Chapter 6

Prompt for chapter 6: Tell me about a love interest your main character has or had, and what made or makes that person special to your character. For those who write with characters that are too young for love interests, tell me about a beloved pet they had or have.
This is the second to last prompt. A climax to the plot should be visible or take shape.

Chapter 6
With daybreak came the murmurs of fear as the villagers spied the approaching cloud of dust. It was still quite a ways off but there could be no doubt about what it meant. A large force was heading down from the mountain pass.

This was not what the villagers had expected. In the past, a gang of looters or such would pass through and the guardian would take care of them in one way or another. Over time, as his reputation grew, there were fewer looters but more challengers; individuals that wanted to test themselves against the legend that was Master Cho. Eventually, even the number of challengers dropped off. Master Cho appeared invincible and there was little glory in dying at the hand of such a warrior.
Never before had an army, albeit a relatively small one, come directly to the village. No memory could stretch back far enough to a time when Master Cho was so overwhelmingly out numbered. The consensus was that although Master Cho had proven himself time and again, this was going to be more than he could handle.

There was no happy migration to the rice fields this morning; no kisses goodbye as children went off to school. Instead, families huddled together for what could be the last time. There was no panic. Everyone understood the Yings and Yangs of life. They had thrived as a village for generations. Families had been raised with love and wisdom. Today was perhaps the change of tide. Today could be the day when suffering came to the village. If that was to be, then so be it. As always, the Yang made the Ying all the sweeter.

Shortly after noon, Master Cho left his home and proceeded to walk down the village’s main street. He was heading in the direction of the dust cloud. Eyes peeked out of cracked doors and from behind window shades to watch the old man go by. He was dressed in his battle garb; hard, light leather protection for his arms, torso and legs. His head was covered in only a simple white scarf, held in place by a decorative band.

As the old guardian passed down the street, the mood of the town changed. It was as if he pushed fear and apprehension ahead of him, forcing it to leave his village in peace. The people could feel it. They could see the peace in the old man’s face as he strode easily down the dirt road. If he was not afraid, why should they be? Maybe the old man had a plan. One by one, doors opened and families stepped out of their houses. They followed along behind the old man making sure to keep a respectful distance. By the time Master Cho exited the edge of the village, more than three-hundred villagers walked along behind him. None were armed. They didn’t even own weapons. Why would they when they had Master Cho.

The guardian was only vaguely aware of the villagers as he passed through. His mind was elsewhere. Some might guess that he was going over a strategy in his mind; who would he attack first and how would he handle multiple enemies at once. Those that guessed such was going through his mind would be far from correct.

Master Cho’s thoughts were actually on his family. He remembered his two sons, both guardians themselves at villages nearby. His daughter and her husband lived in his village blessing him with the gift of daily visits from his granddaughter. He had no living siblings but there were cousins and such scattered about. All of them brought special memories with them as he recalled each in turn; and still, he walked towards the army.

His list of fond memories was long but as he left the village, he pulled up his favorite. She was a young girl when they had first met and fell in love. He called her Little Flower because she was so delicate and beautiful. She had been his everything. Together they had raised three children. She was a loving and attentive mother and a wonderfully supporting wife. She knew his position as guardian was a dangerous one and yet, she understood it was as much a part of him as his arms and legs. She never asked him to find a less dangerous profession. She never waivered in her conviction that he would always be there to protect her and their children.

In the end, she was only half right.

When the blood sickness came, Master Cho found himself completely helpless to save her. The enemy within was simply too clever. It came with the wind and cared not who had the sword and who had the bow. Once it settled into his Little Flower he could only sit by her side and watch helplessly as she fought her losing, solitary battle.

Today, as he walked, leaving the village behind, he thought of the earlier years they had together. The once distant army was now easily visible and yet, his smile carried him onward as if he going out for a pleasant stroll.

He stopped at the edge of the large mountain meadow. Master Cho had greatly enjoyed his reverie but now he had to clear his mind. His body knew how to do its job when the time came. To help it, his mind had to get out of the way. Let the arms and legs do what they had spent a lifetime training to do. He sat down gently and closed his eyes. The army would be there soon.

Fifteen minutes later, Lyn Nu rode into the openness of the far end of the meadow. As expected, he rode at the front, demonstrating his lack of fear of the old man. From two-hundred yards away, he could see Master Cho seated casually as if his life were in no immediate danger. Lyn Nu dismounted along with his contingent of seven body guards, men he had personally selected for their fighting skills as well as their loyalty to him.

As they approached, the old man looked up as if noticing them for the first time. He stood slowly, his age clearly visible to the young warriors. Lyn Nu couldn’t believe he had spent even a moment worrying over this antiquated bag of bones. With a quick signal to his body guards, he sent four of his men to drag the old man out of their path. Lyn Nu had intended to do this himself but now that his saw how feeble the old man was, he changed his mind. His men would think less of him should he take on one so obviously out of his class.

When the guards were within a few feet, Master Cho’s sword sung it’s high pitched song as it was freed from the bounds of the scabbard. The four guards stopped short. It was inconceivable that this old man intended to fight them. They glanced back at Lyn Nu who, with a nod of his head, told them to do what they had been sent to do.

Four swords drew as one and Master Cho came under attack from all sides.

Sounds of the battle filled the meadow; metal clanging against metal along with the grunts and gasps of men fighting to the death.

Master Cho, never made a sound. He breathed only through his nose as he allowed his body to relax. To him this was little more than a dance with predictable moves. He stepped to the left and parried, then to the right with a thrust. A spin and a jump were followed by a barehanded strike.

One by one, the guards fell to the ground. It was over in less than five minutes. Master Cho had intentionally let it go on for much longer than it needed to. Appear weak where you are strong, he thought over and over again. When it was done, the old man was the only one standing. He was leaning over and breathing very heavily with his hands on his knees.

Lyn Nu clapped his hands in mock appreciation. The old man had done remarkably well but he was clearly spent and his skills were no match for those of the young Chieftain. Lyn Nu saw this as the perfect opportunity to make himself a legend. He would be the one to bring down the guardian.

“Well done old man. I am impressed that you were able to handle four of my best so easily. Unfortunately for you, there is none in my entire army that is a match for me. I think it is time that we stop playing games and settle this once and for all,” shouted the young warrior for all to hear.

He motioned for his guards to stay behind as he walked towards the guardian.

Slowly, Master Cho raised his head to look at Lyn Nu. He straightened his back and let his arms hang relaxed from his shoulders. His heavy breathing had somehow stopped. It was as if a transformation had taken place while Lyn Nu covered the few yards between them.

The young Chieftain stopped short. He was no longer looking at a feeble old man. He was looking at Master Cho, longtime guardian and legend. He could see the way the old man suddenly held his sword. It was as if it were part of his body with no weight to it at all. Only moments earlier, Master Cho had appeared to barely even be capable of lifting it.

Lyn Nu understood immediately that he had been tricked. Had the old man not appeared such an easy mark, Lyn Nu would have just run over him with his army. Instead, he had let his ego convince him that he could take on Master Cho by himself.

Now it was too late. There was no turning back. No army would follow him if he failed to fight this battle.

After a brief hesitation, Lyn Nu did what he had to do. He raised his sword and attacked.

Word count 1674