A Kind Of Bravery: A Mulan Retelling [1st Draft]

18. The Spymaster

Author's Note: In celebration of reaching 1000 followers and over 4k votes on this story, here's a new chapter as a treat. Well... I say treat.

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Chapter Eighteen:

The Spymaster

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While Garreth tumbled off of the back of the dragon like a man who had been at sea for far too long, Harriet slid off carefully, not even stumbling as her feet met the grass covered ground.

"Thank you, Xenon," she stated, earning herself a nod from the massive green dragon looming above her.

"No problem. Now, hurry up. Wars don't wait for slow pokes," Xenon replied making a shooing motion with his claw. Harriet eyed him calculatingly, noticing that he hadn't flown off yet.

"Why haven't you left?" Harriet asked, watching as Xenon did what must've been the equivalent of a shuffle from foot to foot, but for a dragon.

"No reason. I rather like this place. I think I'll just stay right here and erm- watch the stars," he said, his words echoing inside her head. Harriet threw him one last glance before thinking for a moment.

"Would you mind looking after Clark for me? I don't want him to get hurt." Xenon stared at her incredulously.

"You want me to babysit a mouse?"

"Well, you're going to be here anyway. It couldn't hurt, right? You won't eat him will you?" Xenon blinked at her once before loudly scoffing inside her head.

"Get going," Xenon stated, and Harriet nodded, latching her hand onto Garreth's arm and pulling him away from the dragon and towards the light emitted by the city hundreds of yards away.

"I am never doing that again," Garreth muttered to her as they darted across the field. Harriet just shook her head and continued to run, the sound of the celebrating capital city of Marenta getting louder as they got closer.

There was no sign of fighting or even a hint of grief in the sounds coming from the city, to Harriet assumed that the enemy soldiers had not made their appearance. She silently thanked her lucky stars all the while trying not to think of the fact that they didn't really have a plan past telling Leopold about what was to come.

Garreth and Harriet both slowed down as the field gave way to the city's cobble-stoned streets. As they got closer to the parade route through the main part of the city, more and more people started to surround them.

Harriet ignored the questioning looks as she pushed her way through the crowd, not paying attention to the raised eyebrows at their hurried pace. After all, to the people of the capital, this was a time for joyous celebration, not terrible panic.

While she had no idea what she would do once she found him, Harriet scanned the crowd for Leopold. Even if she didn't know how he would react he had to know. They had to get to him before the enemy soldiers did.

The sound of the celebration was nearly deafening as they finally reached the main street, but Harriet had yet to see Leopold. Men, women, and children were all around her, cheering for their soldiers while they ignored the fact that two people among them were clearly in a panic.

Harriet's heart was beginning to thump wildly in her chest. They had to get to Leopold to warn him. They had to.

She searched the crowd and the procession, but to no avail. At least not until someone on her right moved slightly and she could finally see to the front of the parade. There at the front, on a chestnut colored horse was Leopold, and the second she saw him, she began to move.