Dragon Prince - Chapter Fourteen
Dragon Prince
Chapter Fourteen
Youngsaeng’s steady flight took them straight back to the clan who had mobilized in their absence. Now that everything they had planned to do with the village was concluded, it was time to move on. They had been idle for far too long as far as many of the clan members were concerned and although one of their main reasons for moving constantly had caught up to them, it was never a good idea for them to be still.
The dragon and his passenger lazily drifted over the line of moving wagons, beasts, and people. Youngsaeng flew low enough that Hyunjoong could make out his guards, bound and riding on the backs of horses that were not their own. The prince spotted their horses at the back of the procession, well out of hearing range of their masters. Hyunjoong commended the gypsies for their foresight in that. With a few short commands a well trained war horse could be more dangerous than several armed men. Any true warhorse and rider would fight together as one and Jaejoong and his mount were the best pair in the kingdom.
As if simply wanting to let him see that his friends were safe, Youngsaeng’s strong wing beats took them up again and he set into a series of large lazy circles around the entire clan.
“Aren’t you worried about someone seeing you?” Hyunjoong asked.
‘No. Look carefully at the air beneath us,’ the voice in his mind was confident and amused at the same time.
Hyunjoong did as he was told and noticed after a moment that the air seemed to be shimmering. “What is that?”
‘I’m manipulating the properties of the water in the air and using it to reflect the blue sky around us, below us. Anyone below will not be able to see through it, except for possibly another dragon or the king, but I doubt he is out here looking,’ Youngsaeng explained.
“Do you do this to hide the clan?”
‘Sometimes. Usually only if people are close and we don’t want to be seen. Mostly I just keep them hidden by washing out our tracks as if we were never there.’
“Interesting,” the prince replied, but said nothing more as they continued to drift through the air. They remained silent, drifting around the clan until the broke for lunch.
Once the wagons had come to a full stop, Youngsaeng swooped out of the sky directly towards Soojin’s wagon. He landed a ways away and trotted up to it with his passenger still on his back. Hyunjoong was glad to see that they had unbound his guards and they were all being fed. When they neared, every head turned to look at them, Hyunjoong’s guards with shock and the gypsies with amusement.
“Give me a map,” Hyunjoong demanded without preamble as he slid from the dragon’s back. He was glad that this time his legs supported him as he completed his descent.
“I have one in my pack,” Yoochun said slowly, still watching them both in confusion.
Jungmin, grinning, rose from his seat and moved to the wagon where he pulled out a pack. He tossed it to Yoochun and the man fished out the tube containing a map without a word.
“You were riding a dragon,” Jaejoong pointed out needlessly.
Hyunjoong nodded and simply said, “Yes,” as he accepted the map from Yoochun. Quickly he opened the tube and removed the rolled up sheet of paper. Then he knelt and spread it out over the ground. Hyunjoong pursued it for a moment, touching first the mark for the location of his palace and then following a line outside the city.
“It’s here,” he said tracking an area about a day’s ride north of the city.
“Uh what is there?” Hyungjoon asked confused, leaning forward.
“If my father is keeping dragons captive, it is around here,” Hyunjoong said confidently.
“We have been through that area a hundred times and we have never found them,” Jungmin countered.
“I’m sure,” Hyunjoong insisted.
“Keeping dragon’s?” Yunho asked confused.
“Yes,” Hyunjoong replied. He quickly told his guards of the captivity of the dragons that Youngsaeng had informed him of that morning.
When he was finished, Yunho leaned over the map pondering. He traced the same path with his finger and then nodded. “I think the prince is right. Once a month, the king leaves the palace and rides out from the city to the north. Given the time he is gone and the time of travel, I would say that it is somewhere in the area.”
“If it is there,” Kyujong said slowly, thinking while he spoke. “Then how is it being hidden? We couldn’t miss something big enough to hold that many dragons.”
There was silence as all of the men tried to ponder where it could possibly be. “Underground?” Junsu offered tentatively.
The dragon shook his head, ‘Humans don’t have the knowledge or ability to build something that fast and that big underground,’ he said clearly into all of their minds.
“They do with dragon magic,” Jaejoong countered.
“He’s right,” Yunho agreed. “A good portion of the castle is a network of tunnels that run under the ground to anywhere in the city. They were built just like the rest of the castle, with dragon magic. If the king is doing what you say he is, he would have plenty of access to dragon magic to build this thing.”
“Could dragon magic build what they needed?” Kyujong asked.
Hyunjoong turned to look at the dragon for an answer and Youngsaeng seemed to stare at nothing for a moment before moving his head in the dragon form of a nod. ‘It could,’ he then lifted his eyes to study the prince. ‘Why are you giving away this location to us? You know what we will do.’
“I need to know the truth. If things are how you say then this is the right thing to do. If they are not then you will be joining the criminals in my father’s dungeon. Either way, finding this will tell me the truth,” Hyunjoong said calmly.
‘Why else would dragons be held captive by your father?’ Youngsaeng countered, his golden eyes whirled with color.
“Maybe to keep them from destroying things like that village back there. I don’t know,” Hyunjoong replied.
‘Fair enough,’ Youngsaeng said after a moment. ‘I will speak to the council of this, this evening.’
Hyunjoong nodded and moved to roll up the map when Yunho held out his hand. “Wait,” he said softly. He bent over the map and after a moment of perusal he tapped his finger on a spot. “Is this the village that was destroyed?” he asked softly.
