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Legacy of the Lunar Spear	By : CPascal42 Category: +A through F > Dynasty Warriors Views: 9722 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Dynasty Warriors, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 31
- 32
- 33
Legacy
of the Lunar Spear
Chapter 31
A
Heavy Burden
xxxxxxx
�What are your plans?�� Cao Ang asked
as he felt his father�s presence before he announced himself.�� He didn�t bother looking over his shoulder
to check, instead he continued to toy with the branches of a bamboo tree as he
leaned over the balcony rail.�� Other
than playing schoolteacher.�
Cao Cao smirked, the idea of him tutoring Lu Bu�s daughter was amusing
still.� �I wonder what her father would
have thought about all this.�
�Did he think at all?�� Ang asked
curiously.��
The Wei King sighed as he joined his son and placed his hands on the
railing.� �For all his failings, he did
know how to treat his child.�
�This conversation is going to get weird, isn�t it?�
Cao Cao was distracted by a carriage entering the courtyard.� �A friend of yours?�
�That would be Zhang Ji�s widow.�� Her
nephew brought her here to keep her safe from bandits not realizing you were going to be here.�
Cao Cao watched the woman step out of the carriage and look around.�� Hmmm��
�Back to my original question, before you changed the subject twice.�� Ang stood up and stretched, alerting the
newcomer to their presence on the upper balcony and spoiling his father�s
voyeuristic fun.� ��What are you plans, with me?�
�Come back to Xu Chang and start acting like my successor instead of an
obnoxious, disrespectful brat.�
�Yeah, I can see that position has already been filled.�
�Ang, more than anything I need you to keep me in check.�� Cao Cao looked up at the sky.� �I find myself losing control sometimes and
everyone is content to just clean up the mess. �
�So I have to play the devil�s advocate so you don�t ruin my empire, is that
it?�
�Precisely.��
�Does that start right now or when we get back to Xu Chang?�� Ang asked and looked down at the pretty
widow�s curious glances.
�Mmm.�
�Right.� Ang shook his head.
�I was speaking of my ambitions, son.��
My ambition burns��
�That�s the various venereal diseases, father, not your ambition.�
�Ang, why don�t you go socialize with your aunt Ling some more?� Certainly you�ll need her strength in the
future to avoid having your throat slit.�
�I figured that�s why you really agreed to bring her along.� Don�t trust me to find my own devoted
officers?�
�Not with your attitude.�
�Glad to hear my generation of Caos and Xiahous aren�t as promising.�� Ang scratched his head and yawned.�� Maybe I�ll best you yet�I�ll surround
myself with all women officers since I can keep my ambitions in my pants.�
�Goodnight.� Cao Cao snapped as his son walked away with a smug grin.�
Xxxxxxxxxxx
�Did you walk into something?�� Xiahou
Yuan asked as he noticed the red mark on Zhang Liao�s face.
�No�� Liao wasn�t expecting to run into someone so quickly after being
assaulted by his lover.� He wasn�t the
best at lying and couldn�t come up with an explanation so he just glared at the
stout officer and hoped the intimidation would silence the discussion.
Yuan chuckled.� �No reason to try and
intimidate me into submission, just say you don�t want to talk about it.� You don�t seriously think that tactic will
work on me, right?� Have you met my
family?�
�Sorry.� Liao felt bad now; the man was always cordial, even to the point of
being overly friendly.
�Sad state of affairs if my brother is happily married and you�re getting
slapped by women.� Yuan shrugged.� �Good
luck with whatever you�re up to.�
�Thanks�� Liao sighed and ran his hands through his hair.� This was getting out of control.� His thoughts were always drifting to Qing He when they should be on other things.� He wasn�t a man like Cao Cao who could juggle
his political, military and personal matters flawlessly.� He was a man who wanted to devote the time he
had to the task in front of him at the time, he hated having his mind cluttered
with�lust.��
�What the hell happened to you?�
Liao grimaced as he saw Dun�s scrutinizing eye checking out his cheek.�� This was really turning into a very bad
day.� �Nothing.�
xxxxxxxxxx
�Where do you think you�re going old man?�
Cao Cao cocked an eyebrow and glanced over at his son who was sitting on a stone
dragon statue while Lu Ling Qi smiled at him in amusement.� �I answer to you now?�
�Just trying to start a conversation.�
You wanted this to be a bonding experience.�
�Son, quit being an ass.�
�It wouldn�t happen to have anything to do with that sweet young widow�would
it?�
Ling Qi smiled and asked, �So this is Cao Cao in seduction mode?�
�You thought he was cute.� Ang reminded her.
