Gift of the Fox

Chapter 20: Friends

In the evening, the troops returned to their camps. Prince Wang Shao accessed his tent, to see the two Qartlandian brothers having supper together. They laughed and talked in their language. It seemed that they were remembering their good old days. Tao taught Nick how to use chopsticks to eat food and laughed at his having a hard time.

"What are you two doing?"

Tao and Nick started and looked at Shao. Nick asked something to his brother. He apparently didn't speak Wanglongian, so he couldn't understand what Shao had just said. Tao translated it into Qartlandian for him, and then addressed the prince with a bow:

"Welcome back, Your Highness. We were just having supper. Oh, and, my brother cannot speak Wanglongian, so... would you mind talking in Sorovian so both of us could understand?"

"Net problem (No problem)," Shao said in Sorovian and sat near them on a pillow. 

The conversation continued in Sorovian.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Your Highness."

Nick bowed to Shao as a sign of courtesy to a foreign prince. Shao smiled and answered the same way, showing his respect to a general. Tao pouted:

"Mmm... Why do you do this, Your Highness? You respect my brother yet look down on me..."

"You are my servant, while he's the commander of my enemy's army." Shao chuckled at his silly pose. "And who said I look down on you?"

Tao laughed. He poured some tea for the prince so he could enjoy supper with them. Shao took the cup and sipped some.

"So, how's the battle going?" Tao asked, "Tomorrow I'm joining in again."

"We need to form a new strategy. I don't want to risk many lives of my troops here. Nick," Shao referred to the new ally, "could you tell me of the Sorovs' plans?"

"Sure. They have dispatched half of their troops across the mountains in order to attack your camp from the rear, while the other half which was previously in my command was ordered to draw your attention to the battlefield. It would be a surprise attack."

"Ah, so that is why they seemed to be so few this time! That is indeed some needful information..." Shao put a hand to his chin. "So, if I dispatch my troops to meet that secret army of the Sorovs, we could surprise them ourselves, thus, gain an advantage over the perplexed army."

"Sounds like a good idea." Nick nodded.

"But it could be done quicker and with fewer troops, Your Highness," Tao cut in, "Nick said that they're crossing the mountains. While we battled in these areas, I noticed a pass between snowy cliffs which leads exactly to our camp from the rear, so the Sorovs would most likely use that pass to attack us. My suggestion is, while they are still in the pass, a brave warrior of ours should shoot them with Dragon-Bombs and kill them right there."

"But Dragon-Bombs are extremely dangerous! Their explosion can bring serious harm to anyone nearby, and they are quite short-ranged on that behalf."

"That's why I'm saying we should bomb them right in the pass, Your Highness." Tao grinned, "As you might know, Nordic horses can climb cliffs way too freely."

Shao guessed what this smirk hinted at.

"No!" He leapt up, "You want to get on the top of those cliffs and shoot the Sorovs right inside the pass? It's dangerous! I can't risk your life!"

Tao blinked - he got so frightened, only because he mentioned that he was going to volunteer on this difficult mission!

Does he treasure me, his servant, that much?

Nick got worked-up too - he had just reunited with his sister and she was willing to do such a crazy thing?!

"No, Tao, you can't!"

Tao heaved a sigh. It seemed he had already made up his mind.

"Listen, Mjolnir is the only one who can climb those cliffs out of the horses that our army has. I must be the one who goes there."

"Not only Mjolnir can do that!" Shao clenched his fist. "Bernard is quite skilled at that, too."

"Master," - Tao gave him an unusually warm smile, - "the army needs the prince as their commander. Let me handle this difficult job. I will not disappoint you."

"Then I hope Mjolnir's back has a seat for two!" Nick frowned.

"Okay, you stubborn one!" Tao chuckled. "You can follow me. After all, we've always done dangerous things together."

"Just please don't die!" Shao grabbed Tao's arm and clutched it, "Such a servant... Such a friend as you is a rare treasure. I've no friends except for you, Xin Tao."

A... friend? 

Tamie's heart melted - such warm words... She couldn't wish for anything better!

"I will not disappoint you, Your Highness. I am honoured that you deem me a friend."

Thus, at dawn, the two brave warriors sitting on the same horse - Tao and Nick - galloped towards the high cliffs of the mountains of Wanglong, in order to execute their newly-worked-out strategy.