Jungmin stepped up behind him and glanced at the map, “Yes,” he replied.
Yunho’s face hardened and he stood with the map in his hand. He rolled it carefully and slipped it back into the tube before tightening the lid. Without a word he walked to Yoochun and handed him the tube. Then he turned and walked to his prince. There he dropped to one knee, head bowed, his eyes closed. “I am sorry my Prince,” he said clearly. “I have failed you.”
Hyunjoong narrowed his eyes at the man in front of him and made no move towards or away from him. “What do you mean?” he asked, partially in confusion.
“Two months ago the king came to me and asked for me to have you ready to travel just after the festival. He told me that he wanted to take you to a village where you would begin your formal training as a prince by watching him deal with a few of the citizens who had gotten out of line. I should have questioned the strangeness of the order. I failed in my duty to protect the people and I have failed in my duty to protect you. You have seen things no one should ever see,” Yunho said in a rush.
“You knew?” Hyunjoong asked, his voice dangerously soft.
“I suspected.”
“How?” the prince asked.
“There is a lot that goes on in that castle that you are not aware of. It is my business as the captain of your personal guard, to know and assess the threat to you,” Yunho answered.
“What has my father done?” Hyunjoong asked. Yunho pressed his lips together and shook his head. “Answer me,” the prince ordered sharply.
“I am sorry my Prince,” Yunho replied softly. “Much of my knowledge is speculation and it would serve no purpose but to cloud your mind with my thoughts.”
“Is the king capable of burning a village and its people to the ground, freezing them solid, turning them to stone, and letting his soldiers brutalize and kill?” Hyunjoong asked.
“Yes,” Yunho said in a voice barely above a whisper. “If he felt the need to.” Hyunjoong’s fingers curled into tight fists.
“You left Changmin in the hands of someone that you thought was capable of that?!” Jaejoong asked wildly, springing from his seat suddenly.
“Changmin?” Hyunjoong questioned.
“The king is holding him until you return safely and he wasn’t promising to play nicely with him,” Jaejoong hissed. The prince’s eyes flicked between the man kneeling at his feet and Jaejoong who was barely containing his feelings.
“Answer his question,” Hyunjoong ordered.
“I had no choice,” Yunho replied softly.
“Stand,” at the prince’s command the man rose stiffly to his feet. “Look at me,” obediently Yunho lifted his head and raised his eyes at Hyunjoong’s command. He took in his leader’s calm anger and was clearly able to see the fist aimed as his cheek. Yunho did nothing to deflect the blow and his head snapped sharply to the side with the force of it. “There is always another choice,” the prince said softly. “As a man I thought was my friend, you should have told me the truth. You know how I feel about that.”
“Yes,” Yunho said softly, his eyes squeezed shut.
“Now tell me the truth of the dragons my father has killed,” the prince said.
“All I know is what you know, that the king killed dragons to protect the people,” Yunho replied.
“And dragon’s imprisoned? Do you know anything of that?” the prince asked.
“No,” Yunho added honestly.
The prince spun, taking in the gathered men, men that had been his friends for years and men that were quickly becoming so. Without another word he turned and walked from the group mindful of the golden eyes that tracked his every move.
‡†‡†‡†‡†‡
That evening, as the clan stopped for the night, Hyunjoong returned to his friends. “Return their weapons and their horses,” Hyunjoong told the men that were watching over his guards.
The men watched him wearily but did as he asked when Youngsaeng, back in his human form, gave them a nod. “You have done well in your duties, return home,” Youngsaeng told them once they had returned the men’s belongings. The young men voiced their understanding and slipped from the area a few minutes later.
Hyunjoong watched his guards tuck away and resettle the numerous weapons both in their bags and on their person before he walked to them. “Here,” he held out a small jar to Yunho. “For your cheek.”
Yunho glanced at it startled, “My Prince?”
Hyunjoong shook his head, “Just take it. I’m not sorry for what I did, but I realize you had no fault in what happened. You are my guard first my friend second. I forget that because of some people,” the corner of his mouth turned up in a small grin as he glanced sideways to Jaejoong and then back to Yunho.
Yunho nodded and accepted the small item. “I’m sorry that-”
“Don’t be,” Hyunjoong cut him off. “I need guards just as much as I need friends.”
He turned to leave and Yunho caught his wrist. “I am your guard,” Yunho said softly but firmly when he turned to look. “I want you to know that my loyalty is to you and no one else.”
“Not even the men beneath you?” Hyunjoong said with a mischievous smile twisting his lips.
“You first. Then them,” Yunho said immediately. Hyunjoong’s face straightened and he nodded. He twisted his hand lightly in Yunho’s grasp so that he could take a hold of the other man’s wrist forming an odd sort of a hand shake.
“Thank you. Then I ask you to trust me in this.”
“Do you trust these people?” Yunho asked. He didn’t have to gesture for the prince to know he meant the four gypsy men standing nearby.
Hyunjoong paused for a moment, more for effect then for any real need to consider the question. “Yes.”
“Then that is enough for me,” Yunho agreed with a nod. The two men shared a look of understanding before they released each other and Hyungjoon watched as his men began to care for and settle their horses for the night.
Jungmin sniffled loudly and mockingly wiped away a fake tear. “That is just so touching that he trusts us.”
“I know,” Hyungjoon agreed with a fake sniffle of his own.
