The Red Dragon bowed its head towards them and, with a huge flap of its wings, launched itself into the air and flew off toward the mountains. Jia hopped back into the carriage, lifted the reins and they continued on their journey to the palace.
“I hope we can live up to that promise,” said Matilda.
“I'm certain we can . . . together,” stated Jia.
Chapter 14
The Vandals
Trouble was brewing on the plains to the north of the Dragon Province. The Vandals were just as unhappy as their southern neighbours but for a different reason. Each year they depended on their cotton crop to sustain them. It was the job of the womenfolk to plant, tend, and harvest the cotton and to create cloth while the men were away raiding and looting other nations, as well as looking after the herds of goats and horses in the surrounding hills.
The cotton cloth that the women produced was sold in neighbouring countries and it was this money that supported and fed everybody in the Vandal camps. However, their trading had come to an end. People had stopped buying their cotton product in favour of the much more attractive silk coming out of the Dragon Province. Production there had increased and the Emperor had allowed unused silk to be traded with many more countries including those that bought cotton cloth from the Vandals. The Vandal chief, Dragar the Dreadful, was not pleased.
Dragar had called a meeting of his council in his yurt, the portable tent-like home favoured by these people. The councillors, the brightest and bravest of the Vandals, listened carefully as Lazar, the Treasurer, explained how times were desperate, with cotton trading the worst it had ever been and starvation staring the entire community in the face unless something was done urgently.
There were murmurs of concern as the Treasurer spoke and, when he had finished, Dragar addressed the gathering.
“We cannot stand by and allow these thieves to steal the bread from our babies' mouths,” he thundered. The councillors shouted their approval. “We have avoided attacking them in the past because of the Dragon Defenders in the mountains but we can no longer escape conflict. It is fight them, conquer them and destroy their industry or suffer a terrible fate ourselves. What say you?”
The councillors answered as one. “Fight, fight, fight!” they chanted, raising their fists into the air. The love of war was in their veins.
Chapter 15
The Wall
When she and Matilda reached the palace, Jia explained that she had family business to attend to and Matilda would have the rest of the afternoon to herself. Before they parted company, Matilda asked if it would be possible to visit the wall that separated the Dragon and Tiger Provinces. Jia told her to wait at the front of the palace while she arranged transport.
While she waited on the steps, Matilda whispered, “Peri”, and her fairy protector appeared.
“Dragon Defenders?” commented Peri with a smile. “Who needs me when you have those heavyweights around?”
“I couldn't do without you,” said Matilda. “What do you think about this trip to the wall?”
“A good idea,” declared Peri. “At least it will give us some idea of the lie of the land.”
“That's what I thought,” agreed Matilda, “but you'd better disappear now. Our transport has arrived.”
As a rickshaw pulled up to the palace steps, Peri disappeared with a wave of her wand and Matilda climbed aboard. She was impressed with the speed of the runner as they raced through the city streets of Shi Guang. When they arrived at the entrance to the city the rickshaw continued south through small villages until, at last, the wall that divided the two provinces appeared in the distance.
Matilda was surprised at how tall the wall was. Steps led to its top at regular intervals and there was a guardhouse above each set of steps. The rickshaw stopped at the bottom of the wall and Matilda stepped out and climbed to the top. She was greeted by a strange sight.
There were guardhouses on both sides of the wall which was several metres wide. On the Dragon side the guards were dressed in royal blue uniforms with hardened leather helmets, breastplates, arm protectors and leggings while, on the Tiger side the guards were dressed exactly the same except that their uniforms were orange. Each of the guards carried a curved sword and a lance as they silently stared across the divide at each other. Neither side reacted to the little girl standing between them.
Matilda strolled along the wall looking at the two sorrowful provinces stretched out on each side. The Tiger Province was brown and desolate while the Dragon Province was lush and green, but both had their own difficulties because of two obstinate leaders.
Matilda decided that she had to meet with Li Peng. She didn't believe that she could convince him to return the Golden Phoenix but at least she would see what she was up against. Returning to the rickshaw she climbed aboard and asked the runner to return her to Shi Guang.
Chapter 16
The Vandal’s Plan
Dragar the Dreadful had been successful in his raids on other countries because of careful planning and he now set his mind to plotting his attack on the Dragon Province. His biggest problem, and the one that had prevented him conquering Choy Ziang in the past, was avoiding the Dragon Defenders in their mountain lair. He had lost many of his warriors to those ferocious sentinels in previous mountain skirmishes and did not underestimate the challenge. However, he wasn't without cunning.
One of his spies in the mountains had told him of how the dragons enjoyed the special treat of cocoon husks. The spy had also informed him that workers from the silk factory regularly took a load of the husks up into the mountains for the dragons. Dragar summoned his Shaman, the Vandal witch doctor.
“I require a drug,” he told the Shaman, “an opiate so powerful that it will send dragons to sleep for a long time. Can you prepare such a drug?”
“Of course,” replied the Shaman.
“Then you have twenty four hours in which to make it ready,” Dragar ordered. “Any later and you shall pay dearly.”
