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Kyung was standing watch while I was drawing a portrait of George in my sketchbook. I missed him greatly. I think that's why I liked Kyung. He reminded me of George. In features and bearing, they were very similar. Although Kyung's hair was black, which he wore long and secured at the nape of his neck, and as a goblin he had fangs.
"How is Elizabeth?" Runt asked, popping up from the roots of the large tree I was sitting by.
"I'm well. Thank you for asking, Runt," I said.
"Ane," Kyung called my attention. He had taken to calling me the term that was used by the goblins for an older sister, and I liked it. "Who are you talking to?"
"My friend Runt. Runt, I'd like you to meet my friend and protector, Kyung."
"Hi,” Rung said with a wave. Tucking his hands behind his little back, he leaned forward and added, “Runt is Elizabeth's friend."
"Hey, Runt." Kyung nodded. "I've only ever heard of these Ki no yōsei—"
"Ki no yōsei?"
"It means tree fairy," Kyung said. "They are mythological fairies or sprites. I can’t believe they’re real."
The wonder in Kyung’s voice caused me to laugh. "Ah. Well, I've learned that some myths are very real."
"You drew that?" Kyung asked, nodding towards my sketch of George.
I nodded affirmatively as I looked at my art.
Kyung took a seat next to me. "You're pretty good.”
"Thank you." I went back to working on shading George’s hair, as Kyung watched. I was lost in my own little world as I worked, until Kyung spoke.
"Ane, may I ask who you're drawing? That doesn't look like Lord Mort."
"This is, was, the man I loved," I answered.
Kyung took my book from me to get a better look. "What happened?"
"I'm told he died."
“I’m sorry,” Kyung said.
“Thanks.”
"Who are these people?" Kyung asked as he flipped through my book and looked at the other portraits.
"Elizabeth drawed family. Edward, James, Pendry." Runt volunteered as he counted on his fingers. "And Sarah Jane. Elizabeth from far away.”
Kyung looked over at Runt.
Runt leaned right into Kyung’s face and smiled. “Elizabeth pretty you think?"
Kyung started coughing.
"Hush, Runt," I said. "I was drawing my family, so I won't forget them."
"Why don't we go and visit them?" Kyung asked.
"Runt visit England. Runt likes." Runt was singing now.
I shook my head. "That's enough, Runt." I stood up and started to walk back to the house. I didn't want to be reminded of what couldn't be.
"Elizabeth's family gone," Runt said mournfully. "All except Sarah. Sarah Jane only family in 'Spires, but Elizabeth dead."
Kyung looked back at the sketches. "Wait, Ane!"
***
I squeezed the cool moist clay in my hands and grinned. "It's soo messy!"
"Aye," Master Sam nodded.
I glanced up at Kyung. His expression was thoughtful. I decided he needed something to snap him out of his recent melancholy.
"Kyung," I called in a sing-song voice. "Kyung, I have something for you."
Kyung took a step backwards away from me. "Ane..."
"Hold out your hands. Or I'll put the clay on your head."
"If the lad doesn't have the courage, don't force him, Elizabeth." Sam chuckled.
"You wouldn't dare, Elizabeth." Kyung dodged as I tossed a glob of the clay at him.
"Oh, wouldn't I?" I took the invitation and plopped a bunch of the wet clay on his head.
"Hey!" Kyung yelled, wiping the clay off. "You'll pay for that, Ane!"
"You'll have to catch me first!" I scampered off yelling. I would run one way and have to dodge. Kyung was obviously letting me avoid him, but it didn't matter. I hadn't had this much fun in months. Finally, he grabbed me, and I let out a laughing scream.
The gate to the house closed suddenly. Kyung froze.
It was Nathan.
I could feel his displeasure. And pain.
"Elizabeth! What are you doing?"
Kyung put me down and backed away with a low bow.
"I was having a bit of fun," I answered truthfully. I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear with my clay covered hand.
"You are here to learn, not to play."
"What harm is there in having some enjoyment?" Master Sam said.
"Do you want me to be miserable forever?" I said.
"No! You know I don't want that!" Nathan came close to slapping me, but his hand stopped.
I knew he was trying hard to control his emotions. He a swirling mess. Was he jealous?
His eyes darkened as they landed on Kyung.
"You there, Kyung. If you can't control your actions around my wife, you will be fired." Then his eyes settled on me. "And you, wife, remember if Kyung is fired, it will be your fault."
Swirling in the back of my head was the fleeting thought, I hate him for making you laugh.
Don’t hate him for that, I thought.
I staggered a moment as a door was mentally slammed shut, blocking me from feeling what Nathan felt.
Kyung reached out to steady me, "Ane, are you well?"
"Child, are you all right?" Sam asked at the same time.
I nodded, watching Nathan walk away. When I returned home I learned that Nathan had left to go hunting. For the following week, my governess kept me indoors. I did not see anybody except for her and Adelaide.
