The Jongurian Resolution: The Jongurian Trilogy, #3

By Greg Strandberg

In the East the emperor looks ready to topple. Will the rebels take hold of power or will plots within plots thwart their well-laid plans?

In the West the provinces rally for war. Will the Civil War of a generation ago repeat itself once again on the bloody fields of Baden?

Find out as a group of ragtag diplomats, war heroes, kings, rebels, and common farmers try to bring peace in this exciting conclusion to The Jongurian Trilogy. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Greg Strandberg
• Release date: May 11, 2015
• ISBN: 9781513017082

Greg Strandberg

Greg Strandberg was born and raised in Helena, Montana. He graduated from the University of Montana in 2008 with a BA in History.When the American economy began to collapse Greg quickly moved to China, where he became a slave for the English language industry. After five years of that nonsense he returned to Montana in June, 2013.When not writing his blogs, novels, or web content for others, Greg enjoys reading, hiking, biking, and spending time with his wife and young son.

Book preview

The Equinians have broken through! one of the men yelled. They’re circling Tane and coming up on his rear.

Willem was at a loss for words. The battle was slipping away from him right before his eyes. The hero of the first Battle of Baden was becoming the failure of the second.

Sir, what are your orders? the man asked, perplexed at his suddenly silent commander.

Willem shook himself out of his daze and returned to the present. He had to do something, the battle wasn’t over yet, but he couldn’t think of what. He stared helplessly at the men for a few moments and then at the battle raging around him.

Suddenly a horn pierced through the sounds of fighting and Willem’s attention was jerked to the north end of the field, as were thousands of men on both sides of the line. The horn sounded again, a shrill sound that filled Willem with hope. Someone was coming down the King’s Road!

The

Jongurian Resolution

Greg Strandberg

Big Sky Words, Missoula

Copyright © 2012 by Big Sky Words

D2D Edition, 2015

Cover Artwork: Joe Shawcross

Map Artwork: M. Nires

Written in China

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Connect with Greg Strandberg

www.bigskywords.com

Fiction

The Jongurian Mission

Trouble in Jonguria

The Jongurian Resolution

The Warring States

The State of Chu

The State of Qin

Tarot Card Killer

Black Walnut

Room 223

The Hirelings

Wake Up, Detroit

Ale Quest

Nine Amusing Tales

G.I. JOE: The Dreadnoks

G.I. JOE: JOE Team-13

G.I. JOE: After Infinity

G.I. JOE: To Its Knees

Florida Sinkholes

Bring Back Our Girls

Lightning

Fire

Dulce Base

Colter’s Winter

Table of Contents

Maps

1; 2; 3

4; 5; 6

7; 8; 9

10; 11; 12

13; 14; 15

16; 17; 18

19; 20; 21

22; 23; 24

25; 26; 27

Conclusion

About the Author

Preview of The Warring States

ONE

Jossen sat at the table, slowly nursing his goblet of wine. He’d been in that position for more than an hour now, the same goblet still in front of him. He picked up the ornate golden vessel and swirled the last small amount of liquid around and around before he raised it to his lips, swallowing the last mouthful. He was just about to tip the wine down his throat when a heavy and insistent knock came at the large double-doors behind him.

Jossen’s face flushed with anger; he’d made it clear to his servants that he wasn’t to be disturbed at all this evening. He gently set the goblet back on the table and whirled around in his chair to loudly chastise whoever it was who lacked the sense to follow his simple directions. The double-doors flew open before he was able to utter a single syllable.

Jurgen Oln strode into the room, purpose in his steps.

News, Jossen! Boy have I got news! Jurgen said as he made his way up to the table.

I’m sorry, your grace, I tried to inform you that Jurgen had arrived, Miln said, still cowering in the doorway.

Jossen waved his hand at the servant in a dismissive gesture and the man began to pull the double-doors shut once again.

Jurgen made it to the table and immediately reached his hand out for the bottle that was resting in a lukewarm bucket of water just behind Jossen’s goblet. Sweat beaded his forehead and his clothes were stained with mud and dust. His eyes lit up eagerly when he grasped the bottle, then turned downcast when he raised it up. He gave a quick glance to Jossen before turning his gaze back toward the door.

Miln, he shouted, more wine, and make it fast!

Yes, your grace, Miln said as he stuck his head back inside, his voice quavering even more than it had just a moment before.

Jossen let him get the two double-doors closed yet again before he spoke.

