“We need to move quickly. Are you able?” Dao asked, his calm demeanor shifting to a masked panic as his mind began to process the situation at scale.

  “I can walk. Do you know what happened to Ghost?”

  “Your bird is likely dead. Don’t dwell on it.”

  I steadied myself on my feet, grabbing his arm.

  “You have no idea what that ‘bird’ means to me, so don’t tell me how to feel.”

  Dao sighed, taking my arm and pulling it over his shoulder.

  “Fine. Forgive me for not knowing your history. You sound much like Renyi. You give your heart to animals rather than people.”

  I didn’t offer a response, so he continued.

  “They sent Wei to deal with you personally. Likely, that means they regarded you as the biggest threat… second to me, of course. I would never allow a lowly general to seize the throne from my family. Even a laughable choice like Renyi has the proper blood.”

  Dao was difficult to tolerate, even as an ally. If we’d had more time for conversation, I would’ve challenged him on most of these points. At the moment, I was a beggar, not a chooser. Allies were in short supply.

  “I see…” I said, hoping not to encourage the speech on bloodline purity to continue.

  The man was in better shape than his scholarly garb and speaking style would imply, and he had no trouble walking hastily while supporting me and continuing his lecture at the same time.

  “Though, Junwei is more than a general. Among commoners, none compare. His manuals on strategy and tactics are always enlightening. He has changed the way emperors approach military structure. Until now, it has all been theoretical. Now, and certainly in the future? I suspect real wars will be waged aplenty.”

  I really wished the man would stop discussing his personal philosophies, even if what he just said was likely the cold truth.

  “You’ve studied Junwei?” I asked.

  “None who have picked up a sword in this kingdom can claim they haven’t.”

  “You at least sound like you respect him.”

  “And he respects me, or things wouldn’t have been arranged as they are.”

  “With you taking the fall for basically everything, essentially removing the two most prominent players from the royal family? While also clearing himself and every other major player involved? He nearly succeeded in that. Right up to a few minutes ago, in fact.”

  Perhaps taking the man down a notch or two would get him to focus more on the task at hand.

  He narrowed his gaze at me.

  “I’d feel insulted were it not the truth. I was narrowly able to navigate through the web of his plans, only to find myself arrogantly leaping into another. Thank you for helping me see the truth in that. Wei is competent enough to have done this on his own, and I suppose Junwei’s lifelong loyalty put him above suspicion for me. Foolish on my part when you pointed out the logic.”

  “Surprising modesty, coming from a prince.”

  “Be ready for anything,” he said as we approached the palace courtyard. “Anyone we encounter from here on will likely be Junwei’s men, not Renyi’s. Not that there’s a difference. Are you sure you’re ready?”

  “There’s no time, assuming we’re not too late already.”

  He let my arm drop from his shoulder and drew his sword.

  Two guards saw us from a distance and approached.

  “I’m here to see my brother,” Dao said. “It’s urgent.”

  “Traitor! We won’t let you escape again.”

  Both soldiers drew their weapons.

  “They believe they’re doing the right thing. Let’s try not to kill them,” I said.

  “Speak for yourself.”

  I took the one on the left, and he took the right. My enhancer was somewhat behaving again, at least for the moment. I quickly knocked my opponent unconscious, just in time to see Dao’s fall to the ground, fatally wounded.

  “That was unnecessary,” I snapped.

  “We can debate the ethics of combat after Junwei is dealt with,” he said, flinging open the door of Renyi’s chambers.

  Junwei was there but clearly had more tricks up his sleeve. The differences between him and Wei were as clear as the bright moon that hung over the palace.

  He and Renyi sat at a table, sharing wine. Junwei picked up his sword, smiling and nodding to Renyi.

  “Did I not tell you, Your Majesty? This seductress exploited your gentle nature, going so far as to bring in a falcon, knowing your love for them. You doubted me, but now you see the company she keeps. Do you yet doubt my words?”

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  “Well played…” Dao growled through gritted teeth. The trap had so many layers. We’d fought through several, only to find we’d been funneled into the real one.

  Renyi looked at me, nothing but pain in his eyes, still unsure of what to believe.

  “Brother… this—”

  “Isn’t what it looks like?” Junwei said. He hadn’t yet drawn his sword. “What of Commander Wei? I sent him to arrest Taylor, and yet the two of you are here now.”

  “If he’s not dead, I’ll see he’s put to death soon, along with you, Junwei!” Dao shouted.

  Junwei smiled. “Silence, snake. It’s common knowledge to all in this palace that you resent your brother and covet the throne for yourself. Don’t stand there and lecture me about traitors. You have taken Tannis from the Crown Prince’s side and now Wei. There is hard evidence that links you to Tannis’s death, and you have confessed you intend to do the same to Wei.”

  If this general had been the one to attempt the coup at PanTech, I had no doubt he’d be the most powerful man in the world now. I was at a loss. I wasn’t sure what to say that wouldn’t just play into every trap he’d set.

  I could only plead my case. “Renyi, please. At least give us the opportunity to show you the truth. Junwei exploited your brother’s reputation to take the fall. He set me up as a foreign invader.”

  “Taylor…”

  The first words he spoke sounded like they took everything out of him. I knew from the strain in his voice that he didn’t believe me. Perhaps he wanted to.

  “Perhaps we should consider her words, Your Majesty,” Junwei said, standing to his feet and drawing his sword. “So, you’re saying you haven’t seduced the prince into falling for your agenda to distribute the vaccine? I suppose you’ve never brought it up.”

