Anh had sat on councils before – councils that reconvened on harvest strategy so the dragons could be on hand if rain was required. There was also the 'Council for Peppers' which he and Bong were the only members of, set up in The Winter Haven when they had ran out of pepper and comprised a plan for getting more peppers (It was ineffective – they settled for ginger at the bequest of Minh Huyn). The War Council, however, was a far cry from peppers and rain.
"Will Lao Longzi be joining us?" Lord Cao asked Danzi. The dragon chimed. Anh answered no on his behalf. The Lord sighed. "I appreciate you trying to bring him in."
The War Council was held in Lord Cao's Hall. The room was lit by flickering candles, casting an eerie glow on the faces of those gathered around the table. At the head of the table sat Lord Cao, his expression grave as he awaited the arrival of his council members. Anh recognised each man who joined, if not by name then by face. Some shook Anh's hand, delighted to see the dragons return. Others were surprised to see the young man sat between two great dragons, returned to speak of war. Everyone knew dragons and their keepers had their laws.
The final members of the party arrived. Anh swallowed then rose to greet one of them.
"Tieze Senior." Anh said bowing.
He had met Yara's father before once, and it had been a catastrophic disaster. His eyes looked over Anh coldly. "It's true then. You're back."
"I am."
"Must have been a shame to drop by my home last night and be turned away. Yara was quite tired." He leaned in so only Anh could hear. "But she could barely stay awake at breakfast this morning. I don't suppose you know what kept her awake all night?"
So they had noticed her disappearance last night. Anh breathed in deeply. He was to blame, but he was no coward. "I mean no disrespect, Tieze Senior. We only walked."
"Yes, only walked." He mused. At that moment, another gentlemen came up to them and shook Anh's hand.
"Good to see you again!" The man smiled.
"You too." Anh said, though he couldn't remember anything about the man.
When he left, Tieze dropped his faux smile. "My daughter is growing into a remarkable woman, I'm sure you'd agree. I will not have you tarnish her virtue before we find a valuable man for her."
Anh pursed his lips. He met Tieze's cold eyes. "Yara was always remarkable." He said before returning to sit between Hei Lei and Danzi.
He looked happy to see you. Hei Lei smirked.
Lord Cao raised a cup to the air and the room fell silent. His voice boomed across the room as he addressed his advisors. His words were filled with authority and determination. "Friends; Dragons. Please raise your cup with me to toast to good fortune. For soon, I pray we need it." The men of the room raised their cups and drank. Danzi and Hei Lei raised bowls of meat in place.
"Upon returning from The Winter Haven, our friends, the Dragons, found a Chu Army camped at the eastern shore of Lake Dragon." He swallowed. "500 men strong."
The room filled with voices and questions. A man sitting opposite to Anh was visibly shaken. Another fell into prayer.
"An army of 500 would bring Tinkling to dust!" One man said.
"Abandon the village!" Another cried.
"And go where!" Lord Cao said banging his fist on the table. "Xianyang is under siege. Anhui doesn't have the infrastructure to host refugee's."
One man mused, "Shabian Pass?"
Lord Cao shook his head. "The Xiong Nu have taken advantage of the empire's vulnerability. The Pass is raided regularly."
The air was tense, heavy with the weight of impending conflict. At that moment, Anh became aware that Lao Longzi was entering the Hall.
Tieze Senior broke the silence. "Do we know their intentions?" He asked.
Lao Longzi spoke from the far side of the Hall. "Tinkling Village is the closest settlement to Dragon Lake. If their intention is not to attack, then it will be to take your resources."
Lord Cao stood and welcomed Lao to the meeting. "I did not think you would come." He raised an eyebrow. "Principles, and all."
Lao said nothing, but sat between Anh and Danzi. Anh tried to look into Lao's heart.
You've changed your mind?
I've changed my heart. Lao said.
Anh smiled before bringing himself back to the meeting. The room was filled with the smell of incense mixed with the aroma of tea, poured into delicate porcelain cups and sipped by the council members as they discussed strategy. Each man offered their own opinions and insights, their voices rising and falling as they debated the best course of action. Lao looked uncomfortable.
