They were separated by only two steps… And instead of moving away, he stepped towards the Han warrior…
Yu Lai swung, already seeing how he would cut the stubborn enemy in half, but he suddenly appeared right in front of him – his face was at a palm’s distance and he could even feel his breathing, hot and even, as if the shaved fair-skinned slave was not at all tired… A desperate cry of rage broke out from Yu Lai’s dry throat, he tried to lower his hands to complete the blow, but could only push Lacius in the chest. Unable to resist, he began to fall back. Joy flashed in the eyes of the Han warrior for a moment; he already saw himself as a winner, because the slave in a white robe was falling on his back and was about to die… But something was in the middle of his chest, preventing him from breathing. And it was also very painful. It hurt so much that he couldn’t even move. And the slave looked into his eyes so calmly that…
Yu Lai did not have time to understand this. He fell with all his might onto Lacius from above and froze. For some time, both bodies lay motionless on the ground, as if they had died by the will of the gods at the same instant – black and white, with small spots of red…
Everyone around fell silent. The drums stopped, the black-robed warriors lowered their swords, and the Romans leaned forward, trying to see what would happen next. A dark red puddle began to blur next to the bodies. But then they moved, and the body lying on top in a black robe slowly rolled to the side. A slave in a white cape stood up, holding a bloody piece of bamboo stick in his hands, and coughed from the dust. The fabric on the chest and shoulders of his robe was red. He stood up, and at that moment everyone came to their senses.
The Romans shouted joyfully, and the Han rushed towards him with cries of rage. They surrounded Lacius, who was forced to raise the enemy’s sword and defend himself from the blows raining down on him. He was lucky that the attackers got in the way of themselves, so he could knock off two or three swords extended in his direction with one blow. In his heart, Lacius once again thanked the gods for the fact that he did not have chains on his feet. Now he feared only one thing – the spear. He could be pelted with spears, and then he would not be able to fight them off as well as swords.
A step back and a lunge forward, a step back and a strike on the swords, and then a lunge forward again – he delivered only stabbing blows, trying not to let the attackers go behind his back. One too-hot warrior rushed forward and immediately fell, holding his side, then another grabbed his thigh and sank to one knee, unable to stand on his feet. When the third, having received a blow to the lower abdomen, fell face down into the dust, the others retreated back for a moment and stopped.
– Stop! – the Empress’s brother raised his hand. He again, fearing nothing, approached Lacius and looked intently into his eyes, then returned to the body of his warrior and sat down next to him. He turned him over and put his hand on his chest. Blood oozed from a wound right in the middle of his chest, between his ribs and stomach. Returning to the Emperor’s bier, he knelt down again and touched his forehead to the ground three times. Lacius did not hear what they were talking about; there were many short warriors in black robes around, who could not understand, why the invincible Yu Lai was lying dead, and this disgusting tall slave with a scar on his face was standing in front of them alive.
Sharp, guttural commands were heard, and the courtyard servants ran up to the Romans. Without explaining anything, they began to take them out of the gate. The sounds of music were heard from behind, stretchers in the shape of ships and boats appeared from somewhere, hundreds of barefoot people with sticks raised above their heads carried decorations, others carried ribbons of blue fabric depicting water, and all this began to float in in an endless stream, as if into a large mouth fish.
Bao Shi’s guards, along with a frowning Fu Xing, led the Romans back to the governor’s house. It seemed impossible. There, they again put the chain with the ball on Lacius and took away the bloody robe. In the barn, everyone began to shout and ask him how it all happened, especially Paul Domician. The blind man, with the rights of an injured and deprived spectator, sat next to Lacius and held his hand throughout the evening, while the others exchanged impressions.
However, the incomprehensible silence of the guards did not bode well, and the Romans gradually began to speculate, realising that all this would not end just like that. When, having taken off their leather breastplates, everyone lay down in the corners and there was silence in the barn, Paul Domician quietly asked him:
– How did this happen? Did you really kill him with a piece of bamboo?
– Of course not. With a knife. But before that, the medallion saved me. It should have pierced me right through, but it hit him. Like once in Emilia…
– Yes… – the blind singer said thoughtfully. – Tell me, do you want to return to Rome? – Lacius shuddered in surprise and turned to him, although he knew that the old singer still couldn’t see him. – I feel like you do, – he added with a smile and firmly squeezed his shoulder with his hand. – The gods protect you. I see the spear of Mars that has pierced the enemy. He was the one who helped you.
– Thank you, Paul, – Lacius whispered in response and took a deep breath.
Today he survived, although Chow didn’t believe it. But the next day everything could be different. This country was dangerous for him, for all Romans. The people here did not say what they thought, and they did not think at all what they did. And Lacius understood that no one could be trusted. Although in his heart he really wanted Chow Li to keep her promise.
CHAPTER XI. UGLY GUARD FOR THE LAST CONCUBINE
In the concubines’ rooms that evening it was fun and festive. It smelled of musk and sandalwood, which was incompatible for the emperor in other circumstances, and which his wife would never have allowed, as she distributed the fragrances among the different rooms, leaving only a light scent of “lan”, a delicate lily, for the bedroom.
Sandalwood and aloe reigned in the preliminary room, personifying the strength and power of the Son of Heaven.
The concubines did not know how to do this. Just as the eunuchs who served them did not know how. However, he did not come to them for this.
The Emperor spent with them the third day in a row. Everyone was talking only about the death of the unfortunate Yu Lai, whom all the women considered handsome and noble. The concubines pleased the Emperor by telling him incredible stories and their fears about the huge white slave, who scared them to death.
– He is so terrible that he must be sent to guard “the last concubine”. They suit each other! – Fu said with a laugh, hinting that the last concubine was always the ugliest girl in the Emperor’s harem, whom he usually never visited. Such concubines always ended their lives either as old maids or by drinking poison, unable to bear the torture of loneliness.
– There are also such terrible Xiongnu women working in the garden that we are afraid to go out there, – Feng complained, pouting her lips offendedly. – They say they hate us because we killed their husbands.
They talked all sorts of nonsense for a long time, entertaining the Ruler of the Empire with jokes and old funny stories, then played musical instruments and sang. Another night passed pleasantly and unnoticed. Everyone was happy.
The next day, the Emperor announced his decision to General Chen Tang and Governor Xiao, who had arrived in the capital shortly before. Both were surprised and could hardly mutter words of gratitude. But if Xiao was glad not only that he was alive, but also that nothing had changed in his fate, then Chen Tang, encouraged by pleasant rumours about the Emperor’s favour, was depressed and gloomy.
– You are young and do not value life, – sighed the old governor, tired of explaining to him what the advantage of living in a distant province is. – There you are free to do whatever you want, but in the center or in the east – you aren’t! In the center, informers of the chief ministers are everywhere. But the most important thing is that you are