“The Rouran and Liu Song have been growing stronger with every passing year,” Yang continued. “Marriage alliances don’t last for long - our family is testament to that. Yujiulu Wuti is our uncle by blood, and yet he still seeks to overthrow the Tuoba and take its riches for himself.” He shook his head. “Father knew that to save the kingdom, he needed to destroy them completely.”
“But no matter what he’s tried over the years,” Ziying said, the smirk fading at the corners. “He’s never been able to manage it. The power of the ancestral cave would.”
Kang snorted in disgust. “Do you really think he’ll stop with just the Rouran?”
Ziying let loose a bellowing ripple of laughter. “Of course not. First, we’ll take out the wriggling worms, then those bastards to the south. After that, it’s the Khitans and who knows who else. We’ll be the strongest country the world has ever seen. And when Father dies, we will rule.”
Mulan’s stomach filled with bile at his words. All that blood and death. What for? Power, land, wealth. Was it worth sacrificing family and innocents for?
The glow of the torches sent shadows dancing over Yang’s features, turning his face into a grotesque demon mask. “Not quite,” he said, placing a hand on Ziying’s shoulder. His brother turned to him with a confused expression that quickly morphed into shock as Yang suddenly plunged a dagger into his heart.
Mulan’s breath hitched in her throat. Blood trickled around the edges of the dagger, running several thin rivers down Ziying’s armour. None of the guards blinked with this sudden betrayal. Releasing a ragged gasp, the prince slumped to the ground with a heavy thud.
Releasing a satisfied sigh, Yang turned back to Kang, who glared daggers at him. “What I didn’t tell my brothers, or our father, were my own plans.” He crossed his arms, but there was a faint smile flickering around the edges of his mouth. “They were so fixed on taking over the world that they forgot about the greatest prize of all.”
“And what’s that?”
“The heavens, dear brother.” His voice dropped to a whisper, but it resonated through every inch of the chamber. “In the course of my studies, I found an obscure reference years ago. All these ancestral caves are connected, leading back to Mount Kunlun where the gods reside.” He swept his arm around, gesturing to the illustrations on the wall. “You can see they sealed the entrance, barring any return unless it’s necessary. Those who do are imbued with godlike powers.” He dropped his arm and stepped closer to where Kang lay trapped beneath the silver net. “I intend to return and gain enough power to not only take the mortal world, but the heavens as well.”
Horror snaked through Mulan’s guts. “The power of the gods is not for humans,” she hissed, struggling against the strong hands that held her back. Pain shot through her injured arm, but she didn’t care. “And certainly not for you.”
Yang twisted his head, glancing at her through narrow eyes. With slow, languid movements, he walked to her. When only a few inches separated them, he raked his eyes down the length of her body. “I remember you, soldier, from the palace. I’d heard stories about you, how you’d managed to entrance my brother despite never showing any interest in men before.” Lifting a hand, he trailed it down her cheek, down her collarbone, over her breasts, and settling on her hip. “You’re a naughty girl for joining the army, but I can see why he’s so taken with you. I’d enjoy showing you the ways of real men.”
Anger and disgust boiled within her belly. She spat in his face. “Don’t touch me.”
Ignoring the explosion of curses from the net and wiping away the spittle on his sleeve, he suddenly lashed out with his other hand. Mulan felt a hot sting erupt over her cheek. Slumping to her knees within the guards’ grasp, the pain from her injured arm caused her vision to blur.
From the corner of her eye she caught the glint of her jian. If she could just reach it ...
Deliberately sagging, she felt her captor’s grips loosen. Without thinking, she wiggled and writhed enough to free herself, snatching the hilt of the sword. Reflexes kicking into action, she swung the jian through the air.
The blade cut clean through one guard’s neck, spraying the air red with his blood. Mulan rolled onto her right, gritting through the pain as her injured arm met the hard stone floor. Heart pounding in her ears, she swept the blade up, sinking into another’s guts with ease.