�I said �attractive�, it was meant to be a statement of �I didn�t realize
you could actually look relaxed and human�you�re not too bad to look at.�� She smiled.�
�I think he gets it from the Xiahou side of the family.�
�He is a Xiahou.� Ang leaned on
the head of the statue and rested his head on his hand.� �Grandpa was a bigger political whore than
him, so he got adopted by a eunuch and changed his name.� I think it was just so he wouldn�t have to
compete with his own father for the affections of the women of the entire
country.�
�I thought your grandfather was the eunuch.�
That�s what Pi or Zhi said.�
�Pi.� Zhi isn�t that stupid.� Pi, probably was trying to impress you and
have you associate eunuchs with father.��
Ang shook his head.� �He never
paid attention to family history.� He
never paid attention to anything except how to be an asshole, just like daddy.�
�I see you�re enjoying Wan Castle
so much you�re trying to ensure your stay here for eternity.�� Cao Cao mumbled as his son rolled his eyes
and continued his story.
�The truth is that grandpa was actually killed on his way home by some
ex-Yellow Turban General and my father vowed to kill the man who was ruling the
province where it happened.� So he
marched off to slaughter a bunch of peasants and Tao Qian ended up dying of old
age and gave Liu Bei everything on his death bed.�
�So it�s really your fault Liu
Bei�s running around and causing problems?��
Ling Qi smirked.
�No.� Cao Cao replied.� �I think that
blame still sets on your shoulders.� Your father failed to kill him at Hu Lao
Gate and you lost an opportunity to
finish what the mighty Lu Bu started by letting him live at Xia Pi.�
�Ling, don�t argue with him.� You�re
going to lose and he gets off on these little pissing matches.� Ang cautioned.
�Are you done with me now?� Cao Cao gave his son a mocking bow and glared at
him.
�Dismissed.� Ang said with the voice he used to imitate his father.
�I�ll find another castle to lock you up in until you�re 50.�
�I�ll lock you in a castle without any women when you�re old and grey.�
Ling Qi giggled and both men gave her a curious look.� �I can get used to this.�
�Goodnight, children.�� Cao Cao
muttered and continued his journey to the last know whereabouts of Zhang Ji�s
widow.
�Can I ask you something?�� Ling
watched her lord stroll away and enter the main building.�
�Sure.� Ang waited, curiously.
