Her purple warping of the world fizzed into nothingness just as Phoenix came within reach of Zhudai. The sorcerer turned on him with a snarl, drawing his sword and slashing in one smooth move. Phoenix ran on, spinning aside at the last second to avoid the slice at his stomach. Faster than thought, he laid a hand over Zhudai’s on the hilt, turned, twisted the wrist and shifted his weight. Zhudai flew through the air then, in an incredible display of athleticism, flipped and landed squarely on his feet, utterly unharmed.
Without a pause, giving Phoenix no chance to recover from his shock at the manoeuvre, Zhudai launched himself, his sword a gleaming circle of death. Wary now that his personal shield was down, Phoenix leaped away, trying to get out from between Zhudai and Jade, hoping she could at least slow the man down. The sorcerer was cannier though, moving swiftly to keep Phoenix between himself and her magic.
Zhudai lunged again and again, almost like a fencer, careful not to over commit himself. Phoenix could do nothing but turn aside, barely avoiding the swordpoint time and time again. Underfoot, the ground treacherous with broken stone and holes. Watching the sorcerer closely, Phoenix backed three quick steps away. He reached down a hand and swept his fingers over the surface, feeling for what he wanted, rather than looking. His hand closed on a fist-sized chunk of rock. Zhudai saw and laughed, advancing to close the gap again.
Phoenix circled left. Zhudai followed, moving with the smooth, fluid grace of a trained killer. The sorcerer skipped forward, feinting with the sword then lashing out with a front-kick that almost took Phoenix by surprise. His reflexes saved him. He sidestepped, hooked his left arm under Zhudai’s upraised foot and continued its upward momentum, hoping to drop the sorcerer on his head. Instead, Zhudai pushed off the ground with his other foot and backflipped in mid-air, just missing the kick to Phoenix’s chin before landing squarely on his feet again. Phoenix groaned. He’d only seen that done in movies. This guy was unbelievable.
Deciding the only chance he had was to close the distance and engage in close-combat, Phoenix watched for an opening. He threw the rock at Zhudai’s head, hoping to distract him. The sorcerer simply flicked his fingers at it and it exploded into dust. That moment was all Phoenix needed. He hooked his foot under another stone and kicked it toward Zhudai along the ground. There. Just for a split second, Zhudai trod on the loose rock, lost his footing, glanced down and spread his arms to keep his balance. Phoenix rushed forward, closing the gap. Too late, Zhudai tried to swing his sword-arm in a strike at Phoenix’s head. Phoenix caught the sorcerer’s forearm on his own and levered it backward, pushing the sword away from his face and using his right hand to pull the elbow forward at the same time. Stretching out his right leg, he swept at Zhudai’s foot and drove the sword-hand toward the ground with as much force as he could muster.
Again, Zhudai did the unexpected. In mid-fall, he somehow twisted out of the armlock. Turning, he hooked a leg around Phoenix’s waist, and looped his free arm around Phoenix’s neck from behind in a choke-hold. Phoenix felt the first stirrings of true panic. He knew he had only seconds before sliding into unconsciousness. Seconds to break a hold that felt like an iron bar across his throat. Then his training kicked in. Still keeping Zhudai’s sword-hand out of the way with his left, Phoenix reached up and back with his right hand. Stars sparkled behind his eyes as the blood-flow to his head slowed. Gasping, weakening, he scrabbled behind until his fingers latched onto the base of Zhudai’s long black braid. As the day darkened, Phoenix dropped to his knees, pushed up with his left hip, bent as he fell and hauled on the braid as hard as he could. Zhudai sailed over his shoulder and landed hard on the broken stone a few feet away.
Gasping for breath, Phoenix staggered upright. Zhudai arose as well, his black eyes snapping with fury. The two began to circle warily again. Phoenix sucked great, heaving breaths into his starved lungs. Sweat ran into his eyes but he didn’t dare wipe it away. His legs were jelly. This had to end soon or...
With a sudden laugh, Zhudai looked down, hooked his toes under Blódbál’s blade and flicked the sword up, into his waiting hand. A contemptuous flip of his wrist sent his own blade far away, out of Phoenix’s reach. It skittered musically across the ground. Zhudai’s smiled broadened then turned almost feral as the sword’s song wove its dangerous message into his mind. With a sinking heart, Phoenix watched his mortal enemy lose himself in the berserk urgings of the Svear sword.