What is this news that is so important that you barge in here unannounced and obviously just off the road?

Jurgen set the empty bottle back on the table and smiled at Jossen.

Well, what is it? Jossen asked, an edge of anger and impatience in his voice at the playfully hesitant manner of his most trusted advisor and closest friend.

I assure you that it is the best news that you’ve heard all year.

Well, come off with it then, Jossen said loudly, the impatience still much in evident in his voice, although the anger had now been replaced with anxious anticipation.

Jurgen stared down at Jossen with that same half-smile, half-smirk, and Jossen was just about to throw his arms up in the air in exasperation when one of the wide double-doors once again opened up behind him.

Your wine, Miln said as he hurried into the room.

Jossen did throw his arms up in the air at that, eliciting a boisterous laugh from Jurgen.

Your grace, Miln said as he set the bottle down on the table and hastily removed the cork with a screw from his pocket. Will there be anything else, he said, looking from Jossen to Jurgen and back again.

No that will be quite enough for this evening, Jossen said through gritted teeth. No more disturbances now, do you hear?

Yes, your grace, Miln said before giving a quick bow and hurrying out the room as fast as his short legs would carry him.

Now, what is this news that you find so humorous to withhold from me, yet so important that you ride night and day to deliver it? Jossen asked. He’d managed to regain some of his composure after the initial disturbance to his peace, and was now quite calm. He knew that Jurgen would tell him what there was to tell, although he’d get his fun out of Jossen as much as he could before he imparted the news.

Serious developments in Adjuria, that is the news, Jurgen said as he picked up the bottle. His brows furrowed for a moment as he looked at the table and around the room. In his haste to deliver the bottle Miln had forgotten to bring another goblet. Jurgen shrugged his shoulders, raised the bottle to his lips, and took several long swallows before putting it down with a satisfied gasp.

You’ve learned about the king? Jossen said as he gripped the arms of his chair and pulled himself up into a more upright position.

Aye, Jurgen said with a smile before once again raising the bottle to his lips and taking a few more healthy swallows.

Well, by God man, tell me! Jossen nearly shouted as he leaned forward in his chair, his knuckles beginning to turn white from the grip he placed on the armrests. He looked up at Jurgen and narrowed his eyes. Did he go to Jonguria like you thought?

Jurgen gave that half-smile, half-smirk once again, holding Jossen in suspense for as long as he could before answering.

It looks that way.

I can’t believe it! Jossen shouted. All of the strain that he’d been feeling for the past week seemed to melt off him as he crumpled back down into his chair.

Jurgen threw his head back in laughter. Believe it, for I have it from more than one source.

Tell me everything you’ve learned, Jossen said, his eyes absently looking out the wide doorway that led to the large balcony directly in front of him.

Jurgen took another long drink from the bottle then pulled up a chair to sit down at the table.

I rode to Fadurk and inquired about the king, Jurgen began. I told them that I was a traveler that’d heard about the attack and was anxious to hear news of his majesty’s health. Of course, they were tight-lipped about the attack and everything else about the king, saying simply that he was fine and had already headed back to Baden.

I’m surprised they told you that much, Jossen said, still blankly staring out the window to let his mind digest what Jurgen was telling him without distraction.

From there I made the choice to travel north.

North, why north? Jossen cut in, turning his eyes from the window to Jurgen. The trouble that the king would be interested in occurred in the south of Jonguria.

Let’s just call it a hunch, Jurgen replied with a smile.

A hunch, Jossen said skeptically before turning his eyes back to the window. Alright, go on.

The first dockside town that you come to after the Barrier Mountains is a small place called Barrington, Jurgen said. It’s mostly a fishing community, but what gave me hope was that many of the ships head as far as Yanshide Island.

That’s nearly half-way to Jonguria, Jossen said.

And if a group of Adjurians wanted to go all of the way to Jonguria and had the coins with which to convince someone to take them, then this is where they’d come to.

So you rode into the town and asked around, is that it? What did you learn?

Jurgen took another long pull off the bottle. I went immediately to the docks and began asking the ship captains if there’d been any travelers lately that’d wanted to go to Jonguria.

That bluntly? Jossen asked, his eyes once again going to Jurgen.

That bluntly.

Jossen leaned further back in his chair. He didn’t like that Jurgen was so careless in his requests for information, but there was nothing to do for that now. He waved his hand for him to continue.

