CHAPTER THIRTEEN

He mounted her on his horse and he climbed the horse as well and he rode away. Baek-Hyun was speechless but she somehow knew he wouldn't hurt her. She didn't want to say a word because she was too weak to. For a long while, they kept riding and going into different twists and corners. Baek-Hyun's hair was dancing happily in the air. She held on tight to him, he was riding in a crazy speed and she was feeling nausea. She had never ride so fast in anything before. she tried so hard not to throw up. Chi-Mae on the other hand was enjoying the ride and he thought that Baek-Hyun was doing same. He never knew that she had only ride a horse once on the day she was going to Hak-kun and she never dared ride it fast because she was afraid of falling off the horse. Finally, they had reached and without warning, Chi-Mae pulled over like he was crazy. Baek-Hyun rushed off the horse and poured out what she had been holding in since. She tried hard to control the way she retched. "are you okay?". Chi-Mae asked with worry as he jumped off the horse hurriedly. "yeah, you were going too fast and I had nausea". Baek-Hyun said sounding embarrassed but Chi-Mae took her serious. "I'm sorry, I had no idea". He said looking apologetic. "it's fine". Baek-Hyun replied. She was glad to hear him say sorry and she was still alive because she could remember he said she would have to die before he said sorry to her. she remembered clearly that her father seldom apologized for anything even if it was his fault. She was glad that Chi-Mae at least swallowed his pride and apologized even though it wasn't really his fault. "we are here". He said and Baek-Hyun looked around. That was when she began feeling the cold in the area. "it's cold out here". She said as she used her right hand to rub her left hands. She wondered how the cold penetrated the heavy armour she was wearing. "this place it called Marble river. It's one of a kind". He said and held her hand. "come on". Baek-Hyun followed him then she thought about it, the ride to that place was a triple of the distance from the temple to the palace. As they walked, a beautiful river was revealing. The river looked as clear as crystal that she could see the colourful marbles under the water. Even the bank of the river was filled with the marbles. Baek-Hyun smiled beautifully as she walked even faster than Chi-Mae. "this place is beautiful". She said with such love and admiration in her voice that she felt like crying. "no, it isn't, you should come here at night and see what it looks like". Chi-Mae said. "is this still Hak-Kun capital?". She asked him. "yes, the place was discovered many years ago when Young-Jae's grandfather was still on the throne". They preserved it and kept it hidden. "not very much people knows about the existence of this place". Chi-Mae said and Baek-Hyun smiled. She looked like she was in love, not with Chi-Mae, but with the river. "I love this place Chi-Mae, and I want to come here in the evening…I want to come here every day". She said with admiration in her eyes. "Young-Jae's father showed this place to him before the war that took him and Young-Jae showed it to Hwa-Bel, U-Jin and I." Chi-Mae said and Baek-Hyun became suddenly interested in the conversation. "who is U-Jin and the other person?". She asked curiously. "U-Jin, he is my right hand man and a very trusted lieutenant and Hwa-Bel is Young-Jae's Chief advisor." Chi-Mae replied. "just four of you that knows about here in the whole of Hak-Kun?". She asked again. "Hopefully, but I've taken you here now". Chi-Mae said and he walked closer to her and curbed her cheek. "You are mine". He said and he bent in. she waited for his lips to be in hers and she closed her eyes and just as expected, his lips collided with hers. When Chi-Mae saw that there was no resistance, he wrapped his hand around her waist and drew her closer to himself until there was no space left. Baek-Hyun's legs weakened and sparks went round her body. Her head spun and her heart raced. She liked the feeling. Then something suddenly went through her mind and she pulled out. Chi-Mae's eyes were blood shot and they were dull like a drunkard's eyes. Baek-Hyun wondered why that always happened to him so swiftly and have a much longer effect on him but she waved it off and she had a troubled look on. "but why?". Baek-Hyun asked. "Why what?". He asked with dimmed face. "Why did you bring me here?". She asked and he stared at her "because… I trust you. I do trust you Baek-Hyun". Chi-Mae said and Baek-Hyun immediately became uncomfortable. He looked so sincere and that made her weak to her bones. She was already feeling guilty about her intentions towards him when he was just helping her all through. "hmm… Chi-Mae, I want to go… can we go now? We can come back here next time" she suddenly said. "are you okay?". He asked her back. "… I... I'm hungry". She finally found a perfect lie. "yeah, of course, let's go". Chi-Mae said and took the lead because that was what she wanted. To be behind so she would take a good look at who she was asked to kill and who she wanted to save but the prices for either were too great. She wasn't herself anymore. She felt like a horrible person. But wasn't that what she had been working for? She finally got his trust which meant that she could now accomplish her mission in Hak-Kun and she can go back for her family. But how can she even kill someone else for the sins he has no idea about? He had changed for her, for them and she wasn't sure she could possibly do that.

