Us. Our story. (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
cosmic_book) wrote2014-01-02 08:59 pm
cosmic_book) wrote2014-01-02 08:59 pm
Entry tags:
Faithless
Omi raced toward the line of travelers, the rain pelting his skin cooling him but falling hard enough to bruise. They were easy to see -- a dozen men on horse back and two carriages. One carriage held the king of Goryeo, the other housed his Yuan bride. Omi spotted Aya and Yohji among the other Wu Dal Chi, the Royal Bodyguards.
"Where's the ship?" Aya demanded as soon as he set eyes on Omi.
"There isn't going to be a ship," Omi replied. "They said that there are no ships that can stay afloat now. They'll send two ships at noon tomorrow."
Aya looked dismayed, no tired, but he moved off to tell the king.
"There are people following us," Yohji informed Omi. "They don't look like peasants. . ."
Aya rode up to carriage placing himself between the king and his advisor, Jo Il-sin.
"We will have to stay overnight," Aya told the king. He kept his eyes straight ahead, rather than looking at the king, as was respectful.
"What do you mean?" Jo demanded. "We just cross the river and we are at our destination.
Aya did not answer. He did not answer to Jo.
Kakyou made a small sound of disapproval towards Jo before speaking. His tone was far calmer and more politely inquiring. "Why is this necessary? Is there a problem with crossing the river?"
"There is no ship, Your Majesty," Aya answered.
"I understand. Make the arrangements, then," Kakyou said quietly. He folded his hands in his lap, frowning up at the rain faintly.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Aya rode ahead. It was as if he could not get away from Kakyou soon enough.
There was only one inn in town. Yohji grinned at the crowd of people gathered in the tavern to escape the rain and their lives. It made him feel bad about what he was about to do. He signaled to the innkeeper. "Hey, my boss just got married and he needs a room." Yohji gave the innkeeper a sly look, and the old man laughed. "But see, he's really shy. He wants only us to tend to him and all these people here have to go." Before the old man could protest, Yohji plunked a big bag of down on the table. "Why don't you just take the day off?"
Yohji watched as the old man's shaking hands reached for the gold. His eyes lit when he in the bag. Then he looked at looked at Yohji.
Minutes later, the tavern-goers were being tossed out in to the street. One of them shook his fist at the innkeeper and shouted, "This isn't right, you bad bastard!"
Yohji had to agree, but it didn't worry him much. When the place was empty, the king and queen were escorted into the tavern.
Kakyou looked around the empty inn with a sigh. He knew it was safest this way, but he still didn't enjoy putting people out this way.
He didn't want to be anything like the selfish, entitled bastard 'nobles' that had used his life for their purposes.
Jo bickered with . . . or rather, AT . . . the Wu Dal Chi, but Omi only remained cheerful and polite as he escorted them to the central room of the tavern. Guards were on high alert, covering every entrance and exit. There were even men who went to the roof.
"Would you like your art supplies brought to you, Your Majesty?" Omi asked brightly. "It might pass the time."
"Jo. Allow the guards to perform their duties in peace," Kakyou said firmly. He nodded slightly to Omi. "I believe that is a good idea, Bombay. Thank you."
Omi bowed low to the king. There was a flicker of gratitude in his expression. Omi left, closing the doors behind him.
Yohji followed Omi out as he left to gather the king's supplies.
"Do you think they stole the ship?" Yohji asked.
"I guess so," Omi replied as he looked for the brushes.
"Then you are saying they also predicted we'd stay here?"
"You said this was the only tavern."
"But we came here anyway?" Yohji asked incredulously.
Omi made a triumphant sound as he found the brushes. He turned a dismayed look on Yohji. "Should we have just waited for them to attack in an open field?"
Yohji made a low grunt of acknowledgement. "How are we going to defend the king and queen?"
Omi pretended to think for a moment. "Very well," he answered, then darted around Yohji to go back inside.
"As soon and we get to Goryeo, you should kill the Wu Dal Chi," Jo advised once the doors were closed. "The lack of respect they show you is a serious problem. Twelve years, twelve years you were in Yuan and treated as a hostage. You! A prince of Goreyo! And now this! Not even a thousand troops would be enough to welcome you."
Before the king could respond, the redhead Wu Dal Chi burst into the room. "The queen will be staying with you."
Jo's face started turning color in anger. “Why did you not even knock?”
Aya ignored Jo. "It's too difficult to protect you separately."
Kakyou stared at Jo coldly. He was opening his mouth as Aya burst in. The words on his tongue were bitten back as he looked up at the guard. "Abyssinian. I understand your duty, and bow to your expertise. However, I am still your king and I would appreciate it if you did not speak as if commanding me."
