‘honor’
“Kero, where’s Sakura?”
The little creature looked up from the bed, startled. “You mean she’s not in the kitchen?”
Tomoyo frowned and shook her head as she handed Kero his dinner.
“I can’t find her or Li anywhere. Do you suppose they had to duck and cover?”
“Possible. Did you check the washbin shed? Or the stables?”
“I’m sure they’re not in the stables. I’ll check the washbin, though. Maybe Sakura decided to bathe.” A crash of thunder made her jump, and she rubbed her arms nervously. With all the soldiers back and eating in the main room, Sakura really ought to be hiding in the room.
She walked back to the kitchen, where Maude was pouring more ale into giant mugs.
“Where’ve ye been, girl? I need ye to take these out!”
“I’m sorry. I was looking for my friends, have you - ”
“Run out there, they did.” Maude pointed casually into the dining area, noting the stark fear that crossed the other’s face when she did so.
“They ran into that room?”
“Aye, ten minutes ago. Right before the soldiers came trooping down. ‘Spect they slipped out the front door.”
Tomoyo peeked out the doorway at all the men eating. Obviously Li and Sakura had not been spotted, everyone was dining calmly. But if they’d made it out of the inn, where had they gone?
“Come on, luv, hop to it.”
“Yes’m.” Tomoyo grasped the heavy tray and toted it out into the room. Even in the dim light, she could see Eriol’s eyes following her across the room. They were such an intense blue, and she had to swallow and look away.
Concentrate, Tomoyo. Blackstock is sitting right over there. All he has to do is turn around, and you’re spotted. You’ve got to be careful.
Timidly she stepped around the room, handing each soldier a drink. When she was standing directly behind him, hardly daring to breathe, she picked up the last two mugs with trembling hands. Eriol was sitting a few seats away, watching nervously. He had as much to lose as she did if she was discovered now.
Blackstock glanced at the windows as another crash of thunder rattled them, and swore colorfully.
“Damn it. If it rains it’ll make tracking impossible. Who knows where she is right now.”
He picked up the mug that the girl had just placed by his side and sipped it moodily. “She just can’t get away again, the General will be furious.”
Tomoyo retreated back into the kitchen, her heart beating fast and hard. She’d made it, by the narrowest of margins. Her hands were shaking, and she collapsed against the doorframe with relief.
“If yer so bloody scared, luv, ye should just say so. Ye can stay back here and clean the dishes now.” Maude was giving her a sharp, knowing look, and she quickly shook her head.
“Oh no. I’m not scared.”
“Right. Hiding something, ye are.”
“No, we’re not - ”
“Come on then, tell me what it is. Why’s that man poking around, looking fer yer little friend?”
“Uh…” Tomoyo cast about for a story, but she was totally blank.
“Pretty, she is. Reminds me of the good queen.”
“Well, I - ”
“I did think it was a shame when I heard of wot happened in the capital. The good king and queen killed, and their little girl still missing.” Maude shook her head sorrowfully, paying no attention to Tomoyo’s expression. “I wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to the little princess, no. She deserves better than that lot in there, I know that much.” She nodded to Tomoyo and swept into the room with a bowl of mashed potatoes.
Feeling a little drained, Tomoyo nibbled on a carrot. This woman was obviously clever, but she seemed to have decided on keeping them quiet, like Eriol.
For those two weeks before we met Li, it seemed as though nobody was on our side. People were scared of the soldiers and the liability of hiding us, nobody was willing to help. I thought we were all alone in the world. But there are people who are ready to stand up against them, even if they can’t fight like Li.
Tomoyo realized that she was beginning to smile. Somehow, that gave her more hope than anything else had in the past couple of weeks. Sakura was not alone in hating the new government. They might be momentarily silent, but there were people on their side.
She knelt to begin washing dishes.
Eriol watched his superior officer pace in the common room, his scowl occasionally illuminated by another flash of lightning.
