Dragon Prince - Chapter Eight
Dragon Prince
Chapter Eight
“Make certain you follow the directions that I have given you exactly,” Kyujong told the young woman sternly as he placed a carefully wrapped bundle in her hands.
“I will. I aided our healer before he passed. I know to be careful,” she replied, cradling the package.
Kyujong nodded. “I wish that I could go see to be sure but I can’t for obvious reasons. It is not safe for me in your village.”
“I trust your judgment. Our village has nothing. We’re grateful for your help,” she replied, bowing deeply to him.
“We have given you five bags of grain, and three of flour. You will also find with them two cattle and five sheep. A few of my men will guard them just outside the village until you can get people together to collect them. Please do so before darkness falls. We will spread the word that your village needs aid. Every clan to pass through the area will offer you some,” Soojin told the young woman.
“Thank you Clan Head,” the young woman told her, tears forming in her eyes.
Soojin nodded. “Hyungjoon see this woman to her horse and escort her to the edge of her village.” The young man nodded and placed a hand on her arm.
“Thank you so much. I don’t know how we will ever repay your kindness,” the young woman told her.
“There is no need to repay something that any decent person would do. Go now, and see to your people,” Soojin told her and gave a nod to Hyungjoon.
Once they were out of earshot Soojin turned to her son. “Jungmin see that what I have told you gets taken to a location that is at a safe distance and put some men to guard it.” Jungmin nodded and moved to find his horse. “Youngsaeng,” Soojin continued. “Spread the word, we are to go to travel rations only. Food must now be preserved.” He nodded and turned to obey her. “Kyujong,” she waited until the young man looked at her. “Make a list of what you may need, anything and everything and we will see about getting it for you. Hyunjoong will help you.”
Kyujong nodded and turned back towards their wagon, his steps heavy. Soojin grabbed Hyunjoong’s arm before he could follow. “Keep an eye on him. He’s upset that he couldn’t go into the village and make a proper diagnosis and I don’t want him to get any ideas that he should sneak out to try and help anyone in that village. He has done everything he can. Keep him busy. You’re good at that,” she said with a smile. “Just ask a lot of questions.” Hyunjoong nodded and she patted him on the arm before sending him off after the clan’s healer.
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“What do you use mint for?” Hyunjoong asked curiously, as he wrote down the herb and the amount that Kyujong told him.
The healer sighed and continued to sift through the packets, bottles and containers of stuff. “It has few healing properties, but mostly I use it to cover a bitter taste or something with an unpleasant smell. Why do you ask so many questions?”
“I was only taught about the basic herbs. I’m curious,” he replied.
“More writing and less talking,” Kyujong instructed.
Hyunjoong nodded and continued to write what he was told on the small sheet of paper, however Kyujong’s instructions didn’t keep him from asking a question whenever one popped into his mind. Once they had completed the list he knew a good deal more about the simplest herbs.
Kyujong was just putting his things away when the door at the back of the wagon opened. Youngsaeng climbed into the space and closed the door behind him. He placed a hand on Kyujong’s back as the young man carefully packed away what he had taken out. “Jungmin is leaving to the meeting point soon and we are taking off the other way. Is there anything else you wanted to give them?”
Kyujong took a deep breath and shook his head. “The only way I would know what else I would need to give them, would be by going and seeing them.”
“I’m sorry,” Youngsaeng said softly. “You know why I can’t let you do that.”
“Why don’t they just hire another healer? Or buy the food they need?” Hyunjoong asked.
Youngsaeng offered him a look of utter disbelief and Kyujong laughed lightly. “They can’t. These sorts of villages provide for their own for the most part. Anything that they can’t grow or raise, they trade goods that they can produce for. They don’t have very much cash at all, not enough to buy the sort of things they will need,” he explained.
“They really don’t teach you anything in that fancy palace of yours do they?” Youngsaeng said. Hyunjoong looked as though he were pondering something and the other man laughed bitterly. “I have to go tell Jungmin your answer, you deal with the idiot prince.”
“Wait,” Hyunjoong called. He placed the paper on the floor and moved to where his clothing was being stored in the wagon. Pulling out the large bundle of fabric he unrolled it and moved several pieces aside. From it he produced a small cloth bag. With it in hand he moved over to the other men. “Would this be enough for them to buy a healer and the food they will need until more help can come?”
Kyujong accepted the small pouch from him and opened it. He gasped as he reached in and pulled out a gleaming gold coin. “There must be a hundred in here,” he murmured turning the piece over in his hand.
