Chapter 81

The illusion of the Huli Jing's disguise drifted away, leaving humanoid foxes. A girl and a boy. Their curious eyes rested on Zinjo and Aurelia. They hung their heads, "We came to make the humans pay for what they did to our village." The woman growled fiercely and clenched her fists.

"What village?" Lord Nian demanded, "Why did you make the clockwork servants?" He brandished his sword at the Fox couple. They cowered in the face of the sharpened steel.

The man put up his hands, "I am Han Xin, and this is my wife, Tang Sai. We are the former guards of the Huli Jing village. The people of this building are responsible for destroying our home."

The bald man in the bright robe began to cry, "Don't ask me. I am just a metallurgist. They hired me to make the armor plating on their beloved machines."

Zinjo shifted his attention to the other man, who looked sick to his stomach, "What of you? What do you know about these people?" He used the partisan to lift his face, the angled eyes filled with fear.

The man bowed his head and sobbed through his words, "They took off on a ship headed west. They didn't say where they were going."

Aurelia shoved Nian and Zinjo aside, "How many did they take with them," She held his head in her hand, "Tell the truth, or I'll let my companions have their fun until you do talk, and you will talk," her voice became a sinister whisper.

Zinjo sniffed the air, "You soiled yourself. Your action displeases me."

Nian remained silent and snarled at the unfortunate man. The captive put up his hands. "The metallurgist made a light but durable metal for the armor so they could take more with them. None of them came with an active gem. It's impossible to tell what they're doing with the clockwork creations."

Aurelia crossed her arms, "Let them go," She turned her attention to the Huli Jing, "How many in your village survived?"

Han Xin stared at the floor with a tear hanging out of his left eye, "Tang Sai and I are the only survivors. The others are souls trapped in the gems you possess."

"How would you two like to be imperial spies?" Aurelia asked

A grateful look filled Tang Sai's face, "Are you offering to take us with you? Do we have to be spies?"

"What would you like to be?"

Han Xin played with his long braid, "I've always wanted to learn the art of blacksmithing. I think it is beautiful, and Tang sai always wanted to sell her dresses."

Zinjo smiled, "I think we can convince Scathach to take Han Xin, and the nobles are always looking for the latest fashions, at least Gael said as much."

Aurelia nodded, "I agree. If you two are coming, there is no time to grab your belongings. You will have to start anew."

The fox couple embraced Aurelia, "Thank you, may your kindness come back to you tenfold," Tang Sai cried.

"If you need someone to do some spy work here and there, I am at your service," Han Xin smiled at his wife. "Let us forget our vengeance and move forward in peace."

"Grab some weapons, and let's get to the ship," Nian urged, "There could be rogue machines out there."

Aurelia shifted into her Anzu form, "I'll keep watch from the air. There is little point in being ambushed.

***

The rogue clockwork servants took to the streets, and the local fighters were quickly out of their depth when faced with opponents who didn't tire or feel pain. Aurelia and Zinjo stopped. Zinjo raised his partisan, "We cannot let these people die, dark princess."

Tang sai and Han Xin stepped forward, "Since the machines have the souls of our people, we will help. They deserve to face their judgment in the afterlife."

Nian brandished his curved blade, "I'll help organize the humans and lead the effort to get survivors out."

The city was in chaos. The clockwork servants ravaged everything. To see people lose their homes and lives broke Aurelia's heart, "Is it possible to get another ship ready?"

"You cannot save them all, dark princess. I know you want to, but you just can't. There are too many machines and too few skilled warriors," He pressed her close, "We save as many as we can, and the rest is up to the gods."

Despite her best efforts to hold them back, Salty tears streamed down Aurelia's cheeks. She hated to feel powerless. It took her back to the first time the Heart's Call failed her. Aurelia was powerless to change how the kingdom felt about her, and all she could do is hope it passed.

***

Despite their superior strength and endurance, the machines couldn't mount a disciplined assault. They fought as individuals. A weakness Nian capitalized on with the aid of the Huli Jing. None of the Clockwork creations dared to harm Han Xin or Tang sai. The clever couple would lure the machines into trap zones, where the city guard waited with Explosive arrows.

Aurelia and Zinjo waited for survivors and brought them to safety. While they were doing that, Gael and his crew helped prepare a couple more ships for the refugees and innocent lives caught in the crossfire. By the time they reached the dock, Aurelia and Zinjo had saved one hundred and fifty souls.

Nian and the Huli Jing came to the docks, "We have to leave soon. Our exploding arrows are dwindling. We have just enough to cover our escape," He turned to Aurelia, "You did everything in your power to save my countrymen. Not a single leader could do more. You have earned my loyalty as a servant and a friend."

***

Aurelia stared at the city as it shrank into the horizon. She still carried the guilt of those who were left behind. She looked over at the railing and found the Al' Miraj perched on the faded wood and leaned against Aurelia's arm.

"Where have you been? I bet Gael is worried sick," the princess scolded the horned rodent. She regretted her words the moment she spoke them. Had she been reduced to yelling at innocent creatures?

The Al' Miraj leaped into her arms and snuggled up into her shoulder. She didn't feel so much as a scratch from the horn. She absently stroked the silky fur and went over her choices. She shunned the company of others until she came to grips with her perceived failure.

Zinjo leaned against the railing next to her, "How are you doing?" He asked. "I thought it best to give you some space to sort yourself out."

"I reviewed every choice I made. No matter what I did, people were going to die. I have to see the good. We got a hundred and fifty people out. I don't know how the people will react to their new neighbors."

"You are not the reason the clockwork servants seized control. The greed of men and their hubris caused this mess. The warning signs were there, and they went ignored. You were a beacon of hope to the suffering. It is a gift beyond measure."

Aurelia set the Al' Miraj down and kissed Zinjo, "I can't wait to be your wife."

"Neither can I, dark princess."