�Something�s been bothering me for a while.��
At Guan Du, we went into battle thinking we were outnumbering them, but
it turns out that Yuan Shao really had the advantage.� Did he know that and keep everyone in the
dark?�
�If I were to tell you that we�re going into battle tomorrow with 10,000 men
and we�re going to lay siege to a force of over 100,000 that is firmly
entrenched with an abundance of supplies, how well would you sleep tonight?�
�We were that outnumbered?� Ling asked surprised.� She had been behind the front lines and the
view of the battle was limited, it very well could have been that bad.� From what she gathered from Dun�s reports, it
wasn�t good, but he kept to the facts of his own command and not the overall
army.�� She hadn�t wanted to ask Liao,
since the last thing she wanted was a lecture about her actions during that
battle.�� She didn�t feel comfortable
asking anyone else until now, Ang was not oblivious to her lack of strategic
understanding and he didn�t hold it against her.�� Why��
�I don�t pretend to really understand my father, but I do try to study his
actions and learn from them.�� He used to
be good friends with Yuan Shao, so he knows him pretty well.� The guy is a real arrogant, self-absorbed ass
who likes to hear people say his name.��
He used his money and prestige to put together a sizable force, waiting
for the right moment to take power of the country he thought he deserved to
rule.�� So he�s feeling really good about
himself, lots of troops, good officers and nobody can really come close to
overpowering him.� His ego got the best
of him, and father knew it would.� So
before Yuan Shao could come after us we went to him and used that confidence against
him.� Like the old fairy tale of the
Tortoise and the Hare.� By attacking he
deceived everyone, his men thought they were in a better position than they
really were and Yuan Shao�s men probably began to doubt what they had been
told. �
�Still, shouldn�t he have told his officers?�
�I�m sure he told some, but why bother?��
A confident officer will lead his men and they will happily follow
him.�� Like I said before, it�s crazy to
ask anyone to go up against odds of 10 to 1 unless they�re some real
badass.� Yuan Shao wanted our forces to
be embarrassed and decimated; it would make anyone else think twice about
attacking him.� My father is brilliant
and crazy, he knew his foe and took a huge gamble to take advantage of
that.�� The other thing is,he�s very very
lucky.� The man has skirted death so many
times it�s unthinkable.� I�ve been
prepared to hear that my father was killed since I was old enough to walk.�
�I can�t imagine preparing for that. I still can�t believe my father�s
gone.� The image of his head rolling
across the floor is so vivid, but I haven�t really accepted it.�
�Another prime example of how I just don�t see how the great Cao Cao is
still alive.�� Ang was truly enjoying the
conversation, as it was completely unguarded and honest.� How long had it been since he could enjoy a
conversation like this?� �Now it�s my
turn to ask you something.�
�Sure.�
�How�� Ang wasn�t even sure what he wanted to ask.� How could she be near his father without
wanting to kill him?� Why did she marry
his uncle?�� How the hell could she live
with that image in her head?� �Knowing
what I know about you, I just don�t see you being able to work for your
father�s killer.� Hell, even further back
than that, I don�t see why you accepted a marriage to my Uncle days after Lu
Bu�s execution.�
Ling hadn�t really talked or thought about those days since they had happened.� Sure, she would play out the events, but she
never really examined her own actions as it seemed to blur in her memory.� �I wanted to kill him for what he did.� For so casually taking my dad�s life.� I saw Dun as my only chance to do that, I could
get close enough to kill him and that was all that mattered.�� I married Dun to stay close to him, for as
long as it took to get the job done.� I
welcomed the wedding night as a distraction; I guess it was for both of
us.� He wanted to forget his eye and I wanted
to stop thinking about my dad�s headless body pouring blood all over the floor
and the look�frozen on his face.�� I
wanted to best him at something; I really wanted to score some little victory
over one of Cao Cao�s generals even if it was in bed.�� He could have been horrible to me, but for
all his insults and teasing, Dun was kind.��
He had the opportunity to just use me and he didn�t, I suppose that is
where it began for us.� I guess� I needed
someone else near me who was suffering.�
It made me feel better and it helped me keep my mind off of what
happened.�
Ang nodded.� He couldn�t begin to
understand what happened and he definitely couldn�t see his uncle being �kind�
in any respect.� �You had a chance to
kill my father, but you didn�t.� I�m sure
you�ve had plenty more opportunities as well, he�s pretty skilled at putting
himself in the path of danger.� Do you
still want revenge?�
�Yes, but�it�s so much more complicated.�
I didn�t kill him then and I haven�t�because I damn everyone if I
do.� Liao will pay for what I do, he�s my
father now.�� He means so much to Dun
too, more than I can ever replace or try to.��
I��
�So he�s cheated death once again?�
Not that I want to lose my father, but I can�t help but begin to think
there is some divine intervention here.��
Like he truly holds the Mandate of Heaven and has the protection of a
god.� You�re the first person who I�ve
ever had the opportunity to ask.�
�I don�t feel like he�s manipulated me, though I�m sure it�s what the whole
purpose of this side trip was.�� I just
see the situation a bit differently now.��
