The Warlord's Prize

Chapter 25 - Stairway

The path was narrow and quiet. All at once it was like the battle was heard from far away as the sound of swords clashing, arrows fired, and the death cries diminished in the darkness. I ran and could not see where I was going now. There was no light in this alley and the surrounding buildings were almost as dense as the forests back in the mountains. I could not hear Shan Yu's footsteps ahead of me, even though he told me to keep close; I did not feel like he would ditch me right away, even at the thirst for battle in the palm of his hand.

"Shan Yu?" I whispered, continuing to run. The alley went in the straight direction and I stopped to listen for his response, but there came none. Look for the light, he might be waiting on the other side and we'll be at the palace soon enough. I stepped forward again and suddenly felt something grab my arm hard. An Imperial soldier? A voice I did not recognize was heard.

"What's this, a woman hiding in the dark from battle? Well, don't worry, you're safe now."

Safe? That was what he wanted me to believe? I'm not going anywhere with you. I still could not see his face but then I felt my sword in my free hand. I did not want to kill, but at this time it seemed like no other option. I gulped and slowly rose it, my heart raced.

"St-stay away from me!" I cried and suddenly thrust the blade forward hard and heard a piercing sound. Blood was dripping in the darkness making me wonder how far I pushed it in. I pulled it back and whatever was in front of me had fallen. Then Shan Yu's voice came out and once again I felt someone grab my arm only gentler.

"There you are Emily, I thought you wandered off,"

"Shan Yu, is that you? I can't see anything..."

"Yes it's me, the thrill of battle is exciting, but when it comes to love I still have much to learn. I won't lose sight of you again as long as the Emperor still sits on that throne. I turned around immediately once that damn soldier caught up to you. It looks like you killed him,"

"Yes," I paused looking at the ground briefly imagining the corpse at my feet, but this time I did not feel the trauma that came last time I killed man, "it looks like I did,"

"You're getting better sweetling," Shan Yu answered and he pressed his lips to my forehead briefly, "now let's get going, the stairway isn't far. We'll need some help to scale it, stay close and one more thing," he paused again and his hand which gripped my wrist moved downward to take my own hand in his, "do not let go of my hand."

We ran through the darkness like a couple eloping, and the thought of that made me wish that was what we were doing instead of charging into battle. His hand was almost crushing my own as we made our way through the alley and not once had the soldiers dared to enter where we were waiting for them. Then in the blink of an eye, dim light approached and we stepped out and into another firefight.

Soldiers and Huns were falling left and right, Shan Yu had the golden shield on his back that I had found earlier. He let go of my hand took it in front of him; I could sense an idea brewing inside of him that perhaps the shields could play if he found more of them.

"Stay here," He said, his back still turned to me, and then he rushed into the fray with shield and sword armed. I backed a little into the alley and crouched on my knees watching him. Shan Yu moved fiercely across the open space and only when he reached the set of houses on the other side did I know what he was up to.

Among the other damaged homes lay corpses of civilians and soldiers alike. Shan Yu was heading straight for two Huns backed by several soldiers against the wall of a larger building: They were Cheng and Li; the two big brutes in the Hun army, all brawn and no brains, it made me think that once again they would be of use for moving forward. Shan Yu cut through the surrounding soldiers like butter, his sword slashing one and his shield bashing the other. I watched impressively and soon Cheng and Li cleaned up the remaining forces. Shan Yu soon signaled me over.