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But Mulan did spot the bird the next day as she and Black Wind made their way along a snowy mountain pass. Her teeth chattering with cold, she hunched as close to Black Wind’s neck as she could, but even the large horse provided little warmth. As they came around a bend in the pass, Mulan’s eyes narrowed.</p>

The bird was back.</p>

Shivering so violently that the few feathers it had fell off, and with beak chattering, the bird stood in the middle of the snowy pass. It appeared to be trying to block Mulan’s way. “You,” Mulan said, pulling Black Wind to a halt. “What do you want?”</p>

The bird let out a sad squawk.</p>

Dismounting, Mulan approached the bird. Close up, the creature was even more unfortunate-looking. Mulan felt sad. The bird was sickly and pathetic. But there was also something familiar about it. And a stubbornness in the bird’s eyes made it seem stronger than its molting, skinny body would suggest.</p>

“Please,” Mulan said, this time her voice gentle, “move aside.”</p>

The bird did not move.</p>

Sighing, Mulan lifted her foot and tried to nudge the bird. To her surprise, her foot was met with resistance. For such a weak thing, the bird was surprisingly strong. Mulan pushed harder. The bird still did not move. Letting out a shout, Mulan pushed once more. This time she managed to edge the bird off the path and close to where the pass dropped off.</p>

Mulan grabbed Black Wind’s reins and led him past the bird. She looked over her shoulder and saw that the bird was still standing there, watching them go. The same odd sense of sadness washed over Mulan, and for a moment, she thought about going back for the bird. But then she shook her head. She didn’t need any more baggage and she definitely didn’t need a sickly bird slowing her down.</p>

Mulan did not think she could go on. The last of her rice had run out a day before and both she and Black Wind were weakened with hunger. Leaving the mountains behind, she sat slumped in her saddle, the reins loose as she let Black Wind make his own path.</p>

The sun was just beginning to sink toward the horizon when Mulan caught sight of a town in the distance. She sat up a little straighter, her stomach rumbling in anticipation. Relief flickered in her heart. Black Wind saw the town, too, and his footsteps quickened. By the time they approached the outskirts of the town, he was cantering and Mulan was smiling.</p>

But her smile faded as she got off Black Wind and walked him through the new town. Every face she saw was that of a stranger. The eyes that followed her were dark and suspicious. She had never known any village but her own. She had never met strangers. Now she was surrounded by them.</p>

Tying Black Wind to a post outside the only tavern in the town, Mulan gave him a pat. “Wish me luck,” she whispered. The big horse nickered and then bumped her with his head toward the doors of the tavern. Taking a deep breath, Mulan walked inside.</p>

The room was dark and smoky, filled with the smell of roasted meat, ale, and dirty men. Mulan kept her head down, her heart thumping loudly in her chest. Scanning the room from beneath lowered lids, she spotted a small table at the far end. She made her way over and slumped onto the chair. If she could have made herself invisible, she would have. But then she wouldn’t get food.</p>

Suddenly, the large burly innkeeper appeared next to the table, eyes cold and arms crossed over his chest. While he was an innkeeper and therefore made his living from serving strangers, he certainly didn’t seem to like them. “We have noodles with pork or pork with noodles,” he said with a grunt.</p>

Mulan nodded, not trusting herself to speak. “That a yes?” the innkeeper asked.</p>

“Yes,” Mulan said, trying to keep her voice deep and low like a man’s.</p>

The innkeeper didn’t move. He kept standing there, looking down at Mulan. Mulan shrank further into her armor. She had told him what she wanted. Why wasn’t he leaving? She dared another look at the big man.</p>

“Pay before you eat,” he said, holding out his hand.</p>

Right. Money. It was an inn full of travelers. Of course the man would demand payment up front. There was just a teeny tiny problem. She didn’t exactly have money, not in the traditional sense. Keeping her head down, she reached into her bag and pulled out a small cloth pouch. She handed it to the innkeeper.</p>

“What is this?” he asked, looking down at the pouch, which looked even smaller in his huge hands.</p>

“Tea,” Mulan said.</p>

The innkeeper raised one bushy eyebrow. “Well, this must be my lucky day,” he said. Then, turning to the rest of the room, he called out, “The soldier wants to pay with tea!”</p>

The room erupted in cruel laughter.</p>

“It’s all that I have,” Mulan protested, knowing the excuse sounded weak.</p>

The innkeeper shook his head. “No,” he said. “You have more than that. Your sword, for instance.” He nodded at the weapon resting at her side. “Your armor. I hear you have a handsome horse outside. Trade all three and you can eat like an emperor for a year.”</p>

Mulan’s skin grew clammy and her heart pounded against her chest. She had thought she’d kept a low profile, but clearly this man, and the other patrons, had observed her from the moment she’d arrived. They had noted her weapons and Black Wind. She felt very, very afraid. What if they tried to rob her?</p>

The sounds of laughter—at her expense—filled the room. Mulan looked at the faces of the strangers and saw no compassion or sympathy in any of them. The feeling of fear grew stronger. Getting to her feet, Mulan grabbed her things—and the tea—and rushed out of the tavern.</p>

Jumping up on Black Wind’s back, she urged him into a run. She would just have to wait until they got to the next town to eat. Her stomach rumbled angrily. Hopefully, it wouldn’t be too far away.</p>

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