“A hundred and five,” Hyunjoong confirmed. “Will that be enough? I have another -”
“No!” Kyujong said suddenly. “I mean, yes this will be more than enough to get them what they need,” he dropped the coin back into the bag and tied closed the container of more money then he would ever hope to see in his lifetime again.
Hyunjoong nodded as if satisfied. “Take it to Jungmin to bring to them. I will write my father and send it with the King’s Messengers at the next town. He will make sure this village gets the aid it needs.”
Youngsaeng grabbed the pouch from Kyujong and threw it roughly at Hyunjoong’s chest. “I will not bring them your pity money. If the king had ever intended to help, he would have done so already. These people work hard for everything they have and everything they are, I will not degrade all of that by bringing them money drenched in blood,” Youngsaeng snarled. He tore open the door, nearly removing it from its hinges in his anger, and leapt outside.
Hyunjoong, gripped the bag of money firmly and climbed out of the wagon after him, ignoring Kyujong’s calls to wait. “Youngsaeng,” Hyunjoong called as he ran to catch the man. When he drew near he grabbed his arm, ignoring the look of fury that the other man turned on him.
“I know,” Hyunjoong began firmly, “that you hate my father. I know that you blame him for something that he may or may not have done. I know you would rather die than accept help from someone who carries his blood and I know that that makes you hate me.”
The prince released his arm and grabbed his hand. He pressed the pouch of coins firmly into it. “But if you refuse to take this to them because of that, then it isn’t the king killing them, or whatever else you think he may be doing. It is you.” Hyunjoong released both the man and the pouch in his hand and turned without another word.
As he walked back to the wagon he didn’t see the multitude of emotions that flashed over Youngsaeng’s face too quickly to be identified, nor the way the other man’s hand clenched around the pouch full of money. Brown eyes flashed to black and then back again as Youngsaeng snarled, turned, and walked the other way.
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Dinner that night was a simple stew made from dried meat and dried vegetables. Although the ingredients had been slim, Hyunjoong was surprised at how well the gypsies had compensated for it. They had moved as far away from the village as they could get and were now camped some ways to the west of it.
Jungmin didn’t join them until they were nearly finished with their meal, but when he did, he was grinning. “Great news,” he said as he plopped down and accepted the dish of stew from Hyungjoon. “Kyujong, she said as soon as she started giving out the medicine that you gave her, just as you instructed, fevers started to drop.”
Kyujong released a long sigh that he felt like he had been holding for much of the afternoon at the words. “That is a good sign. That means that I was right or at least close enough that it should work for them. She should be able to save the rest of her village.”
“That’s not all. She thanked us profusely for the supplies and she nearly had a heart attack at the small little pouch I gave her. I told her it was from a friend and to use it wisely for what her village might need. She promised not to waste a single portion of it.”
Hyunjoong nodded his satisfaction while Hyungjoon looked utterly confused. “A pouch of what?” he asked.
“Magic dust,” Jungmin replied, his voice laced with sarcastic mysticism. Hyungjoon threw a rock at him for his trouble and the other man laughed. “So what is the plan for tomorrow?”
“You mean how are we not going to starve?” Hyungjoon asked with a laugh.
“Starve?” Hyunjoong questioned confused.
“Yeah, mother gave her the last of our slaughter stock and the last of our baking ingredients as well. We have a bit of dried goods left and enough feed to last maybe a week for the stock, if we stretch it,” Jungmin said with a shrug.
“Why would she put her clan in danger like that?” Hyunjoong asked. He did a quick calculation in his head and came to the conclusion that even the stuff that they had had this morning would have only lasted a few days at best with so many people using it. Soojin must have planned to resupply at the village, but that was now impossible.
“They needed it more than we did,” Kyujong said gently. “The clan is full of able bodied people. We will find something to sustain ourselves. The village was sick and could do little to help itself. Their need was greater.”
Jungmin nodded and took several bites of his stew. “Mom is resourceful so I’m sure we will all be fine.”
Kyujong nodded. “There is a fairly large river, according to Youngsaeng, and my maps, half a day’s travel from here. We will likely go there tomorrow and see what sort of fish and vegetation we can find. Youngsaeng is discussing it with the elders now.”
“Fresh seaweed,” Jungmin replied with a grin.
“There will be enough for the clan?” Hyunjoong asked.
“You might be surprised what kind of life a river can hold,” Kyujong replied with a smile.
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“Can I come with you please, Hyunjoong?” Micha pleaded.
The prince smiled as he tightened the girth on his saddle around the middle of his stallion. “What did your mother say?”