Aya bowed.
The queen entered with her royal retainers, female bodyguards. She was young, younger even than the king. She held herself like a princess and looked elegant in her fine white robes, but in spite of herself, she looked afraid. The queen’s dark hair was neatly arranged. Her brown eyes sought out Kakyou before moving respectfully away.
Kakyou rose and offered his hand to guide her to a seat politely. "My queen. I apologize for this inconvenience."
The queen concealed her surprise well. Her hand was soft in his. "You do not need to apologize to me. I doubt you were the cause."
Omi bowed as he entered. "The supplies, Your Majesty, shall I set them down on the table?"
"One never knows," Kakyou murmured idly, helping her get settled in before releasing her hand. "Yes, the table will be fine. Is everything in order, Bombay?" There was a hint of something in the way he looked at Omi that might indicate he wasn't necessarily talking about his supplies with that question.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Omi replied as he quickly laid out the supplies. "Just stay here and everything will be alright."
Ken entered, escorting a man with long dark hair into the room with the king and queen. "Stay here where we can protect you, Dr. Jang."
There was clang of metal as Jang spread his red fan wide. "I think I can protect myself."
Omi smiled. "Can the doctor stay with you, Your Majesty?"
"Of course," Kakyou agreed, nodding slightly. He settled at the table, fingers brushing over his supplies fondly. "Welcome, doctor."
Jang looked put out, but bowed.
"The storm may get worse tonight," Omi said to Kakyou. "It might get noisy. Just stay here and trust us to protect you, alright?"
Kakyou's look was piercing and thoughtful. After a long moment, he nodded. "I don't have much experience with storms. I will put my faith in all of you."
Omi bowed low. The Wu Dal Chi exited the central room.
The storm did get noisier as the day progressed, but it wasn't until nightfall that the attack came. The attackers took the group of guards on the roof. They dumped a phosphorescent powder on to the clothes of the Wu Dal Chi waiting below, making their clothes glow green while the attackers own dark clothes helped hide them. They leaped from the rooftops, they swords of the guards and the attackers glowed in the flashes of lightening as they fought.
Aya kicked that man that he was fighting through the door that led to the central room, then impaled the man on his sword without breaking stride and walked toward the king. "We underestimated the number of enemies," Aya said plainly. He knelt at Kakyou's feet. "Even if you're scared, don't run away. Stay behind me."
"I won't run," Kakyou promised, gathering his brushes together. He glanced at the others in the room before returning his gaze to Aya. "Rise, my Abyssinian."
Aya was already moving to his feet ahead of Kakyou's command. "Then I can protect you."
Aya stood in front of Kakyou with his sword drawn. Through the paper screen, those inside could see the shadows of warriors as they fought and fell. The sent of smoke wafted up to the room as the attackers threw in torches. The sounds of grunting, cries of pain and metal against metal were loud in the quiet room. Aya looked watchful, alert, he was waiting. For several tense moments, they were all waiting.
"I know you can," Kakyou said, his tone one of quiet assurance. He remained in his seat, watching the shadow play through the paper. There was a coiled tension beneath the calm demeanor, held tightly controlled.
Four men with their faces covered burst into the room. Aya was on them at once. The combat was so close it was difficult to tell what was happening -- until the bodies started falling. None of them were Aya's. Soon, the original four were on the ground but more came.
The smallest of the queen's body guards, a young woman with blue hair, raised her parasol and impaled an attacker who came to close to her mistress with a concealed blade. The other woman was able to force one of the attackers back using her bare hands.
The blonde pulled loose what was made to look like a decorative braided belt but was really a whip, lashing out with a wicked smile. She wrapped it around an attacker's neck and jerked hard, a practiced move that snapped it. Kakyou kept his gaze on Aya.
Aya was coated in blood, his and other people's. He looked inhuman when he killed, like a being sent from another world to cause carnage.
The blade of yet another assassin moved toward the queen, but was stopped by Dr. Jang's metal fan. Fine shudders passed through Aya-chan's body, but she stayed still, either to brave or too frightened to move.
Outside, the sounds of battle were dimming. Kakyou might recognize Yohji's voice shouting. "Don't let them get away! Don't kill them!"
Good. That, Kakyou thought, meant the attackers were in retreat. It would be over soon. Kakyou's eyes skimmed over Aya's body, trying to pinpoint his wounds.
