Divine Move

SEVEN

Time seemed to stop.

Everything became still except the sound of her heart so loud she was afraid he can hear it. Tanya closes her eyes.

The soldier was breathing heavily too. Yangcha was surprised with his emotions. He pride himself with being very rational and detached to feelings. He is a Daekan warrior.

"You.. confuse me.." he thought. She opened her eyes looking at him, searching.. for what?

That makes both of us.. Tanya thought. She looks away, worried he might see.

He saw her looked away. Yangcha flinched. The Igutu.

"Niruha! The Wahan tribe here to see you," somebody announced.

Snap!! Suddenly she was free, the warrior bowed his head and left.

As if nothing happened! Tanya grumbled. Saya. This warrior. Men!!

The door burst open with all the Wahan tribe coming in.

"Tanya!!!" her father exclaims. Everybody gathers around hugging Tanya.

"Are you hurt?" She touches her father's face. She looks at everyone. She smiles.

"Who did it?" her father asks after everyone left. He looks at Tanya worriedly. Her daughter looked flushed when they came in. Even with them he know she feels alone in this place. How she must feel.

"It's Saya father. Be careful with him. Tell the others too. He might ask about Eunsom." She doesn't know how safe it is to tell Saya about Eunsom.

"How did you manage to free us?"

"I was thinking really hard when Yangcha.. " she trailed off. How does she explain to her father about hearing the soldier's thoughts. Her father waits for further explanation.

"Yangcha helped me," Tanya said simply. Her father looked relieved and surprisingly went to Yangcha.

"Thank you!" he said smiling shyly. The warrior is tall and looks strong. Father Yeolson thought he would be a good guard for his daughter.

"Please keep her safe always." Father Yeolson bows his head.

Yangcha looks awkwardly at Niruha's father. He bows his head too.

Tanya emits a laugh despite her irritation with the warrior. Both men heard the laugh and looked at Tanya. Father Yeolson was glad to hear her laugh again. The warrior on the other hand has never heard the priestess laugh. It was a nice sound.

The market was very busy. Some merchants announced their products from faraway lands. Since Tagon's reign, there was an increase in visitors coming to Arthdal. Trade was high. Specially for slaves.

Yangcha walked silently in the streets. He was going to the training area to meet Gitoha and the others. Since the release of the priestess people , she became more relaxed. He noticed more smiles. More laughs. She seemed happy. He wasn't.

He was drawn to her. He can't describe it. But damn if he would let it control him.

I don't need complications in my life. Following Tagon's orders. Joining Mubaek and the others in a hunt. That's his life.

And she has her Igutu.

"Please. I am not stealing your spot. I am just selling these flowers and paint," the child pleaded.

"If you want my spot, give me some money then!" the other peddler said.

"But I was here all day just to sell some of this. If I give this to you, I wont earn anything," the child argued. The child was determined to not give in to the man. Yangcha admired her spunk. In his mind he saw Tanya facing Saya.

" I know you think I am weak. Maybe I am... So please... come when I call you." She said that time. It takes courage to admit weakness. He felt the need to protect her. There was no hesitation in barging in when he heard her call him.

Of course he didn't expect her to be in the young lord's arms. He gritted his teeth. It still irritates the hell out of him.

He saw the man kicking the girl's flowers and destroying her makeshift store. The child starts to cry.

"Please, please.." she pleads. She saw him about to hit her and she closes her eyes.. Help me!

Nothing happened. The child opened her eyes and saw the man being yanked by a Daekan soldier. The peddler kneeled and begged for his life.

"Please... don't kill me. I will give you all my earnings for today..." the peddler started getting his coin purse and offered it to the soldier.

He took it and tossed it to the child. He signals to the peddler his eyes then point to the peddler. I am watching you.

The peddler understood. Nobody wants to mess with the Daekan soldiers.He bowed his head and left in a hurry.

Yangcha was about to leave. But the child touched the sleeves of his shirt. He looks at her.

"Thank you kind sir. I am Doti. " the child said smiling. "The Gods shall bless you for your kindness."

Yangcha just nodded.