House of Chen

  There had been little rain and the road to Mudon was a dust bowl. The land was parched, bathed in a crisp cover of dead grasses, failed crops and deserted farmsteads. The only saving grace was the river bank, which was still lush and full of life. Although the river levels had fallen, the central flow was still deep and navigable. The shallows, however, had become nothing but a quagmire of stinking, green mud, leeches and snakes. Niao eyed this as they passed. 'Good places to lose bodies', she nudged Xin, "Useful?" Xin nodded. "I've plenty of venom, and a chest of darts. Think we need to deploy them and keep our distance until the final kill." Niao nodded, "you're right. No point in opening ourselves up for attack unnecessarily. I'll go up to the front then, and run this method of attack past Băo. It'll be perfect once we arrive at the city gates." and with that, she trotted off. Xin turned to the Blades who were walking with her...

Băo and his two packs arrived just as another missive came in from Chenxi. It was directed straight to Second Master and he was opening it as Băo walked in. Băo waited and watched Second Master's face drain of colour. "What's happened?" "Yiran has died. She gave up the fight about a week ago and was pronounced dead a few hours after she went quiet." Băo watched, as his face cycled through pain, agony, worry and then white fire rage. He touched Second Master's arm. "We will get them. We will bring them to justice. We will make them pay." "That feud has taken my children and now my wife. Is there anything left it can take?" He looked at Băo with tears in his eyes. "I loved her with my very life. She was my everything. What do I have now?" "You have a younger brother to protect and a sworn brother who will stand by your side. You have a Province to restore and peace to make. You are very important to us all brother and now...

  The sweep began as expected. The Blades took up positions to the west and to the north of the town, whilst the entire army moved like a tide over the town.  They went door to door, knocking until a frightened face appeared at a chink in their barricade. People had fled the safety of their compounds, carrying their valuables or their children. Some were shouting at servants, trying to keep up. Chaos was milling all around the soldiers whilst they calmly continued their work.  Civilians ran from one place to another, shouting and screaming. Some people, in their haste, had set their own places on fire; carelessly unattended fires, knocked over lamps, fire sticks still lit, lying against the fabric of a dress or shawl. The smell of burning filled the nostrils, it was getting out of control. "Make sure the doors are checked over there!" one sergeant yelled at his troops. "All clear in these streets, Sir!" "Move on!" he barked and as a swarm, unhurried and un...

  They were all there now, the whole of the Twin Hammers. They had assembled in their regiments, banners flying, tents up and the siege was in full swing. Tangun was completely locked down, both by water and by land. Any troops coming from across the border were intercepted and either detained or sent packing, their tails between their legs. Most civilians had also fled, but a few die-hards remained. They were invariably tied to the Mu in some way, usually financial. Second Master had arrived. He had left Yiran in the capable hands of the apothecaries. She didn't know where she was and was being kept under heavy sedation. He couldn't bare to watch as she thrashed about, screaming and calling for her children. It was from these screams and shouts, he had been able to piece together what probably had happened. Yiran had taken the two children up to Niao's house in the hills above the forge. Both children had been told to be extra careful, but the youngest was only four, and s...