“That I have to be good and stay out of the way of anything that you do. That I have to listen and obey anything that you say as long as they are good things for the clan and that I should stop bothering her and go find something conmustive to do.”
“Constructive,” Hyunjoong corrected.
“Yes find something constructive to do,” her mouth moved very carefully to pronounce the word. “What does that even mean?”
“It’s a way of telling people to go away and do something else,” he explained.
“Are you going to tell me to go find something conmustive to do?” she asked.
“Constructive,” he corrected again. “And no. I’m going to tell you that you had better climb up into this saddle if you really want to come along.” She released a little squeal of happiness and scrambled forward.
It was rather comical to see her try to lift a foot to the stirrup as she had seen adults do but eventually Hyunjoong laughed and picked her up. He set her easily into the saddle and then climbed up as well, settling behind her. He could tell her body was vibrating with barely controlled excitement and his stallion tossed its head in response. With a laugh the prince gave the horse the cue to go and they rode through the camp at a quick trot. Along the edge of the camp they were joined by Jungmin and Hyungjoon, each mounted on their own horse and Youngsaeng and Kyujong riding double on the war horse.
“I get to come with you,” Micha squealed as she saw Jungmin.
“I see that,” he said with a smile.
“Where are we going? Did your mother tell you to go do something conmustive too?” she asked.
Jungmin looked puzzled until Hyunjoong said, “Constructive, Micha.” She made a face and the other man laughed.
“Yeah I guess you could say my mother did tell me to go do something constructive. I’m not very good at group fishing so we decided to escort Kyujong to gather some herbs as a small pool just upstream,” Jungmin told her.
“Sure you are. What you really mean to say is that Youngsaeng and I will be collecting herbs and you all will be playing in the water and disturbing the habitat,” Kyujong said with a laugh.
“We can play in the water?” Micha asked excitedly.
“Hm,” Hyungjoon said as they urged their horses forward. “I think playing in the water is pretty constructive.”
“My mother did tell me to do something constructive,” she replied, careful to say the word correctly.
“Then I think that will count,” Jungmin agreed with a smile.
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“What will that do?” Micha asked, her eyes filled with wonder as she looked at the small black object in Kyujong’s hand.
“Well if I squeeze its juice onto any part of your skin you will lose feeling in it for the rest of the day,” Kyujong explained.
“Really?” Hyunjoong asked, leaning closer to look at the strange piece of vegetation. Kyujong nodded and tucked it safely into the pouch at his waist.
“Then you will have to walk like this,” Hyungjoon walked by them with one arm hanging limp and one leg dragging through the shallow water.
Micha giggled and reached into the water at her feet. She pulled out a piece of plant and held it up for the boys around her to see. “What is this?” she asked.
“That,” Kyujong studied the plant for a minute, “that is a weed.” She pouted and tossed her find back into the water before intently looking for another. “Weeds can be good too.”
“They can?” she asked.
“Yes, all sorts of animals can eat them,” Kyujong told her.
“Really? Even horses?” she asked. Kyujong nodded and she scooped the water weed up again. “Can I give it to the horses?”
“Why don’t you try seeing if Youngsaeng’s horse wants it,” Kyujong suggested.
The little girl glanced at the man who was standing nearby in the shallow water and then at the weed in her hand. “Should we go find out?” Youngsaeng asked her. She did one last comparison and the weed clearly won over her nervousness of the other man as she slipped her hand into his. Smiling he led her out of the water to where his horse was grazing. Kyujong watched them fondly for a moment before bending over and continuing his search.
“Hey,” Jungmin called as he surfaced in the middle of the pool and swam over. “I found these at the bottom,” he held out two round, pale yellow objects. “I didn’t know if you wanted them.”
Kyujong gasped and waded deeper into the pool to meet him. “These are very rare,” he said softly taking them from Jungmin’s hands. He turned, cradling them gently and began to wade to the shore.
“So I had a great find then?” Jungmin asked as he followed, dripping water.
“A very great find,” Kyujong muttered, making sure not to shake or drop his precious burden.
“Ha I win! You cook dinner tonight,” Jungmin called.
“You cheated!” Hyungjoon countered.
“I did not.”
“You found those in my half of the pool.”
“The whole pool is mine.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah,” Jungmin smirked. Hyungjoon lunged. The pair toppled together in the shallow water and began wrestling around. Hyunjoong laughed and neatly dodged their flailing limbs to follow Kyujong out of the water.
“What is so important about them?” Hyunjoong asked.
