Heart of Defiance

by Ryan Kirk

  Bai reached out, stopping her descent. She cartwheeled over the outstretched arm, using the momentum from her leap and Lei’s strike to carry her feet over her head and back to the ground. She landed softly, then darted toward Lei.

  Of course, Lei had expected her to do something of the sort. He’d seen her agility too many times by now to be surprised. He had a stronger, second attack queued, and Bai hadn’t thought to weave as she approached.

  Lei attacked, and Bai felt the energy stab from his hand in her direction. She was too close to dodge and was forced to take the blast full on.

  For a few seconds, the world slowed to a crawl. Her skin felt as though it was peeling away from her, pinpricks of light and energy tearing away at her flesh as it tried to escape.

  She was beside him before she realized it, her speed even greater than she realized. With this power, she didn’t dare punch at him. Given her speed and strength at the moment, she was certain she would kill him. Instead, she jumped, putting the energy in her legs.

  She had never put so much into a jump. The trees surrounding the clearing had to be thirty feet high, and for the briefest of moments she looked out above them, on the small valley below that held Lei’s village and the greater valley in the distance, the home she could never return to.

  Then she was falling, losing control as she dropped. She tried to summon more energy, but she wasn’t grounded. All she could draw was a trickle of power. She needed far more if she was going to survive the landing.

  Lei must have sensed the same. Before she even had time to utter a cry of terror, he attacked her again, this wave of energy gentle compared to the others he had used.

  She felt the energy flow into her once again, and she directed it down to her legs. She landed on the stone, deep gouges driven into the rock with a tremendous crack. The impact on her barely registered.

  Bai stood and checked herself. She seemed unharmed, as near as she could tell.

  Lei studied her, his face not giving much emotion away. He gave her a small nod. “Impressive.”

  Behind him, Bai saw Yang’s mouth hanging open. After a few seconds, he came to his senses and joined them. “I’ve never seen anything like that in my life, and I’ve lived a long time.”

  Bai wasn’t quite sure what to say to the older man. Ever since he had told her what occurred in Galan, they hadn’t seen much of each other. She knew he was in town, but she spent her time training or resting in her room. She didn’t visit the inn’s common room often.

  She didn’t dislike the man, but he was a reminder of a past she would rather forget.

  Lei filled the silence. “Her abilities are unique as far as I know. You can see for yourself the powers she can summon, but she has no external control. Internally, though, I’ve never met her like. You sense how she can shift power within herself?”

  Yang nodded. He seemed too awestruck to speak.

  Eventually, the rebel monk looked out over the valley. When he spoke again, his voice was lower, filled with concern. “I fear she is a harbinger of things to come, Lei. The monasteries aren’t developing fast enough. Not for this.” He paused. “Bai, do you know just how dangerous those skills are?”

  She clenched her fists. How could she not? It was her power that had killed so many. Only after a moment did she realize that wasn’t what he spoke of.

  Lei shook his head. “She’s not invincible. Without external abilities, she’s more vulnerable to arrows and swords than monks who can form shields.”

  He had drilled this into her constantly. Power was not the same as invincibility.

  Yang’s retort was quick. “That’s not what I speak of, Lei. You can’t tell me you haven’t realized that you’re creating a monk killer.”

  The phrase stopped Bai’s heart. In all her excitement, she’d never once realized the true power behind her abilities. Against her, the combat skills the monks possessed would be almost useless. She could already go toe-to-toe with Lei most times they sparred now, and that was only after a bit of training.

  Yang turned so he faced her directly. “What do you plan on doing with these powers?”

  It wasn’t that she hadn’t thought of the question before. She spent most of the time in her room wondering about exactly that question. The problem was, she had no answer. Some part of her still wanted to run and hide. But that instinct, so long developed in her, was beginning to fade. She recognized it now as advice from a mother who hadn’t possessed the ability to defend herself or her child from the harsh world.

  But Bai could defend herself. She could even protect others, or bring judgment. The thought alone was intoxicating and heady. More than once she had imagined what she could do to Wen, if they were ever to meet again. The onetime jailer would regret his treatment of her.

  Yang thought for another moment. “If you wish, I could make use of your skills. I help lead a small group known as the Golden Leaf. We are dedicated to building a new future for monasteries and the empire.”

  Bai looked from Yang to Lei, then back to Yang. She’d suspected something was different about Yang. Obviously, she suspected most monks wouldn’t be welcome in Lei’s village. She’d never heard of the Golden Leaf, but she had heard plenty of talk about overthrowing the monasteries down in Galan.

  “What would you have me do?”

  Yang smiled. “I don’t know. But a woman with your abilities could make a tremendous change.”

  “You want me to kill monks.”

  “I would hope not. You may be able to protect us from them, though. Some in my group believe violence is required for change. I do not agree, personally. But the matter is far from settled. You would be a great help, though.”

  Bai had no ready answer. She detested the monks, but had never considered the possibility of fighting against them. “I’m not sure, but thank you for the offer.”

  Yang nodded. “I won’t pressure you. I do believe change is coming, but the choice is yours alone to make. Just know, the offer is always open, if you’re interested. Lei trusts you, so I do, too.” He handed her a slip of paper. “If you’re ever interested, use this to contact me.”

