There had to be a mistake. Her father would never write that.

Yet there is was, in black ink, indisputable.

It grieves me to write this, my dear friend, but I see no other alternative. I ask you to kill the young prisoner. If you cannot, my daughter will be the one to deal the final blow. Either way, make sure that Lu Ba does not return to Shu.

Hot tears threatened to spill from her eyes. "Why…why would my father ask such a thing? He has been so kind to him. What would possess him to do this now?"

Jiang Wei took the letter back, his face set in a grim configuration. "I do not know. But I…"

He was interrupted by a knock at the door. A soldier came in with a leather pouch. "This just came from Wu, my lord. They ask that you send your reply immediately." Wei took it from the man, who bowed and left. San was still in a state of shock at her father's death sentence. She didn't notice the color return to Wei's face as he read the contents of the pouch.

"Perhaps we needn't kill him," Wei said. San's attention quickly returned. "My informant in Wu has told me that the Sun family is close. I see a way out of this."

"Why would they be so close to Shu? And what have you been doing here this whole time?" She had answered all of his questions. Now it was her turn.

Jiang Wei scanned the paper one more time before placing it on the desk. "You remember the arranged marriage of Lady Sun Shang Xing to Liu Bei?" San nodded. She had tried to take Liu Chan away from Shu at the request of her family back home. The plan had failed and Lady Sun had never returned. "Ever since we foiled their scheme, relations with them have been strained. The time is ripe to renew our alliances. I have been speaking with a member of their court, secretly, to devise a plan that will secure such an alliance against our common enemies.

"When I heard that you had spared a young Wu soldier and that he was Lu Meng's son, the tides turned in our favor. My informant told me that the kingdom believed him dead except for his immediate family. Somehow, he has convinced the royal family to temporarily relocate nearby. My plan was to have Lu Ba brought here and use that as leverage in our negotiations. I did not plan for you to grow attached to him."

"What do you mean? I haven't…"

He put up a hand to silence her. "Based on what you have told me and what your parents have expressed through their letters, it is obvious to me that you share a bond with this young man. This will help me greatly, San. It also means that Ba can be spared."

"How?" San felt desperate. She couldn't think clearly anymore and couldn't see a way out. "You would go against my father's wishes?"

"I do not believe that Zhao Yun wishes young Lu Ba to die. Until I can speak with him personally, it seems like that was written in case the letter was intercepted. Either way, make sure Lu Ba does not return to Shu. While I cannot promise him that, I can promise that he will be spared again."

San tried to read his face in vain. "Help me understand."

"You will take Lu Ba and enter Wu with a letter from myself. You can use his presence to gain an audience with Sun Jian and discuss peace terms with him. I will let you decide what to do with him afterwards."

"What do you mean?"

"Once you enter Wu, you will have three days to deliver the message and wait for a reply. Once you have it, come straight back here. You have three options. First, you can kill him as your father asked. Shu will praise you for it, and the alliance will not be lost if you make it look like an accident. Second, you can leave him behind in Wu and return home with a story to cover yourself. Third, you can return with him, as he is still obligated to serve you, at the risk of being ridiculed by those in Shu."

"Why would you leave this decision to me?" San asked.

"Because you were the one who decided to let him live in the first place. I can think of no one better to decide what happens to him now." He stood, signaling that her time with him was over. "Go and get some rest, San. I will send for you when I have finished my preparations."

San nodded and left the room. A numb feeling had taken over her body. Questions needed to be answered, yet she didn't have the strength to think of answers. What was wrong with her father? He would never have suggested that she kill Ba. Plus, he still had a duty to her family. So why would Zhao Yun send him away, knowing that he wouldn't return?

Guan Ping was waiting for her outside of Wei's study. He had cleaned himself up, but she could tell that he still hadn't slept. "I assume Jiang Wei didn't have good news."

"I'll tell you in private," San said.

He took her arm and led her through the fortress to a set of stairs. Guards were stationed outside of the rooms at the top. They nodded to the pair as Ping guided her towards a specific door. Inside, Zhang Shao was seated on the floor. A low table had been filled with food and water. For once, Shao hadn't touched any of it. His face was grave. Ping shut the door and pushed San down into the spot next to Shao before sitting himself.

"So," Ping said, picking up a meat bun, "what's going on?"

San laid out Jiang Wei's plan for the boys, including what her father had written in his letter. "I just…I can't fathom why my father would make a request like that. What do you make of it?"

"It sounds like a test," offered Ping. "We all know that you would never do something like that on purpose."

Shao grumbled something into his cup. "A test of what, though? Loyalty? We've got plenty of that."

Ping shrugged. "Maybe they know something that we don't. In any case, San, I don't like the idea of leaving you behind while you and Ba wander around Wu. Yes, I know you can take care of yourself. But you're my friend and I worry." Shao nodded in agreement.

"Shao, Ping, why were you two so accepting of Lu Ba? He's a soldier of Wu. I had no right to keep him alive. And don't tell me that you did it because we're friends. I want the truth."

