Chapter Four

The generals were annoyed when a boy opened the door looking for the kitchen. They were having a serious meeting with the king himself and the advisor Zirhin, discussing the war with Choson. There was a debate whether Song, the prince could go to the battles. Some generals and the king said absolutely not. The prince wanted to participate in the battles. His father knew that his son was very good in battle but he was too worried that he would get hurt. He argued using himself as an example. He had gotten hurt in the palace it would be even more dangerous in the hot heat of the battle field. Other generals stated that they thought Song was skilled enough to fend on his own and he would be in the back anyways. They also said that the people of Choson were weak and in limit.

With that issue in debate there was one sure thing. The country of Hua Chon was going to attack again. They decided to use the swamp border in the middle of the two countries to their advantage. As there was a swamp there no one would expect an attack from there. What Hua Chon had was a man who knew a path through the swamp large enough for the army to travel through. The swamp was thick so they wouldn't be seen until they started ambush on a small village. With the villagers as hostages when the Choson came with fighters they would hesitate, seeing their country men captured. They were sure to win the battle then, especially with a second group of troops ready to attack from another place in a swamp. Both were to meet to double the troop power after the villages had been invaded. Song stubbornly refused to stay in the imperial city while there was a battle. Wearily Minjune agreed to let Song in battle if the masusa succeeded with the dragon project. So far though they hadn't been doing so well.

The report had been that there were many stories about dragons but they couldn't be sure if they were true. When they tried to summon a dragon it did not work. The way to summon a dragon was unknown to them and they had difficulty. The king knew that the masusa were working hard on this project , he had witnessed it himself. Despite even young ones helping and the most experienced trying with their power they knew that they hadn't gotten anywhere yet. Minjune was always worried about Song. His son was young, ambitious, brave and adventurous. Sooner or later his father wouldn't be able to stop him from doing what he was best at. That was why he needed the power of a dragon to protect him better than any human bodyguard. The king hoped that the masusa would find something of worth soon. It was vital that Song get this protection, he was the next heir after all.

Su Mijing ran at the masusa with the shining knife blazing. Seh Jung was startled by this sudden and unexpected action. He really couldn't think of any reason why the chef would try to injure him- unless it was for bringing in an animal in the kitchen. As he ran across the kitchen with Mijung at his heels he realized that it was Puny that he was after. Of course a chef would love to make a rare and delicious meal out of piggy ribs and wings. Seh Jung nearly slammed into the counter as he desperately tried to get away. Su Mijung swiped his knife toward his shoulder, where Dejiku was. Thinking quickly Seh Jung faced his palm at him saying the words "Gongi Bangpe"(air shield) as his other hand performed a hand seal.

He saw the knife slice down through the tense atmosphere. The young masusa thrust his hand out hoping the shield of air was powerful enough to prevent any shed blood. Air molecules joined at his hand and the blade seemed to slide off the invisible force. The chef's mustache bristled as he discovered that his weapon had missed. He yelled at the cooks around him to get a hold on the little pig-chicken. No one dared disobey their master, the head chef of all foods and cooks. They would have jumped right to it- if they had any idea how. First of all, half of them couldn't see Dejiku. Second of all, a lot of them were trying not to ruin food that was cooking while pretending to attempt getting a " pig-chicken". Third of all: Everyone knows that head chef Su Mijung was straight plum crazy.

Mijung tripped Seh Jung by kicking his ankle. He fell to the floor with a thump and felt Dejiku fall with him also, not using his wings in time to defy gravity. The chef came close to them, his beady eyes focused on Dejiku. The masusa saw Puny pluck a feather and blow. He flinched as he felt heat at his ear. There was a crackle of electricity and blue sparks as Dejiku took them both through a warped hole in the air. Seh Jung was whooshed right out of the dangerous kitchen winged pig style. The pig let out a squeal of relief. They were in a hallway next to curious stone lion on a small stand. Seh Jung recognized this as just outside the entrance to the kitchen. The masusa stood up and walked cautiously toward the entrance. Puny squealed " You can't go back in there. You're going to get killed!"

It turns out that Su Mijung is a generous man. That is of course if you show him something he wants to see. Such things like money, strange animals to fatten and cook, recipes, something related to money and money could make the chef willing. It also sometimes works with things he doesn't want to see. Those things could possibly be a knife( at his throat), or a certain wooden object that he dearly disliked when it was in the hand of a certain pig-chicken befriending boy who just remembered he had it. He was just about to terrorize the boy to give him the " pig-chicken" when he pulled out a wooden oval with the seal of a tortoise and writing. It was a royal pass, the turtle representing the king. This pass enabled the pig-chicken boy to ask for basically anything and receive it as long as it was in the chef's power.