It�s so easy to want to kill someone, but then it gets so much harder
when they�re gone.� I guess I see that
there are a lot more people who would be lost without him�.so many more lives
destroyed than when my father was taken from me. � Ling began to feel tears
welling as she finally came to admit something very painful.� �The world kept going without missing a beat
when Lu Bu died, but I think without Cao Cao there would be chaos.�� Now that I see what he is capable of, how
many people depend on him�..�
Ang knew it wasn�t proper, he shouldn�t slip off the stone statue and wrap
his arms around her to comfort her as she began to cry, but he didn�t
care.�� It just seemed like something a
friend would do.� �Ling, you have to know
how proud he would have been of you.��
You won�t repeat his mistakes, that�s what any father wants his child to
learn from them more than anything.�
�I feel�like I�m�giving up on him.��
Ling put her head on Ang�s shoulder.�
�I broke my promise.�
�Starting the killing spree again isn�t the way to change anything.�� Ang rubbed her back, knowing he couldn�t stop
this discussion or she would bury her pain again.�� It had to hurt in order to get better. �I
don�t want to have to hunt you down for killing my father and that is what
would have to happen if we keep down this path.�� So let�s make a deal, huh?�� Why don�t you fight for me?� Help me make this empire something worth the
sacrifices that have been made?� Like
you, I don�t want to see what happens if my father�s luck runs out.�
Xxxxxx
Ling�s eyes slowly opened as she heard the commotion in the courtyard.�� It had been difficult enough to get to sleep
and she groggily sat up and stared out the window.� With a few blinks she was able to focus on
the flickers of light in the window.�� A
deep breath of annoyance alerted her senses to the sharp bite of smoke in the
air.�� Now fully awake, she stood and cautiously
went over to the window.
The entire courtyard was in flames and shadows of soldiers could be easily
seen everywhere.� She stepped back and
ran over to her clothes, quickly shedding her nightgown for her battle
attire.� The stupid breastplate Liao gave
to her wouldn�t fit around her now enlarged belly.� Annoyed with her poorly timed pregnancy, she
threw the damned thing against the wall.�
It wouldn�t stop her; nobody would even get close enough to touch her
again. Her heartbeat began to race as she thought about the previous night�s
discussion and an eerie sense of d�j� vu tugged at her.�
She grabbed her sword and looked up as intruders kicked her door down.� �Not again.��
She growled.� �I won�t fail
AGAIN!�
The sergeant backed up to prepare for her attack, but only ended up bumping
into the soldier behind him.� He tried to
raise his weapon but it was already too late.�
A sword materialized and sliced his throat open.�
Ling plunged her now bloody sword into the startled man as her first victim
slid to the floor bubbling blood.� She
kicked out at the man to get him off her sword and jumped over the bodies into
the hall.�� Soldiers turned to look at
her as a man threw a torch into an adjoining room.��
�Looks like one of Cao Cao�s whores likes to pay rough.�
Ling felt her nostrils flare as she lunged at the chuckling man and threw her
sword into the closest attacker.� She
spun and launched a kick at his head to distract him while she reclaimed her
sword.� She dropped her leg at the last
second to land a staggering blow in the man�s side, and then spun to finish him
with her sword.� �
�Which one of you fools wants to be the next to die by the sword of Lu Ling
Qi?�
It was times like this when she wished she had her father�s frightening
presence, since all three men chose to take her up on the offer.�� The smoke was beginning to cover the ceiling
and one wall was entirely on fire.�� She
couldn�t waste any more time, she had to go assist Cao Cao since this attack
was undoubtedly meant to eliminate him.��
Annoyed, she grabbed the dying man�s sword with her free hand and
prepared to fight two handed.��
�This won�t even be a challenge!� She hollered and charged.�
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
��Tell me what made you serve Lu
Bu?�� Qing He asked as she sat on Zhang
Liao�s rippled abdomen and traced her fingers around his nipples.�
Liao reached up and rubbed her naked breast.�
�He was my best friend, I chose to follow him.� Nobody made me.�
Qing He reached up and rubbed his bearded cheek and looked into those honest
eyes.� They had started a long and
detailed discussion hours earlier and she wanted to tell him more than anything
who she really was.� He wasn�t holding
anything back anything; if she asked he answered without hesitation.�� That wasn�t something she ever encountered before;
most men were guarded never wanting to expose their true motives.� He had nothing to hide, he stood by his
decisions and the truth didn�t haunt him.��
Yet here she sat, on his beautiful body pretending to be no more than a
palace whore.��
�What�s wrong?�� He wondered if that
answer disturbed her.�
�Nothing.� I was just thinking about
how unique you are.�� You�re so honest
and that�s so...different.�
�Now there has to be someone you can tell me you know, other than me, who
doesn�t have hidden agendas.�
�My brother.� He�s very honest, but he
tends to hide behind his humor most of the time.�
�You miss him?�
�Very much.� I haven�t seen him in
years.�
�If you�d like I could find him for you and arrange a visit.�
She had to smile.� This was it, this
was the opportunity she had been waiting for but the words never left her
throat.�� There would be another time;
right now she just wanted to make love to the man who wanted to make her happy.
