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Wild Stewardess Action! - And Madness Followed COMPLETE!
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<blockquote data-quote="barsoomcore" data-source="post: 1227350" data-attributes="member: 812"><p>"It must be spirits," intoned Li Fa. "Be wary."</p><p></p><p>The other women glanced at each other before turning to their elder comrade.</p><p></p><p>"Well, maybe, Fa," Tong Shan began, leaning her tall frame against a tree trunk, "But it sure just smells like somebody's cooking."</p><p></p><p>Fa's expression turned as dark as her robes.</p><p></p><p>"Explain the sounds."</p><p></p><p>The five women paused and listened. Muen Wei-Yong shrugged.</p><p></p><p>"Sounds like somebody singing, Fa. I mean, it COULD be spirits, sure, but..."</p><p></p><p>Hsia Lin Lin smiled brightly.</p><p></p><p>"I'll go check!"</p><p></p><p>Without another word the slender young woman turned and dashed off into the trees, quickly out of sight through the undergrowth. Her passage was silent and the other four remained standing at the side of the mountain road, listening to distant singing.</p><p></p><p>Shan frowned.</p><p></p><p>"If it IS spirits, Lin Lin's going to need help."</p><p></p><p>Fa put a hand on her friend's shoulder.</p><p></p><p>"We'll hear her if anything happens."</p><p></p><p>Shan nodded, but kept a hand on the hilt of her katana. She caught Wei-Yong's eye and made sure the other woman had an arrow nocked on her longbow. Mau Li, Wei-Yong's "pet" wolf, was nowhere to be seen, but Shan was confident the rangy creature was nearby and would give warning if anyone came near.</p><p></p><p>Zheng Ming-Wa muttered to herself, "Goddess protect us," a quick prayer that triggered immediate repetition from all her companions.</p><p></p><p>The singing drifting down through the trees was foreign, exotic to their ears. These mountains formed the western border of the Goddess' lands and so the idea that barbarians might be found here was not surprising, but none of them had heard anything quite like this haunting melody.</p><p></p><p>Somewhere up in these mountains, Jing Zhou ran for his life. They'd nearly caught up with the Jade Razor fanatic in the city of Pangdong, but he'd eluded the Angels there and continued to stay one step ahead of them. Without Wei-Yong's ability to follow the slightest trace, they would have lost the trail long ago. Ming-Wa especially looked forward to catching up with the criminal -- he was a top leader of the Jade Razors, a secret society dedicated to overthrowing the Goddess -- and there was nobody Ming-Wa hated more than enemies of the Goddess.</p><p></p><p>Taking advantage of their momentary rest on the road, Ming-Wa bowed her head and began to pray for guidance. Shan and Wei-Yong rolled their eyes at each other, then took up a wary guard as Mau Li growled once.</p><p></p><p>"It's me, silly!"</p><p></p><p>Lin Lin bounced onto the road and raced to the others, ever so slightly out of breath but grinning.</p><p></p><p>"Come on! It's an inn, there's singing and the food smells even better up close!"</p><p></p><p>They all looked to Fa to see the older woman's reaction.</p><p></p><p>"You didn't see any spirits?"</p><p></p><p>"Just barbarians. But they seem friendly enough, and the place looks like it's run by a Tianese. Come on. I'm hungry."</p><p></p><p>Shan's stomach rumbled noisily and she grinned at Lin Lin.</p><p></p><p>"I don't care if they ARE spirits. I'm as hungry as you. Come on, Fa, what's the worst that could happen?"</p><p></p><p>Fa raised her eyebrows and Shan's forehead furrowed as she applied herself to remembering.</p><p></p><p>"Okay, that was pretty bad. But it wasn't my fault. They had balloons."</p><p></p><p>*****</p><p></p><p>The inn rested a few yards back from the road, a ramshackle affair of bamboo slats, thatch roof and rickety railings around the verandah outside. Smoke curled from the stone chimney in the dusk air, rising slowly and steadily and revealing the stillness of the atmosphere. Wei-Yong, Mau Li padding silently at her side, frowned as they approached.</p><p></p><p>"Not enough birds."</p><p></p><p>"I can hear birds."</p><p></p><p>"Yeah, but there should be more."</p><p></p><p>Lin Lin nodded, trying to be serious. "Yeah. Okay. More birds."</p><p></p><p>Soon they were close enough that the music coming from within the roadhouse drowned out any number of birds. And the delicious smell of roasting meat was making even Ming-Wa's mouth water. As a group they strode up the steps and threw open the doors.