The kid ordered some fine this and a lot of noodles and some of this and this and he would point at something on the table clearly stating he didn't know what it was but to add it in. The chef's mustache bristled worse than his eyebrows ( which looked like fat caterpillars- no, butterflies) when he heard the order. There was more food that the chef told Fu Kang to write down on paper. Mijung assumed that the boy was getting food for his masusa friends. He of course was wrong. Gurumbe is certainly not a friend, and not a masusa ( even though he uses magic). Well it wasn't any of Mijung's business anyways so he didn't ask. Besides, he was too busy trying to see if the winged pig was with him. Actually the pig had wisely decided not to follow Seh Jung into kitchen and preferred to wait in the hall observing the lion statue. The chef told the masusa to come back later to get the food. Seh Jung nodded and picked up Dejiku, who seemed to have had a lovely conversation with the inanimate animal in the hall.

Water dripped steadily off his chin as his body shook with cold. He looked at the ground searching for that rare plant. The rain had stopped but the sky was covered in a gray-white blanket of cloud. At one point he had gone back in his house to use the herbs Horang Xai Lun had given him on his ill mother. Then he had gone back outside when the rain was a mere drizzle. He hadn't seen Horang Xai Lun since she had left. It was almost impossible to complete the goal he had set for himself. The more and more he looked the less he thought Aro was real. It seemed like a mythical plant where you could walk for miles with it seeming right in front of you but you never got any closer. He still looked as far as he could in the valley. It had golden green leaves and that was all he basically knew. Sosun was sure that if he saw it he could tell if it was Aro or not, but now he wasn't so sure. The valley had many plants of many kinds. It was one of the reasons the village didn't have to buy many herbs because they were right there. So it would be a surprise if an unexpected visitor came into the village.

He was riding a horse into Hanora with a helmet on his head. His dress was that of a moderately wealthy man. The villagers were surprised to see him. He told them that he had news from the king. The village of Hanora finally heard of the attempt on their king's life. There was a sigh of relief when they were informed that he was alright but still weak. They were told to report immediately if they know who the person is. They suspect it was someone from Hua Chon. All the villagers were there at the announcement, including the outcast. Sosun immediately thought of what Horang Xai Lun had said to him. As for your king, he is dead. A thought crept into his head. Then he saw Mr. Gwang's wife glaring at him. Sosun left quickly after the messenger rode on his horse out of the village. Horang Xai Lun.

The outcast ran into the forest searching for Xai Lun. She might have left already but Sosun had the feeling that she was still in the valley. He found himself in the same place where they had first met, and he was attacked with orange darts. She was one of the Choson, the country they were currently in war with. He called out her name into the forest. There was only the slight rustle of leaves and the call of a bird. He saw light break through the sheet of cloud and com down to the forest floor. He called her name again. "Something the matter?" she said. Sosun whirled around to where he thought he had heard her voice. All he saw were trees. " Up." said she. Then he saw her in a branch high up in a tree. Her eyes looked tired and weary.

"Horang Xai Lun" Sosun said. The girl nodded in the the tree but made no movement to come down. He bent his neck up to see her. She asked him if he found Aro, he shook his head no. She did not say anything. Sosun gulped and spoke. " The king is not dead."he shouted up to her. He almost thought that she would fall out of the tree when he saw her stricken face. She looked darkly down at him. She knew that he knew that it was her that had tried to kill Minjune. Xai Lun sat there for a moment, taking it in. He thought he nearly saw a look of relief but it was replaced with another face. A face he could not recognize what emotion it held in it. He didn't know what to do and stood there. She watched him do nothing, say nothing. Then she decided to speak.

"I'm sorry I could not give you the opportunity to help your mother." Horang Xai Lun said, her face lifted from it's hidden state. "So, I give you the liberty of choice. Would you rather die by never waking up from your sleep, or face a fatal wound by a blade?" At first Sosun was confused as to why she said this but then he understood. He could not be left alive with this information. His face cringed, he knew he couldn't escape this time if she really decide to kill him. Xai looked away as she waited for his answer. " You know what?" said she. Then he heard these words for the second time. " You should have let me die." she said in a bitter, hoarse way. He heard Xai Lun sigh in the tree. His heart thumped quickly in his chest. Sosun knew she wouldn't trust him not to tell anyone. He couldn't run, he couldn't do anything. " So, which is it?" said Horang Xai Lun.

"I...I don't want to die!" Sosun said desperately, knowing it was only giving him time in vain. " I have to help my mom remember?"

" I apologized for that already. I cannot let you live. If you run, you die. If you don't answer my question, you die. I'm giving you a choice, use it." Sosun shivered.

He gave up. " Put me to sleep Horang Xai Lun." he said in almost a whisper, but apparently she heard. He saw her move slowly in the tree, putting her scarred hand into her sleeve. It lingered there, making Sosun almost want it to come quickly. She pulled out one of her darts, it was black. She took aim, her teeth clamped together. Sosun only saw a black line through the air as it came with precision. Nice aim, he thought. It struck the side of his neck and caused piercing pain. His eyes rolled and his body felt funny. He fell over, still conscious but unable to do anything. Sosun felt a leaf brush his face and a pleasant smell of earth and plant life filled his nose. Then everything became dark. Horang Xai Lun.