These men are no warriors. He said sadly.
As the night wore on, the tension in the room grew ever greater. Plans were made and discarded, alliances formed and broken. The fate of Tinkling Village hung in the balance, and the weight of responsibility bore down heavily on each person in the room.
A plan was at last agreed upon. The council members rose, weary but resolute. A party would meet the army and negotiate peace with resources. Jade was infinite. Mead and wine were plenty. Gold and silver were plenty, too, as were delicate, foreign artifacts. Tinkling Village would surrender its wealth built on trade in hopes of buying their peace from the Chu army.
The dragons had a part to play in this, too. They would deliver the party and the precious goods to the Chu. Lao Longzi offered to return with Bong, Jiang and Tun for the delivery. Anh and Hei Lei would stay behind in Tinkling Village to test fittings on dragon back.
Anh, Lao and the dragons retired to the guest room of Lord Cao's home. Hei Lei, who hadn't had a chance to speak with Lao Longzi or Danzi was coaxing the pair.
Finally swallowed your pride?
Danzi did not retaliate, but Lao scowled. Don't make me change my mind, Hei Lei.
Oh, so this is conditional then? Hei Lei mused.
Hei Lei, Anh said sternly. Don't.
That made Hei Lei grumble. Who's side are you on, Yu?
Anh was at his wits end with all the arguing today. First Lao Longzi, then Tieze Senior, the bickering of the war council. Now Hei Lei! When does it end? "I'm on the villagers side!" He yelled.
The party was taken aback by Anh's outburst. The second he said it, he wished he could take it back. He was for all parties; Tinkling Village, Hei Lei, and the Haven. Anh brought his hands to his face and went to apologize, but it was too late. Hei Lei made for the door.
Hei Lei – Anh groaned.
"Let him be." Lao said quietly. They watched the dragon as he left the room. Anh feared for a moment that he would not return in the morning for the fittings, but Danzi reassured him he would.
He knows you care for the town. He cares for you more. Danzi said. He'll come around.
Danzi and Lao left for the Haven at dawn, but Hei Lei still hadn't returned. Anh closed his eyes and searched for Hei Lei in his mind. He was hunting swallows in the orchards. He tiptoed out of Lord Cao's residence and made for the orchards. The guard by the gate was fast asleep when he reached it. "Hey!" Anh said shaking him awake. "Let me out."
The guard groaned. "There are no fruit in the orchards. Go away."
Anh huffed. "There's a dragon in your orchards and I need to find him."
The guard swatted him away. Anh kicked him.
"Ouch!"
"A Chu army is on your doorstep, and here you are lazing about!" He shouted. "Hei Lei and I are taking a bunch of your men to their army soon – and I'll gladly dump YOU on their camp if you don't open this darn gate immediately!"
The guard lifted the blanket from his face and looked up at Anh. "Oh," He said begrudgingly. "It's you. Hei Lei is your dragon."
Anh stared at the guard. He thought he was a lazy man – in fact, it Tieze Yulan. He was no longer a young boy, but on the brink of his youth at 12 years old.
"Yulan." Anh said, surprised. "I almost didn't recognize you."
"Yeah. Well." He yawned as lead Anh towards the gate. "It's been a few years."
"Yara tells me you've taken up the sword?" Anh inquired.
Yulan shrugged. "Did Yara tell you she's taken up home making."
Oh. Right. "Yep." He said a little too bluntly.
Yulan found the rope that hoisted the gate. "Is there really a Chu army nearby?"
Darn Anh's foot in mouth! He was as bad as Yara sometimes. "There is, Yulan. Your father and I sat at the War Council last night."
"That's rough, man." Yulan concurred.
"Yeah." Anh said. "It's rough."
Yulan didn't immediately hoist the gate. "She loves you."
That was a surprise turn of conversation. "I love her."
Yulan looked up to Anh. He was still a head shorter than Anh and had a lot of growing to do. "If the Chu attack, would you take her with you?"
