Phoenix In The Mist

Chapter 6: Deception

When Baba finally went to bed, it was the darkest part of the night, several hours before dawn. I slid down the tree, out of my hiding spot. I knew I had to move quickly before the sun rose, and Baba got up to do whatever he did with Khan every morning.

Making my way to the back of the house, I snatched some of Baba's clothes that had been hung up to dry. Three sets of Chang Shan* went into the pile in my arms. It should be enough for my purposes; I could always wash and reuse them.

Clutching the articles of clothing, I snuck into the house, pausing before Baba's chest of weapons and armour. I dumped the stack of clothes on the floor, and racing as silently as possible to my room, I pulled out the many rolls of linen I had in my cupboard, and a hooded woollen cloak. Going back to the receiving room, I dropped them on top of the Chang Shan. The linen would help to conceal my gender.

I retrieved the saddlebag from where they hung from a hook on the wall, smiling when I found the conscription orders already inside. Sitting down beside the pile of clothes, I hurriedly stuffed all but a roll of linen, the cloak and a set of Chang Shan into the saddlebag, glancing worriedly at the sky through the window. I did not have long left, if I wanted to leave undetected.

I shucked off my clothes, binding my chest until it looked flat, and pulled on the Chang Shan. A little big, but fortunately not incredibly so.

I flung open the chest of armour and weapons, and with one look, I could already tell that there was no way to fit any of the armour and weapons into the already bulging saddlebag. I would have to wear it.

Lifting the breastplate from the chest, I realised I could not wear everything, as it would severely impede my ability to move around and fight. Weighing the merits of more protection against the merits of maneuverability, the latter won. Besides, the less weight in armour I carried, the more weapons I could conceal on myself.

I donned the chainmail, strapping on the bracers and arm guards. I slid my feet into the fur-lined boots in the chest, wiggling my toes in the most comfortable footwear I've ever worn. Two curved knives went on the underside of my arms, and a straight dagger was slotted into my right boot. Satisfied at carrying a number of familiar weapons, I dug around in the chest for Baba's sword. There was a moment of panic when I couldn't find it, but it passed once I remembered Baba had leaned it against the wall.

In the sheath, the sword was heavier than I expected. With no time to waste, I buckled it to my belt, swinging on the cloak over all the armour. I grabbed the saddlebags and dashed for the stables. On the way there, I pulled up the hood so that my facial features were hidden within its shadows. The oiled wool did well to block the drizzle.

When I flung open the wooden doors, Khan neighed in welcome. I quickly saddled him, hooked on the saddlebag, and clambered onto his back. Khan looked over his shoulder, his liquid brown eyes blinking at me, as if questioning what I was doing.

"I know, I know," I murmured, patting his flank. "What I'm doing seems foolish and hare-brained. But I can't just let Baba die."

"Hyah!" I exclaimed, flicking the reins and digging my heels into Khan's side. Khan tossed his head in the harness, breaking into a canter. We were out of the house and heading into the woods when the first rosy fingers of dawn started creeping across the sky.

~

At the rooster's first crow, Hua Zhou got up, as was his custom. Normally, he would be heading out to the fields for a morning of work, but today, other duties called.

Rubbing his bleary eyes as he stumbled into the receiving room, he inhaled sharply as the scene before him struck fear and anger into his heart. Someone had gone through his private chest, and his sword was missing. Picking up the discarded qipao*** pooled in front of the trunk, Hua Zhou clutched it until his knuckles turned white.

A hand landed on his shoulder. "Zhou, what happened?"

Hua Zhou wordlessly handed the damp dress to his mother.

"No," Hua En breathed in disbelief. "Mulan. You have to go get her back!"

Helplessly, Hua Zhou spread his hands. "I can't, Mama. It was raining last night, but this dress is merely damp. This means that Mulan is long gone. If by some miracle I manage to make it to the training camp, then what? I reveal her as a girl and try to take her place? Both of us will be killed."

Hua En wrung her hands. "Then what can we do?"

"Nothing," sighed Hua Zhou, "except pray. Mulan is in the hands of the ancestors now."

~

Up above, in the clouds, the dragon Queen Cressida was flying past when she heard a plea for help. Normally, she would ignore it, but the matter it concerned was intriguing, and she had taken a special interest in the Hua family.

"You're lucky your Guardian statue is a dragon," she muttered, dipping into a dive. Transforming in a cloud of ice blue smoke before landing in front of the Hua's family shrine, she placed her now humanoid hands on the dragon statue and recited:

"Guardian dragon, I call to thee,

Wake from thy slumber, and be free.

Fulfil thy duties as a protector,

Watch over thy charge, and help to guide her."

Cressida felt power leave the well of her magic. Blue mist swirled around the miniature dragon, and as it traveled up its body, something like shavings of stone fell in its wake, leaving iridescent turquoise scales behind.

"It feels so good to be able to move again!" Exclaimed the snake-like dragon once he was fully a living and breathing beast. He did a little jig upon his stone pedestal. The dragon Queen smiled indulgently, allowing the celebration to go on for a little while.

Once the little dragon had stopped dancing, he looked up, and noticing the circlet on Cressida's head, he dipped into a bow. "Oh my, your Majesty, this is an honour. I suppose there's only one reason you would wake me. Has the time come for me to redeem myself? Has the Phoenix been reborn?"

"Yes it is time," Cressida said. "I've heard Hua Zhou's plea to his ancestors, and I have called upon you to help protect his daughter Mulan."

The dragon scowled, flicking his tail. "So, you want me to bring her home? How the hell does that redeem my miserable hide?"

"No, I want you to be a guide for her. Mulan has a great destiny, and a heavy responsibility. Before long, she will need you, and the world will need her."

"When you say the world will need her..." The little dragon's eyes widened. "Are you saying she's the Phoenix?"

Cressida inclined her head. "Many years ago, I foretold that a Feng Huang** would bring great change. Mulan is that Feng Huang."

"Who could believe it? Me!" Crowed the little dragon. "Me, Ying Long, called upon once again to guide the Phoenix after a thousand years! I thought I would be dirt and dust before I'll ever be - "

"Enough," growled Cressida. "There isn't much time. You'll find Mulan due east, in the forest. But before you go, remember this: at the lowest time, tell Mulan to surrender."

"Lowest time? Surrender? What a terrific plan. Might as well kill her myself!"

"Don't give me that sass, Ying Long. You will understand what I mean when the time comes. Now, go! You must find her before she reaches the training camp."

Giving a mock salute, Ying Long leapt into the air, his buzzing dragonfly-like wings taking him swiftly towards the forest. Behind him, a swirling blue cloud launched a glacier blue serpent-like dragon into the misty sky.

*Chang Shan: A type of clothing, mostly for males. Consists of a knee length robe over a pair of pants.
** Feng Huang: Phoenix
*** qipao: chinese dress for girls.