He should have been watching the queen. While Aya and the others were occupied with other attackers, an assassin got close enough to cut the queen's throat. She dropped to the ground. Aya threw his sword like a javilin across the room, piercing the assassin's heart, and he fell to the ground next.
Kakyou cursed and moved, dropping to the ground at her side and using his sleeve to try and staunch the bleeding. "Dr. Jang!"
Dr. Jang looked over. But he was busy with not-dying. Aya, still unarmed, rushed forward.
The blonde left rips and cuts on the attacker Jang intercepted with her whip before jumping and slamming the hard and strangely pointed heel of her shoe into his throat.
Aya knelt beside the queen only to have Jang gruffly order him to move.
"Move your hand very carefully, Your Majesty," Jang ordered. "I have to get a look at the wound."
Kakyou nodded, lips tight and face pale. He shifted his hand out of the way very cautiously.
Jang made a dismayed sound but set to work at once. He took out a set of needles and began using them to try to slow the bleeding.
Omi burst into the room. He stopped short when he saw the queen.
Kakyou clenched his fist, watching the doctor work. He didn't love his queen, but she had no more say than he had; she didn't deserve this. And the reaction of the Yuan if she died was not likely to be good.
"Your Majesty," Omi called, waiting until he had Kakyou's attention.
Kakyou looked over, eyes fixing on Omi. "Yes, Bombay?"
"The attackers that were not killed by our men, have killed themselves," Omi reported. "No survivors. We know that we lost at least six men."
"Any evidence on the bodies of who might have sent them?" Kakyou didn't sound like he expected the answer to be yes.
"No, You Majesty," Omi answered.
"It's obvious the queen was the target," Aya said. "We know who sent them."
"You are out of line, Abyssinian," Omi said sharply.
"It isn't enough to know. If it were, there would be no problem. We need evidence," Kakyou said flatly, flexing his blood-covered fingers
"When is the princess going to wake up?" the blue haired girl asked quietly.
"Get out. Everyone, get out and let me work," Jang answered.
"He doesn't know yet," the blonde told her, nodding at the third woman before leading the younger girl to the door. Kakyou's expression tightened again but he nodded and rose to his feet.
Aya lingered. "Is there anything you need?"
"You to leave," Jang answered.
Aya reluctantly moved away. He stepped outside, staying close to Kakyou.
Kakyou was still tense and sharp. He wasn't fidgeting or pacing but still managed to give a sense of angry, impatient restlessness.
Yohji approached. He looked surprised to see the king outside. "The Queen has been injured," Omi explained. "It's serious."
Yohji cursed under his breath.
"My sentiments exactly," Kakyou murmured tensely.
"Where's the ship?" Aya demanded as soon as he set eyes on Omi.
"There isn't going to be a ship," Omi replied. "They said that there are no ships that can stay afloat now. They'll send two ships at noon tomorrow."
Aya looked dismayed, no tired, but he moved off to tell the king.
"There are people following us," Yohji informed Omi. "They don't look like peasants. . ."
Aya rode up to carriage placing himself between the king and his advisor, Jo Il-sin.
"We will have to stay overnight," Aya told the king. He kept his eyes straight ahead, rather than looking at the king, as was respectful.
"What do you mean?" Jo demanded. "We just cross the river and we are at our destination.
Aya did not answer. He did not answer to Jo.
Kakyou made a small sound of disapproval towards Jo before speaking. His tone was far calmer and more politely inquiring. "Why is this necessary? Is there a problem with crossing the river?"
"There is no ship, Your Majesty," Aya answered.
"I understand. Make the arrangements, then," Kakyou said quietly. He folded his hands in his lap, frowning up at the rain faintly.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Aya rode ahead. It was as if he could not get away from Kakyou soon enough.
There was only one inn in town. Yohji grinned at the crowd of people gathered in the tavern to escape the rain and their lives. It made him feel bad about what he was about to do. He signaled to the innkeeper. "Hey, my boss just got married and he needs a room." Yohji gave the innkeeper a sly look, and the old man laughed. "But see, he's really shy. He wants only us to tend to him and all these people here have to go." Before the old man could protest, Yohji plunked a big bag of down on the table. "Why don't you just take the day off?"
Yohji watched as the old man's shaking hands reached for the gold. His eyes lit when he in the bag. Then he looked at looked at Yohji.
Minutes later, the tavern-goers were being tossed out in to the street. One of them shook his fist at the innkeeper and shouted, "This isn't right, you bad bastard!"
Yohji had to agree, but it didn't worry him much. When the place was empty, the king and queen were escorted into the tavern.
Kakyou looked around the empty inn with a sigh. He knew it was safest this way, but he still didn't enjoy putting people out this way.