When they got back, it was almost time for evening practice and they haste fully ate and returned to the training ground. That evening, everyone stared at her. They wondered what she had done to their General that he was so obsessed with her. "Everyone, get yourself a partner". U-Jin said and immediately, everyone had a partner. Baek-Hyun didn't hurry along like the rest, because she didn't know who will be her partner. "Baek-Hyun, what do you say?". Princess Aya approached her and Baek-Hyun nearly shivered. "no, I'm fine". She said in an attempt to escape but Princess Aya held her hand and pulled her back. "Common Baek-Hyun, I don't bite". The Princess teased when she noticed Baek-Hyun's resentment. "Greetings Lady Aya". Baek-Hyun greeted and she took the time to stare at her. Aya was also very beautiful, she had a red tipped hair. She was as tall as Baek-Hyun but she had more flesh than Baek-Hyun. Her body was perfect. "Greetings Baek-Hyun, it isn't Lady Aya, It's Princess Aya, don't forget". Aya replied still with the same witty smile and Baek-Hyun nodded. "Yeah, Princess Aya". There was a little sarcasm in her tone as she said it and Aya didn't miss it. She stared at her scornfully and prayed for the fight to begin. Soon the practice begun with Aya having high hopes of winning Baek-Hyun soon but Baek-Hyun wouldn't let that happen. Most of the soldiers were distracted. They were surprised to see Baek-Hyun fight so well. Chi-Mae was watching intensely and so were the other lieutenants. They were all focused on Baek-Hyun and the princess. Lady Bong Cha was scared for Baek-Hyun at first but seeing her effort, she begun saying a prayer. Aya was sitting on top of Baek-Hyun and giving her endless blows. The crowd of soldiers who were now watching them intensely were cheering her. Then all of a sudden, Baek-Hyun jerked herself up then she kicked Aya's legs and the girl fell helplessly to the ground and Baek-Hyun sat on top of her and continued what she started. She didn't stop until she made a cut on Aya's nose then she carried the poor girl up and hit her hard on the ground. When she saw that Aya was weak. She took the time to breath herself back to life. She was half conscious and half gone. But all of a sudden, Aya was back to her feet and she speared Baek-Hyun. Spearing was one dangerous fighting skill that could kill and unfortunately, that was one of the Aya's favourite fighting skill because it meant winning. Baek-Hyun laid lifelessly on the ground. Her vision was vague and soon she couldn't see a thing no more. "get up Baek-Hyun, you are just waiting to die". Chi-Mae yelled and everyone stared at him in shock. He didn't know that she had already crossed the line between life and death. Baek-Hyun saw her mother pulling her out of a pit and then when she had succeeded in pulling her out, Baek-Hyun ran to wrap her hands around her but then, an arrow came from nowhere and flew into her mother's skin. Blood splashed on Baek-Hyun and her mother fell into the pit that she had saved her from. Baek-Hyun screamed as she made an attempt to jump inside the pit after her mother but she out of the blues, Chi-Yang, their Commander in Ji-Seok held her into his embrace then he said. "get up Baek-Hyun, you are just waiting to die". Immediately, Baek-Hyun opened her eyes and saw Aya looming over her and Chi-Mae was walking to her with a worried look on his face. Baek-Hyun used her leg and hit Aya's belly and the princess stumbled backwards. Baek-Hyun jerked herself up and without even giving Aya the time to recover, she rushed to her and kicked her again on her belly and finally, the girl fell. Then Baek-Hyun took out her sword and place it on her neck. "Ji-Seok isn't weak". She said and she staggered back. Everyone stared at her as if she was a psycho before Chi-Mae begun clapping his hands then one by one, the other lieutenants joined him and then everyone was clapping. Baek-Hyun breathed heavily as she held her belly. She couldn't stand straight. Aya had punched the living day light out of her. "Bravo Baek-Hyun". Chi-Mae said to her. Then to Aya he said "good job Aya". "get the healer". Chi-Mae said to one of the soldiers. Then he walked closer to Baek-Hyun and whispered "are you okay?". And Baek-Hyun nodded. "will you go to the healer?". He asked her again and she nodded. Soon the Princess was taken away by some guards and to the healing chamber. "practice is over, see you all tomorrow". Chi-Mae said and the soldiers trod out except for his brothers-in-arm. "Good job Baek-Hyun". Lady Bong Cha said to her. "thank you Lady Bong Cha". Baek-Hyun replied. "Baek-Hyun, these are the lieutenants in the capital. Of course you know Lady Bong Cha and U-Jin as well but it doesn't matter now". Chi-Mae said and the other lieutenants begun introducing themselves.

