Again I don't think there are spoilers in this chapter so read on and enjoy.
"Kiara this is General Joo-Doh of the Sky Kingdom, he will be accompanying us to Hiriyuu Castle" the dark haired man bowed to Kiara.
"Princess it's an honour to meet you I'm here as added protection for your journey there have been bandits around and King Soo-Won wanted to be sure you had a safe trip"
"How considerate" she says in a neutral voice, before turning to her father.
"I don't have to ride in the carriage for the whole week, do I?"
"You are the princess you need to arrive as such"
"Yeah but that's a week away can I ride a horse some of the way?"
"Not alone if you're on horse-back than General Joo-Doh here is on the same horse with you"
"Seriously?" she asks.
"Yes" he says getting angry.
"Fine" she says jumping up on the black horse that had to have been the General's since there were no black horses in the Kai Empire.
"Come on General I'm riding" she says the shocked sky tribe general with a scar on his cheek has no choice but to get up behind her.
"Remember we are camping at the river so you better be there when I get there or so help me!"
"See you there!" Kiara calls pushing the horse to bolt as they race out of the gates, Kiara doesn't look back as the general holds on to her for dear life as she speeds through the trees almost as if they were flying.
"I didn't know you could ride" the general says.
"I can if you weren't here I'd go even faster"
"Do you have a horse?" he asks.
"I did I had her since I was really young but she died a few months ago so I've been unable to ride"
"I'm sorry to hear that" he says Kiara smiles even though he can't see it they keep riding fast until Kiara allows the horse to slow down to a trot, they arrived at the river in a few hours, it would take many more for the carriage and procession to show up so under Joo-Doh's watchful eye Kiara begun collecting firewood.
"You are unlike any princess I've met"
"You know a few then?" Kiara jests but he doesn't smile.
"I knew one" he says.
"The Princess of Kouka?" Kiara remembers he nods.
"I heard she died, I'm sorry"
"She was a sheltered girl you're opposite I'd say"
"I'd of liked to have met her" Kiara says as she stacks fire wood and moves more rocks to act as a fire break around the pile.
"What was her name again? I can't remember" Kiara says standing.
"Yona, Princess Yona the red-haired princess"
"Red-hair?" she echoes he nods.
"She had flaming red hair you couldn't miss it or forget it once you've seen it" the girl from two nights ago flashed into Kiara's mind was that actually princess Yona?
"Can I ask what happened?" she looked at him.
"She…fell from a cliff with her bodyguard the former wind general Hak, many knew him as the thunder beast, and he is suspected to be the one who killed Emperor Il"
"I'm sorry for asking these questions" she says.
"No, it is better you are aware of the circumstances"
"I suppose, I understand my father was in talks to marry me to Lord Soo-Won before all this happened"
"That's correct"
"Do you mind serving him?"
"I swore my allegiance to him"
"So he's an honourable man? Forgive me but I know nothing of him and I'm going to marry him so…"
"Ah…I understand" he says blushing Kiara smiles.
"I suppose he's good looking, he's strategic, and braver than he appears, actually he appears like an idiot but he really isn't" Kiara tries to make that image work in her mind but it doesn't work.
"He has Kouka Kingdom's best interest at heart" Joo-Doh settles on saying.
"I hope that will extend to my kingdom as well"
"It will after all that is the reason of your marriage, yes?"
"I suppose so" Kiara says looking at the river, the two of them laps into silence.
"I'm going to check on the progress of the carriage please do not leave this clearing" Joo-Doh says.
"Don't worry I have my dagger I'm fine" she say he nods and starts walking towards a hill a far way away but it would give him the vantage point to see how far along the road they were, Kiara stayed where she was until she heard a rustling in some bushes, she stood up and went over to investigate, being cautious lest it be dangerous. Instead of dangerous it was part funny part sad, a man had seemingly tripped over a tree root and was lying face down on the ground.
"Are you alright?" Kiara asks rushing to him, turning him over, his eyes meet hers and he sits up.
"Aw I'm so clumsy I'm alright, I'm Ik-Soo, don't worry I fall over a lot," that was clear from all the injuries he had, he was young looking blonde man his hair fell over his eyes. They sat cross legged after Kiara got him some water and the food in the horse's saddle, the man was graciously eating it.
"Thank you so much" he said again.
"It's fine I met some travellers the other day who did the same for me, and I couldn't repay them so maybe this will help make up for it" Kiara says, Ik-Soo smiles.
"You're too kind princess"
"How did you know I was the princess?" Kiara asks.
"God told me"
"Ohh…did he say anything else?"
"That you're hardships have just begun, you should prepare yourself, your fate will not be an easy one, it is intertwined with a past life and your future will depend on your ties with the red-haired princess"
"Yona, I really did meet her didn't I?"
"And the dragons, I take it the thunder beast and Yoon was there too"
"Yes they were Yoon started going on about how I should look after myself after he gave me food"
"Yeah Yoon is like that, he lived with me for a few years before he left with Yona"
"Wow…I didn't meet you by accident did I?" Kiara realises, he smiles.
"No you never meet anyone by accident, so now you can hopefully brace yourself"
"How can I brace myself if I don't know what's coming?"
"I don't know, we can only ever try"
"General Joo-Doh will return soon so I should go" Ik-Soo stands.
"Wait Ik-Soo, I'm really going to marry him, aren't I?"
"I'm afraid so princess"
"Will I be okay?"
"I can't answer that but I truly do pray everyone will be"
"Me too" Kiara says softly as Ik-Soo disappears out of sight.
Hope this was good, review and let me know!