  “Of course I did! The vaccine wouldn’t just save the people here, but also the prince, and you as well, General. Renyi, please see this for what it is. Everything he’s laid out is expert strategy, but it’s too convenient. All the pieces fit too neatly. It’s unnatural. Never does something this ugly fall into place so perfectly. Dao and I know how everything looks, and yet here we are. We knew Junwei would be here, so why would we come anyway?”

  “Knew I’d be here?” Junwei chuckled, treating the statement as absurd. “You look like two desperate conspirators who realize their plan has fallen apart. I will bring both of you to justice myself.”

  Dao stepped to his right, creating space between us.

  “No, wait!” I shouted. “Renyi!”

  Junwei didn’t want to give us any more opportunity to speak or to think of things we could say to swing the situation in our favor. He knew he had the advantage at the moment, and he intended to capitalize on that.

  He stepped toward me first, but Dao took advantage of his distraction, pulling a straw from his sleeve and blowing a dart at Junwei. His reaction speed was impressive; he immediately pivoted away from me and deflected it with his sword. He turned his attention to Dao.

  “Renyi! I never lied to you. Don’t fall for this!” I shouted.

  Once it was clear Renyi wasn’t going to intervene, I decided to join Dao. I swung my sword from behind. Junwei held his above his head, blocking my blow. Dao drew back, attempting a thrusting attack against an opponent who couldn’t retreat. The choice was the right one, and against anyone besides Junwei, it might have ended the fight.

  Dao’s face contorted, and he dropped his sword, falling to the ground and clutching at his side. Junwei twisted, elbowing me in the neck and sending me stumbling. Dao had a dagger sticking out from his chest. He choked and spat blood as he fell to the floor.

  “Dao!” Renyi shouted, running to his brother’s side.

  “Don’t waste your energy comforting a traitor, Your Majesty. He was your brother in blood only,” Junwei spat, spinning his sword over his wrist. He smiled at me, his back to Renyi.

  “One more to go,” he said, holding his sword in a high stance. He planted his foot hard on the floor, not raising it. Instead, he slid toward me little by little. He would not be caught off balance, even for a second. My enhancer would be given no opening to take advantage of. He’d altered his style, knowing my strengths.

  His movements were precise. Only the tip of his sword came toward me. He handled it more like a saber than a broadsword, keeping his blade close to mine. His goal was to eliminate any opportunity for me to launch a counterattack. I wasn’t sure I had even one attack left, but he seemed to be planning on it.

  I had no choice but to go on the offensive instead and overwhelm him with power he couldn’t counter.

  I twisted my hips, holding Twisted Key like a baseball player would hold a bat. The metal was far superior to anything forged here, and I knew that. If I couldn’t break apart his strategy, maybe I could break his sword.

  I swung with everything I had, and he had no choice but to block it. His sword absorbed far more pressure than I’d expected. It snapped under the strength of Twisted Key and the force of my attack, but not before he was able to deflect it away from what would’ve been a killing blow. A deep gash in his side poured blood. I took a step forward but fell to one knee. I’d nearly blacked out in an instant, choking on the blood that suddenly filled my mouth.

  Junwei picked up Dao’s sword, took a step toward me, and lifted me by my hair. He held the blade at my throat.

  A blur flashed between us, and I felt Junwei’s hand suddenly let go, dropping me hard to the floor. His severed hand landed beside me.

  “Ren… Ren…”

  I tried to speak but couldn’t.

  “Stand down!” he shouted.

  “Oh well,” Junwei said, pointing his sword at Renyi. “I guess no plan is ever perfect. There was something old Tannis saw in you after all.”

  He swung his sword at Renyi, who narrowly dodged it. Their styles were very similar, but the clouds that had been in Renyi’s eyes a moment ago were now gone. The moment Junwei disobeyed the order to stand down removed all doubt.

  Renyi countered with a flurry of attacks, all focused on Junwei’s weak side. Clearly, Junwei was the superior warrior, but he was much older, winded from fighting others, and missing a hand. Yet, those advantages didn’t seem to account for enough to make up the difference.

  The clash between them was fierce, but even with a single usable hand, Junwei eventually disarmed Renyi, kicking him hard and sending him to the floor.

  “I hope you won’t mind taking credit for another crime, Dao,” he said, walking slowly toward Renyi. “Or perhaps Taylor should get a little credit. It’s not fair to only give her the supporting roles, considering how hard she fought.”

  Junwei raised his sword. The door broke apart, and Ghost sailed through. He dug his large talons into Junwei’s right side as he attempted to react, sinking them in deep. Even the stoic warrior couldn’t help but shriek as he was spun around and thrown to the floor. Ghost hit the floor too. His wing was badly broken, and his head was covered to prevent him from attacking with his beak. I didn’t even want to think about how they managed to trap him.

  “Ghost…”

  I tried to get to my feet, but I stumbled and fell hard on my face. My legs weren’t working at all. I could barely feel my hands and feet.

  Junwei rose to one knee, retrieving his sword. A dagger flew into his neck. He pulled it free, looking to Renyi, who was kneeling next to his brother. Blood poured through his fingers, failing to slow the bleeding.

  “You nearly lost your throne before even sitting on it. Your rule will be… a short one…”

  Junwei collapsed. I looked to Renyi, holding out my hand.

  “Taylor!”

  There was a gap in time between the moments that followed. At some point, Renyi had grabbed my hand. I heard him apologize. I heard more shouts I couldn’t understand. Then I was somewhere else entirely, surrounded by different people. It was like a restless sleep I kept waking up from, only to fall back asleep again.

  I’d already prepared myself for this.

  No one lives forever.

  PanTech Chronicles trilogy and the series, both available on Amazon.

  Thank you so much to everyone who supports me on Patreon. I wouldn't be able to do this without you!

  Special Thanks: Shin and Drunkenbiker

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