xxxxxx

Dian Wei looked over his shoulder at the teenage girl and snarled.� �Get out of here.�
Ling attacked a young Major trying to launch a spear at the bald
general.� �I can fight.�
�I know.� Wei tossed a table against a small servant door and turned to
her.� �That�s why you need to help our
lord and prince escape.� I�ll hold them
off, you protect them.�
�Cao Cao can protect himself.�
�Against an ambush?� Your daddy
couldn�t even do that.� Get out of here
kid and keep them safe.�
�But��
�Do what I won�t be able to do.�� Dian
Wei looked to the door being battered by a ram from the outside.� �I�ll only be able to hold them off for so
long.� Go now.�
She couldn�t say anything as the door broke down and he jumped in front of
her as arrows flew.� His massive body
took the brunt of the attack although arrows struck everything in the hall.�
�GO!� He shouted with a roar and charged the men at the doorway, his axe
swinging and his free hand pulling arrows from his flesh to get them out of his
arm�s path.
�Yes, Sir.�� She saluted him for the
first and last time.� Why was she always
so blind?� Why in a man�s final hour was
it that she finally saw what the rest of the world did?� She spun on her heels and took off running,
back into the burning castle.�� Her eyes
watered from the smoke and she tried to listen to the fighting to determine
where Cao Cao and Ang could be.� She
hoped they were together; the odds were so much better if they had met up
already.
She heard crackling and snapping as furniture collapsed and textiles caught
fire.� The smoke was almost blinding now
and she coughed as it threatened to suffocate her as well.�� With a quick dash she left the castle and
darted into the courtyard for fresh air and discovered a squad of archers.�� With her momentum she spread her arms wide
and charged, looking to clear them out using the two swords.�� They didn�t notice her until it was too
late.
�Fire!�
Ling Qi�s swords mowed them down easily as the entire squad had just fired
into the castle ahead of her and had their backs to the approaching
threat.� She didn�t stop hacking until
every man stopped moving and she spun around to make sure there was nobody else
there.�� It took her a moment to realize
that they had just fired at something�.someone.�
An entire squad didn�t just unleash a concentrated volley into a
building unless they were looking to hit someone.� She ran back into the smoke, praying that she
was wrong.