  Bai bowed, grateful for the trust.

  Together, the three of them began making their way down the mountain toward the village. They were saying their farewells when a young man came running up to them. Panting for breath, he said, “There’s a man on the trail below who says he wants to talk to Bai.”

  Both Lei and Yang glanced at her. She shook her head, as uncertain as they.

  “Who is it?” Lei asked.

  The boy gulped. “He announced himself as Lord Xun’s questioner, sir. He says he’s come for answers.”

  24

  Delun returned to consciousness unwillingly. His head pounded, his mouth was dry, and he knew, as soon as he woke up, that he was in for a rough day.

  He was tied tightly to a chair, with thin ropes around his wrists, torso, and ankles. Even more concerning, his hands were tied to the arm of the chair he sat on. The ropes weren’t perfect, of course. Given enough time, he’d be able to at least free his hands.

  Given the circumstances, though, he didn’t think that was likely.

  A thin rope was tied loosely around his neck. It led up to the ceiling, where a water pail hung above him. His eyes narrowed in curiosity, until he saw a second thin rope, taut with the weight of the pail. He followed the weight-bearing rope until it ended underneath the leg of the other chair in the room, currently occupied by the most dangerous woman Delun had ever met.

  His gut told him this was the same woman who had ambushed him in the streets, an act that felt like a lifetime ago. Her current trap seemed even more complete. If her weight shifted too much, the bucket would drop and either snap his neck or choke him to death. Neither option sounded pleasant.

  A fine trap, indeed. He would have been more impressed had he not been the victim. Few people could prevent a monk from saving himself, but this woman seemed to have the knack for it.

 
; She watched as he took in the room.

  “You’ve figured out that if my weight shifts from this chair, you’re dead?”

  He nodded.

  “Good.”

  He expected more questions, but she sat there silently, staring at him.

  For a few seconds, he kept silent, too. Two could play at that game. But he realized he was acting like a fool. This woman obviously knew who he was, and had tried to kill him earlier. This time, she hadn’t. “Why am I still alive?”

  “Why have you been visiting the halls of healing, and why are you no longer at the monastery?”

  Delun wished for some water. His throat was parched and his voice cracked, but the woman across from him didn’t seem terribly interested in quenching his thirst. She wanted answers.

  He worked on the problem. This woman was the best connection to the Golden Leaf he had found. Someone confident in their position might make a mistake, might let something slip they didn’t mean to. He needed to direct the conversation, get her to open up.

  Before he could reply, she interrupted his line of thought. “Stop whatever you’re thinking. You’re alive because I’m curious. If you don’t answer my questions immediately, or I think you’re lying, I’ll stand up and we’ll both be done here.”

  He nodded, impressed despite his circumstances. “I originally left the monastery because they were interfering with my mission. I was always accompanied…”

  “What was your mission?” the woman interrupted.

  “To find and destroy the Golden Leaf.”

  The woman scoffed, but motioned for Delun to continue.

  “I felt I could do better if I wasn’t always accompanied. Guanyu’s monks are particularly difficult to work with. That’s why I left the monastery. As for the halls of healing, I wanted to help how I could.”

  The woman’s face hardened. “I don’t believe you.”

  “I don’t particularly care. I wanted to help.”

  “You were looking to infiltrate the Golden Leaf.”

  “I wasn’t. At least, not there. I’m still trying, of course, but visiting the halls of healing had nothing to do with my mission. I had no ulterior motive other than to ease my conscience.”

  The woman studied him. “What are you trying to accomplish here?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know anymore. Since Guanyu sent his monks into town the second time, I haven’t been sure. I’ve continued my mission, as best I can, but I’ve made no progress. You’re the closest I’ve come.”

  Her eyes reminded him of a large cat he’d seen one time in the mountains closer to Two Bridges. They seemed relaxed, but they held a deep awareness of her surroundings. There was no doubt about it. This woman was a predator. Still, his curiosity couldn’t be contained. “I’ve answered your questions honestly, now answer mine. Why didn’t you kill me?”

  She seemed more amenable to his question this time. “Because I’ve spoken with the healers, and I’ve been following you for days. You are different, and I wanted to know how different before I killed you.”

  He looked around the room. “At considerable risk.”

  “Unlike monks, I don’t kill just anyone.”

  He nodded, acknowledging her point. “So, what happens now?”

  “I haven’t decided yet.”

  “May I ask you a few questions, while you decide?”

  She narrowed her eyes, but then leaned back. Delun eyed the rope underneath her nervously. “Sure.”

  “Are you a member of the Golden Leaf?”

  She scratched at her cheek. “I suppose you could say that.”

  “Is the Golden Leaf responsible for Galan?”

  “No.”

  He’d hoped for a different answer, but he believed her.

  “Are you responsible for the explosions outside the monastery?”

  “Some of us are, yes. Not all agreed.”

  “Are there monks among your members?”

  She smiled at that. “Yes.”

  A few weeks ago that answer would have sent him into a rage. He could still feel a spark of something, but it wasn’t the righteous anger he’d once felt. Not after what he’d seen.

