“Fei’s daughter?” Wade asked, as they followed the directions the guards had given them.

  “Yes. That’s his informant.”

  “Then why didn’t you—”

  “It’s on a—”

  “Don’t tell me it’s on a fucking need to know basis!”

  The Baron shrugged. “Well if I can’t tell you that, I don’t know what to tell you.”

  Wade ground his teeth in irritation.

  They reached the corridor and barged into the room. Sat at a desk, both holding ink pens, was a young woman and a young girl. Both had the silky, black hair of their race, worn down in a simple style. Their silk robes were loose, with large sleeves, and they wore wooden clogs. They both stood in shock.

  “Lady Mei. We’ve been sent by your father,” The Baron told them. “Password is tiger. He also said, ‘Who else would send four foreigners dressed as women.’”

  The young girl smiled. “I believe you. What now?” She frowned at Christoph.

  “Soup?” he asked, offering the vat he carried.

  “No thank you.”

  He placed it on the floor, looking a little awkward.

  “Wait,” said Wade. “The young one is the general’s daughter?”

  “I am indeed Mei, daughter of Fei,” she said with a smile. “This is my tutor, Liena.”

  Liena gave a small bow.

  “But you’re no older than my son Eden here. You’ve been informing on the Governor General?”

  “A young girl arouses less suspicion than most,” Mei explained. “Liena has helped me, and she too must escape the city. Talking of which, what is the plan?”

  The Baron puffed out his cheeks.

  Wade experienced a sinking feeling.

  “Well, get out of the palace, first,” The Baron offered weakly. “Then get out of the city. After that, head north to your father in Pengshui.”

  “That isn’t a plan,” Mei noted. “That’s the direction we need to take.”

  “Well, your father and I didn’t have time to work out all the details.”

  “Any details,” Wade muttered.

  “It will be difficult to avoid detection walking all that way,” Liena said. “May I suggest we head south, to the harbour. With a bit of luck, we may get passage on a foreign vessel leaving port before people notice we are missing.”

  The Baron pursed his lips.

  What is there to consider, Wade wondered. It’s the only suggestion we have.

  “We’ll take a ship out of here,” The Baron declared.

  Shit on it.

  Liena and Mei had led them out of the hall. But half way across the palace grounds, they’d been spotted. A party of six Kuthenian warriors gave chase. Presumably they’d been sent looking for them after Kecheng discovered he didn’t have Fei in custody after all.

  They ran the length of a building, turning the corner. But the warriors were gaining on them.

  “You carry on with them,” Wade said to The Baron. “Smoke and I will deal with this.”

  “Just the two of you?” The Baron asked doubtfully.

  “I’ll stay as well,” said Liena.

  Wade looked from the woman to the scabbarded katana at her side. He hoped she could use it.

  “Come on,” Mei said to The Baron, dragging him and Eden away. “Liena will help them.”

  Wade felt some relief at their departure. If they didn’t make it, at least Eden might get away.

  Liena drew her sword. In her other hand she held a tiny needle.

  Smoke pressed himself flat against the wall, knife in hand. The Alinko edged to the corner of the building, waiting for the warriors to appear.

  Wade decided to add another angle. He climbed to the roof, lying flat atop the building so he couldn’t be seen.

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  The Kuthenians were slowing down, shouting out their discovery. Soon they’d alert more soldiers.

  “Oh fuck it,” Smoke said. He sprang around the corner to face the enemy.

  ACTION ROUND

  The six warriors weren’t expecting a fightback.

  Smoke threw his knife with unerring accuracy, the blade sinking into the nearest warrior’s thigh. His victim fell to 7 hit points. In one action, he drew a second weapon and closed the gap. With his third action he stabbed his blade through padded armour, killing the first warrior.

  The Alinko wasted no time in moving onto his next target, lightning fast. With his remaining actions he killed a second Kuthenian, and halved the hit points of a third.

  Wade stood and crossed the roof, coming at the group of warriors from above. He targeted the warrior at the back, figuring he was the most likely to run and get help. His thrown knife struck his target in the arm but it wasn't a clean hit, dealing only 6 damage. He tried again, but the warrior, having been warned, was able to dodge his throws.

  Liena followed Smoke into the melee. She threw a needle at her target, but he raised an arm and took it in his vambrace, smiling at his success. He didn’t anticipate her quick follow up with the katana, however. The razor sharp blade cut deep, taking 10 hit points. She landed both her final strikes, finishing her first opponent then reducing her next to 10 hit points.

  It was the Kuthenians’ turn now, but all three who remained were injured.

  Smoke’s opponent landed a good sword blow, dealing 6 damage. Similarly, Liena took 5 points of damage, reducing her to 15 hit points.

  The Kuthenian who Wade targeted did exactly what he had feared—turned, and ran. Fortunately, Wade’s pitiful attack had at least reduced the warrior to two action points. He didn’t get that far.

  Smoke remained in deadly form, finishing his opponent at the first attempt. He chased down the runner, with two actions to spare. They were enough to send him to Gehenna.

  Only Liena’s opponent remained. Wade was low on knives, and so jumped from the roof onto the warrior. They crashed to the ground, Wade taking 2 points of fall damage. He thrust down with his knife, but his opponent caught his arm. They grappled, each trying to gain an advantage, but neither managing to.

  Liena stabbed down with her katana, ending the fight.

  She offered Wade a hand, who took it and got to his feet, brushing himself down. He’d contributed very little, but the bastards were dead, and quiet. That was what mattered.

  As the ship’s captain hauled anchor, and his crew pushed off from the jetty, the tight feeling in Wade’s insides slowly eased. It wasn’t until there was clear blue ocean between their vessel and Fuyang that he could breathe easily.

  His son stared back at the city, oblivious of the danger they had been in. Christoph sat with him, pointing out the sights as if they were a couple of tourists returning home from their holidays.

  Wade shared a look with The Baron and Smoke. Somehow, they’d infiltrated the capital of Kuthenia and rescued General Fei’s daughter without getting noticed. A stupid man might think it was down to skill; they all knew how lucky they had been.

  He glanced at Mei and Liena. Heavy cloaks covered their robes; their fur caps were pulled down tight; and their clogs had been replaced by leather boots. The two of them seemed to have more composure than Wade and his colleagues.

  Did we just rescue them, he wondered, or did they rescue us?

  MISSION COMPLETE

  SUCCESS: General Fei’s informant was rescued

  Some of your mercs improved their stats:

  Wade:

  Intellect +1

  Smoke:

  Skill with knives: master

  Intellect +1

  Hit Points +1

  Eden:

  Intellect +1

  Some mercs levelled up:

  Smoke is now Level 6