Chapter 10

"Surely you cannot be serious!"

"I am, and my name is not Shirley."

It was very early in the morning, and an abruptly awakened Shang was highly displeased with me. This was due to the fact that I was leaving, and to some measure, being wakened a little earlier than he would have preferred.

Arthur wanted me to accompany him to the Templar camp near the northern Chinese border, and eliminate some high-ranking officers before they could cause much damage.

I turned to him, frowning. "First of all, this is a preemptive strike that could possibly cut off the head of the viper before it has a chance to strike, and I am well aware of the danger involved in this mission. Secondly, Phaedra and Mulan are staying with you, so am surprised you are even objecting to this. I would have thought you would have welcomed me not hounding your every move concerning my foster daughter."

Shang didn't back down. "It is because of the same woman that I need your continued advice on."

Persistent bastard, to his credit.

"Well, since I shall be indisposed for an extended amount of time, I suppose I will indulge you, so fire away." I said, as I helped Mulan pack our bags with weapons and provisions, the latter listening to our conversation.

"So be it. I'm sure you are aware that I offered to teach her a different way of life. However, I have come to realize that such an offer might have been rather...overly enthusiastic."

I turned to him. "Phaedra was raised in a combative male-dominated environment, as her mother had died in child-birth. Both her father and our Brotherhood raised her as a warrior, so yes, she has not had the chance to experience her more feminine side. However, she has a maternal instinct, she can cook, and she is well-suited tending to most wounds."

Shang looked flummoxed, and I couldn't blame him. "So what am I to do?"

I considered him for a long moment, and then sighed. "At this moment, you are in unfamiliar territory, just like I have been so many times. You and I share many things, Shang. Both of us are leaders, warriors, and we have had life-changing tragedies happen to us. Part of every person's life is the ability to deal with situations that you have had no previous training for, and the ability to adapt and thrive because of them."

Shang considered this, and I laid my hand on his shoulder. "Being in a relationship means that one has to balance the needs of yourself and your significant other. If one has too much control, the other will suffer. Do you understand?"

After a moment, Shang caught on. "You wish me not to step all over her, to meet her needs with mine, and have both of us be happy so that we do not dominate each other."

I grinned in reply, pleased that he had caught on so quickly. "Exactly! Ask only from her what she can understand and render to you, while making sure that she learns new skills without trying to box her in to the extent that she lashes out."

Shang nodded, and straightened. "I will do whatever is necessary."

I nodded, clapping his shoulder. "Good man!"

I turned, knowing that Mulan and I would need to speak to Phaedra before I left, but the former had disappeared. I sighed, realizing that Mulan was way ahead of me, and that Phaedra needed Mulan to talk to her, and consult her continually concerning her continuing relationship with the man beside me.

More importantly, Mulan and I needed to talk, since she wasn't too pleased with me leaving.

"Get some sleep, lad. Your men need you at full strength, physically and mentally. I shall return before too long." I said, and we shook hands and gave our best wishes to each other before he made his way back to his tent.

I watched him go, and I had to admit that Shang was one of the very few men that I could stomach being with my Phaedra. Mulan would chaperone them to some extent, but she couldn't do so all the time.

Mulan sat in her tent, hurt and angry. Why did it always have to be Alaric who had to go away for long periods of time, while she had to wait for him to come back?

She had not spoken to Alaric since he had told her of his new mission, and she knew it hurt him.

She just wanted him to realize that she wouldn't put up with the uncertainty and loneliness that his various missions brought her.

"You wanted to speak with me?" Mulan looked up, her train of thought interrupted by the arrival of her future foster daughter.

"Yes. Shang has agreed to teach you what he can in a way that won't cause you too much hardship, at Al's behest. It is very sweet and accommodating of him."

Phaedra nodded. "Aye it is. I've also got the feeling that you need to talk about Alaric too."

Mulan could not stop herself from answering harshly. "How can we keep this up, Phae? He does this all the time: going on these damned missions for an unknown amount of time, and he expects me to wait for him, not knowing if he'll come back wounded or dead? Sometimes, it's unbearable, and I'm so tired of being alone and afraid!"

Phaedra stepped forward, removing her hood, her eyes blazing in the candle-light. "So you actually think that he likes leaving you? Not even an hour ago, Arthur and him almost came to blows when Arthur said that you couldn't come!"

Mulan opened her mouth, but the angry Highlander wasn't finished. "Almost every woman knows what you are going through, but there are very few who have a man as loyal and caring like you do. You are everythin' to him, as he is to you. The way his eyes and face light up when he looks at yeh, or when yeh are in the same room with him. Donnae ya dare even think that you are the only one suffering here!"

Mulan's eyes moistened as Phaedra continued. "He would willingly throw everythin' aside, his past and his present. He would even lay aside his loyalty to the Brotherhood, which was unassailable until yeh showed up!"

