Post by Zhao Yun on Apr 23, 2012 17:56:58 GMT -5
Lady Sun and Liu Shan
Zhao Yun thrusted his spear into the enemy's abdomen and then ripped it back out. The gaping wound allowed for the unfortunate soldier's innards to come out. They dangled down, from his lifeless body, so Yun walked over and stuffed them back in. Why would he help the soldier he had just fatally wounded? It was most likely because the enemy was a dummy filled with hay.
"Zilong, please look over Gong'an while I am away," Liu Bei said. Zhao Yun remembered their conversation as if it happened only a few hourse ago. However, Bei had been gone a week or so on the campaign to take Yi province from Liu Zhang. Yun also thought of something else his lord had said. Bei had pulled him aside, to speak privately, and asked him to keep an eye on Lady Sun. She and her personal guards were known to get into trouble due to her standing in both Shu as well as Wu; the former as a queen and the latter as a princess of sorts.
Zhao Yun recalled bowing and pledging that he would let no harm come to her, but also that he would be the stern voice of reason if she acted out. Then, it happened.
It was as if the heavens were toying with him. Only moments later, a soldier appeared to inform him that Lady Sun was preparing for a journey east. Unknown to Zhao Yun, Sun Quan had dispatched a messenger to call his sister back to Wu. The reason was supposedly that their mother was ill, but the request to bring Liu Shan along was a bit strange.
"I am not positive, but it looked like she was planning to take the young lord with her," the soldier stated.
Zhao Yun's eyes jolted open and he grabbed the soldier by the arm. He demanded to know when Lady Sun had been seen preparing to leave.
"I....I think maybe an hour ago. Is everything alright?"
The soldier was pushed out of the way and Zhao Yun quickly made haste for the Lady's chambers. He rushed from the barracks, through the market, and then up the countless stairs to the government building. He was out of breath when he reached her room and his heart sunk further when he realized she was gone.
"Fuck...." he thought, looking around frantically for someone or something. Finally, a maid entered the room to clean up and Yun snatched her by the throat.
"Where is she!? Where is my lord's son!?"
The maid struggled to breath and was trying to say something, so he let her go. She gasped and told him the Lady had departed for the docks. The poor servant had no idea what was happening and it made it worse when her life was threatened if anything happened to Liu Shan.
Zhao Yun made haste back towards the barracks, trucking over anyone that was in his way. A few guards noticed the commotion and ran over to assist.
"General Zhao, is everything alright," they questioned, catching up to Yun as he was preparing his steed. The two were ordered to inform Zhang Fei that Lady Sun was heading back to Wu with Liu Shan in her possession.
"Sir, what will you do when you catch up to her?"
Zhao Yun did not want to think of what would have to be done if Liu Shan was injured or killed. Should he slay the Lady for her part in this game? Surely, both Liu Bei and Sun Quan would be angered by such a move. However, it was Bei's son and even he would not forgive Lady Sun's involvement. It would be unfortunate for her to get caught up, and possibly killed, due to her brother's plan.
Zhao Yun urged his steed toward the main gates and raced by the guards who had opened them as he approached. He pushed the beast to its limit and a trail of dust raised slowly in his wake.
In the distance, he could finally see the docks. As he aproached, the outline of a ship could be discerend and he knew it was Lady Sun. He was too late.
Zhao Yun wheeled his horse around, from the end of the dock, and rode towards a few fishermen who were unloading their daily catch. He confiscated their boat and left his horse with them. They too were threatened, but not with regards to the child. Instead, if anything happened to his steed, he would kill them both. As Yun rowed away, the fishermen stood there with streams of urine running down their legs.
Zhao Yun rowed with all of his might and the small fishing vessel, powered by one man, looked like it was racing along the water, powered by fifty men. He could see the larger ship getting closer as he approached. When it was in junping distance, he leaped and grabbed onto the side. Raising himself up and onto the boat, he was then surrounded by Lady Sun's guards.
"General Zhao, what is the meaning of this intrusion?"
The guards reached for their swords, which was a major mistake. One by one, they were either cut down or thrown overboard. Yun fought his way toward the room of Shang Xiang, cutting down the last guard as he did so. He entered within to find her sitting with the young Liu Shan, stroking his hair while he was asleep. She did not seem frightened and never moved though her men were under attack. It was as if she was expecting him.
Suddenly, she heard the song that many others had heard right before their deaths. The Sword of Light cut through the air, with a sweet melody to sooth the soul about to be severed from its body, and it was pointed directly at Lady Sun's face. The sharp tip of the weapon was but an inch from her flawless skin.
"Please tell me, my lady, that this was a simple stroll and you had no intentions of bringing my lord's son to your brother in Wu."
A thought then crossed his mind. Was Sun Quan's plan to use Liu Shan as a bargaining chip for the return of Jing? He tightened the grip on his blade, hoping that what he thought was not what was happening before his eyes.