He pulled out the two Life daggers, the only weapons he had. Their small blades were all that stood between him and Blódbál’s magic. Zhudai’s swordsmanship was already incredible, even without the sword’s encouragement. This was not going to be easy.
Phoenix drew a deep breath, relaxing his shoulders, extending himself, feeling the ground, tasting the air, staring through his opponent. His only advantage: Zhudai had no experience with how to control the sword. His only hope: that Zhudai would find it as difficult to manage as he had. It was a thin hope, as Zhudai clearly lacked the moral restraints of a normal person.
Even as Phoenix began to despair, he felt a half-familiar honey-warm strength seep into his limbs. Jade’s voice percolated into his head with it.
Finish it, Phoenix. I have lent you strength but I can’t do it for long. I’m running out of people to draw energy from. I’ve tried taking it from Zhudai but he stopped me somehow. It’s up to you, now.
Phoenix nodded, grinning as the warmth of her spell spread into his whole body. The sorcerer moved with unbelievable speed, bringing Blódbál up in a lethal upward slice that would have disembowelled any ordinary man under normal circumstances. Phoenix danced out of reach, hoping for any opportunity to get to close quarters where the longer sword would be useless.
Quick as he was, Zhudai was faster, the sword descending from above almost before Phoenix realised it. It was only Jade’s frightened warning in his head that gave him the chance to block. He raised both dagger blades, crossed, over his head and caught the full force of Blódbál’s motion. The shock of it jarred through his hands, right down to his heels, almost collapsing his knees. A wave of anger surged through him, so unexpected that it almost seemed to come from elsewhere. Phoenix shook his head, suddenly recognising Blódbál’s song - only this time it came to him as the sword’s victim heard it; full of helpless, hopeless anger at himself and his own inadequacy; a false anger to make him give up the fight.
More of Jade’s honey-gold energy surged up through his belly to counter it. Phoenix growled. That damned sword was more trouble than it was worth. Straining against the sorcerer’s strength, their gazes locked and Phoenix recognised the twisted, demonic expression in his enemy’s eyes: it was rage; a fury so long-held, so deep-seated and so pervasive that it coloured everything; influenced every decision.
Phoenix suddenly realised he was looking at a reflection of himself, when he had wielded the sword. It was a shocking image. This was who he had been; this was who he would have become if not for his friends. Cold sober, Phoenix knew he had to end it, and soon. Where he had had friends to bring him back to reality, out of the sword’s grip, Zhudai did not. The sorcerer would never let go of the heady, berserker rage that filled him now; never stop pursuing them; never give up peacefully. This fight had to be to the death.
Sickened, Phoenix accepted what he had to do. He relaxed his arms a little. Zhudai’s snarl became triumphant. The sword blade hovered just inch from Phoenix’s nose. Phoenix twisted, shifting his weight, shoving away and, at the same time, snuck a foot out to hook Zhudai’s in a leg-sweep. The sorcerer stumbled, managed a beautiful roll and sprang back to his feet, leaving Phoenix no advantage to follow up.
With a cry of rage, Zhudai hurled himself forward, Blódbál raised high above his head in a position no cool-headed swordsman would ever use. Phoenix saw the opportunity, risky though it was. As Zhudai began to cut, Phoenix ducked forward, into the attack, under the downward swing of the blade. His timing had to be absolutely perfect. Watching the sorcerer closely, he turned slightly, harmonising his mov
ement with Zhudai’s body. Then he drove his shoulder and both Life-daggers into Zhudai’s exposed chest, using their combined momentum to fling the sorcerer over his hip. The daggers were torn from his grasp and something hot stung his arm as Zhudai rolled away.
Suddenly, it was over.
