Walking the Path Chosen
Chapter 1: The Kidnapping
by deadkitty1
The ride is bumpy with the occasional neighing of the horses and the rough terrain, yet amidst the disturbing racket, the kidnapped boy only awakens to the smell of roasting meat. He notices the blindfold right away, along with his limbs being tied by a strong knot. The predicament is not one he expected. At most, he expected to be beaten up to a pulp and left for dead by these underhanded hooligans.
For the moment, Choi Young stops his musings to inspect the area. Nobody is talking. He couldn't tell if they are sleeping or watching him make his move. Their presence has warranted enough evidence of what they're capable of. It would be a foolish endeavor to make a run for it, and yet now that he's forced into the situation, curiosity has gotten the best of him. Instead of keeping quiet, he tries to mumble words, aware he makes no sense because of the gag strapped around his mouth. Catching their attention, he hears the grass shake as a figure approaches. The boy tenses as he feels the restraint from his mouth loosen, but before the captor fully takes it off, he issues a gruff warning.
"No screaming. You might attract some dangerous animals hunting out in these woods right now. Also you'd lose your only chance at getting something good to eat if I'm forced to put this back on you. Understand?"
Nodding and sighing in relief, he licks his lips to try to get some moisture back in his mouth before talking. Feeling the person still working on the knot by his hands, he bravely said a question.
"Who are you?"
"You'll find out soon enough. We have a four day ride ahead of us. Food?" he answers. His tone didn't sound ruthless nor threatening but enough to mean business. "I'm going to take off the blindfold. I think you probably know what'll happen if you run but know we won't harm you."
As soon as he regains the use of his eyes, any plan to escape flushes out of his head. The red crescent embedded on each of the warriors who bear a stare through him, awaiting his reaction, shock him into a complete stupor. His words rot in his mouth. When one of them hands the roasted boar for him to eat, he looks at the gift like a being from heaven.
The Red Crescent Moon Warriors are renowned for their deeds to the common folk and the king. Everyone praises their name. Their powers are legendary enough for a small group to take out a hundred men. The boy couldn't understand why a highly trained group of assassins would want with a runaway scholar like him and if they do want him, only the gods in heaven would know what's in store for his future. They may be great in name but they are still outlaws. Any connection with them would cost him his life. Now he wishes more than anything that they had left the blindfold on him. Seeing them as they are instead of hearing them from the gossip of the people may have sealed his fate. There's no running from this. No way.
"Eat!"
The boy snaps out of his thoughts as he obediently stuffs the food in his mouth. Thankfully, the two men lose interest in him and continue with their conversation. The runaway scholar can barely keep the food down his stomach as he imagines the sort of things they would do to him. The violence. The torture. The dishonor!
Eventually as his plate empties and the food settles in his stomach, his panicked thoughts straighten out as he begins to think rationally once more. They would mean no harm to him. One of them even confirms it. Actually the same one also mentioned about traveling on a four day journey. But why and to where?
As his calm thoughts resurfaces, a dark figure emerges from the woods. He's slimmer and shorter than the remaining two. As he meets eyes though, he notices how mistaken his assumption is. That person is a woman. The very woman who fought him so easily in the woods beforehand.
"We're leaving," she briefly orders.
They rise to prepare as she directly goes to escort the hostage on a horse. The boy thought better of issuing his questions to her once he sees her urgency. There would be time for conversation. It will be a long journey, so he might as well make the most of it.
OoO
As they travel, the Choi Young's unease lifts away. He knows the direction they're heading is back to his home, so that much he can surmise he will know soon who sent the Red Moon Army after him. Another aspect he appreciates is having the freedom to ride his own horse and to talk with his captors.
"Waaah! So, the people say we chop off their heads and collect the eyes of our enemies to wear as a necklace? Ya! Now that's scary! And we cut finger by finger so they won't be able to fight against us again?! Who has time for that kind of effort? People do have such an imagination!" the one called Chang remarks loudly in amazement. "Can you believe this Ho Min?"
"Maybe I should start collecting some eyeballs? This necklace of mine is looking shabby," Ho Min replies as a joke while remaining alert in the back.
Everyone bursts into laughter except the leader who signals them to keep it down. Before the atmosphere sinks into seriousness, the hostage decides to asks his questions once more.
"So, who is asking for my ransom?" he whispers as Chang dwells on it. Chang has been helpful gathering information he unfortunately let slip during their many casual conversations. The boy couldn't fathom who would issue a ransom for him. With all his close family dead and gone, he can only think of acquaintances or dear friends of his father, yet those people wouldn't risk any kind of money for his return. No, unless he's forgotten a relative, he can't think of anybody who would want him back.
