by Cindy Lin
Upon spotting their approach, the Guards scrambled to block the gate and aim their firecannon, but Usagi and the others were upon them before they could blink twice. Bellowing, Goru wrenched their firecannon away and threw himself against the doors, bursting them open. They streamed through, racing into the narrow hilly streets of the palace district, following the twisting lanes that led toward the rest of the city.
Chapter 24
Flight to Mount Jade
AS THEY TORE DOWN THE slopes, going as fast as their spirit speed would allow, Usagi glanced back at the palace on the hill. Its white walls gleamed coldly in the moonlight. Heaviness overcame her, pulling at her legs as she leaped. The Tigress was gone, and they’d lost the jade bead she’d tried so hard to keep from the Dragonlord. And what would become of Uma? Though they had all the Treasures otherwise, the mission felt utterly incomplete.
Yet there was no time to dwell on it, for the clatter of Striker armor began to echo in the streets after them. At this late hour of the night, the streets of the capital were far less crowded, but there were still carts and wagons to hurdle, people to dodge, and Guard patrols to avoid. They raced through the hilly palace district and reached the city flatlands. Saru steered them into a dark and deserted lane.
“We need to change,” she said breathlessly. “And take care of injuries.”
Tora frowned. “Shouldn’t we wait till we’re out of the city?”
The Monkey Heir shook her head. “The Dragonstrikers are looking for roaches on the run. They won’t notice us as ordinary people. And if we’re going to take a moment to change, then we ought to fix those cuts. You’ll all run faster if you’re not bleeding.”
Inu mumbled something through his swollen lip. Rana pulled out the Apothecary. “Here!” She gave Inu a wad of yarrow and other herbs to put in his mouth. She selected a vial out of the pillbox and shook it onto a cloth. She stanched the bleeding from the cut on Goru’s head, then wiped away the blood dripping into his eyes.
He flinched, then relaxed. “That feels better.” Goru smiled. “Thanks, Snake Girl.”
Tending to Tora’s wounds, Rana dabbed at the scratches the Blue Dragon had slashed on her cheeks and smoothed a salve over them. “This should prevent scarring,” she said.
“That’s good—I have enough scars as it is,” said Tora with a wry smile. “But what about you? You must be terribly bruised.”
Rana nodded and rummaged through the pillbox. She mixed two powders with a small bottle of liquid into a paste, then put the concoction on her tongue. She grimaced and swallowed. “Scabs, that’s bitter,” she gasped.
“Wash it down with some water,” advised Nezu. He tipped his flask into Rana’s cupped hands, and she drank gratefully.
Inu spit out the herbs he’d been chewing and rubbed his jaw. “That was quite a kick the Blue Dragon had. I’m glad there’s no permanent damage.”
Flashing a grin, Nezu peered at Inu’s face and raised his hand. “We’ll see about that. How many fingers am I holding up?”
Saru rolled her eyes. “Goru, can you conjure us some clothing that will help us blend in?”
The Ox Heir reached for the Conjurer and regarded each of them with pensive eyes. Then he nodded to himself and tapped each person lightly on the shoulder with the mallet.
Tap! Usagi’s armor transformed into the clothing of an old peddler woman. Her helmet became a shawl about her head, and her pack a basket of sweet potatoes.
Tap! Tora found her outfit changed into that of an old man, her unruly hair tucked beneath a cloth cap. Her pack morphed into a bundle of firewood on her back.
Tap! Inu and Nezu became ordinary Guard, their armor reduced to simple iron breastplates with leather arm and leg guards. The bug-like horns on their helmets melted away, and they were left with plain iron headgear.
Tap! Saru’s armor was turned into the stiff brocaded silks of a wealthy Hulagan woman, and Rana’s armor became the simple hemp garments of a maidservant.
Tap! Goru changed his armor into the robes of a squat traveling monk, his shaved head covered with a round straw hat. He grinned from beneath the wide brim. “How’s that for disguise?”
They looked at each other and smirked.
“We won’t be able to use spirit speed till we’re out of the city,” said Saru. “But the Strikers aren’t going to pay much attention to us now.”