Most said that I was crazy, Jurgen laughed. All know that it’s forbidden to go to Jonguria, and even going as far as Yanshide is pushing what the kingdom will allow. Still, there was one captain that didn’t find my question that odd.

Jossen’s eyebrows perked up at that. What did he tell you?

Nothing, Jurgen said, and held up his hand quickly to stop Jossen’s interruption. But his first mate had more to say, so long as he was paid.

Jurgen took another long pull off of the rapidly diminishing bottle of wine as Jossen once again raised himself up and leaned forward in his chair.

As soon as the captain was out of sight I managed to get his first mate, a man named Tal Wald, away from the boat. After that it was easy to get him into a tavern and fill him with ale. From there the truth came out.

And what did he say? Jossen eagerly asked.

He’d been at sea for more than two weeks, so he was quite thirsty, Jurgen said with a smile. It seems that there were four men and a boy that’d hired out their boat for thirty gold if they could be transported to the Baishur River.

The Baishur River! Jossen blurted out, not believing it.

It gets better, Jurgen said. When I asked him for descriptions of the men he was all too willing to divulge them. Jurgen took another drink from the bottle, upending it over his mouth then slamming the empty bottle down on the table. The man that did all of the negotiating with the captain had a long scar down his left cheek from his eye to his chin.

Mito Durin! Jossen shouted. Think of it! If Mito is traveling to Jonguria it’s a good bet that Rowan is heading there as well.

Aye, Jurgen responded, but I can’t be sure about that.

Why not?

Besides Mito, there were two other men whose descriptions were too vague to be of any use. The third man was cloaked from head to toe and stayed in the cabin for the entirety of the journey.

And the boy?

Just another boy was all that the man said.

Jossen leaned back in his chair once again. It’s a good bet that the boy was the same one that came crawling back across the Isthmus.

That it is, Jurgen said, and the other two men could be two that also came back, or perhaps some trusted palace guards.

But why the Baishur River?

It seems evident that they’re trying to reach the emperor, Jurgen said.

"The emperor? They’re crazier than I thought! Jossen replied. The emperor hasn’t had an audience in years. He laughed. It’s one of the reasons his country’s falling apart around him!"

I don’t think it’s that important where they’re going, Jurgen said. What’s important is that the king is out of the country, as well as his closest advisor. There’s a good chance that they’ll be killed over there, but even if they’re not and they somehow reach the emperor, I don’t see them accomplishing much. There’s an even better chance for you to make your moves back here in Adjuria while they’re away on this fool’s errand.

Jossen looked at Jurgen then back through the window, his mind swirling with calculations. He’d already secured the support of Shefflin, Oschem, Allidia, and Equinia. Five provinces going up against the other nine were certainly not favorable odds. Hotham, sitting to the far northwest of the country and blocked by the four provinces that were pledged to Regidia, was effectively out of the game already. Montino would most likely remain behind their mountains, doing nothing as always. That put the odds at seven to five, still not as favorable as Jossen would like, although better nonetheless. But with the king out of the country, and a vacuum of leadership in Culdovia, the odds moved further in his favor.

After sitting for a few minutes Jossen grasped both arms of the chair once again, this time pulling himself up to his feet. His left leg ached all the while, but he didn’t care. He took the goblet that still remained in front of him and thrust it into the air, startling Jurgen to his feet in the process.

"You were right, Jurgen, that is the best news that I’ve heard all year!"

He tilted the goblet back and drained the last mouthful, which only an hour before he was sure would be filled with the bitterness of failure but now contained the sweetness of success.

TWO

I don’t know Jossen, I just don’t know.

Klyne Surin’s usually deep and resonant voice sounded rather weak this morning. The Allidian’s usually muscular frame also seemed to be less evident than usual, his growing gut battling with the muscles of his arms for attention.

I agree, Dolth Hane chimed in. "It’s one thing for the king to be dead, but quite another for him to be alive and well, even if he is off on some unknown journey to Jonguria."

Jossen wasn’t surprised to hear doubt coming from Dolth. The Equinian was usually hesitant when it came to big decisions, but to hear that same doubt coming from Klyne’s mouth was a bit more unsettling.

Gentleman, Jossen said while pushing himself back in his chair to cut a more imposing figure, I assure you that there’s nothing to worry about. I have it on good word that both Rowan and his most trusted advisor, Mito Durin, are both out of the country. They’ll be totally unaware of anything that happens in Adjuria. Now is our time to move.