“Sir, we’ve obviously missed them. I suggest we continue up the road.”
“Acknowledged, captain, but not agreed to. After searching all day the men have been unable to find any trail leading away from the village, and they’re bound to be sitting tight in this weather. I’m convinced that they’re still in the area. I want everybody to search the village again, comb every building and home.”
There were the faintest of groans around the room, and the colonel stiffened and glared. Immediately the men shut up.
“I’m not going back to the palace without that girl, and nobody else is either. So be prepared for a long night, men. She won’t get away this time.”
Sakura watched his boots pace back and forth on the floor next to them, and tried somehow to melt even further into Li’s arms. She was shaking, she was so scared, and the turbulent weather outside wasn’t helping. Sakura had never been afraid of thunder, she’d even controlled it at times with the Card, but it added to the tense atmosphere of the room. He was dividing up the village now, directing men to the different homes.
“And don’t forget to hunt in stables and barns. Check the stables here, too.”
Eriol spoke up again. “I examined them thoroughly earlier this evening, sir. I’m positive that no one slept in them last night.”
“Check them again anyway.”
He paused in his pacing, right by Sakura’s feet. She cringed and tried to shrink further back into the shadows. “Just a moment… is there a basement in this building?”
Maude looked up from clearing the dishes and shook her head. “Nay, sir, never been no basement here.”
“All of these rooms have been checked, haven’t they?”
“Sir,” Eriol admonished. “Surely you don’t think they’d be silly enough to stay in an inn, do you? With all these men here?”
“Perhaps they were thinking we would never suspect it. You two,” he indicated Captain Hiiragizawa and the officer next to him, “you make a thorough search of this building. Just in case. Then you can join in the search through the village.”
“Yes sir,” they both replied, and stood.
“I’ll take this level,” Eriol offered, and strode into the kitchen. Tomoyo was on her knees, scrubbing dishes in a low trough of water. She glanced up as he entered, anxiety in her eyes.
“Where have you been sleeping?” he hissed, and she nodded toward the tiny corridor on his right. “Go. Go now, and be quiet.” He pulled her to her feet and pushed her through the little doorway.
They are so lucky – this time.
Blackstock was the only man in the room now, still pacing restlessly by the fireplace. Li wondered whether he ought to roll out. He could kill him before the man even had a chance to look up. He didn’t think he could hang on much longer, with Sakura in his arms like this. It was pure torture having her so close. The way she was clutching at him so desperately, how frail and vulnerable her slim body felt…
“Sir, there is definitely no trace of the princess or her friends in this building.” Another soldier had just walked in through the kitchen, interrupting his thoughts. They both relaxed a tiny bit. Tomoyo and Kero must have been able to hide in time.
The colonel snarled a little and glared at Eriol as though it was his fault. Which technically, Eriol supposed, it rather was. But there was no need for Blackstock to know that.
“Right, then. It was a long shot, I suppose. Go out to the eastern side of the village, captain, and supervise the house-to-house searches. Pay particular attention to stables, barns, root cellars, anything. They’re bound to be holing up somewhere in this weather.”
“Yes, sir.”
The soldier saluted and left the room through the main door, leaving Blackstock’s boots alone once more on the floor before them. Just when Li was about to break away from Sakura, the soldier from upstairs returned.
“Sir, there is no evidence that anyone but the soldiers and a few accounted travelers have been up in those rooms.”
“Acknowledged. Go join the party on the western side of the village for the house-to-house searches, captain. I expect to be informed of any tiny anomaly.”
“Yes sir. And where will I report to?”
“Hmm. I’ll remain here at headquarters to wait for news. And unless she’s found, I better not see anyone’s face tonight, understand? Nobody’s coming back to sleep until the princess is in my custody.”
“Yes sir,” the soldier replied, his voice a little glum. He also saluted and turned to go outside. The colonel’s boots paused, then paced a little more, then stopped by the fire.
