"Do you know the path to the camp?"
Juan pulled a young man to the side while carrying me, his voice was heavy and his arms were stiff like stone, making me hold tight on his neck.
The young man looked at him with wide trembling eyes before nodding, "Y-Yes Sir, why is it that you ask—"
My other soldier quickly pulled out a silver metal with red strings on the end, his breathing was very calm but his hand were making loud sounds as ut clenched the string of the metal tightly.
"Lead the way, we are escorts of the King of Ro En."
Galop.Galop.Galop.
The horses ran quickly as Juan held me on his one arm, and the other held the rope on the horse. His eyes were very sharp and focused on the road.
Wind were blowing against our skin making me chuckle, as two other horses ran on our sides. One was ridden by my other soldier with the young man on his back talking and pointing to the path, while the other horse was of the soldier who carried Mother's jade.
Around twenty more soldiers riding their own horses followed through from behind, making me take a glance at them from time to time.
Oh... Yun and Juan is second to the race.
"T-There Sir! Turn to the left! We will reach a shallow river soon... if we take that path we'll be able to get to the camp faster." The young man shouted and my other soldier quickly look at Juan before going left.
Juan, Yun, and the black horse, followed them. Then, the other soldier followed behind. I looked around, my whole body shaking and bouncing, as I chuckle at the tickling winds.
Fun. Yun is having fun!
I raised my right hand and touched the air as we past through very quickly. Soon, I saw the river the man was talking about.
It was a small river with not so many fish, the horses slowed down a bit before the soldier that carried mother's jade, Hao, jumped to check the water.
"It's safe to ride the horses and pass." He blurted out and then walked back to his horse, nodding to everyone.
I nodded as well.
Go, go... I opened my mouth and urged Juan to make the horse move even if I didn't have voice.
Everyone followed us, Juan and I, still on the second place. The bright sun was blinding Yun, making me cover my eyes as Juan tightened his hold onto me. My small hands quickly wrapped around his neck as I hide from the sun.
"Pardon me, Your Highness. We couldn't afford to use the carriage because we must meet the King as soon as possible." Juan whispered before slowing down the horse, making me pop out my head in dismay.
No... We will lose the race— Before I could pat his face in complaint, Juan already let me down and made me sat on the horse gently.
"C-Can you sit down now? Do you think they'll hurt while riding?" Juan asked me and tried to check my legs but I simply looked at him blankly.
My head tilted to the side, my hands cupping my cheeks.
I simply nodded and then shook my head, each movement meant to answer each question but Juan simply frowned at me.
I pursed my lips. Yes, and no.
" Uh... should I carry you again then? It's fine, we are in a hurry but your legs are much important—"
Pat.Pat. I patted his talkative mouth and simply looked ahead, many soldiers have stopped and slowed down too, perhaps waiting for Yun to win the race.
I looked at Juan's hands holding the rope of the horse and simply touched the rope too, and then leaned closer to the horse before patting its neck.
Come on, run little horse.
A loud neigh echoed suddenly, and without much time, our horse quickly ran very fast leaving so many soldiers behind.
A chuckled escaped my lips as I pat and pat the good horse, my legs were bouncing with every movement... cracking slightly and itching from time to time.
"W-Woah... c-calm down boy, calm down." Juan's breathing paused but he was quickly calmed down, before tightening the hold on the rope and touching the horse, controlling the pace.
"Sir Juan! Is the Prince alright!? The horse suddenly went so fast!" Hao, and my other soldier, Wen, chased after us with bulging worried eyes.
Their appearance made me sigh. It seems Juan is determined to lose this race...
...
"Stop there. You're entering a redtricted area of the military, state your identity and purpose."
I looked over a tall big man wearing tons of metals on his body. His face was huge, Yun's hands can only be as big as his cheeks. He had hair all over his mouth, and his eyes were very bad looking.
An evil man. I clutched my chest and then scooched closer to Juan behind me.
"Greetings! We are the escorts of Geikoshi[1] Yuri of Ro En, we have an urgent news from the Geikari[2]— the Second Sai[3]." Juan muttered as looked over to Hao, who then handed mother's seal to the evil man.
The evil man's eyes bulged slightly and quickly looked at me, making me cover my face.
"The child is?" He asked with a lot air through the words while I take a peek from my fingers.
Juan breathed behind me, "The Eiko[4] Yun. Please allow us to pass."
The evil man quickly opened the gates as he bow his head, "Pardon this servant, Eiko Yun."
I simply looked at him, stared at his straight body whose head bows to me before I nodded my head and reached out my hand, patting his bright hairless head.
Okay, okay.
The evil— ugly man, flinched and looked up at me with eyes same as my mother whenever she subgs for me. I smiled at him, nodded my head, and then patted his cheeks... his face full of hair pricked my hands making me pull away quickly, looking at him with squinted eyes.
"F-Forgive me, there's no time to shave my hair in the camp—" He was trying to explain but I simply crossed my arms on my chest.
No.
I felt Juan moving behind me, before he spoke, "Thank you, we shall meet with the Geikoshi now. Please lead the way."
