Young Writers Society

Chapter 13

The next morning, I woke to discover Usan tugging me by the arm.

“Good,” he sighed in relief, dropping my arm, “I thought you’d never wake up.” He jumped up onto the bed to sit beside me. “How was it?” He asked eagerly.

“How was what?” I rubbed my eyes and sat up with a yawn.

“The banquet. What happened?”

“I heard that she made quite an impression.” Nalda came into the room with the breakfast tray. She grinned pointedly at me with brows raised.

“She did?” - “I did?” Usan and I asked together.

“Hmm, the servants were all abuzz this morning and talked of nothing else,” she said, “Apparently, our Princess Pulsa was outshone by a ‘street waif’. And I’ve just heard that Her Highness is not feeling well this morning and will remain in her quarters for the rest of the day.” She paused to scoff. “Injured pride, I say.”

Usan looked at me with admiration. “What did you do?”

“Nothing,” I objected, raising my hands defensively, “I certainly didn’t mean to upset the Princess.” My brow furrowed with concern. “Is she very angry?” I asked timidly.

“Pshaw!” Nalda huffed, “Do not worry, child. The Princess’ pride has only taken a little plunge. She has held the limelight for so long that Her Highness is not used to competition.” She turned to Usan and explained, “Last night, Kkachi performed the amazing Sword Dance – blindfolded! And with a naked blade! Such a complicated dance would have impressed anyone.” Nalda looked at me, her pale eyes gazing bright with wonder. “Tell me, child,” she asked, “How did you come to learn the hardest dance known to geishas?”

“I didn’t know that it was the Sword Dance,” I tried to explain, “I only made it up by mixing together martial stances and swordfight positions that Grandpa had taught me because I didn’t know what else to do. I don’t know how to dance.”

“Yes, child – you do,” Nalda stated.

“You know how to fight?” Usan interjected eagerly, “Can you teach me?”

I smiled down at him, reminded of the time when I also wished to wield a blade as a young girl. “Of course,” I replied, “when you are well and strong enough.”

“But, I’m all better,” Usan declared, jumping off the bed and started running about the room to prove it.

“Settle down, child,” Nalda cried anxiously after him as Usan dashed past her. Her command went unheeded as the boy continued to run laps about the room, glancing at me every time he passed the bed. His energy was so infectious, that I had to laugh. Nalda scowled at me before she reached out and caught Usan by the collar of his shirt, yanking him to her side.

“Both of you will have some breakfast before continuing these antics – outside,” she emphasized.

Usan and I nodded solemnly, before hurrying about our morning routine. Getting dressed, I chose the plainest clothes that hung in the wardrobe. Sadly, even the simplest dress was still covered in lovely embroidery made with the tiniest, delicate of stitches. I sighed, knowing that by the end of the day the poor garment would be stained and torn. Not for the last time did I wish for my old clothes. Unfortunately, they had been burned long ago.

We went outside immediately after finishing our meal. As Usan and I stepped out onto the sandy ground of the courtyard, I was hit with a sudden realization. First, we had no weapons to train with and secondly, there were too many people passing by. We would soon have an audience and I didn’t like the idea of strangers eyeing us with their noses turned up in reproof. I looked down at the boy walking by my side. He hadn’t even noticed the courtiers.

“Is this a good place to start?” Usan asked, jumping in front of me.

“Not exactly,” I answered, looking about, “There’s too many people.”

Usan glanced around. “Not a lot?”

“True.” But still, I hesitated. Then, Usan’s face fell. He backed away slowly with his head held down and his eyes shaded.

“You don’t have to be seen with me,” he murmured. Seeing me flash him a puzzled look, he explained, “To give lessons to a servant boy – that must be looked down by a lot of people.”

“What … no,” I stammered. Bending my knee, I knelt before Usan and took him by the arms to face me. “I’m sorry,” I apologized, “I’m just worried because I’m pretty sure that fighting isn’t a very princess’y thing to do.” I smirked. “Besides, we are likely to get very dirty.”

Usan grinned and looked down at the sand. “I’ll be dustier than you.”

“Promise?” I asked with a smile.

He nodded solemnly.

“Then let’s begin.” I rose and took a step back.

For the next hour we practiced, I instructing Usan on basic techniques – how to perform correct stances for fighting, how to block certain strikes and the best times to strike your opponent. The young boy was very eager and caught on fast. I was caught by surprise at how quickly he was able to put his lessons into practice. Soon, he had learned enough to begin sparring.

I had a lot of fun jabbing at the child playfully, when suddenly he cheated.

“Woah!” I cried, falling face first onto the ground. Coughing, I rolled onto my back. “You tripped me,” I exclaimed, spitting sand out of my mouth.

“You were open,” Usan stated smugly, before asking with concern, “Are you alright?”

