Jing did not believe one word of the man's speech about ill gotten fortune. That was not the man she married. After all she had been amoung the villagers and common people. Though they were not wealthy people, that was not uncommon. They seemed happy, at least as happy as any other hard working peasant in other lands. Many of the soldiers were from thos outer lands and villages. If they saw this man as a savior it did not show in the way they had fought agianst his invasion..
Knowing she and her husband were already dead, she stood tall and proud. They were dead from the minute Kong Ming overtook the city. It as too dangerous to let them live even if they were simply banished. If her husband was capable of establishing such a kingdom before, he could and would do it again. Now the life of her daughter was the only thing that mattered anymore. If it was up to her, she would have sent Cleo into hiding a week ago, never to return. The restoration of her husbands kingdom was not worth the life of her only child.
Staring at the man addressed as the Ox. "No matter what you do.... I will not give up my child...."
Jing struggled against him as he grabbed her breast. Sickened by his mere touch. The more pressure he applied the harder it became not to scream. Willing to endure this to ensure the safety of her daughter, give her a chance to escape. Knowing her daughter, she had not left the castle nearly as soon as she should have.
For a brief instant, Jing's dark eyes flickered to her husbands face. Through gritted teeth. "Tama... Dont you dare say a word... No matter what....."
A soft whimper escaped her lips as his grip continued to tighten. Crying out she still refused to say a word about her daughter. His grip could not tigthen enough on her breast to force her to give in or beg. After all she was a woman who had give birth to twins. It might have been many years earlier but she knew about pain. The thought of him getting his hands on her daughter would be more painful than anything they could do to her body.

Chin was nervous. The castle was over run by enemy soldiers. The king and queen captured. Like many of the other servants, he had been rounded up and locked in a room for the time being. Pacing a small section of the floor, it was hard to believe this was happening. Being close to the door he heard about the search efforts to find treasurey and the princess. The soldiers talked as they went past. All of the servants had been questioned before being put in the room.
Nervous, the door opened again, another servant being pushed through. Stepping forward, he spoke up. "I have information...." A round of protest went up around him. Before he had a chance to defend himself or his reasoning, the soldiers had a hold of him, dragging him out of the room. The next thing he was aware of was being slammed hard enough against the wall that he was momentarily dazed.
"What do you know?" After a short pause, Chin felt his head slam into the stone wall again. "What do you know?"
"The treasure might be in the dungeon...."
"Its been searched....."
Hurrying before they could hit him again. "There is a hidden section. If its anywhere its there....."
"Take him to Mighty Kong Ming" Chin found himself being dragged down the hallway.

By the time Cleo drew near to her destination she was exhausted. Both physically and mentally. Her imagination had run wild with every step she took. Her consious reminding her of the fate of her parents that she had left behind. Thoughts that both her parents were already dead reeked havoc though she knew that would have been mercy.
Stumbling then falling to her hands and knees, she did not have the strength to pick herself up off the ground. Fresh tears started to fall. Coughing once or twice she battled to keep from getting sick. It had been hours since she had ate or drank anything. Too sick to her stomach to even try. Sitting back on her knees she gave herself a few minutes to get herself back under control. Knowing that in this state, she was doing no one any good.
In the still darkness she was aware of approaching movement. Movement from behind her. That was not good. It was faint sounds. If she had not stopped moving she would have completly missed it. As much as she wanted to simply believe that it was not the soldiers, that they had not caught up with her. That was foolish and childlike thoughts. Pushing herself to her feet, preparing to face the threat. Unslinging her bow, she strung it with practised ease. With fatigue it took her precious extra seconds. Notching an arrow in place, she stood ready. Cleo expected to be able to unleash two, maybe three arrows before they were too close and she would be forced to use the bow as a sword.