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<blockquote data-quote="barsoomcore" data-source="post: 3234000" data-attributes="member: 812"><p>CHAPTER THREE</p><p></p><p>*****</p><p></p><p>As it was obvious that Li Ling herself had left town, the four women left this ruined village and headed down the descending track that led to the next town, Mien-tsa-wing. Traces of their quarry's passage could be seen, at least by Wei-Yong, in the footprints and campsites left behind, but the four saw no sign of the renegade playwright, nor any further evidence of attempts to open some sort of portal to the Dream Worlds, that wild realm of twisting chaos and maddening inconsistency from which the spirits emerged.</p><p></p><p>That changed as they made their way into Mien-tsa-wing.</p><p></p><p>"The Lord Mayor! Please, rescue the Lord Mayor!"</p><p></p><p>Constable Peng clung to Wei-Yong's sleeve as the four women stood in the street, staring into the maelstrom that had erupted in the midst of this peaceful town.</p><p></p><p>Past the first houses and inside the city wall, fires burned uncontrollably, houses collapsing within with great crashing tumbles of tiles and timbers. Horrible cries rose from the center of the doomed town, not cries of anguish but strange, triumphant hoots and cackles, as though a wild party were taking place in the midst of the conflagration. </p><p></p><p>Li Fa's quiet voice was enough to silence the constable's panic.</p><p></p><p>"What happened?"</p><p></p><p>He blubbered and pleaded. Fa slapped him.</p><p></p><p>"Have you seen Li Ling? The playwright? Has she been here?"</p><p></p><p>Startled by the question, Constable Peng stared. He shook himself and brushed quickly at his uniform.</p><p></p><p>"Yes, she was here only yesterday, to announce the production of her latest play. The theatre was... in..."</p><p></p><p>He pointed into the flames.</p><p></p><p>Li Fa sighed and looked over at her friends. They were all exhausted, weary and travel-worn.</p><p></p><p>"Stay here."</p><p></p><p>Shan patted the Constable's shoulder.</p><p></p><p>"And have some lunch waiting for us when we come back. I haven't eaten since yesterday."</p><p></p><p>The four women exchanged glances, nodded, and as one, turned and walked into the flaming town center. Wei-Yong's wolf, Mau Li, followed them, pressing close beside her mistress.</p><p></p><p>Li Fa drew on Shadow's power as they walked, and each of the women felt a curious exhilaration for just a second as her sorcery fell over them. Fa glared at them all.</p><p></p><p>"Until you touch one of them, they won't be able to see you. Make it count."</p><p></p><p>The heat from the burning houses was intense, but the broad street was clear down most of its length. There was no sign of life, though the flames seemed limited to the outer circle of buildings. As the women walked further, they left the worst of the fire behind them. Smoke poured out from under heavy roof tiles, but open flames were rare, and after a few blocks, even smoke became rare.</p><p></p><p>The triumphant cries, however, became louder and more disturbing. No human throat could produce such bestial noises. Shan grimaced.</p><p></p><p>"I wish they were just people. Fighting people is more fun."</p><p></p><p>Ming-Wa tsked.</p><p></p><p>Wei-Yong frowned, though not at her friend's observation.</p><p></p><p>"I think there is a people. I mean, a person. I hear somebody speaking Imperial, anyway."</p><p></p><p>Fa grunted.</p><p></p><p>"If these spirits have taken captives, rescuing them must be our first priority."</p><p></p><p>The women rounded a large restaurant, three stories high, and found themselves facing a large amphitheatre crowded with the same sort of bizarrely-twisted creatures they'd faced in Hu-shih-tai. Only more of them.</p><p></p><p>Many, many more of them. Hundreds filled the amphitheatre, leaping and twisting and giggling. For now, none of them seemed to notice the women. Mau Li whimpered and pressed even closer to Wei-Yong's long legs.</p><p></p><p>"Bless Her Holy Va--"</p><p></p><p>"Shut up, Shan."</p><p></p><p>"Hey Ming-Wa, do you think the Goddess shaves down there? I mean, seriously."</p><p></p><p>"Shan. Not now."