The morning of Yong Tae’s birth came on a calm winter day, and the crowd of villagers’ breath hung in a cloud around The Elder’s house. Inside, they could hear Shi Woo laboring to bring Yong Tae to the world. Then, for a long moment, no sound came from behind the walls. The thin cloud disappeared as everyone held their breath. Then a baby cried and a great cheer rose from all the people of Ka Chi San village.
A voice cried out, “The promise of the Dragon has come true!”
Later, many bright fires lit the night as the people celebrated the birth of the newest member of their village. No one had seen the baby, for Shi Woo would not leave her house for two more days, but they all knew she had born a son, healthy and strong.
Yoo Sang was the Sah Boo of Ka Chi San village. He was a wise leader and protected everyone in the village with his powerful Ki.
Shi Woo was his only child, and when she had come of age, Yoo Sang had arranged a month long tournament of games. The winner would marry Shi Woo and become successor to Yoo Sang. Word of the tournament traveled far. Men from many mountains away came to enter for the chance to marry Shi Woo and someday become Sah Boo.
Shi Woo knew most of the men who entered the tournament. All of them were skilled riders, fighters, and hunters. She looked forward to watching them compete for the right to call her wife.
Then a stranger entered the games. A head taller than all the other men, he wore a long cloak and a simple hat that tied beneath his chin. Unlike the other men, he wore no beard on his face. He spoke little and when the other men competed, he did not watch. His eyes would not leave Shi Woo, and she found him at the same time both great and terrible.
With ease, he bested all the other men in hunting, riding, archery, and martial arts. He was gracious and humble in his victories. He never joined the other winners as they celebrated at night, instead, he would retire from the village to the forest, only to return the next morning.
On the last day, the last three men rode to the foot of Ka Chi San mountain before sunrise, The first note of birdsong would start the final race, and the man to reach the village first would win. Everyone in the village waited at the gates to greet the victor.
The magpie was the first to break the morning calm with his song. Two of the men broke into a swift run. The stranger did not. He sat down and began to untie his hat. The other runners gave him one look then ran on. They dodged tall stalks of bamboo and leapt over boulders. Soon, the stranger was far behind.
The runners kept their eyes to the ground, watching where they ran. They did not see the silver-maned dragon fly overhead.
The villagers fled from the dragon as it landed before the gates. Its serpentine body shone in the dawn and its silver mane whipped in the wind. Great claws and fangs flashed. Yoo Sang stood unafraid.
“Where is your hat, brother?” He asked with a smile. “My daughter will not marry a man with no hat. Dragon or not.”
The dragon’s laugh shook the gates of the village. “I left it at the foot of the mountain, Great Sah Boo. I was in a rush to claim my prize.”
“And claim her you may, Great Dragon, for you will be a more worthy husband than a father could want, and as great a leader as any village could need.”
The dragon looked to the sky and shook his great body in pleasure. “A husband I will be, a leader I will not. In one year your daughter will bear my son. You will call him Yong Tae, and he will lead your people. This village will grow to a kingdom under my son. This is my promise to you.”
In a flash of silver, the dragon was gone, and Shi Woo with him.
No comments:
Post a Comment