The waters of the lake were calm and still. Trac stood before her soon to be husband, her knees weak with fear. Her ao dai was a deep amber and the ao chaong was the color of pale sunset. Scarlet phoenix were embroidered over the collar and along the sleeves. The khanh dong framing her face made her look far younger than her nineteen years. Dang Thi Sach looked down upon his bride in wonder. Her fierce spirit seemed to be hiding for today, and she stood mutely before him as they exchanged their vows.
Humming softly as she smiled to herself, Trac was startled by a deep chuckle from behind. “Ah, big sister, you are happy!”
She turned to find Nhi watching her in amusement. Trac blushed. “Yes, it is good to be married to a husband that is a warrior at heart. Like us, he too hates the greed of those who rule in Giao Chi.”
“What do you plan to do?” she asked suspiciously.
“We are going to find others who feel as we do – that the avarice of our conquerors has gone far beyond what should be allowed. We refuse to be docile any longer.”
“We are to incite a rebellion?”
“Yes!”
Trac and Nhi visited with the wives of the noblemen of the province, and the wives whispered in the ears of their husbands. Thi Sach courted the favor of many powerful men, winning them to their cause with his assurances of victory. He told them that their strength lay in the unexpectedness of their attack. The corrupt governors had become sluggish and content. They believed their subjects to be completely vanquished and bereft of spirit. There was a traitor in their midst, however, who traded secrets for trinkets. The houseservant Tran Thi Nga left the minister’s office, her pockets replete with pearls. It had not been hard to convince the governor that her message was important.
Go To Page: 1 2
| Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: | View all related messages |
For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Andrea Janel Kirk's Inspirational Biographies topic, please visit the Discussions page.