TheEmperorshookhishead.TheChancellorknewwhathewasthinking.Therewasnowaythatwaspossible.Howcouldachildofthemanhehadpersonallykilledmanagetoresurrectanentirearmy?HehadspentyearsworkingtomakesuretheRouranforceswouldneverriseagain.Hehadnearlylosthislifedozensoftimesandyetnowtheywereback?Heshookhisheadagain,strugglingtocontrolhisbreathing,whichwasstartingtogrowragged.“Theyweredestroyed,”hesaid,hisvoiceloud,thesoundechoingoffthewallsofthethroneroom.“Iaskagain:Howisitpossible?”

BeforetheChancellorcouldrespond,asmallvoiceroseup.Lookingoverinsurprise,theChancellorsawthatthelonesurvivorofthegarrisonattackhadgottentohisfeet.“Youmayspeak,”theChancellorsaidtotheguard.

“B??riKhanfightsalongsideawitch,”theguardsaid.

Thistime,noonetriedtoholdbacktheirgasps.Thesoundfilledtheroom.Thiswasterriblenews.

“Thereisnoplaceforwitchesinthiskingdom!”theChancellorshouted.“Sorcerywasoutlawedoverahundredyearsago.”Hisoutburstsurprisedevenhimself.TheChancellorhadhonedhisskillsatkeepinghisemotionshidden.Butwitches?Witchesmadehisbloodboil.

“Andyet,”theguardsaid,withtheslightestshrugofhisshoulders,“itisherskillthatleadstheRouranarmytovictory.”

“Howdoyouknowthis?”theEmperorasked,steppingforwardandcausinghisguardsandscribestoscurryafterhim.Movingfartherintothethroneroom,theEmperorseemedtogrowlarger.Anddespitehisownchancellor’sobviousanger,theEmperorremainedcalm.

“IonlyknowwhatIsawwithmyowneyes,”theguardanswered.“Thewitchispowerful.”

Foralongmoment,theEmperorstoodstill,hisfacebetrayingnothing.Butwatchinghim,theChancellorknewtheman’smindwasbusy.Therewasnodenyingit.TheRouranswereback,withanewleader.Aleaderwho,likehisfather,wantednothingmorethantodestroytheEmpire.Andthistime,theRouranhadthehelpofapowerfulwitch.TheChancellordidn’tneedapriestesstotellhimwhatthesesignsmeant.Theymeantchaos.Theymeantwar.TheymeantanendtothepeacetheEmperorhadworkedsohardtoachieve.

Asifhearinghischancellor—andfriend’s—thoughts,theEmperorliftedhiseyes.HelookedtowardthedistantwindowandtheEmpireondisplaybeyond.“Wearenotafraidofdarkmagic,”hesaid.“WewilldestroythisRouranarmy—andtheirwitch.”Ashewenton,theEmperor’svoicegrewlouder,stronger.“Hereismydecree:Wewillraiseamightyarmy.Everyfamilywillsupplyoneman.Wewillprotectourbelovedpeopleandcrushthesemurderers.”

Hisdecreecomplete,thescribesaroundhimfranticallywrotedownhiswords.ItwouldbetheirjobtodeliverhisdecreetothepeopleoftheEmpire.Andasitwasdecided,nofamilywouldbeallowedtoobject.TheEmperorwouldhavehisarmy.

WatchingthecourtbustleintofranticmotionattheEmperor’sdecree,theyoungguardwhohadnarrowlyescapedtheRouransmovedtowardtheexit.WithanodtotheChancellor,whowasinthemiddleofspeakingtoseveralscribesatonceandbarelyacknowledgedhim,theguardmadehiswaythroughthelongthroneroomandoutintothehall.

Ashemovedalong,hisshouldersstraightened.Hishead,whichhehadkeptbowedtheentiretimehehadbeeninthepresenceoftheEmperor,rose.Stridebystride,hisgaitbegantochange.Bythetimehereachedthepalaceexitandhadmadehiswayontothebusystreets,hewaswalkingswiftly,withnosignoftheinjuriesinflictedbytheRourans.

Peopleofallnationalitiespassedbyhim,somenoddingathisuniform,afewyoungwomenevensmilingslightly.Buthepaidthemnoheed.Asheturneddownanalley,hispaceeased.Reachingupahand,heremovedapinthathadbeenhiddenbehindhisearandletitdroptotheground.Ashewalked,morepinsfellaroundhisfeet.Soonthegroundwaslitteredwiththepins—alongwiththeguard’sunconsciousbody.Standingaboveit,nolongerinneedoftheman’sform,stoodthewitch.Xianniangstretched,happytobebackinherownshape.Then,withacarelessglanceattheguardwhohadunwittinglyjusthelpedhercause,sheran.

Fasterandfasterherfootstepscameandthen,withacry,sheleapt.Asherbodyliftedintotheair,itonceagaintransformed.Onlythistime,insteadoftheguard,shebecameagiant,gracefulhawk.Asshesoaredupandoverthecity,Xianniangletoutatriumphantcaw.B??riKhanwouldbepleased.ShehadseentheflashoffearintheEmperor’seyeswhenshehadmentionedthewarrior’sname.RaisinganarmyofcivilianswasjustwhatB??riKhanhadhopedfor.Leavethevillagesemptyoftheirstrongestmen.Itwouldmaketakingthemoveralltheeasier.