He didn't want to be anything like the selfish, entitled bastard 'nobles' that had used his life for their purposes.
Jo bickered with . . . or rather, AT . . . the Wu Dal Chi, but Omi only remained cheerful and polite as he escorted them to the central room of the tavern. Guards were on high alert, covering every entrance and exit. There were even men who went to the roof.
"Would you like your art supplies brought to you, Your Majesty?" Omi asked brightly. "It might pass the time."
"Jo. Allow the guards to perform their duties in peace," Kakyou said firmly. He nodded slightly to Omi. "I believe that is a good idea, Bombay. Thank you."
Omi bowed low to the king. There was a flicker of gratitude in his expression. Omi left, closing the doors behind him.
Yohji followed Omi out as he left to gather the king's supplies.
"Do you think they stole the ship?" Yohji asked.
"I guess so," Omi replied as he looked for the brushes.
"Then you are saying they also predicted we'd stay here?"
"You said this was the only tavern."
"But we came here anyway?" Yohji asked incredulously.
Omi made a triumphant sound as he found the brushes. He turned a dismayed look on Yohji. "Should we have just waited for them to attack in an open field?"
Yohji made a low grunt of acknowledgement. "How are we going to defend the king and queen?"
Omi pretended to think for a moment. "Very well," he answered, then darted around Yohji to go back inside.
"As soon and we get to Goryeo, you should kill the Wu Dal Chi," Jo advised once the doors were closed. "The lack of respect they show you is a serious problem. Twelve years, twelve years you were in Yuan and treated as a hostage. You! A prince of Goreyo! And now this! Not even a thousand troops would be enough to welcome you."
Before the king could respond, the redhead Wu Dal Chi burst into the room. "The queen will be staying with you."
Jo's face started turning color in anger. “Why did you not even knock?”
Aya ignored Jo. "It's too difficult to protect you separately."
Kakyou stared at Jo coldly. He was opening his mouth as Aya burst in. The words on his tongue were bitten back as he looked up at the guard. "Abyssinian. I understand your duty, and bow to your expertise. However, I am still your king and I would appreciate it if you did not speak as if commanding me."
Aya bowed.
The queen entered with her royal retainers, female bodyguards. She was young, younger even than the king. She held herself like a princess and looked elegant in her fine white robes, but in spite of herself, she looked afraid. The queen’s dark hair was neatly arranged. Her brown eyes sought out Kakyou before moving respectfully away.
Kakyou rose and offered his hand to guide her to a seat politely. "My queen. I apologize for this inconvenience."
The queen concealed her surprise well. Her hand was soft in his. "You do not need to apologize to me. I doubt you were the cause."
Omi bowed as he entered. "The supplies, Your Majesty, shall I set them down on the table?"
"One never knows," Kakyou murmured idly, helping her get settled in before releasing her hand. "Yes, the table will be fine. Is everything in order, Bombay?" There was a hint of something in the way he looked at Omi that might indicate he wasn't necessarily talking about his supplies with that question.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Omi replied as he quickly laid out the supplies. "Just stay here and everything will be alright."
Ken entered, escorting a man with long dark hair into the room with the king and queen. "Stay here where we can protect you, Dr. Jang."
There was clang of metal as Jang spread his red fan wide. "I think I can protect myself."
Omi smiled. "Can the doctor stay with you, Your Majesty?"
"Of course," Kakyou agreed, nodding slightly. He settled at the table, fingers brushing over his supplies fondly. "Welcome, doctor."
Jang looked put out, but bowed.
"The storm may get worse tonight," Omi said to Kakyou. "It might get noisy. Just stay here and trust us to protect you, alright?"
Kakyou's look was piercing and thoughtful. After a long moment, he nodded. "I don't have much experience with storms. I will put my faith in all of you."
Omi bowed low. The Wu Dal Chi exited the central room.
The storm did get noisier as the day progressed, but it wasn't until nightfall that the attack came. The attackers took the group of guards on the roof. They dumped a phosphorescent powder on to the clothes of the Wu Dal Chi waiting below, making their clothes glow green while the attackers own dark clothes helped hide them. They leaped from the rooftops, they swords of the guards and the attackers glowed in the flashes of lightening as they fought.
Aya kicked that man that he was fighting through the door that led to the central room, then impaled the man on his sword without breaking stride and walked toward the king. "We underestimated the number of enemies," Aya said plainly. He knelt at Kakyou's feet. "Even if you're scared, don't run away. Stay behind me."
