罪有应得
Zuì yǒu yīng dé
To deserves one's punishment.
The punishment fits the crime.

Changsha Fortress was a monster of black stone.

It hulked like a crouching beast, long and low between the bend of a river, backed by steep hills that became mountains.

Atop the black stone construction was a smattering of red tiles. The tiles looked too civilized when paired with the roughly hacked and chiseled edges of the black rock walls. Unnatural. Incongruous. Like a collar placed on a wolf.

We approached the main gate, a huge wooden thing studded with metal and painted black with pitch. I tried to count lengths, wondering how high it was. I imagined a Zakhar standing atop himself, and then another, and estimated the gate was at least five times his huge height, so approximately 10 lengths altogether.

Changsha fortress was called 'the stronghold of the east', known out of all the Green Kingdom's fortifications for its impenetrability. Seeing it up close for the first time, I understood why.

The great gates eased open, to admit our party. As we passed through the large arch, I saw the black stone was covered with etched seals to ward out wrong things. But I could not shake the feeling that it was the fortress itself that was wrong.

I thought of Sanli's story last night. "I do not want to go in there," he had told his mother. I felt exactly that way now.

In the courtyard men going about their duties, leading horses or cleaning armor on stands. Some trained with wooden dummies and hay bales, or shot at targets placed along one long wall of the courtyard. The soldiers all looked harmless enough, dressed in the black uniforms of the Green Kingdom, with green stripes at the shoulders to denote rank.

As I dismounted I told myself again my sense of foreboding was misplaced, and over dramatic. I had almost convinced myself of the fact when the smell of rotting meat reached my nose.

A gust of wind over the courtyard walls had brought it, and I looked up.

A body hung stretched between two posts on the northern ramparts. We had entered from the south, and so had not seen it.

Crows perched on the body's head and shoulders, occasionally dipping their heads to peck at their perch.

I shivered in the wind.

Captain Duan, had dismounted beside me, and taken off his helmet. He caught sight of where I was looking. "A thief," he said, grinning a wolffish smile.

I shrugged and looked away as though disinterested. I was. I had seen many bodies.

Sanli dismounted next to me. "We do not give the death penalty for stealing in this kingdom," he said sharply.

"Well, it's not our fault he went and died," said Captain Duan with a bark of laughter.

Sanli looked about to address either the captain's words or his rudeness, but the captain had already turned away, leading his horse behind him. The man's armor clinked as he strode across the courtyard and disappeared into the stables.

Soldiers stepped up, some to take our horses, some to take our baggage and carry it inside. Another soldier guided us inside the main keep.

We followed him through the halls of the fortress. Inside was as imposing as outside. Rough black stone everywhere, with no ornament or attempt at artistry. There was no furniture or decoration of any kind, save what was essential; doors leading off to other rooms and hallways, bronze wall sconces to hold torches of bunched grass soaked in pitch. Other than that there was little to decorate the barren halls we walked through.

Presently we reached a narrow spiral staircase. The soldier led us up it, the metal studs of his boots rapping out a rhythm on the stone stairs.

At the top we followed another hallway. This one had windows along one side, and from them I could look to the north, where the town of Changsha sat, a cluster of square buildings also made from the same black stone.

I realized the body was hung just above us, on the ramparts. I briefly wondered why it faced north, towards the town, before my mind filled in the answer:

Why, to send a message, of course.

At the end of the hall, the soldier stopped before a plain wooden plank door with a thick iron handle. The man raised his hand and rapped upon it.

"Commander. Your guests are here," the soldier announced.

"Come in!" a voice called through the door.

The soldier pushed the door open and bowed us inside.

We stepped into a study that was much better furnished than any part of the fortresses we had yet seen, but still sparse in comparison with the lush accommodations of the Valley. A large wooden table, darkened with age, stood to one side, covered with geographical charts and maps. A desk of a lighter, worn wood stood in front of a long window facing north, toward the town.