The Shaman hurried out of the yurt. It didn't pay to disappoint the Vandal leader.
Next, Dragar called for his spy, Antal the Cave Dweller, who lived in the mountains.
“I have an important mission for you,” he stated, looking fiercely at Antal who was quivering in his boots. “If you succeed you will be remembered as a hero who helped save the Vandal nation. If you fail, you will not live to regret it.” He outlined his plan and then called a meeting of his generals from camps across the Vandal lands.
Chapter 17
An Unexpected Invitation
Matilda dined that night alone with Jia. The Emperor had obviously made his feelings known and had no further interest in his visitor.
“What did you think of the wall?” Jia asked as the servants laid out their meals.
“Sad,” declared Matilda. “To see what the drought is doing to the Tiger Province while your lands are so green seems very selfish. I can't believe that Choy Ziang is doing this to his neighbour.”
“Yes,” agreed Jia, “but both Emperors must share the blame. They are as bad as each other. If one of them could soften his heart perhaps the problem might be solved. However, I am afraid that is impossible.”
“We can't give up” said Matilda. “There must be a way to force them together.”
They discussed the visit to the silkworm factories for the remainder of their meal and Jia finally bade Matilda goodnight, promising to meet the following morning in the hope of finding a way to convince the two Emperors of the need to cooperate with each other.
Matilda awoke the next day after a good night's sleep and, when she and Peri had shared breakfast, which was served in their room, she went to the Greeting Chamber to meet Jia. As she walked into the room she received a surprise. There in front of her, speaking to Jia, was a soldier in the uniform of the Tiger Province.
“Huh,” exclaimed Jia as she saw Matilda, “here is the very person.” Walking across to Matilda, she continued, “It seems that one of
the Tiger sentries on the wall yesterday reported your visit to Li Peng and the Emperor wishes to see you. This soldier has been sent to escort you to the Tiger Palace.”
“I was considering a visit to the Tiger Emperor anyway. What do you think?” asked Matilda.
“I believe you should take the opportunity to hear Li Peng's side of the story,” said Jia and, with a wink, added in a whisper, “Maybe you could convince him to return the lost property.”
“Very well,” said Matilda, “tell this soldier that I will go with him on the condition that no harm comes to me. I don't wish to become more lost property.”
Jia walked across the room and spoke quickly to the soldier. “No, he insists that the offer is made in friendship and your safety is assured,” reported Jia softly so that the soldier could not hear, “and I believe he speaks the truth. Perhaps Li Peng only wishes to check on what lies you've been told by Choy Ziang.”
Chapter 18
Li Peng And The Tiger Palace
Another journey across the city in a rickshaw, this time accompanied by the Tiger soldier trotting alongside. When they reached the wall, the soldier ushered Matilda up the steps and over to the other side where a horse and carriage were waiting. Another soldier took up the reins and, when Matilda was seated, they set off for the Tiger Palace.
It was a much more comfortable ride than in the rickshaw but Matilda's attention was taken up, not with the comfort, but with the desolation of the countryside. She was beginning to appreciate why Li Peng was driven to the extreme measure of stealing the Golden Phoenix. It would have been heartbreaking for any leader to see his people suffering as much as this.
After an hour of travelling through brown fields, dust storms and bleak villages, the carriage arrived at the entrance to Shi Hua, the City of Blossoms. The oddity was that Matilda could not see a blossom in sight, just withered trees lining the streets where downcast citizens watched from their houses as the carriage sped by. It was a tragedy that both provinces were under a cloud of gloom simply because their leaders let false pride guide their behaviour.
When the carriage pulled up in front of the palace Matilda saw an old man waiting at the top of the steps. He was dressed in an orange silk robe with black trimmings and a magnificent tiger rested at his feet. The driver leapt down, ran up the steps and bowed on one knee in front of the old man. After a brief conversation the soldier returned to the carriage and escorted Matilda up the steps.
“Welcome,” said the old man in a voice that lacked sincerity. “I am Li Peng, Emperor of the Tiger Province.” Pointing to the tiger he added, “This is Da Hu, the Great Tiger.” The beast opened its jaws and roared as if it understood what had been said. A golden chain circled its neck.“I believe that you have been sent by Maximilian to study the culture of the two provinces. I trust that Choy Ziang has been helpful so far . . . and honest.”
“Actually he hasn't told me anything,” stated Matilda. “His Number One Grand Daughter, Jia, has been showing me around.”
“Harumph,” muttered Li Peng. “As lazy as ever. Well, I invited you here so that you would hear both sides of the story. What do you wish to know?”
Matilda decided to be straightforward. “I was wondering if I could see the Golden Phoenix?”
“What Golden Phoenix?” said Li Peng in a shocked voice.
“The one that was stolen from the Dragon Palace two nights ago,” replied Matilda.
“Who told you that I have it?”
“Apparently one of your soldiers was captured and confessed,” said Matilda.
“So, Choy Ziang is blaming everything on me again, is he? That soldier you speak of was lying.
I had nothing to do with the disappearance of the Golden Phoenix.”
