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Butshehadbeenwrong.

Andworsestill,hisstubbornpridewasgoingtoputhiminmortaldanger.

Asifreadingherthoughts,Listoodupandwalkedovertoherdaughter’ssideofthetable.ShegrabbedMulan’shandandthenXiu’s.“Wemustbestrong,”shesaid.Shepaused.Andthenhereyeswelledandherhandsshook.Evenshecouldnotfollowherownorders.“Thistimehewillnotreturn,”shesaid,lettingthetearsfall.Hershouldersslumpedandshesanktotheground,oveebyemotion.“Howwillwesurvivewithouthim?”

Mulanlookedatherdistraughtmotherandthenathersister.Bothwerenowopenlyweeping.Hermotherwasright.Ifherfatherwenttofight,hewoulddie.Ifherfatherdied,hewouldleavethemwithnothing.AndasMulanhadjustdestroyedheronechanceatamatch,therewasnohopeforafuturehusbandtohelptheirfamilyifZhouweregone.

Thetruthwasclear.IfZhouwenttowar,noneofthemwouldsurviveit.

Thehousehadgrownquiet.Thesoundsofhermother’ssobshadfaded,andhersister,tearsdryingonhercheeks,hadfallenintoarestlesssleepasMulantiptoedacrossthelivingareatowardthelargecabthatstoodinthecorner.Theornatepiecewasoneoftheonlyitemsofworthintheirhome.Whenshewasagirl,Mulanhadbeenforbiddentogonearit,andevenasayoungwomanshe’dkeptherdistance.

Untionight.

Mulantookadeepbreath.Theideathathadspetoherasshelayinbedhadstartedasjustaflickerofathought,assheheardherfather’swordsechoaroundherhead.Learnyourplace,hehadsaid.Herplace,sheknew,wasclear—toherfather,atleast.Herplacewasinthehome,takingcareofahusbandshemostlikelywouldneverhave.Butwhatifherplaceweredifferent?Whatifshehadbeenbornaboy?Itwouldhavebeenherplacetogofighttheinvaders.Andthatwaswhentheideablossomed.Whycouldn’tshefight?Whowasstoppingher?Allsheneededwasasuitofarmor,aweapon,andahorse.Well,shehadthehorse,sothatlefttheweaponandarmor.