‘Fen,’ Ji Fa said, and looked to the lad to suggest he accompany Hudan.
‘Fen has no authority.’ Dan was quick to object. ‘I shall assist — or rather guard brother Hudan for the duration.’
‘But you are my chief advisor, Dan,’ Fa objected.
‘And as such I advise that you have this dragon pit in the garden grounds found and barricaded shut. Then choose on merit, not by boast, every truly fearless warrior we have, and brief them on the situation. By which time Hudan shall have completed her reconnaisance.’
Fa glanced at Hudan to see if she agreed, and Dan quietly held his breath, as if she did not welcome his involvement she would say so.
For a moment Hudan appeared unsure. ‘Brother Dan does have a unique understanding of the risks involved,’ she granted.
‘Please my king, my lord,’ Fen bowed down on one knee to beg. ‘I must know what has happened to He Nuan.’
Hudan held up a finger to make a suggestion and Fa gave her leave. ‘Fen could accompany us to witness my dream-walk, and report my findings back to you whilst I recuperate.’
Dan’s heart leapt into his throat at her suggestion. It would leave him alone guarding Hudan whilst she attempted to regain her chi, and only the two of them knew how she planned to achieve the feat. She had vowed in jest that if she ever needed aid in this regard that he would be the first to know, and the possibility was so unexpected and uplifting after the gloom of the blood rite, that he could barely breathe. How many more times could this day swing between being the worst and the best of his life.
‘Waste no time,’ Fa granted, ‘as daylight hours are running out and I would rather not be facing off with these creatures after dark.’
‘Creatures?’ Fen queried, as Hudan and Dan snapped into action and bowed to their king on departure.
‘We shall explain en route,’ Hudan assured her brother, who bowed to the king.
They passed Ji Chu and Ji Du, two of the king’s brothers from Fengjing, who were on their way into the chamber with an old, frail man, whose soiled clothes had obviously been very fine once. The smell of him was horrendous!
‘My king, look who we found in the dungeon,’ Ji Chu advised happily.
‘Minister Jizi?’ Ji Fa barely recognised the man, and the name turned both Hudan’s and Dan’s head briefly.
‘Xibo — I mean, your highness.’ Jizi threw himself on the floor as the doors were closed behind their party.
‘Dear heavens, Bi Gan’s brother still lives!’ Hudan commented as they set out to find a quiet place in the palace of chaos.
‘You knew him?’ Dan wondered how.
‘I witnessed his arrest,’ Hudan stated regretfully. ‘I hope the remainder of his days are more blissful.’
‘I feel sure brother Fa will see to that. Like his brother Bi Gan, Jizi is highly respected by Shang and Zhou alike.’
Dan knew the layout of the palace at Yin, having accompanied his father there several times in his younger days. The sleeping quarters were abandoned now Shou and Daji were gone. They’d killed off nearly all of Shou’s relatives; the rest had fled or been imprisoned. The idea of performing a sacred rite in either of the grand rooms the deceased rulers had occupied gave Hudan the shudders. However, the rooms once frequented by the murdered prince, Wu Geng, would suit their purpose nicely, as there was only one door — which could be bolted from either side — that led into the rooms. The private balcony could not be accessed without rope or ladder.
‘Rather more like a prison than sleeping quarters,’ Hudan commented as they surveyed the room.
‘To keep the prince in or something else out?’ Dan wondered whether the security measures had been installed by Shou or Wu Geng himself.
‘Why did you not tell me of these monsters before we left Haojing? I would never have let Nuan come.’ Fen was furious, in his own quiet way.
‘Brother Hudan was not to know this would happen, Fen,’ Dan pointed out. ‘And preventing Nuan coming was not really an option, as I recall.’
Fen, still scowling, opened his mouth to debate the matter but Dan would not hear it.
‘This is a very big risk Hudan is taking on Nuan’s account, so be grateful and silent.’ Dan ended the argument and, releasing his anger, Fen melted into tears.
‘I cannot lose her again.’ He turned his big, dark teary eyes to his sibling. ‘You must save her, Hudan.’