Zhudai climbed to his feet, Blódbál’s tip dragging on the ground. He staggered toward Phoenix, a look of utter surprise on his face. He coughed, blood spraying from his lips. Then he fell to his knees, staring at the two, ruby-studded handles protruding from his body. There he sat for a moment, near the body of Baiyu, his childhood friend. Finally, life drained from his dark eyes and he toppled sideways to lie beside his blood-brother. Blódbál dropped from his lax hand, clattering discordantly against stone in the breathless silence. A gust of wind whipped a swirl of pink and white magnolia petals into the air. They settled softly on the bodies of Light and Dark, balanced, at last, in death.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
It was not until much later that day that Jade and Phoenix finally had time to think about their own situation. The hour or so after Zhudai’s death had been chaotic. Emperor Han Zhangdi thanked them sincerely but briefly, before being surrounded by a gaggle of anxious servants and returned to the Palace. Zhudai’s personal guard were rounded up by the Emperor’s men and placed under guard. Xinyu was whisked away to the Palace to confer with the Emperor about her new status.
Sidelined by the sheer efficiency of the Emperor’s staff, Jade, Phoenix, Brynn and Marcus quickly realised they weren’t needed and, for lack of anywhere else to go, wandered back to Zhi Hui’s house.
The place had been trashed by Zhudai’s guards but Zhi Hui and her servants were there, busily restoring it as best they could. She had philosophically accepted her son’s death and was getting on with life. She waved them absently into the living area, where the four travellers sank onto cushions, weary and lost. Food and tea appeared. They consumed it in silence. Jade healed the deep slice in Phoenix’s arm. Time passed. They barely noticed.
Finally, Jade raised her head and became aware of the gathering dusk outside. She looked at her friends. “So what do we do now?”
Phoenix shrugged. “Dunno. I guess, even though we stopped Zhudai, we didn’t really complete the Quest. We didn’t master the Yu Dragon. Anyway, with Baiyu gone, we are actually stuck here after all. I feel like we’ve come thousands of miles for nothing.”
Zhi Hui, who had come in to light the lanterns and refresh their teapot, cackled. Shaking her grey head, she spoke to no-one in particular.
“One does not need to journey a thousand miles to find the truth within.” The old woman shuffled out, leaving a confused silence behind her.
Marcus moved to sit next to Jade, sending her a warm, concerned look. “Things could be worse, couldn’t they?” He put an arm around her shoulder.
She smiled at him and nodded wearily, leaning her head on his arm with a sigh. “I suppose so. It’s just…”
“Just what?” He prompted.
“Just that I miss my family,” she murmured, trying hard not to give in to worry again. She had learned so much today. It wouldn’t do to let it slip away and fall back into old, bad habits. Self-belief. She had to remember that that was the key to success and happiness. True belief in herself and her own worth as a person – regardless of what others thought of her. If she believed in herself and always tried to do the right thing then she was worthy of happiness and love. If she believed in herself and worked hard enough, she could achieve anything.
“Oh!” she sat up straight as Zhi Hui’s words sank in and the final piece of the puzzle clicked into place. “The Truth Within.”
“What?” Phoenix asked yawning.
“ We had to Master the Yu Dragon, you said.”
“Yeah, so what?” He returned, poking his finger into a dish of rice that remained on the table. “We never did work out how to do that, remember?”
Jade laughed, feeling tension ease in her chest. “But we did. First we had to consider the meaning of names, yes?”
The others nodded, clearly not following. “Well,” she continued, “the only names we forgot to think about were our own – yours and mine, Phoenix.”
He frowned at her quizzically. “Ours don’t exactly need translation: I’m Phoenix Carter, you’re Jade Lockyer. They don’t have other meanings.”
“No,” she agreed, “but remember how Marcus noticed our names appeared in the translation of Zhudai’s and Baiyu’s? Well, it’s not just our first names.” She pointed to herself. “Jade Pearl Lockyer. Feng Zhudai: Black Pearl Phoenix.” She indicated Phoenix. “Phoenix Drake Carter – from the Latin “draco”, meaning Dragon. Long Baiyu: White Jade Dragon. The answer was there all along and we were too slow to realise it.”
“Huh?” Phoenix screwed up his face at her, evidently still not understanding.
“We never had to Master the ‘Yu Dragon’ and defeat ‘Feng Zhudai’,” Jade shook her head at her own blindness. “They were just a…a…metaphor. We had to Master and defeat ‘Jade Pearl’ and ‘Phoenix Drake’. We had to master and defeat ourselves.”