A second window opened on the south side of the room, and looked down across the courtyard, and allowed for the commander to oversee his troops.

The third wall, across from the door, had a large fireplace set into it, where a huge fire cracked hungrily. On the wall around the fireplace were weapons of every shape and size, fixed to the stone wall by large iron spikes. Battle axes and maces. Long spears and halberds. Swords of course, curved dao and straight bladed jian of every thickness and length. And in one corner, a liu xing, a 'falling star', the long thick chain of the weapon ending in a wicked looking spiked ball that was near as big as my head.

I wanted to study the weapons more, but my attention was caught instead by the man sitting behind the desk, who had risen to greet us.

He was a tall, thin man with a gaunt narrow face and a weathered look that I suspected came from living in such bleak surroundings. His hair was silver grey, though he could not have been more than 50 years of age. His eyes, when they met mine, were sharp, intelligent, calculating, and did not match the self effacing smile on his lips.

Like Captain Duan's eyes had, the commander's eyes immediately put me on guard.

The commander brought his narrow hands together in a reverent pose before his chest and bowed low before Sanli, eyes on the floor.

"Welcome. I am Commander Sha. How grateful I am that you have travelled all this way, my prince. With you here, I am sure all our problems will be solved."

The prince looked annoyed beneath his own ever-present smile, but said politely, "Rise commander, and tell us how we can help."

The commander straightened from his bow, as he did so readjusting the grey wool cowl that was thrown across his shoulders. At first I thought it was part of his commander's uniform, but then I saw the familiar green cloak draped across the back of the commander's chair and realized the wool cape was simply for warmth.

"May I invite you to sit? It is not much, but it is warmer near the fire." The commander gestured to a semicircle of four rough wooden chairs positioned around the blazing fire. The men sat, but I found myself without a seat. Zakhar shot me an apologetic look.

That's right. I am a servant. I do not get to sit.

I positioned myself behind Sanli's chair as a good page would, quietly seething.

"We are so grateful you have come," the commander repeated, his silver hair glinting in the firelight. "When I requested your noble elder brother to send an additional scribe, I did not think he would send his own brother! I apologize I can not offer you grander accommodations."

"I am sure the accommodations will be fine," said Sanli. "Please tell me what the problem is."

The commander's face turned solemn. "Since summer, there have been attacks along the northern border, some so severe that several villages have been abandoned, the residents preferring to flee their homes then stay and risk another attack."

"Surely that is why you and your men are here. To protect our borders and our people," Sanli replied, surprising me with his curtness.

But then I thought of the prince's story to me the night before, of how he and his mother had spent their days wandering without a place to call home. I realized how keenly Sanli must feel the fate of those who had fled south seeking refuge.

The commander's smile broadened at Sanli's criticism. "Of course, my prince. And we do our best to keep our people safe from invading forces. However, these attacks have not been... human in nature."

I saw Zakhar frown, and he leaned forward, bringing his tattooed hands to rest on his knees. "A wolf?" he asked.

Commander Sha glanced at Zakhar's hands. "Or wolves," he replied.

"Where have the most recent attacks been? We will start there," asked Kageyama.

"Not far from here, actually," said the Commander. "I will show you." The men rose and went to the table, and began talking dates and locations.

Not feeling like following at Sanli's heels like an obedient dog, I turned to the wall of weapons.

My eyes traced over the shapes, and were assailed by blunted edges and chipped blades. The weapons were well worn, and glinted dully in the firelight. Several of the weapons, such as the spears, had frayed tassels tied about the pole just beneath the blade.

Gay though the tassels and other decorations appeared, I knew their true purpose: to keep blood from running down the pole and causing the wielder's hands to slip.

Many of the tassels were a darker color in places. The leather grip of a battle axe near my eye level was also spattered with something that could only be blood.

I recalled the weapons Prince Zhangyu had on display in his study. They had been finely made and crafted, but pristine.

