Looking out over the horizon to where the border walls stood, I reflected on how big a gamble I had taken just a couple of hours ago. With no back-up plan, I had brazenly burnt my bridges when I rushed out in front of Commander Yulena. Even Li Wai was not prior to my plans and his life was almost endangered, had I not intervened.

     But my gamble had paid off. Were it someone else instead of Yulena, I might be buried six feet in the ground by now. The man was rightfully the top commander in Zhike’s ranks and one of his most trusted. I believed in his instincts and so did he. By my reckoning, he should be almost reaching base camp with the signed scroll I had entrusted to him. The scroll bore my royal seal and contained the details of my plan for cooperation with the Tufan. Once he presented it to Zhike, I was certain the guileful leader would agree with my schemes.

     Pan Ke and his men were easily dealt with. After I staged my capture convincingly, Li Wai and Yulena’s men swooped down and overcame them. What was left was my safe return to the Forbidden Palace. With two of Yulena’s men accompanying me and Li Wai, we encountered no trouble in our last leg of the journey. Once the border was in sight, they took their leave and returned to their company.

     Alone now with Li Wai, we stood on a hilltop overlooking the border. Our horses grazed off at the side while we took a small break. The day was absolutely beautiful with a gentle breeze sweeping over the plains and a warm sun painting the sky with tinges of yellow and orange. With no one on our heels, it should have been a relaxing, hassle-free time. But as I looked at the walls delineating my country, my mind was a complete mess.

     I knew what I wanted to achieve now, I knew what I needed to do. Yet my heart was a tangle of emotions. A thousand words were on the tips of my tongue but none of it seemed to be the right words to say at this juncture.

TO BE CONTINUED!

Author's Note:  If you're keen to find out what happens between the Empress Dowager and Li Wai, check out the newly edited Shackles on Kindle, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and Kobo! Links are given below.