"I am U-Jin, the right hand man of the General". The first man said.

"my name is Bong Cha, head of female warriors"

"I am Seong-Hyun, captain of swordsmen"

"Wang, my name is Wang, the head of the axemen, nothing survives in my hand". The last man said.

Baek-Hyun took her time to stare at them in the order in which they had said their name before she finally introduced herself. "I am Baek-Hyun". She said simply. "I know you have been here for a while now but, welcome to Hak-Kun". U-Jin said with a smile and Baek-Hyun was about to reply when suddenly, Wang said "she isn't a Hak-Kun citizen, why should she be welcomed?". He asked and Baek-Hyun took the time to look at his face. "Wang, the King had declared her as one of us, that, means she is one of us now". Seong-Hyun said to Wang. "Baek-Hyun is tired from the fight I'm sure, she will be leaving now". Chi-Mae said and held Baek-Hyun's hands then he walked away. Then warriors stared at their General. "she has put him under her spell". Wang said and everyone stared at him as if he was insane and clearly, he was. Chi-Mae escorted Baek-Hyun to the healing chamber and she wasn't detained, she was just given an herbal mixture that she would apply on the parts she felt pains and she was also given a liquid herbal mixture which she was meant to drink that night after eating. Chi-Mae followed her to her chamber and made sure she took the liquid concoction then he called the maids and they applied the creamy one on her body. The next morning, Baek-Hyun was woken up by Moon really early but not as early as the previous day. She prepared her a hot scented bath just like the previous days. Soon Baek-Hyun was walking to the training field alone without any help or escort. She got there early enough. She met other soldiers there as well and she saw the three soldiers that tried hitting on her the day before, they were practicing really hard. The other warriors were all staring at her and she knew it so she walked out to the arrow section and started touring the area. Soon Chi-Mae was there but he didn't find Baek-Hyun. He asked the other soldiers and they told him she was in the arrow section. She was called and she greeted Chi-Mae warmly. The practice begun and Baek-Hyun was given another partner selected by Chi-Mae himself. She wondered if Aya's health was that bad that she couldn't show up in the training. She felt sorry for her. That day, they trained on flying arrows and thankfully, it wasn't a training for everyone if not, Baek-Hyun was sure she would never get a turn. She wished her fortress had soldiers as much as Hak-Kun's soldiers, then they would never have fallen. Everyone that was doing the arrow practice lined up ready to get a turn. Baek-Hyun didn't fall among the first set of soldiers who trained. So for the mean time, she practiced with a girl that Chi-Mae picked for her. It wasn't a sword fight; it was a dagger fight. It made Baek-Hyun remember the dagger that Emperor had given her. She couldn't help turn to stare at Chi-Mae who was giving orders to some soldiers in the field. Then the fight begun and she realised that the girl Chi-Mae picked for her was just a hot piece of cake. Baek-Hyun just used the girl to dance around; all she did was block the girl's attacks but she never attacked back. Then all of a sudden, she heard Chi-Mae call her name to join the arrow fighters and she immediately kicked the girl's neck which made her fall and hit her head then Baek-Hyun placed the dagger on her neck. Chi-Mae stared at her and smiled. She was strong and she was good with using her skills.

Baek-Hyun walked into the arrow section and took a bow and arrow and in the next second, Chi-Mae was right beside her. He too picked an arrow and made to show Baek-Hyun how to wield the bow but Baek-Hyun was already flying an arrow. He stared at her impressed. Then he looked at the target and found that Baek-Hyun had shoot the arrow right to the heart where it was marked. "you are good". He said to her and she smiled. "it's just the usual first timer's luck". Wang appeared out of nowhere and said as he stood beside Baek-Hyun. She wanted to walk away but Chi-Mae's disappointed eyes stopped her. She wondered what he was disappointed about and she stayed back to figure it. Then Wang took a bow and an arrow then he wielded the bow and sent the arrow flying in the air and it pierced target's dotted heart just like Baek-Hyun's own. "the fallen Ji-Seok isn't good at anything". Baek-Hyun heard Wang saying and she got provoked. She took another arrow and targeted the heart of the same target that Wang did. then she flew the arrow. The target wasn't standing straight ahead of her; it was in front of Wang so her position made the arrow to go slant. The arrow flew directly at Wang's arrow and slit the arrow apart into pieces then it entered the dotted heart of the target. Everyone stopped to stare at Baek-Hyun in shock. Wang's mouth almost fell apart. "that is what happens when a Ji-Seok is provoked". Baek-Hyun said and started walking away. She didn't care about what Chi-Mae thought or felt anymore, after all he was standing to watch his lieutenant ridicule her. Chi-Mae was surprised. He wouldn't believe there was anyone who could do that aside himself. The only person that was capable of that died in the last battle about a year ago. Since, no one was that good. He stared at the motionless, expressionless and dumb Wang. "stay away from her". He said and left the arrow section and went to the horse section.

