It was past midnight when Erden sighted the hunting grounds campsite through the trees. Throughout the journey down the mountain, he and Snow dared not speak to each other within earshot of their captors, who boxed them in with their horses to make escape an impossibility.

Erden eyed each soldier, surreptitiously taking note of the number of arrows they had in their quivers. If he were riding alone with his weapons, he figured he might be able to make a break for it. He could ride hard through the trees and turn around in the saddle to take out his pursuers with bow and arrow. He had faith in his trusty steed to get him away relatively unscathed. It depended on how determined his pursuers were and their marksmanship.

However, he had no weapon on him, and he wasn't so sure his horse could carry both of them at speed for long. He'd probably have a few arrows lodged in his back before they got very far. It wasn't himself he was concerned about, it was Snow, whom he feared could not sustain any more injuries to her person. If an arrow struck her, he might as well get off his horse and let them cut him down.

He looked to the front of the entourage. Weilong was similarly hemmed in at all sides, the soldiers' horses almost touching his. If only Brother did not acquiesce so easily, he thought bitterly. How are we going to get out of this?

Even if he were to get help from the chancellor and advisors, they all bowed down to the Empress. There was no telling what she'd do to Snow, now that it has been revealed that she tried to kill her. All he could do was wait for the right time to make their move. And it had to happen soon, for once they reached the campsite which was teeming with soldiers and guards, there would really be no means of escape.

What were they going to do if they somehow managed to flee? They'd be fugitives on the run, moving from village to village like wanted bandits evading capture. They would not be able to cross borders, and posters of their faces would be plastered everywhere for every guard, soldier or bounty hunter to see.

Is that the life he wanted for Snow? At the very least, she will be alive and free. I would rather die than witness Snow being tortured or kneeling before the executioner's block!

Erden held her against his body. She was exhausted, judging by the way her head lolled against his chest. For a brief moment, he worried that she had returned to the state they found her in, and that her coming back to life was only a fleeting miracle, if he could call it that. A terrible knife-like pain stabbed him in the heart. She came back from the dead to suffer a worse fate because of me! I led them to her!

They had to attempt an escape. He shook her gently awake when they were within meters of the forest edge and placed her hands on the reins. "Whatever happens to me, you keep riding," he whispered.

"No! Not without you!" came her hushed reply.

"You must!"

"What's going on?" the soldier next to them said, and the rest of the party turned to look at them. Their gazes were suddenly disrupted by a shout.

"Hark! General Liang seeks an audience with the First Prince!" A lone, uniformed rider galloped at full speed towards the campsite.

Isn't General Liang stationed at the southern border? Why would the general come all the way here looking for Brother?

"The General!" a soldier exclaimed, and the rest of the men murmured their surprise. Heads turned towards Weilong.

Erden had no time to ponder any further. They're distracted! It's now or never! He stood up on his stirrups and punched the nearest man in the face before kicking him in the side. With a yelp, the soldier toppled out of the saddle and hung halfway off his horse with his foot caught in the stirrup.

Snow immediately understood what he was trying to do. She pulled hard on the reins to urge his horse through the gap at their side.

"Halt! Don't move!" Commander Tai shouted.

The air was filled with the sound of men shouting and horses whinnying. Erden did all he could to steady his spooked, frantic horse and keep Snow in the saddle until cold steel stung the underside of his jaw. Soldiers on all sides had their sabers against his neck and dangerously close to Snow's head.

Erden, you idiot! You put her in harm's way! "I yield! I yield!" He raised his hands in surrender. He looked all around. Hatred burned in the men's eyes. The commander was not bluffing earlier – they'd slice him up in a heartbeat.

"Hey! I've warned you once!" Commander Tai came so close that Erden could smell his rancid breath.

"Commander, order your men to stand down! He's unarmed and has yielded!" Weilong shouted from behind a line of men barricading him.

"I don't take orders from you! Unless you're the Emperor you have no authority over me," Commander Tai said testily. He gestured for the soldiers to draw their sabers from Erden's neck. "Try that again and we'll clap you in chains!"

Snow scoffed. With a haughty toss of her head, she flipped her hair – hitting Erden in the mouth – and spat a string of choice, utterly crude swear words that insulted the commander's mother and her nether regions. "Not like you brought any chains with you, Commander. Don't make threats you can't carry out!" she challenged, before collapsing against Erden's chest.

The commander's eyes bulged out of his greasy face upon hearing such filthy words come out of her mouth while everyone else stared at her in shock. He was about to snap in reply when a resounding voice boomed, "What's the meaning of this!"

Out of the darkness, a large group of soldiers with torches and spears emerged from between the trees. At the forefront, rode a general whose ferocious, tiger-like glare was enough to make Commander Tai immediately dismount from his horse and get down on one knee. "Commander Tai, why do you treat the princes and the princess like wanted criminals?"

"General Liang, w-we were under orders to arrest the Princess, by the Empress."

The general's battled-hardened visage was intimidating to all. Erden wouldn't want to be in Commander Tai's position, especially in front of all these men. "All of you, put away your weapons and stand back!"

"Yes, General!" Commander Tai's unit drew back their sabers and spears and gave the princes and Snow a wide berth.

"B-but, the Empress ordered–"

"I'm taking over from here. Lieutenants, round up the Commander's unit and hold them. Take the commander, he's coming with us." The general gave a signal, and soldiers moved to create a protective barrier around Weilong. "Your Highness, we'll escort you back to the campsite. Chancellor Han is waiting for you. This way, please."

"The chancellor is here? What's going on?" Snow asked wanly.

"I don't know, let's find out," Erden replied, wrapping her in a hug. At least they were out of immediate danger. He hoped it was not a trap set by the Empress.

They followed the general's troop to the campsite. More units arrived, and he recognized some of the other generals who had dismounted and were waiting for them outside a large tent. Really, what's going on? Are we at war? Is the Empress here?

Inside the tent, a dozen senior ministers and officials greeted them before Chancellor Han came forward. The red-crowned crane rank badge on the front of his jacket gleamed in the light of the torches.

"Your Excellency, what is the matter? Why is the council here?" Weilong asked. His posture was rigid as he held his fist behind his back.

The white-haired chancellor bowed deeply. "Your Highness, I'll go straight to the point. What I'm about to say might sound incredible, but it is the truth." 

Author's note: 

I took inspiration from a Mongolian fighter called Jebe in Jin Yong's A Hero Born when writing the part about Erden turning around in the saddle to shoot arrows.