"I won't run," Kakyou promised, gathering his brushes together. He glanced at the others in the room before returning his gaze to Aya. "Rise, my Abyssinian."
Aya was already moving to his feet ahead of Kakyou's command. "Then I can protect you."
Aya stood in front of Kakyou with his sword drawn. Through the paper screen, those inside could see the shadows of warriors as they fought and fell. The sent of smoke wafted up to the room as the attackers threw in torches. The sounds of grunting, cries of pain and metal against metal were loud in the quiet room. Aya looked watchful, alert, he was waiting. For several tense moments, they were all waiting.
"I know you can," Kakyou said, his tone one of quiet assurance. He remained in his seat, watching the shadow play through the paper. There was a coiled tension beneath the calm demeanor, held tightly controlled.
Four men with their faces covered burst into the room. Aya was on them at once. The combat was so close it was difficult to tell what was happening -- until the bodies started falling. None of them were Aya's. Soon, the original four were on the ground but more came.
The smallest of the queen's body guards, a young woman with blue hair, raised her parasol and impaled an attacker who came to close to her mistress with a concealed blade. The other woman was able to force one of the attackers back using her bare hands.
The blonde pulled loose what was made to look like a decorative braided belt but was really a whip, lashing out with a wicked smile. She wrapped it around an attacker's neck and jerked hard, a practiced move that snapped it. Kakyou kept his gaze on Aya.
Aya was coated in blood, his and other people's. He looked inhuman when he killed, like a being sent from another world to cause carnage.
The blade of yet another assassin moved toward the queen, but was stopped by Dr. Jang's metal fan. Fine shudders passed through Aya-chan's body, but she stayed still, either to brave or too frightened to move.
Outside, the sounds of battle were dimming. Kakyou might recognize Yohji's voice shouting. "Don't let them get away! Don't kill them!"
Good. That, Kakyou thought, meant the attackers were in retreat. It would be over soon. Kakyou's eyes skimmed over Aya's body, trying to pinpoint his wounds.
He should have been watching the queen. While Aya and the others were occupied with other attackers, an assassin got close enough to cut the queen's throat. She dropped to the ground. Aya threw his sword like a javilin across the room, piercing the assassin's heart, and he fell to the ground next.
Kakyou cursed and moved, dropping to the ground at her side and using his sleeve to try and staunch the bleeding. "Dr. Jang!"
Dr. Jang looked over. But he was busy with not-dying. Aya, still unarmed, rushed forward.
The blonde left rips and cuts on the attacker Jang intercepted with her whip before jumping and slamming the hard and strangely pointed heel of her shoe into his throat.
Aya knelt beside the queen only to have Jang gruffly order him to move.
"Move your hand very carefully, Your Majesty," Jang ordered. "I have to get a look at the wound."
Kakyou nodded, lips tight and face pale. He shifted his hand out of the way very cautiously.
Jang made a dismayed sound but set to work at once. He took out a set of needles and began using them to try to slow the bleeding.
Omi burst into the room. He stopped short when he saw the queen.
Kakyou clenched his fist, watching the doctor work. He didn't love his queen, but she had no more say than he had; she didn't deserve this. And the reaction of the Yuan if she died was not likely to be good.
"Your Majesty," Omi called, waiting until he had Kakyou's attention.
Kakyou looked over, eyes fixing on Omi. "Yes, Bombay?"
"The attackers that were not killed by our men, have killed themselves," Omi reported. "No survivors. We know that we lost at least six men."
"Any evidence on the bodies of who might have sent them?" Kakyou didn't sound like he expected the answer to be yes.
"No, You Majesty," Omi answered.
"It's obvious the queen was the target," Aya said. "We know who sent them."
"You are out of line, Abyssinian," Omi said sharply.
"It isn't enough to know. If it were, there would be no problem. We need evidence," Kakyou said flatly, flexing his blood-covered fingers
"When is the princess going to wake up?" the blue haired girl asked quietly.
"Get out. Everyone, get out and let me work," Jang answered.
"He doesn't know yet," the blonde told her, nodding at the third woman before leading the younger girl to the door. Kakyou's expression tightened again but he nodded and rose to his feet.
Aya lingered. "Is there anything you need?"
"You to leave," Jang answered.
Aya reluctantly moved away. He stepped outside, staying close to Kakyou.
Kakyou was still tense and sharp. He wasn't fidgeting or pacing but still managed to give a sense of angry, impatient restlessness.
Yohji approached. He looked surprised to see the king outside. "The Queen has been injured," Omi explained. "It's serious."
Yohji cursed under his breath.
"My sentiments exactly," Kakyou murmured tensely.