Mulan’sthoughtswerestilwirlingthenextmorningastheymarchedoutofthecampandtowardtheMountainSteppeGarrison.Thefootstepsofthenewlymadesoldiersprovidedbackgroundnoisetoherpoundingheart.
Herdeceitwasweighingherdownmorethanthebagonherback.Shewantedtostayquiet,butshefeasthoughsheshouldspeclean.Thesemenhadbeherfriends.CommanderTungandSergeantQianghadbementors.Shewasbetrayingthemall,andtogiveherfullattentiononthebattlefield,sheneededaclearmind.Yet,silencewasherfriend,too.Notspeakingwouldallowhertokeephersecret,whiletheotherchoicewouldresuinapunishmentworsethandeath??.??.??.disgrace.
ShelookedaheadtowhereHonghuimarched,hisheadup,hiseyesclear.What,shewondered,wouldhedo?Whatadvicewouldhegiveherifsheweretoask?ThenanimageofthePhoenixflashedinhermind.Wouldherancestorswanthertorevealwhoshewas?Orwouldtheywanthertolivealie?Bythetimetheystoppedtomakecampforthenight,Mulanhadmadeherdecision.
Walkingovertothespmander’stent,shepaused.Takingadeepbreath,shespposedherself.“CommanderTung,”shesaid,announcingherself.“It’sHuaJun.”
“Youmayenter,HuaJun.”CommanderTung’sresponsewasquickandcurt.
Enteringthetent,Mulannoddedatherspmandingofficer.Hisattentionwasfocusedonhissword,whichlayacrosshislap.Hewassharpeningitwithsmooth,methodicalstrokes.
“CommanderTung,”Mulanbegan.“Thereissomethingthatweighsheavilyonmyheart.Ineedtoconfessittoyou.”Hermouthgrewdryasthespmanderlookedupather.Sheopenedandclosedhermouthseveraimes,tryingdesperatelytomakehertongueformtherightwords.“IthastodowiththeThreeVirtues??.??.??.”Thatwasasfarasshecouldget.
Asshestruggled,CommanderTungwatched.Tohersurprise,shesawsppassioninhiseyes,asifseeingherstrugglehurthim.Gettingtohisfeet,thespmanderapproachedher.“There’snoshameinbeingfearfulbeforebattle,”hesaid,mistakingthereasonforhervisit.“Infact,it’satestamenttoyourhonestythatyouconfesssuchdoubt.”
HiswordsstabbedatMulan’salreadyguiyconscience.Honesty?Shewastheretotellhimhowdishonestshewas.Sheshookherhead,tryingtogettheconversationbackontrackandsaywhatsheneededtosay.“Yes,Commander,”shesaid,“buttheothervirtues—”