</p><p></p><p>The music did not stop upon their entrance. They found a wide common room, floored with rough planks, centered around a large firepit that fed into the chimney overhead. A crowd of barbarians sat at one end, weaving back and forth as they played their instruments or banged their fists on the low tables, keeping time with the young woman singing. Several turned their heads to inspect the new arrivals, a couple grinning at the sight of five women suddenly in their midst.</p><p></p><p>"Ah! Respectable guests! Beautiful ladies! Welcome, welcome!"</p><p></p><p>An elderly Tianese man bowed his way up to where they stood, grinning toothlessly. He gestured, keeping well clear of Mau Li.</p><p></p><p>"Please, sit down, and be welcome. All are welcome at Kam's. Please, please."</p><p></p><p>The five Angels (and the wolf) followed and sat at a table as old Kam indicated. Shan asked for wine and food and the old fellow tottered off, only to return in seconds with cups, a loaf of bread and skewers dripping with fat, fresh from the fire.</p><p></p><p>Long experience together had taught the women that being polite only meant Shan would eat everything herself, so for several minutes there was no talking while they satisfied a days' worth of hunger. As Ming-Wa was wiping her fingers on the hankerchief she always carried, somebody stepped between her and the fire. She looked up to find the barbarian woman staring down at them all. She held a throwing axe in either hand.</p><p></p><p>"Strangers. This is a peaceful place. If you have come seeking trouble, I promise you you will find it."</p><p></p><p>The five women watched in silence as the barbarian twirled her axes around her wrists, sending the sharp edges whirling in a deadly pattern of flashing steel.</p><p></p><p>Wei-Yong nudged Shan, "Show her yours, Shan. Yours is better."</p><p></p><p>The barbarian jumped back as Shan started to draw her sword, but Fa restrained her friend with a gesture. She turned to the visitor.</p><p></p><p>"We are servants of the Goddess, barbarian. We seek trouble only for her enemies."</p><p></p><p>Shan and Wei-Yong tore off chunks of bread and held them at the ready.</p><p></p><p>The woman eyed the Angels suspiciously, but nodded.</p><p></p><p>"I have heard of your Goddess. We are not her enemies."</p><p></p><p>Ming-Wa tried to begin a sermon, but choked as Shan and Wei-Yong stuffed the bread chunks into her open mouth.</p><p></p><p>The barbarian woman sat down.</p><p></p><p>"I am Haan Shi. Perhaps you are seeking the stranger who came here two days ago?"</p><p></p><p>Fa nodded. Everybody ignored Ming-Wa's half-verbalized comments as she tried to swallow the bread. Haan Shi studied the group, then nodded, some decision made.</p><p></p><p>"We didn't see him, but Kam told us about him. Perhaps it was he who denied me my betrothed. Chow Siu-Keung was to come and meet me here last night so that we could be married in the manner of my people. He did not come, and so I sing here, hoping he will come to me."</p><p></p><p>Wei-Yong scribbled a couple of notes and waved the elderly innkeeper over. Several of the barbarian men were trying to catch the eyes of the Angels. Lin Lin smiled at everyone, while Shan sized them up like a breeder looking over the latest batch of puppies.</p><p></p><p>Kam nodded as he joined the conversation.</p><p></p><p>"That man... Yes, yes, he came here, two nights ago. He was strange. I did not like him, but I was afraid. He stayed overnight, upstairs. The next morning he went on -- the village is only a few more hours up the road. I was glad he left."</p><p></p><p>The old man's eyes lowered and his face seemed to sink in upon itself.</p><p></p><p>"Until I found Hsu Ki. She was wandering on the road, crying. She said, she said that everyone joined the stranger. They... tore down the statue... "</p><p></p><p>Ming-Wa touched his hand.</p><p></p><p>"What statue, sir?"</p><p></p><p>"The statue of the Goddess."</p><p></p><p>"Where is this Hsu Ki now?"</p><p></p><p>"Dead."</p><p></p><p>Fa stood up.</p><p></p><p>"I knew it. Spirits. Come on, let's take a look at this room he was in."</p><p></p><p>They had crossed perhaps half of the room and were between the firepit and the haphazard staircase to the second floor when both Wei-Yong and Lin Lin stopped in their tracks.</p><p></p><p>Bowstrings went taut outside then released.</p><p></p><p>Wei-Yong recognized the sound a split-second before Lin Lin did. She threw out an arm and slammed Ming-Wa to the ground, kicked over a table and dropped prone next to her startled friend. Arrowheads thudded into the tabletop.</p><p></p><p>Lin Lin flexed her legs and leapt straight up to snatch the bottom of one of the banners dangling from the rafters. She flipped herself up just as barbed shafts bulletted through the room, splintering the bamboo walls and buzzing angrily through the air.