20
Mulan’s breath hitched.
What was she going to do?
In answer, Xianniang let out a piercing shriek. Mulan’s hands went to her ears as she watched the witch drop her dagger and run down the throne stairs—straight toward her. Just before she slaed into Mulan, Xianniang let out another cry and transford into a hawk. Flying up and over Mulan’s head, the witch disappeared through the doors at the end of the roo
Racing after her, Mulan burst into the hall and followed the hawk as it flew down the palace steps and out into the air above the Ierial Square. Her head arched back, Mulan tracked the bird as it continued out over the city and then turned, flying in the direction of the New Palace.
Mulan gave chase. Below her, Coander Tung and his n fought, pushing back the Shadow Warriors. Mulan claered up onto a roof above the square. Her eyes locked on the hawk as she ran over the tiles. When she reached the end of one roof, she leapt onto another, king her way out of the palace and onto the tops of the nearby houses. Her steps were confident despite the uneven surfaces and the buildings’ great height. In no ti, she reached the construction site of the New Palace.
Only then did she slow. Leaping down onto the ground, Mulan stood catching her breath as the hawk swooped into the west watchtower. The faintest of sles tugged at her lips. In her gut, she knew. Xianniang had answered her call for help. Sowhere ad the construction was the Eeror—and B??ri Khan. Now Mulan just needed to find the
“Why are you here?”
B??ri Khan’s voice bood with anger as Xianniang flew through the window of the tower. Scaffolding covered the inside of the unfinished building. The Rouran leader stood on one of the raised wooden platfor, the Eeror tied to a pole behind hi Transforng back into her hun for she approached the Rouran warrior, ignoring the daggers he shot at her with his eyes.
The Rouran leader had no power over her anyre.
“The attack has t fierce resistance,” Xianniang said.
B??ri Khan’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Fronbsp; who?” he snapped.
Xianniang alst sled, but she kept her expression stoic as she responded, “A young won fronbsp; a sll village.”
B??ri Khan laughed. “A girl?”
Walking toward the edge of the tower, Xianniang looked out over the construction site. On the ground below, she could see Mulan racing toward the tower. She was cal posed, her face a study in focus. Turning back to B??ri Khan, Xianniang shook her head. “No,” she said. “A won. A
What was she going to do?
In answer, Xianniang let out a piercing shriek. Mulan’s hands went to her ears as she watched the witch drop her dagger and run down the throne stairs—straight toward her. Just before she slaed into Mulan, Xianniang let out another cry and transford into a hawk. Flying up and over Mulan’s head, the witch disappeared through the doors at the end of the roo
Racing after her, Mulan burst into the hall and followed the hawk as it flew down the palace steps and out into the air above the Ierial Square. Her head arched back, Mulan tracked the bird as it continued out over the city and then turned, flying in the direction of the New Palace.
Mulan gave chase. Below her, Coander Tung and his n fought, pushing back the Shadow Warriors. Mulan claered up onto a roof above the square. Her eyes locked on the hawk as she ran over the tiles. When she reached the end of one roof, she leapt onto another, king her way out of the palace and onto the tops of the nearby houses. Her steps were confident despite the uneven surfaces and the buildings’ great height. In no ti, she reached the construction site of the New Palace.
Only then did she slow. Leaping down onto the ground, Mulan stood catching her breath as the hawk swooped into the west watchtower. The faintest of sles tugged at her lips. In her gut, she knew. Xianniang had answered her call for help. Sowhere ad the construction was the Eeror—and B??ri Khan. Now Mulan just needed to find the
“Why are you here?”
B??ri Khan’s voice bood with anger as Xianniang flew through the window of the tower. Scaffolding covered the inside of the unfinished building. The Rouran leader stood on one of the raised wooden platfor, the Eeror tied to a pole behind hi Transforng back into her hun for she approached the Rouran warrior, ignoring the daggers he shot at her with his eyes.
The Rouran leader had no power over her anyre.
“The attack has t fierce resistance,” Xianniang said.
B??ri Khan’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Fronbsp; who?” he snapped.
Xianniang alst sled, but she kept her expression stoic as she responded, “A young won fronbsp; a sll village.”
B??ri Khan laughed. “A girl?”
Walking toward the edge of the tower, Xianniang looked out over the construction site. On the ground below, she could see Mulan racing toward the tower. She was cal posed, her face a study in focus. Turning back to B??ri Khan, Xianniang shook her head. “No,” she said. “A won. A