Just a little more time...

     ….before I die at the hands of the Tufan. That was the grim fate that lay in front of me. Three and a half weeks I had waited for my people to respond to the demands of the Tufan and yet here I was, strapped to a pole with my hands bound above me.

     It didn’t take too much effort to guess why I had been abandoned. My deceitful prime minister Lu Bei must have been appointed as my stand-in as only he would have done such a spiteful and utterly ridiculous act. If he thought that being the emperor was such an easy job, then he was welcome to try his hand at it. Shaking my head at his stupidity, I could only imagine the speed at which he would undermine all my hard work in building up the Zhou kingdom. If not for the decree of the late emperor, I would have eliminated Lu Bei from the start of my reign.

     Yet here I was, soon to be walking to my death. I didn’t feel fear. If I did, I would have been long dead since my days in the Forbidden Palace. No, if anything, I felt indignant at my abduction. Something about the whole circumstance surrounding my capture nagged at the back of my mind. 

     My monthly visits outside of the Forbidden Palace had always been planned to perfection; nothing was left to chance. What were the odds that a group of highly trained Tufan spies were in the vicinity and had known my identity?

     And yet it was only after I had visited the jewelry shop to get my golden bracelet fixed that they had made a move. Thinking back, they had plenty of chances before that to make their move. Nothing stood to gain for them by waiting till such a late time to strike. Unless…. they had not known who their target was.

     As it dawned on me what had identified me to my abductors, I tilted my head up. The soft silk sleeve that once covered my arm now hung loosely at my elbows, exposing the black tattoo of a dragon which sat just above my wrist. The mark was bold and thick, engraved on the skin as if it was a birth mark. 

     My eyes traced the curves of the dragon tattoo absentmindedly, once again entranced by its intricacy and elegant design that seemed so surreal, and at the same time repulsed by its significance. It served as a reminder of my sacrifices and the duties that I was bound to – a lingering curse that would follow me to my grave. And apparently, it had also tipped off my kidnappers as to my identity.

     Few people were marked with the sign of the dragon – only members of the royal family and their respective soulmates were granted such a regal design. The size and intricacy of the dragon crest further served to distinguish a couple’s status, with mine being the highest. It came as no wonder that the Tufan had instantly recognized my soulmate tattoo.

     Sighing in exasperation, I tore my gaze away from the mark that bound me to my fate. The mystery of how I had been picked out of the crowd now solved, I turned my attention to how they had even known I would be in the vicinity. Maybe if I could dissect this situation into its bare elements, I would find out a way out of here.

     Luck, however, was not on my side. Hearing footsteps from outside, I held my head up high and straightened my back as much as I could. As bad as my current status was, I wasn’t about to bow down to my kidnappers in deference. I had my dignity to uphold.

     A tall burly man with a sharp face walked in, wearing the typical high-collar Tufan warrior robes along with a thick fur hat. His hand rested on his sword, its hilt pierced of iron inlaid with gold, a sign of his seniority within the ranks of warriors. I recognized him as the leader of the group of abductors, one of the higher-ranking warriors that had made his name known even within our community.

     “Looks like you’re up, Empress. Sorry if I don’t bow or address you with the respect that you’re so used to,” he snickered as he eyed me like an eagle hovering over its prey.

     Matching his steady gaze, I countered, “Why it’s my honor to finally meet the well-known General Wangchuk. One would think that such a fine general would be gentleman enough to provide a comfortable setting for a lady.”

     “I don’t think that would be necessary, Empress,” Wangchuk replied as he moved closer to check my restraints were properly secured. Bending down, his cold eyes met mine. “After all, I don’t recall a lady as being one who has so much bloodshed on her hands, let alone the blood of her own child.”

     My expression never wavered as I stared right into the black depths of his irises. If he expected some kind of reaction from me, disappointment was all he would get. No matter how much blood stained my hands, everything I did was of my own choice and never once have I looked back.

     Finally, Wangchuk broke his gaze, straightening up as he did. “Anyway, it looks like your people finally got the message. They have promised to release the four cities back to us and so, we will honor our agreement by letting you go.”

     A wave of relief washed through me but I could not let it show, for that would only bring him satisfaction. Settling for a faint smile, I nodded in acknowledgement.

     Wangchuk cleared his throat, clearly disappointed at my lack of response. “Well we’ll be celebrating this joyous occasion of the reclamation of our land and of course, Empress, you’re cordially invited to the banquet,” he said brusquely.

     “Thank you, General Wangchuk. I see no reason why I couldn’t possibly accept.”

     Nodding gruffly, he shot me a glare before exiting the tent, leaving me to wonder whether he would renege on his promise by the end of the day. Something told me that my guess wouldn’t be that far off.

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