Cautiously, Li peeked out. Blackstock was leaning against the fireplace, his arms braced against the thick stone mantlepiece. He was facing away from them; now was their chance. He prodded Sakura; she stiffened and shook her head.
Not again, he thought, and gave her a pleading look. There was no telling how long Blackstock would linger in the room, they couldn’t stay there forever. He knew he really ought to just roll out and kill the man. But something in him rebelled against murdering an unprepared and unwary enemy, and it would create problems. A body was only evidence that they were there, and he didn’t want that. Not while the village was still crawling with soldiers.
“Go,” he mouthed, and this time she obeyed, inching off of him and across the earthen floor as silently as she’d learned in the forest. The colonel was lost in his thoughts as he gazed at the flames, and never saw his quarry creep out of the room and into the kitchen. Tomoyo was nowhere to be seen, and the two of them tiptoed down the corridor and into the room once more. Sakura didn’t dare breathe until Li had shut the door and she sat on the bed next to her friend to share a hug.
“Are you two okay?” Tomoyo whispered, sensing the need for quiet. “Where have you been?”
“Really long story.” Sakura watched Li pick up his bow and sit across the door. He wasn’t looking her in the eye now, and her shoulders slumped a little. “They’re all over the village; I don’t think we’re going to make it out of here tonight. Are we, Li?”
She hoped then that he might look at her, but he only grunted an affirmative and continued to stare at the door. Tomoyo saw Sakura bite her lip and look away. “We’ll never get out of the village, especially in this thunderstorm. I guess we’re stuck here for another night.”
Tomoyo nodded, looking carefully at both of their faces. There was definitely something going on there, but this wasn’t the time to pry.
“Why don’t you go ahead and go to sleep?”
“I’m not tired. I slept all today and last night.” Sakura slid off the bed and onto the floor. “You’re the one that worked all day, Tomoyo. You take the bed, try to get some rest.”
“If you’re sure…”
“I’m sure.”
“All right, then.” Tomoyo laid Penelope’s dress carefully over the foot of the bed and lay down. The tense silence of the room was overwhelming, and she had to force herself to concentrate on falling asleep.
Breathe in, breathe out. Try to sleep, Tomoyo, you need your rest.
It wasn’t working, she was too scared. Strangely, the only thing that gave her any comfort was the thought of Eriol. She could feel his strong arms around her as they rode on his horse, his gentle hands as they covered hers, his soft lips pressing against her own. In her mind, he was like a barrier against the formidable Blackstock, a shield.
I know it. I don’t know how I know it, but I know he won’t ever let anything happen to me. Eriol…
At last she slipped into slumber.
It was torture, but somehow Sakura managed to hang on until both Kero and Tomoyo were breathing deeply and evenly, sound asleep. Once more she tried to make eye contact with Li, but failed.
“What is it?” she asked softly.
“Nothing.”
“No.” She shook her head. “No, you can’t say that. You can’t just say ‘nothing’ after that kiss.”
He didn’t answer.
“Tell me. Was it - ” she gulped a little, “- not good for you?”
“No!” he said quickly, and gave her a brief glance before returning his stare to the door. His cheeks were flushed, and his eyes betrayed his desire. “It – it was a mistake. It shouldn’t have happened, and it won’t happen again.”
It most certainly would not happen again. He swallowed, trying to ignore the hurt in her eyes.
Not good for me? She actually thinks it might not have been good for me? Oh gods, Sakura, it was wonderful. And holding you in my arms afterward for so long was the most exquisite pain I’ve ever experienced. Please don’t ask me to do it again. I’m not strong enough.
“A mistake?” she repeated. Tears were starting to well up in her eyes. He wasn’t looking at her all; he obviously didn’t care. “You didn’t want to?”
“No,” he choked. “Please, just – just don’t talk about it. Go to sleep.”
“I can’t sleep.”
“Do it anyway,” he begged. If he had to sit here and look at her face for one more second, if he had to exchange any more words with her, he would lose all self-control.
