The Sixth Seal

Xi Shi met the water with the same determination that drove her to steal the book from the Emperor. Her body cut through the air like a spear, plunging deep below the surface of the water. How far she went below the water before righting herself she did not know. She only knew once she broke the surface, she would be reborn. A lifetime of doing the bidding of cruel men would come to an end. No more courts and courtesans, no more coy smiles and feigned attractions, only steadfastness of purpose and destruction to all those who stood in her way. There was only one man who she would allow to guide and counsel her from this day forward.

The air came as a welcome relief once she broke through the surface of the river. Treading water, she shook her head, whipping her long black hair out of her face. She wiped at her eyes, then scanned the river for signs of the boat.

Her flight from the soldiers had driven her off course, exactly how far she was not certain. The high cliffs and thick trees along the river shielded much of the water from the light of the moon. The shadows and the water were as one.

The tiny cuts and scrapes on her arms and legs stung as she swam through the water. A dull ache formed in her side and the toll of her efforts began to become evident. She glanced toward the shoreline. Land would afford greater speed, but even then she had no idea in which direction to head. She rolled onto her back and floated and listened, hoping for some sign.

Did Wang Xu hear the commotion on the cliff and my drop into the river? Would he come for me or wait on the shore where we arranged to meet?

A gentle pressure radiated from her waist and sent ripples of warmth out toward her feet. The tension in her body melted away. She felt the energy of the book coursing through her, renewing her strength.

Swim, Protector.

Without hesitation she swam south, allowing the book to guide her movement. The book’s will became hers. Her eyes became portals unto its presence, scanning the shore looking for what it knew to be there.

She saw the white caps of the parting water before she actually saw the boat. As it passed out from beneath a low bank of clouds, the two paneled sails caught the moonlight. She threw her arm over her head and called out.

The men on deck pulled on a series of ropes that ran from the battens back toward the stern of the vessel. The sails shifted and the boat slowed as it approached her. A figure with a lantern and a pole was at the bow.

Wang Xu. I never doubted that you would find me.

He set the lantern on the edge of the boat and raised the long pole over his head before dropping one end into the water. She swam toward it, bringing herself alongside the hull.

The pole struck the palm of her outstretched hand and she quickly grasped it. The momentum of the boat pulled her faster than she had gauged, and her back slammed against the unforgiving timbers of the hull. Keeping a firm grip on the pole, she brought her other arm out of the water and grappled for a better handhold. When she was confident in her grip, she kicked her legs against the boat and twisted her body around so that she was looking up at Wang Xu.

He nodded to her and leaned back, keeping the pole steady. She kept her feet pressed against the hull and pulled herself hand over hand up toward the deck. When at last she crested the railing, he grabbed her arm, dropped the pole, and then put his other hand in the small of her back. She collapsed in his arms, propelling him backwards to the deck.

A gentle smile spread across his face, crinkling the corners of his dark eyes. “Welcome aboard, my Princess.”

She pressed herself up off of his muscled chest and sat on her knees. “My course was altered.”

“Yet still I found you.” He sat up, looking into her eyes. “And the book?”

She patted her waist, feeling the faintest response. “Why did you not tell me there was no easy way out of the temple?”

He looked into her eyes. “You are the protector. I knew the book would guide you.” He stood and offered her his hand. “Forgive me?”

She waited a moment before taking his hand. “Do you have some dry clothes for me?”

He gestured toward an opening in the deck. “Your quarters are below deck. I have a fresh robe and slippers for you.”

She pulled the leather pouch from beneath her wet, clinging clothes, and offered it to him.

He put up his hands and stepped back. “I do not believe it is wise for one of the uninitiated to touch the book.”

“Why not?”

“How did it feel when you touched the book for the first time?”

She could feel his dark eyes studying her face. “It felt as though lightning was coursing through my veins.”

He raised his eyebrows and nodded. “Imagine what it would do to one who cannot be attuned to its mighty power. Even at a distance, I can sense its relentless energy.”

The book grew warm in her hands. Gone was the unnerving current of energy she had felt when she first touched it, replaced by a steady vibration.

“Is it possible I have become attuned to it in the short time it has been in my possession? How can that be?”

He reached out and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Though you have only recently reunited with the book in this lifetime, you were attuned to it when it was brought from the heavens ages ago.”