It was Shao who answered. "Simple. He didn't give us a reason to hate him, so we don't. If he had made a move on you or tried to harm you or anyone else, we would have stepped in. But he was thankful and kept outta trouble. Hell, he helped us fight those bandits. I'd say he's earned my respect."

"I agree. You stood up to Lord Liu Bei and asked for his life. While that choice has made some members of Shu mad, I have seen nothing wrong with Ba. My only regret is that he is from Wu. Otherwise, I think he would have been readily accepted back home. Maybe if he had been anyone else, it would have worked out. But you stumbled upon Lu Meng's son. Perhaps we'll never know what could have happened if we'd kept him in Shu."

"Chan would've tried beheading him," Shao said, spitting pieces of his bun onto the floor.

"But if I hadn't done this, maybe Chan wouldn't have pushed this whole engagement thing."

Shao grunted. "Who cares?"

Ping took a deep breath. "I have a theory. I've been thinking about this for some time now. We all know that he's liked San for a while. But he's never been able to stand up to his father before and voice his opinions. I think that when you made that request and Liu Bei granted it, Chan saw that he could, indeed, talk about such things with him. When he realized that his father would bend as easily as he did with the right arguments, he saw an opportunity to break off the engagement. Don't get me wrong, Shao. I believe that he does care for your sister. But it is San that he desires."

San swallowed hard. As usual, Ping was the more observant of the group. "Do you think I can break off this wedding?"

"Liu Bei will be hard pressed to end the engagement to Xing Cai. It is a strong match, and Zhang Fei is his sworn brother. If he can be persuaded, however, I see only one way out of it."

"Which is?"

Ping looked her square in the eye. It sent a shiver down her spine. "You will have to return without Lu Ba. Leave him back in Wu. It will prove some disloyalty and strengthen our lord's resolve to marry his son to Cai. Yes, it will also come with some kind of punishment. But you won't be forced on Chan and Ba will still be alive and free."

San couldn't imagine returning home without Ba. He had become one of her closest friends since his arrival. She could trust him, talk to him, share her secrets with him. It wasn't fair to Ping and Shao, who had always been there for her. But Jiang Wei was right; she had grown attached to the Wu soldier. Now she understood what her father meant by 'sacrifice.' "I'll make that choice after I deliver Wei's message. Will you two go back straight away?"

"As soon as you're off, so are we," Shao answered.

"You will be fine." Ping reached across the table and took San's left hand in his own. Shao did the same with her right. "You have our strength, San. Tread carefully, speak wisely, and trust in yourself. We will be waiting anxiously until you return."

Gods, why am I so nervous? San's head was swimming as she blocked the morning sun with her hands. Guan Ping and Zhang Shao were on their way back to Cheng Du. She was headed in the other direction with Lu Ba. Jiang Wei had given her instructions and a message for his contact, sharing none of it with their Wu prisoner. Lu Ba was under the impression that they were simply delivering something. They hadn't told him how close they were to his home, how many of his family members would be waiting for him. They didn't have a clue either.

I wonder what he's thinking about, she mused. Does he ever think about going home? When he talks about it, he seems so sad. But then he smiles as if nothing is wrong. What goes on inside of his head?

"You're awfully quiet today, San. Care to share your thoughts?"

She looked up at him and her breath lodged in her throat. He was smiling that infectious grin, and his eyes danced with laughter. A gentle breeze made his long hair dance playfully with the wind. A hint of stubble framed his strong chin. And with the sun resting on his body, he looked like a god. Crap, her inner voice hissed. San, you are in way over your head.

"N-nothing," she stammered, forcing herself to look at the path in front of her. But all she could see was his sun kissed face staring back at her.

He laughed. "You're not very convincing when you stutter. Come on, tell me what's wrong."

"I just…I guess I'm worried about what's facing me back home."

Ba just shrugged. "I'm sure your father will talk Liu Bei out of breaking the engagement. He seems to be against it, as is your mother. Just trust them." His smile drooped a bit. "I don't want to think about that. Let's just enjoy the break from the capital and tackle the problem later."

"But why don't you want to?" San found herself asking. Why do you care? She pushed the other voice from her mind, unsure of why she had asked the question in the first place. Too late to take it back now.

He was now staring at the pathway, his forehead creasing in thought. "I don't know. I guess I just don't like the idea of you marrying someone who only wants to control you. And this is you we're talking about. You two would kill each other."

Is it me, or does he look uncomfortable? "Why does it bother you?"

Ba rubbed the back of his neck. He was definitely nervous now. "I just…well…gods, San, have you seen the way he looks at you? Its disgusting. Like you're…an antique piece of artwork or a prized breeding cow. No one should look at another person like they are anything but a person. Its degrading. You…" He waved his hands around, looking for the right words. "You are the daughter of Zhao Yun, the Little Dragon's jewel. If Liu Chan can't see that, then he doesn't deserve you."

San fell silent. It was a speech she had never expected from him. But she couldn't deny the way it made her heart leap or the way it brought the redness to her cheeks. But how do you see me, Lu Ba? She swallowed the question. As much as she craved to hear it, she wasn't sure she was ready for it. And the subject clearly annoyed her friend. "I'm sorry, Ba. I didn't realize how sensitive the topic was."

