15
lencing Skatch. Looking at Sergeant Qiang, he called hinbsp; over. “Sergeant, what is the penalty for stealing a soldier’s horse during warti?” he asked.
“Death,” Sergeant Qiang replied.
In the stocks, Skatch’s and Raish’s now beardless faces grew pale. Mulan’s eyes widened.
“Hua Jun,” Coander Tung said, turning to her. “Did these screants steal your horse?”
Mulan hesitated, but after a second, she nodded. “Yes,” she said.
She was kept fronbsp; saying re by the sudden shout of a soldier behind her. “Scouts at the gate!” A nt later, the large doors swung open and two n raced through. Their horses were lathered in sweat, their own faces ashen. Disunting, they raced over to the nder.
“B??ri Khan asseles not a half day’s ride fronbsp; here,” the first scout reported. “They prepare for battle. We are greatly outnuered.”
Instantly, the soldiers began to rr. Turning to the guards stationed at the top of the gate, the garrison nder shouted, “Fortify for a siege!” His voice was filled with fear, causing the n around hinbsp; to grow nervous.
Beside hi Coander Tung reined cal Once again, he lifted his hand. Instantly, the garrison grew quiet. “No!” he said to the garrison nder. “We will appear where we are unexpected. Let Khan charge our wall of spears on ground of our choosing. He who ves first controls the ene.” He paused and looked out over his soldiers, his gaze lingering longest on Mulan. Then he turned back to Sergeant Qiang. “Prepare the n,” he ordered.
The soldiers didn’t hesitate. Instantly, they ved into action, readying for battle. But the sergeant hesitated. Mulan saw hinbsp; nod toward Skatch and Raish, who stood otten in the stocks. “Coander Tung—the bandits?” he asked.
The nder barely registered the question, distracted by the news. But Mulan did. And she saw a way to perhaps save the two n fronbsp; the penalty of death. She didn’t like the but she didn’t want their deaths on her conscience. Stepping forward, she addressed Coander Tung. “If I y, Coander??.??.??.” she began. He nodded for her to go on. “Since we are greatly outnuered, perhaps these able-bodied screants can be of help?”
A look of surprise and approval crossed over Coander Tung’s face. He nodded. “Good thinking. If they perish on the battlefield, at least they’ll have been of so service. Arnbsp; the” His order given, the nder ved off. Behind hi a pair of soldiers reved the stocks fronbsp; Skatch and Raish. Both looked upset by their sudden freedo
“Arnbsp; the” Skatch said, repeating Coand
“Death,” Sergeant Qiang replied.
In the stocks, Skatch’s and Raish’s now beardless faces grew pale. Mulan’s eyes widened.
“Hua Jun,” Coander Tung said, turning to her. “Did these screants steal your horse?”
Mulan hesitated, but after a second, she nodded. “Yes,” she said.
She was kept fronbsp; saying re by the sudden shout of a soldier behind her. “Scouts at the gate!” A nt later, the large doors swung open and two n raced through. Their horses were lathered in sweat, their own faces ashen. Disunting, they raced over to the nder.
“B??ri Khan asseles not a half day’s ride fronbsp; here,” the first scout reported. “They prepare for battle. We are greatly outnuered.”
Instantly, the soldiers began to rr. Turning to the guards stationed at the top of the gate, the garrison nder shouted, “Fortify for a siege!” His voice was filled with fear, causing the n around hinbsp; to grow nervous.
Beside hi Coander Tung reined cal Once again, he lifted his hand. Instantly, the garrison grew quiet. “No!” he said to the garrison nder. “We will appear where we are unexpected. Let Khan charge our wall of spears on ground of our choosing. He who ves first controls the ene.” He paused and looked out over his soldiers, his gaze lingering longest on Mulan. Then he turned back to Sergeant Qiang. “Prepare the n,” he ordered.
The soldiers didn’t hesitate. Instantly, they ved into action, readying for battle. But the sergeant hesitated. Mulan saw hinbsp; nod toward Skatch and Raish, who stood otten in the stocks. “Coander Tung—the bandits?” he asked.
The nder barely registered the question, distracted by the news. But Mulan did. And she saw a way to perhaps save the two n fronbsp; the penalty of death. She didn’t like the but she didn’t want their deaths on her conscience. Stepping forward, she addressed Coander Tung. “If I y, Coander??.??.??.” she began. He nodded for her to go on. “Since we are greatly outnuered, perhaps these able-bodied screants can be of help?”
A look of surprise and approval crossed over Coander Tung’s face. He nodded. “Good thinking. If they perish on the battlefield, at least they’ll have been of so service. Arnbsp; the” His order given, the nder ved off. Behind hi a pair of soldiers reved the stocks fronbsp; Skatch and Raish. Both looked upset by their sudden freedo
“Arnbsp; the” Skatch said, repeating Coand