A vice-like grip in her hair yanked her head back and a foot shot sharply in the base of her spine. Her vision blurred as a fist smacked into her chest, forcing all the air out from her lungs. The pain spared no inch of her entire body. Powerless to do anything but scream, it reverberated around the chamber like a never-ending echo. Somewhere in the background, she thought she heard Kang cry her name.
More hands yanked her to her knees. Through the tendrils of hair hanging limp around her face, Mulan watched as Yang stepped forward, his face etched with disapproval. “Yes,” he whispered. “I can understand his infatuation with you.” A frown created deep lines over his brow. “What do you have there?”
Panting, Mulan followed his eyes down to her left fist. “Nothing,” she croaked.
“Then you won’t mind showing me.”
Yang’s warm fingers pulled at her own, but Mulan refused to open them. Tightening her grasp, the smooth rounded edges of the seal dug hard into her palm, breaking one layer of skin after another. Determination set into the contours of her face, mirroring Yang’s as he continued to try and prise open her fingers.
“Fine. We’ll do this the hard way.” Keeping one hand tight on her hand, he grabbed her wrist with the other and yanked down with all his strength.
Fire lanced over her wrist and up her arm. The sound of bones breaking sang in unison with her screams. A wave of blackness washed over her vision, threatening to bury her in its murky depths. Unable to fight against the pain, it wrapped blazing arms around her, promising to never let go.
Mulan felt hands releasing her, and she sank to the ground, hot tears spilling over her cheeks, cradling her broken wrist. Kang’s screams sounded muffled to her ears, as if far away. Mulan could do nothing but lay there and let the agony sweep her away from reality.
The next thing she knew Yang was kneeling in front of her, his eyes fixated on the object held between his fingers. “It’s amazing,” he told her, his tone awed. “How something so small, no bigger than a gemstone, could lead to something so big and powerful.” His eyes flicked down to her face. “Thank you.”
Powerless and in agony, Mulan watched him rise to his feet and walk around the edge of the silvery pool of water to where Kang lay, who still shouted Mulan’s name and blistered the air with one curse after another.
“And you, elder brother,” Yang said, his feet positioned only a few inches from Kang’s head. A smile kicked up the edges of his mouth. “Thank you for doing all my dirty work.” Inhaling deeply, he delivered several hard kicks to Kang’s head until he finally lay motionless.
“Kang,” Mulan whispered, her heart breaking in two as the blood pooled around him.
Yang strode towards the colossal stone doors, his face painted with rapture. “And so begins my reign.”
Thirty-Seven
Mulan’s heart sank into the pit of her stomach as Yang placed the seal in its rightful place, the accompanying click echoing through the air like a gong sounding for the executioner to drop his axe.
A powerful surge of energy slammed everyone backwards. Shouts of surprise merged with those of pain as bodies crashed against hard stone. Mulan skidded several inches backwards, cries torn from her throat as her injured arm scraped along the floor.
Beads of sweat rolled down her face, mingling with the remnants of her tears. Her breath came in low, sharp pants. On either side of her, the remaining guards struggled to rise to their feet.
Jaw clenched tight, Mulan shakily rose to her knees, reaching for her jian now only inches away. One hand may have been out of action, but the other could still hold a blade. Determination blazed through
her veins, forcing her to her feet, the broken wrist clamped to her side, the other tight on the hilt.
With a yell that swept through the chamber and seemingly into the stone itself, Mulan swung the blade around at the nearest guard. The metal slashed through his neck, taking his head clean off. Blood laced the air crimson, the glow of the torches setting each drop ablaze. The wet thud of the severed head hitting the ground and bouncing several feet away punctuated the mad pounding of her heartbeat in her ears.
“Kill her!” Yang’s shout cut through the din.
Twisting her head, Mulan caught sight of two more guards rushing towards her. Sucking in a deep breath and pushing down the constant waves of pain and exhaustion, she met their steel with her own.
