Sheiji heard the thundering hooves of an army of horses. He saw the flash of metal on helmets and drawn swords. He heard the battle cry.
“Go, Ariuk. You needn’t die for me,” Sheiji cried as he drew his sword and spurred his horse to the front of his army. He was vaguely aware that Ariuk had not obeyed him and followed at a distance.
“My lord!” General Ammar noticed Sheiji riding in the front lines.
“I will not leave, General,” Sheiji replied. “Tell the men to ready their weapons for battle, but do not attack until I give the command.”
“Yes, my lord,” General Ammar sighed. He wheeled his horse and shouted to the men.
The enemy army drew nearer and nearer still. The wind caught the army’s banner, revealing the Purple Lotus. It was Sui-Tsai’s army, as Sheiji had suspected.
“Where is our standard bearer?” Sheiji cried, looking around.
“Here, Vua!” the boy, younger than Sheiji, hollered back and raised Sheiji’s banner higher. His was the White Lotus over the Purple Lotus.
“NOW!” Sheiji cried. He spurred his horse forward again, leading the charge. His soldiers cried triumphantly at the sight of their brave, young king leading the dangerous charge. Sheiji had been right, the people respected him all the more for the danger he put himself into.
The two armies grew steadily nearer to each other. Sheiji heard the sound of battle behind him and looked to see the other two Generals with their divisions engaged in fierce battle across the river. Sheiji shivered. They must face Sui-Tsai’s army with less than half of their men.
The armies met with the clash of swords, the squeals of horses and the shouts of men. Sheiji’s arm was never still. In the midst of battle, he could hardly concentrate on one man. He swung blindly, cutting down anyone who happened to be in the way of his sword.
He could not say how long the battle lasted. He only knew they were being defeated, little by little. They were being pushed back to the river, back to the Genji. They were cornered and Sui-Tsai’s army was finishing them off swiftly. Then Sui-Tsai’s army flew into confusion. Horses reared and their masters fell to the ground and were trampled. Men dropped their swords and ran in terror. Sui-Tsai’s soldiers attacked anyone in reach, not caring if it was a friend or a foe, Purple Lotus or White Lotus.
As quickly as it began, the chaos ceased. The field was quiet except for a few wounded men moaning in pain. Sheiji could see Sui-Tsai’s army retreating in the distance. Sheiji’s standard still fluttered in the wind.
Sheiji saw Ariuk’s horse prancing nervously on the empty field. It was riderless.
Sheiji dismounted and took his horse by the bridle. He looked at his men and looked at his rescuers, a large band. They were armed with axes, scythes, plow blades and various other farm implements. They wore little, if any, armor and were dressed simply as peasants. One man stepped forward and bowed before Sheiji, touching his forehead to the ground.
“Please rise,” Sheiji said. The man lifted his face from the ground, but remained on his knees before Sheiji. “You’ve saved our lives, sir. I and my men are very grateful to you.”
“It is our pleasure, Vua,” the man replied. “We would fight and die for you a hundred times over!”
“I cannot now give you a reward as all my wealth is in Taiyunyi,” Sheiji explained.
“We ask no reward, Vua. If you become king, then that alone will be our reward.”
“What is your name?” Sheiji asked.
“Tetsu, Vua.”
“Would you do one thing more, Tetsu?” Sheiji asked.
“Anything, Vua,” Tetsu replied. “Won’t we, men?” he cried.
The men cheered.
“The two Generals on the north side of the bridge when Sui-Tsai’s army attacked us from both sides,” Sheiji explained. “I must see if they survived and we must help them if they need it.”
“We are at your service, Vua,” Tetsu replied.
Sheiji mounted his horse and spurred it forward. His soldiers and Tetsu’s men followed with loud battle cries. They seemed hardly winded from their part in the battle.
They were soon at the bridge. Sheiji saw his standard still flying. There was no sign of a purple lotus. After cautioning the men, Sheiji and Tetsu began the march over the bridge. General Hano met them half way. He was on foot and limping slightly, but otherwise seemed unhurt.
“My lord, you are safe!” the general panted.
“Where is General Mura-Tada?” demanded General Ammar.
General Hano looked pained, “I saw him fall. Hit in the chest by an enemy spear.”
“He was a good man,” General Ammar said. “But the greatest loss is our Prince.”
“Ariuk? Dead?” General Hano asked.
“Perhaps. Or wounded. His horse was running free,” Sheiji said, lowering his eyes.
“We must get away from here,” General Ammar said. “They may return to finish us off. We’ll make camp and return for our wounded.”
They all agreed. Everyone was weary from the battle and many were wounded. But there would be no sleep until all the men were accounted for: dead, wounded, or well.