| Friend or Foe (Part II)

Min-Jun's suggestion about Soo-Ah had a certain appeal.

"Useful you say,'' Sung-Ho turned his gaze in the direction where the young woman in disguise disappeared as if searching for another chance to set his eyes upon her. Since the old man mentioned the possibility for her to be his wife or a concubine, the great general's view of the girl shifted -a granddaughter turned into a woman. Under the crude armour, she could certainly look the part. And those eyes; an unbeknown thrill had ignited within him when he saw himself reflected there.

"Please do not take offence from her earlier rudeness."

"Before you continue, allow me to clear the waters," Sung-Ho interrupted. "I have a war to fight and glory to find me. I do not intend to take a new consort, so that option is out. And a concubine? Are you sure you want her to be a concubine of mine? I am famous for being a bad luck talisman for women. One wife is dead, I have one expelled concubine and another one who left me. It is not exactly a good record. Plus, countless broken hearts I left everywhere," said the great general, laughing.

"Jokes, good. Good that you make jokes." The old man cunningly deflected Sung-Ho's honest reply. "But consider her situation after I am no longer able to protect her. There is no one on my family's side who would take her. They already took away most of my fortune and properties and assumed no responsibility for it. She will have no one else in this world after I am dead, so I entrust her to you." He stretched his old, wrinkled hands to find the general's hands again. "You are a powerful man and I know you would take good care of her." Pulling Sung-Ho closer, he instructed in a stern tone, "I have no one else to turn to. You did make a promise once..." The old general kept the man's palm with both of his hands and looked at him with pleading wide eyes.

"This is more than I expected to take on. Such a burden you put on my shoulders. But I do owe you a lot, don't I, honored friend? Alright, I promise I will do the best that I can to make sure she is taken care of, and that she leads a good and comfortable life. Is this promise good enough?" asked the young general, with a pained sigh, as if he was taking on the weight of the entire world.

The old man was content.

They continued to exchange some pleasantries and share some ideas on what was to come when the noises of metal clashing from outside started to make their way inside the tent. With them, Soo-Ah appeared, urgency taking hold of her expression.

Panic strained her voice, "They are attacking the camp! My general, we should be ready to move you if we cannot fend them off." Talking directly to her grandfather, she ignored the presence of the great general.

General Sung-Ho took a quick look at what was going on outside. "Forget any belongings and only take what is necessary." Addressing Soo-Ah he added, "You should go and ready the horses, soldier."

Soo-Ah continued to ignore the man. She grabbed a pack they always kept prepared with medicine, to put in all the other necessities, when she suddenly dropped everything. A few moments could be spared for her to turn towards her grandfather's bed and kiss his wrinkly stained hand as she used to when he was going to battle. Again, no words were spoken.

This time, in his head, the old general was the one making his peace and saying his goodbyes. Soo-Ah felt this was not the right time for farewells. A goodbye had no place in her plan to return to take care of the old man.

Looking at the touching scene the young general asked cunningly, "Isn't that a bit too familiar for a general's aide? What did you say your name was again… boy?"

"Soo-Yun, General Sung-Ho!" lied Soo-Ah and forced herself to sound reverent, returning to prepare for the upcoming journey and paying little attention to this mighty General.

"Then, soldier Soo-Yun, you should keep close to me. I will help you reach the stables."

"With all due respect, I have a sword and I know how to use it. The Mighty General would better help the men out there so we will not need to leave," answered Soo-Ah with her sword at a ready, heading out, with General Sung-Ho following her close behind.

The way to the stables was blocked by clusters of soldiers fighting. General Sung-Ho was called by his company in the opposite direction. Unwillingly he had to break his chase of Soo-Ah. The next time he looked back in her direction he found her caught in a melee. When she said she could handle a sword she spoke the truth though. The general saw she had a fighting chance if only the invaders were not coming and coming.

In a matter of minutes, Soo-Ah ended up evading, instead of fighting the enemy to continue on her route. There was a rider, galloping on his horse, approaching menacingly. The great general understood his intention and he asked for a lance. In a sure and swift motion, the lance went flying away and found a home in the rider's torso. He fell with a thud next to Soo-Ah, making her turn, only to see the general, in the distance, saluting her with a grin as if wishing her good speed. She knew she owed him her life and the chance to come back for her grandfather.

But the general, seeing the situation up close, was aware there was no coming back. He had to sound the alarm. His fighting party consisted of six well-trained soldiers who tried to make their way to call for the retreat of the scattered troops. The old general's camp was clearly not well defended, or they lacked good intel. This was the only explanation for the sudden attack.

They had to abandon their location. General Sung-Ho called for one of his men and ordered him to go after the young soldier whose name was Soo-Yun. At the cost of his life, he would take the boy out safely, and bring him to their main encampment. He and the rest of their new army would take more time in getting there. If they were able to escape. The soldier was not to look back and would bring the news of the attack with him.

Having his orders, the man sprinted in the direction his general showed him, yelling the boy's name. In the end, a young soldier, looking too fair to belong in the army, turned his head and looked at the unknown face, having his sword ready.

"Are you Soo-Yun? Answer me quickly! Is your name Soo-Yun?"

Soo-Ah found herself nodding, not having time for introductions. "What is it to you?"

"General Sung-Ho sent me to aid you. You need horses, right? Let's go. I will help."

The unknown soldier's familiar armour and the manner he was speaking in, un-menacingly, convinced Soo-Ah to trust him and let him follow her. Hiding, and avoiding confrontation, they reached the stables, located in an area still safe from the attackers.

They each got up on a horse and Soo-Ah took another one by the reins, for her grandfather.

"Where is the nearest exit out of here?" asked the soldier in hushed tones as he kept looking around, scouting the area.

"There is the small southeast entrance of the camp that way," and she bobbed her head in that direction. "But we need to get back to the general's tent."

Before Soo-Ah set the horses to get back to her grandfather, the soldier came over and took hold of her bridle. Without a word, he goaded the animals towards the southeast exit, in the opposite direction to where she needed to go.

"What are you doing? Let go of my horse. You are going the wrong way. We need to go back. You are going the wrong way, I said!" Soo-Ah stared at his hands clasped on the reins. Her eardrums began to pound, her throat became parched. Why was he so obstinate?

"We can't go back. We need to flee," was all the soldier had to add, unwilling to lend his ears to whatever this peculiar lad was whining about.

"Let me go!" Soo-Ah let go of the other horse and pulled at her reins hard, with both hands, bringing her horse to a stop and as well that of the soldier's. In a swift move, she took out her sword out, threatening him.

The soldier did not even flinch, but his eyes pierced through hers. "This is not the time to play the brave soldier, boy. General Sung-Ho ordered me to take you out of this camp and that's what I am gonna do, if I have to fight you."

"Come and fight me then!" Soo-Ah was at a close distance and ready to swing her sword, aiming at his arms, with clear intent to make the soldier let go of her horse.

But the close distance also served the man as he applied a quick blow on her upper chest, knocking her off the mare, and leaving her dizzy and gasping for air on the ground. He dashed over on his mount and effortlessly picked her up and sat her stomach down on the saddle. He did not have to bind her, or grip her tight to remain there. Head down, chest flattened was the worst position to recuperate her breath after having the air sucked out of her lungs. Soo-Ah would have fought back, but all she could do was heave, time stretching while she struggled to take a normal breath. Enough time for them both to get out of the encampment on horseback.

As they rode away, Soo-Ah could only watch her entire world upside down and everything in it glistening red into the night.