Chang tries to hide from him by changing his course only to have the scholar follow with his adept riding skills. After giving into the chase, Chang musses his hair in frustration. He gives him perturbed glance in which the boy stares down trying to pry the answer from him.
"I-We don't know," he sighs in guilt.
"What?"
"We don't know!" Chang said louder while frowning at his lack of explanation. "Look. We just take an assignment, no questions asked. We don't know who wants you and why. Just that we'll get a payout in the end."
The boy looks back at his captor in annoyance. He's not only with a group of cold-blooded killers but a bunch of mercenaries too?
"I see. So I can be wanted by Yuan and you'd hand me over as long as there's money to be had?" the smart scholar replies rashly.
He knows he said the wrong thing when Chang's gaze darkens but it's the leader who steps up. She rears her horse and locks eyes, squinting madly at his audacity.
"We are the Red Crescent Army. We serve the people of Goryeo and the King. The orders we take come directly from his Majesty and our Leader. It's where our strength lies, in our loyalty to our nation, our army, and our King. We trust each other, People place their trust in us. They place their hopes in us. Saying those words means that you don't. You don't trust us. So why not?"
He's taken aback by her powerful gaze and feels ashamed for even questioning them. It's true they kidnapped him but throughout the travel, they have treated him as one of their own. He shares the load of work in the camp, they answer his pushy questions as best as they can, and there was no need to put the restraints back on him at all. His cooperation meant theirs as well. His suspicions should lie on the person who issued his ransom, not them.
She didn't wait for him to talk back to her as she continues leading and he exhales the goosebumps away. Her eyes mirror the fiery image of her spirit. Her will to fight for her people, no for her soldiers, said it all in her eyes. The boy becomes envious of her spirit and he can feel the beginnings of a spark stir inside him. A purpose that he's been searching for is slowly piecing together but for now he can only taste a hint of it.
OoO
It's the last day he'll be with the three unique members of the Red Crescent Moon Army. The boy learned so much from them in terms of skill of which they willingly showed. Even Mae Hee, the leader, eagerly advises him on tracking animals and humans, if there ever came a need. His weakness in his bow and arrow was slowly adjusted to his strengths. He couldn't believe the information he gathered and the potential for more if there were only more days left, so when it came time for them to part, he can feel the pump of his heart push through his chest in sad longing. After not having a family for so long and being introduced to a bunch of lively people with passion and open arms, he unconsciously attached himself to them too quick and too strong in such a short time and separating rips a painful ache in his body.
Through the ride, Chang is exuberantly noisy with Ho Min in tow and even Mae Hee, the usual diligent leader, allows their antics to continue with no scolding from her. Even Choi Young takes advantage of the moment. He laughs the loudest when he can, talks big when he can, smiles when he can because he has no doubt in his mind that he can ever share the same joy with anyone else ever again.
While the four journey on, forward in the outskirts of the path lay a trap for any weary traveler unfortunate to come through. Today it has chosen the four. Mae Hee senses the strong aura lurking through the branches and in one swipe, she blocks a mere arrow from defacing her horse. A group of bandits tackle the four who spring into action. The three form a position around their new friend while keeping the thieves at bay. Suddenly, Mae Hee advances away, leading some of the bandits with her. Using the distraction, the remaining two advance, slashing one man after another with ease until a whole band invades from the shadows and barrage their attacks. With fatigue, even numbers win out by skill.
The boy, watching the fight take place, could not sit still. He takes an arrow and struggles to aim it on a menacing man fighting Ho Min. As he finds the right moment to shoot, his heart would not allow it. His hand shakes far too much and the arrow slips only to graze the attacker. He doesn't have time to dwell on his failure as the horse rears him off. He hits the ground hard. He hears the horse escape without him as he tries to blink away the darkness trying to overtake him. He tries to stand up to defend himself only to come face to face with a sword about to lash his neck. The young boy looks up in alarm at the savage man. Soon the chaos stops as one by one, each man comes to a standstill. Chang and Ho Min are brought to their knees as the bandits crow in a noisy celebration.
Their leader comes out in the end, jeering the victory on while the brave boy's eyes turn stern as he follows the man's walk over the fallen bodies littering the ground. The few bleeding incessantly were left to fend for themselves or die in pain. Their tears and cries etch itself to the poor scholar's ears forever painting a memory of their suffering. The boorish hairy man lies his hand on the hostage, engulfing him to the smell of metal imprinted in the man's fingertips. Greed has fully grasped the man and the stench is unbearable.
