From The Ashes Read Free

directions.
    When finally they departed, the eagle returned and alighted on the branch directly above him.   Five, perhaps ten minutes had passed since the conspiratorial strangers left.   Only now did Ying lower his inadvertently arched shoulders.   He exhaled slowly and held his book tightly against his chest.
    Just then, the eagle flew down and perched on his shoulder.   Ying let out a gasp, but when it stood perfectly still, its talons not even piercing his shirt, he relaxed.   “Remarkable!”
    The eagle leaned down and stared at the book in Ying’s hands.   To his utter amazement the pages began to glow, golden beams of light radiating from behind the leather cover.   He sensed words, not in his ear, but in his spirit.   Difficult to discern, but the intent was as clear as the tree before him.
    // DO NOT BACK DOWN …//
     
    From all he read in the book, from all he’d learned from Aunt Pei’s teaching of the ancient Sojourners, he knew to trust this inner voice which he recognized from other pivotal moments in his life.   It had spoken when the mountain lion attacked the flock and quickly turned on him.   It had spoken when the wolf rushed at him in the open field.   And it had said the very same words.   Do not back down.
    The entire royal family was in danger.   But by whom?   He had not seen the faces of the conspiring trio.   Nor did he recognize their voices because they spoke in low murmurs.
    But he knew he must tell Chi.   He must warn Mei-Liang, her mother The Queen, and her uncle The Lord Protector, no matter the cost.

    The sun rose over Bai Kuo’s capital over a deep blue canvas.   The stone walls had been washed for the royal contests and now white as marble, they shone brilliantly and cast a halo over the entire citadel.
    As the cart which carried Ying and the other contestants entered through the gates, the eagle remained on his shoulder drawing apprehensive glares.  
    “It’s for the contest,” he explained.
    “You can’t bring your own, can you?” said the older man who had slept in the top bunk the night before.
    Ying smiled.   “There’s no rule prohibiting it.”
    Guards with long spears stood at either side of the open gate.   Ying could not help but wonder if perhaps they might be a part of the plot to overthrow Mei-Liang’s kingdom.   If only he could warn her, or at least get word to her that they, indeed the entire capital, were all in grave danger.   He knew better than to speak with any of the contest officials about this matter; any one of them could be involved.
    Chi was nowhere in sight.   Who knew when or if they would meet again?   Nevertheless, Ying had to win this next contest.   It was the only way to get a chance to get close enough to speak with the princess—when she bestowed the victor’s wreath.   But would she believe him?   Would she even remember him?   It didn’t matter.   He had to try.
    After a trumpet fanfare announcing the arrival of all the noble contestants, the audience cheered their favorites.   A few moments afterwards, Ying’s peasant cart arrived in the arena.   The only fanfare came from the mocking crowds, whistling and making obscene gestures at the less than noble competitors.
    Cages of various beasts and fowls lined the perimeter of the arena.   This was one event Ying felt confident he could win, especially because of his new friend, the eagle.
    That Ying had made it this far, despite his defeat by Moh-Gwei, added to his hope that he might prevail.   Thus far, he had risen swiftly to the top of other contests that required tactics and strategy such as Leit .   This was an exotic game ordinarily played with military pieces across a round board with manifold concentric circles, each band sectioned off into twelve columns radiating from the center.
    Instead of hand held pieces, however, for the purposes of this tournament and benefit of the audience, the matches had employed live characters on a giant board in