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Siwang was locked away in yet another meeting with his high council when the weapons arrived the next morning, delivered straight from the capital, guarded by the Fourth Company of the Third Battalion. The men whom I had trained among, whose voices were familiar as my own breathing after our countless nights by the fire.

“Is it true that General Wu is trapped in the city?” The voice of Da’sha—the youngest yet the tallest of us—rang out like a bell, piercing the frenzy of the camp.

“I heard they ran out of food days ago. Lan’s army has the city surrounded. If we don’t get to them soon, it’s only a matter of time before we lose Changchun.”

“I heard he’s going to send us to attack.”

“That’s not possible. He won’t send soldiers as green as us out front. Lan’s army will—” Luyao stopped midsentence. His face lit up like the sky at midautumn. “Little Li?”

“You seem surprised to see me,” I said. “Did you think I was dead?”

“Little Li!” Another voice followed.

“You are alive!”

“You didn’t run away!”

“Do I look like a deserter?” I teased, and before I could finish, I was surrounded by my comrades, pulling me into hugs that rumbled with laughter.

“Is it true?” someone asked. I couldn’t see whom with all the bodies that surrounded me.

“Is what true?” I laughed.

“That you are a hero now, that you saved the crown prince from Lan’s demons!”

“Do you have any idea how worried we were when you disappeared?”

“We thought something had happened!”

“We thought you’d deserted!” Da’sha exclaimed.

I gasped at this, and playfully punched him. “You were being serious? What do you take me for?”

“The smallest and weakest soldier of the weakest company in Rong’s army?”

“Weakest soldier? You’re thinking about yourself. I can take you in combat any day. In fact, if I remember correctly, Ihave.Several times.”

“Little Li’s right; if anyone is the weakest soldier, it’s you, Da’sha!” someone chimed in, and everyone laughed.

“Are you hurt?” Luyao asked, putting a hand on my shoulder.

“I’m fine now.”

A brief shadow of concern pressed between his brows, but he knew better than to ask too many questions in front of so many people. “I’m glad you’re alive.”

“I promised I would hunt all the meat for you and Zhangxi and your child come winter, didn’t I? I am not the sort of man who doesn’t keep his promise.”

“Are Lan’s soldiers as vicious as the stories?” Da’sha cut in, his eyes eager. He checked me over for bandages and wounds. “You look fine. If you can take them on in a fight, then so can we.”

I should have lied and said yes just to give them some hope, but…

I glanced at the cart of silver behind them, and the mournful camp around us. In just a year, Rong’s mighty army had dwindled to a husk of its former self. The fate of our empire balanced at knife’s point. Our survival hung suspended like a question between frosted breaths.

There was a reason my comrades were here, despite their lackluster training and lackluster skills.

Siwang was too proud to admit that things were turning dire. Somewhere in the capital, the emperor was growing desperate.

“May the gods bless us” was all I could say.