Cao Ang lifted his head, thinking the enemy was here to finish what they
started.� Instead he saw a friendly face
and forced himself to ignore the pain long enough to say something.� �Ling..you have to protect him.� You�re the only one left.�
�Shut up Ang.� Ling tried to stop the bleeding around the five arrows
embedded in his skin.� She didn�t know
what else to do as foolish as it seemed.�
�What, you think I�m going to live?� Ang smiled at her and wrapped her hand
around his sword hilt, lying down was so much less painful.� �Take this. My father gave it to me.� I don�t want them to get it.� Go help him get out and go have a great life
with Uncle Dun.� I would have liked to
see him happy, he did so much for my family.�
Still does.�
�Ang��
�Ling, leave me.� I�m already
dead.� Make sure my father gets out of
here alive.� You would have done the same
thing for your father if you had the chance, right?� Well how pissed would you be if that someone
was sitting here trying to prolong your agony instead of helping him escape?�
�Alright.� She placed a gentle kiss on his forehead.� �I would have liked to fight for you.�
�That means a lot.� He squeezed her hand.�
�Guess you�ll just have to fight for my old man instead, huh?�
�I guess.�
�You better.� Someone has to take my
place.� He needs someone criticizing
him.� Everyone else is way too afraid of
him to do it.� You aren�t.� Don�t let him get too cocky, that ambition
can burn you.� Speaking of burning�looks
like I get cremated.�
�You can do better than that.�
�Really?�� Ang asked and closed his
eyes as adrenaline began to subside and the pain became more intense.� His extremities began to feel numb and cold
as death�s grip tightened around him. ��It�s not easy being witty when you�re
dying.�
She wiped away a tear as he shut his eyes and squeezed her hand tighter.� �I�ll protect him, I promise.�
�I really�wanted to��
Ling felt his squeeze release and began to cry.�� They will all pay.�
xxxxxxxx
Cao Cao sat down on the rock, his sword stuck in the ground five feet from
him.� He was covered in soot and
blood.� He couldn�t believe he had been
ambushed.� He looked up as Ling arrived
alone, riding her horse bareback.� �The
others?�
Ling slipped off her horse�s back.�
She didn�t know how to really tell him his son was dead. She had already
passed Cao Cao�s dead horse so she knew he had made it this far on foot.� �Dian Wei��
�I saw.� He closed his eyes and felt the warm tears streak down his face.
�Ang��
�I see he gave you his sword.�� Cao
Cao nodded and looked up at her face in the moonlight; he sniffled and wiped
off a tear.� �I know.�
�He fought well, both of them did.��
She knelt down in front of him.�
�We need to go.�
�Here�s your chance Ling�your chance to avenge your father.� They�ll never know it was you, they�ll assume
it was the enemy.�� He wiped off his
tears and bowed his head.� �Go ahead, do
it.� Take my head.�
She couldn�t believe this.� Cao Cao
was crying and telling her to execute him?
�I�m sorry about your father Ling.� I
respect him�but he was too powerful.� I
couldn�t control him, so I killed him.� I
had no right to make him watch me give you away..or Diao Chan.� I just lost my son�he died protecting
me.� This is how he felt�this is worse
than death.� I�m sorry.� I should have given him a death befitting a
warrior�but I despised his image.� I had
to make him pay for defying me.�
Ling watched him sob.� She walked over
to his sword and pulled it out of the ground. With her left hand she picked up
his chin to look at her.� �You�re the
ruler that has the Way�my loyalty is with you.�
Don�t let my father, your son or your devoted general die for
nothing.�� She put his sword in his
hand.� �Get up and get on my horse.� I am your bodyguard for now and I will not
fail, not this time.�
Cao Cao swallowed some mucous and was surprised when she wiped off his tears
with her thumb.� �How can you say that,
especially after what I told you just now?�
�I cannot fault your honesty. Come, my lord, you have a long ride ahead of you.�
Ling squeezed his hand and went over to her horse, then lead the animal back to
him.�
�I�m sorry Ling.�
�You will be if you don�t get on the damned horse.�
He placed a kiss on her forehead and squeezed her shoulder.� �I�m sorry.�
�I�forgive you.� She couldn�t believe she said it, but it felt like relief.� It felt good.�
�I don�t deserve that.�
�You�re right. You deserve my foot in your ass for taking so long and trying
to get yourself killed.�� Ling
hissed.� �Losing killed my father, losing
got me injured, losing almost got Dun killed and I don�t intend to lose
anymore.� Ever.� So mount up and get the hell out of here.�
Cao Cao hesitated with his hand on the horse�s
withers.�� It was just the two of them
now, after losing his bodyguard and son how could he jeopardize his cousin�s
happiness by leaving her to cover his retreat.�
His thoughts were interrupted as the flat part of a sword slapped him on
the ass.
