Toxic roots

Imperial physician Jae has gnarled and knotted fingers. The man himself, if not salvaged by his long blowing silver gray robes, looked like an old twisted tree, leafless and wind beaten. 

Distantly related to the terminated Hea household, the old man was barred from holding courtly positions. It was only the invaluable nature of the knowledge their clan guarded jealously within the family, and their great medicinal abilities that had kept the Jae household safe. 

Yet, the line was dying. It seemed the blood line itself had carried ill luck. Of his three daughters, one had married a sea faring merchant and perished at a storm. One had married the emperor's ninth brother and the prince was tried and found guilty of treason. His daughter had never removed from the loss. 

The other - and her adopted son were too embroiled with the dowager queen of Ryu for Physician Jae to comfortably maintain relations. In short, all his family were somehow tainted with suspension and the house of Jae remained perched in the very corner of precipice that overlooked total annihilation. 

Only his godlike abilities saved him. That, and a few precious secrets in his position. 

Therefore Physician Jae wouldn't allow an oversight or a scandal put him into a precarious position. 

Beneath layers of blood soaked clothes the wound looked old. Nothing more than an ugly scar - a jagged mark where sink and flesh had reattached themselves but failed to attain the seamless continuity from before. As a testament for the older man's experience he says nothing while gnarled fingers wipe away blood with a wet cloth. 

"Sacrificial wounds never completely heal," he says. "Old gods are wicked like that, they prefer to keep threads that they could pull at their will." 

He moves to the new cut on Seo's palm, bending his head over it to examine properly. 

"Same with this one I'm afraid, my lord." 

"Clean it for the time being, Physician Jae," Seo instructed detachedly. "Let us hope I wouldn't be at the mercy of an old god anytime soon." 

Physician Jae nodded, his expression grave. 

"And I shall dress the wounds, just in case anyone overly keen makes inquires " 

"I'm indebted," Seo tells him, examining the cut on his palm himself, silver eyes weary. 

"We are both men with precious secrets, my lord, it serves us well to think of each other." His words are dry, void of emotion. The reek of displeasure that makes Seo narrow his eyes. The older man has his head bent, gnarled fingers busy preparing bandages. "His majesty is suspicious by nature," his words are murmurs, almost reserved to himself. "And his children, his best method of control. You would know, my lord, our concerns are similar." 

"Humph," Seo merely hums, his thoughts whirling. 

True, the man's roots were too far blackened for him to ever gain the emperor's explicit trust. It was simply his knowledge, this unparalleled skill that made him indispensable. It was a grand stroke of politics on the queen's part to integrate the third prince into this man's practice, but maybe, it might end up creating other delicate but no less terminal issues. 

"I am in your debt nevertheless," Seo masks his thoughts behind gentle words, allowing the man to finish dressing his wounds. Of all people he would rather avoid being in debt - of all people he would rather not expose his weakness to - he had ended up being tied up to this one. 

Seo thinks quickly, assessing his options. The faster he withdraws from the court would grant him a better chance at maintaining his affairs. He rises with the thought. Since the physician was already aware of the nature of his wounds there was no need for pretense. Instead he picks up his outer robe and makes his way outside, with one last hasty but grateful bow at the old man who begins to mutter to himself just as he exits. 

"Do you wish to replace your brother on the throne, mama?" The question catches Seo off guard and his feet stop on their own accord. "In which case - this humble envoy is at your disposal."

He could not see Seol's expression from where he stands. But the envoy with his greasy smile, and bejeweled hands, is all too clear. The appearance of master Li at the encampment while physician Jae made devious statements makes his nerves wrinkle. These two cannot be allowed to form an alliance. Nor can Qhitan be allowed to offer the physician- who seems already at odds with the emperor - any fancy proposition. 

And Seol should not get embroiled in the matter either way. 

"I hope you are not suggesting me to commit treason master Li," Seol's laugh is easy, but dry of humor. The envoy's smile dims at her tone. "Because I'm certain you have heard - my imperial father has eyes and ears in all four corners of the land. And a wise man such as yourself might prefer your head where it lies." 

The envoy splatters. Seo feels something akin to pride wash over him. Seol did not need him to fight all her battles. 

"I have no use of my lord brother's birthright." 

"You misunderstand me Gongjunim mama," Li splatters again. "I only gave best interest of -" 

"Your highness?" Seo steps out of the shadows before the man finds another gap in the conversation to slide in. Seol spins around at his voice, in the stream of fire light from the torches outside he could see the way her muscles strain and bunch in a conflict between etiquette and her urge to hug him. Seol settles into beaming, her shoulders relaxing. 

"You are awake…General Kang." She adds after a beat. "I'm glad." 

It shows. Her face glows. Seo clears his throat. 

"It's late," he says instead, relieving Min Ha of the lantern she carries. "Allow this humble servant to walk your highness back to the princess residence." 

"Yes, please." She falls into steps beside him, all about the envoy forgotten. 

"Enjoy your stroll master Li," Seo bids him a tenacious goodbye. "We ride early tomorrow." 

"We do?" Seol's eyebrows raise