“It just means that we should have used more chains and brought out the weapons of torture while we have been keeping him captive,” Youngsaeng scoffed, although he wasn’t fooling anyone with his attitude. Behind him Kyujong muffled a laugh in his shoulder and received an elbow to the stomach for his trouble.
‡†‡†‡†‡†‡
Almost immediately the mood in the camp had changed. It seemed as though with the decision to pursue the same goals, some of the tension had drained away from the guards and the gypsies alike. Once they had gotten past the fact that Hyunjoong’s personal guards were members of the royal army, Jungmin and Hyungjoon had had a wonderful time trading stories with them. Half an hour into the preparations for the evening meal, it became a competition between the gypsies and the guards to share the best trouble making story. By the time dinner was ready, every member of their little party had told a story or two of their delinquent childhood.
During dinner, Youngsaeng called an emergency meeting of the council. Although he thought it was best for Hyunjoong to be present, some of the other members of the council did not, leaving the prince with nothing to do but eat dinner as usual. His guards had been nearly as surprised as he had with the food and the gypsies had found their reaction more than amusing.
“They are your friends?” Micha asked as she visited him after dinner.
“Yes,” Hyunjoong told her with a smile. “They are my best friends. This is Yunho, Jaejoong, Yoochun, and Junsu. Gentlemen this is Micha, the wisest little girl of the gypsies.”
She curtsied the best she could and smiled at them. “It is nice to meet you,” she told them politely before turning to face the prince again. “Mother wanted me to ask you if it was alright if Haneul came to visit. She was fussy and mother said it’s because she wanted you.”
Hyunjoong’s eyes widened and he climbed to his feet. “I’ll go with you to get her,” he insisted. Micha nodded and lead him from the fire and the men who watched him leave.
When they had faded into the darkness between campfires, Micha tugged on his clothing. He leaned closer to the little girl in an effort to hear her. “I don’t like your friends,” she whispered.
“Why not?” he asked, not entirely certain why he was whispering as well.
“They are always watching you. It is creaky.”
“You mean creepy,” he said with a chuckle.
“Yeah it’s creepy,” she agreed.
“They are my guards. They were trained to watch me and make sure nothing bad happens to me. It is their job to watch me and I have been pretty naughty lately,” he told her.
“You have?” she asked, her eyes widening in disbelief.
“Yep. I’m not supposed to leave a room without them, but I left the city and have been riding around with you. I’ve been naughty.”
“Oh,” her voice held the sound of understanding. “When I am naughty mother watches me all the time too to make sure I don’t do anything else that is naughty.”
“That is exactly why they are watching me,” he agreed.
“Are you planning something naughty?” she asked excited by the prospect.
“Maybe,” he said catching her eye and winking at her as they entered the light of her campfire.
She giggled and led him to her wagon, where an older woman was resting with a child in her lap. As he approached the child began to squirm and whimper, reaching for him with her little arms. The woman smiled and handed her to him easily. “She has been waiting for you.”
Hyunjoong tucked the child safely into his arms, cuddling her close to his body and she quieted the moment he did so. “I am sure she was. Thank you for taking care of her.”
“She is no trouble,” the woman said with a smile. “Not as much trouble as that one,” she said as she gestured to Micha. The little girl stomped her foot and stuck her tongue out at the woman causing her to laugh warmly.
“Micha is a sweet child,” Hyunjoong replied easily.
“You only think that because you don’t have to deal with her when she is naughty,” the woman replied.
“Mother,” Micha asked sweetly. “May I go with Hyunjoong tonight?”
“No. You need to sleep. In fact I think it is time to go to bed right now,” her mother said firmly.
“But,” she began to protest.
“What if she spent the day with me on my horse exploring the trail ahead? With your permission of course,” he said with a smile. Micha look between the two hopefully.
“I don’t know, little girls that don’t go to bed probably can’t stay on the back of a horse very well,” her mother said.
Micha yawned dramatically. “I am feeling so tired. I think I had better go to bed.”
“Ah well in that case she can certainly accompany you tomorrow,” Micha squealed happily and leapt into her mother’s arms. The woman laughed, hugged her and patted her gently on the bottom. “To bed with you.”
“Good night, Prince,” the little girl said sweetly.
Hyunjoong placed Haneul on the ground gently, so that he could offer both Micha and her mother and elegant courtly bow. “Good night fair ladies, I take your leave.” He straightened and gathered the toddler into his arms again to the sound of female laughter.
They exchanged goodnights once more before Hyunjoong turned and made his way back to their fire. “I’m sorry little one,” he cooed to the child in his arms. She clutched the fabric of his shirt and snuggled into his arms before heaving a contented sight that brought a smile to his face. By the time he completed the short walk back to his friends he was certain that she had either fallen asleep or was close to it.
He settled amongst his guards with her in his arms and they looked on curiously. “I would like you to meet the only survivor of the village, Haneul.”
‡†‡†‡†‡†‡
The clan council, as Youngsaeng had expected, had been split in half with the news of a possible location of the dragon prison. Most of its members didn’t trust Hyunjoong and that was only compounded by the fact that the proposed location was so close to the King’s location. Youngsaeng was only able to sway a few members due to his own belief that the prince was telling the truth before he had lost his temper.