***
"Runt?" I called as I walked about the woods. "Are you here?" After a few moments of looking, I sat down and leaned up against a tree.
"You look tired, Ane," Kyung commented as he sat down next to me. "And now that we're away from prying eyes and ears, what is with the limping?"
"I am tired. Adelaide and Mrs. Thatchett kept me really busy. That's all it is." I lied.
"Ane," Kyung said in exasperation.
"I think it is just my leg acting up. Sometimes it does that since it was broken." I replied. "It'll be fine."
Runt appeared near the tree roots. "Mean huli jing mistreats Elizabeth." Runt gently touched my lower leg.
"Ow!" I gasped, waving at him to back off.
"Runt shows Kyung. Elizabeth hurt." Runt was very matter of fact with his information. "Tree told Runt. Runt sees."
Kyung sighed. "Let me see."
I grimaced, but I let Kyung take my ankle into his hands. I had realized some time ago that ankles didn't mean anything here anyway. I liked to think that if I had Willow here, I could try riding astride again, something I hadn't been allowed since I was young. Kyung gently removed my shoe and sock. He sucked his breath in.
"It's looking better," I remarked as I looked at the angry red welts and bruises glaring back at me.
"What is this?" Kyung asked.
I wanted to retort that it was exactly what it looked like.
"Part of my lesson." I pulled my sock back on. "Mrs. Thatchett found constant reason this past week to 'whip me into shape' as it were."
"By the Dragon! You can't be serious! Elizabeth, how could he let them do that to you?"
I really didn't have an answer. I knew back home that corporal punishments were given out in some families. A husband could even strike his wife, and it was expected she'd look the other way. I was grateful that my own parents had never laid a hand on us.
"I'd like to dwell on happier things." I said, trying to sound cheerful.
"Ane, let's run away from here."
"Runt runs away too."
I was so sorely tempted. Runt and Kyung really had no idea. "I can't."
"Why not? It seems to me that you'll be better off away from the likes of them!"
"I can't. Just trust me that I can't."
Kyung pulled his hair in frustration. "Explain it to me then.”
I couldn't blame him for feeling frustrated. I really did want to run away, and find Sarah Jane. I wanted to let my family know I was alive, but I also would not let them risk their lives. How would they compete against the magic I had seen here?
"In order to protect my family, I made an agreement. I agreed to come here with Nathan in exchange for their safety. He almost killed my brother." I don't know why I added that last part.
"So you just decided to marry the man who tried to kill your brother?" Kyung was incredulous. It sounded really insane when put that way. What sane person would marry someone that tried to kill their brother? Well, at least we really weren't married, not as far as I was concerned.
"Yes, if you put it that way, I did."
"Ane!" Kyung was exasperated.
"It's complicated!" I tried not to shout back. I hadn't wanted to be married, or bonded, or whatever it was called. Yet, no matter how I looked at it, I didn't see a way I could have made a different choice.
"Help me here, Elizabeth, because fate must have had a reason to bring you to me."
"I happen to think fate is very cruel.”
"I'm starting to understand why."
After we both calmed down, Kyung spoke. “What happened to you where you'd choose to marry Nathan?"
"I'm not from your world," I began. "I'm from a place called England. We don't have magic there, or dragons, or gumihos. It's just ordinary people there. Yet, I liked to pretend to believe in things like magic and fairies. I had gone to a ball and met a man that I fell in love with. His name was George Hodge. What I didn't know was that George was half gumiho—”
"Did you say your George was half gumiho?"
Runt took to singing as he twirled. "Gu-me-ho ... gu-me-ho!"
"Yes, he was. I didn't know it at the time. He and his father, Mr. Hodge, introduced me slowly to all of this. It took me awhile to accept it was all true. George and I were eventually engaged to be married. Anyway, some people were murdered in London. Mr. Hodge and George were investigating it since it had some magical connections. And Adelaide killed them."
"Whoa, did you just say your sister-in-law killed your fiancé and his father?"
"Yes, that's what she told me. She and Nathan threatened to kill my family unless I came with them, and Nathan nearly did kill James. I was able to prevent that. So that is why I can't leave Nathan. To complicate it more, my brothers have been lead to believe I'm dead."
"Why don't you write them to let them know otherwise? I'll get the letters posted. I'm sure there's a way to get that to England, where ever that is."
"Don't you see? If they knew, they'd come for me, and they'd be in danger again." I wiped the tears that were freely flowing. "I can endure this only if my family is safe."
The floodgates opened, and I wept. Kyung held me while I cried on his shoulder. Runt rubbed my arm, humming a tune that sounded like a gentle breeze.
It was growing late when Kyung and I headed back to the house. Kyung was silent on the way back. I bid him goodnight and went to bed. Kyung stood guard outside my room door.
I was haunted by nightmares.