She hesitated, clearly wounded, then turned away from him and stretched out on top of the blanket. Another flash of lightning from the tiny window illuminated the curves of her body.
He had to close his eyes, but even that didn’t help too much. In all the years of training, of the toughest combat regimen known to the kingdom, he’d never had to endure anything like this.
Why? his body cried. Why? Why?
Neither slept that night. Sakura felt the tears slide down her face as she listened to the rain fall outside, interspersed with the occasional crash of thunder. What had happened to her world?
It was my first kiss. And it was so amazing, so wonderful… it was everything I thought a first kiss would be. But now he won’t even look in me in the eye. Why am I crying about it? I don’t even know him. What am I doing, kissing some peasant that I barely know? It’s only been a few weeks; am I so unfaithful?
Her heart gave a little wrench at that thought, and she squeezed her eyes shut. She was confused, the simple rules had all been swept away. And now she didn’t know what to do.
Li watched the window lighten gradually. The sun would most likely not be making an appearance that day; the sky outside was still overcast and rumbling with thunder. The rain had stopped, at least.
We’re leaving today. I don’t care if it’s daylight, I don’t care if I have to knock down a dozen soldiers in our way, I can’t stay here cooped up in this room with her anymore.
Abruptly he rolled to his feet and left the room. He needed a breath of fresh air.
I didn’t handle that right, I know. She’s hurting, and I didn’t mean to do that. But what else could I do? It had to stop, I couldn’t let it go on any longer.
Maude was up and kneading some dough in her kitchen, and he walked past her to get outside without acknowledging her presence. Outside, everything was still and expectant, waiting for more rain.
Everything will be different now. I should just go. I should just turn around and go back home like I ought to. My father’s cabin needs to be rebuilt, I need to get on with my life. I can’t face her again.
Eriol tried to hide a yawn as he gazed at the boarding house. A whole night of fruitless searches, invading people’s homes and their privacy in the name of finding the princess, when he knew darn well that she wasn’t in any of them. It hadn’t been the greatest of nights, and he was in a bad temper.
“Nobody else seems to have returned yet, sir,” one of the soldiers with him pointed out. “Perhaps we were a little too hasty in our search?”
“You’re welcome to go back over the same territory again,” he replied testily. “I think it’s fairly clear that she’s not in this village. Does anyone disagree?” The few men with him shuffled and looked away, wanting to affirm but frightened of the consequences with the colonel. “Right then. You have my permission to return to your rooms and freshen up for breakfast. We’ll see what our leader plans on doing next.”
To waste our time, he thought, but didn’t say that part out loud. Instead he turned away from the inn to go around to the stables. With all this ominous thunder, he wanted to check on Ruby.
Most of the men gladly retreated into the building, but one of them held back, watching the captain.
“I want you to keep an eye on Captain Hiiragizawa,” the colonel had told him in confidence. “You’ve served for years, and no one supercedes you in loyalty, lieutenant. I trust you, and I don’t trust him. Just keep an eye on him.”
The young man allowed the captain to get some distance away, then followed him around the side of the building. The captain disappeared into the stables, and he was about to follow when someone emerged from behind the old shed across the courtyard.
Feeling somewhat relieved, Li returned to the courtyard stretching and yawning. There was a soldier near the stables watching him, and by habit he averted his eyes. There was no need for anyone to suspect anything –
Wait.
He glanced up and made eye contact, wishing that he hadn’t. There was no mistaking that face. And by the look in the other’s eyes, he could see that he’d been recognized as well. He froze.
“Well, well, well,” the lieutenant said lazily, drawing his sword. “It’s been a few years. So good to see you again, Li.”
“I wish I could say the same,” Li replied, giving small mock bow. “Jered of Stonyglen.”
The other man returned his bow, grinning.