Anh hadn't considered the possibility of the peace talks failing. He had deliberately avoided the thought, but here he was, faced with it. "Yes." He said in a low voice.
Yulan nodded. "Good." He hoisted the gate open and finally Anh could see the orchard.
"Thank you Yulan." He said.
"Anh?" Anh turned to look at Yulan. Yulan looked sheepishly at him; he was still a child who didn't know how to grasp growing up so fast. "You're alright buddy."
Anh raised an eyebrow as Yulan closed the gate behind him. Well. Tieze Senior hated his guts, and Mrs Tieze's liked him about as much as cats like water. But at least Yulan liked him.
And Yara loved him!
The thought of spending the day with a grumpy Hei Lei wasn't so daunting after all.
It didn't take long to find him. The dragon spoke to him first. The guard is lazy. Anh turned and walked towards a clearing. Hei Lei was curled up a top of a fallen peach tree, picking meat from his teeth with a bone.
It's Tieze Yulan, Anh said. The guard.
Joi uses a wooden stick, and Yulan sleeps on duty. Hei Lei threw the bone to the ground. The town is doomed.
Anh sighed as he climbed onto the tree. It's doomed if we don't help.
They sat in silence for some time. The last star was now gone, and the sky was almost all blue.
If it were the girl or the Haven, Hei Lei pondered. Which would you choose?
What kind of question is that, Hei Lei?
A rhetorical one I'd like to think.
Anh sighed and scratched Hei Lei under his chin. It would never come to that.
Hei Lei hummed. I should hope not.
The rest of the day passed without any more drama between them. That's not to say there wasn't issues, however. The news of the Chu camp was met with dread, but it was Lord Cao's edict on parting with precious and expensive capital that drove the town into chaos. Anh had never had much himself. Over the years he had built up savings of cash from odd jobs, and purchased a few things here or there for himself. Still, he could not quite grasp why it was so hard for the villagers to part with some of their wealth.
"These necklaces are pure jade!" One woman cried.
"This cabinet came from the land of Fars." Another villager said.
The biggest outcry came from Inn Street.
"Not the booze!" The innkeepers wept.
"I'll drink all the liquor before you get your hands on it!" One man pleaded with Lord Cao. Lord Cao scowled at the man in response.
"Go on then – drink yourself to death like a coward. It'll save the Chu Army one more throat to slit."
The man relented and the booze was brought to Lord Cao's. In his courtyard, Anh and Hei Lei began test packing the treasures. How much could the dragons realistically carry to the Chu Army, how will they sit on the dragon's backs, etc. It was a far more laborious job than test packing Hei Lei with food and clothes for travel between the Havens.
Anh had finally figured out the right way to pack liquor on dragon back when he sensed Yara nearby.
"Whoop!" He said jumping over the liquor.
Where are you going? Hei Lei asked. He then spotted her before Anh did inside Lord Cao's residence. Oh.
Anh rushed inside Lord Cao's house and spotted Yara in the Hall with a bundle on her back. He was about to run up to her when he saw she accompanied by Tieze Senior.
"Anh." Yara smiled.
"Yara." Anh said with a quick look towards Tieze Senior. "Let me help you with those."
He took the bundle from her while Tieze Senior spoke with Lord Cao. Anh took the opportunity to speak with her some more as they went outside.
"I'm sorry I got you into trouble." Anh said.
Yara huffed. "Don't worry about that, Anh. Just tell me the truth. Did you really see the Chu Army?" Anh nodded. Yara brought her hands to her eyes. "This is dreadful! We are merchants and artists – not warriors."
Anh stepped over the bundle and took her hands in his. "It's going to be alright." He wiped her face with his sleeve. "Lord Cao is good with words. He will negotiate peace with the Chu."
Yara shook her head. "But what if he can't? What if it's not enough and they invite themselves into Tinkling?" She pulled her hands away from Anh's grasp and wrapped her arms around herself. "I've heard what those armies have done to other towns, Anh. I'm scared."
Anh pulled her into a tight embrace. "I won't let anything happen to you," he whispered. "I promise."