“How can that be? I know that I have been others, but is it possible I was there at the beginning?” She clutched the book to her chest, feeling its gentle warmth flow through her.

“I know only what Master Jing told me of the book and the protectors. My only link to the great book is through the protectors. I am only a gatherer, your humble servant.” He bowed.

So many questions. So many things she did not understand. She started to ask him something else, but he shook his head.

“I will tell you more of what I know later. For now I have preparations to make.” He glanced past her to the shore and back again. “We must make haste to the mouth of the river and out to the sea before the Emperor’s men cut us off.” He guided her toward the stairs leading below deck. “Refresh yourself. I will come for you when we are ready for the sea voyage.”

She nodded and made her way down the stairs. Oil lamps hung from the low ceiling, throwing shadows out like writhing snakes with each rock of the boat.

This part of the boat was better suited for supplies than accommodations. She wondered how comfortable they would be on the long journey at sea. Wang Xu hadn’t told her exactly where they were headed, only that it was halfway around the world. She knew only that they were to return the book to a place of power.

She saw a small door toward the back of the room. It took her a moment to push it open as it caught at the edges, scraping and screeching in complaint. A fine silken ivory robe hung from a hook on the wall. A pair of intricately stitched slippers that matched in color sat on the floor beneath it.

She stripped off her wet clothes, and wrapped the robe around her tired, aching body.

Rest, Protector. Rest and renew for the journey ahead.

She nodded and dropped to her knees on the reed mat in the middle of the floor. She hugged the book to her chest and allowed the gentle rocking of the boat to lull her to sleep.

The boat lurched hard to the right, throwing Xi Shi to the wall. Wood creaked and groaned as the vessel shifted in the water. She braced herself against the wall and managed to get into a crouching position. The leather pouch had travelled with her across the room. She tucked the pouch beneath her robes.

She staggered a bit before getting her footing on the angled floor. Voices shouted from the deck above. She pulled open the door and let it fall against the wall. Moonlight filtered down from the opening in the deck. Several figures ran across her field of vision.

Wang Xu’s voice could be heard above the din. “Steer for the shore!”

She moved forward toward the stairs. Something rolled against her foot. She knelt down and picked it up, and examined it in the dim light. It was a dagger encased in a jade scabbard. The boat pitched hard again, throwing her backward into the wall. She tucked the dagger down into the leather pouch, regained her footing and headed up to the deck.

Just as she got her head above the opening, a line of fiery light whistled past her.

“Keep low!” Wang Xu motioned to her with one hand as he kept the other on a railing.

More whistling noises raced overhead and she turned to follow the sound. Flaming arrows ripped into the sails. The aft sail hung useless in its rigging, now entirely engulfed in flames. The crewmen pulled hard on the ropes, controlling the ship with its only usable sail.

Keeping her head low, she looked beyond the sails to the opposite side of the river. On the cliffs she could see a line of lights. Archers were firing on them from above. More arrows whistled through the night air. Fire erupted across the deck.

She pressed her palm against the leather pouch and called out to the book.

If it is in your power to do so, help us.

The reply was instantaneous. The power is within you protector.

A great surge of energy bounded through her body. She was possessed by a raging animal instinct, yet her thoughts were clear, laid before her.

The boat pitched again, throwing one of the sailors overboard. Wang Xu took the man’s place on the ropes and was pulled halfway across the deck for his efforts. She leapt onto the deck and ran to his side.

“I told you to stay down.” He strained against the ropes as she clung to the railing.

“Your efforts here are hopeless. We must make our retreat.” She looked past him to the cliffs where the archers were perched, then across the river to the opposite side. “Have any of the Emperor’s soldiers attacked from the other shore?”

“No.”

“Leave the boat to burn. We must swim ashore.” She turned and threw her leg over the railing.

“Wait!” He kept his grip on the ropes. “We need to make it to the sea. It’s our only chance.”

She smiled. “Is the river the only route to the sea? Trust me my gatherer.”

He let go of the ropes. The sail snapped back and the boat rocked in the opposite direction. He called to the remaining crew. “Abandon ship!”

She didn’t wait. She knew he would follow her to the ends of the Earth. She dove into the water and headed for shore, the boat ablaze behind her.