</p><p></p><p>Ignoring Shan's nervous banter, Fa turned to Wei-Yong.</p><p></p><p>"Is there a human being amongst them?"</p><p></p><p>The tall woman squinted and tried to not look away from the loathsome things that capered and gibbered around the square in obscene glee. In the midst of them all, down where the amphitheatre seats reached the stage floor, stood a heavy-set man in official robes, waving his arms over his head and screeching.</p><p></p><p>"I think it's the Mayor. All we got to do now is go get him."</p><p></p><p>"Without bumping into any of those things? Are you kidding? It's impossible. Time to kill things."</p><p></p><p>Fa scowled.</p><p></p><p>"Not yet. So, Ming-Wa, it looks like she failed again. Li Ling."</p><p></p><p>The slender young woman stepped back as one of the creatures pranced by, sparing a glance for Mau Li but ignoring the women.</p><p></p><p>"Yes, thank the Goddess. Still not enough souls to create a permanent gate. The Goddess watches over us."</p><p></p><p>All four women whispered quick prayers to their beloved Goddess.</p><p></p><p>"Wei-Yong. Send Mau Li. Have her bring the Mayor to us."</p><p></p><p>The lanky archer took one look at Fa's face and made no protest. She sank to her knees and took the wolf's big shaggy head in her hands. The two stared at each for a moment, then the wolf sneezed and leapt into the crowd, barking furiously as it went.</p><p></p><p>Fa looked around and pointed out a storefront.</p><p></p><p>"There. We can bring him inside and make a stand there. Shan, Ming-Wa, you wait outside to seal off his exit. Wei-Yong, you're inside with me."</p><p></p><p>As usual in crisis, none of the women questioned Fa's sudden leadership. Shan and Ming-Wa took up positions to either side of the door while Fa led Wei-Yong inside. The interior of the store's ground floor was a shambles, goods and shelves strewn about all over, windows smashed out and the back door torn off.</p><p></p><p>"Maybe not the best place for a stand-off, Fa."</p><p></p><p>The older woman nodded and gestured to the single stairway that rose up from the center of the space.</p><p></p><p>"We can hold them off here. Call Mau Li."</p><p></p><p>Outside, Ming-Wa and Shan watched in increasing concern as Mau Li snapped at the Mayor's rotund, gesticulating figure. He turned to cuff her and she sprang away, and as he pursued her, she led him straight up the rows of seats to where Ming-Wa and Shan waited.</p><p></p><p>The Mayor's sudden movement was noticed by the capering creatures. They stopped to watch him as he broke into a flabby, disorganized run.</p><p></p><p>And slowly, with gathering speed, the creatures began to follow him.</p><p></p><p>Ming-Wa's eyes widened as over a hundred of these terrible creatures began thundering towards them. She was just about to turn and leap into the store when the Mayor flashed past, still in hot pursuit of Mau Li.</p><p></p><p>But with enough presence of mind to slam the door shut behind him.</p><p></p><p>"Oh, no."</p><p></p><p>Inside, the Mayor windmilled to a stop and Fa pointed.</p><p></p><p>"Wei-Yong. Grab him."</p><p></p><p>She whirled and rushed up the stairs just as the door behind the Mayor splintered open, revealing Shan's armoured figure. The big woman shook her head and turned around.</p><p></p><p>Ming-Wa had time for only one quick gasp as a massive gauntlet lunged out from the shattered door behind her, grabbed her securely by the braid at the back of her head, and yanked her backwards just before the flapping, squawking horde reached her. Protesting, she looked up to see Shan glowering down at her.</p><p></p><p>"Plans are over-rated. Time to kill things."</p><p></p><p>Fa called down from the top of the stairs.</p><p></p><p>"Not yet. Get the Mayor and Ming-Wa up here right now."</p><p></p><p>"I can get myse--"</p><p></p><p>Ming-Wa yelped as Shan tossed her over a shoulder, grabbed the Mayor and dragged both up the stairs in a few bounds. Wei-Yong chuckled at the sight.</p><p></p><p>"Wei-Yong. Get up on the roof. We need a way out."</p><p></p><p>Windows crashed and the sudden cacophony below told them the horrible things Li Ling's ritual had transformed the townsfolk into were rushing into the store beneath them.</p><p></p><p>Shan sighed and set her burden down.