His foot appeared out of the corner of my eye and I lunged for it. Before he knew what had happened, the boy was on the ground with me kneeling over him. My fingers nimbly began attacking his sides.

“Stop … stop!” Usan begged for mercy between fits of giggles.

“Not till you concede,” I chuckled back.

“Miss?”

I froze. Slowly, I looked up from my position where I crouched over Usan. Standing before us was a tall, weathered man dressed in armor and frowning severely down on us. With haste, I let Usan up and we both stood.

“Sir?” I asked, when the soldier did not say a word, but continued to analyze me with a fierce stare.

“I’ve been watching you practice,” the man stated simply, “You possess some skill, young lady. What is your name?”

Puzzled that the man did not know who I was, I asked, “Who are you, Sir? Were you not present at the banquet yesterday?”

“General Dal,” answered the soldier, though he scowled darkly at my presumption, “I was out on personal business.”

I swallowed. Standing before me was a living legend. My Grandpa had told me stories of a General whose renowned bravery and battle strategy had won the “Battle of Raging Sea”, fought on the cliffs of Baesinja. A terrible storm had fallen that fateful night, and with heavy rain blowing and mighty waves crashing against the rocky walls, much blood was spilt in trying to overcome the great numbers of the enemy. Fear had permeated the ranks of many a brave soldier. General Dal alone had stood proud and strong beside the Emperor, refusing to surrender. His courage had saved the day.

That had been when His Majesty was but a prince. Before then, in his youth, the General had conquered most of the territories of Geodaehan singlehandedly. I was standing before a hero.

Hastily, I bowed. “A pleasure, Sir,” I croaked out raspily.

“Your name?” The General asked impatiently.

My brain fogged and I blurted out, “Kkachi, Sir.”

“Hmm, ‘Bringer of Good Fortune’”, he murmured, “that will be proven with time. Who is your teacher?”

“My Grandfather is – was,” I corrected, before straightening my shoulders and adding with some pride, “He is a retired soldier of the imperial army.”

“Really? What rank?” The General asked, interest laced in his voice.

“He reached third rank after serving six years. He had just been promoted to second when the Emperor assigned him a personal mission.” I stopped before revealing that the mission was to hide and raise a motherless child.

“Impressive,” the General admitted, “It usually takes ten years for any skilled soldier to move up to the next level. Unless he has powerful connections.” He eyed me suspiciously. “Did your Grandfather start at the bottom?”

“Yes Sir,” I replied with some force, “He entered the fifth rank right out of military school.”

“What’s his name?”

“Bong-Chol.”

Memory lighted up the General’s eyes. “Ah yes, I remember,” he said, “An excellent pupil. So, you are his grand-child? I don’t recall him having any children.”

I nodded slowly. “He adopted me as his own when I was very young.”

“Well Kkachi – I’m prepared to take you on as my private pupil.”

“Me?” I squeaked.

“Yes, though I don’t usually teach girls. But you show some promise. And your style is familiar – similar to another I once knew …” For a moment, the General’s eyes clouded over. Then, with a heavy sigh, he asked shortly, “Do you accept?”

“Yes Sir!” I cried quickly, straightening my shoulders.

“Good. We begin tomorrow. Meet me at the palace gate.”

“Yes Sir.”

With that, I watched as the General walked away till he disappeared ‘round a corner. As soon as he was out of sight, I felt a tug on my arm. Usan was pulling my sleeve.

“Why didn’t you tell him that you were the Princess?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” I admitted, “For a moment I forgot, then I guess I didn’t think that it was important. When he offered to take me as a student, I was afraid he would change his mind.”

“Oh,” Usan nodded understandingly, “Are you going to tell him?”

“I suppose I must,” I sighed as I rubbed my face. Between my fingers, I glanced down at the small boy by my side. “Do you think I should tell the Emperor?”

Usan gave a small shrug of his shoulders.

“Guess I should,” I groaned to myself.

“You don’t want to?” Usan raised his face to me, with a puzzled frown.

“Perhaps I could wait … just to see how the training goes? Besides,” I continued, “General Dal might kick me out of his sight once he realizes I’m a princess.”

“Yes. But he might continue the training if you had the Emperor’s approval,” reasoned the boy.

I glanced up at the sky. The sun had already set and twilight hovered in the air. Stars were blinking in the heavens, the bright ones twinkling and winking at the world below.

“We should go in,” I said, “It’s late.”

Usan looked about, surprised. “It’s dark already?” he asked.

I laughed. “The day has gone by and been spent,” I replied.

“Already?”

I smiled. “So, you had fun?” I asked.

Usan nodded eagerly. “Can we do this again?”

“Of course,” I said, ruffling his hair and making him smile before he pushed my hand away. “You are a good student and show a lot of promise.”

With that, we made out way back to our chambers for a good meal … and a hot bath.