From The Ashes Read Free Page B

division, only their opponents did not fare as well as Xue’s.   They were all dead.
    The tournament official stood on the level stone in the center of field.   His ceremonial robe fluttered in the wind as he stood stiffly and called out, “Two finalists remain!   Moh-Gwei, Prince of the Seventh District, and Ying, shepherd of Xingjia!”
    As the applause went up, the official motioned for them to come to the cage within which they were to battle.   Ying strode over and passed the booth with the red curtains.   The princess did not show herself, though her outline could be seen silhouetted by the sunlight.   Perhaps if he ran over to warn her…
    The two armed guards with razor-tipped spears discouraged the thought.
    The tournament master gestured for the gates to be locked and announced the rules of the final round.   “The winner of this match will proceed to the final contest.   It is therefore, a fight to the death.”
    Ying glanced at Xue.   “You will be victorious.”
    “You bird shall be dinner for Lohng!”   Moh-Gwei patted his mountain lion’s neck and unfastened the chain from its collar.   Lohng ! What arrogance naming a large cat “ Dragon .”
    Ying grinned.   “Did you see the bear Xue fought?   It was a bloody pulp, limping back to its cage without any eyes.”
    While Moh-Gwei got into position, Ying could not help wondering if this was that third and silent horseman who was to win the hand of the princess and then assassinate the royal family.   But what could he do other than defeat him?   The few seconds in which Mei-Liang bestowed the victor’s wreath would be the only opportunity he could get to even speak to her.
    “Begin!” shouted the tournament master.
    At once, Lohng sprung towards the center of the cage with ears flattened, eyes glaring, and fangs dripping.
    Ying sent Xue forth and retained his own perspective for tactical purposes.
    // KEEP ABOVE HIM!   EARN STRIKE POINTS FROM BEHIND //
     
    Lohng reared up on his hind legs as Xue approached.   The eagle swooped down and swiped its talon across the fur of Lohng’s tawny foreleg.   Lohng hissed and growled, taking a swing at Xue.   But he missed and returned to the ground on all four legs, one of which bled from the gash.
    “Strike point for Ying!”
    Moderate applause.
    Lohng spun around, just as Xue descended and struck the top of his head.   This time, the mountain lion dropped to the ground and rolled.   But not quickly enough to evade another laceration.   The corner of its left ear had been ripped off.
    “Strike point for Ying!”
    Moh-Gwei unrolled the whip from his side and cracked it in the air behind Lohng.   “Fight, you worthless kitten!”
    // HE’S DISTRACTED, APPROACH FROM THE WEST! //
     
    Even as Lohng leapt up with his massive paws swinging, Xue caught his neck between his talons.   Then something truly remarkable happened.   With each flap of his wings, Xue began to glow.   His entire body grew to twice its size.   And he lifted Lohng into the air by the scruff of his neck, as a mother cat would its young.
    Blood dripped from its wounds as Xue now, almost larger than the mountain lion flew to the top of the cage.   Ying’s mouth hung agape.   He had only read about such wonders in his father’s Ancient Sojourner book.
    “What is this! ”   Moh-Gwei demanded.   “Surely this is a violation!   How did—?”
    “Do not ask me,” Ying replied.   “I didn’t know this could happen.”
    Now, every spectator rose to his feet.   The entire arena bellowed in amazement as the mountain lion thrashed about, trying in vain to bite or claw the massive eagle.
    But Moh-Gwei threw his whip down, ran to the bars of the cage and shouted at the tournament master.   “Ying must be disqualified immediately!”
    But the tournament master, his eyes wide and fixed on the enormous, glowing eagle, clutching the mountain lion in its talons, gave him a dismissive wave.
    // XUE, HOW ARE YOU DOING