The silence after that one final accusation stretches so long to the point of becoming deafening.
General Wu stands motionless on his chair, a storm raging behind his eyes as he press down on the wound that betrayed him. Around us, men shift uneasily... Some gripping their weapons and others taking a step back, afraid that a fight might break out... Nobody knows which General to follow anymore.
Yet the body of General Cai, lying in full display, is a witness on its own. One that nor I nor Wu can silence by turning the situation in their favour.
-Eveyone, leave- orders Qin Luo after seeing the unease men and the tension rising between me and General Wu.
-You speak as if justice is yours to command- finally says the defeated man as everyone hurries to abandon the tent -Feeling so above us all just because of some powers you have, but no... You can't always have it your way, you can't threaten us and shut us up with fear. The real justice will be made. Vengeance and truth are not aligned-
-I speak because I have no desire for anything but the end of this war, I've given my everything for the sole reason of bringing peace in the land... Tell me, would you have dared to accuse the First Prince of treason if you found evidence of it?!-
He remains silent -Well I did, even if I could have gotten killed on the spot just for saying those words. And that is only one example of how determinated I am!- my voice comes out as claws aiming for his head -I've already proved my innocence more that once- I add with a calmer tone
-Did you? Well you certainly did in the past but what about your latest charge?- he smirks making me frown -It hasn't been settled completely but it wasn't seen as an urgent matter anyway, the Court doesn't see much of a threat in me-
-What? Is that really what they told you?- he burst out laughing -No, you've been called back to undergo a trial and General Cai was asked to leave his men to me and follow you-
At those words I turn toward Qin Luo and Tian XuWen who both avoid my gaze -Is this the truth?- Qin Luo takes a deep breath in and reaches an arm forward-Lai'Er...- I shake him off -Don't, just tell me if what he's saying is real- he presses his lips together and nods
I get taken aback after he admits his lies, but there's no time for this matter now -Still, this isn't related to the matter at hand- I throw the dirty knife on table and it slides toward him, stopping right beside his hand -I know what I saw-
-What you see as betrayal may have been a sacrifice. General Cai was a man who only knew life on the battlefield, leaving everything behind would have been a heavy hit to his pride. Maybe he chose to sacrifice himself to save me just to avoid such a future-
My patience snaps at this -Stop pretending already! It's just us four now, say it! Did you kill him or not?!-
He doesn't respond, that alone is a confession.
-You wanted him out of the picture since a while, anyone who has been on the battlefield for more than a couple of years knows that...- murmurs Tian XuWen -With how our new Emperor is, he must have been perceived as a menace to his mad ruling, especially since he was siding with Miss Ying-
-I see that you have already decided that I'm the one who killed him then- he tries to look defeated in the eyes of the two other men -All of this will only split the armies apart beyond repair-
-As long as I remember that has been your goal since day one, trying to turn everyone against me and win the men over only for some momentary recognition. What were you aiming for? General Cai's land? His wealth? The ability of leading every warlord with one word? That feeling of absolute power that not even the emperor can give you...-
As I talk I tighten my hand around General Cai's Axe -You intend to fight me?- he asks
-I'm not the one holding the blade tho- I whisper and his eyes fall down on the table, where his hand is rising the same knife that stabbed my General just a few hours ago. He pauses and takes a few deep breaths while standing up -You leave me no choice then, this is nothing but legitimate defense-
-Call it as you wish, I will give you a fair duel if you want one so bad... No powers at all and an equally injured arm-
Then he moves, understanding that there was no escaping it after being caught killing a comrade.
His strike is clean, but his injured arm drags him a fraction slower than intended. I sidestep, blade in hand, and slash across his arm, reopening the wound that Cai gave him.
He stumbles to the side and I strike again, in full abdomen. He looks down and cough up blood -You're a monster... Now I see why The Emperor wants you dead...-
He turns around and drops the knife he couldn't even use in the end, he knew that fighting against me would have meant death yet he still chose a quick end now instead of a more prolonged and painful one later after I would have completely proved his betrayal.
Fitting for how General Cai had to die.
General Wu walks toward the body still in the tent with us and places a red hand on its chest -I was just... Following orders- and with that last nonsense he finally exhales his last breath.
The two other men don't cheers nor move... Staring at me in silence both guilty of lying and scared of what's to come.
-What are we going to tell to eveyone else?- I ask and XuWen gulps down -Uhm... That he went mad and tried to kill us?-
I storm up in rage and throw the axe on the table -Wrong! That's another lie!- I see him flinch at my words then I hurry out of the tent with blood on my cheeks.
The crowd waiting outside remains silent and I stop in mu track for a second, then they move apart and make way as shouts erupt around them... I simply ignore them and walk away with eyes full of fury
-He died...!-
-Justice for General Cai!-
-General Wu was innocent!-
-General Ying saves us from a traitor!-
-Did she really save us or she just killed a rival or her own?-
The men are uncertain wether I was in the right or the wrong... And honestly, now I'm starting to doubt it myself.