After they’d added a bit of face paint, their disguises were complete. They moved back out into the streets, walking in pairs or singly, keeping each other in sight. As shouting Strikers ran past, searching for the whereabouts of the palace intruders, Usagi and the others strolled unnoticed out of the city gates and onto the Ring Road.
Once they were far enough from the city on a deserted stretch of road, they were free to launch into spirit speed. They ran and leaped in the dead of night, heading away from the capital as quickly as they could.
When the sun peeked over the horizon, they plunged into the wilderness and began their journey back to Mount Jade. In the refuge of a wooded glen, they stopped by a stream to rest and get their bearings. Usagi took out the Tigress’s robe and shrunken staff and examined them carefully, but they yielded no clues.
“You’ll want to be careful with that staff,” advised Goru. “It’ll spring back to its regular size in a few hours.”
Usagi smiled. “As will you.”
The Ox Heir took off his straw monk’s hat and rubbed his shaved head. “It can’t come soon enough. I used to wish I weren’t so big, you know. I stick out, everywhere I go. People always stare.” He looked down and fiddled with the Conjurer on his belt. “There have definitely been some advantages to being smaller. But I miss being me.”
“We’ll take you at any size,” said Tora. “And thanks in good part to you, we have all the Treasures!”
Rana’s face fell. “We don’t have all of them,” she lamented. “We only have the Sea Jewels, which are supposed to control the tides. The Dragonlord took the Land Jewel, which is supposed to access the power of Mount Jade. Without it, the pearls are useless.”
“We’ll figure out a way to get the jade bead back,” Saru promised. “The full power of the Treasures can’t be accessed until the necklace is restored. But the bead is no good to the Blue Dragon by itself, and he has none of the other Treasures now. The Tigress would be proud.”
Usagi felt a stab of sorrow. She hugged the old warrior’s ragged robe close and clutched the shrunken wooden staff tight. She would bring them back to the Shrine of the Twelve and put them in a safe place, with the hope that somehow, some way, they would be needed again.
The Treasures from the palace were brought out. Saru tied the Sea Jewels around Rana’s neck. “Don’t worry. Someday this necklace will be complete.”
Reaching into her peddler’s basket, Usagi pulled out the Bowl of Plenty and handed it to Nezu. “You should be in charge of this.”
He cradled it like a pet and crooned at it. “Hello, old friend. I’ve missed you.” Flashing a grin, Nezu polished off an imaginary speck on the bowl before tucking it away.
Usagi offered the comb to Inu. “Are you sure?” asked Inu. “You kept the comb safe for years.”
“I’m sure,” she said. But Inu wouldn’t hear of it and made her take the Coppice Comb. Though Usagi knew now that it hadn’t been created by her father as she’d first thought, a warm feeling still came over her when she slipped the carved wooden comb, so familiar and dear, under her belt. She handed the Pen of Truth to Tora. “I think it’d be better if you carry this.” With a glint of her snaggleteeth, Tora accepted.
Saru held up the fan. “Inu, why don’t you take this instead? Or Goru—would you like to carry it?”
The Ox Heir waved it off. “I’m fine with the Conjurer. Inu’s been an Heir for far longer—the fan should go with him.”
“Now that I can play the Flute of Dreams again, I’ve got all I need,” said Inu. He rubbed his jaw. “You’re the senior Heir, Saru—you should keep the Winds of Inf
inity.”
With a nod, the Monkey Heir tucked it in her belt. With the exception of Goru and Inu, both carrying a single Treasure, each of them would safeguard two Treasures back to Mount Jade. “When the circle of Warrior Heirs is complete, we’ll each be responsible for just one item,” said Saru.
“Imagine that. Twelve Warrior Heirs,” said Nezu, smoothing the fuzz on his upper lip. “And the Treasures of the Twelve—united on Mount Jade. We’ll change the course of Midaga yet.”
Soon their clothes and weapons returned to normal, and Goru was happily giant once more. Usagi carried her walking stick in one hand and the Tigress’s long staff in the other, anxious to get back to the shrine. Speeding through hills and valleys, through farmland, orchards, scrubland, and forest, they came within sight of the Midagian Alps after several days. The bristling ridge of mountains was the spiked backbone of the island, crowned by its highest peak, Mount Jade.
