The Voice: A Sequel to Hwarang: The Saga of the Sooks Book #1

Chapter 28: An Eternity in Your Eyes

"So the king worked hard with his fellow hwarang to become the best leaders they could be for Silla. They spent hours practicing martial arts, swordplay, and debate. They had very little free time. Yet they began to bond with each other. Those who had begun by sparring ended as friends. The queen had achieved her goal of creating a unified force to strengthen her son's reign. As long as they would eventually choose to support the true king."

Jijin quirked his eyebrow. "Did you write this before or after we talked this afternoon?"

"Yesterday afternoon. It is now half past midnight," she corrected him. "And I wrote it beforehand," she responded to his question matter-of-factly.

He shook his head. "I don't know how you do it."

She smiled slightly as she continued. "But one day a new conflict arose. One of the king's fellow hwarang, a boy named Yun Seo, was injured during their martial arts practice. The king and another lad helped him back to his room. And left him to rest and heal.

"But as the king was shutting his door, a servant arrived. 'Yun Seo's sister has come to bring him a message from his father,' he announced.

"The king frowned, 'She is not allowed in the men's private quarters, and her brother is injured. I will go meet with her. Lead me to her.'

"He followed the servant. They were walking beneath the balcony on which the girl was waiting to meet her brother. At the same time, two hwarang were engaged in a sword fight a few feet away. One of the lads began to run up the steps to change his vantage point and get the upper hand over his opponent, who quickly followed him. Both men ended on the balcony, the first backing away from the second. The first boy backed straight into the waiting sister. Knocking her backward off the balcony.

"The king glanced up as he heard her scream. And threw his arms out to catch her as she came flying down towards him. His face a mask of shock, he caught her in his arms and fell backward. Hitting his head on the pavement. He was instantly knocked out.

"The terrified girl tried desperately to catch her breath as she stared down at the beautiful boy whom she'd just killed. She bent over him as tears filled her eyes. Her heart was still hammering in her chest from her unexpected flight. And the fear that she had been plummeting to her death.

"'No, no, no. Please. You can't be dead,' she begged. But she was certain she had killed him.

"Still, she leaned over him and reached up to touch his cheek. 'Such a pity. Such a beautiful man,' she murmured.

"Suddenly, his eyes flew open, spearing her emerald orbs with his chocolate ones. 'Must I always be rescuing you from one scrape or another?' he asked dryly after a moment of staring into those gorgeous eyes of hers.

"Relief flooded her countenance. 'You're not dead?! I didn't kill you?!'

"'Certainly not. I hope I'm made of sterner stuff than that,' he asserted with a faint smile.

"'Sir! I am so sorry. I,' she glanced up.

"Two hwarang were leaning over the balcony, gazing at the couple with horrified expressions cloaking their features in despair.

"'I was rudely pushed to my death by one of those boys,' she accused.

"'Not to your death, as it turned out,' he corrected her wryly.

"She nodded her head vigorously before breathing, 'Thanks to you. How can I ever thank you?'

"'Well, you can start by removing your person from my chest,' he responded with humor lacing his tone.