Predatory Marriage - chapter-143
Chapter 143 – Birth Of The Kurkans (1)
Translator: Atlas / Editor: Regan
As Leah slept, the Kurkans began to move again. All through the march,
she slept peacefully in Ishakan’s arms, with no worries.
The Kurkans continued even after the sun had disappeared and darkness
came. The temperature fell sharply at night in the desert, and travelers
usually sought various ways to warm themselves, such as lighting fires or
lying on stones that had been heated by the sun all day. If they
didn’t, they could die of hypothermia.
But this didn’t bother the Kurkans. They had a higher body temperature
than humans, and eyes that could see in the dark, so they often marched
at night when it was cold.
For Leah, however, the nights in the desert would be very cold. Ishakan
held her in his arms as he marched, sharing his body heat with her.
Ishakan looked up at the white stars shining in the black night sky, and
then looked down at Leah in his arms, stroking her head. Yesterday she
had awakened for a while, but then she had fallen asleep again and had
yet to wake up. Listening to her rhythmic breathing, he slowly looked
back. The march suddenly stopped. All the Kurkans looked beyond the dunes.
Soon, dozens of people appeared in the bright moonlight. It looked like a
caravan crossing the desert at first glance, but as they approached,
their bronzed skins could be seen. Haban waved his big hand at the front,
and Genin beside him lifted her hand.
In three weeks, they had crossed more than half the desert outside of
Estian territory. Though it seemed fast, it was actually a poor speed to
avoid pursuit, slowed by Leah’s poor condition. But thanks to Haban and
Genin’s efforts, the pursuing royals hadn’t overtaken them. With
their thirty Kurkan warriors, they had ambushed the pursuers and
successfully completed their mission.
But that wasn’t all. They had been able to obtain information from the
nobles Ishakan had bribed and intercept the messengers sent to Byun
Gyeongbaek. He wouldn’t discover the details of Leah’s capture until
after she had arrived safely at the Kurkan royal palace.
“We have returned, Ishakan.†Genin greeted him with a respectful bow.
Haban looked at Leah sleeping in Ishakan’s arms.
“Is the Queen all right?†He asked mischievously.
Ishakan laughed at the title.
“Please, call her Leah. She hasn’t decided anything.â€
“Good work, Genin, Haban,†said Morga, approaching and tying up his
long hair. He had been carried like luggage inside a wagon, and his hair
was in disarray. Haban looked at Morga’s tired face and was surprised
by his own sympathy for the magician.
“The Tomari on the mainland are on the move,†Genin informed Ishakan.
The words made all the Kurkans’ eyes turn icy. “Though it is not
certain..from the direction, it seems they are gathering in Estia.â€
“Will the Queen try to do something?â€
“This is the first time we’ve seen such a large mobilization. I think
we need to be careful.â€
“We will hold a meeting as soon as we return,†he said.
“Yes, Ishakan.†Genin turned her eyes toward Leah, who was still
sleeping soundly. “She still hasn’t woken up yet?â€
“She woke up for a while yesterday. She’s been sleeping ever since.â€
“Fortunately, Ishakan’s blood worked better than I expected,†said
Morga, who had been listening. His eyes were full of admiration as he
looked at the King.
Haban shrugged.
“Because Ishakan is special,†he said matter-of-factly.
The reason he was special was related to the creation of the Kurkans.
Long ago, there had been a people who did not settle in any land, but
wandered from place to place. This group of nomads were known as Tomaris
on the mainland, but they referred to themselves as Toma. In their
language, this meant “person.†The Toma wanted to be respected as a
people, but there was no way they could be treated as a nation when they
didn’t own any land.
After many years of persecution and contemptible treatment, the Toma
developed a deep-rooted sense of inferiority, angry and vengeful. When
these emotions were at their peak, one of the Toma declared:
—Stand up, Toma! We are going to have our land.
At the words of this powerful sorceress, the Toma gathered, determined to
find a land of their own to settle. But as nomads they lacked the
structures they needed, strong knights and arms. It would be impossible
for them to take lands from other countries. And so they struck on the
solution of creating a new army. A powerful army that no country could
stop.
At first, they kidnapped children and brainwashed them, but since no one
had ever handled an army, they did not know how to train soldiers. They
made several attempts, but all ended in failure, and the Toma finally
resorted to a taboo.
Creation of non-humans.
Using spells, they attempted interbreeding with beasts. The magic of the
Toma and the strength of the beasts conceived a being that should never
have existed. Though he had the appearance of a human, he was half human,
half beast.
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