Gems Of Fate
Chapter One - Old Friends
Bo saw him walk into the compound. He saw the ornate sword hanging from the man's sash, a sharp contrast to his simple robes. He noticed the slow, relaxed, yet intently aware walk characteristic of the Wudan warriors. And when Bo looked at this man's face, he saw an expression that he recognized from the circus tigers; a barely contained animal, feigning tameness that threatened to disappear in a flash the first moment he was poorly handled.
"I'd best be careful with this one," Bo thought.
At Bo's approach, the stranger looked at him, seemingly noticing him for the first time. Bo pursed his lips slightly. "He thinks I am a mere underling," Bo thought, "well... let him think that, if he wants."
"May I help you, my lord?" Bo asked.
The stranger inclined his head slightly. "Yes," he said, smiling politely, "would you please inform Mistress Yu that Master Lo wishes an audience with her?"
"MASTER LO?" Bo sputtered, eyes widening. For a second, he wasn't sure whether he should apologize for the outburst, or run screaming. He settled for the middle ground. "Y-yes, Master Lo," he stammered, backing away, "right away!"
As Bo disappeared into the training hall, Lo chuckled to himself. If he had once thought that his Dark Cloud persona inspired fear, it was nothing compared to the reputation of Master Lo, Wudan warrior. Lo shook his head and smiled ruefully. Ironically, Master Lo was responsible for much less bloodshed than Dark Cloud had been. "Never underestimate the power of subtlety," Lo remarked to himself.
Moments later, Bo reappeared, looking more than a little apprehensive. "M-mistress Yu will see you now," he said, and lead him into the hall.
"My thanks for accepting an audience at such short notice," Lo said, "especially so late in the evening."
"Don't be silly, Lo; the sun hasn't even set yet. Besides, I couldn't turn you away at any time, day or night, you know that." Shu Lien motioned towards a chair across from her as she sat down. "Please, sit."
Lo sat gingerly, as though the chair might break under his weight.
"I'm surprised you even remember me, after all these years," Lo said, smiling slightly.
Shu Lien laughed. "Even had I forgotten our meeting 5 years ago," she said, "I would know you by sheer reputation. The local children pretend to be you in their games, you know."
"I'm sure they pretend to be who they've heard me to be," Lo said, "and not who I really am."
"Indeed." Shu Lien paused for a moment, her expression becoming serious. "I heard about Jen," she said quietly, "my condolences."
Lo merely nodded.
"You didn't just come here to reminisce about old friends, did you?" Shu Lien asked.
Lo shook his head solemnly. "I wish it were so, Shu Lien, but I'm afraid I have some... disturbing news." Lo paused, looking at the floor as if he wanted it to open up and swallow him. He sighed, then looked up at Shu Lien. "It's about Li Mu Bai."
Shu Lien inhaled sharply. Li Mu Bai had been dead for five years, his body and the sword Green Destiny buried together on Wudan Mountain. What more could possibly be done to this poor man?
"The Green Destiny has been stolen, hasn't it?" she asked, her brow furrowing in growing anger.
"I'm afraid it is worse than that, Shu Lien," Lo said, then reached across the table and took Shu Lien's hand in his. It was a strong, yet gentle grip that was meant to be reassuring, but merely served to make Shu Lien tense even further, pulling her hand away before Lo could continue.
"Several weeks ago, close to the midnight hour, the sentinel saw somebody leaving the compound. When he confonted the person, they attacked him... with the Green Destiny." Lo winced inwardly as Shu Lien's jaw tighten, and continued quickly. "He did not get a good look at the assailant's face before he was defeated and the assailant escaped, but he said that he looked remarkably like Li Mu Bai."
Shu Lien covered her mouth with a trembling hand. "The grave...?" she asked in a choked voice.
Lo wished desperately that he did not have to answer that question, even though he knew he must. He crossed his arms, looked down once more, and whispered a single word.
"Empty."
Standard disclaimer: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and all of its characters are used without permission, and are copyright somebody else, probably Sony Pictures Classics.