</p><p></p><p>Fa stood unmoving, not flinching even as one buzzed past her face, but Shan grunted and swore at the impact of an arrow breaking itself on her breastplate. She looked once to make sure Ming-Wa was safe, shoved Fa at the steps and ran for the doorway. Wei-yong leapt up and joined her friend. They threw open the doors and looked out at the torchlight yard.</p><p></p><p>Eight swords hissed out of eight sheaths. The tall bald man, bulging with muscles, gestured with both fists and his minions roared and charged the doorway.</p><p></p><p>Shan grinned.</p><p></p><p>"I thought we'd never have any fun up here."</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="barsoomcore, post: 1227350, member: 812"] "It must be spirits," intoned Li Fa. "Be wary." The other women glanced at each other before turning to their elder comrade. "Well, maybe, Fa," Tong Shan began, leaning her tall frame against a tree trunk, "But it sure just smells like somebody's cooking." Fa's expression turned as dark as her robes. "Explain the sounds." The five women paused and listened. Muen Wei-Yong shrugged. "Sounds like somebody singing, Fa. I mean, it COULD be spirits, sure, but..." Hsia Lin Lin smiled brightly. "I'll go check!" Without another word the slender young woman turned and dashed off into the trees, quickly out of sight through the undergrowth. Her passage was silent and the other four remained standing at the side of the mountain road, listening to distant singing. Shan frowned. "If it IS spirits, Lin Lin's going to need help." Fa put a hand on her friend's shoulder. "We'll hear her if anything happens." Shan nodded, but kept a hand on the hilt of her katana. She caught Wei-Yong's eye and made sure the other woman had an arrow nocked on her longbow. Mau Li, Wei-Yong's "pet" wolf, was nowhere to be seen, but Shan was confident the rangy creature was nearby and would give warning if anyone came near. Zheng Ming-Wa muttered to herself, "Goddess protect us," a quick prayer that triggered immediate repetition from all her companions. The singing drifting down through the trees was foreign, exotic to their ears. These mountains formed the western border of the Goddess' lands and so the idea that barbarians might be found here was not surprising, but none of them had heard anything quite like this haunting melody. Somewhere up in these mountains, Jing Zhou ran for his life. They'd nearly caught up with the Jade Razor fanatic in the city of Pangdong, but he'd eluded the Angels there and continued to stay one step ahead of them. Without Wei-Yong's ability to follow the slightest trace, they would have lost the trail long ago. Ming-Wa especially looked forward to catching up with the criminal -- he was a top leader of the Jade Razors, a secret society dedicated to overthrowing the Goddess -- and there was nobody Ming-Wa hated more than enemies of the Goddess. Taking advantage of their momentary rest on the road, Ming-Wa bowed her head and began to pray for guidance. Shan and Wei-Yong rolled their eyes at each other, then took up a wary guard as Mau Li growled once. "It's me, silly!" Lin Lin bounced onto the road and raced to the others, ever so slightly out of breath but grinning. "Come on! It's an inn, there's singing and the food smells even better up close!" They all looked to Fa to see the older woman's reaction. "You didn't see any spirits?" "Just barbarians. But they seem friendly enough, and the place looks like it's run by a Tianese. Come on. I'm hungry." Shan's stomach rumbled noisily and she grinned at Lin Lin. "I don't care if they ARE spirits. I'm as hungry as you. Come on, Fa, what's the worst that could happen?" Fa raised her eyebrows and Shan's forehead furrowed as she applied herself to remembering. "Okay, that was pretty bad. But it wasn't my fault. They had balloons." ***** The inn rested a few yards back from the road, a ramshackle affair of bamboo slats, thatch roof and rickety railings around the verandah outside. Smoke curled from the stone chimney in the dusk air, rising slowly and steadily and revealing the stillness of the atmosphere. Wei-Yong, Mau Li padding silently at her side, frowned as they approached. "Not enough birds." "I can hear birds." "Yeah, but there should be more." Lin Lin nodded, trying to be serious. "Yeah. Okay. More birds." Soon they were close enough that the music coming from within the roadhouse drowned out any number of birds. And the delicious smell of roasting meat was making even Ming-Wa's mouth water. As a group they strode up the steps and threw open the doors. The music did not stop upon their entrance. They found a wide common room, floored with rough planks, centered around a large firepit that fed into the chimney overhead. A crowd of barbarians sat at one end, weaving back and forth as they played their instruments or banged their fists on the