Under The Sky Of A Thousand Lanterns

Chapter 2: The Ambush

"I have not been avoiding the Prime Minister," Su-ji said turning from the window that looked over Palace's yard.

"No, you have just been avoiding the topic of marriage," her mother, Empress Dowager said tightening the belt around her clothing for her, "My dear darling, I would advise you to give the matter a great importance."

"Why is that mother?" Su-ji retorted, "Why must I take a husband? I will find another way to maintain our alliance with the Qing Empire as my father wished for me, without marriage."

"Hmm?" the Empress Dowager smiled appreciatively for a moment, then her voice became crisp, "You are him. Your father."

Su-ji smiled welcoming the compliment, though she knew she was far from her father. He was a man to be reckon with.

"I'll be going now, mother," she said, "I'll see you for lunch."

"Do be careful out there," said her mother.

"I am familiar with the forest mother," she replied.

Jia and General Minho rode besides her, and behind them were the rest of the guards as they rode out for a hunt in the forest of Mt. Jiri. When she was able to walk, her father gave Su-ji a bow and arrows before giving her his sword. They practiced together in the training room. Though she carried her father's sword with pride, Su-ji loved the bow and arrow.

They rode out deep into the forest where the fields had thicken grass that allowed them to spread out.

She liked to be in the wood, under the majestic trees, bouncing along on the thick turf with the quarry and the kill far distant. The hunt was one of Su-ji's favorite past times. In synchronization, her servants and guards followed. She listened to the crunch of leaves under her feet. Her heart pounded with each movement. She was well practiced in the hunt.

She had learned to be still and silent. Any slight movement would startle the wildlife of the forest.

After several minutes, a rabbit snuck into the quiet clearing to nibble on the newly sprouted grass.

Su-ji came to a sudden halt and held up her hand as everyone froze under her commend. She took slow steps towards the animal that was unaware of their presences. She reached for an arrow and the woods was absolutely still. Even the sounds of insects, the whisper of the leaves, were hushed.

Before she could attack, a scream broke the silence. It was a shriek of pain laced with sheer terror.

"Your Majesty!" she heard General Minho and Jia call out to her. There was a thick sound, dull as a knock on wood, and Su-ji fell to the ground, as the arrows struck the people around her. The attack came so suddenly she didn't even have a moment to react.

"Protect your majesty!" her guards shouted as their attempts to reach her were met with arrows.

"Get behind the tree!" shouted General Minho to Su-ji. She nodded her head as she started crawling on the grass towards the large tree, as Minho and Jia crawled behind her. They crawled behind the tree, and paused, panting, smeared with earth, torn by the undergrowth, and waited with their swords drawn.

Another arrow thwacked into the tree trunk above them, and they stayed on the ground.

"Ambush," said Su-ji, "Could you make out anyone?"

"No, Your Majesty," replied Jia, "We must move, or we'll be trapped."

"Wait," said General Minho. As they listened, Su-ji heard for the first time footsteps, and voices, "Let's move."

In a crouching position, General Minho lead them to the left, following the small path. The danger was so great that it made her senses more acute. They were being pursued, she can hear more and more footsteps.