“And you, Li of – well, I don’t suppose you have a family name, now do you?” He sauntered a little closer, and Li backed away from the inn. “I can’t believe it’s really you. When the rumors started flying that a man of the King’s Own was helping the princess, I did wonder. But I was sure that you couldn’t really be that stupid. And yet here you are.”
Li shrugged. “Here I am. Nice to see that you did so well since getting kicked out of our classes, Jered. Lieutenant. I’m impressed.” The blonde soldier bristled just a little.
“I’ve done all right. Certainly it helps that I don’t have to lie to my superiors. And now… now that you’ve had to leave the palace in disgrace, you’ve become a criminal. Good work, Li.”
He was still coming closer, and Li pulled his pendant out from under his shirt. He and Jered may have never really gotten along when they were training together, but he was still a former classmate.
“I don’t want to fight you, Jered. You’d be smart if you just let me go on my way.” He noticed Jered stared at the pendant with a touch of envy before looking back up to his face.
“Spoken like a true commoner. Don’t you understand the meaning of ‘duty’, Li? Or does the sense of purpose in a noble’s life just fly right over your head?”
Li forced himself to exhale, and didn’t reply.
Sakura watched Tomoyo stir slightly on the bed, and her breathing become more shallow. She’d be up soon, probably. Sakura herself had barely slept a wink all night, too aware of the young man sitting up and keeping watch over her. He’d left the room some time ago, and had not yet returned.
Where is he? He should have been back by now. What if he decided to just leave? Would he do that?
She glanced at the bow and quiver lying by her blanket, and wondered if he would leave them behind for her if he did decide to walk out. As if she cared about having weapons to defend herself with. She didn’t want Li to leave her. The thought of him gone made her stomach knot up in panic, and she rolled to her feet.
I know that he hates me, that he thinks that kiss was a mistake. But I can’t stand sitting here and wondering if he’s walked out of my life forever. I have to find him. I have to try.
She tiptoed down the corridor into the kitchen. She was about to ask Maude if she’d seen him when she heard a snatch of a conversation outside in the courtyard.
“That’s what I thought. Only thinking of yourself and what you can get out of it. She must really be rewarding you well for your aid.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I think I do. And now I’m presenting you with a choice. You can go and get her, wherever she’s hiding, and bring her to me, or I can kill you right here and now. Without you around, I’m sure we can track her down pretty easily.”
Li never took his eyes off of Jered’s face. He still hadn’t activated his sword. “I won’t let you touch a hair on her head,” he said coldly. “You will have to kill me first.”
“That’s fine by me.” A slight sound made them both turn their heads. Sakura was standing in the kitchen doorway, her hands over her mouth as she watched the exchange.
Jered’s eyes lit up.
“There she is!” He started in her direction, but Li kicked him sharply in the ribs, making him groan and double over.
“Move!” he shouted to Sakura, as he whirled around and connected his heel to Jered’s temple. Somehow, he still wasn’t sure if he could bring himself to kill Jered. They had never been friends, but he had been a comrade. Maybe he wouldn’t have to.
Sakura dashed back down the corridor. Their time here was up, that much she was certain of, and she had to get her friends.
“Tomoyo! Kero! Wake up!” Frantically she shook Tomoyo’s shoulder. After three weeks of living on the run, they’d all become accustomed to going from sleep to alertness in a matter of seconds, and they both jerked awake.
“What is it? What’s wrong?”
“Get your boots on, quick.” Sakura stooped to pick up the bow and quiver of arrows. “We have to go.” Scared, Tomoyo nodded and pulled on her boots, then looped Kero’s satchel over her shoulder and grabbed their waterbags. “Come on, quick!” Sakura grabbed her friend’s hand and they both scrambled down the corridor and back into the kitchen. Maude was now standing in the far back corner, clutching a broom apprehensively.
“Sorry we have to run out,” Tomoyo apologized in a soft voice. “But it’s time for us to go.” She barely had time to drop Eriol’s coins on the table before Sakura pulled her out into the courtyard. Outside, Li and the soldier were still fighting.