Hudan wanted to comfort him, but she would not give him false hope. ‘These creatures seldom take hostages, Fen. If they have taken her, chances are she is dead already.’
‘No!’ Tears burst from his eyes in protest.
‘Listen!’ Hudan demanded. ‘There is also a chance they did not take her, but if her captors are of the human variety …’ She shook her head, believing the outcome may be just as horrendous.
‘No.’ Fen shook his head to deny the possibility. ‘Has Tian not been cruel enough to her already?’
‘Brother Hudan, speculation will not help matters,’ Dan said, finding her frankness rather cruel. ‘Be strong for her, Fen,’ he advised his ward. ‘Focus on the desired outcome, isn’t that what you are always telling me?’
Fen calmed himself and handed his sister the elixir she’d requested. Hudan took the item in hand, regarding it with trepidation for a moment.
‘Are you sure you want to do this?’ Dan asked — he was the only one who truly understood her hesitation.
Hudan was wishing that she’d never suggested the course of action. On the one hand they needed to know the movements of their enemy, and find Nuan. But, on the other, what if she was wrong about being able to restore her chi? If she enlisted Dan’s aid, would she offend Tian and lose his favour? Or was this a sign from heaven that her immortal relationship to Dan was meant to be renewed? Her Shifu had certainly not thought so, but now she had the royal decree to do what she must.
‘Hudan?’ Dan disturbed her inner struggle.
‘No, I’m not sure,’ Hudan admitted, ‘but now the king has commanded me, what choice do I have?’
A loud whistle drew their attention to the Lord of the Elements, who was waving at them from a slouched stance against a pillar. ‘Might I be of assistance?’
‘My lord!’ Hudan was very relieved to see him; Dan could only see a glimmer of a spectre. ‘I had completely forgotten I’d not dismissed you.’
‘Is it a ghost?’ Dan asked unable to make out any detail at all.
‘You can see him?’ Hudan was astonished.
‘See who?’ Fen was baffled by the turn in the conversation.
‘Not really,’ Dan replied to Hudan’s query, ‘but I can hear him quite well.’
Lord Avery was impressed, and commented to Hudan. ‘His talent is coming along.’
‘I am right here,’ Dan offered. ‘You can speak to me directly.’
The lord grinned and approached Dan. ‘But I have no business with you … yet. My business at present is with your lovely companion here, so if you wouldn’t mind I should like to converse with her.’
‘Go right ahead.’ Dan had trouble getting the words out, his jealousy coming to the surface, and the lord was quietly amused.
Hudan could see Avery was only teasing Dan, and thought he was being rather childish for a son of the sky. ‘The lord of mischief was not in your deity description,’ Hudan subtly protested. ‘You’re supposed to be helpful.’
‘Is aiding you to do what that potion in your hands would do, without any of the draining side effects, not helpful? he proffered, to her bittersweet relief, and then wandered back in Dan’s direction to add: ‘Then you won’t have to waste time or energy trying to regain your chi.’
Dan smothered all reaction to the announcement and his expression turned to stone.
Again the Lord of the Elementals was highly amused, but Hudan thought he was being cruel now.
‘Then let us not tarry,’ she urged, to escape the awkward moment.
‘Well, you might want to lie down first,’ he suggested.
r />
‘Who is Hudan talking to?’ Fen pestered his lord, who was back to being in the darkest of moods.
‘I don’t know,’ he retorted. ‘One of her spooky friends.’
‘Can they help find Nuan?’ Fen found his hope returning.
‘That seems to be the plan,’ Dan said, finding a chair. He was seated as Hudan climbed onto the bed.
‘Be still, Fen,’ Hudan advised. ‘You know I shall always do my best for you.’
‘Lovely,’ said the lord, with a good serve of satisfaction, as Hudan lay down. He then chuckled when Dan served a dark look in their direction.
‘Stop it,’ Hudan said, tired of his games, when the impending confrontation would define the next thousand years of history. ‘There are millions of lives at stake. This land needs a sovereign who is humane.’
‘Sorry.’ Avery contained his amusement. ‘He always was so easily baited where you are concerned.’
