the warriors and servants, who arrived with Bao Shi, lined up in two rows under the scorching sun. A metallic sound was heard from the direction of the imperial palace – two short ringing blows. They recalled the unpleasant rattling of the Parthian kettledrums during the unexpected attack of the cataphracts. The guards bowed again, and the Romans, musicians and other servants were ordered to kneel.
This time there was no stretcher. Out of the corner of his eye, Lacius saw about two dozen horsemen. They drove out of the gate. One of them was dressed in a long plum – coloured robe, and the rest were in black with yellow accents. The riders stopped near the corner of the canopy, where Governor Bao Shi and the head of the guard were already waiting for them. The man in the purple robe seemed familiar to Lacius: he had already seen somewhere this elongated face with sunken cheeks, a sharp, stiff beard, and a straight nose with a small hump, so unlike the flattened noses of other Han people. It was the Empress’s younger brother, Wang Mang. Chow Li had told Lacius about him: the man was unpredictable and harsh in his statements and decisions. Therefore, he was worth fearing. But why did he come instead of the Emperor? Lacius did not know the answer to this question.
The command “Tshii – laai”9 was heard, and everyone began to stir: the shields rattled, one of the musicians touched the strings, and they rattled with displeasure, until they were quickly pressed down with a hand; a servant nearby sneezed loudly and fell silent in fear. Lucro gave the command to level the formation, and at the far end of the barn, where the siege of the city began in the pictures, a purple robe with an orange stripe going down from the waist to closed sandals appeared.
The Empress’s brother walked accompanied by Bao Shi and the head of the guard, who told him in a loud voice how everything happened. They stopped only once – in front of the burning gate. But from the expression on the high – ranking visitor’s face it was not clear whether he liked this picture or not. Having reached the Romans, he crossed his arms over his chest and looked around the first rank with an attentive gaze. Lacius intercepted Fu Xing’s nod and nodded to the musicians. Everything was repeated, as with Bao Shi – music, singing and closing of shields. However, the face of the Empress’s brother remained motionless. In this way he reminded Lacius of the Luli – Prince Tai Sin.
– What is this? – the guest asked a short and very unpleasant question. Governor Bao Shi shuddered and seemed to become smaller in stature, the chief of the guard looked confusedly first at the Romans, then at Wang Mang, then back at the Romans, thinking that he had missed something, but did not speak before the governor.
– Yes, what is it? – the Empress’s brother suddenly turned to him and looked with such a naive expression on his face, as if he himself had seen the Romans with his own eyes for the first time. Yong Fu Xing sighed with relief – now he could answer.
– These are Luoma Ren, inhabitants of a distant country. They fought with the Parthians. Zhi Zhi bought them. They protected him.
– Why are they here then? – without changing his intonation, the narrow-bearded man asked the second question.
– They are very strong and skilled warriors, – Fu Xing said less confidently, not knowing what to say next. Apparently, he had no more explanations for what almost a hundred people were doing here, fighting on the side of the Emperor’s sworn enemy.
– Can they teach us anything? They have blue faces and hairy arms. They look like corpses from old graves. What can these dead people teach us, Fu Xing?
– Ahh… I don’t even know… – the young security chief stammered. Lacius could see his face turn red and a dark vein twitch on his neck.
– We can teach you how to hold a sword, – he said loudly and clearly so that the guest could understand his words. Judging by the way this formidable courtier spoke, his speech was different from Chow Li and he spoke a little differently. There was such a tense silence under the canopy that it seemed as if a thunderstorm was about to break out or someone would lose their life. Seeing that everyone was petrified, Lacius added: – And not only the sword. We know how to fight with a sword and a spear, – he lowered his chin to his chest, feeling that the torn lining of the helmet was putting a lot of pressure on the back of his head and he should take it off to fix it, but…
– Does he speak our language?! Who is this? – Wang Mang asked as sharply as the first time, looking at the servants.
– This is the best warrior I have ever seen, – the chief of the guard unexpectedly answered loudly. The Empress’s brother looked at him as if an enemy was standing in front of him and he wanted to kill him with his evil, soul-penetrating gaze.
– Call Yu Lai! – he ordered in a calm voice, but from his words the crowd of servants swayed to the side with such force, as if a hurricane had hit them. Everyone whispered, turning their heads towards the horses on which Wang Mang and his men had arrived.
– Yu Lai, Yu Lai, Yu Lai… – echoed under the canopy roof, and a tall, broad – shouldered Chinese man in a black robe with yellow inserts appeared in the aisle.
– Give him a sword! – ordered the Empress’s brother. Fu Xing handed his weapon to the approaching warrior and stepped aside. The servant in the black robe, who followed him, unwound the white belt and pressed one edge to the ground with his toe. He held the other in his outstretched hand.
There was a short exhalation, and four white pieces of silk fell at his feet, and Yu Lai was already standing, leaning on his sword, smiling as if it wasn’t him who did it. And although this warrior did not allow himself to show feelings in front of his master, it was clear that he was full of confidence in his superiority over any opponent. Lacius heard Zeno chuckle in surprise from behind. A smile touched his lips, and he, trying to remain calm, said:
– We don’t kill the air. We are killing the enemy, – these words made more of an impression on the self-confident warrior than on his master. He was taken aback not only by what he heard, but also by the fact that the barbarian spoke to him in his language. Yu Lai asked the Empress’s brother something, he nodded in response, and then he approached Lacius and angrily tore the shield out of his hands. Then he threw it to the ground and cut it with one blow. Chips and copper plates flew to the sides. The shield was no longer there, and an oblong line from the blade remained on the dry, clayey ground.
– Give the sword to the slave! – Wang Mang ordered.
– My lord, I ask you, – the voice of the head of security was heard behind him…
The Empress’s brother turned his head and looked at him.
– What?
– He killed Zi Yue. He is very dangerous.
Wang Mang snorted disdainfully and shook his head.
– Give him the sword! – he repeated again and added, turning to the frightened governor: – Are your warriors afraid even of a chained enemy?
There was no answer. The head of the guard, Fu Xing, was subordinate to the governor, and Bao Shi frowned menacingly, looking at him with disapproval. After the Empress’s brother left, he could remember this self-will and punish him.
A servant named Yu Lai handed Lacius a sword and, taking a step back, leaned against the pillar, crossing his arms over his chest and spreading his legs to the sides. He nodded to the servant, who stretched the remaining part of the belt in front of Lacius.
The sword was already jagged, and with such a blade, even with a very strong desire, it was impossible to cut the hanging silk. Moreover, the servant did not pull the ribbon tight. It was loose. Lacius saw this. But he also felt that he simply did not have the strength to make four quick, deft movements.
– Well? Can you repeat it? – Wang Mang asked him calmly and without irony.
– I don’t