Thankfully, Soojin had stepped in and reached an acceptable compromise. The clan would continue to head north and prepare a safe haven for anyone that they happened to rescue. No one but the council knew the location of the place and that fact alone reassured most of the members present. Youngsaeng, meanwhile, would be able to go and investigate the location the prince had showed him. He would only be able to take people with him on a voluntary basis, but the dragon didn’t require that many bodies to go with him anyway. Anyone besides his friends would probably be more trouble than help.
Soojin had agreed that her children would be allowed to go with him if they choose to do so, and that they would supply their journey at the next town. Once he had gotten her permission, Youngsaeng excused himself from the remainder of the meeting. He had better things to do then listen to the bickering and quibbling of fools.
He returned to their wagon, waving to his friends as he passed before collecting a bowl and a jug of water from within it. With both in hand he began to walk through the clan, keeping to the shadows so as not to be seen. When he reached the edge of the village he continued walking, unaware of the silent footsteps that were following him.
‡†‡†‡†‡†‡
It took Youngsaeng several hours of walking before he was comfortable with the location he had found. In the darkness he settled on the cool ground, crossed his legs, and placed the bowl in front of him. Slowly he poured the jug of water into the bowl, taking care not to spill any of it on the ground. Once the jug was empty, he set it to the side and closed his eyes.
He slowly stretched out his hands over the water, holding them there for a moment, and then he lowered them carefully into the water. They touched the surface of the water and plunged beneath, leaving ripples in their wake. As soon as he pressed his palms flat to the bottom he pulled his hands from the water in one fluid motion.
They emerged completely dry, leaving all of the water behind in the bowl. When the ripples over the surface cleared he leaned over and saw not the bottom of the bowl, but the face of smiling woman. “Arunika,” he said gently.
“Ah, Khemkhaeng,” she returned, her smile widening. “First, you invade on my sanctuary to quite literally save your neck, and now you call on me in the middle of the night for something that will, undoubtedly, require something of me.”
He smiled back at her. “Yes.”
“Well what it is?”
“Hyunjoong has found what he believes to be the holding place of our kin. We are going to go save them if we can,” Youngsaeng told her.
“And you want my help?”
“Yes.”
“Why? If I remember right your temporary partner is quite the healer,” she replied.
“He is, but I will need your skills. I don’t know what state they will be in. It may be more then Kyujong can handle.”
“What else?” she pressed.
“We believe the place where they are keeping them to be underground. I was hoping your skills could help us to find it.”
She paused for a moment, “You are correct. I would very likely be able to find it.”
“I am sorry to ask this of you,” Youngsaeng told her, his voice heavy with sorrow.
“Nonsense,” she replied gently. “Suk-chul and I both knew this time would come. Now enough about me. When I come I will get to meet your Life Bonded, correct?”
Youngsaeng swallowed thickly. “Uh about that…”
“Khemkhaeng!” she reprimanded sharply. “You have not sealed the bond and you continue to use your temporary partner! How can you do that to yourself and the one who is to be your mate?”
“I-”
She held up a hand to cut him off. “Fear is not an excuse. A Mate Bond may be betrayed but a Life Bond never. You have nothing to fear from this. You know that. You know how precious and rare this is.”
“What if he doesn’t accept it?” Youngsaeng asked softly. “He is not drawn to me the way I am to him.” His voice quieted to a whisper. “Some days it is hard to resist. I want him near me, safe. I hate it when another touches him, or takes his attention from me. I have to avoid him to not do something stupid.”
“Oh you silly young thing. He couldn’t resist you any more then you could him. You know how a Life Bond works. You were both crafted for each other before you were born.”
“But he is a human. A Life Bond has never been made with a human,” Youngsaeng protested weakly.
“Life Bonds are made in times of need. No one knows why or how but it is already engraved on both of your hearts. All you need to do is recognize that,” she said gently.
“I know.”
“Khemkhaeng, have you at least told your temporary partner?” she asked.
“No. I don’t know what to say to him.”
“Don’t you think he deserves to know why you are almost completely physically incapable of being with him anymore?” she questioned.
“Yes.”
“Do you not think he cares about you enough to understand?”
“He does but-”
“No,” she sighed heavily. “Ah young one, you were forced to leave the den much too early. There is so much of life you were not taught.”
“I am trying,” he replied, hanging his head.
“I know dear,” she said affectionately. “You realize that my presence will only make you feel the need to complete the bond that much stronger?”
“Yes,” he said softly.
“Alright. Do you remember how to lead me to you?”
“Yes.”
She nodded, “I will see you the day after tomorrow then. And Khemkhaeng tell them both before I get there will you.”
“I,” he swallowed thickly. “I’ll try.”
“Fair enough. Be well,” she replied with another fond smile.
“You as well,” he said. With a last smile from her he disrupted the surface of the water and the image of her by dragging his hand across its surface. When it stilled again her face was gone. His hand hovered over the water and it rose in a thin steam, flowing back into the jar. When he was finished and had just put the cork back in the bottle he heard a rustle behind him.
He spun reaching for a weapon, but froze completely when he saw what it was that had made the noise. There standing behind him, arms crossed, with a firm look on his face was Kyujong. “So,” the man said, evenly, slowly. “What is a Life Bond?”
