Part 3, Chapter 35

Game pieces in play

Ch 35

Jiangou and Renping sat in the general’s tent. Strong winds blew through the camp and the taut canvas fought to free itself from the stakes that held it rooted to the earth. Renping shuddered and Jiangou laid a hand on her forearm.

“You don’t have to do this,” he said. “You can leave now. I can send a small detachment with you and get you to the Palace before tomorrow morning. We aren’t that far.”

Renping shook her head. “Don’t be an idiot. You’d just muck it up if I left you alone. You’d probably run yourself and then why would the King of the Merpeople bother to attack. We have to be here, we’re the bait.”

The two were playing weichi. Jiangou was loosing, as always. Renping sighed. 

“I win. Again. I swear, Jiangou did you never pay attention in any of your strategy classes?”

Jiangou gave her a bitter smile, “Now you know why my mother was always disappointed in me.”

Renping immediately felt bad. Jiangou wasn’t really a bad person, she even liked him sometimes. He had a quick, self depreciating wit and was good at encouraging the people around him, but he was also lazy and had the analytical ability of a turnip. She could only hope that the Emperor had figured out their strategy and would come in time.