I agree with Jossen, Andor Flin bellowed from his side of the table. The Oschemian looked to have lost a bit of weight since Jossen had seen him last, although this just caused his large jowls to flap around his face more grotesquely than usual. From what Jossen has told us of his last trip to Baden just a week ago, it would seem that the time is right for action. It seems we have a good chance to steer matters in the direction that we want them to go, what with five council members killed in Jonguria and replacements not yet chosen,

With Willem Pritt acting as council leader? Jocko More asked skeptically. I wouldn’t be so sure of that. Jocko’s bright white teeth shone for just a moment as he gave a slight smile. Jossen stared at the oiled points of Jocko’s black mustache and felt a loathing rise up inside him, although he realized that it was directed more toward the Duldovian Pritt who’d blocked all his inquiries into the king’s health when he was in Baden just the week before, and not at the man in front of him.

Willem can be handled, Jossen said. And Andor is exactly correct. The council now has five vacancies. Even if permanent replacements are chosen by the next meeting date, which I highly doubt, there’ll not be a solid block of votes against us as there was during the trade conference. If the five of us stand firm we’ll have a stronger position than the other nine. More than likely they’ll not be able to come to an agreement as quickly as us, and we’ll seize the initiative.

Most likely the Montino and Ithmian members won’t even show up, as is usually the case, Dolth said quietly.

So then it’ll be five against seven, Jossen said quickly. And I’ve no doubt that we can persuade some of these new members to come over to our way of thinking.

I still don’t know, Klyne said from his end of the table. These plans sounded fine when you assured us the king would be killed. Now that we know that’s not the case it doesn’t seem so good. What was once good governmental action is now sounding more treasonous by the second.

Jossen gritted his teeth but kept his face expressionless. Treason is the word they apply to the losers. Patriots are what they call the winners. Jossen paused for a moment and looked each of the four men in the eye before continuing. Adjuria is in the worst shape in living memory. Most families can’t put enough food on the table, jobs are scarce in the cities, and grain prices are so high that those in the countryside can’t even put next years seeds into the ground. The Royal council has talked about these problems for years, but they’ve done little to solve them. And what’s worse, the king has sat back idly and let it all happen. Jossen pounded his fist down on the table for emphasis. I tell you gentlemen, now is the time for us to take this country back and put it on the right footing! Now is our opportunity, and we cannot second guess ourselves. The time is ripe for action, and we must take it!

Jossen leaned back in his chair, his heart racing from his unexpected exhortation of the men. He obviously needed to persuade them still, something he thought he already did while in Atros several weeks before. He was content that he’d said his piece, and now eagerly awaited the reactions of the other men around the table.

The five men sat in a small meeting room in Dolth Hane’s sizable residence in Hedling, the capital of Equinia, which was half a day’s ride from the western border of Regidia. Jossen had sent off birds to each of the men just as soon as Jurgen had told him what he’d learned in the small fishing town of Barrington about the king’s departure from Adjuria. Jossen had felt a little angry at first that Jurgen had ridden all the way back to Atros with the news, a journey of several days even if one traveled both day and night, but he also realized that such news couldn’t be trusted to bird-carried notes. Jossen had no doubt that Rowan and his entourage of four were already well into Jonguria, but he also realized that they could all be dead already. Either way, he didn’t waste time in setting up a meeting with his allies on the council.

News had spread quickly throughout Adjuria of the failed assassination attempt on the king, and Jossen knew that he had to reassure his supporters that their plans could still go through. Jossen hadn’t waited for replies to be sent back to him in Atros. He’d told each of them in his messages that they should head to Hedling for their meeting. He’d much rather have stayed in the comfortable environs of his palace in Atros, but he made the conciliatory gesture of a meeting place further to the west so that the others wouldn’t have to travel as far, and so that they’d also realize that they were important to him, not just some pawns that he was using to secure his own power. Now as he sat looking at the other men around the table he wondered whether that gesture was going to help him or not.

You’re right, Klyne said from his position directly across the table from Jossen, "now is the time for action. I gave the order for our troops in Allidia to begin mobilizing more than a week ago now. It’ll take them another week, possibly two, to be ready to march. I suggest that we use that extra time to once again try and persuade the council in Baden to go along with our plans. If they don’t see fit to follow our advice, then I say that we have no other choice than to resort to war. The future of Adjuria hangs in the balance, but I think that by going to war the country will be better off than if we continue to sit back and do nothing, idly watching as things deteriorate further and further to the point where even war would no longer be a solution to the vast problems which now plague us."