Yara buried her face in his chest, her tears soaking through his shirt. Anh held her, rocking her gently back and forth, whispering reassurances until her sobs subsided.
Give it a rest. Hei Lei muttered.
Anh could sense Tieze Senior was about done with his meeting with Lord Cao. "What's in the bundle?" he said, pulling away from her.
Yara wiped her face with her sleeve. "Tapestries," she said softly. "I'm not sure it's enough."
Tieze Senior appeared then. "Yara," he beckoned without a word to Anh. Yara rushed to her father's side. His heart dropped knowing how scared she was.
You need to show some restraint, Anh. Hei Lei pointed out. Her father is watching you. You got her into trouble.
Anh rolled his eyes and went back to his packing.
The next few days carried on the same with packing, repacking and test flying Hei Lei with the load. Lord Cao managed the treasures, deciding which goes and which stays. In the end, he settled on half of what was initially brought forward.
"Do you think half will be enough to satisfy the Chu?" One of his council members asked.
Lord Cao shrugged. "If it isn't, we will offer more. We will offer whatever we have to keep them out."
Lao Longzi and Danzi arrived a few days later with Bong, Jiang, Ming, the blue dragon, and Tun. Bong was glum when he arrived as he looked around the deserted town. Find more cheer in a graveyard. He said.
You wouldn't be partying if you knew war was on your doorstep either, Yu Bong. Danzi berated.
Anh was desperate to know, Has Minh Huyn returned yet?
Bong shook his head. Anh and Hei Lei looked to each other. He should have arrived by now. Hei Lei said.
The plan was drawn for their departure. Hei Lei, Tun and Ming would be taking the packs. Danzi and Jiang would take the men elected to meet with the Chu Army. Lord Cao was one of them; Tieze Senior and two others accompanied. Anh wasn't too sure whether to be pleased or concerned Tieze Senior was coming.
The following morning a crowd gathered around the party. Excitement mingled with trepidation. Excitement, as it would be the first time in possibly hundreds of years that non-keepers would ride on dragon back (Anh realised no one knew about Yara's short time on dragon back three years before). Hearts heavy, however, with the knowledge of the challenge that lay ahead in the Chu Camp. They were not warriors, but they were Tinkling's only hope.
The atmosphere was charged with a sense of urgency, as the final preparations were set. The sound of dragons stretching their wings echoed through the outer gate where they were departing from, adding to the sense of unease.
Anh was looking for a familiar face in the crowd. "Yara," he said quietly when he found her. She was standing by her father who would be riding on Jiang. She ran to him but both hesitated to embrace knowing eyes were everywhere.
"Anh…" she said with glassy eyes. He very well knew the truth in her heart as he felt it too. Their chances were good, but no one could say for sure if the meeting would be successful. It was 6 men and 5 dragons against an army of 500 men.
Anh looked up to Tieze standing nearby. "If I may have a moment with your daughter." He said. Before Tieze could respond Anh took Yara's hand and stole a moment alone with her, away from the crowd. Their eyes met, and they knew what was coming. The tension between them was palpable, and Anh was unable to resist the pull of his emotions any longer.
Without a word, he took Yara in his arms, pulling her close. He could feel the warmth of her body, and the beating of her heart against his own chest. She looked up into his eyes, searching for reassurance, and finding it there.
Their lips met in a tender embrace, a kiss that spoke of love, longing, and the bittersweet nature of war. It was a moment frozen in time. As they parted, he whispered words of love and encouragement into her ear, promising to return to her, no matter the cost. They held one another close.
Inhibition thrown aside, they walked the short distance back hand in hand. Anh could feel Tieze Seniors eyes bore on him. Anh didn't care.
With a heavy heart, he tore himself away from Yara, mounted Hei Lei and joining the dragons as they began their ascent. The crowd cheered, yelling out words of love and encouragement. It would be a short journey to Dragon Lake – only half a day – but no one knew what would come of the latter end of it.
He turned to look at Yara as they flew, but the clouds that morning were heavy and low. No matter, he thought.