“I think that the first thing you have to do is tell Jia about your meeting with Li Peng,” suggested Peri. “Maybe she can think of some way to convince him to own up to taking the Golden Phoenix and to return it.”
“I doubt it,” said Matilda, “but I agree that she has to be told.”
“I only wish I could be of more help,” declared Peri as she sensed Matilda's frustration. “I'm good at protecting you from danger but I don't think giving advice is my strength.”
“Of course you always give me good advice,” whispered Matilda, giving Peri a cuddle, “but just having you near gives me all the strength I need. Come on, let's go and find Jia.”
Peri flew onto her shoulder and disappeared.
In the corridor Matilda met a soldier who told her that Jia was in the garden at the rear of the palace. She found her way through the maze of hallways to a set of glass doors leading out into the palace gardens. Jia was sitting by a pool, surrounded by shrubs and flower beds, throwing
breadcrumbs to the golden carp that were swimming lazily beneath the lily pads. She looked up as Matilda came through the doors.
“Hello,” she said with a smile. “How did your visit with Li Cheng go?”
“Not very well, I'm afraid,” answered Matilda, sitting down beside her. “I think he's worse than Choy Ziang. He even denied taking the Golden Phoenix.”
“Hm-m-m,” muttered Jia thoughtfully. “That's no real surprise. The emperors believe that you should never confess to anything.”
“Which means we won't get anywhere with them,” said Matilda with a sad frown.
“No,” said Jia, with a glint in her eye. “As you said, we can't give up. I think we should have another talk with Choy Ziang and my mother. But this time we won't let him bully us.”
Chapter 22
Another Dinner With The Emperor
Jia contacted her mother who agreed to bring the Emperor with her to join them for dinner that evening. From the dining room they could hear Choy Ziang complaining all the way down the hallway.
“I want you to know I'm not happy about this,” he roared. “Not happy at all. I don't wish to talk to anybody concerned with Maximilian. I'm fed up with him, right to the gills. He knows that I should be emperor for both provinces but, no, he's hasn't got the gumption to stand up to that selfish nobody, Li Peng. Weak, that's what he is, weak.”
The ranting continued as he and Choy Bo came through the door. Jia and Matilda stood to greet them. They politely bowed to the Emperor who ignored them while Jia's mother helped him into his seat.
“Hello, mother,” said Jia as she and Matilda also seated themselves at the table.
“Hello, sweetheart,” Choy Bo replied. “And Matilda. Let's eat while we talk.”
She signalled to the servants who moved around putting plates before them. The meals were served at the same time. Matilda watched as the Emperor sniffed sneeringly at the food. Things didn't look good.
“Now,” began Choy Bo while she lifted food onto the Emperor's plate with chopsticks, “what did you want to see us about?”
Jia decided that she would get straight to the point and addressed the Emperor.
“Honourable grandfather, Matilda and I are deeply worried about the suffering of the people in the Tiger Province. The drought . . .”
She wasn't allowed to finish. The Emperor jumped to his feet and shouted, “Don't you dare sympathise with them. They've brought it on themselves. If they had the courage to rid themselves of their miserable leader and accept me as their Emperor all of their problems would be solved.
To talk of helping Li Peng is treason. Yes, that's what it is, treason!”
Matilda had heard enough. She also stood up and confronted the Emperor.
“That's not true,” she said forcefully. “We have every right to feel sorry for the people. They didn't choose their leader just as the people of the Dragon Province didn't choose you. And look what they've ended up with.; two cranky old men who can't see past their own selfishness. None of them deserves that.”
The Emperor went red in the face and looked as if he was going to choke.
“Uh,oh,” thought Matilda, “I've gone too far.”
“The hide of you,” screeched Choy Ziang when he had regained his breath. “I knew that two-faced fraud Maximilian was up to something when he sent you. You're nothing but a spy! Pack your bags and get out of here . . . immediately!”
Choy Bo jumped to her feet, spilling food and plates to the floor.
