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There are worse ways a bird could spend its time

. Mulan laughed. “Thank you,” she said, her tone genuine. The bird lifted into the air and, with one last conspiratorial wink, flew off, following Honghui back toward the camp.

Mulan sighed. The Phoenix had helped her out of that jam. But what was she going to do when she saw Honghui in the morning? He would be hurt, and his resentment would turn to anger. She had only just begun to find her place in the camp. And then she had gone and done that ridiculous thing with the spear�6�2.�6�2.�6�2. and now this? She just couldn’t get out of her own way. She sighed again. She really had messed things up—and now she was going to have to pay the price.

It felt as though Mulan had only just closed her eyes when she heard the shout to wake up. Biting back a groan, she pulled herself up. Around her, the other soldiers were throwing on their clothes and armor, lacing up boots and grabbing their various equipment. Spotting Honghui, Mulan ducked her head, trying to avoid eye contact.

But the space was small, and it was impossible for them to avoid each other completely. Heading for the row of boots, Mulan leaned down and almost gasped when her shoulder accidentally brushed Honghui’s. She jumped back and was about to retreat to her sleeping platform when Sergeant Qiang’s voice boomed through the barracks.

“Hua Jun!” he shouted. Mulan snapped to attention and looked over. “Report to Commander Tung.”

Mulan walked out of the tent, but not before catching Honghui’s eye. She wasn’t sure, but she almost thought she saw a flicker of compassion cross his face. But as quickly as it appeared, the flicker faded, replaced with coldness. Her shoulders sagged. What had she expected? For Honghui to suddenly forgive her for acting cold last night, just because she was now possibly walking to her doom?

Keeping her head down, she made her way across the campground toward Commander Tung’s tent. While his rank afforded him lavish sleeping quarters, the commander had kept his space simple and modest. As she entered, Mulan noticed that the furnishings were bare, and it appeared as if the sleeping platform had never been used. Commander Tung was a soldier. Sleep would wait until after the battle had been won.

Sitting at his desk, the commander looked up as he heard Mulan approach. He gestured for her to come closer. Then, setting his writing utensil down, he put his hands flat on the desk. Mulan resisted the urge to run.

Finally, he spoke. “I’ve watched you, Hua Jun,” he began. “You train hard—your spirit is evident.” He paused, as though weighing his next words and their impact. “But something holds you back. It seems�6�2.�6�2.�6�2. you’ve been hiding something.”

Mulan felt her mouth opening and closing like a fish on dry land. What did he mean? What did he know? She stood there, unsure what to do. She feared that at any moment, soldiers would burst into the tent to drag her away in disgrace. “Commander�6�2.�6�2.�6�2.” she started to say.

Unaware of the impact his words had had on her, the commander held up a hand for silence. “I sensed it the moment I met you. But now I am sure,” Commander Tung continued. “You see, I have a secret as well�6�2.�6�2.�6�2.” The commander looked directly into Mulan’s eyes. “I know your father.” At Mulan’s surprised expression, Commander Tung nodded. “Hua Zhou and I fought together. He was a great soldier. In you, Hua Jun, I see the shadow of his sword. Perhaps this shadow falls heavy on your shoulders.”

Bowing her head, Mulan dared not meet the commander’s gaze. She didn’t want him to see the emotion that filled her face. He had no idea how true his words were, though they were not true for the reason he thought. Her father’s love, not his shadow, fell heavy on her. As did the truth she could not share.

Taking her silence for agreement, Commander Tung went on. “You can’t allow your father’s legacy to hold you back. You need to cultivate your gift.”

Gift?

Mulan looked up, confusion replacing her sadness. “Sir?” she asked.

“Your chi, Hua Jun,” Commander Tung answered. “It’s powerful. Why do you hide it?”

Once again, Mulan felt herself at a loss for words. Chi. The vital life force believed to flow through everyone. She had heard her father speak of warriors who possessed a stronger force than others. Warriors whose chi allowed them to be faster and braver in battle and to move with such grace and power that they could, at times, appear to hang in the air as though flying. For the commander to imply that she had such chi seemed�6�2.�6�2.�6�2. impossible. But as she stood there, the smallest of flames began to flicker. It would explain so much. The Phoenix. Her battle with Honghui. Maybe, just maybe, Commander Tung wasn’t wrong. But she couldn’t risk revealing anything special about her, or she risked revealing everything.

“I�6�2.�6�2.�6�2. I don’t know,” she said.

Sensing her struggle, Commander Tung nodded in understanding. “We will expose it. Allow it to blossom. The truth never hurts as much as the exposure of a lie.” With a nod, he dismissed Mulan.

Slowly she left, the commander’s words ringing in her head. He had not guessed her secret, but for some reason, she felt as if he had revealed something far deeper.

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