The ugly man went ahead and then grabbed a horse who were resting inside a tiny shed. My eyes wandered all over and saw many people walking and running around; some carrying huge sacks, some chatting, and others swinging sticks and blades.
"The Geikoshi Yuri is currently at the tent of our commanding General, perhaps already conversing with the Priest Raul." The ugly man muttered as he prepared to ride the horse.
We all went quickly, everyone was moving fast as if they're so eager to go find Father. Yun is excited too.
As far as I know, Father went here to find someone to heal Yun's voice. Maybe Juan brought me here to heal me and have mother's message delivered?
What is passing, anyway? A news of passing... Did Mother pass some exam?
Yun experienced passing before. Countless times even, when the teacher gave Yun so many questions and had me write and draw things on paper.
I was praised for passing. Must Yun congratulate Mother for passing?
Father's tall back came to view. He was standing there in front of a huge cloth made to look like a tiny house, with a man wearing white clothes.
I raised my hand to try and call him but since Yun has no voice, Juan and the ugly man called for him instead.
"Geikoshi Yuri... the Eiko Yun have arrive—"
The moment Father's name was called out, he immediately turned around. His eyes opened wide upon seeing me as I wave my small hands, eager to make the horse move faster.
"Yun? How... What? Why did you bring him here? His legs haven't healed yet." His legs and feet hurriedly walked towards me making me reach out both my arms, wanting to be carried.
Father...Father, Mother passed an exam and Yun is here to tell you.
Juan jumped off the horse and gently carried Yun to Father's arms. The rest of the soldiers bowed down as well, however Father really do not care about them.
Father only cares about Yun's legs. Look, he's even patting it gently.
"Forgive us, Your Highness. However, a very urgent news from the Geikari have arrived—it...could not be delayed." Juan spoke with his legs kneeling on the ground.
Father who was about to turn around while carrying me suddenly stopped and looked at Juan and the soldiers who refused to raise their heads. Even the ugly man was looking down, clenching and unclenching his hold on the sword as his feet keeps on moving from side to side.
"What...news?" Father's voice went cold, but before I could kiss his cheeks, Hao already pulled out mother's jade and the black cloth.
Silence enveloped everyone.
Father's heart dropped wildly... in fact, he stopped breathing all over.
I squinted at Hao's trembling hands that almost drop my Mother's jade and the black cloth before I squinted my eyes to try and see it clearly... Is passing an exam really something Father should stop breathing for?
I raised my hand and tried to wiggle out only for Father's arms to weaken and almost drop Yun. My eyes widened and immediately grabbed his clothes making him look at me.
Father's lips were trembling, and his eyes somehow turned a bit red as it moves from me and back to the black cloth.
"I— Priest Raul..." Father's trembling voice called out a name, and the white-clothed man whose heart was beating quite fast quickly walked towards me.
His smile was stiff, as if it was only meant for a straight line but forced to bent... like a tree branch, once you force to bend it breaks.
"Eiko Yun... why don't you come with me for a while? I heard your legs are hurt? Voice too? I know a good friend that can heal the Eiko..."
His voice was deep yet very calm, making me look at his brown eyes that are as calm as the bright sky. I looked at the soldiers who were still quiet and refusing to raise their heads, as well as to Father whose hands were trembling before nodding to me.
I tilted my head.
Alright. Yun needs voice to congratulate Mother's passing...
The man took me in his arms with cold hands before he nodded to my Father and turned around. His footsteps echoed, and it was quick for us to go faraway from Father and my soldiers.
"Let's... Let me hear the news inside." Father's short yet weak voice echoed inside my ears as the Priest smiled at me, a total of five cloth-like houses away from Father.
We stopped at a bigger house that are almost being ruined by the strong wind. The man pulled the cloth to the side and we went inside, where many soldiers are lying inside.
Few green-clothed people are busy caring for these soldiers before they looked at us, bearing calm kind eyes.
"Priest Raul... is this the Eiko?" One of them spoke, and her voice were like the wind's soft blow.
Priest Raul nodded and then gently put me down on a hard bed.
"Yes, I hope you can treat him. The Geikoshi informed me that he was drowned and although was saved quickly, he lost his voice in the process... also he broke his legs during the travels."
The woman nodded and started looking at Yun's legs, and then made me look up to touch my throat. The priest stood up and approached a lying soldier who was eating.
"Send a messenger to the Imperial Palace. Inform the Emperor that I must leave the camp to escort back the Geikoshi Yuri and Eiko Yun to Ro En... " The Priest whispered carefully as if I cannot hear him.
He looked at me and caught me staring, making his eyes wide for a moment before he nodded and waved his hands.
"...bring Ro En's messenger to relay the reason to the Emperor." He turned around, made his voice weaker and then tapped the soldier's back.
I tilted my head in curiosity, but Yun doesn't know these people and I am more interested in knowing how Mother passed an exam.
So with my twitching ears, I pursed my lips and tried to focus on listening to Father and Hao's conversation from afar.
A smile plastered on my face... as a loud cry of Father's happiness and pride echoed; his heart beating heavily as if it no longer wants to beat again.
Hm, is it a very hard exam?
_____
[1] King
[2] Queen
[3] Imperial Princess
[4] Prince