“Calm down, father,” she said as she put her arms around the Emperor. “Please! You'll end up having one of your dizzy spells.”
Jia remained sitting, silently applauding the bravery of her new friend.
They were interrupted by a soldier running into the dining room. He knelt on one knee before the Emperor and said, “Master, you must come out to the front of the palace. Something terrible is happening.”
Taken aback by the urgency of the soldier's words, the party quickly followed the soldier out to the front steps where they saw a red glow in the night sky, right where the silk factory was situated.
Chapter 23
The First Wave
The workers at the silk factory had no warning. Suddenly a hundred riders appeared out of the mountains and rode at full speed into the lanes and roads that separated the factory's sheds. Some carried flaming torches which they used to set the buildings alight while others smashed everything that was out in the open.
The noise was frightening and the workers in their quarters, about to have their evening meal, were startled and confused. They rushed to the doors of their houses and, seeing the destruction and the menacing warriors, gathered up their children and fled as fast as they could into the surrounding hills. The Vandals did not pursue them. Their only interest was in destroying the silk production.
Within an hour every shed was burning fiercely with flames shooting high into the air. The Vandals also set fire to the empty workers quarters so that the area was like a huge bonfire. The night sky was bright red with the inferno.
Chapter 24
Time To Start Worrying
While they were standing on the palace steps viewing the fire in the distant hills, the Emperor's party saw a horse and rider racing towards them. Soldiers immediately surrounded the Emperor for protection but they soon realised that the rider was one of the workers from the silk factory. He jumped off the horse as soon as it reached the steps and sprinted up to Choy Ziang.
Kneeling before his master he spluttered breathlessly, “Sire, the Vandals . . . they've set fire to the silk factory . . . I fled and found this horse . . . to warn you.”
“What about the other workers?” asked Choy Bo.
“I think they all escaped . . . into the hills.” gasped the man.
“You've been very brave,” continued Choy Bo, then spoke to a soldier. “Take this man into the palace and let him rest.”
The Emperor was looking puzzled. “How did the Vandals get past the Dragon Defenders?” he wondered aloud. “This is impossible.”
“It may seem impossible but it's happened,” commented Jia, “and we'd better prepare for the worst. If they continue on they will soon reach the city and we know what will happen then.”
“What about our soldiers?” enquired Matilda. “Won't they be able to hold them off?”
“We are not prepared for war,” Jia informed her. “We only have a small army and the Vandals have a well-earned reputation for winning any battle they enter.”
“We will have to flee,” added Choy Bo, “as much as that hurts.”
The Emperor seemed to realise that everybody else was making the decisions so he interrupted.
“Our only chance against these monsters is to enlist the aid of Li Peng and his soldiers.”
Matilda and Jia were shocked to hear these words. Neither believed that the Tiger Emperor would come to the help of his enemy but for the Dragon Emperor to even suggest this plan of action was unbelievable.
“Do you really think that Li Peng will agree after all you've done to him?” asked Jia.
“Perhaps . . . if we consent to lend him the Pearl Dragon,” declared Choy Ziang with a sly smile.
“You'd do that?” said Matilda in amazement.
“Hard situations require hard decisions,” replied the Emperor with a cunning understanding of the options that surprised everybody. “But let's not be too hasty. The Vandals may only wish to destroy the silk factory and will disappear over the mountains again tomorrow. We must wait and see.”
He turned and walked back into the Dragon Palace.
It was a long night. In preparation for the worst, the Emperor ordered everybody to make ready for the evacuation of the palace the next morning. His wives, children and grandchildren gathered in the Greeting Room with any of their prized possessions they could manage to carry. They had a restless and sleepless night as they feared what might happen. Soldiers brought carriages and horses to the front of the palace to transport the family and staff to the wall if needed.
At dawn their worst nightmare was realised as a soldier reported that the Vandals were camped outside the city. The Emperor, Bo, Jia and Matilda went to the front of the palace and, from the steps, they could see the thousand Vandal warriors in the small valley below, arranging their horses in battle formation. It was an awesome sight.
