The Oath (Kingdom)

XXII. Lone wolf

Hi guys! I'm still alive :D Sorry for very long pause. This chapter was kind of heavy to write. Hope you will like it and the struggle will be worth it :)

********

"My hand is bleeding again" Nilah looked on her palm, wrapped in bondage that was lightly getting crimson colour in the spot where her little finger used to be.

She laid next to Yeongshin who was playing with her hair.

"I'm still mad at you, because of that."

"Don't be" she kissed him playfully and made her way to the kitchen where she cleans her wound that was pulsing with light pain. Her whole palm was weirdly stiff, but it was getting better.

Sun was already behind trees and illuminated world in beautiful warm gold colour. Nilah saw Miho playing near forest and she thought about her conversation with Bon Hwa.

"Miho is outside. I will go talk with him." She called inside to let Yeong shin know. She gets used to let him know where she is, or where she is going since he can't see her. But she noticed he was getting better in paying attention to noises she made and he knows where she is before she speaks. Like his hearing skills were stronger than before.

"I will be good" came response, and rustle of clothes.

Nilah made her way outside and smile, when young boy noticed her presence. He was different. His eyes were sad and scared.

"Hey Miho. How are you? It's been a while since I saw you."

He just shrugged and play with stick like it was a sword.

"You have nice pendant." She points on fang hanging around his neck.

"Yeong shin gave it to me. I should return it to him." He mumbled and stopped chopping tall grass.

"And why is that?" she sat to the grass and patted the ground next to her. Miho sat down and wipe his nose. Single tear slipped down his face.

"He gave it to me because I was brave. But I'm not. I'm coward." He started to cry, his little shoulders shaking with sobs.

"Miho, no! Don't say that." She hugged him tight and tried to comfort him. But she knows she must tell him the truth. "It's not a shame to be scared. I will tell you my and Yeong shin's story. Part of it."

She took a deep breath and rolled up her sleeves, revealing her scarred arms. "I was soldier. I served in Lord Ahn Hyun army..."

Miho was watching her with awe, his cheeks red with excitement.

"A soldier? I thought that you were princess..."

Nilah laughed "No, I was just a common soldier. Lord Ahn gave me order. To protect one man. No matter what. That man was former chakho who came to Sangju with prince Lee Chang."

"With crown Prince? Yeong shin knows Crown Prince?" Miho gasped. He held his pendant in trembling fingers like it was made of gold.

"Yes, he knows him well. Prince Chang and Yeongshin was fighting side by side with terrible plague. Me and several soldiers were with them."

Miho's eyes were big with excitement and she almost heard his little heart hammering in his chest.

"We fight in Hanyang. I was following my order and protecting Yeong shin. And there was accident. I fall through the burning roof, broke my leg and almost died. And I was scared. I was facing the flames and enemy. And I cry because I didn't want to die. Not yet. Flames burned me, but I survived..."

"I'm not scared of fire." Miho furrowed his brow and raised his head, his scar more visible. "I kind of like that scar. I look like warrior."

Nilah was confused. She thought that Miho is ashamed, because of his scars.