In the midst of winter, the sacred mountain was cloaked in a thick mantle of snow, like a queen wrapped in her furs. The green of evergreen trees and jade stone outcroppings dotted the white snow like embroidery and beading on a royal cape. It was the hour of the Horse, the sun directly overhead, and the mountain glowed with welcome.
“Almost home,” said Nezu with a grin, and Usagi felt her spirits lift somewhat. Though she longed for both her sister and the Tigress to be with them, she was glad that at least the Treasures would be back to their rightful place at the shrine, to be protected and to protect, until both the necklace and the Warriors of the Zodiac could be restored.
As they neared the Sea of Trees, a deep and impenetrable forest at the base of Mount Jade, Tora stopped short with a gasp. Usagi turned and the others halted. “What’s wrong?”
“Usagi,” Tora said urgently, grabbing her by the arm. “I . . . I don’t know what to think—but Uma’s there.”
“What?” They stared at Tora. “Where?”
Tora pointed. Usagi squinted. In the distance, just outside the Sea of Trees, stood a small figure, alone.
“How can that be?” wondered Inu.
Though she hardly dared hope, Usagi knew to trust Tora. Her tiger vision was unfailing. “My sister has horse speed, and she knows where Mount Jade is—the Blue Dragon required all his cadets to study maps of the kingdom. She must have managed to get away!” Breaking into a run, Usagi sprinted toward the figure, then sprang into her rabbit leap, her feet as light as her heart. Her sister was here!
Closing the distance with just a few bounds, she landed right before Uma. With an overjoyed squeal, she reached out and squeezed her sister’s hands. Uma squeezed back weakly. She was pale and exhausted looking, with dark circles beneath her eyes. Her usually neat hair was still tied back but disheveled, as if she’d run all night and all day to arrive at Mount Jade before them.
“You came!” Usagi said happily. She threw her arms around her sister. “I’m so glad. I wasn’t sure I’d ever see you again. Thank you for letting me go—and for the warning about the singing floors. As soon as you mentioned them, I knew you couldn’t possibly want to stay with the Dragonlord.” She couldn’t stop from babbling, the words pouring out. There was so much to say to Uma, so much to show her. “I’ve been worrying this whole time about how to find you again. But now you’re here!” Pausing to take a deep breath, she pulled back to look at her sister more closely.
Uma’s eyes were filled with tears, and her lower lip trembled. “Usagi, I’m so sorry.”
“No, no, I’m the one who’s sorry.” Usagi tried to soothe her sister. At the sound of approaching footsteps, she turned to see her friends approaching. Usagi waved them over with joyful abandon. “Everyone will be so thrilled. A youngling of the Horse year has yet to join our ranks. I was always hoping it might be you. Now you’ll get a chance, the mountain goddess be praised!”
Shaking her head, Uma looked down. “No, it’s not that.” Her voice was barely audible as a tear trickled down each cheek. Her eyes, dark and wet, met Usagi’s. “This is all a trap.”
As she stared into her sister’s eyes, a cold shock went through Usagi like an icy wave. Every last hair on her arms stood on end. Pricking her ears, she realized it wasn’t just the sounds of the approaching Heirs that Usagi was hearing—they were surrounded. She whirled in a panic, just as Rana and the other Heirs drew close.
“Usagi!” said Inu urgently. “I smell danger.”
“It’s an ambush!” she shouted just as a loud explosion went off.
Chapter 25
Wrath of the Dragon
STICKY FLY-NETS CARTWHEELED THROUGH THE air, and a roar went up as dozens of Strikers threw off hiding screens of woven bamboo laced with branches, grass, and other greenery. They had been lying in wait just before the Sea of Trees. Usagi yanked out her sword as the others reached for their weapons. As the fly-nets spun toward them, they ducked and rolled out of the way. But Uma remained motionless, just staring at her feet, and was hit with a net. It knocked her down in a tangle of tacky rope. Usagi scrambled up and stood over her, fighting a rush of anger. Her sister had deceived them after all. Uma’s dark eyes met hers.
“I had no choice, Usagi,” she said. “They forced me to be the bait.”
Her words gave Usagi pause. She examined her sister’s face and saw no satisfaction, no resentment or fury—only sorrow and regret. Then Tora shouted her name.