  “What are the goals of the Golden Leaf?”

  “To build a new monastic system.”

  Delun blinked. If he’d harbored any doubt about the woman before, it was gone now. He had been prepared for a spiel about destroying the monasteries. He hadn’t expected talk of a reformation instead. “What do you mean?”

  “The system is broken. Monks like Guanyu and Kang can destroy lives with impunity, and that power, no matter how well intentioned, eventually changes a person. The Golden Leaf isn’t foolish enough to believe that the monasteries aren’t needed. But they do need to be controlled.”

  “The monasteries don’t need control. They need leaders worthy of the task.”

  “Such leaders are rare. Would you sit idly by, waiting for one?”

  Delun shook his head slightly. He didn’t have time for this. “Are you going to kill me or not?”

  The woman answered his question with a question. “Who do you believe needs to be stopped more—Guanyu or the Golden Leaf?”

  In his days of wondering, Delun had never considered the choice in such black and white terms. The Golden Leaf had killed monks, but Guanyu had killed innocents. In this struggle, no one could claim to be justified.

  Guanyu’s actions reverberated further, though. As word of the massacre spread, more discontent would grow throughout the empire. The abbot might bring about the Golden Leaf’s stated goals sooner than they did. The murder of a handful of monks paled in comparison to the fire Guanyu played with.

  Had his loyalties switched so suddenly?

  He thought back to Jihan, and the first monk who had changed his life. Guanyu desecrated that man’s memory.

  In his travels, Delun had met plenty of incompetent monks, but he had never met a monk as committed as Guanyu. The man truly believed his methods would work, that citizens would embrace his leadership. For as much as he claimed to be a student of history, he didn’t seem to have learned any of its lessons.

  But still, could he turn against his brothers? The shame seemed too great for him to bear.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “But I cannot side with you. Guanyu needs to be removed, but I won’t condone the killing of my brothers.”

  She nodded. “I can respect that. Would it change your mind if I told you that Guanyu has put the city under monastic law, and that Lord Xun is marching one of his armies here to fight the monks?”

  Delun’s eyes went wide. If true, all his worst fears would be realized at once. Kulat could very well be the spark that set off the entire region, or even worse, the entire empire. Delun had spent his entire life fighting against just such an event. He couldn’t sit idly by.

  “What would you ask of me?” The question wasn’t as difficult to ask as he’d expected.

  “Can you remove Guanyu as head of the monastery?”

  “No. I have autonomy, which is far more than most monks have, but my authority doesn’t extend that far. Although…” His voice trailed off.

  His orders were open-ended. He’d certainly be punished, but perhaps he could remove Guanyu. He imagined the scenario, shaking his head as he did. The abbot wouldn’t accept Delun’s authority. The monks supported him, too. Kang had come to Kulat specifically to serve under the man. Delun had no one’s loyalty.

  “There’s nothing I can do on my own,” he concluded.

  “What if I introduced you to others?”

  “Where?”

  “In the mountains above Galan.”

  Understanding suddenly clicked into place. He remembered one arrow narrowly missing him, then another only stopped by his shield. “You were the one we were chasing!”

  She frowned in confusion, then made the connection herself. “I wondered if that was you. But yes, Lei might have other ideas, and there might be members of the Golden Leaf there.”

  �
��Lei isn’t part of the Golden leaf?”

  The woman shook her head. “He’d rather stay out of the affairs of the empire. But he welcomes all into his village.” She smiled as she remembered who she was talking to. “For the most part.”

  Delun was starting to understand so many pieces, and yet the whole still eluded him. Lord Xun’s involvement changed everything. He considered options for a few minutes, and she let him think in silence. No other options presented themselves, though. He sighed. “Very well, I will come with you.”

  The woman went to work dismantling the trap she’d tied him in. Then she drew a knife and cut through his bonds. He flexed his fingers, grateful for the release.

  She looked out the window of Delun’s room. “More monks have patrolled the streets lately. They’ve been traveling in groups of four. The good news is, there aren’t too many, and the city is large. So long as we’re careful, we shouldn’t run into them.”

  “You mean to leave now?”

  “No reason to wait. Xun’s men won’t arrive for a fortnight yet, but once they do, it’s going to be much harder to reverse the course of events. We need a solution before they arrive.”

  Delun reluctantly agreed. They left the room together, heading down to the common room and out the inn. The streets were dark and empty, and Delun realized he didn’t even know his companion’s name. He asked.

  “Hien,” she replied.

  Delun gave his own name, not sure what else to do. Introductions were short. He had more questions for her, but held them for a better time. Right now, Hien moved with purpose through the city.

  He followed her twisting and turning route, surprised when he came out at the main gate of Kulat. He was surprised again when the gate was closed and attended by monks.

  Hien barely missed a step. In moments, they were back on the side streets.

  “Where are we going?” Delun asked.

  “There are plenty of ways out of the city,” Hien replied.

  He supposed that was true. Kulat wasn’t walled. The gates protected the roads, but simply leaving the city was an easy matter on foot. They would only have to avoid any patrols the monks might have placed.