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I thought of Caikun’s older brothers, the tales told in teahouses of how the eldest of General Wu’s three sons had lost a leg in the first six months of the war, and Caikun’s second-eldest brother had been declared missing on the battlefield last spring.

“Yes, I have no idea what it’s like to lose a family member. But Ican imagine what it’s like to watch the father who had raised me for nineteen years walk into hellfire and burn when I have the power to do something. If anyone has to burn, I’ll burn in his stead.”

“You think you have what it takes to survive?”

“I don’t know. But I will do everything to protect my family, which is why I am here. To fight. To protect them.”

Finally, Caikun’s lips inched into a slow, genuine smile. Before he could say anything else, Beifeng started nudging at my neck, still waiting for his petting.

“He seems to like you,” Caikun murmured. “Beifeng doesn’t usually like strangers.”

With the exception of Siwang, I was the only other person Beifeng allowed to ride him. Something the emperor took as an auspicious sign. A rare “heavenly” horse. Beifeng was a tribute from one of the smaller western kingdoms. Centuries ago, the southern warlords used to wage entire military campaigns to the far west in order to obtain these precious horses.

A treasure that a select few were allowed to touch, which contributed to Beifeng’s hostile temperament toward strangers.

“I’m good with animals,” I lied.

“Really? Being a stable hand is one of the most coveted positions, and one of the safest. If Beifeng likes you this much, maybe I’ll see to it that you are moved to stables. I’m tired of watching young boys die.”

“Please don’t,” I begged before I could stop myself. “I want to fight. If Lan keeps pushing north, my family’s village will be in danger. I know what happens when soldiers raze small villages like mine.”

Caikun frowned, but didn’t argue. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. The battlefield has no mercy. Not you, not me, not even the emperor himself can deny Death when it is his time.”

“I understand.”

With a final pat on my shoulder, he said, “Maybe the Fourth Company of the Third Battalion won’t be so bad after all. I hope you live to see your father again.”

“Thank you, Commander.”

He looked at me for a second and tilted his head as if remembering something.

Shit.

“What is your name?”

I couldn’t say Fei. “My name is Little Li.”

“Have we met before?”

I laughed. “I’ve seen you before, but you have never seen me. You delivered the conscription scrolls to my village.”

“You look…familiar.”

Another deep laugh. “I guess I just have one of those faces.”

29

“I think this is everyone,” Caikun announced when I returned to the barracks. “As some of you may know, my name is Wu Caikun. My father is the chief general of the First Army, and I will be your commander. I believe it’s fair to warn everyone beforehand that I was raised among soldiers. By nature, I set a high standard for my men. I expect every one of you to become the best soldiers you can possibly embody before our inevitable advancement to the front lines.”

He counted heads with his eyes. “There’s a saying in the army: military laws are above even the country’s laws. Hence, I expect every single one of you to familiarize yourself with the fifty-eight laws of the army. With every law broken, intentional or accidental, you will be punished with ten laps around the camp, regardless of weather. Understood?”

“Understood!” some of the men responded in unison.

“To start us off, rule number seventeen is that our beds and the barracks must be kept clean and free of clutter at all times.” He gestured at the bunk beside him, littered with my bag and the scattered piecesof clothes I’d used to solidify my claim to that precious corner bed. “Whose bed is this?”

Skies.On the first day?

Gingerly, I raised my hand.