In The Shadow of Asora

17. Radio Silence

Jongho roused before Mingi. By the time his companion greeted the light of day, Jongho had previously rustled up some breakfast for the two of them. While he nursed a cup of tea and his brooding thoughts, Mingi still slumbered civilly in his bed. The fruity smell of the tea woke him inevitably and tickled his nose until he turned under the covers with a noise of discomfort.

From his place at his working bench, Jongho chuckled at the theatre. All morning long, his eyes had burned with tiredness. After the news about Seonghwa's passing, he had barely found any sleep. His dreams were fleeting and haunted by dark shadows. They scared Jongho, and he dove from his bed sweaty and with clammy skin. From then on, he tinkered inaudibly with the bird that was supposed to be a gift to Yeosang.

Now that the new regulations around the palace greatly inconvenienced Jongho's ability to break in, he couldn't possibly foresee the moment he would be able to deliver the gift in person. The castle needed a few days to calm its racing heartbeat, and until then, Jongho would trust in whatever sources they found in Zey on the matter.

Once Mingi spotted him on his chair, he greeted Jongho with a dopey smile. His hair was wild from sleep, and his eyes had yet to open to the dim light of a naturally dark winter day.

"Help yourself with the food. I count on your help later to get some more intel now that the first shock settled."

"So many words for such an early time." Mingi frowned, as his sleep-befuddled brain tried to catch up with the genius that Jongho was. Both of them had to laugh about each other.

Mingi rolled out of bed after a while and joined Jongho at his working space. While he wolfed down his portion of the food, he commented engrossed in Jongho's current projects with full cheeks. Not minding his slurps in the least, Jongho explained as much as he could.

"I'm burning with curiosity. What if there's a grand scheme behind this all? Asora signed a treaty with the northern countries that fought in the war against us, but what if they are going the secretive route to winning? I need to know."

Mingi's interest for politics contradicted Jongho's mostly uncaring self, but since sweet little Yeosang was involved, he also found himself guarded. While he had no emotional ties to the man compared to Zey and their own lives, Jongho also disapproved of any bad headlines regarding the gentle prince.

"Let's go out and ask around, then. I'm sure the people travelling between the cities on land have information on whatever might lie in wait there." Jongho put his tools down and pushed his goggles off his face. As he stood, his gadgets naturally shifted to accommodate his new position. Mingi observed the process with shining eyes.

"I just have to put on warmer clothes. I'll be done in a second."

Once Jongho was equipped with his warm winter garments and his one scarf, he and Mingi set out on the streets of Asora. The water that steadily dripped from various roofs and windowsills onto the entrance area of the houses had frozen on the stairs. It almost tripped up Jongho, and Mingi slid down two steps at a time.

With some warnings towards each other dropped here and there, they made it down the stairs safely. Immediately, the cold and grizzled walls of Zey wrapped around them like a protective layer. Instead of the shadows, Jongho preferred to march in the middle of the street when he was with someone. If Mingi walked next to him, Jongho could have a better eye on him. Zey's people evaded the tall man with the wild red hair and the imposing long coat.

With stiff shoulders, Jongho passed one of the patrolling automatons as he rounded the corner to the main street and glanced over the plethora of shady stands with even shadier vendors inside that offered their wares.