low tables, keeping time with the young woman singing. Several turned their heads to inspect the new arrivals, a couple grinning at the sight of five women suddenly in their midst. "Ah! Respectable guests! Beautiful ladies! Welcome, welcome!" An elderly Tianese man bowed his way up to where they stood, grinning toothlessly. He gestured, keeping well clear of Mau Li. "Please, sit down, and be welcome. All are welcome at Kam's. Please, please." The five Angels (and the wolf) followed and sat at a table as old Kam indicated. Shan asked for wine and food and the old fellow tottered off, only to return in seconds with cups, a loaf of bread and skewers dripping with fat, fresh from the fire. Long experience together had taught the women that being polite only meant Shan would eat everything herself, so for several minutes there was no talking while they satisfied a days' worth of hunger. As Ming-Wa was wiping her fingers on the hankerchief she always carried, somebody stepped between her and the fire. She looked up to find the barbarian woman staring down at them all. She held a throwing axe in either hand. "Strangers. This is a peaceful place. If you have come seeking trouble, I promise you you will find it." The five women watched in silence as the barbarian twirled her axes around her wrists, sending the sharp edges whirling in a deadly pattern of flashing steel. Wei-Yong nudged Shan, "Show her yours, Shan. Yours is better." The barbarian jumped back as Shan started to draw her sword, but Fa restrained her friend with a gesture. She turned to the visitor. "We are servants of the Goddess, barbarian. We seek trouble only for her enemies." Shan and Wei-Yong tore off chunks of bread and held them at the ready. The woman eyed the Angels suspiciously, but nodded. "I have heard of your Goddess. We are not her enemies." Ming-Wa tried to begin a sermon, but choked as Shan and Wei-Yong stuffed the bread chunks into her open mouth. The barbarian woman sat down. "I am Haan Shi. Perhaps you are seeking the stranger who came here two days ago?" Fa nodded. Everybody ignored Ming-Wa's half-verbalized comments as she tried to swallow the bread. Haan Shi studied the group, then nodded, some decision made. "We didn't see him, but Kam told us about him. Perhaps it was he who denied me my betrothed. Chow Siu-Keung was to come and meet me here last night so that we could be married in the manner of my people. He did not come, and so I sing here, hoping he will come to me." Wei-Yong scribbled a couple of notes and waved the elderly innkeeper over. Several of the barbarian men were trying to catch the eyes of the Angels. Lin Lin smiled at everyone, while Shan sized them up like a breeder looking over the latest batch of puppies. Kam nodded as he joined the conversation. "That man... Yes, yes, he came here, two nights ago. He was strange. I did not like him, but I was afraid. He stayed overnight, upstairs. The next morning he went on -- the village is only a few more hours up the road. I was glad he left." The old man's eyes lowered and his face seemed to sink in upon itself. "Until I found Hsu Ki. She was wandering on the road, crying. She said, she said that everyone joined the stranger. They... tore down the statue... " Ming-Wa touched his hand. "What statue, sir?" "The statue of the Goddess." "Where is this Hsu Ki now?" "Dead." Fa stood up. "I knew it. Spirits. Come on, let's take a look at this room he was in." They had crossed perhaps half of the room and were between the firepit and the haphazard staircase to the second floor when both Wei-Yong and Lin Lin stopped in their tracks. Bowstrings went taut outside then released. Wei-Yong recognized the sound a split-second before Lin Lin did. She threw out an arm and slammed Ming-Wa to the ground, kicked over a table and dropped prone next to her startled friend. Arrowheads thudded into the tabletop. Lin Lin flexed her legs and leapt straight up to snatch the bottom of one of the banners dangling from the rafters. She flipped herself up just as barbed shafts bulletted through the room, splintering the bamboo walls and buzzing angrily through the air. Fa stood unmoving, not flinching even as one buzzed past her face, but Shan grunted and swore at the impact of an arrow breaking itself on her breastplate. She looked once to make sure Ming-Wa was safe, shoved Fa at the steps and ran for the doorway. Wei-yong leapt up and joined her friend. They threw open the doors and looked out at the torchlight yard. Eight swords hissed out of eight sheaths. The tall bald man, bulging with muscles, gestured with both fists and his minions roared and charged the doorway. Shan grinned. "I thought we'd never have any fun up here." [/QUOTE]
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