TWELVE
Between his brothers and the words that just wouldn't come, Yun needed an escape. So in a fit of frustration, he begged his father to allow him to do guard duty with the rest of the palace garrison. Marching up and down the walls would make him feel more martial, he'd said, or some such nonsense. Yet, to his surprise, his father had agreed.
Which was why Yun was the first man to spot the strange packhorses.
They came galloping up to the walls as though all the demons in hell pursued them, lathered like they'd been running for some time. Eyes rolling in panic, they'd been too tired to do more than stand by the bridge, their sides heaving beneath their panniers. When no one appeared to take charge of them after several minutes, Yun headed down to investigate.
It took him some t