�What are you waiting for?�
�I can�t leave you here to fight them while I run away.�� He looked at her distended belly and thought
about Dun�s lost eye.�� He couldn�t take
another part of him.
�Then fight from horseback.�� She
snapped.� �Damn you, you will not take
this away from me!� I just swore to your
dying son that I was going to protect you and I�m going to do it!� I won�t let one more person blame the Lu
family for the death of an important man!�
�Very well.�
She watched him swing up on her horse bareback and then turned to the sound
of oncoming soldiers.�� Though I do find
it insulting you don�t trust me to handle these fools myself.�
�You should have killed me then.�� He
was able to give her a brief smile.�
Xxxxxxxx
Xiahou Dun had his ass kicked before but had never felt defeat.�� Today, that changed.� He felt a lump in his throat as he got off
his horse and the mild light of dawn revealed his disheveled cousin and his
wife covered in ash and blood.�� The
smell of stale smoke combined with the feeling of despair seemed to fill his
lungs and wrap around his heart. �What the hell happened?�
�Ambush.� Cao Cao said simply as he tried to compose himself before anyone
other than his cousin showed up.
Ling walked up and wrapped her arm around her husband and hugged him,
squeezing with the most strength she could muster.�� His smell made her nuzzle against his
breastplate and his arms slowly wrapped around her.�
The smell of smoke mixed with sweat and blood as he bent his head to kiss
his wife�s forehead.� The sense of defeat
was not there as his nose met with her hair; she would never be overcome by
that.� His eyes shifted back to his
cousin who sat upon his wife�s weary red horse.�
�I�ll take the cavalry scouts and relieve your rear guard.�
�What rear guard?�� Cao Cao looked
behind him and wondered if the ghosts had finally caught up with them.
�Everyone is dead, Dun.� Ling whispered.
�What?� Dun could feet that defeat begin to squeeze around his heart.
�Dian Wei is dead.� My son�dead.� They sacrificed themselves for me.� Wan Castle is nothing but kindling now.�
�I actually think I was the rear guard.� Ling mused, finally able to say she
had accomplished some military feat.�
�You let my pregnant wife protect your retreat?�
Ling stepped between them and held her head high.� �I did my job; I volunteered for the task and
made sure he made it back safely.� It�s
all I�m good for anyway, Dun.� I�ll never
be like you, I can�t be a leader or a good general.� I�m a bodyguard and after what I�ve seen today�I�m
proud of that.�
�I am sorry I endangered her and your baby, Dun.� I hope you never have to feel what it�s like
to lose a child.�
�As I said.�� Ling looked at her
somewhat confused husband and repeated her earlier statement.� �Everyone is dead.� That applies to allies and enemies.� The battle is over.�
Cao Cao took a deep breath.� �I need
to tell my wife that I killed her baby.�
Dun finally let the shock wear off and took a step towards his cousin to
take a good look at him.� His eyes were
red, soot smeared on his cheeks where tears had been wiped away and his shoulder�s
were slumped in exhaustion and defeat.��
He had never seen him like this before.�
�Mengde?�
�We must prepare a funeral.� We will
bury them both with the highest honors.��
I won�t have them put to rest under a charred building.� We must get to them before the dogs and
vultures do.�
�Mengde?� Dun stepped closer, unsure what to really do.�
�I killed them.�� The Wei King
squeezed his eyes shut to avoid breaking down and crying again.�� They died to protect me. You have no idea
how heavy that burden is��
�What�s done is done.�� Dun said
quietly and stepped away from the horse.�
�Your only option is to win if you want to honor their sacrifices.�
�I want the men responsible for this hunted down and killed.�
�One thing at a time.� Dun grabbed his own horse and mounted, then held his
hand out for his wife to mount behind him. �It was only as he tried to lift her up with
his arm that he realized how much heavier she had become.� Her belly pressed against his back as her
arms wrapped around his chest.��
�They will pay.� Ling assured him and watched her King nod in agreement,
even if he seemed like he was somewhere else.
Xxxxxxxx
��
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Legacy of the Lunar Spear