~"
That night I sneaked into the Meeting tend and began to search for the written report of the events about to happen...
-It's tonight?!-
I yelled over the flickering candle light, which was soon turned off as I rushed out to my own tend getting some clothes and weapons
-What's happening Lai'Er?-
-Qin Luo ah oh this...- he caught me off guard as I was frenetically searching for my short sword
-Uhm... You don't look so good... Why don't you sit down and drink something?-
-I don't have time for it... Do you remember what I told you about that stupid plan? It's tonight-
-What?! They will die for sure! What are you going to do?-
-Stop them and get those stupid resources myself-
-But you're not ready! The last time you went in a fully equipped enemy base you almost died... All those weird creatures you told me about and...- he began to talk non stop about all the possible outcomes
-... Not to mention if the Generals find out!-
-In war you don't always have time to "be ready" and we already have enough people thinking about their position before their men's lives... At least someone should stay focused on the main goal- I said while securing my knifes
-Don't worry, I already did it once... I can do it again-
-You really do not care about consequences, do you?- his smile was bittersweet
-Not when there are worst things to come-
...
The Enemy base this time was in the middle of a big lake, a whole fortresses built over a giant island...
Black and tall
As I was riding I didn't met our men, which could have meant only two things... I was either early or... Late
As I was approaching, strong smoke could be seen rising from above the fortress's walls... And noise, screams and metal cleanching
I widened my eyes at the sight and pushed my horse even faster
-Go! Go! While there's still time!-
Reaching the water I threw myself in and swam, I wanted to go faster... The more I heard screaming the more I felt like a small fish going against the river's strong flow...
Water coming into my mouth as my body moved too fast than what it was able to bear.
When I reached the dry land no sound could be heard anymore...
-No, I don't believe it... I'm not late!- I rushed into the base by the open doors, taking out my sword, ready to fight anything inside those walls.
And the sight that met me was something I feared during the whole travel... Corpses of my comrades all over the ground...
-No...-
I closed my eyes for just a second before screaming and throwing myself against one of the enemies
-Miss... Miss... Ying...!-
I turned around to see an hand reaching toward me, with one last push I threw the soldier away and rushed beside the diying man on the ground
-Please... Run... Away...- he was spitting blood as he was talking with an harsh voice
-I'm sorry... I was late...- I tried to cover the wound over his stomach with my hands, but the overflowing red liquid was just too much... Gushing in between my fingers as I pressed harden on his body
-End... me...-
-I...- the sight of that mutilated man was enraging me to the extreme... Both legs gone and a hole in his torso.
All around us is a pool of blood and flesh, corpses over corpses...
"It could have been avoided! It could! All of this is happening because of the pride of two men!" I thought almost screaming into my own mind
-Only you c... an... Do it...- he began to cough as blood was coming out like vomit from his throat, tears built up in my eyes
-I'm sorry...- I let go of his diying body taking again my sword -May your cross the river and find peace in your next life!- I yelled before thrusting into his body
-Our... War... Goddess...- he murmured before life finally left him.
-We are not Mahjong's Pawns!- I took his helmet and began to move my way back to the entrance, between one thrust forward and one dodge... Killing as many enemies as possible while coming to lower the bridge for a quick retreat.
Covered in blood and extremely angry
...
Back at the camp I entered the tend where the Li General was sleeping and threw the helmet on his body, making him wake up with a jump
-What the...? Who's there?! Guards!-
Two guards came to my side but stopped, gasping after seeing me covered in blood from head to toe... Dripping from my hair and clothes like water
-Miss... Ying?-
-Excatly- my voice low, like the rumbles before a storm
-What are you two doing standing there?! Arrest her!- he held the helmet in his hands as a shield, before realizing something liquid was dripping down his arm
-What the heck is this?! It's dirty!- he looked at the object and threw it away screaming in disgust
-That's blood, my Lord... Blood from the men YOU sent to DIE! WHY DIDN'T YOU GO YOURSELF?! Instead of staying here sleeping and eating till you're full?! We don't need a useless creature such as yourself in this world! Why did you send those men to die?!
-How you dare?! Of course I had, we needed food and we did all we could to survive!-
-WE?! The one diying out there is US only, not you! You're only ever here getting as fat as your pride! Maybe you should really have a taste of it to understand...- I took out my sword and rised it high, ready to hit
-Guards guards!-
The men were unmoving, confused on what to do
-I am your General! Listen to me!- He yelled again but the men got distracted by some noise outside
I pushed my sword foward cutting off a lock of his hair and scratching his neck lightly
-I... I...- he rolled his eyes, almost fainting
-Kill her! Kill this mad woman!-
-The one who deserve death here is you- I warned with cold voice still looking at my blade -Do you seriously think rank and gold are everything?! Do you think you will never die?! All that matters is what you do for the future not for yourself!
The day your blood will be spilled not a soul will remember you... Not a living one, but those resentful ghost?! I hope they will haunt you forever!
You are just playing with hundreds of lives but soon someone will play with yours, and it will all come back! A useless fat man, that's all you are! Who only look at others from above of a paper throne ready to burn!-
A pair of arms blocked me from behind -Let me go!-
-That's enough Lai'Er!! Let's go back...- Qin Luo's voice got me to freeze on the spot, he turned me around and hugged me... Not caring for how much blood or tears were on me, he patted my hair and my sword fell from my hand
-Let's go back- he whispered, calming me down
The one next to him was the Tian General, shaking his head at Li Yao
-My friend arrest that woman, she tried to kill me!-
-Li Yao... It would have been better if she succeeded-
"~
At the memories of those men mutilated all over the place and the words of that diying soldier my breathing still fails me... It's not sadness because I didn't knew them at all.
But the thought of all the men who are constantly played like pawns, of all the broken families and futures... For the glory of only a couple of other men.
That drives me crazy