11
1529 Words
The gamble
The moment the masked rider gave the order, chaos erupted throughout the valley.
"Take the princess!"
The attackers charged forward.
Steel clashed against steel as the imperial guards rushed to meet them.
The captain's sword flashed through the darkness, forcing back the first masked man who approached.
"Protect Her Highness!" he shouted.
The valley echoed with the sounds of battle.
Horses reared.
Men shouted.
Weapons collided in a shower of sparks.
Behind the defensive line, the maids quickly pulled Princess Meiling and Jing behind the carriage.
To the girls' surprise, several of the palace maids drew swords from beneath their robes.
The polished blades gleamed in the fading light.
The attackers continued pressing forward.
Although the guards fought bravely, they were heavily outnumbered.
More masked men poured into the valley from every direction.
The captain quickly realized the situation was becoming hopeless.
If they remained, everyone would eventually be overwhelmed.
A masked rider broke through the line.
Two guards immediately intercepted him.
The captain seized the opportunity and shouted toward the maids.
"Take the princess and run!"
The maid hesitated.
"But Captain—"
"Now!"
His voice cut through the battlefield.
"We can hold them for a while, but not forever!"
Another guard was forced backward by two attackers.
The captain parried a sword strike and yelled again.
"Get them out of here before they surround us!"
The maid understood.
Their duty was not to win.
It was to ensure the princess survived.
Immediately, she grabbed Princess Meiling's hand.
Another maid took Jing's.
"Come with us!"
Meiling looked back.
"But the guards—"
"Your Highness!" the maid said firmly. "We must go!"
A nearby guard stepped forward and blocked an incoming attack.
"Please, Princess! Run!"
Reluctantly, Meiling nodded.
The two girls were hurried away from the road.
Under the cover of the fighting, the maids led them toward the dense forest bordering the valley.
Branches scratched against their sleeves as they pushed through the undergrowth.
Behind them, the sounds of battle continued.
Clashing steel.
Shouts.
Cries of warning.
Jing glanced back once.
Through the trees, she could still see flashes of swords reflecting in the darkness.
Her grip tightened around the small package containing the blue kite.
Fear filled her chest.
The forest seemed endless.
Branches tore at their sleeves as the maid hurried through the darkness, pulling Princess Meiling and Jing behind her.
The sounds of battle had long faded.
Only the rustling of leaves and their hurried breathing remained.
Neither child complained despite their exhaustion.
After what felt like an eternity, the maid finally slowed.
Ahead of them, moonlight reflected across the surface of a river.
"We'll rest here for a moment," she said.
The three of them collapsed beside the riverbank.
Only then did the maid notice the scratches covering the children's arms and legs.
The escape through the forest had not been kind.
Princess Meiling's sleeve had been torn by thorn bushes, and Jing's hands were covered in small cuts from falling against rocks and roots.
The maid immediately knelt beside them.
"Stay still."
Without hesitation, she tore a strip from the hem of her dress.
Carefully, she wrapped it around a cut on Meiling's arm before tending to Jing's scraped hands.
The river water was cool and clean.
Using a cloth, she gently washed away the dirt from their wounds.
Jing winced.
"It stings."
"It will only sting for a moment," the maid replied softly.
The little girl nodded bravely.
For a few moments, silence settled over the riverbank.
The moon hung high above them.
Then Meiling suddenly looked up.
"Sister, why do palace maids know how to use swords?"
The maid paused.
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"Not all palace maids do."
She tightened the bandage around Meiling's arm.
"But those assigned to members of the Imperial Family are trained to protect them if danger comes."
Jing blinked.
"So you're a bodyguard too?"
The maid laughed quietly.
"Something like that."
The girls seemed impressed.
Before either child could ask another question, Jing suddenly froze.
Her blue eyes shifted toward the dark forest behind them.
The maid immediately noticed.
"What is it?"
Jing stood slowly.
For some reason, a strange feeling had settled over her.
The same feeling she had experienced several times during their years of hiding.
Someone was watching.
"They're here."
The maid's expression changed instantly.
"What?"
Jing pointed toward the trees.
"We're being followed."
At first, there was only silence.
Then—
A branch snapped.
The maid's face went pale.
Several shadows moved between the trees.
They had been found.
