausted when he finally answered. "Lady Zhao? What's going on?"
She pushed him into the room and shut the door behind her. "Light a lamp," she whispered as she tore through his room. He must have listened through his haze because the room was soon filled with a dull light. "Where are your clothes?"
He pointed to a small chest near his bed. Refusing to look at him, she dug through until she found his servants garb. He had two different sets, but one seemed to have been shoved into the bottom. She picked it up and held it to the lamp. There was a hole in his right sleeve, as if someone had snagged it and tore the cloth away. The color drained from her face.
"San, what is it? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"Maybe I have." She stood up and crossed the room to where he was standing in two strides. San gripped his right arm tightly. He winced a little, and she pulled up the sleeve of his shirt. Bruises formed a band around his upper arm, and three straight cuts covered them. They looked rather fresh. "It was you," she whispered.
"What was me?" He looked confused, and a little sad. "San, what happened? Were you attacked?"
She nodded. "By you, apparently."
"What?" His surprise was audible. "I've been here the whole time. There are guards right outside of my room."
"Then explain how you got those marks on your arm. I just gave my attacker the same ones." He opened his mouth to explain, but she held up a hand. "No, I'll let you sleep on it. Let's see what kind of excuses you can come up with in the morning."
"San, let me explain!" His protests were cut off as she shut the door and wandered back towards her room. There were still no guards, and she no longer cared. By the time she reached her room, exhaustion had taken over. But she could not sleep. Instead, she did the one thing she had sworn never to do again. She cried.
AngelEtty: I'm sorry if there was confusion. Zhao Yun hasn't exactly made his intentions or ideas clear yet, but we'll find out soon. Duty and fatherly instinct can make an interesting combination. And I don't know if San considers the jump a secret or just a really difficult move to learn. Hopefully, her father won't find out...
RyaneNight92: Thanks! I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far. I usually feel the same way, but I think the playable characters from this generation make it easier to write stories around them. I also find it an interesting challenge to take the older generation and figure out how they would have reacted to things that the younger generation does :P