"That's okay. There are plenty of other things to talk about. Got a topic in mind?"

"Tell me more about your family. What was it like growing up in Wu with such well known parents?"

He chuckled, bringing a smile to her lips. She wished for his ability to laugh off something as serious as an engagement woe. "Its probably similar to what your childhood was like. There were a lot of expectations for me growing up. My dad's well known for both his strategy and his skills as a warrior. He trained me pretty hard early on. But I always looked up to him. I wanted to prove to him that I could be the warrior he was, and I succeeded."

"What about your mother?"

"Ah, the only woman who has every struck fear into my heart." He winked at San before continuing. "I always thought that my mom held a fragile place in Sun Jian's court. I mean, she was a servant there for a lot of years. Plus, her features tend to be a little on the masculine side. She's still a stunner, don't get me wrong. All of the men have said so. But she's Zhou Tai's twin and he's pretty much got angles to every part of his face. But the older I got, the more I realized that she was treated with the same respect as every other officer under my lord's command. Not just because she was married to Lu Meng, but because she understood war and fighting and had the experience to back it up."

San wiped a bead of sweat off her face. "Was she hard on you?"

"Sometimes. Mostly it was because I had a smart mouth and a quick temper. But no matter what I did, she would always come and find me at the end of the day, give me a hug, and tell me that she still loved me. She pushed me to become something great because she knew I had the ability to do it. It was through her that I learned compassion, trust, loyalty, and love. I also learned how to sew, but we'll make that our little secret?"

"Sewing?" San said with a giggle. "Where are you going to be able to use that?"

He tugged on his sleeve, still grinning wildly. "Hey, I'm the only one in the army that never has to wait for mended garments." That got a laugh out of both of them. "Even Zhou Xun doesn't know. He kicks my butt at strategy though."

"Do you really not have any other friends besides Xun?" The thought made her sad. She had Ping and Shao, and she counted her brothers as friends when they weren't trying to hang her from the ceiling. Lu Ba was such an outgoing person; it seemed wrong for him to only have one person to confide in. You're digging yourself into a deeper hole, San.

"I consider myself everyone's friend. Most of the kids our age are too busy fighting with the army or being stuck-up aristocratic jerks. Xun and I were the ones that bonded quickly though. Lord Sun Ce's daughter, Sun Yi, played with us for a few years. But she's married now and has her own life. The next in age to us is Zhou Ying. We like to avoid her when we can."

"Why's that?"

He let out a groan. "She was fun to hang out with until she started becoming a woman. Then it was all giggles and flirting and tea ceremonies and boring women stuff. No offense to you, of course."

"No worries. I pretty much missed the boat on all of that stuff." It wasn't entirely true. Mei Li was very much an aristocratic woman and had taught her daughter much of what other girls were expected to learn. She had finished her lessons and focused on fighting. San could have pulled off the noblewoman façade, but it would have been far more boring and uncomfortable for her.

"Sometimes Xun's younger brother, Zhou Yin, will follow us around. But he spends most of his time with Ling Tong's sons. I like being with the adults though. You learn loads if you pay attention. Not just about fighting, but about life in general."

"Do you…ever think about going home?" She didn't want to ask it, didn't want to know what the answer was. But she knew it needed to come out. After her talk with Jiang Wei yesterday, she was determined to make the right choice about his future.

Ba looked at her for a minute. His eyes bore deep into her own. She remembered the day Liu Chan had hit him, the day she looked into those same eyes and saw herself. The day he had kissed her. The blush returned just thinking about it. She had tried to brush it off as her imagination, or tried to tell herself that it was close but not the real thing. But now, as he looked at her from atop his horse, she realized that it was indeed a kiss.

And the worst part was that she desperately wanted to do it again.

"Why would you ask that, San?" Ba's voice was grave. His eyes never left her.

"I don't know. I…um…it would be on my mind if the roles were reversed." Why is this so hard? "I would wonder about my family, if they missed me, what kinds of things they were doing."

He finally looked away and she released the breath she had been holding. This was going to be a long couple of days. "Yeah, I've thought about it. I've pictured my father waiting at the beginning of the road for me, my mother standing on the steps with my sword in her hand, my uncle dropping his helmet to the floor as I walk into the castle. I've wondered if Zhou Xun's succumbed to loneliness or if the Sun family is all well. But I've never been able to actually see myself there." He sighed. "Its weird. The first day of my imprisonment, all I could think about was escaping. Now I'm not sure I want to."

San's head shot up. "Why not?"

"Because I've discovered good people in Shu. Despite the uproar I've caused, I could see myself staying in a place like that. I'm a student by nature, and there's still so much to learn from you and your people. Why do you ask?"

San motioned towards the road, which was rapidly coming to an end. "Because you're home."

A/N: Aww no reviews this time. Oh well. Thanks to everyone who read and enjoyed the last chapter (I know you're out there...my hit count told me so), and I hope you all enjoy this one as well. Until next time...toodles!