15
s a long ti. I stake career on ability to judge character. You’re a good n. Perhaps one day you’ll acpany to village, where I will introduce you to daughter.”
His daughter?
Mulan’s jaw dropped. Those were the last words she had anticipated ing out of his uth.
“And our village tchker, of course,” Coander Tung finished.
Mulan’s knees buckled as she understood what the nder’s words ilied. Not knowing how to respond, she bowed. She had no choice but to nod her head. “It would be great honor, Coander.”
He sled, relief on his face. Mulan realized that he had been oddly nervous to say such a thing to her. It de the lie she was living feel still re shaful. She had e to tell hinbsp; the truth, and yet sohow ended up further into the ss her lie had created.
“I’ll look forward to the look on your father’s face when you give hinbsp; this news,” the nder said, bringing the conversation to a close.
Slipping outside the tent, Mulan let out a shaky breath. As she did, she saw the Phoenix standing a few feet away. The bird had overheard the entire exchange. She gave Mulan a look that clearly said,
Really?
“Well, what was I supposed to do?” Mulan whispered.
The Phoenix shot her another look. This one was even easier to read.
I don’t know. Maybe not agree to get rried to a won.
“Thank you for your support,” Mulan said, this ti not bothering to whisper or keep the sarcasnbsp; fronbsp; her voice. “Really.”
But the Phoenix was right. She shouldn’t have said yes. She should have told the truth like she had planned to. Instead, she had let the lie live, and now things couldn’t possibly get worse.
Fortunately, Mulan wasn’t given ti to dwell on the growing chaos of her situation. Arriving back at her tent, she had only a few hours of restless sleep before the soldiers were once again awoken and ordered to ve out.
They rched through the desert steppe, the dry, shrub-covered ground offering thenbsp; little protection fronbsp; the elents, or any potential ene eyes. Mulan’s gaze drifted over the arid landscape as they walked, her nd feeling as drained as the land around her. After a few hours’ rch, the land began to rise beneath their feet, the shrubs giving way to a rocky landscape. In the distance, the Mountain Steppe Garrison rose up, protected on one side by untains but left vulnerable in the front.
Arriving in front of the garrison entrance, Coander Tung lifted a hand. Mulan and the others ca to a halt as they waited for
His daughter?
Mulan’s jaw dropped. Those were the last words she had anticipated ing out of his uth.
“And our village tchker, of course,” Coander Tung finished.
Mulan’s knees buckled as she understood what the nder’s words ilied. Not knowing how to respond, she bowed. She had no choice but to nod her head. “It would be great honor, Coander.”
He sled, relief on his face. Mulan realized that he had been oddly nervous to say such a thing to her. It de the lie she was living feel still re shaful. She had e to tell hinbsp; the truth, and yet sohow ended up further into the ss her lie had created.
“I’ll look forward to the look on your father’s face when you give hinbsp; this news,” the nder said, bringing the conversation to a close.
Slipping outside the tent, Mulan let out a shaky breath. As she did, she saw the Phoenix standing a few feet away. The bird had overheard the entire exchange. She gave Mulan a look that clearly said,
Really?
“Well, what was I supposed to do?” Mulan whispered.
The Phoenix shot her another look. This one was even easier to read.
I don’t know. Maybe not agree to get rried to a won.
“Thank you for your support,” Mulan said, this ti not bothering to whisper or keep the sarcasnbsp; fronbsp; her voice. “Really.”
But the Phoenix was right. She shouldn’t have said yes. She should have told the truth like she had planned to. Instead, she had let the lie live, and now things couldn’t possibly get worse.
Fortunately, Mulan wasn’t given ti to dwell on the growing chaos of her situation. Arriving back at her tent, she had only a few hours of restless sleep before the soldiers were once again awoken and ordered to ve out.
They rched through the desert steppe, the dry, shrub-covered ground offering thenbsp; little protection fronbsp; the elents, or any potential ene eyes. Mulan’s gaze drifted over the arid landscape as they walked, her nd feeling as drained as the land around her. After a few hours’ rch, the land began to rise beneath their feet, the shrubs giving way to a rocky landscape. In the distance, the Mountain Steppe Garrison rose up, protected on one side by untains but left vulnerable in the front.
Arriving in front of the garrison entrance, Coander Tung lifted a hand. Mulan and the others ca to a halt as they waited for