That comment took some of the sting out of Dan’s glare, and his expression was one of questioning. ‘What —’
‘Sh!’ the lord hissed insistently as Hudan closed her eyes. ‘We require complete silence until she wakes. Do not disturb her for any reason, understood?’
As requested, Dan remained silent and merely gave a nod. Fen didn’t know what was going on, but he followed Dan’s example, took a seat and stilled himself to await an outcome.
‘Right then.’ Avery floated up to stand over her on the bed, and crouched low to place both hands over her face. Her eyelids, feeling as weighty as lead, fell closed, and her body felt cemented to the bed. ‘Out you come.’ As his hands lifted from her face, he drew her spirit right out of her slumbering form.
‘Huh!’ she gasped, reeling from the speed of it, and her attention diverted to Dan, who was staring at them in wonder.
‘Can you hear me?’ she asked.
Dan grinned. ‘I can.’
‘We shall return presently.’
He nodded to confirm, whereby she looked at Lord Avery, who took hold of her hands. ‘Remember, even if they sense us, they can neither see nor hear us,’ her guide advised, as their present location began to morph into their desired destination.
The firepit burned brightly in the Dragonface’s lair, where the creatures were prowling around the throne of bones on which He Nuan was perched like a brave little bird being stalked by a throng of feral cats.
‘She’s still alive!’ Hudan broke away from Avery to fly to her aid, but Avery stopped her. ‘Your powers will not work here, this place is devoid of cosmic light.’
‘What!’ Hudan was mortified to learn this. ‘Then how am I to combat them?’
‘Battle strategy number one,’ Avery proffered, ‘is to draw the creatures out.’
Dragonface was the only lizard standing upright and he was leering over He Nuan, who was staring straight ahead, doing her best to ignore them all. ‘A beautiful woman on a battlefield … you must be the whore of someone important?’
‘I am,’ Nuan said confidently and with pride, ‘and heaven help you when he comes for me.’
The creature laughed, amused by her threat. ‘Heaven! There’s no such place or animal. But we do want your keeper to come fetch you,’ he informed and licked the side of her face, and her expression turned even more stony. ‘Do you think he will bring Ji Fa with him? Hmmm?’
When Nuan did not answer, the creature released a loud growl and gnashed his teeth in her ear, but Nuan did not flinch.
‘Just a little fear is all I require!’ The creature gave up attempting to intimidate her. ‘There is something wrong with this one.’
‘Screw her, boss,’ snarled one of his companions, licking his lips in anticipation. ‘Give us all a go; we’ll break her.’
‘It would not be wise to offend our new hosts just yet,’ Dragonface decreed, and then looked back at Nuan. ‘Besides, even having her in my presence is making me ill.’
Nuan smiled at this, and the creature was back in her face. ‘That might prevent me eating you, but it won’t stop us tearing you apart!’
‘My confidence in my love remains unaltered.’ She closed her eyes to meditate.
‘Clever girl,’ Avery commented. ‘Battle strategy number two: courage and love are your best weapons. They will not consume the vital essence, or even feast on a fearless, loving soul. If they cannot feed on you, they cannot assume your identity.’
Hudan felt emboldened by this information and it hardened her resolve to remain confident. ‘Interesting.’ She drifted over toward Dragonface to observe him at close range, and via her etheric vision she saw the impression of another reptilian, sightly smaller and different in appearance to Dragonface, interpenetrating the leader’s form. But before she could query Avery about it, the creature moved away from her, seemingly compelled to do so.
‘Argh.’ It folded forward, hand over its stomach as it looked to He Nuan. ‘Get her out,’ he ordered, controlling his nausea, as Hudan continued to trail him, delighted. ‘Lock her in an antechamber until nightfall.’
‘Although you cannot draw on the cosmic light-force in this place, you emit cosmic light and they cannot abide it,’ the lord explained.
Hudan was surprised to hear this. ‘Just as my Shifu claimed.’
