Taming Poison Dragons by Tim Murgatroyd

Author:Tim Murgatroyd [Murgatroyd, Tim]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Sci Fi, Steam Punk
Publisher: Myrmidon Books

‘You are not quite what I was led to expect, Yun Cai. I expected a sly fop. But you are either very sly indeed, or neither. Is it true your father was the saviour of General Yueh Fei?’

‘He was.’

I did not conceal my pride.

‘Then your courage before the ramparts can be explained. Tell me, why did you take a barrel of water for the wounded each day? A strange action for a gentleman, surely?’

I shook my head.

‘I do not know, sir. At the time I told myself it was to ensure a favourable rebirth, for I expected to perish. But now I think it was merely to be of use.’

‘Of use? Quite so. One may be useful in many ways. Yet you gained honour from it. Was that your motive, to gain honour?’

‘Excellency,’ I said. ‘All my life I have longed to be worthy of my Father’s example.’

He nodded vigorously at this noble sentiment.

‘All decent men dream of earning their parents’ respect,’

he said. ‘Well, Yun Cai, you shall have other opportunities. Because you seem an honourable young man, I shall entrust you with a secret. Do you know how to keep your mouth shut, as well as how to ladle out water?’

‘I believe so, Your Excellency,’ I said.

‘For your sake, let us hope so. In two weeks the New Year will fall. Now for some time a tunnel has been dug with great secrecy. It now approaches the city walls. I expect it to be finished at the height of the New Year festival. Then. . . Well, we shall see what happens. Of course, I have reported this to my superiors at court, which brings me to Lord Xiao’s latest letter.’

I waited silently.

‘It seems news of my tunnel has reached Lord Xiao,’ he continued. ‘And he has found time amidst the busy affairs of state to request that you accompany the initial sortie into the city. You must understand I can hardly refuse such a request.’

‘No,’ I said, tonelessly.

‘He has even sent two. . . how can I put it? Bodyguards, to protect you when you are inside the city.’

The room was silent.

‘There’s no more I can do for you,’ he said, coldly.

I bowed so my forehead was a few inches from the ground.

‘I am grateful for the warning, Your Excellency.’

‘Well, prepare yourself as you see fit.’

He watched me in his expressionless way.

‘I hear you have powerful friends in the capital, who are making much of your presence here,’ he said.

Again I was nonplussed.

‘Your Excellency, I have no idea who these friends might be. I have always lived a secluded kind of life.’

‘Well, it is all one. You are dismissed.’

I edged backwards and left. Mi Feng waited outside the headquarters, holding my horse. He looked at me quizzi-cally.

‘It is time you sharpened my sword,’ I said.

His Excellency Wen Po’s revelations filled me with confusion. I went about my daily tasks as though in an unpleasant dream. Day after day dedicated to sword practice, for the discipline I had learnt when studying could be applied in other ways.

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