“It’s their seeds,” Kyujong replied. “I have watched them heal in almost a miraculous way when applied the proper way.” He walked to Youngsaeng’s horse and carefully began wrapping them in fabric. “Here,” he handed Hyunjoong a jar, “fill this with water for me.”
The prince nodded and went to do as asked. When he returned he handed it to Kyujong who dropped the wrapped objects inside it and tightly secured the lid. He then tucked the jar away smiling broadly. “Youngsaeng I think-”
“Shh,” Youngsaeng hissed, holding up a hand. Immediately silence fell upon them. Kyujong and Hyunjoong both looked around wearily as the remaining two boys continued splashing unaware in the water.
“What is wrong?” Micha asked quietly.
“Get on the horse,” Youngsaeng hissed, turning to look at Kyujong.
“What, why?” the startled man asked.
“Do it!” he ordered. “Jungmin, Hyungjoon, get out of there now?”
“What?” Jungmin called confused before releasing a noise of exclamation as a sudden surge of water shifted him and Hyungjoon from the center of the pool to the bank. Kyujong scrambled up into the saddle as they climbed to their feet.
“What is the big idea?” Jungmin asked, storming over.
“There are riders coming,” Youngsaeng said as he scooped up Micha and handed her to Kyujong. She produced a frightened noise and Kyujong held her tightly to him. “They are either bandits or thieves. Either way the clan has to be warned. I will hold them here for as long as I can.” The man produced a short series of noises and without any prompting from Kyujong, the war horse turned and raced at a dead run back towards the camp.
“You can’t-” Jungmin protested from the back of his horse.
“Go!” Youngsaeng ordered. His eyes flashed dangerously and Jungmin nodded shortly before obeying. Hyungjoon was right behind him.
Hyunjoong, on his stallion paused for a moment, weighing his options before he made his decision. He vaulted from the back of his horse that he had only moments before mounted and gave it a solid slap on the rump. With a noise of unease the horse took off after its herd mates.
“What are you doing!?” Youngsaeng growled, grabbing his arm. “Do you not understand the danger that is coming?”
“I’m not stupid,” Hyunjoong replied jerking free of his hold. “I know what could happen to you. I’m not leaving you here alone.”
“We’re not even friends. I was in your dungeon! Why do you even care what happens to me?” Youngsaeng asked his voice wild.
“You are the mystery I need to figure out. I can’t do that if you are dead or hauled off by them,” Hyunjoong said with a shrug. He picked us a stick and tested it by swinging it through the air.
“I always knew that the prince of this country was an idiot,” Youngsaeng muttered.
Hyunjoong only smiled as he heard the sound of hoof beats on the other side of the hill. “How did you know they were coming?”
“Heard them,” Youngsaeng said shortly. Hyunjoong hummed in understanding and filed the information away for later pondering because a moment later three men on horseback crested the hill. They were followed by five more, then six, then even more until Hyunjoong lost count of how many there were.
The men didn’t ride to them, but around them until they were enclosed in a ring. Both men had automatically shifted until they were standing back to back, Hyunjoong grasping his stick and Youngsaeng flexing empty fingers.
“Well what do we have here?” one of the men asked.
“Boys by the look of it,” another answered.
“Pretty ones at that,” still another commented.
“Slavers,” Youngsaeng growled. “I should have known.”
“Slavers? Slavery is illegal in this country,” Hyunjoong stated.
The men around him roared with laughter. “Oh foolish boy,” the first to speak addressed him. “You think we care about laws only written on paper? Besides the king himself has paid a fine price for fine boys just like yourselves.”
“You are lying,” Hyunjoong growled.
The man laughed again. “Aw this little one pretends to know the mind of the king. Hate to break it to you boy, but I think you might go the way most of the other little pretty boys have gone, as a whore for the king’s personal pleasure.”
Hyunjoong snarled and charged forward. He was three steps from the nearest horse before he felt a sharp pain in his arm. Ignoring it he continued forward. The next step landed solidly, but then his legs began to wobble until the ground beneath him felt unstable. They buckled and he landed heavily on his knees as the world seemed to spin. His eyes barely registered Youngsaeng’s form leaping impossibly high into the air, knocking one man from his saddle and bounding after another, before everything swirled and went dark.
Chapter Nine
Masterlist
AN So I just found out that I lost my job for the summer and so did my uncle. Apparently our place of employment was "heading a different direction" whatever the heck that means. Now I need to find a place that will hire me for only two months or some other way to make money... *sigh* In other news I will have a ton of time to write now! And i think I like posting this bi-weekly because you all make me smile. Good luck for anyone that has exams coming up! (like me... 1st week in May)
Chapter Eight
“Make certain you follow the directions that I have given you exactly,” Kyujong told the young woman sternly as he placed a carefully wrapped bundle in her hands.