“We must all retreat to the wall immediately,” stated the Emperor. “It will be easier to defend ourselves there and we'll be closer to the Tiger Province if Li Peng agrees to help. I fear for our people. The Vandals show no mercy.”
Matilda put her hand up to her chest again. If only she had remembered to bring the Zeus medallion with her.
She whispered to Peri, “I think you will have to use more than your brain power now, my friend.”
Without appearing, Peri replied, “Ready, willing and able.”
The Emperor ordered his soldiers to bring the family and staff out to the carriages and to escort everybody to the wall. He then sent a messenger to Li Peng requesting assistance, with the assurance that the Tiger Province would have the services of the Pearl Dragon in return.
Chapter 25
Dragar The Dreadful
The success of the previous night's raid on the silk factory had been reported to Dragar the Dreadful immediately after it had occurred. While the hundred warriors had been out on their mission, the remainder of the Vandal force had been steadily progressing towards Shi Guang and the Dragon Palace. They had set up camp in the valley below the city during the night and Dragar had called a meeting of his generals in his tent.
By the light of flaming torches on poles stuck into the dirt floor, he pointed to a map of the Dragon Province.
“It is time to finally seize the Dragon Emperor's territory and make certain that it never recovers to threaten our survival again,” he began. “Tomorrow morning we will attack the city and reach the palace. Our only aim is to capture the Emperor, strip him of his power and take over the province for our own. For that reason your warriors are to be instructed that they are only to strike fear into the hearts of the citizens. We will need them as our slaves in the future. It is the Emperor we want – at any cost. Assemble your warriors at dawn and I shall personally lead the attack. Are you all clear?”
The generals nodded their heads and hastened out of the tent to speak to their troops.
Chapter 26
The Retreat
“Bring the Pearl Dragon to me,” Choy Ziang ordered Jia. “She is the only thing that stands between us and total disaster and must be protected at all times. You and your friend there,” he pointed with a crooked finger at Matilda, “will be responsible for ensuring her safety until she can be handed over to Li Peng. Now hurry and fetch the dragon so that we can leave.”
Jia led Matilda through the maze of corridors until they reached the glassed in area at the centre of the palace. The Pearl Dragon was still sitting in front of its cave and pearl tears continued to collect around her. Jia went to the back of the area where a cage on wheels sat next to a small door which led into the interior of the dragon's domain. She opened the door and, pulling the cage behind her, approached the dragon.
“Sh,” she whispered. “Everything will be all right. We have to go on a trip now and we might meet up with the Golden Phoenix if we're lucky. Wouldn't that be good?”
Hearing her soothing words, the Pearl Dragon moved towards Jia, its large green eyes dry for the first time in days, and full of affection. The mention of the Golden Phoenix had worked wonders. Jia opened the front of the cage and, as Matilda watched, the Pearl Dragon walked forward and stepped inside. After Jia had secured the door, they each took a side of the handle and pulled the cage to the Greeting Room where the Emperor was waiting impatiently.
“Hurry, hurry,” he shouted, waving an arm at them. “Take the cage out to the soldiers so that they can load it onto a wagon.”
Jia and Matilda did as they were told and watched as a group of soldiers lifted the Pearl Dragon onto the tray of a wagon. As soon as that was done they also climbed aboard and a soldier took the reins. The Emperor's ornate carriage pulled up beside them and Choy Ziang stepped up into it. Even in defeat he insisted on travelling in style.
A small group of soldiers was left behind in the vain hope of defending the palace and the last occupants of the Dragon Palace were driven out of the grounds just one hour before the Vandal invasion began.
Chapter 27
The Vandals Attack Shi Guang
The citizens of Shi Guang had nowhere to go. They hurried to board up their houses as the Vandal warriors rode helter skelter through the streets and lanes of the city, shouting at the tops of their voices and waving their curved swords in the air. People hugged each other as they sat, trembling, in their homes, expecting the worst.
