Er Yin sits on a bench and polish her sword. She rub it in a crazy speed. She stare at the name of her brother and smile. In heart, she is talking to him. Telling her brother what the things she did for their family. She ask him for a final blessing in this battle. She plan to resign after this. The name gleam at her under the bright sky. She thinks its a yes from her brother.
The soldiers are all standing in line with their platoon. Each of them have sharpen their weapons. The next step is brief by the crown prince.
"As all injured men are sent back, new soldiers will take another month to join us hence they have to hold back the next attack. Since the first round was lead by Duke Yan, the second round will be done by General He. He will lead his troops down the rocky mountain area where the next camp is at. Duke Yan will come later to support and suppress. While now we have fresh supplies of food and water are taken all at present enemy campsite. We still need to save and not waste anything till the new soldiers and supplies comes along."
"Let me add in that while we stand on enemy grounds, we still have to be alert. Just incase of surprise attack, so don't slack!"
"That is all for now. I need the men who are scouting to stay back."
Er Yin walk off with Luo Ming and the rest of the men. She watch the Duke lecture the crown prince. He is after all older and by blood an uncle of the crown prince. Even thou the crown prince is in a high authority in reality Duke Yan is the incharge of the army. Er Yin watch the scouts taking orders and each dispatch off. North south east west each in team of 4. Right now the camp they are in, there is no gate. They had destroy the gate in the attack now they are open wide for any form of attack. Even wild animals can walk into this camp anytime. Er Yin look at the gate that they had destroyed.
"Yi Jin! Come!"
She turn around to see the Duke wave to her. She walk to hm and bow.
"Your highness."
"I need you to guard the crown prince. That boy is clueless when comes to war. Since you have done it. Guard him even when we go into the second attack. He will be going in with the last troops... is your hands..."
"It's nothing. Just cuts and bruises. Nothing wrong with it!"
She swing her hands in the air and show that she can turn and wiggle her fingers. He laugh and pat her head. She look at his smiling face. His small eyes disappear to form a straight line. A bright glow form around his face. Er Yin finds comfort in his laughter. He pinch the cheek of his solider.
"Why are you so cute?"
At that moment they did not realise what they did till suddenly Luo Ming clear his throat loudly in a distance. They both turn their heads at the same time looking at him. Luo Ming raise his eyebrows a bit and the Duke realise that he is still pinching the cheek of Yi Jin. He let go and put his hands behind him. Er Yin bow to the Duke and walk off rubbing the cheeks. She mumble in her breath 'pain'.
Waiting for few weeks they endure a few attacks. Arrows are flying in every corner. those who are in the medical tent have to suffer more. Physicians try their best to stay alive and help those who is suffering in pain. Er Yin try her best to stop the crown prince from going out of his tent. When his tent is rip open on the top, she shield him from the in coming arrows. She advise the young crown prince to wait for further instructs but this young man is eager to go into the battle.
"You are not immune to any weapons out there! Going outside is dangerous to you!"
" I am here to protect my country men not be a coward! How can i..."
"Your highness! You are the next emperor of this nation! You cannot be in any sort of danger! Duke Yan when he gives the instructs, it is to your benefit! Please wait!"
The young crown prince stare at the solider who is older than he is. He listen to the loud sound outside and minutes later they quiet down. Luo Ming enter the tent with news that it is safe to go outside as they have capture most of the attackers. The young crown prince early step out of his tent holding his sword on hand. The Duke walk up and tell him to keep his weapon. He look over to see two of his men bow to him. He pat the shoulder of his nephew and walk with him around the camp. Luo Ming and Er Yin straighten their backs.
"Deal with a young buck is worst then going to war"
Luo Ming mumble softy to his buddy. Er Yin nod her head and sigh.
A month later, Er Yin finds herself in a forest hiding with the crown prince. They are watching the first and second waves of attack. Once the whistle is blown, they can come out and assist the final sweep. The whistle takes a long time to come and the crown prince is eager to swing his sword. He ride off without his men and everyone is chasing after him. Er Yin ride as fast as she can to be near the crown prince. This time she holds bows and arrows thus she shots in a distance when the attackers are near the crown prince. Her aim is to keep the crown prince alive and unharmed. Her shots are not perfect but at least the arrows land on the body and not wasted. Her dagger is used when enemies are near her. Thus she keep her eyes open at all angle. Once the crown prince gets off from his horse, she hurry to his side and follow him. The young crown prince aimlessly attack without a plan and Er Yin hold herself to be alert for any danger that he cannot handle. She continue to shot to assist the crown prince. He is delighted to see his uncle in a distance on his horse. He call out Er Yin to bring his horse to him. She refused to leave his side. Naturally he got angry and turn around. He kick her hard on her tummy. She fly backwards and landed on the dead bodies. She struggle to get up as she see from behind there are more enemies approaching the crown prince. She scream for Duke Yan and she did not know if he can hear her screaming in the mids of the chaos. Thus she struggle to get up in pain. She struggle to pull her bow and aim properly. Her arrow managed to get the attacker but the crown prince is not happy. He walk to her and stomp his feet on her again and again. The Duke who was slicing the throat of the enemy see in a distance his nephew is stopping his solider. He throw the dead body away and walk towards them. Along the way he stab another and continue to walk there to hear the crown prince yelling in anger. He pull his nephew away and yell at him. With his arms locking the crown prince from moving. He continue to yell at him.
"We do not do that to our people!"
The crown prince stop at what he is doing and turn to look up. He have fear in his eyes while looking at his uncle. While Luo Ming runs up and assist Er Yin to stand up.
"Xie Yi Jin are you, fine?"
"Yes, your highness. I am."
"Crown Prince Zi Yan, we don't injured our own men for any other reason except for treason! Do you understand!"
The crown prince nod his head. The Duke unlock his arm around the crown prince.
"For now we are taking over this fortress. We need to send back a message to the capital. Crown prince, go and rest now. Luo Ming round up all the captives. Er Yin ... are you able to stand up, straight?"
She struggle to stand up but not straight. The pain from the kick is unbearable but she is holding it in. She smile with sweat beads on her forehead. It was supposed to be a task without getting injured but now she is injured by the imperial prince of the nation she is serving. The crown prince walk away with another guard and the Duke hold her up.
"You can walk?"
"Of course! This is nothing! I mean i am a man! Just a kick from a baby. After awhile i will recover, you see!"
She smile and hold in the pain. She bet she have a foot print on her tummy. She try not to groan nor act like a child. She finds a resting spot and lay down. Her horse comes by and stand near her. No one comes by to disturb her. Till a tall figure comes in the dark and lay down a blanket on her. He touch her forehead and later stand-up and walk away.