Flower of Bulann

Chapter 28

King Liu Huang clenched his fists in rage. The few soldiers that had fled the battlefield and returned to him having relayed the bad news.

"God, damn that Faden boy!" he cried out, the few retainers he had left were unmoved.

For why would they fear him now, he had sued for peace in a war he started and now his northern army had been routed, with Faden taking only a handful of casualties.

"My king, we should sue for peace with the Faden. It will take some months to raise a new army... I also fear that their commander would simply destroy it again," lord Hiroshi suggested, perhaps adding the later words to rub salt upon his wounds.

Liu Huang slammed his fists upon the table before him, the wood cracking under his strength.

"There will be no peace with the Faden filth, the Hyenta are to blame for this if they had simply killed that boy back then..." his words trailed off as another messenger ran into the room and dropped to one knee before the council.

"Forgive my intrusion, my king. The Faden army has crossed the wastelands, they are only three days march from the capital!" the messenger blurted out in a panic.

Liu Huang smiled sardonically, the upstart Faden filth were truly full of themselves!

"What good will two thousand men be against us? we can muster that many at least to defend the capital!" he retorted angrily, this news was not worth disturbing his council, the messenger should be punished.

"Forgive me, my king. But it is not two thousand... it is nearer to five thousand, though the enemy is cunning, it may be more..." the messenger answered back quickly, the news too shocking for Liu Huang to immediately punish his impertinence.

"Where could he have gained so many soldiers so quickly?" lord Hiroshi asked immediately, shooting to his feet in a panic.

The messenger hesitated before replying. "My lord, there are regiments flying the banners of those sent to destroy the Faden... the lead banner flys the name of... Kuan Faden," the messenger answered, quaking in fear.

"Kuan... Faden?" Hiroshi stuttered out, collapsing back onto his cushioned seat.

"My son dares raise his hand to me!" Liu Huang raged, reaching for his sword before another messenger appeared to kneel next to the others.

"My king! A Hyenta army marches from the west, the scouts report it to be at least seven thousand men, Hirro leads them," the messenger said hurriedly, keeping his head bowed.

Liu Huang fell back, his legs having buckled under him at the news. How could he be residing over the last days of his house?

"My king, we must surrender to the Faden army, Kuan is still your son... perhaps he will give us favourable terms?" Hiroshi demanded, how could this retainer forget his place?

"I will never prostrate myself before the Faden, you hear me Hiroshi!" Liu Huang shot back, leaving out his title as a threat, as weak as it may be.

Liu Huang forced himself to stand and walk around his desk before standing in the middle of his retainers. He was still a master of the battlefield, it was not his fault that the men that commanded his armies were weak fools. He would raise the peasant levies and take them against his son... Liu Huang was certain he could defeat the boy. Yes, it was Hirro that worried him, he was rumoured to be the next greatest swordsman after Vior and a duel of honour would be given for sure. 

"Raise the levies, gather the nobles. The Liu shall be victorious, restoring our honour by crushing both the Faden and the Hyenta!" he announced confidently, the Liu was not done for, not while he still drew breath.

Liu Huang grunted involuntarily as the third messenger drove his blade through his chest. He felt his legs give out and Liu Huang found himself crumpling into a pool of his own warm blood.

"Forgive me, my king," said Hiroshi sadly.

To Liu's dismay, not a single one of his guards had moved to aid him. They stood there motionless as Hirotashi's blade rested upon his neck.

"The Liu clan will rest upon the shoulders of Kuan's mercy now," Hirotashi said loudly before Liu heard the blade parting air and into his neck.

Liu Huang gurgled blood as the weapon failed to serve his head. He cursed the Liu clans betrayal to God, hoping that his enemy, the Faden would crush them! If he could have laughed, Liu would have done so, then the blade came down once more.