Dragar the Dreadful led a small contingent of warriors straight to the palace where the troop of Dragon soldiers that had been left behind was easily overwhelmed. He was disappointed to find that the Emperor was nowhere to be found.
“To the wall,” he shouted. “The miserable worm is attempting to escape to the south. A reward awaits the first warrior to run him down.”
With that he ran to the front of the palace, jumped onto his horse and set off in pursuit.
As Dragar rode headlong through the streets he gathered his warriors around him and they headed for the wall. The people of the city watched as they dashed past, mystified as to why the Vandals hadn't broken into their houses.
Chapter 28
Defending The Wall
When Jia and Matilda arrived at the wall, closely followed by the Emperor's carriage, the soldiers quickly unloaded the cage containing the Pearl Dragon and lifted it to the top of the steps.
The Emperor's family and the palace staff were already gathered together on the walkway between the Dragon and Tiger guards. Jia, Matilda and Choy Ziang joined them and Jia's mother greeted them with fear etched into her face.
“This is terrible,” she moaned. “We are doomed unless Li Peng decides to support us, but even then . . .” Her voice trailed off with the awful prospect.
A body of Dragon soldiers formed a defence at the bottom of the steps and others scattered to secure the other series of steps along the wall. With their numbers spread out so thinly, their ability to repel the Vandals appeared futile. Despite this, their bravery was beyond doubt.
The dust kicked up by the approaching enemy could be seen in the distance and the soldiers steeled themselves for the attack. Within minutes the battle was joined and the noise of metal striking metal filled the air. Vandal archers rode backwards and forwards beyond the fray, firing arrows at the defenders on the top of the wall. The Emperor and his party ducked down behind the parapet as the arrows whistled overhead. Jia and Matilda remained with the Pearl Dragon, covered by leather shields.
Seeing the fight being gradually lost and no sign of Li Peng's help arriving, Matilda turned to Jia and said, “I be
lieve it's time for us to call up our own help.”
As they crouched beside the cage, Matilda whispered, “Peri”, and Jia saw the fairy appear.
“It doesn't look good,” commented Peri, stating the obvious.
“No,” agreed Matilda. “I think we'll need the services of your wand pretty soon.”
“Can Peri turn the Vandals back?” asked Jia.
“I don't think so,” said Matilda, “but she will be able to buy us some time.”
They watched as several Vandals broke through the defensive lines and raced up the steps, hoping to be the first to capture the Emperor and win the reward. The Tiger guards could not stand by and watch the slaughter. They joined the Dragon guards as the last line of defence for the Emperor. Matilda and Peri moved forward to help them while Jia remained with the Pearl Dragon.
As the Vandal warriors moved towards the Emperor, the guards were shocked to see the small fairy on Matilda's shoulder wave her wand at the attackers, freezing them in their tracks. In a matter of moments they were all lying, frozen, on the ground.
Choy Zang could not believe what he saw and could only mutter to his Number One Daughter, “Maximilian! Full of surprises again.”
More Vandals reached the top of the wall and Peri was kept busy waving her wand at them.
“I hope my wand doesn't run out of power,” she said into Matilda's ear.
“Just keep doing what you're doing,” replied Matilda. “It's the only hope we have left.”
She wondered whether Li Peng had decided to simply leave them to their fate.
Chapter 29
Li Peng's Decision
“Look,” shouted one of the Tiger guards, pointing to the other side of the wall.
Matilda turned towards the Tiger Province and was filled with joy and amazement, for there, racing towards them across the desolate land, were at least a hundred tigers, led by Da Hu, the Great Tiger, the golden chain around his neck glinting in the sun.
More Vandal warriors had broken through and reached the top of the wall. It was only a matter of time before they would reach Choy Ziang. Peri kept waving her wand to hold them back until Da Hu leapt up the steps and, with the other tigers, ran into the invading army, creating fear and panic.