trick

Seol doesn't relinquish her hold on Seo. The guards are unwilling to use force against the sacred princess. Yong clenches his jaw for a moment before bending down and placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Nui," Seol jerks as if coming awake, her hold on Seo only tightens. "Let go. Let the guards take him. He is in need of a physician."

"No - I -" she looks bewildered, a little out of sync with everything that is happening. While his soldiers are sworn to secrecy Yong is uncertain how much of her distraught could be kept under wraps. The imperial princess had no business being so devastated over an injured general.

"Let go Nui -" with the least possible but the firmest tug, Yong pulls Seol away, she snearls the moment she is detached from Seo and claws at him with vengeance.

"Let go of me! Let go!"

"Nui!" Yong had not expected to raise her voice in this manner. But he did not wish to give more fodder to the gossip mill. "Come to your senses."

Seol bangs his chest with her fists, inconsolable.

"You - were - called - here - to - help!" Each word is accompanied by a thump against his ribs. "This is what you call helping? You foolish prince! Worthless Yongie! Let me go you brute! I need to go with him - I need to - Let GO!"

"I won't," Yong repeats calmly. "I won't until you calm down. He is not dead. Nor will he die. For General Kang's sake at least - don't make matters worse."

"I am making matters worse?" Her voice takes a shrill note. "I am making matters worse? Out here - in this freezing night - that man is bleeding to death to save me! And you want me to - what - play your lady sister and dust him off my hands? Wang Yong - is this how you were raised? If I'd known -" Seol drags in a deep inhale which cuts off her rant. "What am I doing here arguing with you? I am leaving!"

"Nui!"

Seol whistles sharply that even a few guardsmen stop short. Woo, whose reins were still in Yong's hands, jerks her head and gallops towards her. If the soldiers would go back to their garrisons and talk about how heathen the princess had looked while mounting a running horse that was Yong's problem to solve. Seol only had eyes for Seo, and when she was astride, there wasn't any man in Songak who could chase and halt her midway.

*

Yul's master, the imperial physician Jae Eul, has no qualms in disillusioning her.

"How could you bar my entrance -" Seol demands indignantly. "I am your imperial princess -"

"Yes," the old man says drily. "And this is not your imperial father's court." He doesn't waste anymore time on her, sliding the door shut on her face with a finality that makes Seol bite her lip.

"Mama -" From all her retinue, Min Ha has somehow managed to find her. She comes swinging a heavy lantern and carrying a hand warmer. A blanket draped across her arm. She places the hand warmer on the floor near where Seol sat curled and settles the lantern on the doorstep. "What would people think if they see you kneeling here without rhyme or reason?"

"Then get the imperial physician to open the door!"

Min Ha sighs and drapes the blanket around her shoulders.

"These whims you indulge in at Shinju will not be tolerated in Songak," she says wisely. "You are no longer a child mama."

Seol stares at her palms instead of replying. They are stained with blood. Min Ha watches her for a moment before coming to sit by her side.

"What happened out there?" She tries but fails to keep her curiosity concealed.

Seol thinks for a moment, her shoulders bunching up as she is reminded of the autumn chill that had engulfed her.

"I met a mountain god." Min Ha's mouth opens slightly. Seol fumbles with her fingers. "All this while I thought they were a pegan exaggeration. But out there - it seemed real. It seemed dangerous. I felt that entity in the air - I felt his power." She sighs. "And I was powerless against it."

Min Ha doesn't reply immediately. When she does her voice is a little higher than a whisper.

"And General Kang - did he - summon it?"

The way she poses the question - the downward tilt of her eyes make Seol narrow her gaze.

"Lady Min - are you accusing my guardian of witchcraft?"

Min Ha shrugs, as if her own question made her awkward. Then shifts under Seol's judgemental stare.

"It's not me - mama. The court whispers. Soldiers who fought in wars with him come back with strange retellings. They say he is vicious in battle. That he could take entire battalions on his own. Things they say - they were not possible without enchantments."

"We are not having this conversation," Seol stands up, absentmindedly gathering her shawl closer. Min Ha too stands to follow when her princess turns away from her. Instead however, both of them come face to face with the Qhitan envoy and his two attendants.

"Pleasure - mama," he bows extravagantly. "How extraordinary it is that fate brought our paths together twice in quick succession."

"Master Li," Seol isn't entirely keen to chat with the older man. Especially when such conversation serves no purpose. Without Seo in attendance to be riled up by her indulgence of the envoy she finds it a tedious task. "What brings you to a soldier encampment at this hour?"

Envoy Li doesn't reply, instead returning her a pointed stare that brings into notice that Seol herself is standing in front of the said encampment. Seol shrugs and looks away, not gracing the man's unasked question with an answer.

"I was merely wondering if I'd be able to visit the notorious imperial physician," He smiles pleasantly. "Heard wonderous stories about his abilities - especially with regard to rare poisons and war injuries. Not often one meets a genius of one's time during travels."

Seol inclines her head.

"Don't let me keep you waiting then," she says sweetly. "I wish you succeed in meeting the glorious legendary man."

"Which reminds me gongjunim," the man is not in a hurry to leave them. Seol's eyes narrow. "I had this wish to address certain matters with her highness as well. Matters of a delicate nature. Earlier because we were in the presence of your esteemed guardian I couldn't bring up this matter - in fear of being grossly misunderstood."

Seol frowns.

"People should refrain from speaking words that have the potential of being misinterpreted, master Li. It saves everyone the trouble of explaining."

"Very well said - mama. Very well said, however, I believe your highness will not misinterpret my words."

"Oh?"

"I am a traveler, Mama. While I have a duty to my monarch, I have a vast curiosity and a good will towards the entire universe in general. Travelers hear things during their travels. I was fortunate enough to hear that Gongjunim mama wishes to change the inheritance laws of Goryeo?"

Seol couldn't help the sharp intake of her breath.

"Do you wish to replace your brother on the throne, mama? In which case - this humble envoy is at your disposal."