Tantrum

He is in pain.

Seol thinks with narrowed eyes observing the man riding ahead of her. He holds his reins in a white knuckled grip, and his lips are pursed against any visible sign of emotion. She watches him to the detriment of her own riding that Min Ha has to ride closer and keep Woo out of pitfalls in the road.

"Pay attention mama," the court lady already rather green in face looks annoyed with her behavior.

They had not stopped after their hasty lunch and Min Ha was growing crankier with each passing mile. Shinju is far ahead - as the woman complained mumblingly - they would never reach the mountains in one day, no matter how much they rode.

Seol ignores her last string of complaints and urges Woo into a gallop, swallowing the distance Seo had put between him and the rest of the party. She catches up to him and cuts off on Woo's pace, falling into a trot beside him.

"Go back and ride with the party," Seo tells her, his eyes trained ahead. "It's difficult to protect your highness if you insist on standing in the front line."

"Humph," Seol makes a non - committal sound. "Why are you carrying your arrows in the saddlebag?"

Seo had an ingrained habit of wearing his quiver on his shoulder. It is peculiar that he had opted to fasten them to his saddle instead, hanging by the side of his leg - within easy reach if he wanted to shoot. Seol raises a hand with full intention of placing it on his back.

"What's wrong with -"

Seo shifts as if to ward off her on coming contact and a huff of pain escapes his pursed lips. Instead she places her palm on his forehead.

"You are burning up!"

He wipes off her touch, urging Bi into a faster pace.

"Inconsequential," his huff is half annoyance and half indignity. "We are miles from our stop - mama!"

"No. We are not."

She turns Woo, clenching her jaw. The look in her eyes dares him to stop her. She waves the captain of guard over.

"We are riding into the village -"

"We are not." Seo throws the acidic look he couldn't throw at Seol towards the captain. The man is so startled that his horse rears back. "That village is not in our route map. We are skirting across it."

"These are my lord uncle Munwon's estates. Do you suppose there is any danger here - General Kang?" Seol's eyes narrow wickedly. "I say we ride into the village. I say I had enough for the day." She turns to the captain. "Are you against me?"

"No - mama - but -"

"Very well then, get your men in order."

"Mama -" Min Ha calls for her. Seol scowls at her too.

"What now? Didn't you want to stop already? Now that we are stopping you have an issue with that too?" She makes no effort to hide her annoyance. Min Ha however watches Seo with an awkward expression and waits until he had ridden away with the captain.

"I don't think General Kang wishes to stay here Mama -" Min Ha says, her voice conspiratorially hushed as if she was sharing a great secret with Seol. Seol's scowl deepens.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh -" Min Ha rolls her eyes. "Think about it mama - grand prince Munwon had been General Kang's guardian - has he not? General Kang grew up in these estates. I'm sure he had one or other paramour he wishes to avoid in this village. Why else do you think we never seem to cross through this rather short route?"

A corner of Seol's mouth begins to twitch.

"You think so?" She asks, her voice not very pleasant. Min Ha notices the change, but presses on.

"Don't you think it's all very logical mama?"

"Ah - well," Seol throws up her hands in the air. It is a testament of how good a horse woman she is that she doesn't need hands to maintain her balance or maneuver her mount. "There is only one way to find out."

When Woo begins to gallop the descending slope towards the valley - where the village was nestled - Min Ha shakes her head disappointedly and chases after her mistress.

"Mama - mama! Wait for others!" She is panting by the time she catches up. "What will you do when you find out?" She asks Seol. Seol shakes her head, continues downward determinedly, until they had reached the first house that marked the beginning of the village.

The captain and his men had caught up by then and ride ahead of the two women.

"Make way for Lady Ha In - first princess," one of them calls out. Seol pulls at the reins and lowers Woo's gallop into a heavy walk. The villages are filling into the streets, her cheeks begin to heat up.

"They are your people, mama," Seo is back by her side. Up close she could see the weariness that had come over him. There are faint circles beneath his eyes. "You don't have to be self conscious with them."

It is not people per say that made her uncomfortable. There were people in Shinju as well. Those weren't strangers, Seol had known them for almost a decade and cherished them as much as she was cherished and loved in return. These people looked at her with adoration too - but there was a reserved distance, a reverence that she wasn't sure if she deserved. They bowed when she passed. They did not have to kneel unlike when the king's or the crown prince's progression would pass - but still they bowed with a feeling that made her throat tighten.

"In a way -" Seo continued, his eyes on the eagle that she wore. "They are more yours than people in Shinju. These people are retainers of Yoos - his majesty's house. You are their one and only princess."

"House of Yoo will one day pass to Yong," Seol reminds him, uneasily smiling when a baby on the roadside offers her a toothless grin. "I am the lady of North."

Seo doesn't contradict her. The guards had already made a secure path to the inn. They had no cause to stop in between.

"But don't you think -" Seol begins only to be cut off by an unexpected call.

"Orabeoni!"

Seol's eyes narrow. It is a girl who approaches them. A woman - Seol corrects her own thoughts. She is older. She thinks then. Too old for this uncouth behavior. And Seo had absolutely no business to beam that wide for her. What an absolutely pathetic display this was turning into. Min Ha materializes beside her as if summoned by her negative train of thoughts just as Seo dismounts to go meet the woman.

"See -" her tone is gleeful. The little midget, Seol thinks vengefully. She has the tongue of the devil. "I was right."

"General Kang!" Seol raises her voice, deliberately and rather rudely. Seo jerks and turns around at being called. "Aren't you going to help me dismount?"

*