Butterflies of Blood

Chapter 13

Jaye crashed head first into a Lyerion soldier.

"Woah there," He said and caught her shoulders.

"It's terrible, oh please – help!" Jaye cried. She was garbed in a traditional long dress with voluminous sleeves and beneath she held a crouch to hide her true height. Without it she would have stood on equal ground with the soldier and given herself away.

The soldier's eyebrows knit together as he searched for what to say

"My home, the village behind the capital, please you must go there. A horrid woman, more beast than man, killed my lord husband!" Jaye wailed. "An Azroli," She spat the word viciously.

"Please, Ma'am, show me your face." The soldier was still holding her shoulders and there was genuine concern in his voice.

"I can't! My lord husband!" Jaye pulled her hood future down.

"Of course, my apologies," The soldier soothed. "Could you please explain what upset you so?"

Jaye nodded cautiously. "The beast-woman appeared and told us to leave, said she needed our place. Naturally our men fought her but ... but she killed them! It," She paused, adding a sob for effect, "it was a slaughter and there were two Amarians with her. I... I took a horse and came as fast as I could. Please, please save my home."

"An Azroli and two Amarians you say," the soldier pondered. "Your report sounds much like an enemy we were already pursuing. I'm sure we can do something."

"Thank you, oh, thank you," she said with another sob.

"It would be ideal if we could ask you a few questions. If it pleases you wait over there" – he pointed to a pavilion with a few benches outside – "and we shall discuss what happened and then arrange for safe passage wherever you so wish. Okay?"

Jaye nodded demurely.

"What is your name, Ma'am?" He asked.

"Liu," She answered tearfully.

"A beautiful name. Now please, bear with your sadness and rest," the soldier place a hand on her head and smiled kindly before hurrying in the direction of the largest tent.

Jaye sniffled and went were he had pointed her.

Five minutes past before a boy squire approached her. "The lord commander Azon will see you now. Follow me," He said and headed back toward the large, black pavilion. Jaye's head jerked up at the name.

"A problem?" The boy inquired.

Jaye made a questioning noise and shook her head. The boy frowned but led on.

Jaye walked slowly, much to the squire's annoyance, and mapped out as much of the camp as she could – counting soldiers, weapons and potential traps. There were few enough of each as the camp was designed for travel.

Finally the pavilion loomed before them and the squire announced her, "the woman Liu."

"Enter," a voice rumbled from within and the boy ushered her in with a low bow and departed.

She pressed her knuckles together and raised them above her head in a low bow. When she rose she studied Azon of Twin Tales. He had won the name Twin Tales through a great victory against the southern alliance of Xork and Mandaya. To each he gave an offer of peace and treaty while enticing war with their neighbour. He won favour with both and separately he gave an army to add to their main force when they warred. Hungry for their neighbour's land both accepted the terms thinking that the other still had faith in their invasion plan. On the day Xork believed they would ambush Mandaya and Mandaya thought they would crush the Xorks they clashed. Both fully armed for war and baying for blood. When the fighting climaxed the Lyerion re-enforcements turned into the twin tails of the snake and destroyed them both.