Baek-Hyun went back to her chamber and she laid heavily on the bed. She didn't think of what Wang said to her, she didn't want it to get into her head. Then she jerked herself to her feet and walked out of her chamber, she was going to the healing chamber to see the Princess. "Greetings Princess Aya". She greeted to attract Aya who was looking into black space. She was shocked to see her there. "Baek-Hyun, what brings you here?". She asked clearly showing her irritation. "alright, I came to see how you are responding to your treatment". Baek-Hyun said calmly. "I am doing fine just as you can see so you can leave now". Aya half yelled. "I understand your anger Princess, that is why I came to say sorry". Baek-Hyun said calmly despite Princess Aya's obvious resentment. "you don't have to be sorry because I am regretting already, you should be sorry for yourself because soon, everyone will come to know your true intentions in Hak-Kun and then your handsome General will do away with your head". Aya said brutally and Baek-Hyun immediately realised that the Princess didn't just like her. "I am not a spy". Baek-Hyun said calmly before walking out. She didn't know what to do to clear up the suspicion about her. She walked briskly back to her chamber and she walked into a maid who told her that the General wished to see her. "please help me take off my armour". She said to the maid who obliged immediately. After the armour was taken off her, she wore a white flowing gown to the ground. (an evening gown). but it was just morning. She walked out of her chamber and into the wide and long lobby. As she walked on, she saw Chi-Mae standing with his hands behind his back. She thought of startling him but she knew he would not be because of his warrior instinct. She just walked to him and greeted. "Baek-Hyun, are you okay?". He asked her and she nodded. "I was wondering if maybe you can join us today to dine, Young-Jae wishes for you to dine with us today, you haven't dinned since you came". Chi-Mae said and Baek-Hyun obliged even though she wondered why the king would want to have someone like her on his table. When they got to the dinning chamber that looked like a hall, Baek-Hyun greeted the king gracefully. "oh wonderful that Baek-Hyun has decided to grace us today with her presence". The king, Young-Jae said with a handsome smile. "welcome Baek-Hyun". Everyone on the table greeted her. Chi-Mae's brothers-in-arm were all present except Wang which Baek-Hyun was super thankful for. There were three old men that Baek-Hyun didn't know but she greeted anyway, then the king, Chi-Mae and herself. Everyone stared at her then at Chi-Mae who looked so insouciant about whatever was going on there. Then few seconds later after the eating had begun, Wang walked in to the chamber. Baek-Hyun almost lost her appetite as she saw the man walk in. the man greeted everyone on the table warmly. Well, everyone except Baek-Hyun and she wasn't bothered. "I didn't know strangers now dine with citizens in Hak-Kun". Wang begun with Baek-Hyun and everyone had their eyes on her again. "Wang don't begin". U-Jin warned but Wang was hell bent on annoying Baek-Hyun. "who knows if she has bewitched our General who is now really obsessed with her". He said again and Chi-Mae gave him an angry look, so did Baek-Hyun. Young Jae, the king said nothing, he just watched the waging Wang destroy the peace at the table. "she shouldn't be here, she is not one of us, she could be a spy who knows? After all, the best is always saved for the last right?". Wang mouthed out. "stop it Wang, the Emperor had declared Baek-Hyun as one of us so she is one of us". Seong-Hyun said with a flare. "no, I won't stop, aren't you tired of harbouring spies in this kingdom?". Wang yelled again. Baek-Hyun was tired of hearing it all. She would never dine there again, ever. "thank you great Emperor, breakfast was good". She said with a bow then she bowed to everyone on the table including Wang before she walked away. "great". Chi-Mae said with a flare. "it is good she left General, so you can be free from her spell". Wang said again and Chi-Mae gave him a death stare. "Wang, I asked you to stay away from her". Chi-Mae said coldly. "you do not get me General, she has left after causing commotion on the table, just like she will leave after taking your life". Wang said again and the King himself got annoyed. "you caused the trouble Wang, what has gotten into you?". Young-Jae the king yelled. "she has put everyone under a spell". Wang lamented while shaking his head. "I have lost my appetite". Chi-Mae said and left the table. Everyone stared at Wang as if their eyes would scare the life out of him. But it didn't!