The maid immediately stood and drew her sword.
More figures emerged from the darkness.
Masked men.
The attackers had tracked them through the forest.
Princess Meiling instinctively grabbed Jing's hand.
"What do we do?"
The maid glanced at the river.
Then at the approaching figures.
They were too close.
There would be no time to outrun them.
A dangerous idea entered her mind.
She turned toward the girls.
"Can either of you swim?"
Both children nodded.
"Yes."
The maid looked at the flowing river once more.
It was their only chance.
"Good."
She grabbed their hands firmly.
"Then trust me."
Behind them, the masked men began running toward the riverbank.
And without another word, the maid prepared to take a desperate gamble.
The maid looked toward the rushing river.
It was their only chance.
"Listen carefully," she said urgently. "Both of you must swim to the opposite shore."
Princess Meiling's eyes widened.
"The river?"
The maid nodded.
"There is no time. Go!"
Behind them, the masked men were already emerging from the trees.
Without another word, the three of them rushed into the water.
The river was colder and deeper than either child expected.
Jing held tightly to the celestial locket beneath her clothing as she swam.
Beside her, Princess Meiling struggled against the strong current but continued forward.
The maid remained behind them, keeping watch on the approaching pursuers.
At first, everything seemed fine.
Then suddenly—
Jing felt something wrap around her legs.
Her eyes widened.
She kicked desperately.
But the more she struggled, the tighter it seemed to become.
Seaweed.
Long strands of river weeds had become tangled around her ankles.
The frightened child sank beneath the water.
"Help!"
Her cry echoed across the river.
The maid immediately turned.
She saw Jing disappear beneath the surface.
At the same time, several masked men had already entered the river and were rapidly closing the distance between them.
Without hesitation, the maid plunged underwater.
The cold water blurred her vision.
She quickly found Jing struggling beneath the surface and pulled out the small dagger hidden within her sleeve.
With several swift cuts, the tangled weeds broke apart.
The maid wrapped an arm around Jing and pushed upward.
Moments later, they emerged from the water.
Jing gasped for air.
"It's alright," the maid reassured her.
"Hold on to me."
Carrying the child, she swam toward the opposite shore.
Princess Meiling was already waiting anxiously at the riverbank.
"Sister!"
The moment they reached land, the princess rushed forward.
The maid carefully placed Jing onto the shore.
"Are you hurt?"
Jing shook her head, still coughing slightly.
Relief flashed across the maid's face.
However, before she could climb out of the river herself, a hand suddenly shot forward from behind.
A masked man grabbed her wrist.
The maid's eyes widened.
The attacker had caught up.
Immediately, she twisted her body and drew her dagger.
The masked man lunged.
Steel flashed beneath the moonlight.
The maid blocked the attack and kicked him backward.
"Run!" she shouted.
The children froze.
"Go now!"
More masked men were approaching from the river.
The maid knew she could not protect them and fight at the same time.
Princess Meiling shook her head.
"No! We won't leave you!"
"Your Highness!" the maid cried.
"I'll be fine."
The princess's eyes filled with tears.
"But—"
The maid forced a smile.
"You must trust me."
Then she looked toward Jing.
For a brief moment, her expression became serious.
"Jing."
The little girl immediately looked up.
"Keep the princess safe."
Tears filled Jing's eyes.
Yet she nodded.
Just as Yuri had once protected her, someone was now entrusting another life to her care.
"I will."
The maid smiled.
"Good girl."
Another attacker rushed forward.
The maid turned and met him head-on.
"Now run!"
Jing grabbed Princess Meiling's hand.
The princess resisted.
"We can't leave her!"
Jing tightened her grip.
The fear in her heart was overwhelming, but she remembered the certainty in the maid's voice.
"She won't lose."
Meiling looked at her.
Jing nodded firmly.
"She's strong."
The princess hesitated.
"We can find a place to hide first."
Jing glanced back toward the riverbank where the maid continued fighting.
"And when she's done, she'll come find us."
For a moment, Meiling stared at her.
Then she slowly nodded.
Together, the two children turned and ran into the darkness of the forest.
Behind them, the sounds of battle echoed through the trees.
Neither child looked back again.
Yet both silently prayed that the brave maid who had protected them would survive long enough to keep her promise.
- Writer