Phaedra rested her hands on Mulan's shoulders. "If yeh haven't figured it out, Mum, you are the reason he wakes up in the morning, the reason he fights, and the reason he breathes."

Mulan swallowed, a lump in her throat. "I am the same way, Phaedra, the ancestors know I am."

Phaedra smiled. "Everyone knows that, looking at you and him. Yeh and he glow in each others' presence, neither of you able to keep your eyes off each other. What I am trying to say, Mum, is that yeh're free to feel hurt or angry, and there will be times when ya two meet rough times, but such times will only make ya stronger."

Mulan wrapped her arms around Phaedra's neck, and pulled her close. "I'm so happy to have you, Phae!"

Phaedra hugged back, reveling in the feeling of being hugged as a sister or daughter would be hugged.

Unknown to them, Arthur watched the two women embrace. He sighed, rubbing his forehead with his hand.

He knew that Mulan and Alaric were nigh inseparable, but not to this extent.

He hadn't meant to cause such a rift between them, but he needed to talk to his nephew alone, and he couldn't do the mission without him.

But then again, Alaric and Mulan could not be parted without consequence. They were a fine match, but they make a fine bloody mess of things!

Arthur liked Mulan, who was a strong-willed, beautiful little thing, one of the few people who had struck him and lived afterward.

She didn't trust him, and probably didn't like him.

That didn't really concern Arthur, who never lived to make friends. He lived for the Brotherhood, a Brotherhood that Alaric was most likely walking away from.

But maybe this was going to happen anyway, even destined to happen.

Aldric, after all, had nearly done the same when he married Lizzie, so that he could have a family in relative peace, but she had overruled him.

She had argued that they could compromise on both the Assassins and raising a family.

Mulan was under no such qualms, but she had not tried to persuade Alaric either way, not to Arthur's knowledge, and he had many spies.

To the lass's credit, she was an outstanding warrior and had an exceptional character.

Alaric could do much worse, and not much better.

He wished Aldric was here to see the man Alaric had become, but in a way, Aldric was here. His spirit, and Lizzie's, lived on through Alaric and his children.

And there would be plenty of children, by the amount of effort Alaric and Mulan were putting into their love-making!

Mulan stepped outside her tent, as Phaedra left to find Shang.

She saw Arthur observing her, and glared at him. "What are you looking at?"

Arthur raised his hands in surrender. "Forgive me, Lass. I tend to watch people who are important to the overall scheme of things."

Mulan's anger, which had cooled with her conversation with Phaedra, came back to the surface. "Is that all Arthur and I am to you: pawns for you to use?"

He glared at her, and she realized where Alaric may have gotten his temper. "Watch your tongue, girl. I have killed for less, and I shall offer you no mercy if you cannot keep a civil tongue in your-"

He was cut off by Mulan's sword point stopping inches from his nose. "To hell with that! I've tolerated your callousness long enough!"

Arthur regarded her coldly. "You are making a big mistake, Mulan. Alaric's lover or not, you will learn some respect."

Half a second later, he had drawn his own sword, batting hers away.

As she battled Alaric's uncle, Mulan realized that Arthur used the same style that Alaric did: systematic, regulated, almost cold stabs and slashes.

Arthur had obviously taught Alaric a great deal, or Alaric's father may have had the same style.

Mulan, still fuming, dodged a horizontal slash at her head, allowing herself a grim smile.

She was one of the very few that knew the weaknesses of such a style, and she was going to teach her future Uncle-in-law a thing or two.

Arthur's eyes narrowed as he watched the young woman smile. A second later, Mulan unleashed a series of overhanded blows on Arthur's guard, her beautiful eyes blazing with passion and anger.

Arthur found himself on the defensive as he blocked her blows, but didn't notice her leg hurtling for his.

The woman swept his feet out from under him, using her sword to disarm him as he fell back.

She had used the same moves against Shan Yu, and she was quite good at it! The battle, which had lasted for barely five minutes, was over.

Mulan stared down at the stunned and winded Arthur, who laughed after a long moment. "Well played. I would be remiss to say otherwise. I have not had that good of a fight in many months, perhaps even years!"

She paused, then lowered her sword-point from his throat.

Arthur stood, wiping himself off. The young woman had won his respect, and was more a formidable warrior than he had thought.

This girl had used his skill to her advantage, countering it with a drive and passion that very few had.

This lass had the gift of controlled fury.

After gaining his breath back, Arthur grimaced. "You've got me all wrong. If you were merely my pawns, things would be quite different."

With that, he stepped forward, and took her hands in his. "I have never claimed to be a good man. I know you do not trust me, and I see no reason to blame you for that. I admit that I have underestimated you."

Mulan blinked, taken aback by his sudden gentleness. "What do you mean?"

"You are wrong, Lass. I do not look at Alaric as my pawn. However, as a leader, I have had to treat my underlings with equal care and consideration. As a leader, I have to send my men into battle, knowing that they might not return from the fight, even my brother's son."