</p><p></p><p>"NOW it's time to kill things."</p><p></p><p>"Not yet. You go with Wei-Yong and get the Mayor out of here. Ming-Wa, too."</p><p></p><p>Fa headed down the stairs.</p><p></p><p>"I'll hold them."</p><p></p><p>"Fa."</p><p></p><p>"I'll hold them. Go."</p><p></p><p>Fa held her hands up in front of her as dark tendrils of Shadow's power writhed out from around her. She whispered, a reckless half-smile on her face as she descended the steps.</p><p></p><p>"Time to kill things."</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="barsoomcore, post: 3234000, member: 812"] CHAPTER THREE ***** As it was obvious that Li Ling herself had left town, the four women left this ruined village and headed down the descending track that led to the next town, Mien-tsa-wing. Traces of their quarry's passage could be seen, at least by Wei-Yong, in the footprints and campsites left behind, but the four saw no sign of the renegade playwright, nor any further evidence of attempts to open some sort of portal to the Dream Worlds, that wild realm of twisting chaos and maddening inconsistency from which the spirits emerged. That changed as they made their way into Mien-tsa-wing. "The Lord Mayor! Please, rescue the Lord Mayor!" Constable Peng clung to Wei-Yong's sleeve as the four women stood in the street, staring into the maelstrom that had erupted in the midst of this peaceful town. Past the first houses and inside the city wall, fires burned uncontrollably, houses collapsing within with great crashing tumbles of tiles and timbers. Horrible cries rose from the center of the doomed town, not cries of anguish but strange, triumphant hoots and cackles, as though a wild party were taking place in the midst of the conflagration. Li Fa's quiet voice was enough to silence the constable's panic. "What happened?" He blubbered and pleaded. Fa slapped him. "Have you seen Li Ling? The playwright? Has she been here?" Startled by the question, Constable Peng stared. He shook himself and brushed quickly at his uniform. "Yes, she was here only yesterday, to announce the production of her latest play. The theatre was... in..." He pointed into the flames. Li Fa sighed and looked over at her friends. They were all exhausted, weary and travel-worn. "Stay here." Shan patted the Constable's shoulder. "And have some lunch waiting for us when we come back. I haven't eaten since yesterday." The four women exchanged glances, nodded, and as one, turned and walked into the flaming town center. Wei-Yong's wolf, Mau Li, followed them, pressing close beside her mistress. Li Fa drew on Shadow's power as they walked, and each of the women felt a curious exhilaration for just a second as her sorcery fell over them. Fa glared at them all. "Until you touch one of them, they won't be able to see you. Make it count." The heat from the burning houses was intense, but the broad street was clear down most of its length. There was no sign of life, though the flames seemed limited to the outer circle of buildings. As the women walked further, they left the worst of the fire behind them. Smoke poured out from under heavy roof tiles, but open flames were rare, and after a few blocks, even smoke became rare. The triumphant cries, however, became louder and more disturbing. No human throat could produce such bestial noises. Shan grimaced. "I wish they were just people. Fighting people is more fun." Ming-Wa tsked. Wei-Yong frowned, though not at her friend's observation. "I think there is a people. I mean, a person. I hear somebody speaking Imperial, anyway." Fa grunted. "If these spirits have taken captives, rescuing them must be our first priority." The women rounded a large restaurant, three stories high, and found themselves facing a large amphitheatre crowded with the same sort of bizarrely-twisted creatures they'd faced in Hu-shih-tai. Only more of them. Many, many more of them. Hundreds filled the amphitheatre, leaping and twisting and giggling. For now, none of them seemed to notice the women. Mau Li whimpered and pressed even closer to Wei-Yong's long legs. "Bless Her Holy Va--" "Shut up, Shan." "Hey Ming-Wa, do you think the Goddess shaves down there? I mean, seriously." "Shan. Not now." Ignoring Shan's