Let's Ride

Luding watched the action develop from the utter safety of the western edge of the woods. He was not strong enough to risk himself today – because he'd thrown too much in a single attack. It rankled. But he had thousands of servants to aid him, and today he was spending them like water, his usual caution forgotten.

Many of his servants would have been disturbed to note that he had already decided to use them all if he had to. He knew where more creatures of the Wild could be raised. He himself was irreplaceable. And she was dead.

He had made mistakes, but the end game was going to play out with the inevitability of one of those ancient plays he had once so enjoyed and now could no longer remember.

The king would come and be defeated. That trap was already laid. And then it would all be his.

On the opposite side Wuyi pointed his wedge south and raised his hand.