Mulan gazed into his eyes, and realized that Alaric had inherited the same color. However, Arthur's eyes had an aged, tired look to them, while Alaric's were vibrant and mysterious.

"I have not been a perfect mentor to Alaric. I have always felt that, if I got too close to him or cared too much for him, I would be usurping the position that Alaric's father held. So, I have kept him at arm's length, never giving him the peace and comfort that you have given him."

Arthur's hand caressed her face gently. "The reasons that I wanted you to stay behind has nothing to do with your abilities or competence. It is about what you mean to our family, to my nephew. You are the future of the Rose family, and Alaric's only hope for life inside and outside of the Brotherhood."

Mulan blinked back her tears, realizing that she had gravely mistaken this man. He was not the callous manipulator she had thought he was, but a man of responsibility and love.

"I'm so sorry..."

Arthur cut her off. "Do not bother with apologies, Lass. Just take care of Alaric if something happens that I do not expect. If you wish to come, then you can."

With that, he departed to prepare for the trip.

After a long moment, Mulan entered her tent, and found Alaric waiting for her. "Mulan, I..."

She shook her head, placing a finger to his lips. "Don't bother, Al. I'm coming too."

He tried to look annoyed, but failed, as he wondered why his uncle had changed his mind. Oh, to hell with it! "If that is what you wish."

With that, both continued packing, before telling Shang that Mulan would be leaving with the two Assassins.

Once the three had departed, Shang decided to visit Phaedra, who was trying to study the Chinese language.

Phaedra tried to concentrate, but her dreams of Shang kept revolving in her mind, and she swore. She couldn't help but yearn to share Shang's bed, and have his child, but she had to get to know him better!

"Phaedra." Hellfire!

"Aye?" She turned to face him, seeing him in the tent's entrance. He was carrying a parcel, no, something else. It was as tall as he was, having a long stem of wood, with its front shaped like a colorful dragon's head.

"General, ya called?" She asked, looking curiously at the contraption in his arms, momentarily wishing she could take its place.

"I'm going to start training the men with the cannons, and I wanted to show you their firepower."

Phaedra grinned. "I'm at your service, General," she said, in perfect Mandarin.

Shang raised his eyebrows, and she smirked, her hands skimming along his right forearm. "I'm a fast learner, handsome, and I am full of surprises as well!"

She gasped, as his right hand seized her wrist, as his left arm lowered the cannon to the ground gently.

"So am I, Phaedra, so am I!"

She smiled seductively, lowering her hood. "Why don'cha prove it-" She was cut off when his lips pressed against hers.

She moaned into the kiss, loving his taste and scent, instantly intoxicated.

She had to admit: he caught her off her guard, but not for long. Two could play at this game, and damned if she wouldn't play it!

By his ancestors, but she tasted so good, Shang thought, as her hands pulled him closer.

He wrapped her arms around her waist, lifting her into his arms, never breaking the kiss, wanting more and more and more...

Phaedra lost all common sense and all logical thought, as their tongues melded together, never wanting to stop kissing Shang.

Feck the war, feck responsibility, feck everything but him!

"General, the men are waiting for...oh, oops!" The two broke apart, breathing heavily, as one of Shang's officers interrupted them.

"Get out." Shang said, as the soldier stammered, not even breaking eye contact with the maddeningly alluring young woman.

"Sir, I'm sorry-" Phaedra interrupted, still returning Shang's stare: "You heard your General: get the hell out!"

After the stuttering man had left, Shang sighed. "That was very foolish of us."

Phaedra nodded, seeing the problems with their current predicament. Shang was the Emperor's best General, practically China's only hope, and rumours would destroy his reputation.

"I know, General, but part of me doesn't give a damn."

Shang smiled slightly. "I feel the same. Can we wait until we go...further, until the war is over?"

She nodded, smiling. "It would probably be a better idea to get to know each other more. But I enjoyed that, and it would be a shame to stop doing it."

Shang blushed. "I never said anything about stopping that." With that, he gave her a quick kiss before departing with his cannon.

Phaedra touched her swollen lips, grinning.

Damn, he was a good kisser, perhaps the best she had ever had!

She wanted to crow like a rooster, but she had embarrassed herself enough all ready.

Speaking of which, she departed the tent to find a certain officer.

It didn't take her long, and he didn't even see her coming. He was pissing against a tree, and she waited until he was done before pinning him against said tree with a unyielding forearm.

"Yeh'd better keep yer gob shut about this. If you donnae do so, yeh'll never please another woman, and I will feed you your own guts as well! Yeh saw nothing, right?"

The officer, completely cowed, nodding wildly. She let him go soon afterwards, knowing that he would never tell a soul.

She licked her lips, still remembering Shang's taste.

All in all, not a bad day at the office!

Smiling to herself, she left to watch the cannons at their best. They were impressive and got her blood flowing, but it was nothing compared to what she had experienced just a short time earlier!