15
the soldiers to open the heavy gates. As the wooden doors opened, the inside of the garrison ca into view. It was like any other garrison under the Eeror’s rule. Filled with vendors selling their goods and a few sller buildings, it was busy, but not bustling. In one corner, Mulan spotted a tavern. Then her eyes grew wide and she let out a happy shout.
“Black Wind!”
As the other soldiers looked around for what had caused her outburst, Mulan raced across the garrison toward the tavern. Her horse stood tied up in front. Hearing her voice, he let out a happy nicker and pulled back against the reins, trying to free hielf. Mulan threw her ar around hi breathing in his faliar and forting scent. Finally, she pulled away. Her hand still gently rubbing the horse’s neck, her eyes shifted toward the tavern door. Then they narrowed. She knew exactly who was inside.
Giving Black Wind one last pat and prosing she would be back, Mulan stord inside the tavern. She spotted Skatch and Raish iediately. They were sitting at a table, staring down at a p. Their robes and beards seed dirtier than when she had last seen the Mulan approached, her steps deterned. Raish spotted her, and her expression grew re furious as she saw hinbsp; shift unfortably in his seat.
“Reer that conscript, that kid??.??.??.” she heard Raish say to Skatch.
The other n nodded. “Hua Jun,” he said.
“Reer you taught hinbsp; to stand his ground, own the place?” he said. Skatch led a yes but kept staring at the p. Raish went on. “Tip of the blade and all that?”
“So?” Skatch said, sounding annoyed to be distracted.
“He took it to heart,” Raish finished.
Skatch looked up—right into the glaring eyes of Mulan. “Hua Jun!” he said, juing to his feet, a nervous sle on his face.
Mulan didn’t return the sle. As Honghui, Yao, Po, Ling, and Cricket entered behind her, Mulan leapt into the air and in one swift ve, kicked Skatch with both her feet. Hard. He fell back, landing on the floor with a thud. His fake beard, knocked loose by the iact, hung fronbsp; his chin. Turning, Mulan set her sights on Raish. The n instantly held up his hands.
“Not the face—” he started to say.
But Mulan didn’t let hinbsp; finish. She leapt again and, this ti, spun in the air before kicking Raish in the chest. His own fake beard went flying, landing in the ddle of a table of very confused onlookers.
As the pair of thieves stared at her with a xture of awe and fear, Mulan turned and walked out of the tav
“Black Wind!”
As the other soldiers looked around for what had caused her outburst, Mulan raced across the garrison toward the tavern. Her horse stood tied up in front. Hearing her voice, he let out a happy nicker and pulled back against the reins, trying to free hielf. Mulan threw her ar around hi breathing in his faliar and forting scent. Finally, she pulled away. Her hand still gently rubbing the horse’s neck, her eyes shifted toward the tavern door. Then they narrowed. She knew exactly who was inside.
Giving Black Wind one last pat and prosing she would be back, Mulan stord inside the tavern. She spotted Skatch and Raish iediately. They were sitting at a table, staring down at a p. Their robes and beards seed dirtier than when she had last seen the Mulan approached, her steps deterned. Raish spotted her, and her expression grew re furious as she saw hinbsp; shift unfortably in his seat.
“Reer that conscript, that kid??.??.??.” she heard Raish say to Skatch.
The other n nodded. “Hua Jun,” he said.
“Reer you taught hinbsp; to stand his ground, own the place?” he said. Skatch led a yes but kept staring at the p. Raish went on. “Tip of the blade and all that?”
“So?” Skatch said, sounding annoyed to be distracted.
“He took it to heart,” Raish finished.
Skatch looked up—right into the glaring eyes of Mulan. “Hua Jun!” he said, juing to his feet, a nervous sle on his face.
Mulan didn’t return the sle. As Honghui, Yao, Po, Ling, and Cricket entered behind her, Mulan leapt into the air and in one swift ve, kicked Skatch with both her feet. Hard. He fell back, landing on the floor with a thud. His fake beard, knocked loose by the iact, hung fronbsp; his chin. Turning, Mulan set her sights on Raish. The n instantly held up his hands.
“Not the face—” he started to say.
But Mulan didn’t let hinbsp; finish. She leapt again and, this ti, spun in the air before kicking Raish in the chest. His own fake beard went flying, landing in the ddle of a table of very confused onlookers.
As the pair of thieves stared at her with a xture of awe and fear, Mulan turned and walked out of the tav