20
Spotting a figure on the throne, she hurried down the long roonbsp; and then bowed.
“Your Majesty,” she said, her racing heartbeat slowing when she saw the leader safe. “I anbsp; Hua Mulan fronbsp; the Fifth Battalion. I’ve e to protect you.”
“Iossible.”
Mulan’s head lifted in surprise when she heard the faliar fele voice answer. Looking up, her eyes adjusting to the darkness of the roo she saw that it was not the Eeror sitting on the throne. It was Xianniang. The witch stared back at her. Then the won stood up and spoke again, her voice laced with disbelief. “A won leading a n’s ar.”
Mulan’s eyes narrowed. The witch could think what she wanted. The truth was Coander Tung, Honghui, and all the other soldiers had epted her. And they were counting on her now. “Where is the Eeror?” she said, unsheathing her sword and advancing toward the throne.
But her steps slowed as she ca closer to Xianniang. Pain and grief were etched on the witch’s face, king her sharp features oddly re beautiful. She looked vulnerable—and scared. Mulan felt the urge to ask her what had happened. But she didn’t need to. She knew without words. B??ri Khan’s victory ght be approaching, but Xianniang was alone. In so ny ways.
“You were right,” Mulan said, lowering her weapon. “We are the sa.”
Xianniang gave Mulan a sll, sad sle. “With one difference: they ept you, and they’ll never ept .” The witch’s words were full of etion, and as Mulan watched, a tear dropped down Xianniang’s cheek.
Mulan’s heart ached for the won in front of her. She had, only a short ti ago, felt there was no place for her, either. Yet, ironically, it had been Xianniang who had given her strength to erace her true identity. If only now she could ke Xianniang see there was another way.
“All along, you told journey was iossible,” Mulan said, softening her voice as she approached the throne. “Yet here I stand, proof there is a place for people like us.”
“No,” Xianniang replied, shaking her head, then bowing it in defeat. “It’s too late for .”
Mulan sheathed her sword. She ca to a stop in front of the throne, unard and vulnerable.
For a long nt, warrior and witch watched each other. Mulan didn’t ve, her breathing steady as she watched Xianniang struggle to pick a side. “Please,” Mulan said, breaking the silence. “I need your help.” Her voice, strong and proud, bounced off the walls of the throne roo
Mulan could not read the witch’s expression. Then Xianniang took a deliberate step forward.
“Your Majesty,” she said, her racing heartbeat slowing when she saw the leader safe. “I anbsp; Hua Mulan fronbsp; the Fifth Battalion. I’ve e to protect you.”
“Iossible.”
Mulan’s head lifted in surprise when she heard the faliar fele voice answer. Looking up, her eyes adjusting to the darkness of the roo she saw that it was not the Eeror sitting on the throne. It was Xianniang. The witch stared back at her. Then the won stood up and spoke again, her voice laced with disbelief. “A won leading a n’s ar.”
Mulan’s eyes narrowed. The witch could think what she wanted. The truth was Coander Tung, Honghui, and all the other soldiers had epted her. And they were counting on her now. “Where is the Eeror?” she said, unsheathing her sword and advancing toward the throne.
But her steps slowed as she ca closer to Xianniang. Pain and grief were etched on the witch’s face, king her sharp features oddly re beautiful. She looked vulnerable—and scared. Mulan felt the urge to ask her what had happened. But she didn’t need to. She knew without words. B??ri Khan’s victory ght be approaching, but Xianniang was alone. In so ny ways.
“You were right,” Mulan said, lowering her weapon. “We are the sa.”
Xianniang gave Mulan a sll, sad sle. “With one difference: they ept you, and they’ll never ept .” The witch’s words were full of etion, and as Mulan watched, a tear dropped down Xianniang’s cheek.
Mulan’s heart ached for the won in front of her. She had, only a short ti ago, felt there was no place for her, either. Yet, ironically, it had been Xianniang who had given her strength to erace her true identity. If only now she could ke Xianniang see there was another way.
“All along, you told journey was iossible,” Mulan said, softening her voice as she approached the throne. “Yet here I stand, proof there is a place for people like us.”
“No,” Xianniang replied, shaking her head, then bowing it in defeat. “It’s too late for .”
Mulan sheathed her sword. She ca to a stop in front of the throne, unard and vulnerable.
For a long nt, warrior and witch watched each other. Mulan didn’t ve, her breathing steady as she watched Xianniang struggle to pick a side. “Please,” Mulan said, breaking the silence. “I need your help.” Her voice, strong and proud, bounced off the walls of the throne roo
Mulan could not read the witch’s expression. Then Xianniang took a deliberate step forward.