“I will. I aided our healer before he passed. I know to be careful,” she replied, cradling the package.
Kyujong nodded. “I wish that I could go see to be sure but I can’t for obvious reasons. It is not safe for me in your village.”
“I trust your judgment. Our village has nothing. We’re grateful for your help,” she replied, bowing deeply to him.
“We have given you five bags of grain, and three of flour. You will also find with them two cattle and five sheep. A few of my men will guard them just outside the village until you can get people together to collect them. Please do so before darkness falls. We will spread the word that your village needs aid. Every clan to pass through the area will offer you some,” Soojin told the young woman.
“Thank you Clan Head,” the young woman told her, tears forming in her eyes.
Soojin nodded. “Hyungjoon see this woman to her horse and escort her to the edge of her village.” The young man nodded and placed a hand on her arm.
“Thank you so much. I don’t know how we will ever repay your kindness,” the young woman told her.
“There is no need to repay something that any decent person would do. Go now, and see to your people,” Soojin told her and gave a nod to Hyungjoon.
Once they were out of earshot Soojin turned to her son. “Jungmin see that what I have told you gets taken to a location that is at a safe distance and put some men to guard it.” Jungmin nodded and moved to find his horse. “Youngsaeng,” Soojin continued. “Spread the word, we are to go to travel rations only. Food must now be preserved.” He nodded and turned to obey her. “Kyujong,” she waited until the young man looked at her. “Make a list of what you may need, anything and everything and we will see about getting it for you. Hyunjoong will help you.”
Kyujong nodded and turned back towards their wagon, his steps heavy. Soojin grabbed Hyunjoong’s arm before he could follow. “Keep an eye on him. He’s upset that he couldn’t go into the village and make a proper diagnosis and I don’t want him to get any ideas that he should sneak out to try and help anyone in that village. He has done everything he can. Keep him busy. You’re good at that,” she said with a smile. “Just ask a lot of questions.” Hyunjoong nodded and she patted him on the arm before sending him off after the clan’s healer.
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“What do you use mint for?” Hyunjoong asked curiously, as he wrote down the herb and the amount that Kyujong told him.
The healer sighed and continued to sift through the packets, bottles and containers of stuff. “It has few healing properties, but mostly I use it to cover a bitter taste or something with an unpleasant smell. Why do you ask so many questions?”
“I was only taught about the basic herbs. I’m curious,” he replied.
“More writing and less talking,” Kyujong instructed.
Hyunjoong nodded and continued to write what he was told on the small sheet of paper, however Kyujong’s instructions didn’t keep him from asking a question whenever one popped into his mind. Once they had completed the list he knew a good deal more about the simplest herbs.
Kyujong was just putting his things away when the door at the back of the wagon opened. Youngsaeng climbed into the space and closed the door behind him. He placed a hand on Kyujong’s back as the young man carefully packed away what he had taken out. “Jungmin is leaving to the meeting point soon and we are taking off the other way. Is there anything else you wanted to give them?”
Kyujong took a deep breath and shook his head. “The only way I would know what else I would need to give them, would be by going and seeing them.”
“I’m sorry,” Youngsaeng said softly. “You know why I can’t let you do that.”
“Why don’t they just hire another healer? Or buy the food they need?” Hyunjoong asked.
Youngsaeng offered him a look of utter disbelief and Kyujong laughed lightly. “They can’t. These sorts of villages provide for their own for the most part. Anything that they can’t grow or raise, they trade goods that they can produce for. They don’t have very much cash at all, not enough to buy the sort of things they will need,” he explained.
“They really don’t teach you anything in that fancy palace of yours do they?” Youngsaeng said. Hyunjoong looked as though he were pondering something and the other man laughed bitterly. “I have to go tell Jungmin your answer, you deal with the idiot prince.”
“Wait,” Hyunjoong called. He placed the paper on the floor and moved to where his clothing was being stored in the wagon. Pulling out the large bundle of fabric he unrolled it and moved several pieces aside. From it he produced a small cloth bag. With it in hand he moved over to the other men. “Would this be enough for them to buy a healer and the food they will need until more help can come?”
Kyujong accepted the small pouch from him and opened it. He gasped as he reached in and pulled out a gleaming gold coin. “There must be a hundred in here,” he murmured turning the piece over in his hand.
