Traitor's God - II

Dawn is barely breaking over the mountains that nestled Songak. Predawn light casts a rosy glow on the outer cluster of palace buildings, leading to the garrison tower of the East pass. A smaller huddle of men in midnight blue of Kangs stand by tower gates - preparing their horses for the journey ahead. Seo isn't among them.

The autumn dawn is cold enough to make her fingers tingle for the mere moment Seol removes her hands from the handwarmer to pull her collar tighter around herself. The fur is lined thick, unlike what they commonly wore at Songak. The embroidered hand warmer is lined with fur as well - giving only a glimpse into what winters at Shinju were like.

Min Ha standing at her shoulder did not look thrilled at the prospect. The cold mountains never agreed with her, and the court lady kept her silence out of duty rather than any particular sentimentality towards Seol's preference for mountain air.

That morning however, her displeasure had other reasons. She comprised the entirety of Seol's retinue - a great disgrace according to Min Ha. Princesses did not venture out of the palace without a bevy of ladies waiting on hand and foot. And the limping envoy has claimed the carriage - not that they could not arrange for another one for Seol - or share the carriage with that harmless old man - but General Kang had persuaded the princess into the utterly mad proposition of riding.

Min Ha despised horses!

Seol tries not to be affected by the dark cloud that hangs over her court lady. It is not often that she picked colors of her father's household - the blood red of Yoos worn over the pearl white of Seol's own - made for a startling combination. The Yoo symbol of eagle was embroidered across the cloak - in threads of bronze - startlingly lifelike.

She hadn't truly comprehended the meaning of this choice of attire - which her imperial father himself had sent over as a parting gift, until she had worn it and stood at the east pass, waiting for Woo to be brought over for her to mount. The cloak, with its stark color and the majestic eagle sent the message loud and clear.

She was not a princess being exiled - sent to the distant mountains to brave the winter. She had the emperor's own house standing behind her - and Shinju was home. The thought is comforting. The mountains beckoning her.

"Ah now - that's a sight!" Min Ha speaks suddenly, making Seol jerk and turn towards her voice. She, too, is taken by the sudden appearance of a rather unlikely duo.

The queen, dressed in navy blues decorated with the emperor's red and gold, was accompanied by Seo - carrying the reins of both Bi and Woo. Despite many retellings of how close the Queen had been to her baby brother during her years spent in the Kang compound, Seol has never seen them quite so close in companionable conversion. The proximity highlights how closely the half siblings resemble each other - not in features - but in their gait and manner.

The queen says something incoherent and reaches up to stroke Bi's mane. Seo nods at her, the lone dimple on his left cheek dancing on the verge of a smile. The sight brings warmth and Seol basks in it.

"He is happy."

"Her majesty is well again."

Seol and Min Ha speak at the same time. Seol feels her cheeks tinging with a color at the look Min Ha gives her. She tears her gaze away.

"Oh here you are!" Hyeon Jeong draws Seol into an embrace, warm and rose scented. Since she'd been a toddler, Seol associated that scent of crushed roses with her imperial mother. It was a sharp and fresh fragrance - one that the queen left on everything she used, like an imprint. It wasn't a wonder that before she became a sacred royal - she was called the Rose of Kangs - the personal name of hers, which only the emperor spoke of, meant Rose.

The queen held her at arm's length, examining her with a keen eye.

"Now - be a good girl."

Seol feels like whining. Please not in front of the soldiers! Seo catches her eye and looks away, not quick enough for her to miss the twinkling amusement dancing in the depth of silver.

"I always am," she mumbles.

"I'll be the judge of that," says her imperial mother. "I need you to write to me."

"She does," Seol points out, casting a dark look at Min Ha. "I bet he does too," she narrows her eyes at Seo who is suddenly rather busy with saddling Bi. "You have enough and more people to complain about me."

"But I have only one daughter…" The queen squeezes her hand with both of hers. Clapped in the warmth of her palms, Seol doesn't feel the tingling morning chill anymore. "And I miss her dearly. Also, we should discuss your law sometime. I have ideas you might find useful."

She laughs at the way Seol's eyes sparkle and leaves her hand after one last squeeze.

"Wear your gloves - the cold will only increase as you climb higher."

There is a longing in her voice, a hint of sorrow. Seol hugs her for one last time before turning to Woo. Seo offers a hand to help her mount, which she doesn't strictly require - but holds onto nevertheless.

"Yul!" The queen calls, raising her voice. "I don't think you can fit any more books in there."

The third prince, who was supposed to ride in the carriage with the old envoy looks chastened and the Queen beams. "I will have the rest of it sent to you. With dried persimmons." The mother and daughter share a knowing smile at that.

"Envoy Li is late," the queen narrows her eyes. One of her ladies shift, drawing closer to reply to her.

"Replying to her majesty, the envoy Li had conveyed his apologies for the delay mama."

"Uh? And what does he say that requires holding up my daughter's departure?"

"There was a death in his residence last night," Seo says drily. The Queen's eyes widened a little. "And a fire. A man who came across the border with him - died in an accident."

For a moment Heyon Jeong says nothing.

"He must be a very kind master," she says then. "To think of a dead attendant so deeply.

"Or he must have been a very diligent servant," Seo bows. "This official takes leave Mama."

Hyeon Jeong looked over him, warmth touching her eyes.

"You take care now," she says rather maternaly, before raising a hand to touch his shoulder. "My fortune goes with you."

"And I shall guard it with my life," he bows again before mounting. Seo gestures at one of the men. "Go and inform envoy Li that we are departing. If he wishes to join he should do so immediately."

Turning he maneuvers Bi towards the garrison tower and Seol notices the way he flinches at the movement which was required of him. The queen had noticed as well and to Seol's suspicion it's not curiosity that color her look - but guilt.

"Go safe," her imperial mother says instead. "And slow. There is no war waiting at Shinju that you need to rush to. Have a safe journey."

Just as the old envoy limps towards them, the Queen turns to leave, midnight blue embroidered with gold lotuses trail after her.