I scratch my neck and look up. “Um…well, see…” Before I can appropriately lie, a figure looms above us. “Watch out!”
The bear, with a bloody eye, is back for round two. The archer doesn’t even hesitate when the beast gets close to him. He spins, and, wielding his sword with both hands, he parries the bear’s sharp fangs. With a forceful kick, he pushes the creature backward. When it ambles forward again, he slashes the bear’s throat in one swift maneuver.
Great stars and satellites. That was equal parts dangerous and attractive.
He turns back to me and wipes his brow. “Are you well, traveler?”
I gulp. “Um. Yes. Thank you for…saving my life.”
He grins, and there’s a twinkle of interest in his eyes. He steps forward and says, “Since I saved you, I believe I have earned a name.”
“Carmine Listo,” I murmur. My eyebrows shoot up when I realize what I just said. I’m not supposed to expose my real name. What if history books mention how Carmine Listo was saved by some hot guy in the woods?
No matter. It’s not as if he’s famous. The archer bows and says, “Pleased to meet you, fearless Carmine Listo.” He smiles and puts his sword back. “I am Prince Xing Kurun, of the Xing Empire.”
My throat goes dry.Oh stars. The history books I skimmed in preparation for this trip described the Xing dynasty prince as Kirin the Kickboxer. I always thought that moniker was an exaggeration, that he was only a legend. But seeing as how thisman—Kurun, Kirin, same thing— just took down a rabid bear twice his size and kicked him, I’m starting to feel like I’m in a history book.
And he knows my name.
“Okay, well, that’s great. Nice meeting you, goodbye!” In a panic, I spin and step on my stun gun. A sharp pain goes up my leg, and the last thing I remember is hitting the ground and leaves falling on my face.
PART 2- KURUN
LIFE AS Aprince is so boring. Father wants me to take my duties seriously, marry a woman soon, and assist her in giving birth to as many boy heirs as possible. He doesn’t listen to me when I say I don’t want any of that. My destiny as heir to the Xing Empire is set in stone.
So here I am, leaning on the terrace of my wing of the palace. I sigh while staring out at the edges of the Imperial City, gazing at the smoky tip of Charcoal Mountain. While I do have the freedom to amble about in the woods as I please, I am bound to return here every week, lest Father summon the Xing army to find me. As attractive as the soldier men are, I don’t want to get on Father’s bad side. I suppose a life of dreaming, roaming in the woods, and having secret trysts with commoner boys is all I’ll have.
“What is the matter, Brother?” I turn around at the voice. My younger brother walks in, using his wooden cane, tapping on the ground. Being only one year younger, he looks just like me, except for, of course, his broken ankle, a remnant of a childhood accident. “I heard you sighing again.”
“Just…daydreaming, I suppose about…my wants.”
“What could you long for?” He chuckles, always the chipper of us despite his physical disability. “You’re the heir, you have all the money you can want, and two perfectly good legs!”
I nod and gaze at the ground. My brother is right; I shouldn’t be ungrateful. We both have so much wealth here in the XingDynasty region of the Middle Kingdom. And I am strong, unlike him.
Still, I have always felt like my destiny is elsewhere. That’s not even considering my disinterest in women and cravings for the same sex.
“You are right, Brother,” I reply.
“You have capable legs.” He sits down on a chair next to me, and leans on his cane. “Since Father is away on business, why don’t you go camping? Go riding north on your noble steed and practice your swordsmanship on poor unsuspecting forest logs?”
We both chuckle. “That is a good idea. Some woodsy air would do me good. Will you come?”
He snickers and waves me off. “No, I would only slow you down. I might do some archery later.”
“Very well. Hey, maybe we can even compete later,” I say.
“Of course. Glad you have that smile on your face again.”
We bow to each other, and I make my way to the stables. Some time away from the Imperial City will do me good. I am too cowardly to leave for long, but when I go camping, I can pretend I live in another world, another time. I can act as if my daydreams come true, and I’m whisked far away on adventure.
Liberty, my precious horse, trots along at an even pace. Charcoal Mountain looms overhead, and the ashy air fills my nostrils. I’m riding north with all my camping gear with me. When we reach the denser part of the woods, I pull on the reins to get her to slow down to a stop. I pour out canteen water into a bowl for her to drink from. As Liberty has her fill, I brush her mane, then tie her reins to a tree. I put on my quiver, holster my bow, and hold onto my sword, then venture on foot.
Leaves fall around me as I amble into the dense forest. I buzz my lips and aimlessly move my sword around. I cut at the air for no reason other than to move my arms. As princes, mybrother and I have been educated in all things Middle Kingdom weaponry. Naturally, my brother could only do the archery and limited swordsmanship, and I was forced to do leg combat. Those lessons were boring, but I did enjoy grappling with my strong teacher.
My sword cuts through the air with a zip. Oh how I wish I could live a life of adventure, perhaps with a male lover by my side. But that’s not the life set for Xing Kurun.
After five more minutes of walking and random slicing, I come upon a clearing. The air shifts, an unfamiliar feeling. I blink and something appears that was not there previously. Fearing the unknown, I dash behind a tree. Air is pushed away and I hear a crackling similar to a dying fire. Gripping my sword, I study the figure before me.