“A hundred and five,” Hyunjoong confirmed. “Will that be enough? I have another -”
“No!” Kyujong said suddenly. “I mean, yes this will be more than enough to get them what they need,” he dropped the coin back into the bag and tied closed the container of more money then he would ever hope to see in his lifetime again.
Hyunjoong nodded as if satisfied. “Take it to Jungmin to bring to them. I will write my father and send it with the King’s Messengers at the next town. He will make sure this village gets the aid it needs.”
Youngsaeng grabbed the pouch from Kyujong and threw it roughly at Hyunjoong’s chest. “I will not bring them your pity money. If the king had ever intended to help, he would have done so already. These people work hard for everything they have and everything they are, I will not degrade all of that by bringing them money drenched in blood,” Youngsaeng snarled. He tore open the door, nearly removing it from its hinges in his anger, and leapt outside.
Hyunjoong, gripped the bag of money firmly and climbed out of the wagon after him, ignoring Kyujong’s calls to wait. “Youngsaeng,” Hyunjoong called as he ran to catch the man. When he drew near he grabbed his arm, ignoring the look of fury that the other man turned on him.
“I know,” Hyunjoong began firmly, “that you hate my father. I know that you blame him for something that he may or may not have done. I know you would rather die than accept help from someone who carries his blood and I know that that makes you hate me.”
The prince released his arm and grabbed his hand. He pressed the pouch of coins firmly into it. “But if you refuse to take this to them because of that, then it isn’t the king killing them, or whatever else you think he may be doing. It is you.” Hyunjoong released both the man and the pouch in his hand and turned without another word.
As he walked back to the wagon he didn’t see the multitude of emotions that flashed over Youngsaeng’s face too quickly to be identified, nor the way the other man’s hand clenched around the pouch full of money. Brown eyes flashed to black and then back again as Youngsaeng snarled, turned, and walked the other way.
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Dinner that night was a simple stew made from dried meat and dried vegetables. Although the ingredients had been slim, Hyunjoong was surprised at how well the gypsies had compensated for it. They had moved as far away from the village as they could get and were now camped some ways to the west of it.
Jungmin didn’t join them until they were nearly finished with their meal, but when he did, he was grinning. “Great news,” he said as he plopped down and accepted the dish of stew from Hyungjoon. “Kyujong, she said as soon as she started giving out the medicine that you gave her, just as you instructed, fevers started to drop.”
Kyujong released a long sigh that he felt like he had been holding for much of the afternoon at the words. “That is a good sign. That means that I was right or at least close enough that it should work for them. She should be able to save the rest of her village.”
“That’s not all. She thanked us profusely for the supplies and she nearly had a heart attack at the small little pouch I gave her. I told her it was from a friend and to use it wisely for what her village might need. She promised not to waste a single portion of it.”
Hyunjoong nodded his satisfaction while Hyungjoon looked utterly confused. “A pouch of what?” he asked.
“Magic dust,” Jungmin replied, his voice laced with sarcastic mysticism. Hyungjoon threw a rock at him for his trouble and the other man laughed. “So what is the plan for tomorrow?”
“You mean how are we not going to starve?” Hyungjoon asked with a laugh.
“Starve?” Hyunjoong questioned confused.
“Yeah, mother gave her the last of our slaughter stock and the last of our baking ingredients as well. We have a bit of dried goods left and enough feed to last maybe a week for the stock, if we stretch it,” Jungmin said with a shrug.
“Why would she put her clan in danger like that?” Hyunjoong asked. He did a quick calculation in his head and came to the conclusion that even the stuff that they had had this morning would have only lasted a few days at best with so many people using it. Soojin must have planned to resupply at the village, but that was now impossible.
“They needed it more than we did,” Kyujong said gently. “The clan is full of able bodied people. We will find something to sustain ourselves. The village was sick and could do little to help itself. Their need was greater.”
Jungmin nodded and took several bites of his stew. “Mom is resourceful so I’m sure we will all be fine.”
Kyujong nodded. “There is a fairly large river, according to Youngsaeng, and my maps, half a day’s travel from here. We will likely go there tomorrow and see what sort of fish and vegetation we can find. Youngsaeng is discussing it with the elders now.”
“Fresh seaweed,” Jungmin replied with a grin.
“There will be enough for the clan?” Hyunjoong asked.
“You might be surprised what kind of life a river can hold,” Kyujong replied with a smile.
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“Can I come with you please, Hyunjoong?” Micha pleaded.
The prince smiled as he tightened the girth on his saddle around the middle of his stallion. “What did your mother say?”
