Thief of Twilight

Part One: Chapter 39

The palace was thrown into utter chaos. Servants scrambled across the grounds with medicine and damp cloths. Guards hurried to the front gates of the palace to secure the entrance. Squads of eight were dispatched to patrol the surrounding forest in search of Lord Baldwin and Zurine. Emperor Kang knelt beside Lord Kang who lay unconscious in his bed. Elder Kang stood over him with her hands at her sides. Her eyes were heavy with discontent.

"...What happened?" she asked.

Emperor Kang pursed his lips.

"How did this happen?" her eyes shifted to her grandson.

The emperor couldn't speak. His fists were clenched so tightly that they shook on top of his knees. Elder Kang held out her hand to stroke Lord Kang's cheek.

"Well, you don't need to worry. He'll be alright. It does not look like there is going to be any physical damage." she said. "He just needs to rest. If he were human...it could have been fatal."

"Did you know?"

Elder Kang looked down at the emperor. His gold eyes burned into hers.

"Did you know...that she would run away with that man?"

Elder Kang lowered her head.

The emperor got to his feet. "Did you know!" he roared. "Did you know that she would run away with him! If you did, why would you let her do that! Why didn't you try to stop her! Why didn't you-!"

"Because she did it to protect us! She did it to protect you!"

Emperor Kang stood before his grandmother. His eyes seething with rage. His skin began turning red as if he were to burst into flames.

"She did it...for us..."

"What the hell are you talking about? She did it to protect us? To protect me? What does that even mean? You despised her since the beginning!"

"I did not!" Elder Kang barked back. "I did not despise her! I did not dislike her! In fact, out of all of the women you have been engaged to, she is the one that I like the most! She is the only one that I believe will suit you best!"

"Then why?"

"She didn't want to leave you, Yohan. She didn't want to leave the palace with that man." Elder Kang breathed. "She...wanted to stay here. She really did but she could not. That man...he would not let her. He has a hold on her. I can tell by the way she spoke about him."

"Then why didn't you tell me? Why didn't she tell me anything? Why would she just-?"

"Because she didn't want you to get hurt. She tried her best so that you wouldn't get involved." Elder Kang took the emperor's hands in hers. "She didn't want any of this to happen. I am so sorry, Yohan. I really am."

"Beom! Beom!" Lord Baek burst into the room. "What happened?"

"Beom was wounded. But he will recover soon. He just needs to rest." Elder Kang informed him. Emperor Kang walked to the door. Placing a hand on Lord Baek's shoulder, he thought for a moment.

"Gather the Black Wolves. Meet me at the southern wall once they are assembled."

"Wh-What?" Lord Baek gasped. "What on earth are you talking about?"

"We're going to bring her back. Gather the men and meet me at the wall."

"Yohan..." Elder Kang watched him leave the bedroom. Lord Baek turned before placing a hand on the doorframe.

"I will make sure that he is brought back safely. Right now it would seem that he is acting irrationally. I will do my best to protect him."

"Please do. I do not know what it is that he is planning. But he seems very determined."