Page 68 of Gumiho Kiss
His dogged focus had been legendary when he was part of the palace guard.When he set his mind to something, nothing could shake him.He would win this fight, too.He had to.
Except ...it wasn’t just memories of his father that he was trying to push away.It was also memories ofher.And she had a way of sliding past his defenses like no one else could.
He’d be eating a meal and suddenly wonder if she was eating well, too.Or sharpening his weapons and start wishing he could spar with her again.One time, he asked a servant her name and then realized he never used to care about such things.
But the worst time was in that breath between sleeping and waking, when dreams hover at the edges of memory, whispering wishes that could never be reality.The best mental shield in the world couldn’t help him there.Each morning, he woke with a sharp pain in his chest, as if his heart had been pierced during the night.
He chuckled bitterly anytime he thought about it, for how could his heart be pierced when he’d left it behind in Sokju?
One afternoon, Hyun Soo was in his quarters, reading through a list of some of his father’s assets, when a knock sounded at the door.He frowned.It wasn’t the time the servants normally brought him a meal.
A wide-brimmed black hat entered the room, followed by elegant eyebrows pinched together in concern.The visitor clucked his tongue.“Hyun Soo-yah, what’s become of you?”
Hyun Soo’s gaze cleared, alertness flooding his limbs.“Dol Sam?”
His friend smiled softly, though a touch of sadness remained in his eyes.“I told you I was coming, didn’t I?”He glanced around the disheveled surroundings and wrinkled his nose.“And by the state of this room, not a moment too soon.Why don’t we talk outside?You look like you could use some fresh air.”
Hyun Soo rose to his feet, hope and strength returning to him.Dol Sam had drawn him out of his melancholy before; surely he could do it again.
As the pair circled the courtyard, they exchanged a few words about the events of the past week.Dol Sam was courteous and thoughtful, allowing Hyun Soo to lead the discussion instead of pushing him to share more than he was comfortable with.Hyun Soo wasn’t a very forthcoming person, but it felt good to get a few things off his chest, namely the cold reception he’d received from his relatives and his bewilderment over his unexpected inheritance.
Dol Sam offered his sympathies and encouragement, but his eyes widened as they passed the estate’s stable.“Oh!I almost forgot.”
He hastened inside and returned a few moments later with a large item wrapped in cloth.A sword of some kind.He held it out expectantly.“When Lady Lee heard about Minister Park, she felt so bad she had this made to express her condolences.”
Hyun Soo stumbled, pain flaring in his chest as a pair of honey-brown eyes skittered across his thoughts.
“Are you all right?”
He waved away his friend’s concern and took the proffered gift.“Yeh, nothing to worry about.”He forced himself to smile, relieved when the pain subsided to a dull ache.
“Well?”Dol Sam prompted.
Hyun Soo waited for a beat, not understanding the man’s meaning.
Dol Sam dipped his chin at the sword.“Aren’t you going to look at it?”
Hyun Soo reluctantly peered down and removed the cloth, revealing a beautiful hwando.Of similar make to his own, but the craftsmanship was more ornate than anything he had ever seen.Lightweight with a hand guard of blackened brass and a blade of the finest steel.There was no doubt such a weapon would cut down anyone foolish enough to oppose its wielder.
“This sword looks like it’s taken quite a beating in your care.You should get it replaced.”
Hyun Soo swallowed a lump in his throat.She’d said that to him the day they’d sparred in the clearing, the day he’d very nearly kissed her.
“She had this made for me?”His voice trembled with more emotion than he intended.
“Yeh, she’s so generous, isn’t she?I continue to fall more in love with her the longer I know her,” Dol Sam said dreamily.“I’m actually planning to see her as soon as I return so I can give her?—”
“I’m very interested in hearing more about your conversation with my father,” Hyun Soo interrupted, hanging the sword at his hip.It was rude to cut his friend off, but his heart couldn’t handle any more torture right now.
Besides, he was genuinely curious to hear about Dol Sam’s proposition.If it was something within his power, he wanted to do it.For his father’s sake.
His friend stiffened momentarily.Then he nodded and said, “Of course.But let’s head back inside.What I’m about to tell you is for your ears only.”
Once the two were seated in the sangbang and had refreshments, Dol Sam began, his expression grave.“I’m sure you’ve noticed the unrest in Sokju.There’s always been some, but in the last year and a half, the sangmin and cheonmin have become more rebellious than ever.I fear we may be on the brink of an uprising.”
Hyun Soo took in this information with a somber nod.So, his friend wanted help preventing a revolt.Familiarity settled over his shoulders.Assessing and removing threats was his specialty.“Why do you think things have become worse lately?”
“It’s all that vigilante’s fault,” Dol Sam snarled.