“That I have to be good and stay out of the way of anything that you do. That I have to listen and obey anything that you say as long as they are good things for the clan and that I should stop bothering her and go find something conmustive to do.”
“Constructive,” Hyunjoong corrected.
“Yes find something constructive to do,” her mouth moved very carefully to pronounce the word. “What does that even mean?”
“It’s a way of telling people to go away and do something else,” he explained.
“Are you going to tell me to go find something conmustive to do?” she asked.
“Constructive,” he corrected again. “And no. I’m going to tell you that you had better climb up into this saddle if you really want to come along.” She released a little squeal of happiness and scrambled forward.
It was rather comical to see her try to lift a foot to the stirrup as she had seen adults do but eventually Hyunjoong laughed and picked her up. He set her easily into the saddle and then climbed up as well, settling behind her. He could tell her body was vibrating with barely controlled excitement and his stallion tossed its head in response. With a laugh the prince gave the horse the cue to go and they rode through the camp at a quick trot. Along the edge of the camp they were joined by Jungmin and Hyungjoon, each mounted on their own horse and Youngsaeng and Kyujong riding double on the war horse.
“I get to come with you,” Micha squealed as she saw Jungmin.
“I see that,” he said with a smile.
“Where are we going? Did your mother tell you to go do something conmustive too?” she asked.
Jungmin looked puzzled until Hyunjoong said, “Constructive, Micha.” She made a face and the other man laughed.
“Yeah I guess you could say my mother did tell me to go do something constructive. I’m not very good at group fishing so we decided to escort Kyujong to gather some herbs as a small pool just upstream,” Jungmin told her.
“Sure you are. What you really mean to say is that Youngsaeng and I will be collecting herbs and you all will be playing in the water and disturbing the habitat,” Kyujong said with a laugh.
“We can play in the water?” Micha asked excitedly.
“Hm,” Hyungjoon said as they urged their horses forward. “I think playing in the water is pretty constructive.”
“My mother did tell me to do something constructive,” she replied, careful to say the word correctly.
“Then I think that will count,” Jungmin agreed with a smile.
‡†‡†‡†‡†‡
“What will that do?” Micha asked, her eyes filled with wonder as she looked at the small black object in Kyujong’s hand.
“Well if I squeeze its juice onto any part of your skin you will lose feeling in it for the rest of the day,” Kyujong explained.
“Really?” Hyunjoong asked, leaning closer to look at the strange piece of vegetation. Kyujong nodded and tucked it safely into the pouch at his waist.
“Then you will have to walk like this,” Hyungjoon walked by them with one arm hanging limp and one leg dragging through the shallow water.
Micha giggled and reached into the water at her feet. She pulled out a piece of plant and held it up for the boys around her to see. “What is this?” she asked.
“That,” Kyujong studied the plant for a minute, “that is a weed.” She pouted and tossed her find back into the water before intently looking for another. “Weeds can be good too.”
“They can?” she asked.
“Yes, all sorts of animals can eat them,” Kyujong told her.
“Really? Even horses?” she asked. Kyujong nodded and she scooped the water weed up again. “Can I give it to the horses?”
“Why don’t you try seeing if Youngsaeng’s horse wants it,” Kyujong suggested.
The little girl glanced at the man who was standing nearby in the shallow water and then at the weed in her hand. “Should we go find out?” Youngsaeng asked her. She did one last comparison and the weed clearly won over her nervousness of the other man as she slipped her hand into his. Smiling he led her out of the water to where his horse was grazing. Kyujong watched them fondly for a moment before bending over and continuing his search.
“Hey,” Jungmin called as he surfaced in the middle of the pool and swam over. “I found these at the bottom,” he held out two round, pale yellow objects. “I didn’t know if you wanted them.”
Kyujong gasped and waded deeper into the pool to meet him. “These are very rare,” he said softly taking them from Jungmin’s hands. He turned, cradling them gently and began to wade to the shore.
“So I had a great find then?” Jungmin asked as he followed, dripping water.
“A very great find,” Kyujong muttered, making sure not to shake or drop his precious burden.
“Ha I win! You cook dinner tonight,” Jungmin called.
“You cheated!” Hyungjoon countered.
“I did not.”
“You found those in my half of the pool.”
“The whole pool is mine.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah,” Jungmin smirked. Hyungjoon lunged. The pair toppled together in the shallow water and began wrestling around. Hyunjoong laughed and neatly dodged their flailing limbs to follow Kyujong out of the water.
“What is so important about them?” Hyunjoong asked.
