Wonderland

chapter 12

San looked at his brother leaving. Walking to Yuta, “ I've been known to piss Hongjoong off. But you and Namjoon doing it, that's golden. Good job.”  He left the elder and followed his brother.

Elsewhere, “ these are your orders, get it done.” Yoongie and Jin looked at each other. “ Well this is new…see you at the stalls!” Yoongie said and ran off, making it a race with Jin. All Jin said was ‘ that's it? Wait, Yoongie!... damn it’ and followed.

Leaving the elder city, Ember felt the tension disappearing,for the most part. About an hour into the ride home, Ember was on edge again. Being a king's guard was hell sometimes. The ride home was quiet, until Wooyoung and San rode together. She could hear them catching up. Wooyoung’s laugh was contagious.  She knew that they missed each other.

Soon Jongho’s ass was getting numb from riding. He suggested stopping the horses and letting them rest, getting water. He wanted to stop badly, he wasn't used to riding in a stiff saddle.

“No, they're fine.” her answer was short, almost hatefully. Her gut was telling her to get her brothers home. To get the others back to her kingdom. Mingi looked back at her, ‘ you feel it, little sister?’ he asked. She didn't answer him. Her gaze was focused on the tree line of the trail.

“ Something is wrong.” Said Wooyoung. He too felt uneasy. He backed his horse behind Yeosang. She saw a shadow move through the trees, just to the right of San. “ Brothers, when I tell you, get Seonghwa home.” She told them. “ No matter what, don't worry about me.”

“ Just make it back home.” Was all Yunho said. She watched as her brothers formed a semi circle around Seonghwa, Hongjoong and Yeosang, herding Jongho and San behind the three. Yeosang looked around confused about the formation.

“ What's going on?”he asked. Hongjoong spoke before Seonghwa could. “ We're being followed. The brothers' job is to protect us and Seonghwa. Get us to the safety of the fire kingdom.”

“ That's a concern, but what is she going to do? Why did she tell them that?” Asked San. He wasn't used to the command in her voice. Let alone Seonghwa and his brother being okay with it.

“She will lead them away, by having them follow her.” Seonghwa said with confidence.
“ Is she CRAZY?” asked Jongho. Jongho couldn't believe what he just heard. He and Yeosang grew up with a mind set of protecting women, not being protected by them.

“No, not but a long shot…” Seonghwa told him. But paused and thought longer about it. “Well, maybe actually, but that's besides the point. Point is she was trained for this.”

When Ember saw another shadow on her other side, she knew there was more than one. “NOW!” the minute the words came from her mouth, the men kicked their horses and were off.  Coming to a fork in the road Ember went left, the men went right. She watched as her brothers, her betrothed and the others got smaller. Small specks of black getting smaller and smaller in the greenery of the trees.

She focused on herself, and her horse, Star. Cutting through the forest she glided. She soon realized that the two shadows followed her, not her brothers or the others. That was good. Let them follow her.  Star was moving so fast that Ember got small cuts on her arms and face from the branches. But that was of no concern to her. What concerned her was that she just didn't have two shadows after her, but six.

Six black riders chased her. Their black studs moved fast and kept up with Star. These were trained riders. Every possible scenario raced through her mind.

She kept telling herself that Star had to move faster. She soon started to think of who the hell these riders were. Who sent them?

‘Remember to trust her. You must move with her. Don't fight her.” Said her father. The years of training came back to her. ‘ faith in your horse ensures your return.’

‘ I remember father.’  she thought “ I trust you Star.” she said.

‘ If you ever have to leave your brothers, trust them. For they trust you.’

“ I do trust them, father. They will be home and they will be safe” she said out loud.

One of the riders tried to grab the reins to Star. Ember kicked the leg of the rider. The metal on her boots connected and the rider backed away. The others were still on her ass.

She came to a clearing in the forest. Soon the sun had set, not stopping Ember and Star pushed harder. She did know for sure if she lost them. She came to another forest and Star started to slow down, feeling the threat no longer.

Star was winded by now, and both were tired as hell.
Ember stopped and dismounted, she tied the reins to the saddle and let Star catch her breath. They came to another clearing, one that was nested against a lake.

Ember looked around and realized she was in a land she didn't know. “ Well shit! This ain't good” she told Star, who just gave her a look and went to the lake for water.

The sound of hooves striking the cobble road had sparks flying. Eight riders and their horses raced through the gates of the fire kingdom. They were led by King Seonghwa. To his right was Yeosang and to his left was Hongjoong. Behind them were their brothers, and bringing up the rear were the three princes of the kingdom. To the people of the kingdom, it was a site to see.

In the courtyard of the castle, Seonghwa halted his horse, having the others follow suit. Once dismounted the stable boys gathered the reins. “You'll be shown to your rooms, shower and meet me in the dining hall.” He told the others.

Looking around Seonghwa found his constable, “has my sister returned?” He asked. The constable and the servants looked at each other. All gave Seonghwa a no.

“Very well these men are my guests,” Seonghwa gestures towards Hongjoong and them. “ See that they have rooms.” He left everyone in the courtyard.

In his own room, he let out his anger. Grabbing a vase that was close, he threw it against the mantle. It shattered to pieces. He didn't like the fact that Namjoon and Yuta disapproved of the marriage. But that was not relevant. What pissed him off is that those riders didn't follow him. They followed his sister.

Yes she was trained to protect him. But she was his sister. The baby. The only girl in the family. She was his responsibility. A promise he made to his mother. One that was now broken.

Ember on the other hand, had pitched herself the tent. It looked like she was spending the night under the stars.

She went to Star, 'rest and eat well. I'll be back.' she told her horse. She left and decided that food was in order. She hunted for the evening animals. She scored a couple of rabbits, and a fish. The fish was a bonus on her way back to camp.

She started a fire and cooked her food. She didn't bitch about not getting more food. She was happy with what she was given.