Jossen had to will his mouth not to hang open at the sudden change he was now seeing in his Allidian counterpart. Of all of the men sitting around the table, Jossen figured that Klyne would be the hardest to convince, just as he’d been in Atros. With the two most forceful and strongest council members at the table now in agreement, it was a given that the other three would go along.

You think that the council will meet? Dolth asked. Although he was hosting the meeting, he’d insisted on giving the two seats at the ends of the table to Jossen and Klyne. Our regular spring meeting was given over wholly to issues involving trade, and we’re not set to meet again until the harvest comes in several months from now.

I think that it’s imperative that the council meet now, what with the attempt on the king’s life, Jocko said.

And especially since the king has refused to show himself since that attempt on his life, Andor said. "The council, and the country, has to know that their king is alright. His continual absence from all public life is causing unsettling rumors to spread in Oschem that the assassination in fact did succeed and now unknown persons are controlling things in Baden."

The same is being said in Equinia, Dolth sad.

And in Allidia, Klyne added.

Jossen nodded. The same rumors are the talk of all of the country. Willem Pritt can’t keep the council from calling for an emergency meeting with such talk rife and the king absent. I’ll travel to Baden just as soon as we’re done here and demand that Willem call the council into an emergency session.

And if he refuses? Klyne asked.

Then we will begin moving our troops toward the capital, Jossen said.

There was silence around the table at that comment. Each man knew the consequences of such an action, each having experienced them firsthand less than ten years before during the first Civil War. If each of these men did call for their troops to march then they’d be starting the third Civil War in Adjuria in little more than a hundred years.

I don’t think that he’ll refuse, Andor said, breaking the silence. I’m sure that he’s feeling pressure from those around him in Baden, as well as other council members, to take some action to quash these rumors.

So if he does call for the council to convene, then what? Jocko asked. What arguments will we put forth for a change in the royal line, and who will fill that position?

The men looked around the table at one another before Jossen spoke.

We’ll put forth the same arguments that we have just spoken of tonight. All know that the country is on the wrong path, which is why we all agreed to resume trade with Jonguria.

What if word gets out that the king has gone to Jonguria to find out the causes of the disastrous trading expedition? Dolth asked. Surely the council, and the country’s favor, will once again be with the king at such news.

I don’t think news that the king has gone to Jonguria will get out, Jossen said. It seems to me that one of the reasons he left Adjuria in the first place was to avoid further attempts on his life.

Come now, Klyne said, someone in Baden has to know, most likely Willem Pritt. He was there in Fadurk when the assassination attempt took place, he must be in on the king’s plans.

The stress and strain of effectively leading the country during the king’s absence could have a severe effect on Willem’s health, Jossen said.

There was silence for a few moments as each man weighed what he’d heard.

"Are you saying that you’re now going to go after Pritt?" Dolth asked.

I’ve already gone after a king, Jossen said with a slight smirk. What’s a simple Duldovian after that?

No one said anything to that and silence reigned around the table for several moments.

Gentlemen, Jossen said as he gripped the arms of his chair and pulled himself to his feet, we’ve had some good discussion here, but now I think that it’s time we take care of any last business involving each of our provinces’ troop mobilizations and then begin making our way to Baden.

I agree, Klyne said. There’s still a chance to settle matters diplomatically and without bloodshed. But if that’s not the case and the rest of the council doesn’t see our way, then I’ll be the first to issue the orders for Allidia’s troops to begin marching toward the capital.

Several heads nodded around and Jossen followed suit. Deep down, however, he was wondering what had occurred to Klyne to make him have such a radical change in opinion from just a few weeks before, and how that change would affect himself, for better or worse.

THREE

The smell of smoke and still-smoldering wood filled the air as the sun began to rise. Grandon rose from the ground, took a deep breath through his nose, and winced. The smell of burnt flesh nearly made him gag.

He turned and looked around the trees near the pond where he and Zhou had gone to sleep just a few hours before. There was no sign of Zhou at all; either he’d already gone looking for Jin and Hong or he’d decided to leave Grandon and ride on to whatever destination awaited him. As Grandon went to retrieve his pack he couldn’t help but hope that Zhou had decided on the latter. Since he’d met the rebel leader upon his arrival in Jonguria he’d rode halfway across the country, been chased and attacked by men loyal to other rebels, and killed several men himself. When he and Zhou had set out from Bindao more than a week before they’d had ten other men with them. Now, unless Hong and Jin were located alive somewhere in the burned-out village, it would be only the two of them.

