swat away the “insect” that was tickling his ear.
Behind hi the older conscript bit back a laugh. Another conscript joined hi pointing to the weed and ng for hinbsp; to do it again. Mulan watched thenbsp; with narrowed eyes. Cricket had done nothing to the What was the point of teasing hinbsp; in such a way?
Unaware of the situation, Cricket continued chatting. His voice was friendly and open. “She said I was born under an auspicious—” The tickling had grown re aggressive and Cricket swatted harder this ti. Only, instead of slapping a bug, he idently slapped Longwei.
“Ow!” he shouted, putting a hand to his cheek.
Behind the the two bullies howled with laughter. Then, pushing Cricket and Longwei out of the way, they took their place in line. The younger conscripts stuled against each other, trying to keep their balance.
Sensing she was about to get tuled into, Mulan ved out of the way. But she hadn’t seen the conscript who had e up beside her. With a shout, she crashed into hi the iact knocking her to the ground.
She lay still for a nt, trying to catch her breath. Then she saw a hand held out to her.
“Sorry, tadpole,” the conscript said. “My stake.”
Mulan tried to keep herself fronbsp; blushing. The young n in front of her was tall, lean, and very, very handso. His eyes were twinkling and kind.
He offered his hand again.
Distracted by his good looks and the charng sle he was flashing at her, Mulan alst, alst took his hand. But then she stopped. Tadpole he had called her. Earrassnt, delayed, ca rushing over her. This was exactly what Skatch had said would happen. She wouldn’t be taken seriously.
Ignoring the outstretched hand, Mulan scraled to her feet. Then she reached for her sword. But her hands were clay and her fingers shaking, so what she had hoped would be a quick grab turned into a buling attet to pull the sword fronbsp; its belt. She pulled it free and, lifting it in the air, pointed it at the other conscript’s throat just as Skatch had done to her. “Insult again,” she said, forcing her voice to go deep, “and you’ll taste the tip of blade!”
Instantly, all hur left the young n’s face. Before she even heard the swish of his sword, she felt its tip at her own throat. Mulan gulped. She ght have been a bit hasty in her actions. Skatch hadn’t told her what to do if the other person also had a weapon.
“Lower your sword,” the conscript said.
“Or what?” Mulan had been trying for tough, but even to her, her voice
Behind hi the older conscript bit back a laugh. Another conscript joined hi pointing to the weed and ng for hinbsp; to do it again. Mulan watched thenbsp; with narrowed eyes. Cricket had done nothing to the What was the point of teasing hinbsp; in such a way?
Unaware of the situation, Cricket continued chatting. His voice was friendly and open. “She said I was born under an auspicious—” The tickling had grown re aggressive and Cricket swatted harder this ti. Only, instead of slapping a bug, he idently slapped Longwei.
“Ow!” he shouted, putting a hand to his cheek.
Behind the the two bullies howled with laughter. Then, pushing Cricket and Longwei out of the way, they took their place in line. The younger conscripts stuled against each other, trying to keep their balance.
Sensing she was about to get tuled into, Mulan ved out of the way. But she hadn’t seen the conscript who had e up beside her. With a shout, she crashed into hi the iact knocking her to the ground.
She lay still for a nt, trying to catch her breath. Then she saw a hand held out to her.
“Sorry, tadpole,” the conscript said. “My stake.”
Mulan tried to keep herself fronbsp; blushing. The young n in front of her was tall, lean, and very, very handso. His eyes were twinkling and kind.
He offered his hand again.
Distracted by his good looks and the charng sle he was flashing at her, Mulan alst, alst took his hand. But then she stopped. Tadpole he had called her. Earrassnt, delayed, ca rushing over her. This was exactly what Skatch had said would happen. She wouldn’t be taken seriously.
Ignoring the outstretched hand, Mulan scraled to her feet. Then she reached for her sword. But her hands were clay and her fingers shaking, so what she had hoped would be a quick grab turned into a buling attet to pull the sword fronbsp; its belt. She pulled it free and, lifting it in the air, pointed it at the other conscript’s throat just as Skatch had done to her. “Insult again,” she said, forcing her voice to go deep, “and you’ll taste the tip of blade!”
Instantly, all hur left the young n’s face. Before she even heard the swish of his sword, she felt its tip at her own throat. Mulan gulped. She ght have been a bit hasty in her actions. Skatch hadn’t told her what to do if the other person also had a weapon.
“Lower your sword,” the conscript said.
“Or what?” Mulan had been trying for tough, but even to her, her voice