“You’re a fool to not use your sword, Li. Why don’t you fight me blade to blade?”
“I don’t want to kill you, Jered. You’re a classmate. I’m willing to let you go on your way.”
“I have my mission, Li. You’re not getting away with the princess, not this time. She belongs back in the palace, unlike you.” Once again he lunged for Li, who narrowly evaded his blade. Sakura and Tomoyo were huddled in the doorway of the washbin shed, watching. This fight couldn’t continue much longer, there were bound to be more soldiers soon. At long last he activated his sword and raised it to block Jered’s downswing. The metallic clang carried across the still morning, reaching Eriol in the stables. Curious, he left Ruby’s side to peek out of a generous knothole in the wooden siding.
Wow. So it’s true. A man of the King’s Own really is with her. I remember him, he’s the peasant I saw in the other village. The one that walked like a fighter. I should have listened to my instincts.
But he didn’t really feel much regret, nor did he move to go assist his fellow soldier. Instead he simply watched.
Gareth had never gone to bed the night before. Dozing in one of the chairs in the common room, the clash of blades penetrated his subconscious and he jerked awake.
What was that noise?
He frowned and stood to stretch, then listened carefully. Yes, there was definitely a swordfight going on outside the kitchen. His weapons were up in his room, but one of his men had left a crossbow and a couple of arrows in the main room. Sloppy, but lucky for him. He snatched them up and strode through the kitchen. It was with a grim satisfaction that he recognized the peasant fighting his soldier.
I knew it. I just knew that they were hiding somewhere in this village. And she can’t be far.
He slapped an arrow into his bow and raised it.
Sakura and Li both saw the colonel emerge from the building at the same time. She yanked hard on Tomoyo’s shirt and dragged her into the shed just in time, holding Li’s bow at the ready. She should shoot him, she knew, shoot him before he had a chance to shoot Li. The memory of her last miserable attempt with a bow and arrow held her back though, knowing that a failed arrow would only alert him to their location.
Li saw Blackstock raising his bow and aiming for him out of the corner of his eye, and reacted instinctively. Knocking Jered’s sword to the side, he reached forward and grabbed his tunic, pulling him forward just in time. Jered didn’t even have a chance to struggle before the arrow lodged itself in his back, and he stared at Li in shock.
“Sorry,” he muttered in a low voice. He hadn’t wanted to. But sometimes a person had no choice.
Blackstock swore when he realized that he’d killed one of his own men.
“You’ll pay for that,” he promised, and began to reload. Li was exposed, there was nowhere to run. He dropped Jered to the ground and began to sprint for the closest cover that he could see: an old wheeled cart left out in the courtyard.
The colonel finished reloading but by the time he’d raised the bow and took aim, the criminal was safe behind his cover.
“You can’t stay hidden there forever, boy. Tell me where she is.” Warily the colonel took a step forward, his boots squelching in the mud. A cold breeze smelling of more rain blew, and there was another rumble of thunder overhead.
“Not a chance.”
“Do it, and I’ll kill you quickly.”
“Go to hell.”
Sakura peeked out of the doorway to see Blackstock beginning to approach Li’s cover. Should she try to hit him? He was only getting further away now.
Blackstock paused at a reasonably safe distance, unable to see what his target was doing.
“We know who you are, peasant. We know what you did, parading as a noble and lying to your teachers for all those years.”
“Good for you.”
“You’re nothing, you know that? A nobody. Not only are you an insignificant commoner, you pretended to be something that you weren’t. You’re unnatural.”
Li swallowed and leaned his head back against the wet wood.
“You can’t tell me that I’m nothing. You’re a little more scared than that.”
Gareth snarled a little and gripped his bow. It was true that he was wary, without his sword to defend himself with, but he would not admit to being scared of this commoner.
“You’re worse than nothing. You defied the natural order of class, you acted above yourself, and you lied to your instructors. You defiled the nobility with your dishonor.”
