House of Chen

  They settled down to wait. It had been a while since the unit had been together, and each one was excited by the prospect of working once more. Quietly, they talked about some of the things they had done together, softly laughing about the games they would play so as to keep fit. The women looked on nervously. They were still silent. Some sobbed, some comforted those who were close to breaking down, whilst Zi continued to comfort the two children. They heard a strange noise, it was like a strangled cat almost, but it pierced the air and made them jump. "Down!" Three ordered, his voice lowered and his eyes vigilant. The remaining Blades turned themselves outwards, knives at the ready, protecting the women, should anything come their way. "What was that?" one of the women asked, almost in tears. "That's Alpha, she's warned us there's trouble between her and us." There was silence then. A woman went to speak but was stopped instantly by one of t...

The women didn't notice anything until they saw their captors falling backwards, and a red ribbon of blood flowing from their necks. Someone or something had come and killed them, just like that. One minute they were laughing and eating, the next, silent. It was then they noticed a small group of men, all dressed in dark leather, carrying blood soaked small knives. They watched as these men moved around, making strange noises to each other. A language which scared the women.  Were they savages? Were they going to kill the all the women? Would they rape them there and then...what? The women, scared out of their wits, moved as far to the back of their liittle cage as they could. They whimpered in fear, daring not to speak. Moments later, one of the men came over. He spoke. "I'm sorry if we scared you and we mean you no harm. The opposite on fact. We want to return your freedom to you, but to do so, we need to know which of these..." he pointed at the men lying in their ...

The men moored up, unpacking their camp from the boat and pulling the craft into the shrubbery. Their actions were automatic, seamlessly working as a unit; setting up canvas covers, bedding, cooking fires and food store. "Do you think Alpha and One are close?" Three asked. "Possibly, but lets play it by ear to start with. Scout out the area and orientate ourselves." Five looked on, preparing the fire pit. It was Two who spoke next. He was the leader of this small unit until the two women arrived and then he would take a back seat and allow their intel to take over. "I recognise this area as one of the training grounds Alpha would bring us to. I think most of us are Alpha trained?" They all nodded save one, "no, I was trained by One, but I think she used the same areas." "Good, then we scout out, reorientate ourselves, make sure there are no unwants in the area and then return here. Okay?" They all nodded and split of into three sets of ...

The Twin Blades were training using their bamboo poles. They gained height and agility when they used them, and being simple bamboo, were easily cut when needed. The monks lead the training, clearly showing their superiority. The soldiers, not to be outdone, were keen to prove they too could master the moves these well trained men had taught them. Each training session saw an improvement, each session created the elite force Niao had envisaged all those years ago. Invariably, there was an audience whilst they trained. Many of the men from the swords and arrows would marvel at their acrobatic skills but their trades didn't accomodate nor necessitate these skills.  The Mu watched too, amazed at their skills levels and intimidated by their lethal attack. They'd witnessed their cold heartedness, their smile as they rendered their opponents incapable of moving, their swift action of the blade as it took yet another life.  They hunted like wild animals calling to one another in a l...

Commander Zhang was true to his word, and groups of Mu soldiers were being unceremoniously brought through the pass and left in the hands of the Twin Hammers troops. He had kept their arms as agreed; he would make money from these items, something Commander Zhang both needed and desired. Second Master came across from his meeting, to oversee the first delivery. "Place the men in the holding area and let them settle. Give them food, water, and bedding. The tents are erected ready. You are in charge of the securing of these men." "Sir!" to a man, all stood to attention and acknowledged his request. The Mu soldiers were civily show to their area and given their basic requirements. They looked on confused and stunned by the proceedings. One minute they had been in charge, the next, prisoners by the very people they had been attempting to kill. What made it worse was, they were being treated well. One of the men, his anger boiling over, flew at a Twin Hammers man, grabbi...

Having moved further down stream, we entered the northerly stretches of the Back Lake, Suàng Yóu. It was early summer and the woods which surrounded us were full of life and fresh shoots. It was a larder of the very finest and if we walked a little inland, we were able to harvest fresh bamboo shoots to add to our fair. Xin went off vegetable and early fruit picking whilst I headed to the water to collect some tasty fish. Again, the waters here teamed with life and we were spoilt for choice. Fresh water shrimps, crabs and small dabs swam in the shallows whilst their older, and much larger cousins swam in deeper waters nearer the middle. I swam to the middle, carrying my small, round net and cast it out. Pulling on the rope, I closed the net and pulled it towards me. Time to swim back and see what we would be eating....if anything. I reached the shallows and was just about to inspect the catch when Xin came rapidly to the waters edge. "I think you need to come and look at something....

 The next day came quickly. Dawn was just breaking and the girl had crept out, during the night. She had chosen the warmth of the fire over her fear, and now she was curled up next to her brother, protecting him with her arm. She was a small girl, probably around eight or nine, with mousy hair and a small button nose. Her mouth was small and down-turned, her forehead bearing the lines of someone who frowned. With long legs and arms, she would probably be quite gangly when she stood up, but as yet, she still hadn't grown into herself, and reminded me of young stags, all legs, but little co-ordination or balance. I gently shook her by the shoulder, and with a start, she was up and stepping back as fast as she could. I raised my hands towards her, "it's alright, you're safe, we won't harm you." I looked towards her brother, still sleeping, "don't wake him just yet, its early and Xin and I have to get breakfast first." I moved toward the fire, stayin...

 The Twin Hammers army had gathered at the mouth of the Zhang Pass. They waited to be given instructions as to what was happening next. Rumours had spread through the various camps that they were about to go home, whilst others had heard rumours there was still a lot of fighting to be done.  None wanted to return through the Pass. "Do you think we will get to go home?" "I heard we had to do a lot more clearing out of the Mu dogs first." "Will we have to get them back to their own territory....." "If we don't, they'll spread like a plague again, you know that lot!" Hatred had developed to the point of boiling over and the more the troops saw the aftermath of their slaughter, the more they wanted to strip them and torture them to death."Death by a thousand cuts is still too kind!" "Peg them out in the desert and let the ants have them!" "Burn them alive like the did to some of the women..." The comments reached...

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