Grandon took out a thin slice of cheese and some hard bread and began to eat as he stared out over the trees. Thin tendrils of smoke still rose from the village nearby, but he couldn’t tell the extent of the damage from his vantage point. Having finished his meek breakfast he headed to the pond and washed his hands and face, happy to get rid of the smoke and soot that he’d been too tired to remove earlier. As clean as he could hope to become he then began to make his way through the trees and toward the village.

The three houses that he, Hong, and Jin had set on fire the night before were charred and in ruins, their blackened support beams crumpled within and still smoking. The large house where the final battle with Wei had taken place had the entire second floor burned away, although the first floor remained and only smoldered slightly in some spots. Only the house nearest the pond and farthest from the large house and the house furthest from the pond remained standing and untouched. If Hong or Jin were still alive they’d most likely be in one of the two, so Grandon began making his way to the house nearest the pond.

In the light of day the houses looked smaller than they had the night before. Grandon walked by the house that Jin had set on fire and peered into the ashes, but could see nothing that resembled a human form, although the smell told him that at least one man had burned alive within. It was another twenty yards to the untouched house and Grandon covered the distance quickly. The house was identical to that which he’d set on fire the night before, he noticed as he came around the back and walked right up to the front porch steps, which creaked noisily when he stepped up them. Not taking any chances that some of Wei’s men could’ve been unaccounted for and still alive, he pulled his sword from the scabbard at his belt. He headed to one of the two windows set next to the door and cautiously peered inside. There looked to be the same type of wooden table and chairs and two doors leading to the back rooms as had been the case in the house he’d watched for so long. Satisfied that no one was inside he moved to the door and slowly turned the knob, finding the door wasn’t locked.

A stale mustiness met him when he stepped inside the house, but there was no movement or sound. Grandon glanced about then moved to the rightmost bedroom door. He turned the knob slowly and pushed the door, letting it swing completely inside before stepping through. There was a large bed and two chairs, but of people there were none. After looking under the bed and finding nothing he left the room and went to the other door. He opened it just as slowly as the first and was met with the same picture of a bed and two chairs, again with no people. He bent down and looked under the bed, but again there was no one. He let out a loud sigh, sheathed his sword, and headed back out onto the porch, closing the front door behind him.

It was twenty yards from the empty house to that which he’d guarded and set on fire the night before. Nothing was left of the building but ash and a few smoking roof beams. He didn’t slow his pace as he walked by it, knowing who’d been inside, for he’d killed them himself. Still, he looked but could see no indication of either of his two Jongurian companions.

Twenty yards away was the last house. As Grandon got closer he noticed that the front door was open, and immediately pulled his sword from its sheath once again. He ran up to the side of the house and peered around the corner cautiously. Like the other houses, there was a small porch with a few steps leading up to it. Grandon stood and listened for several moments, but he couldn’t hear any noise coming from within. Taking a deep breath he eased around the building and made his way up the porch steps, thankful that they didn’t creak as the others had. Although the door was open he went to one window first and peered inside. Just some tables and chairs, although one of the back bedroom doors was open. Grandon stared at that open door through the window for several moments, then he quickly dashed from the window and through the front door and didn’t stop until he was up against the wall just inches from the open door. With his back against the wall he crept closer to the door, then with a last deep breath, turned and bounded through it, his sword raised in front of him. He let out his breath as soon as he was through. Aside from a bed, a chair, and a battered dresser against one wall, the room was empty. He kneeled down and checked under the bed, but as he expected there was no one there. He gave a slight smile at his earlier unease. After all, they’d been told by Lei the night before that this house was rarely used. He rose from the floor and turned back toward the door, then froze, a wave of fear rippling through him.

Zhou, you nearly scared me to death.

Zhou smiled, the skin around his good eye bunching up while the patched-eye remained unchanged, the bright green emerald glimmering even in the shallow light of morning.

I wouldn’t want that, Zhou responded. I’ve lost enough men on this expedition; to be completely alone would a bit much even for me.

When I didn’t see you this morning I began to search the houses for Jin and Hong, Grandon said after a moment.

I know, Zhou said. I saw you come toward this house when I was looking around the back. He turned and walked toward the front door of the house and Grandon followed. "There’s no sign of them