The clash of metal upon metal rang through the chamber in harmony. Mulan parried each strike, her feet lashing out with as much strength as she could manage. Tears burned the corners of her eyes with the pain. Deep down, her body screamed with pain and exhaustion, but Mulan knew she couldn’t stop. Too much depended on her to ever stop. Bright red blood sprayed in a gruesome arc as her jian carved through the flesh of one guard.
The sounds of stone grating against stone groaned in the background. From the corner of her eye, she watched the gap from the centre of the colossal stone doors widen slowly, spilling a brilliant white light from beyond.
Ducking beneath the deadly swipe of another blade, Mulan angled her weapon shoulder high and thrust it forward. The metal sank into soft flesh. His screams were cut short in a gurgle of blood as Mulan yanked the jian free and whipped it around to collide with another.
The vibrations rolled down her arm. Gritting her teeth against the tidal wave of pain, she slid her blade down the length of his, ducked beneath, and pivoted away.
Out of the corner of her eye she caught a glimpse of movement. Half the silver net spilled away from Kang’s body, and his arm twitched. Maybe he’s not dead. Hope swelled within her chest at the thought.
Not that she could dwell on it for long. Another sword flashed silver before her eyes. The backs of her feet hit a lifeless body, causing her to stumble backwards. The world blurred into hot air and burning pain and the ground welcomed her in its agonising embrace. Spots of colour flashed in front of her eyes and her brain bounced off her skull.
A guard appeared before her, descending like a bird of prey. Kicking away the dead body at his feet, his dark eyes burned with the promise of her death. He lifted his blade, ready to deliver the final blow.
Inhaling deeply, Mulan kicked out with both feet, smacking into his knees. The sickening sound of bones popping out of sockets echoed on the air. Pain rippled through his face and, bending over slightly, he froze momentarily. That split second gave her all the time she needed to thrust her jian into his abdomen. Fist tight around the hilt, she used its leverage to haul her to her feet. Without saying anything, she yanked the blade up and out, the wet squelching noise of flesh and organs ripping music to her ears.
“I said kill the bitch!”
Only two guards remained. A helmet had fallen off one, revealing loose short hair and a face etched with resolved fury. From the corner of her eye, Mulan could see the stone doors continuing to open with Yang’s face never leaving them, his arms outstretched as the light beyond spilled around him.
Dread slithered ice through her veins. The doors only needed to open enough for him to slip through. Once he did, it was all over.
“No,” she whispered, raising her jian at the same time as the two guards. Her broken wrist flapped and smacked against her side, the pain tearing into her like jagged metal, the air heavy in her lungs as she tried to swerve out of the way and failed.
A foot curved through the air, careening into her injured arm. White spots flashed in front of her eyes as the force of the kick sent her flying sideways into the centre of the room and crashing into the shallow pool of silvery water.
Liquid splashed around her, the cool drops heaven on her sweat-covered skin. Energy rippled through the air, seeping into her body. Time seemed to stand still as it sank further still, deep within her blood. It coursed like liquid lightning, filling her entire body with warmth. Mulan swore invisible fingers stroked her from within, caressing her blood with their gentle touch. The exhaustion lining her body dissipated, the pain faded in an instant. Broken bones snapped back into place and the energy ebbed away into nothing.
Mulan sucked in a breath and moved her arm, amazed to find that whatever magic the water contained had just healed her of her injuries.
If she could get Kang in there, then it could do the same to him.
A blur of movement whipped her head up and her vision filled with the sight of the guards. Jumping to her feet, she ran forward, her blade ready to end this.
“No!” Yang’s voice coated with disbelief rang through the air. “One of you, kill my brother!”
Kicking and spinning, Mulan’s sword carved the air at lightning speed. The sound of grunting and metal crashing resounded in her ears alongside the panic taste of her heart in the back of her throat. One guard peeled away, heading straight for Kang.
“No,” she breathed. Diving for the ground, she rolled onto her shoulder and came up to her knees, the tip of a blade slicing through the back of her hanyu and grazing her skin. A hiss of pain escaped her mouth as she brought the jian up, shoving the blade into his chest up to the hilt. She kept pressing until the light in his eyes faded into dust.
