Dusk.
The Bell and Drum Officer stood atop the gate tower of Chongli Pass, holding a vermillion pen in one hand and the Day and Night Book in the other, his eyes fixed intently on the hourglass beside him.
A sliver of orange sunset streamed through the intricately carved window, illuminating half of his face from the nose to the cheek, leaving one side bright and the other in shadow.
As the last drop of water fell in the hourglass, he circled "7 p.m." in the Day and Night Book with the vermillion pen, and a bare-chested soldier began beating the drumsticks.
The evening drum sounded its first beat, with seven hundred and ninety-nine more to follow, not one more, not one less.
Outside Chongli Pass's Peace Gate, the soldiers who had been building the city walls and watchtowers began to trickle into the walled city, their faces dusty and their expressions weary.
Just then, the sound of hooves came from behind them.
