The night wind blew gently, a warm summer breeze brushing Chinua's face. She regarded Hye, standing just a few feet away, with a strange intensity, then glanced down at Khunbish's right hand, gripping the hilt of his sword. For Chinua, Hye was a person of immense interest. She'd tried to recruit him for the army multiple times, but he'd always refused. A sudden idea sparked in Chinua's mind: she could force Hye's hand, compelling him to teach the southern soldiers how to grow peanuts. Since he'd rejected her request back in the village, now seemed the opportune moment to take Hye south. Perhaps witnessing the hardships faced by the people and soldiers there would soften his heart and persuade him to help.
Chinua ordered, "Capture him alive and take him south with us!"
Khunbish and Khenbish affirmed in unison, "Yes, Chinua!"
Khunbish lunged forward, pointing his sword at Hye, who quickly backed away, his back hitting another tree. Hye spun, searching for an escape route, but before he could even complete the turn, Khunbish's sword was already at his throat.
Khawn seized Hye's hands while Khenbish efficiently bound them tightly.
Hye struggled, but the ropes around his wrists held fast.
"You! Let me go now!" Hye demanded, straining against his bonds. "Why have you tied me up like this? I'm not a criminal! Let me go!"
"You were just listening to our private military conversation," Chinua stated coolly. "For all we know, you could be an enemy spy."
"I'm not a spy!" Hye retorted, an angry flush on his face. "How dare you accuse me?"
Chinua looked at Hye, a small smile playing on her lips. "Hye…" She then turned to Khunbish and Khenbish. "Have either of you heard of a Magoli named Hye?"
Khunbish and Khenbish shook their heads in unison. "No, Chinua," they replied.
Chinua smirked. "See? I still think you're a spy. If I let you go, what's to stop you from running back and telling those bandits exactly where we are?"
"I am not a spy!" Hye fumed.
"I don't believe it," Chinua said, glancing at Khawn. "Drag him back to camp."
Khawn began to drag Hye back towards the camp, with Chinua, Khunbish, and Khenbish following. Hye looked at Khawn. "If I remember correctly," he began, "you're the slave that female soldier saved from the market?"
Khawn offered no response.
"Why are you with her now?" Hye probed. "Are you, her slave?" He then noticed the two shackles still on Khawn's wrists and chuckled. "I remember that female soldier saying that if you sell your life to her, there'd be no shackles to bind your hands. Yet, those shackles still grip your wrists tightly."
Khawn turned to look at Hye but remained silent. Though Khawn wasn't as quick-witted as those walking ahead or beside him, he understood Hye's attempt to befriend him in order to secure his release. "I won't fall into your trap," he stated, turning away from Hye.
"How do you know I'm setting a trap for you?" Hye pressed.
Khawn didn't answer, simply continuing to drag Hye towards the camp.
As the five returned to camp, Timicin immediately approached Chinua.
"Captain Haitao said to go to bed early; we have an early start tomorrow," Timicin reported. "There aren't enough tents for everyone, so the twelve of us will have to squeeze into two." He glanced at Hye, then at Chinua. "Who is he?"
Chinua smiled innocently. "A spy," she replied.
"I'm not a spy!" Hye protested vehemently. "Don't listen to her! I'm not a spy!"
Timicin looked at Hye, a faint smile playing on his lips. "If Chinua says you're a spy, then I suppose you'll have to be a spy for her."
Chinua then instructed, "You and the others can sleep in the tent. We'll sleep outside."
"Then I'll sleep outside with the rest of you," Timicin offered immediately.
"You get some good rest," Chinua said. "I'm going to need your help tomorrow."
"What kind of help?" Timicin asked, intrigued.
"I'll be tired tomorrow," Chinua explained, "and I'll need your help to keep a pair of eyes on this spy."
"Fine… fine…" Timicin sighed good-naturedly. "What's the point of reasoning with you?" He pointed to the two tents not far away. "We sleep there."
Chinua sat around the campfire, her gaze falling on Khawn, who sat across from her with Hye. She then walked over and stood before Khawn. Taking his right hand, she pulled a sharp little blade from the side of her boot. She began to pick the lock, and after several failed attempts, she managed to free Khawn's right hand. She then started on the lock of his left wrist.
Hye watched Chinua. "You were serious, then," he observed, "when you told him you were going to free him."