Chapter Fifteen
Masterlist
AN: Wow I am having more and more trouble finding time to write. I had hoped that at least if I didn't have a job I would have an easier time of finding time to write... Not quite. My family doesn't seem to like it when they know I am home and hiding in my room. It's very hard for me to write with all the activity in the living room, so I just end up not doing much of it. Hopefully I will find some time and a balance in both soon... *sigh*
Chapter Fourteen
Youngsaeng’s steady flight took them straight back to the clan who had mobilized in their absence. Now that everything they had planned to do with the village was concluded, it was time to move on. They had been idle for far too long as far as many of the clan members were concerned and although one of their main reasons for moving constantly had caught up to them, it was never a good idea for them to be still.
The dragon and his passenger lazily drifted over the line of moving wagons, beasts, and people. Youngsaeng flew low enough that Hyunjoong could make out his guards, bound and riding on the backs of horses that were not their own. The prince spotted their horses at the back of the procession, well out of hearing range of their masters. Hyunjoong commended the gypsies for their foresight in that. With a few short commands a well trained war horse could be more dangerous than several armed men. Any true warhorse and rider would fight together as one and Jaejoong and his mount were the best pair in the kingdom.
As if simply wanting to let him see that his friends were safe, Youngsaeng’s strong wing beats took them up again and he set into a series of large lazy circles around the entire clan.
“Aren’t you worried about someone seeing you?” Hyunjoong asked.
‘No. Look carefully at the air beneath us,’ the voice in his mind was confident and amused at the same time.
Hyunjoong did as he was told and noticed after a moment that the air seemed to be shimmering. “What is that?”
‘I’m manipulating the properties of the water in the air and using it to reflect the blue sky around us, below us. Anyone below will not be able to see through it, except for possibly another dragon or the king, but I doubt he is out here looking,’ Youngsaeng explained.
“Do you do this to hide the clan?”
‘Sometimes. Usually only if people are close and we don’t want to be seen. Mostly I just keep them hidden by washing out our tracks as if we were never there.’
“Interesting,” the prince replied, but said nothing more as they continued to drift through the air. They remained silent, drifting around the clan until the broke for lunch.
Once the wagons had come to a full stop, Youngsaeng swooped out of the sky directly towards Soojin’s wagon. He landed a ways away and trotted up to it with his passenger still on his back. Hyunjoong was glad to see that they had unbound his guards and they were all being fed. When they neared, every head turned to look at them, Hyunjoong’s guards with shock and the gypsies with amusement.
“Give me a map,” Hyunjoong demanded without preamble as he slid from the dragon’s back. He was glad that this time his legs supported him as he completed his descent.
“I have one in my pack,” Yoochun said slowly, still watching them both in confusion.
Jungmin, grinning, rose from his seat and moved to the wagon where he pulled out a pack. He tossed it to Yoochun and the man fished out the tube containing a map without a word.
“You were riding a dragon,” Jaejoong pointed out needlessly.
Hyunjoong nodded and simply said, “Yes,” as he accepted the map from Yoochun. Quickly he opened the tube and removed the rolled up sheet of paper. Then he knelt and spread it out over the ground. Hyunjoong pursued it for a moment, touching first the mark for the location of his palace and then following a line outside the city.
“It’s here,” he said tracking an area about a day’s ride north of the city.
“Uh what is there?” Hyungjoon asked confused, leaning forward.
“If my father is keeping dragons captive, it is around here,” Hyunjoong said confidently.
“We have been through that area a hundred times and we have never found them,” Jungmin countered.
“I’m sure,” Hyunjoong insisted.
“Keeping dragon’s?” Yunho asked confused.
“Yes,” Hyunjoong replied. He quickly told his guards of the captivity of the dragons that Youngsaeng had informed him of that morning.
When he was finished, Yunho leaned over the map pondering. He traced the same path with his finger and then nodded. “I think the prince is right. Once a month, the king leaves the palace and rides out from the city to the north. Given the time he is gone and the time of travel, I would say that it is somewhere in the area.”
“If it is there,” Kyujong said slowly, thinking while he spoke. “Then how is it being hidden? We couldn’t miss something big enough to hold that many dragons.”
There was silence as all of the men tried to ponder where it could possibly be. “Underground?” Junsu offered tentatively.
The dragon shook his head, ‘Humans don’t have the knowledge or ability to build something that fast and that big underground,’ he said clearly into all of their minds.
“They do with dragon magic,” Jaejoong countered.
“He’s right,” Yunho agreed. “A good portion of the castle is a network of tunnels that run under the ground to anywhere in the city. They were built just like the rest of the castle, with dragon magic. If the king is doing what you say he is, he would have plenty of access to dragon magic to build this thing.”
“Could dragon magic build what they needed?” Kyujong asked.
Hyunjoong turned to look at the dragon for an answer and Youngsaeng seemed to stare at nothing for a moment before moving his head in the dragon form of a nod. ‘It could,’ he then lifted his eyes to study the prince. ‘Why are you giving away this location to us? You know what we will do.’
“I need to know the truth. If things are how you say then this is the right thing to do. If they are not then you will be joining the criminals in my father’s dungeon. Either way, finding this will tell me the truth,” Hyunjoong said calmly.
‘Why else would dragons be held captive by your father?’ Youngsaeng countered, his golden eyes whirled with color.
“Maybe to keep them from destroying things like that village back there. I don’t know,” Hyunjoong replied.
‘Fair enough,’ Youngsaeng said after a moment. ‘I will speak to the council of this, this evening.’
Hyunjoong nodded and moved to roll up the map when Yunho held out his hand. “Wait,” he said softly. He bent over the map and after a moment of perusal he tapped his finger on a spot. “Is this the village that was destroyed?” he asked softly.