Li clutched his sword’s handle and tried to block out the man’s words. He knew that Blackstock was only trying to demoralize him, trying to throw him off. But his words were cutting into him all the same. “Just give it up, boy. You know you can’t win. Tell me where she is.”
“Don’t tell me what I can and cannot do.”
“So high and mighty,” the colonel chided. “At what price does this pride come, I wonder?”
Li frowned quizzically. What had he meant by that? Then he saw what the colonel was looking at, and his heart skipped a beat. A skinny freckled boy was standing several paces to Li’s left, shaking so hard with fear that the two pails of milk suspended from his shoulders tumbled to the ground. The thick white liquid spilled out, stained by the mud.
“Tommy!” shrieked Maude from the doorway.
“Quiet, woman,” Blackstock snapped. “Or you’ll be next. What do you say, peasant? Willing to let a little boy die for your princess? Or are you ready to be reasonable?”
Above their heads, another roll of thunder made itself heard.
Eriol gasped at this turn of events. He couldn’t believe what the colonel was threatening to do.
I knew he was overstepping his bounds, taking advantage of people. But to shoot a little boy, just to find the princess? He can’t be serious. He cannot possibly be willing to do that.
“Tommy,” Tomoyo whispered, panicked. Her little friend was out there, totally exposed, no way to defend himself. “He’s serious, Sakura. He’s going to shoot him.”
The princess closed her eyes and drew a shaky breath.
She couldn’t let that little boy die. But she couldn’t go back to the General; she couldn’t resign herself to that fate. Who was more important?
Tommy was shaking as he stared at the arrow pointing at his head, his freckles standing out on his white face. Li crept to the edge of his cover and spoke again.
“You got some nerve, talking about honor. Is a true noble ready to murder a child, just to get what he wants? Is that the law and order you’re working for? Killing little kids?”
Good point, thought Eriol, his fingers restlessly tapping the hilt of his sword. I should go out there and confront him. But to attack my own commanding officer? I can’t do that.
“You don’t even understand the concept of honor, boy. I have my mission, and I will see it through. The princess belongs to the General now, and I don’t care who I have to kill to make sure that it happens. She’s needed for the well-being of the people.”
“You mean those that you don’t kill while trying to find her.”
“I mean the common good. Peasants like yourself have no concept of what’s good for those around you. You’re only thinking of yourself and your needs. The General and I know what’s needed for the kingdom, and we’ll do whatever’s necessary to obtain it.”
Li returned his sword its pendant form and pulled it on over his head. He wasn’t quite sure what he was going to do, but to jump out and attack was out of the question. The colonel was too far away.
“I can’t let this happen,” Sakura whispered. Listening to the colonel talk made her feel sick. That anybody could ever think a cause was so important as to sacrifice a child bewildered her. She could see the owner of the inn, white-faced and clutching the doorway for support as she watched her grandson be used as a pawn in their battle.
My cause is not that important; I can’t let this boy die for me. I think the Kinomotos deserve to be in power because they care about the people. It’s time to prove myself right.
She shoved the bow into Tomoyo’s hands and hissed at her to keep back and keep quiet.
“Stop!”
Blackstock twisted to face the shed and found himself pointing his bow at the princess herself, her hands raised in surrender.
“Please!”
Now, thought Li, and pushed himself away from the cart. It wasn’t easy to scoop up Tommy and cross the gap in the courtyard without tripping on the spilled buckets of milk, but he managed anyway. Just in time he dove behind the cover of the ramshackle fence.
Gareth swore as his arrow just missed the man’s feet, and Maude collapsed with relief against the doorframe. The colonel pulled the first arrow out of his soldier’s body and slapped it in the groove.
“You,” he ordered the princess, “get down on your knees. I’ll deal with you later. Your little friend and I have some business to attend to.” Obediently Sakura got down on her hands and knees in the barnyard mud, trying to quell the panic rising within her. She’d saved the boy’s life, that was all that mattered. There was no point in whimpering about her fate now.
