the captain dead,

a two-mile hike

at night

in a snowy forest.

Li, king’s guard, led the way,

startled to false alert

by every falling clump of snow,

King Xau behind him on an improvised litter.

The captain’s corpse tied to a packhorse.

Back at camp,

Li helped Shuen unload Captain Tsung’s body,

set it on the snow,

laid the captain’s sword atop him.

Told Shuen to tend to the horses.

Gan and Dao already on sentry duty.

Li went in the tent.

Various ointments spread out,

King Xau flat on his back,

conscious but very pale,

Leong stitching his shoulder.

“Leong, do you need help?”

Leong shook his head.

(The larger question,

the question in Li’s heart,

he left unasked this time.

Either the king would live.

Or he would not.)

Li unrolled the map,

tilted it toward the lantern.

The nearest fort a full day’s ride away,

no closer than their original destination.

“Li. When you have a moment.”

King Xau’s voice uneven.

Li went to him at once.

Darkness then in the king’s eyes.

“Li, if you are willing,

we would appoint you

captain of our guards.”

“I am willing.”

“Be certain. It is—”

Xau paused, pressed his lips together

while Leong finished up.

“It is hard enough to be our guard.

Harder to be the captain.”

Li bowed. “I am certain.”

No duty he would rather choose.

No man he would rather serve.

“Thank you.”

The king lifted his head, dipped it to Li,

closed his eyes.

“We need a second witness...

paper... ink....”

The king’s voice trailed off. He lay still.

Li looked sharply at Leong,

who made the hand signal for asleep,

started clearing away his ointments.

Li stood quietly, watching the king,

before he went back to the map.

OUTSPOKEN

Scene: Library of Nya’s estate.

Enter King Xau and his guards.

XAU

Good evening, Grandmother.

NYA

Is that all the manners they taught you?
To sit before your grandmother does?
Poor behavior even in a barbarian.
Unacceptable in the ruler of Meqing.

SHUEN

The king must sit—
he rode since dawn despite injury.
The last two hours, he’d have fallen
off the horse if I hadn’t held onto him.

XAU

Shuen, it’s all right.
Her words do us no hurt.

NYA

An unmannerly guard for an unmannerly king.

XAU

You sent three separate pigeons
requesting our presence.
Are you in difficulty?
How can we help?

NYA

You can’t. I am dying of a malignancy.

XAU

Our guard Leong is a physician.
Let him examine you.

NYA

No. I want no more hands upon me.

XAU

Then why send for us?

NYA

Is it not enough that I wish
to meet my grandson before I die?

XAU

We invited you to our palace. Repeatedly.

NYA

I never liked travel. You’re here now.
Tell me about your father,
who was my son before he fathered you.

XAU

He was a strong king,
an excellent tactician.
We have studied his campaigns.

NYA

He was your father.
Did you not love him?