Chapter Five

I could barely walk across the hall without guests approaching me about the young prince or about my performance. Prince Ryu had the audacity to stop and talk to every courtier that approached us, speaking with charming ease. I had always been better at listening and observing. So, with the attention so heavily upon us and Malia surrounded by a sea of monks I chose to give up.

I dragged the prince by his sleeve towards my father to announce our farewell. He was seated on his throne, sipping wine and watching the chaos below him. It was the one thing I had in common with the man, the hatred of small talk and pleasantries. We bowed at the dais, I raised faster than the prince ready to leave as swiftly as possible.

"A wonderful evening King Koa, many blessings into the night." I said and raised my hand to my heart, the sign for goodbye.

Prince Ryu watched in awe, I suppose this was the first farewell he'd seen in Natia.

My father imitated the sign, and turned to Prince Ryu.

"I will see you in the morning prince, my wife informed me that you'd be staying in her home for the time being." My father nodded and put his hand to his chest again, "Many blessings into the night."

Ryu did not return the gesture but smiled instead.

I took his sleeve again and dragged him away before he got the chance to start chatting with my father.

I did not take him to the entry stairs, instead opting for the back door that would lead us to the beach. It would be faster to skirt the shoreline home, instead of taking the routes through the village. Prince Ryu simply followed without a single question.

When I could finally smell the salt in the air and hear the beating waves I let go, realizing I had held onto him for far too long. We stood there for a second, and though the night was dark I could see the clusters of exploding stars in the sky. They called me to them.

"I don't mean to offend the princess, but taking me to a remote beach seems a bit improper." Prince Ryu said in a flirtatious purr. "Unless you mean to end me and dump my body in the ocean. I think that'd be a worldly scandal."

I swiveled to him and his face was coated in a deeper shadow, only the whites of his eyes and his shape could be seen with his back to the moon.

"I apologize Prince Ryu, this is a faster route home." I said, trying to be casual, "I thought it precious to shorten our journey as much as possible to avoid any potential of improper or dangerous activity."

I could hear a very quiet snort of laughter, and spun back towards the rocks ahead quickening my pace.

"I admit that I have never been on a beach like this at night." Said the prince as he followed, "it is more beautiful than I could have imagined. I can see why the king chose to limit this island's visitors."

It was true, our largest island was often used for ambassadors and merchants. Prince Ryu had been the first since the day my mother came with her servants and bags. I wondered if on that day, she too saw the beach at night and was in awe of how beautiful it was.

"Yes," I said, "I pray the guests stay few and far between."

"Your performance was truly unlike anything I have ever seen." He said, clearly changing the subject. "The stories of your mother's music were true as well."

"The Hon Lu speak tales of my mother?" I asked, a bit curious.

"It is an unusual story; a village girl being whisked away by a foreign prince for her skill on the Erhu. She has many poems and musical compositions in her honor. It is said that he cried when he heard her play."

Certainly a big surprise. I doubt my father has ever cried, especially over music. It must have been an embellishment for theatrics.

"Once our people hear of the princess with blades of fire, I am sure there will be many more compositions." He added in a voice that seemed to suggest he could make me famous.

I laughed in ridicule.

"My people are those in the Isla." I corrected, "I need not care about songs and stories written across the ocean."

"One foot of yours is in Isla, yes. The other rests in Hon Lu, sharp princess."

This angered me, I was tired of everyone constantly bringing up my heritage. I felt Isla in my soul through and through. Hon Lu could burn for all I cared.

"Maybe your eyesight needs to be corrected, Prince Ryu. Both of my feet are in the sand of Natia, an island of Isla. They have never left, and will remain as they are." My voice was harsh.

That snorting laugh crescendoed into a roar, and I stopped in my tracks to face him.

He bent over, and with the moon peaking above us I could see that his skin was like milk in a shallow dish. His forehead wrinkled in amusement and his teeth looked sharper than they had before.

"You find me funny, Prince Ryu?"

"You are the funniest person I have ever met Princess." He answered, catching his breath.

I sighed and did the only thing that came to mind, I ran. Swift along the water's edge, avoiding rocks and wet spots. If I lost him on the beach, it'd be a good excuse to say we were simply separated by stamina and chance.

When I slowed down to catch my breath, I looked behind to see he had disappeared. When I turned back to my destination I bumped straight into a tall hard body. My hands immediately reached for the swords at my sides.

"Are we almost there, Princess?" Ryu asked, and he looked down on me with those dark shining eyes that seemed too unnaturally beautiful.

"Y-es. Prince Ryu." I said, pulling together my last shreds of dignity.

I couldn't imagine how he'd moved so fast, and silently. I simply did not want to ask.

"Call me Tae, it is my given name."

The insinuation was nearly insulting, that I would call a Hon Lu prince by his first name.

"Our home is above this hill and a short distance from the trees."

Ignoring the request would be my best option. When we made it home, Lee was waiting to show Prince Ryo to his rooms. I went to my own quietly, excited to peel away the layers of filthy clothing from my body to sleep. I smelled like fire and the beach, with the smallest hint of sandalwood.