The Ginseng Potion — William F. Wu

Hua Mulan is a soldier of the khan of the Toba people, in one of the kingdoms into which China is divided in this period. When Mulan's elderly father was called up to serve on campaign, Mulan took his place. One night, Mulan sneaks out of camp in the hope of bathing alone in a forest stream. While there, a mysterious old hermit greets Mulan. Unlike her fellow soldiers, he knows she is a woman. He takes her to a spring that feeds the stream and arranges for her to take a secret potion her. The potion will turn her invisible-and give her an advantage she can use on campaign, if she is careful. EXTRA INFO: First published in Warrior Enchantresses, ed. Kathleen Massie-Ferch, Martin H. Greenberg, N.Y.: DAW Books, 1996.EXCERPT: She stood up, tingling with excitement. Anxious to report back, she turned her bare feet to step back into the trees, away from the warmth of the fire. Her foot snapped on a twig."What was that?" The sergeant leaped to his feet, whirling, his hand on his dagger. Mulan held her position, her heart racing. The other Yen soldiers stood, grabbing their swords and daggers as they looked around in alarm."Spread out," ordered the sergeant, striding toward Mulan. Mulan tried to step out of his way, but the sergeant bumped into her, knocking her to the ground. Startled, the sergeant stumbled, slashing the air with his dagger. Mulan got to her feet and snatched up a lance that was leaning against a tree."Look out!" The sergeant stared at the lance, apparently lifting of its own accord. Mulan shrieked as loud as she could and threw the lance at him. He flung himself to one side, and the lance thunked into a tree trunk."Demons!" One soldier shouted. Mulan jumped forward over a fallen log and grabbed a burning stick from the fire. She heaved it at another soldier and picked up another. As the soldiers stared, she swung it over her head."Ghosts! Run!" The young soldier turned and fled into the darkness. All the other soldiers panicked and ran into the shadows except the serg