“It’s their seeds,” Kyujong replied. “I have watched them heal in almost a miraculous way when applied the proper way.” He walked to Youngsaeng’s horse and carefully began wrapping them in fabric. “Here,” he handed Hyunjoong a jar, “fill this with water for me.”
The prince nodded and went to do as asked. When he returned he handed it to Kyujong who dropped the wrapped objects inside it and tightly secured the lid. He then tucked the jar away smiling broadly. “Youngsaeng I think-”
“Shh,” Youngsaeng hissed, holding up a hand. Immediately silence fell upon them. Kyujong and Hyunjoong both looked around wearily as the remaining two boys continued splashing unaware in the water.
“What is wrong?” Micha asked quietly.
“Get on the horse,” Youngsaeng hissed, turning to look at Kyujong.
“What, why?” the startled man asked.
“Do it!” he ordered. “Jungmin, Hyungjoon, get out of there now?”
“What?” Jungmin called confused before releasing a noise of exclamation as a sudden surge of water shifted him and Hyungjoon from the center of the pool to the bank. Kyujong scrambled up into the saddle as they climbed to their feet.
“What is the big idea?” Jungmin asked, storming over.
“There are riders coming,” Youngsaeng said as he scooped up Micha and handed her to Kyujong. She produced a frightened noise and Kyujong held her tightly to him. “They are either bandits or thieves. Either way the clan has to be warned. I will hold them here for as long as I can.” The man produced a short series of noises and without any prompting from Kyujong, the war horse turned and raced at a dead run back towards the camp.
“You can’t-” Jungmin protested from the back of his horse.
“Go!” Youngsaeng ordered. His eyes flashed dangerously and Jungmin nodded shortly before obeying. Hyungjoon was right behind him.
Hyunjoong, on his stallion paused for a moment, weighing his options before he made his decision. He vaulted from the back of his horse that he had only moments before mounted and gave it a solid slap on the rump. With a noise of unease the horse took off after its herd mates.
“What are you doing!?” Youngsaeng growled, grabbing his arm. “Do you not understand the danger that is coming?”
“I’m not stupid,” Hyunjoong replied jerking free of his hold. “I know what could happen to you. I’m not leaving you here alone.”
“We’re not even friends. I was in your dungeon! Why do you even care what happens to me?” Youngsaeng asked his voice wild.
“You are the mystery I need to figure out. I can’t do that if you are dead or hauled off by them,” Hyunjoong said with a shrug. He picked us a stick and tested it by swinging it through the air.
“I always knew that the prince of this country was an idiot,” Youngsaeng muttered.
Hyunjoong only smiled as he heard the sound of hoof beats on the other side of the hill. “How did you know they were coming?”
“Heard them,” Youngsaeng said shortly. Hyunjoong hummed in understanding and filed the information away for later pondering because a moment later three men on horseback crested the hill. They were followed by five more, then six, then even more until Hyunjoong lost count of how many there were.
The men didn’t ride to them, but around them until they were enclosed in a ring. Both men had automatically shifted until they were standing back to back, Hyunjoong grasping his stick and Youngsaeng flexing empty fingers.
“Well what do we have here?” one of the men asked.
“Boys by the look of it,” another answered.
“Pretty ones at that,” still another commented.
“Slavers,” Youngsaeng growled. “I should have known.”
“Slavers? Slavery is illegal in this country,” Hyunjoong stated.
The men around him roared with laughter. “Oh foolish boy,” the first to speak addressed him. “You think we care about laws only written on paper? Besides the king himself has paid a fine price for fine boys just like yourselves.”
“You are lying,” Hyunjoong growled.
The man laughed again. “Aw this little one pretends to know the mind of the king. Hate to break it to you boy, but I think you might go the way most of the other little pretty boys have gone, as a whore for the king’s personal pleasure.”
Hyunjoong snarled and charged forward. He was three steps from the nearest horse before he felt a sharp pain in his arm. Ignoring it he continued forward. The next step landed solidly, but then his legs began to wobble until the ground beneath him felt unstable. They buckled and he landed heavily on his knees as the world seemed to spin. His eyes barely registered Youngsaeng’s form leaping impossibly high into the air, knocking one man from his saddle and bounding after another, before everything swirled and went dark.
Chapter Nine
Masterlist
AN So I just found out that I lost my job for the summer and so did my uncle. Apparently our place of employment was "heading a different direction" whatever the heck that means. Now I need to find a place that will hire me for only two months or some other way to make money... *sigh* In other news I will have a ton of time to write now! And i think I like posting this bi-weekly because you all make me smile. Good luck for anyone that has exams coming up! (like me... 1st week in May)