The Sorceress: Blossoming Power

Higher privilege, higher responsibility. Greater power, greater responsibility. By JoanB

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IN A FOREST, a little girl with big eyes and black hair, hid inside the python's coiled body.

"Xinyi, it's time for class. Come home now," Yan Ma shouted at the back porch.

"I won't," the little Xinyi replied.

"Why not?"

"I don't like classes."

"Yes, you will or you won't get a good husband."

"Why can't I get a good husband if I don't study? You said all I need is to be pretty and please my husband and he will be happy. Do I need to study to be pretty and to please him?"

"Because good men are attracted to talented women."

"I'm intelligent so I don't need to study and I can still get a good husband."

"How can you be intelligent when you can't even write your name?"

"Do I need to write my name to please my husband?"

Yan Ma sighed and rolled her pupils, getting tired answering her unending questions. "Will you please stop asking? 

"Why can't I ask?"

"Because you need to study. Study now or you'll end up marrying an ugly and poor man."

"Then I won't marry, like you."

"You won't marry me? But I'm already your husband," a man spoke, peering down in the python's coil. Xinyi tilted his head up and saw Ming.

The little girl inside became the grown Xinyi and stood with a huge smile. "You're alive." Her hands wrapped around his neck but it touched a space.

"Ming?" She turned her head and saw she was in the blood-soaked field, trying to find him. "Ming, where are you?"

A big beak suddenly faced her and opened it to devour her head. She hurriedly blasted a fire on it.

"Yay! Xinyi, Xinyi, stop that. It's me, Kuaile." The bird hid behind the curtain canopy around her bed.  

It was just a dream. Xinyi opened her eyes and saw burning curtains and walls. She waved her hand and the fires extinguished. The hiding Hutyuns under her bed came out. "My queen, are you having a nightmare?"

Gu Dai and Nianshi came in a hurry. "My lady, what happened?" The former asked with furrowed forehead, eyes as big as saucers, watching the burnt walls and blackened curtains.

"Ah, sorry. I… I…" Xinyi suddenly covered her eyes, body trembling. Sniffings were heard from her later. 

Gu Dai embraced her. "Don't cry, my lady. We will find Lord Lei's body."

Xinyi didn't say a thing but rested her wet face on Gu Dai's shoulders, tears still streaming down.

Nianshi got worried and flew out toward Xionmao's forest. The panda had lifted the mist. It had been two days since Ming's mysterious disappearance.

After the incident, Xinyi wanted to leave for the mountains as soon as dawn came to find Ming's body but a King's decree arrived the next day, saying a general from Youshi's capital would arrive soon to assist Governor Lei Ming. 

"What? Ming hadn't reported about the treaty?" Xinyi asked as she watched Zang Wei read the letter, the acting governor as of the moment. 

"He did. I was the one who sent the man who brought  the report."

"But did you report about his death to the king?" Lifen and General Lofey asked altogether. They looked at each other. The latter apologized and moved back at a corner in the governor's office.

"No," Zang Wei said.

"Why?" Lifen asked.

"I believe the governor is still alive. That… voice telling Madame Lei to go to that…," he looked up at the ceiling, trying to remember the name of the peak. "Never mind. I can feel inside me that the governor is still alive." He gulped, trying to stop the tears from falling as he gazed at the governor's lonely ornate table with no one sitting behind the chair.

Everyone followed his gaze. Silence…

"There is more bad news and ready your heart for it." Zang Wei opened the topic. All eyes went to him.

"The merchants mentioned there are mercenaries grouping together and openly announced that they will pay a handsome price for those who can guide them to the buried mines of Fengfu City."

"What?" They yelped in unison. Lifen covered her mouth, couldn't believe what she was hearing. "I thought we had settled this cave problem, but here we are again. What is in these mines that people are seeking the place?"

Xinyi breathed deep and told them the truth and what they saw and experienced when they were there.

Qinfen groaned, recalling his bad experience in Mafan's hands just for those mines.

"That's not all. My scouts told me they spotted more armed men coming this way," Tyriece added. "Base on my man's description, the men had red hair but wearing plain clothes. So, they could be from the Bernavoles Vados, another strong nation in the east."

The whole room became noisy, cursing and mouthing their exasperation. The silent Zhai tightened his hold on Ming's sword belted on his waist. He kept the thing after finding it left on the ground. 

"I'm leaving tomorrow," Xinyi announced. "So I can bring Ming back right away. This city won't go without the governor leading his people." She spoke with a conviction that Ming was still alive.

"Wait, my lady," General Lofey spoke. The people's eyes went to him. "I understand you're in a hurry to see... him." He had a hard time saying his dead body, feeling if he says so, he had declared he was really dead. Same as Zang Wei, he trusted his instinct as well. Ming was alive with no doubt. "Delaying a bit won't hurt. Let us prepare first so we would have enough supplies to last us for days."

Xinyi's brows rose. "Are you implying you are going with me?"

"Yes," General Lofey replied without batting an eyelid. 

"Me, too," Tyriece peeked at the general's side.

"But…" Xinyi wished to leave soon with Nianshi, but to bring these men would mean delay and hated the thought.

"We know you're more powerful than us. You might only think we are useless, but we have flying horses and additional people won't hurt. Don't forget we're Chiangdas too and experienced fighters. We will make sure we won't be a bother." 

Deep inside the two, they hoped she would agree. Nianshi understood her but didn't say a thing. The general said sense and totally agreed.

"Fine, but we will leave in two days' time or earlier."

General Lofey clapped and shouted. "That settled then."

That day, the general let his army stay inside the city walls and worked with Zang Wei to strengthen the city. He also sent Balin to fly to Goding's capital to bring his report and to convince the king that the army would agree for them to delay their return.

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In  Fuyu, Youshi's capital city, King Duan and Prime Minister Xiang Lang had a meeting.

"Prime Minister, I think this is the right time."

"I understand, your majesty. I will leave for Fengfu City as soon as possible."