Now Phoenix sat up as well, catching on at last. “So today, when ...what…when I was ‘patient in a moment of anger’; when I beat Zhudai even though he had Blodbal; I was really mastering myself? Is that what you mean?”
Jade nodded eagerly. “You mastered your own anger and did the right thing at the right time. You worked with us instead of on your own. And when I decided I could be strong enough do match Zhudai with magic, I defeated my own lack of self-belief. That was what has held me back this whole time. That’s why I had to rely on herbs for strength. I’ve never believed I was good enough without them.”
“And I was blinded by anger every time I thought people had left or betrayed me. Just like when my father died,” Phoenix admitted softly. “When I let that go I could think clearly and see that I needed you; that we had to work together to beat Zhudai.”
There was a long silence as they contemplated his words and respected his pain.
Finally, Phoenix raised his head. “OK, so if that’s true, maybe we did succeed in our Quest. So why are we still here and not back at home?”
Jade sighed heavily and sank back into Marcus’ loose embrace. “I don’t know. I thought maybe we’d vanish in a blinding flash of enlightenment when we finally understood, just then. Guess either I’m still missing something vital, or we are here for good.”
Phoenix leaned back also, intertwining his fingers behind his head and staring up at the ceiling. Brynn took out his little bronze whistle and began piping a cheery little tune. Jade smiled. Marcus was right. Things could be worse. At least she still had all of her friends.
Marcus shifted position and frowned. He sat forward, reaching behind his back to pull something out from under the cushions - the Horn of Aurfanon. He turned it over in his hands then passed it to Phoenix. “It was the only thing left of the pile that came out of the Bag. No one else seemed to be able to even see it. Part of the magic of it, I assume.” He smiled faintly.
“You never blew it,” Phoenix frowned at him.
“I didn’t find it until everything was over,” Marcus admitted.
Brynn stopped tootling and looked at it curiously. “Maybe you should blow it now, just to use up the last time.”
Jade yawned. “We’re not exactly in dire peril though, are we?”
“No,” the boy shrugged. “But you did say you wanted to go home. Maybe whoever shows up will be able to get you there.”
Phoenix punched the little thief on the arm, lightly. “You trying to get rid of us after all?”
Brynn smiled wryly. “No but I’ve finally realised that, as much as I’ll miss you, you have homes and families to go back to. It’d be selfish of me to want to keep you here.”
Jade reached over and hugged him. “Oh, Brynn. I’d miss you too but you and Marcus could look after each other. He’d be your family.” Marcus nodded, leaning over to grip the boy’s f
orearm in a gesture of equality and respect. Brynn quirked a small grin at him and nodded back.
“So should I blow it or not?” Phoenix asked, the Horn half-raised to his lips.
“May as well,” Jade shrugged fatalistically. “Not much to lose, really.”
So Phoenix blew and a pure, distant note rang softly through the house, raising the hairs on the backs of their necks with its eerie, otherworldly sound.
He stopped. The note continued for awhile before fading into the gathering gloom.
They all looked expectantly at the door.
Nothing happened.
They waited.
Some more nothing happened.
Phoenix sighed and gave the Horn to Brynn. “Oh well. You may as well keep it as part of your treasure, since you lost the rest of it when the Bag was destroyed.”
A surreptitious, guilty look flitted across Brynn’s mobile face. “Er… about that. I didn’t exactly leave all the treasure in the Bag and the Bag isn’t exactly destroyed, either.” He pulled the Hyllion Bagia out of his shirt and held it up sheepishly for inspection. The bottom, where Phoenix had sliced it open, was once again whole; unmarked.
“How did you do that?” Jade asked in wonder, fingering the silky black material. There was no trace of the cut.
The boy shrugged. “Xinyu fixed it for me before she went to the Palace. I’d hidden most of my Egyptian stuff and our Roman and Indian coins before Zhudai took it off me, anyway. At least now I know exactly what’s in it. Pity about all the stuff that came out, though. Such a waste of treasure.”
“Hardly,” Jade admonished. “The people here deserve it as much as you do. I had no idea Xinyu could do such powerful magic, though. I wonder if...”
The others didn’t get to hear what she wondered. A new voice interrupted from the doorway.
“The answer is ‘yes’,” Xinyu said quietly, smiling at their surprised faces.
The Yu Dragon Page 19