‘Well he — or rather she — would know,’ Avery corrected himself, and his slip of the tongue was interesting, but she did not query it as she was more concerned with the present subject matter. ‘They do not even tolerate sunlight very well, as like most carnivores they prefer to sleep off the daylight hours as they find the hunting is better at night. When they have gorged themselves their serotonin levels are high, so anything that further heightens the serotonin in their system, like sunlight, makes them depressed and lethargic … too much cold has the same effect.’
‘Serotonin?’ Hudan queried.
‘It’s a compound found in the central nervous system that constricts blood vessels and acts as a neurotransmitter. It’s found in the gut primarily, and is used to regulate intestinal movements, which dictate our sense of wellbeing and happiness. These creatures do not produce this on their own; they steal it from the pineal gland in the brains of their victims, as this is primarily where it is produced.’
‘That’s what those spiked weapons are for,’ Hudan shuddered.
‘Indeed,’ the lord concurred. ‘A lack of serotonin will dull the desire to mate and the desire to take care of offspring. An overdose of serotonin enhances socially dominant behaviour — over the centuries these creatures have experienced both extremes.’
‘They are far more fragile than I’d imagined,’ Hudan was glad now that she’d done this reconnaissance.
‘But very slippery and very smart,’ Avery said, warning her against becoming overconfident. ‘They’ve not survived this long by accident.’
‘But they are not infallible.’ Hudan observed them closely to desensitise herself to their nasty appearance.
‘No,’ the lord affirmed, ‘and your lady friend is safe enough, for the moment.’ Avery observed Nuan being herded out by a few of her captors, who used staffs to direct her into a passage that led out of the central chamber, as none of the creatures wanted to get too near. ‘We should return.’ He held out a hand and Hudan took hold.
In complete silence, they waited for Hudan to return to consciousness. It seemed to last an age; yet barely a quarter of an hour had passed when she began to stir.
Fen was up on his feet and at her bedside in an instant.
‘Don’t rush her, Fen,’ Dan cautioned as he approached.
‘I know the procedure,’ Fen uttered aside, stopping short of reminding him that he’d been the one who’d instructed Dan in Wu ideology.
When Hudan’s eyes flickered open, her attention went straight to Fen. ‘She’s alive.’
The lad burst into tears of joy. ‘Her iron will and love for you is keeping her safe.’
Fen flung himself onto his sibling, and hugged her. ‘Thank you, brother, thank you!’ Hudan hugged him
while the relief sunk in.
‘Are you all right?’ Dan queried and Hudan opened her mouth to respond.
‘She’s perfectly refreshed and revitalised as promised.’
Dan frowned when he heard the spectre, whose voice irked him immediately. ‘Zhou is greatly indebted to you for that.’
‘Then why so gloomy?’
Dan’s head spun around as the voice came at him from another direction, and Fen broke away from Hudan, aware that something odd was happening.
‘My lord,’ Hudan sat up in bed to address his tormentor, as she was not looking directly at Dan. ‘Did you see the impression of another reptilian beneath the facade of Dragonface?’
‘I did,’ the spectre confirmed.
‘Why would that be?’ she wondered out loud. ‘Either they can impersonate each other, which would make it very difficult to know if you’d killed Dragonface. Or, Dragonface is just a persona that the leader of the hive-mind wears?’
‘We’ll just have to kill every single one of them,’ Dan concluded.
Hudan was not so easily reassured. ‘If control of the hive-mind just passes to the next strongest in their collective consciousness, even if we kill every one of them here, any hiding further afield will inherit the knowledge and power and come back to haunt us.’
‘Then we must hope that is not the case,’ Dan said, attempting reassurance.
‘Right …’ Hudan’s otherworldly friend sounded very determined about something suddenly. ‘I’m going to do us all a favour.’
‘What?’ Hudan was alarmed as she watched her invisible buddy approach Dan, who took several steps backward when he realised he was the lord’s target.
‘Come here, this won’t hurt a bit.’
‘Hudan?’ Dan panicked as looked back to her for reassurance.
‘Lord, I beg you explain yourself first,’ Hudan insisted, rushing to stand between them.
‘Is the spook here again?’ Fen reckoned, having lost track of the conversation.
‘He is the only one on the team that can see spirits shifting about. Don’t you think that talent would come in handy about now?’