In contrast the weapons before me now had most definitely been used. It was a mark of an inexperienced warrior, to prefer a new weapon to an old one. An old weapon may need to be sharpened, or polished, but it had been tested, and had withstood battle and time. A new weapon had not, and if it had been made incorrectly, could break on you during the most inopportune moment of battle.

It gave me a sense of assurance, having so many seasoned weapons nearby. I wondered which of the weapons I would choose, should I have reason to.

My eyes traced over the spears and othe pole weapons, till they stopped on a weapon that resembled a spear, but with a flat, wide blade like a curved sword attached to the arm.

It was a common enough weapon, but it caught my eye immediately because it had been one of my favorite weapons to use when I had been a god. A yanyue dao they were called. 'Reclining Moon Blade'. The name was a description of the shape of the blade affixed to the end of the pole.

I admired the weapon. It was near twice my height, the blade at the end as long as my torso. The blade alone would weigh a good fraction of my weight, and in addition the dark wood of the pole had been strengthened with iron bands.

I would not be able to lift such a weapon as I was now, let alone wield it.

Frowning, I turned and made my way back to the men.

"Wudan village was one of the most recent attacks, and the most severe. I will send my best men to accompany you," Commander Sha was saying.

"No need," said Sanli. "We will go on our own."

"But my prince," said the commander, surprised. He looked at us. "You have brought so few men with you."

The commander's eyes found me as he spoke, and his smile curled infinitesimally. I knew he did not count me among the men.

What is the point of me posing as a page, when everyone clearly knows I am a woman?

Sanli ignored the Commander's comment. "We will investigate this village, and see that the disturbances are stopped so the people can return to their homes."

The Commander looked like he was not at all pleased by Sanli's refusal of men. But he only smiled all the wider. "I want to say how truly grateful we are to you for coming to help us with this problem." The Commander's eyes shone in the light of the fire. "What with everything that is happening in the Central Regions, and the loss of the Golden Emperor. I was surprised when your noble brother said you would be coming, as I'm sure that all essential members of the royal family are already needed elsewhere."

It was a clear jibe, intended to point out that Sanli was inessential.

Sanli ground his teeth behind his grin. "Of course."

"We will set out at dawn tomorrow," said Kageyama sharply to the commander. "Prepare food for us and our horses."

As one, our group turned to leave, hurrying to be away from the commander and his too-humble smile.

"Oh, and my prince," the commander said. We all turned back.

The man nodded to Zakhar's tattooed hands, showing his rank. "Your man could be killed for markings like that in these parts. The Black Lord and his servants are not welcome here."

Zakhar rolled down his sleeves and slipped on his gloves to hide the markings on his hands.

*~*~*~*~*~*

We left the commander's rooms, and I felt the man's eyes on my shoulder blades as we went.

The same soldier led us back down the hallway and to the spiral staircase. We went down a level, and then stepped into another corridor, this one without windows. We stopped before a thick wooden door.

Beyond the door was a large bedroom. A giant bed was placed against the wall facing the door, draped with hangings to keep in warmth. A table stood to one side, and there was a large window that faced the north, towards the town.

The room was bare of ornament, save for the horned head of a huge stag that was mounted above the fireplace. A trophy of some hunt.

"Charming," said Sanli. "I hope that isn't one of Erli's kills."

In addition to the deer, several stuffed birds decorated the mantle, and a bearskin rug even larger than the one Zakhar had gifted me was spread in front of the fireplace.

Thankfully, a fire had already been built in the huge fireplace. I threw myself onto the bearskin before it.

"Ahhh, warmth at last," I said. "I will sleep right here."

I looked up, realizing I was speaking to an empty room. I stood, and followed the men through the narrow door into the second room.

Beyond the second door was a room much smaller than the adjoining bedroom, and at first I thought it was meant to be a closet. Then I saw several narrow beds pushed against the wall, and realized it was intended for servants.

"I don't like it," Kageyama was saying in a low voice as I entered. "Something is not right here. You did well to refuse his soldiers," the kitsune said, looking to Sanli.