nervous banter, Fa turned to Wei-Yong. "Is there a human being amongst them?" The tall woman squinted and tried to not look away from the loathsome things that capered and gibbered around the square in obscene glee. In the midst of them all, down where the amphitheatre seats reached the stage floor, stood a heavy-set man in official robes, waving his arms over his head and screeching. "I think it's the Mayor. All we got to do now is go get him." "Without bumping into any of those things? Are you kidding? It's impossible. Time to kill things." Fa scowled. "Not yet. So, Ming-Wa, it looks like she failed again. Li Ling." The slender young woman stepped back as one of the creatures pranced by, sparing a glance for Mau Li but ignoring the women. "Yes, thank the Goddess. Still not enough souls to create a permanent gate. The Goddess watches over us." All four women whispered quick prayers to their beloved Goddess. "Wei-Yong. Send Mau Li. Have her bring the Mayor to us." The lanky archer took one look at Fa's face and made no protest. She sank to her knees and took the wolf's big shaggy head in her hands. The two stared at each for a moment, then the wolf sneezed and leapt into the crowd, barking furiously as it went. Fa looked around and pointed out a storefront. "There. We can bring him inside and make a stand there. Shan, Ming-Wa, you wait outside to seal off his exit. Wei-Yong, you're inside with me." As usual in crisis, none of the women questioned Fa's sudden leadership. Shan and Ming-Wa took up positions to either side of the door while Fa led Wei-Yong inside. The interior of the store's ground floor was a shambles, goods and shelves strewn about all over, windows smashed out and the back door torn off. "Maybe not the best place for a stand-off, Fa." The older woman nodded and gestured to the single stairway that rose up from the center of the space. "We can hold them off here. Call Mau Li." Outside, Ming-Wa and Shan watched in increasing concern as Mau Li snapped at the Mayor's rotund, gesticulating figure. He turned to cuff her and she sprang away, and as he pursued her, she led him straight up the rows of seats to where Ming-Wa and Shan waited. The Mayor's sudden movement was noticed by the capering creatures. They stopped to watch him as he broke into a flabby, disorganized run. And slowly, with gathering speed, the creatures began to follow him. Ming-Wa's eyes widened as over a hundred of these terrible creatures began thundering towards them. She was just about to turn and leap into the store when the Mayor flashed past, still in hot pursuit of Mau Li. But with enough presence of mind to slam the door shut behind him. "Oh, no." Inside, the Mayor windmilled to a stop and Fa pointed. "Wei-Yong. Grab him." She whirled and rushed up the stairs just as the door behind the Mayor splintered open, revealing Shan's armoured figure. The big woman shook her head and turned around. Ming-Wa had time for only one quick gasp as a massive gauntlet lunged out from the shattered door behind her, grabbed her securely by the braid at the back of her head, and yanked her backwards just before the flapping, squawking horde reached her. Protesting, she looked up to see Shan glowering down at her. "Plans are over-rated. Time to kill things." Fa called down from the top of the stairs. "Not yet. Get the Mayor and Ming-Wa up here right now." "I can get myse--" Ming-Wa yelped as Shan tossed her over a shoulder, grabbed the Mayor and dragged both up the stairs in a few bounds. Wei-Yong chuckled at the sight. "Wei-Yong. Get up on the roof. We need a way out." Windows crashed and the sudden cacophony below told them the horrible things Li Ling's ritual had transformed the townsfolk into were rushing into the store beneath them. Shan sighed and set her burden down. "NOW it's time to kill things." "Not yet. You go with Wei-Yong and get the Mayor out of here. Ming-Wa, too." Fa headed down the stairs. "I'll hold them." "Fa." "I'll hold them. Go." Fa held her hands up in front of her as dark tendrils of Shadow's power writhed out from around her. She whispered, a reckless half-smile on her face as she descended the steps. "Time to kill things." [/QUOTE]
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