Jungmin stepped up behind him and glanced at the map, “Yes,” he replied.
Yunho’s face hardened and he stood with the map in his hand. He rolled it carefully and slipped it back into the tube before tightening the lid. Without a word he walked to Yoochun and handed him the tube. Then he turned and walked to his prince. There he dropped to one knee, head bowed, his eyes closed. “I am sorry my Prince,” he said clearly. “I have failed you.”
Hyunjoong narrowed his eyes at the man in front of him and made no move towards or away from him. “What do you mean?” he asked, partially in confusion.
“Two months ago the king came to me and asked for me to have you ready to travel just after the festival. He told me that he wanted to take you to a village where you would begin your formal training as a prince by watching him deal with a few of the citizens who had gotten out of line. I should have questioned the strangeness of the order. I failed in my duty to protect the people and I have failed in my duty to protect you. You have seen things no one should ever see,” Yunho said in a rush.
“You knew?” Hyunjoong asked, his voice dangerously soft.
“I suspected.”
“How?” the prince asked.
“There is a lot that goes on in that castle that you are not aware of. It is my business as the captain of your personal guard, to know and assess the threat to you,” Yunho answered.
“What has my father done?” Hyunjoong asked. Yunho pressed his lips together and shook his head. “Answer me,” the prince ordered sharply.
“I am sorry my Prince,” Yunho replied softly. “Much of my knowledge is speculation and it would serve no purpose but to cloud your mind with my thoughts.”
“Is the king capable of burning a village and its people to the ground, freezing them solid, turning them to stone, and letting his soldiers brutalize and kill?” Hyunjoong asked.
“Yes,” Yunho said in a voice barely above a whisper. “If he felt the need to.” Hyunjoong’s fingers curled into tight fists.
“You left Changmin in the hands of someone that you thought was capable of that?!” Jaejoong asked wildly, springing from his seat suddenly.
“Changmin?” Hyunjoong questioned.
“The king is holding him until you return safely and he wasn’t promising to play nicely with him,” Jaejoong hissed. The prince’s eyes flicked between the man kneeling at his feet and Jaejoong who was barely containing his feelings.
“Answer his question,” Hyunjoong ordered.
“I had no choice,” Yunho replied softly.
“Stand,” at the prince’s command the man rose stiffly to his feet. “Look at me,” obediently Yunho lifted his head and raised his eyes at Hyunjoong’s command. He took in his leader’s calm anger and was clearly able to see the fist aimed as his cheek. Yunho did nothing to deflect the blow and his head snapped sharply to the side with the force of it. “There is always another choice,” the prince said softly. “As a man I thought was my friend, you should have told me the truth. You know how I feel about that.”
“Yes,” Yunho said softly, his eyes squeezed shut.
“Now tell me the truth of the dragons my father has killed,” the prince said.
“All I know is what you know, that the king killed dragons to protect the people,” Yunho replied.
“And dragon’s imprisoned? Do you know anything of that?” the prince asked.
“No,” Yunho added honestly.
The prince spun, taking in the gathered men, men that had been his friends for years and men that were quickly becoming so. Without another word he turned and walked from the group mindful of the golden eyes that tracked his every move.
‡†‡†‡†‡†‡
That evening, as the clan stopped for the night, Hyunjoong returned to his friends. “Return their weapons and their horses,” Hyunjoong told the men that were watching over his guards.
The men watched him wearily but did as he asked when Youngsaeng, back in his human form, gave them a nod. “You have done well in your duties, return home,” Youngsaeng told them once they had returned the men’s belongings. The young men voiced their understanding and slipped from the area a few minutes later.
Hyunjoong watched his guards tuck away and resettle the numerous weapons both in their bags and on their person before he walked to them. “Here,” he held out a small jar to Yunho. “For your cheek.”
Yunho glanced at it startled, “My Prince?”
Hyunjoong shook his head, “Just take it. I’m not sorry for what I did, but I realize you had no fault in what happened. You are my guard first my friend second. I forget that because of some people,” the corner of his mouth turned up in a small grin as he glanced sideways to Jaejoong and then back to Yunho.
Yunho nodded and accepted the small item. “I’m sorry that-”
“Don’t be,” Hyunjoong cut him off. “I need guards just as much as I need friends.”
He turned to leave and Yunho caught his wrist. “I am your guard,” Yunho said softly but firmly when he turned to look. “I want you to know that my loyalty is to you and no one else.”
“Not even the men beneath you?” Hyunjoong said with a mischievous smile twisting his lips.
“You first. Then them,” Yunho said immediately. Hyunjoong’s face straightened and he nodded. He twisted his hand lightly in Yunho’s grasp so that he could take a hold of the other man’s wrist forming an odd sort of a hand shake.
“Thank you. Then I ask you to trust me in this.”
“Do you trust these people?” Yunho asked. He didn’t have to gesture for the prince to know he meant the four gypsy men standing nearby.
Hyunjoong paused for a moment, more for effect then for any real need to consider the question. “Yes.”
“Then that is enough for me,” Yunho agreed with a nod. The two men shared a look of understanding before they released each other and Hyungjoon watched as his men began to care for and settle their horses for the night.
Jungmin sniffled loudly and mockingly wiped away a fake tear. “That is just so touching that he trusts us.”
“I know,” Hyungjoon agreed with a fake sniffle of his own.