"What do we have here, huh? Just who's son are you that you require such guards for this kind of protection? Eh. He doesn't look any different than the usual scum of kids on the street but- Ah! There it is!" he exclaims. His harsh guttural voice digs in as the ugly man's liquored breath slurs on. "This. You know it's one of them rich brats when they look at you like this. Like they know better. Like they got the world right in the palm of their hands. Well, guess what, kiddo. You're in my world now and you're gonna be doing what I say!"
With one swing of his fist, he clocks the brave scholar against the face, leaving a print of his ring by the side of his cheek. The boy tastes the blood inside his mouth, licking up the drops from his burst lip. He won't give them the satisfaction. He will not beg for his life. He will not give them anything.
The fat ugly man seems to read his thoughts as he sets his eyes on Chang. Chang and Ho Min were searched for any weapons and dimes to spare. It must be a stroke of luck that these theives have yet to uncover the Red Moon insignia hidden beneath their clothes. With that found, a whole new plan would be in store for them.
"Cha cha cha. You've taken out a good portion of my men. I should skewer you alive but let's put it this way, you tell me who to ransom that boy to and I'll make sure that not only do your friend and you get to walk, I'll make sure you get some of the profits. What do you say?" the leader tempts Chang. His smile takes more than half his face, showing the pink of his gums.
Chang smiles back only to spit a huge fat loogie right on his temple. Out of the few that stands still in shock, the rest laugh right on the spot with little respect for their leader. Stark red, he curses at Chang and the rest of his band of thieves then pick out the strongest to begin his work on Chang. A tough guy full of muscle steps up and grabs Chang's arm, pulling it back slowly and painfully. Choi Young watches in horror as Chang screeches out in agonizing pain.
"Stop. Stop!" the captive boy cries out. He tries to stand, to help, but gets put down by the two ingrates holding him.
The leader doesn't stop his order but focuses his attention on the boy.
"Talk fast, prince or your guard won't be having his arm for very long."
Chang groans a 'no' and 'don't talk'. Even Ho Min pleads but the runaway is not a bystander. No one should ever get hurt because of him, not when he has the chance to save them.
"I'm-I'm the son of a scholar. There will be no use ransoming me. My father is dead. My mother is dead. I have no living relatives but I can still offer you money. I know where it is. So let them go. Let them go!" he shouts, feeling his voice waver.
The tough man stops bending Chang's arm but he also has yet to let it go. The boy looks on at the leader's reaction and in a split second, the crack of bone vibrates into everyone's ears as Chang's arm hangs uselessly by his side. Ho Min growls in outrage only to have his mouth kick by another thief. The laughter of the band adds to the fire building inside the boy, tearing his body apart.
These are the types of people who enjoy that form of atrocity against a human being. They are the ones who throw dirt on the faces of the poor and the wealthy, holding no care to anyone but themselves. They are the ones undeserving of the riches they have taken. They need to have their arm taken out.
In a breeze that whispers past his ears, energy bursts from inside the fuming boy still captive. Ho Min manages to remove his restraints, grab Chang, and jump by the boy's side. Within seconds of the whole perimeter, the earth trembles, the leaves dance, and the thieves stare in dumb shock as electricity pushes out into a complete shockwave. Nerves involuntary spasm. Some bandits foam at the mouth. Others have their hair burn off. Ho Min gazes upon in wonder as he strolls at the wreckage of the scene. He touches one of the savages and feels a pulse. Alive but unbelievably so. Even the boy that caused it all lies faint on the ground with apparent exhaustion.
Mae Hee oversteps the trail of bodies, convincing herself of the short miracle that transpired. She underestimated the bandits. She had also underestimated him. As she glances over her comrades, she takes a moment to look upon the boy's face, ruminating over their mission. Their plan has changed. They need him. Now the whole point is will he need them?
She gently holds Chang's arm and a small glow graces it but disappears in a blink of an eye. He winces at the touch as he gives her his attention.
"If you can still feel it, it can still be healed," she advises and he nods at the sentiment. She then turns to the other to issue a command. "Ho Min, drop him at a healer quickly, then go to our teacher. We need him. Tell him what happened. Everything."
The two struggle on individual horses and gallop away at her command. Mae Hee lugs the faint boy's body up on her horse as she races towards town to the meeting spot. She was suppose to hand him in to the middleman who would collect the money but now, things have changed. Maybe they'll make an exception. She's seen how easily he took to them and he's a fast learner. His potential is unforeseen which makes him more intriguing. Yes. He will make for a very important recruit.
Author's Notes: Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you're enjoying a blissful food coma with your family. Mine unfortunately is working this holiday season. Stores just need to be closed during the holidays! Then after they can open it. It used to be Black Friday now they should just call it Black Thursday & Friday. Eh. Whatever. Maybe next year would be better.