The Anarchist of Ophridia (Horsemen Origins Book 4)

Part 8

Lee raced through the streets beneath the darkened sky and the dim lighting of the streetlamps. He came to the Imperial Gates, where there were scores of soldiers prepared to defend the Emperor. They stood at attention to guard against any threat.

"Rough night on patrol?" One of the guards asked, motioning to the blood on Lee's neck.

"Yeah, this stupid guy tried to resist, so we had to beat him to within an inch of his life, but he drooled a lot," Lee replied. He placed his hand on the biometric scanner and waited. His heart thundered in his chest until the light switched to green.

"That sucks. Have a good one," the guard said.

"You too," Lee replied. He searched the walls and palisades for every available weakness. He mentally noted every aspect of the structure and took in the entire Imperial complex. Behind the walled forcefield it looked like another city, with the imposing Palace at the top of the hill. Lee made his way with a strong march and nodded to every Tingchia he came across so as to not draw attention.

The Palace Guard were armed with weapons native to the Core, which were far superior than what those outside of the complex wielded. They were trained from the Core wars, which made an uprising even less likely.

Many guards intervened to stop Lee on his quest to the Emperor, but he kept pleading with them, stating that he had vital information on the whereabouts of Xing Ming Lee. Each time he mentioned his own name to the enemy, they let him pass.

The palace was dominating, ornate and made to appear ancient. The Emperor appreciated antiquity and marveled at the Chinese Emperors of Earth's past. He sought to emulate their grandeur for himself. Every tapestry, painting, and piece of furniture was picked for this reason, to make Yiu Mei into a Chinese Emperor.

Lee approached what he believed was the Emperor's bedroom. Two guards stood outside with stern gazes that didn't look like they were capable of smiling.

"I have news for the Emperor. It's about Xing Ming Lee," Lee said. There was a moment of awkward silence that hung in the air. It soon became clear that the guards wouldn't allow admission.

"Go on, tell us," One of the guards said.

"It is for the Emperor's ears only," Lee replied.

"Nobody is permitted past this point," the other guard said.

"If I could just -"

"You stop there!" The first guard hissed as both men pointed their rifles at Lee. Lee halted, raised his hands and begged for an audience with the Emperor. One of the guards creeped up to Lee to make him walk away, but Lee grabbed ahold of his wrist. He spun the guard around and held him as a shield from the second guard's blaster. Lee grabbed the dead guard's blaster and fired back, killing the second soldier.

Lee threw the guard aside and pushed open the doors. The bedroom was barely lit while the golden light from the hallway flowed in. Lee drew his knife and creeped across the room to the sleeping Emperor before him.

"Now you die," Lee whispered as he raised the knife above the Emperor.

Lee drove the knife down but a searing chill gripped his thigh, which turned into a burning sensation. He smelled smoldering flesh and then realized too late when his leg gave out from underneath him that he'd been shot. Lee fell to the floor and saw a squad in the doorway. A man came walking in and Lee noticed the scar on Quan's chin. He saw the lines that crossed his face and the memories of watching Ai Fen and Ju die came flooding back.

"Quan," Lee whispered to himself.

"You're a decent enough assassin Lee, but you're still an amateur. You're reckless and desperate. Deadly combination for a man who is seeking to cut the head off the snake," Quan said as he signaled with his hand. Within seconds the entire bedroom flooded with Tingchia, all guns pointed at Lee.