“Tupa and the Dragonlord are coming!”
The line of Strikers approached steadily, weapons drawn. Some had firecannon, others carried swords, and several had long spears. Tupa sauntered behind them, emerging from the shadows that edged the Sea of Trees, followed by the Dragonlord, resplendent in a full suit of plated armor. Even from a distance, a pale hand-shaped mark could be seen on his cheek.
Usagi looked back down at her sister. She raised her sword and Uma cringed, her eyes growing wide. Uma opened her mouth to cry out, but before she could utter a sound, Usagi brought her blade down and swiftly cut the ropes of the fly-net. She yanked hard at the sticky strands, leaving an opening for her sister. “Stay low, whatever you do,” she told Uma.
Whirling, Usagi ran to join the others, who stood shoulder to shoulder. She held her sword tightly, her heart pounding as she got into position next to Tora. There was no time to create armor for themselves with the Conjurer—not when there were several dozen Strikers advancing, about to charge them at any second. At least she had on the Fire Cloak, and the Coppice Comb was tucked in her belt. If the Blue Dragon wanted the Treasures, he and his forces would have to fight for them.
As the Strikers came to a halt, the once and former Ram Heir strolled up. Tupa was similarly clad in shiny black lacquered armor, but his horned helmet was tipped in gold. On a strap around his neck was his firehorn, a curved ram’s horn that spewed flame. Stroking his goatee, Tupa gazed at their small band. A broad smile split across his face. “Brothers and sisters! You should never leave without saying goodbye. What happened to your manners?”
Inu’s nostrils flared. “We could say the same for you,” he growled.
“We’re not your brothers,” spat Nezu.
With a chuckle, Tupa touched the shoulders of two Strikers. “Our bait’s about to get loose—go fetch her,” he ordered.
“Yes, Captain!” The Strikers ran forward and grabbed Uma, who was trying to get out of the fly-net. Usagi watched helplessly as they hauled her back and dumped Uma at the Dragonlord’s feet.
The Blue Dragon looked down at Uma, his lips curling as if she were an errant strand of hair in his soup. “You should have reported them when you had the chance. I’ve long suspected you had a loyalty problem.” Turning away, he paced a few steps behind the line of Strikers, his dark eyes raking over Usagi and the others. In one hand, he carried a paddle-shaped fan made of solid lacquered iron. “So. The Tigress’s Heirs are still at it. You thought you could come into my palace, my chambers, and steal from right under my nose. There’s a level of audacity there, I’ll grant you that.” His voice was deep and boo
ming, echoing against the wall of trees behind him. “But audacity and foolishness are two sides of the same coin. Did you really think you were going to get away with it?” He chuckled, and Tupa’s broad smile grew even wider.
“It’s not your palace, Druk,” said Saru. The Monkey Heir spoke quietly, but her chin was set and her eyes blazed. “Not your chambers, and not your Treasures. None of it belongs to you. You’re the one who stole.”
The line of Strikers tensed, and Tupa’s smile disappeared. “How dare you speak to Lord Druk this way?” he hissed.
“What do you younglings know?” the Dragonlord said evenly, though the mark of the Tigress’s hand on his livid face grew even paler. “I won’t have my plans for Midaga delayed.” He slapped the paddle fan against his palm for emphasis, making a metallic thwack. “Hand over the Treasures at once—and I’ll let you keep your lives.”
“Right, because you’re so good at keeping your vows and promises, Druk,” said Nezu.
Usagi saw that behind the line of Strikers, her sister had pushed herself into a sitting position, half-tangled in the fly-net. Fury coursed through her. “Yes—especially to those who serve you. Look at Uma. She believed in you—and you let her suffer. Even now, you’re just using her.”
The Blue Dragon smiled, his purple lips stretched over teeth as white as the mark on his face. “You say that as if it’s a bad thing. To be an instrument for a greater purpose is an honor.”
“Through suffering, she becomes stronger,” Tupa interjected. “I thought I taught you that, Usagi.”
A hot flush rushed to Usagi’s cheeks, and her fingers tightened on the handle of her sword. “All you taught me was how little to trust anyone—you the least of all.”
Tupa’s eyes narrowed, but the Dragonlord waved his paddle fan.
