Traveler From the West by Blaze Ward

Author:Blaze Ward
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Knotted Road Press

Wan-Xian leaned out just enough to peek in through the open window. It was a splendid room, with a large bed surrounded by silk canopies pulled back.

A woman sat glumly on the bed, wrists tied with a silk rope that connected to one of the bedposts. Several chests in various corners. Weapons stacked or standing, immediately at hand if the camp was attacked by soldiers.

Or avengers.

Wan-Xian made a low sound, causing the woman to turn and look. Someone had tied a cloth around her mouth as well, possibly to keep her quiet.

Zhao Ru-Jian. The image was a perfect match. Sixteen years old, with flawless skin and long, perfect, black hair. Right now, she was a mess, wearing a sleeping robe and with her hair all askew.

Ru-Jian’s eyes got big, but Wan-Xian motioned for her to be silent, waiting for a nod before she leaned into the window enough to study the room. Iron Fisted Du’s quarters, no doubt.

The man was on the other side of the building, two rooms away enjoying a party with his band. Too many men to deal with directly, but the stable had only had a handful of horses in it, so presumably they walked to nearby villages or waylaid travelers on the Post Road at the bottom of this valley.

Ru-Jian was alone.

“We’ve come to rescue you,” Wan-Xian said quietly, getting a nod as the young woman held up her bound wrists. “Understood. I’m going for help and will be back shortly. You be ready to flee with us.”

Another nod and Wan-Xian withdrew as slowly as she had done everything tonight. Movement draws the eyes.

She moved slowly towards the darkness beyond the camp.

“Min-Gan,” she called in a whisper.

“Here,” her sister appeared from behind a bush, crossbow in hand. “Status?”

“I found her,” Wan-Xian said as she moved close. “Main building, tied up, five horses, all the weapons in Iron Fisted Du’s quarters, save the knives they have on their person.”

“Do we know who the singer is?” her sister asked.

“No, and she will remain with them tonight,” Wan-Xian decided. “Perhaps another time we can return for her, if we know who she is. For all we know, she might be the real leader of this gang.”

“Understood,” Min-Gan said. “How shall we approach? And does killing Iron Fisted Du outright help us or hinder?”

“It probably helps in the short term,” Wan-Xian told her. “This is a small band, so they might have to fight each other to determine who will lead after this. Meanwhile, we can escape with the horses and the girl.”

“Chaos, smoke, noise, and horse theft?” Min-Gan asked hopefully.

“Right up your alley,” Wan-Xian chuckled.

Her sister wasn’t exactly predictable, but had certain harmonies.

“You circle to the left, until you have a good view of the main building and the porch where Iron Fisted Du is,” Wan-Xian ordered. “I’ll slip in the back, rescue Ru-Jian, and then exit the front when things get crazy. We can steal their horses and ride away.”

“The girl not fit for swamp life?”

“Who is?” Wan-Xian asked.

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