Chinua glanced at Hye, but continued to expertly pick the lock on Khawn's wrist. "Of course, I live up to my promises," she stated. Once the last shackle fell free from Khawn's wrist, she looked at Hye. "Why do you hate the Hmagol Army so much, if I may ask?"
Hye smiled wryly. "I don't hate all the Hmagol army…" he corrected. "I just hate the soldiers from the Northern Army camp."
"The people in those two tents, including me," Chinua pointed out, "are all recruits from the Northern Army camp."
Hye shrugged indifferently. "That's precisely why I won't share my knowledge with you."
"Well," Chinua offered, "if you tell me why, I might be able to help you."
"The only way you can help me," Hye stated, his voice somber, "is by bringing back those innocent people who were killed."
"In war, death is inevitable, and civilian casualties often occur," Chinua replied softly.
"For every inch of land you acquire, you exchange it for the lives of someone's son, brother, and husband. For every inch of land you step on, you exchange it for the innocent lives of someone's daughter, mother, and sister," Hye countered, his voice rising. "How do you sleep at night knowing that the house you built on, and the land you plant your crops on, are the graves of innocent people?"
"I can't answer your question directly," Chinua admitted, rising to her feet and looking down at Hye. "I have never killed innocent civilians; those I have killed deserved their fate." She paused. "However, I do agree with you that we cannot protect all innocent civilians if war rages on us. In any war, the loss of innocent civilian lives is inevitable. Throughout history, there is no exception."
Hye stood up, meeting Chinua's gaze. "Would you kill innocent civilians?" he asked, his voice low and serious.
"Why do you suddenly ask that question?" Chinua replied, her brow furrowing.
"Answer me," Hye pressed firmly. "Will you kill innocent civilians?"
"I will not kill unarmed and innocent civilians," Chinua stated unequivocally.
Hye looked at her, a glimmer of something in his eyes. "Chinua… I hope you will always keep your word."
"Distance tests a horse's strength, and time reveals a person's character," Chinua said, walking back to the other side of the bonfire and settling between Khunbish and Khenbish.
Hye watched Chinua from where he sat, a confused feeling brewing within him. He observed her chatting easily with Khunbish and Khenbish, then witnessed her lay down to sleep, her head resting on Khunbish's lap. He continued to wonder how a woman like Chinua was able to train with the Hmagol's elite troops in the northern camp.
Hye turned to Khawn. "Are you really selling your life to her?" he asked softly.
"I made a promise to myself," Khawn replied, "that if someone lifted these shackles from my hands, I would use my life to serve and protect that person. But Chinua…"
"But what?" Hye quickly prompted.
"Chinua told me she didn't need slaves to serve her," Khawn explained. "She needed a true friend who would walk by her side as an equal. She gave me the freedom to leave, but I chose to stay."
"So, you are a free man?" Hye mused.
Khawn hummed in affirmation. "Mmm…"
"Why didn't you leave, then?" Hye pressed.
"I was sold by my parents when I was a child," Khawn replied. "After so many years, I don't even remember the way home." He looked at Hye. "Why didn't you agree to Chinua's request? You have nothing to lose, only gain."
"I will not bend my knee for a slaughterous leader," Hye said with a faint smile, lying back with his hands behind his head, gazing at the stars. He closed his eyes, listening to the crickets in the dark. "You chose to serve under her. Are you sure you're on the right side of history?"
Khawn looked at Hye's closed eyes. "I don't know if I'm on the right side or the wrong," he said quietly, "but all I know is I'll be by Chinua's side with no regrets, in life or death."
Hye sighed, muttering, "It's a pity that Wailldom didn't have a brave man like you. If they had, their kingdom wouldn't have perished."
"I'm not from the Wailldom Kingdom," Khawn replied. "Are you a descendant of the Wailldom Kingdom?"
Hye smiled, skillfully avoiding Khawn's question and quickly changing the subject. "I also regret that I didn't rescue you in the market that day," he said.
"Why regret?" Khawn asked.
Hye smiled. "If I had saved you, I'd have you as a friend right now."
"It's not too late to make friends with me," Khawn offered. "All you have to do is kneel to Chinua."
Hye laughed. "I am a man of principle. I would rather die than serve a Hmagol leader!"