Song Jia stood motionless in the middle of the library.
Crystal watched her carefully.
"Mistress?"
Song Jia did not respond immediately.
Her mind had returned to a night more than a century ago.
Rain had fallen heavily outside the military camp.
The soldiers had already prepared for the following day's movement when an unfamiliar messenger arrived shortly after midnight.
At the time, General Song Jia had been irritated.
The original orders had been clear.
Hold the northern route.
Do not advance until reinforcements arrived.
Then the messenger came carrying revised instructions bearing the Imperial military seal.
Advance immediately.
Cut through the western valley.
Intercept the enemy before dawn.
It had seemed reckless.
General Jia had questioned it.
But the seal had been genuine.
"Crystal."
"Yes?"
"Bring me paper."
A sheet appeared on the table.
Song Jia sat and picked up a charcoal stick.
She closed her eyes.
The messenger had been young.
Not a boy.
