The Stone Road Read Online Free PDF Page B

that lit the way. Behind him, the door closed as silently as it opened and he began to descend, step by step, into the earth. The further down, the hotter it became. At the top, the staircase was wide enough for three broad-shouldered men to walk side by side but it narrowed soon after. The rock walls and ceiling were getting closer and sweat began to drip down his brow.
    An eternity later and the stairs ended, opening out into a circular room with three further exits. Choosing one, he continued walking. Faint at first, then increasing in volume, Haung began to discern the pattern of a regular chant. The echoes in the corridor confused the words but drove and enhanced the rhythm. It surged and ebbed like the tide against his mind. He passed doorways that opened out into rooms, some small and others large but none were the source of the chanting. That was still washing down the corridor in front of him. A few moments later, Haung could see the corridor’s end, an archway and beyond that, in the red glow and flickering light was the source of the chant.
    There was a multitude of sudden shrieks and sword half-drawn by instinct, Haung crouched, balanced, tense. His quivering sword arm wanted to complete the draw but his mind, shocked by the pain, anguish and utter fear contained in those screams, had frozen. The high-pitched cries continued for an age and then, at last, faded away. Haung took a shaky breath, still crouched and still ready to fight. A shadow filled the open arch, growing larger and larger. It flowed along the floor towards the terrified Jiin-Wei .
    “Ah, Haung,” said the shadow, “you are on time. Good. Put that sword away, it will do you no good here.” The shadow chuckled, a hollow, rattling, empty sound. “Come with me, your lessons continue and you have much to learn.”
    Haung took a deep breath which whistled out between tight, pursed lips. He pushed the sword back into the scabbard with a cleansing click and followed the Fang-shi sorcerer.
    “Can you cope with more noise, Haung?” said the sorcerer. “We still have much more work to do on our grand plan. You cannot be weak to this. Magic comes from an understanding of the universe and it is cold, dark, and unforgiving. Fear will only get you killed, young Haung. Let it go, accept the darkness and cold of the universe into your heart. Harden it to the screams of others, they are nothing to the universe. It does not care for us or our plans and struggles.” The Fang-shi stopped and stabbed Haung with a penetrating stare from his shimmering golden eyes. “Accept, understand and use that knowledge. Become like the universe, Haung, do not care for the screams of others.”

 
     
     
    CHAPTER 5
     
     
    The negotiations were slow and heavy going. Already a week in and the only agreements reached were the order in which they would speak and the basic agenda.  After the fifth day, Zhou was irritable and impatient for progress to be made. By the seventh, the frustration was giving him headaches.
    Zhou stomped through the door of the inn. Apart from a few Wubei soldiers sat at one table playing cards and drinking cups of wine, the tap room was empty. Zhou narrowed his eyes, with them was a man who he did not recognise. He walked to the bar and beckoned over the Innkeeper.
    “Who is that man?” Zhou asked whilst nodding his head towards the soldiers’ table.
    “That’s Donny Yuen, Sir. He runs an import house in the traders’ quarter. Comes here quite often after work.” The Innkeeper spoke quickly, “Can I get you some wine?”
    Zhou looked from the table to the Innkeeper and back again, “Hmmm… what, no thanks.”
    He walked past the table, giving the guards a stern stare. They ignored him and carried on playing their game. Gripping the stair bannister rail he paused to glance back at the guards, shook his head, and then climbed the stairs.
    At the top, he went straight to the Captain’s door and knocked twice. His soft soled boot tapped a