“It just means that we should have used more chains and brought out the weapons of torture while we have been keeping him captive,” Youngsaeng scoffed, although he wasn’t fooling anyone with his attitude. Behind him Kyujong muffled a laugh in his shoulder and received an elbow to the stomach for his trouble.
‡†‡†‡†‡†‡
Almost immediately the mood in the camp had changed. It seemed as though with the decision to pursue the same goals, some of the tension had drained away from the guards and the gypsies alike. Once they had gotten past the fact that Hyunjoong’s personal guards were members of the royal army, Jungmin and Hyungjoon had had a wonderful time trading stories with them. Half an hour into the preparations for the evening meal, it became a competition between the gypsies and the guards to share the best trouble making story. By the time dinner was ready, every member of their little party had told a story or two of their delinquent childhood.
During dinner, Youngsaeng called an emergency meeting of the council. Although he thought it was best for Hyunjoong to be present, some of the other members of the council did not, leaving the prince with nothing to do but eat dinner as usual. His guards had been nearly as surprised as he had with the food and the gypsies had found their reaction more than amusing.
“They are your friends?” Micha asked as she visited him after dinner.
“Yes,” Hyunjoong told her with a smile. “They are my best friends. This is Yunho, Jaejoong, Yoochun, and Junsu. Gentlemen this is Micha, the wisest little girl of the gypsies.”
She curtsied the best she could and smiled at them. “It is nice to meet you,” she told them politely before turning to face the prince again. “Mother wanted me to ask you if it was alright if Haneul came to visit. She was fussy and mother said it’s because she wanted you.”
Hyunjoong’s eyes widened and he climbed to his feet. “I’ll go with you to get her,” he insisted. Micha nodded and lead him from the fire and the men who watched him leave.
When they had faded into the darkness between campfires, Micha tugged on his clothing. He leaned closer to the little girl in an effort to hear her. “I don’t like your friends,” she whispered.
“Why not?” he asked, not entirely certain why he was whispering as well.
“They are always watching you. It is creaky.”
“You mean creepy,” he said with a chuckle.
“Yeah it’s creepy,” she agreed.
“They are my guards. They were trained to watch me and make sure nothing bad happens to me. It is their job to watch me and I have been pretty naughty lately,” he told her.
“You have?” she asked, her eyes widening in disbelief.
“Yep. I’m not supposed to leave a room without them, but I left the city and have been riding around with you. I’ve been naughty.”
“Oh,” her voice held the sound of understanding. “When I am naughty mother watches me all the time too to make sure I don’t do anything else that is naughty.”
“That is exactly why they are watching me,” he agreed.
“Are you planning something naughty?” she asked excited by the prospect.
“Maybe,” he said catching her eye and winking at her as they entered the light of her campfire.
She giggled and led him to her wagon, where an older woman was resting with a child in her lap. As he approached the child began to squirm and whimper, reaching for him with her little arms. The woman smiled and handed her to him easily. “She has been waiting for you.”
Hyunjoong tucked the child safely into his arms, cuddling her close to his body and she quieted the moment he did so. “I am sure she was. Thank you for taking care of her.”
“She is no trouble,” the woman said with a smile. “Not as much trouble as that one,” she said as she gestured to Micha. The little girl stomped her foot and stuck her tongue out at the woman causing her to laugh warmly.
“Micha is a sweet child,” Hyunjoong replied easily.
“You only think that because you don’t have to deal with her when she is naughty,” the woman replied.
“Mother,” Micha asked sweetly. “May I go with Hyunjoong tonight?”
“No. You need to sleep. In fact I think it is time to go to bed right now,” her mother said firmly.
“But,” she began to protest.
“What if she spent the day with me on my horse exploring the trail ahead? With your permission of course,” he said with a smile. Micha look between the two hopefully.
“I don’t know, little girls that don’t go to bed probably can’t stay on the back of a horse very well,” her mother said.
Micha yawned dramatically. “I am feeling so tired. I think I had better go to bed.”
“Ah well in that case she can certainly accompany you tomorrow,” Micha squealed happily and leapt into her mother’s arms. The woman laughed, hugged her and patted her gently on the bottom. “To bed with you.”
“Good night, Prince,” the little girl said sweetly.
Hyunjoong placed Haneul on the ground gently, so that he could offer both Micha and her mother and elegant courtly bow. “Good night fair ladies, I take your leave.” He straightened and gathered the toddler into his arms again to the sound of female laughter.
They exchanged goodnights once more before Hyunjoong turned and made his way back to their fire. “I’m sorry little one,” he cooed to the child in his arms. She clutched the fabric of his shirt and snuggled into his arms before heaving a contented sight that brought a smile to his face. By the time he completed the short walk back to his friends he was certain that she had either fallen asleep or was close to it.
He settled amongst his guards with her in his arms and they looked on curiously. “I would like you to meet the only survivor of the village, Haneul.”
‡†‡†‡†‡†‡
The clan council, as Youngsaeng had expected, had been split in half with the news of a possible location of the dragon prison. Most of its members didn’t trust Hyunjoong and that was only compounded by the fact that the proposed location was so close to the King’s location. Youngsaeng was only able to sway a few members due to his own belief that the prince was telling the truth before he had lost his temper.
Thankfully, Soojin had stepped in and reached an acceptable compromise. The clan would continue to head north and prepare a safe haven for anyone that they happened to rescue. No one but the council knew the location of the place and that fact alone reassured most of the members present. Youngsaeng, meanwhile, would be able to go and investigate the location the prince had showed him. He would only be able to take people with him on a voluntary basis, but the dragon didn’t require that many bodies to go with him anyway. Anyone besides his friends would probably be more trouble than help.