Yanking the blade out, his lifeless body slumped to the ground with a nauseating thump.
Twisting around, Mulan’s heart froze in her chest. Yanking Kang’s head up by the hair, the only remaining guard positioned his sword under his chin. Blood coated half of Kang’s face, a patch of purple bruises stretching across his forehead in a grotesque mask. His eyes fluttered; he wasn’t quite conscious but at least he was still alive. “Put the sword down,” the guard ordered, his tone trying to hide the fear within and failing.
Mulan stood there, uncertainty a tidal wave surging down every nerve ending. Dropping the jian meant there was nothing to stop him from slitting Kang’s throat open. Once dead, would the magic still work? Several feet separated them from her. If she attacked, he’d still have time to kill Kang.
Time froze as Mulan struggled with what to do.
“Put it down!” the guard screamed.
Her heart pounded in her chest and her blood raced in her ears. A sigh flowed over her lips. She couldn’t take the chance, not with Kang’s life on the line.
Her jian crashed to the floor with a deafening clang.
Suddenly, Kang’s arms reached upwards.
Grabbing onto the guard’s shoulders, he flipped him over and onto his back. In a fluid motion, he brought the sword down, plunging it into his throat. Blood spurted like a grisly fountain, spraying over Kang’s forehead. “No one tells Mulan what to do,” he whispered, his voice barely a croak. His eyes flicked up, locking with hers. “Even her own father knows she doesn’t obey anyone but herself.”
Relief swelled within her chest at the sight of him and her shoulders sagged. The golden glow of the torches cast deep shadows over his features, the blood coated over his skin transforming him into something out of a nightmare. But for Mulan, seeing him there, breathing, looking at her, she found him heavenly.
Lines of pain etched deep into the contours of his face and body as he rose unsteadily to his feet.
“No!”
Yang’s frustrated yell turned their heads in his direction. A deep frown stretched over his forehead, his fists balled tight at his sides. Behind him, the stone doors continued to open, letting more light spill throughout the chamber. Mulan winced at the brightness. It appeared as if a million suns had been locked away and now desperately tried to escape.
Yang pulled his sword from its sheath, the metal glinting dangerously in the bright light. He let loose a heavy exhale in Kang’s direction. “Why the fuck do you have to ruin everything?”
Kang grunted as he jerked the s
word lodged in the guard’s throat free. Blood drops bathed the stone floor crimson. “It’s a gift.”
“Then let me return it with one of my own!” Spinning the blade around, Yang raced forward, a blur of dark speed and deadly intent.
He swung his sword towards his brother only for him to raise his weapon sideways to block the strike. Scraping the blade down Kang’s, Yang swirled away in a fluid motion and brought it down once more. Deflecting the blow with ease, Kang jumped to the right, swinging his blade over the top of Yang’s head.
Determination edged both brother’s faces with sharp lines as they wielded their weapons with expertise. Metal cut through the air, the sounds of panting and grunts mingling with the song of steel upon steel.
Gripping her hilt tight, Mulan rushed to join Kang. Side by side, their blades carved the air, but Yang deflected them with ease. Yang moved with grace and precision, reminiscent of a tiger.
And just like a tiger, he possessed deadly skills.
His sword swished past her ear, sending her heartbeat racing as she dodged the blow. His leg shot out, striking the back of her leg. Mulan crashed to the floor, her lungs screaming for oxygen. Above her head, sparks flew off as the brother’s blades met.
In a fluid movement, Mulan jumped back to her feet, her blade aimed for Yang’s head but missing it by a mile as the brothers’ feet carried them backwards, jumping over fallen bodies without looking.
She ran, ducking and dodging as she jumped back into the fray, but a voice in the back of her mind told her it wouldn’t be enough. Yang’s skill with the blade was even more impressive than Kang’s. The air filled with the sound of fighting, of blade against blade, of despair and defiance and death.
Honour, She Obeys Page 41