“Who's lying now?” thought Matilda but, not wishing to anger Li Peng any further, said, “Obviously there has been some mistake but the Golden Phoenix has gone missing and it has caused great pain to the people of the Dragon Province.”
“Pain!” shouted Li Peng. “Look around you and you will see what real pain is. My people are starving because that selfish tyrant refuses to help us. His Pearl Dragon has the ability to return the rains to us but Choy Ziang would rather see us suffer. Now I hope that he is suffering.”
“I feel sorry that you are in such a miserable situation,” she offered, “but, unless you decide to help each other, the pain will continue for both of you.”
“Tell that to Choy Ziang,” roared Li Peng. “He started this and I will finish it.” He signalled to the soldier waiting below. “I've said enough. Return to the Dragon Palace with that message.” And he strode back into his palace with the tiger loping along behind.
Matilda walked slowly down the steps and climbed into the carriage for the return trip. It was clear to her that she was dealing with two obstinate and foolish old men, and there seemed to be little chance of bringing them together.
Chapter 19
The Vandals Prepare For War
Riders had been sent out to all of the Vandal camps with the message that every warrior was to gather the following morning in preparation for war with the Dragon Province. At the break of dawn the next day Dragar's camp was surrounded by the tents of a thousand warriors ready for battle. He ordered his generals to his yurt so that the attack could be coordinated.
The five generals arrived, dressed in their goatskin jackets, trousers and boots, and their pointed leather helmets with cheek covers. They carried curved swords in leather sheaths at their waists.
Dragar wasted no time in outlining his plan.
“The Dragon Defenders will be taken care of,” he began, holding up a goatskin canteen. “Our Shaman has prepared this opiate ahead of time and it will be used to drug the dragons so that our warriors can travel safely through the mountain pass. The Shaman tells me that the dragons will sleep for several days and by that time we will have the Dragon Province under our control.”
“Why don't we slay the dragons while they sleep?” asked one of the generals.
“I have considered that,” answered Dragar, “but, according to legend, their lives are protected by the gods of war. The Shaman tells me that to kill them would bring even more trouble to our nation.
No, they will remain alive and we will negotiate with them after we have taken over the Dragon Province.”
Dragar went on to explain how Antal the Cave Dweller would administer the drug with the silkworm husks. He then set out the timetable for the troops to move over the mountains. At last he dismissed the generals and sent for the Cave Dweller.
When Antal arrived, Dragar handed him the goatskin canteen containing the opiate.
“Guard this with your life,” he told the trembling spy, “for that is what it will be worth if you fail. Our warriors will be moving out at sunset to travel through the mountain pass in cover of darkness. Make sure that the dragons have been dealt with by then.”
“Yes, Sire,” replied Antal, bowing his head. His hands were shaking so much he could hardly hold the canteen, “it will be done.”
He scampered out of the yurt as quickly as he could, his fear driving him back to the mountains.
By the time Antal arrived back at his cave that afternoon the sun was slowly dipping behind the mountains. Time was getting away and he had to hurry. He knew that a new supply of cocoon husks had been delivered to the site where the dragons feasted on them at dusk so he headed over the ridges to reach the site before the sun disappeared, clutching the goatskin canteen to his chest.
Chapter 20
The Dragons' Long Sleep
Antal clambered over the last few rocks and reached the shaded glade where the pile of cocoon husks had been deposited. It was nearly time for the dragons to arrive for their evening snack. Unscrewing the top of the canteen he carefully poured the contents over the husks. There was no scent that would expose the drug and the liquid quickly soaked into the pile. He had just finished when he heard the distant flapping of wings so he ran back into the rocks where
he could observe proceedings without being seen. His life would depend on the outcome.
He watched as the four dragons landed on the flat rock in the centre of the glade. They were beautiful animals, rich in colour, red, green, blue and yellow. When they had taken up positions around the husks, they proceeded to eat hungrily. It was obvious how much they enjoyed the special treat as the pile quickly disappeared. The drug was immediate in its effect. The dragons began to wobble on their legs, and a look of distress came over them as they fell onto their sides. Within seconds they were all fast asleep.
Antal crept out of his hiding place and walked over to them. He was afraid that the drug might have killed them but, as he came near, he could hear their steady breathing. Heaving a sigh of relief, he made his way back to his cave. As he passed over the mountain in the twilight, Antal looked down to see the Vandal warriors riding through the pass below. A thousand horses, each carrying an armed rider, clip-clopped along the path that would lead to the Dragon Province. The riders were followed by the foot soldiers. He felt proud that he had helped them travel safely, sad that he had to mistreat the dragons in doing so but, most of all, thankful that his own life had been saved.
Chapter 21
Matilda Reports
Meanwhile Matilda had returned to the Dragon Palace more than a little disheartened by her meeting with Li Peng. When she reached the privacy of her room she whispered, “Peri”. Some sound guidance on how to proceed was badly needed and the Persian fairy was always wise with her advice.
As she appeared, Peri raised her eyebrows. “Wow!” she exclaimed. “Both of them are as tough as old boots, aren't they?”
“Yes,” replied Matilda sadly, “and I have no idea what to do next.”