Rika of the Dawn ⚠ short hiatus ⚠

Attack of the Fire Tribe: Pt. 2

What?

My blood flushed cold. Make SoWon King of Kouka? No! Why would they? He killed our father! Why are they trying to crown him? He does not need to be--!

"The Fire Tribe?!" 

My heart thumped painfully at the dreaded news. Did the other Tribes not know who killed their King? No. Su-Won wouldn't risk the crown, he wouldn't tell. Hak wouldn't tell. If we did tell, we'd risk our lives.

"It seems from the start, the Fire Tribe and So-Won have been in League with each other, " Mundok said, his frown increasing. "They're putting pressure on me because I didn't acknowledge  Lord So-Won as the King."

Ba-dump! Ba-dump!

My teeth nibbled my bottom lip. Get it together, Rika!  If not for yourself, then...then for Yona! I told myself. Yeah. I have to be strong like Hak. I cannot let myself break in the middle of this.

I see my twin as tense as a quivering tree in a harsh wind. Her arms were slunk around her torso in a cold terror. I could see it in her purple eyes that it was there.

"Princess', " Even I was startled byMundok's voice, "It's alright. I won't acknowledge him. If I were to accept Lord So-Won as the King... I would have to accept the suspicion that Hak killed the King, as well."

I couldn't contain my daze ghast, "That Hak killed the king?!"

My tall friend folded his arms with an unamused expression, "Right. Pinning the crime on me is the fastest way to settle it."

"Don't worry, " I glance at Mundok, his look of determination was almost gut-wrenching and reassuring. "I won't let the Fire Tribe do whatever they want from this point on.

~Up the river~

"Master Kan Tae-Jun, " A dark-haired soldier, Heuk-Chi, approached a long, blonde-haired man with a stone expression. "What's the current state of the Wind Tribe?"

Kan Tae-Jun replied easily, "It seems they're having difficulties because the river is blocked, " He began with his cause and effect, "If this goes on for the next few days, then they'll definitely..." He sighed in aggravation and impatience, "That's going too easy on them." Tae-Jun looked back at his closest soldier, "You're blocking the river, that's all?"

Heuk-Chi nodded, "Yes. That's the order from the General."

Tae-Jun rubbed his chin thinking of his dastardly scheme to ruin the Wind Clan, "I hear there are merchants who frequently come to the Wind tribe. If they buy water from those merchants, then this will have been meaningless, " He grumbled, thinking some more. "Crush the merchants before they reach Capitol Fuuga." The manchild decided.

The soldier knew better and spoke up quickly, but calmly, "But if we do something without permission, then the General..."

"Then you should make it look like the doing of bandits!" Tae-Jun burst out in frustration.

Taking no offense to the outburst of his General's son, Heuk-Chi sighed deeply, "What are you irritated about, Master Tae-Jun?"

"NGH!" He grunted out, "If I had obtained Princess Yona or Princess Rika...the King's throne would have been mine!" Veins bulged from his forehead and tears brimmed his eyes in the temper tantrum. "If Hak hadn't interfered that time..."

Heuk-Chi looked at Tae-Jun with an eyebrow raised and a look of "are-you-serious?" Tae-Jun was fuming about something that happened a few years ago? 

Heuk-Chi still couldn't believe this man was the General's son, as he was a whiny and spoiled manchild.

~Wind Clan~