From The Ashes by Ian Alexander, Joshua Graham Read Free Book Online Page A

felt.
    “Refuse,” Moh-Gwei grunted as he gripped her arm and caused her to wince in pain, “and your life will be taken, as easily as this citadel shall be.”
    Mei Liang shouted and in one swift move, grasped the hilt of Moh-Gwei’s sword and pushed him away.   With two hands, she lifted the sword over her head, the blade pointing straight into the air.
    Ying cried out, “Mei Liang, don’t!”
    The archers pulled back the burning arrows on their strings.
    “No one takes my life!” Mei Liang gasped, looking straight into Ying’s eyes, as he approached in the air.   Then she smiled, and turned to the Chungkuo’s Elder.   “I give it for the glory of my kingdom, for—!”
    Three flaming arrows flew right into the center of her chest, the triune thuds cutting her words short.   But she stood, her eyes narrowed and did not—would not fall.
    With an angry cry Ying flew down towards her.   But a barrage of flaming arrows launched at him and forced him to fly away in order to evade them.
    He swung around, never taking his eyes from Mei Liang.   She too kept her eyes on his as she first fell to her knees, and the darkening red from the arrow points spread wider and wider over her crimson wedding gown.
    // MY PRINCE //
     
    Tears blurred Ying’s vision as the peasants from their box leapt out like a mob, some shaking fists at the Chungan soldiers, some pointing up at Ying who was flying in sharp angles around the arrows and around the arena.   Some ran to Chi, who rallied them with his sword held high.
    Ying reached out to her.
    // WHAT HAVE YOU DONE, MEI LIANG ?/ /
     
    Her shoulders slumped, now the flames from the arrows ignited her gown.   White and gold flames licked up all around her.
    // DO NOT GRIEVE…YING.   IT IS…THE WILL OF VALHANDRA //
     
    And then she fell to the ground.   Her entire gown burst into a colorful conflagration of gold, white and red.   As though an entire barn had caught fire.   The flames were so much more than one body should produce, but Ying could only think of one thing.
    Eyes burning with anger, Ying turned his focus to the Chungan Elder.   He could see him as clearly from way up in the sky as though he were sitting directly before his face.
    With a wild eagle cry, Ying rushed down at him.
    The wind rushed against his hair, against his clothes, against his face.
    And within moments, his feet had turned down and transformed into talons.
    Those talons fell upon the Chungan Elder, who covered his eyes to protect them.
    With a heavy crash, Ying pinned the Elder to the ground, the sharp point of one of his claws pressed into his throat.
    “The only reason I haven’t torn your throat out immediately is so that you would know who it is that has avenged the Princess!”
    But rather than terror, the Elder only laughed.   “How amusing!”
    Ying tightened his grip.   A small stream of blood oozed from the Elder’s neck.   He gasped.   “You have not quite thought through this course of action, have you?”
    Immediately, about seven or more sharp sword points touched the back of Ying’s neck and spine.   From the corner of his eye, he noticed half a dozen archers with crossbows standing at the ready.   He was not certain that he would be able to fly away before they stabbed him or shot him with arrows.   Or if he could actually fly again.
    The Elder scoffed.   “Not so arrogant now, are you?”  
    Ying's talons withdrew and returned to his calloused human feet. The Elder got up and stepped back from the soldiers surrounding Ying.   He slowly circled Ying and stroked his dark brown beard.   “Most intriguing.   I have heard the legends of this region of people who could do extraordinary things like you have just done.   The… The…oh, what were they called?   Ah, yes. Sojourners!   They believed in this thing called the Spirit Potential.   Is that what you just exhibited, flying and transforming in part into a great bird of prey?”
    They all had their backs