Soojin had agreed that her children would be allowed to go with him if they choose to do so, and that they would supply their journey at the next town. Once he had gotten her permission, Youngsaeng excused himself from the remainder of the meeting. He had better things to do then listen to the bickering and quibbling of fools.
He returned to their wagon, waving to his friends as he passed before collecting a bowl and a jug of water from within it. With both in hand he began to walk through the clan, keeping to the shadows so as not to be seen. When he reached the edge of the village he continued walking, unaware of the silent footsteps that were following him.
‡†‡†‡†‡†‡
It took Youngsaeng several hours of walking before he was comfortable with the location he had found. In the darkness he settled on the cool ground, crossed his legs, and placed the bowl in front of him. Slowly he poured the jug of water into the bowl, taking care not to spill any of it on the ground. Once the jug was empty, he set it to the side and closed his eyes.
He slowly stretched out his hands over the water, holding them there for a moment, and then he lowered them carefully into the water. They touched the surface of the water and plunged beneath, leaving ripples in their wake. As soon as he pressed his palms flat to the bottom he pulled his hands from the water in one fluid motion.
They emerged completely dry, leaving all of the water behind in the bowl. When the ripples over the surface cleared he leaned over and saw not the bottom of the bowl, but the face of smiling woman. “Arunika,” he said gently.
“Ah, Khemkhaeng,” she returned, her smile widening. “First, you invade on my sanctuary to quite literally save your neck, and now you call on me in the middle of the night for something that will, undoubtedly, require something of me.”
He smiled back at her. “Yes.”
“Well what it is?”
“Hyunjoong has found what he believes to be the holding place of our kin. We are going to go save them if we can,” Youngsaeng told her.
“And you want my help?”
“Yes.”
“Why? If I remember right your temporary partner is quite the healer,” she replied.
“He is, but I will need your skills. I don’t know what state they will be in. It may be more then Kyujong can handle.”
“What else?” she pressed.
“We believe the place where they are keeping them to be underground. I was hoping your skills could help us to find it.”
She paused for a moment, “You are correct. I would very likely be able to find it.”
“I am sorry to ask this of you,” Youngsaeng told her, his voice heavy with sorrow.
“Nonsense,” she replied gently. “Suk-chul and I both knew this time would come. Now enough about me. When I come I will get to meet your Life Bonded, correct?”
Youngsaeng swallowed thickly. “Uh about that…”
“Khemkhaeng!” she reprimanded sharply. “You have not sealed the bond and you continue to use your temporary partner! How can you do that to yourself and the one who is to be your mate?”
“I-”
She held up a hand to cut him off. “Fear is not an excuse. A Mate Bond may be betrayed but a Life Bond never. You have nothing to fear from this. You know that. You know how precious and rare this is.”
“What if he doesn’t accept it?” Youngsaeng asked softly. “He is not drawn to me the way I am to him.” His voice quieted to a whisper. “Some days it is hard to resist. I want him near me, safe. I hate it when another touches him, or takes his attention from me. I have to avoid him to not do something stupid.”
“Oh you silly young thing. He couldn’t resist you any more then you could him. You know how a Life Bond works. You were both crafted for each other before you were born.”
“But he is a human. A Life Bond has never been made with a human,” Youngsaeng protested weakly.
“Life Bonds are made in times of need. No one knows why or how but it is already engraved on both of your hearts. All you need to do is recognize that,” she said gently.
“I know.”
“Khemkhaeng, have you at least told your temporary partner?” she asked.
“No. I don’t know what to say to him.”
“Don’t you think he deserves to know why you are almost completely physically incapable of being with him anymore?” she questioned.
“Yes.”
“Do you not think he cares about you enough to understand?”
“He does but-”
“No,” she sighed heavily. “Ah young one, you were forced to leave the den much too early. There is so much of life you were not taught.”
“I am trying,” he replied, hanging his head.
“I know dear,” she said affectionately. “You realize that my presence will only make you feel the need to complete the bond that much stronger?”
“Yes,” he said softly.
“Alright. Do you remember how to lead me to you?”
“Yes.”
She nodded, “I will see you the day after tomorrow then. And Khemkhaeng tell them both before I get there will you.”
“I,” he swallowed thickly. “I’ll try.”
“Fair enough. Be well,” she replied with another fond smile.
“You as well,” he said. With a last smile from her he disrupted the surface of the water and the image of her by dragging his hand across its surface. When it stilled again her face was gone. His hand hovered over the water and it rose in a thin steam, flowing back into the jar. When he was finished and had just put the cork back in the bottle he heard a rustle behind him.
He spun reaching for a weapon, but froze completely when he saw what it was that had made the noise. There standing behind him, arms crossed, with a firm look on his face was Kyujong. “So,” the man said, evenly, slowly. “What is a Life Bond?”
Chapter Fifteen
Masterlist
AN: Wow I am having more and more trouble finding time to write. I had hoped that at least if I didn't have a job I would have an easier time of finding time to write... Not quite. My family doesn't seem to like it when they know I am home and hiding in my room. It's very hard for me to write with all the activity in the living room, so I just end up not doing much of it. Hopefully I will find some time and a balance in both soon... *sigh*