The narrow room had but a single, small window, high up. In the faint light that came from it, I could see the grim set of Kageyama's jaw.

The expression was mirrored on the other two men's faces. All three sat on the edge of the servant cots, with their heads close together as they talked.

"Agreed," said Sanli. "If the attacks have been so severe, why not request more troops? Why just request a single scribe?"

Kageyama shook his head. "We will go to Wudan village, and see what we can there. Then we will return to the valley as soon as possible, before winter sets in and we find ourselves trapped here."

There was a pause. I perched on the edge of one of the cots, beside Sanli.

"Is Xiangli trying to get rid of me?" asked Sanli. I could hear the hurt in his tone.

"Of course not," said Kageyama quickly. "Most likely he means this foolhardy mission as a punishment. For what happened with the tigress." Here Kageyama glared at me.

Sanli swallowed and looked down. He nodded in agreement with Kageyama's words. But the pain stayed in his eyes.

"Do not worry so much, Sanli," said Kageyama, reaching out to tousle the prince's hair in an uncharacteristic gesture. "I am here. And Zakhar."

"And Ao," added Zakhar. To remind the prince of my presence, I lay a hand on his shoulder.

Sanli smiled slightly, and nodded.

Kageyama turned to the blond man beside him. "If it really is an eh'lang, as the commander suggested, we will need your expertise, Zakhar."

Zakhar snorted. "I was attacked by one, once. Don't know if you can call that expertise."

"What?" I said, shocked. Subconsciously I tensed, eyes on the big man sat on the narrow bed just across from me.

Zakhar sighed. Then he rolled up his right sleeve.

For a moment, I stared at the tattooed flesh of his forearm, unsure what I was supposed to be seeing. Then Zakhar's thick fingers pointed out the faint scars I had always overlooked before, overlayed with zigzagging black ink as they were.

"You... you were bitten..." I said.

"Aye," said Zakhar shortly.

I swallowed. I had seen what happened to those who were bit by one of the Black Lord's hungry wolves first hand.

The crunch of bones rearranging and screams of agony stayed with me still.

If you were lucky, you did not survive the transformation. Afterwards, you would be nothing but a monster, consumed by the pain of your twisted body and the unquenchable need to kill.

I looked at Zakhar, aghast.

Zakhar saw my discomfort, and rolled down his sleeve. "You don't need to look so stricken. As long as I have the Black Lord's markings, I won't turn."

"This is why you swore yourself to him. To avoid such a fate," I whispered.

"Aye," said Zakhar again.

I looked at Zakhar, but he looked away. He stood, clearing his throat. "I'll go see to it that the horses get settled properly."

The big man disappeared out the doorway, and a moment later I heard the thick wooden door in the room beyond open and close.

When he had gone I turned to the kitsune and the prince still sat beside me. "One of you could have told me," I said accusingly.

Sanli shrugged, the sadness on his face mirroring my own. "It was not our secret to tell. And besides, what would have been different if you had known?"

"I would have been kinder, if I realized he had been forced to—"

"He does not want your pity," said Kageyama sharply. "But yes, you could have been kinder."

I glared at the kitsune. I did not mind admitting my mistakes. But I could not stand being reprimanded. Not by him.

Kageyama ignored my glare. He stood as well. "I will see about our supper. While we are here, do not eat ANYTHING I haven't tested first," Kageyama warned Sanli. "And don't leave this room until I get back." The kitsune left as well.

I turned to the little prince, sat beside me on the narrow bed. Sanli still looked downcast, perhaps at the thought that his own flesh and blood wanted him dead.

Outside the wind howled, trying to break the depressing silence.

"It is too sad," I said, pointlessly. The wind moaned as if in agreement.

"It is," agreed Sanli. He reached out and took my hand in his own, and squeezed it.

"Your hands are cold," he said. Then he grinned mischievously. "Want to go try out the bed?"

*~*~*~*~*~*