Li dragged Tommy along the fence, holding his finger to his lips. They were no safer here than behind the cart, the colonel would surely come around the end in a moment. They had to get as far away as possible, but it went no further than the edge of the yard before ending. He was trapped, and likely to die in a moment. And then there would be no way for Sakura to escape. He couldn’t let that happen to her. He couldn’t just accept losing, he refused to die quietly at this man’s hand. Li reactivated his sword, much to the amazement of little Tommy.
I don’t know what I’m going to do, but I refuse to surrender. I’ll die fighting if I have to.
They already know where we are, Sakura realized. There’s no reason to hold back from magic. She began to draw a star in the mud before her.
Blackstock drew closer to the fence. “Come on out, then, there’s nowhere left to run. She’s my prisoner, and you’ve lost. You failed, in every way. Time to end this.”
They’d reached the end. Li pushed Tommy down onto his stomach and whispered for him to stay put. It was indeed time to end this fight, one way or another.
Li launched himself upwards, rolling over the top of the fence and landing with his sword raised and at the ready. The colonel was taken aback, but raised his bow and released.
Sakura finished drawing and uttered a few words, making the mud shimmer before her. Her spell went into effect.
Li wasn’t quite sure what had happened. Everything was the same, and yet – it was different somehow. The thin, sharp wooden arrow was gliding toward him, directly for his chest. It was easy to see it, it was coming so slowly towards him. Blackstock was frozen, staring at him unblinkingly.
What was going on? His eyes flickered over to Sakura; she wasn’t frozen anymore than he was, but gazing at him in mute appeal. Li looked back at the arrow, it was much closer now, still heading straight for him. They were locked in some kind of time warp, he realized, everything had been slowed. It was an easy task to step slightly to one side and slash at the arrow in midair, cutting it neatly in half. And then time snapped back to reality. The abrupt shift caused him to stumble a little, and he had to regain his bearings.
Blackstock realized now that he was unarmed, and in desperation charged the princess. If he could just grab her quickly enough…
“Li!”
Her terrified shout brought him back, and before he knew what was happening he ran and jumped high into the air, landing a powerful kick on the side of the colonel’s head. Blackstock went flying and landed heavily in the mud, Li on his feet by his side. The older man blinked and tried to clear his vision, only to see Li pointing his sword straight at his throat.
“Well, go on,” he snapped, when Li didn’t move. “Do it!”
Sakura stumbled to her feet, relief flooding her senses. Blackstock hadn’t won, after all. She choked back some tears and wrapped her arms around Li, needing to hold on to someone. She’d come so close to losing him forever.
“Shh, it’s okay,” he reassured her. With his left hand he ran his fingers through her soft brown hair. He couldn’t help himself. “I won’t let him hurt you.”
“What’s the matter with you, boy? Do it!” Li regarded him with an icy stare.
“It’s against the code of honor to kill an unarmed opponent, Colonel. Or didn’t you know that?”
Tomoyo and Kero had emerged from the shed, and she warily pointed the bow at the man on the ground.
“Come on. It’s time to leave.” He led the princess away from the colonel and Tomoyo followed, keeping the arrow trained on Blackstock. “We won’t bother with horses,” he said in a low voice. “We can slip through the fields easier on foot, and the rain that’s coming will wash away our tracks. Right now we just have to move as fast as possible.”
They all nodded, and disappeared around the corner of the building.
Eriol watched as Blackstock jumped to his feet and ran inside, shouting for his sword. The situation wasn’t good for him; most of the soldiers were still out painstakingly searching the village. Eriol knew he should jump on Ruby and follow the fugitives, but instead he just watched as the old woman knelt on the ground and hugged her grandchild, sobbing with relief.
I can’t believe what he almost did. Who are you, Eriol? Why are you still fighting for this man? Does he really represent the ideals that you stand for?
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters
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