For the Prisoner

32. Cradle the Stars

As they returned to the inn, Seonghwa got distracted by Yeosang and Wooyoung who played some board game the lutin made up. For a while, they sat together and gambled against the decidedly unfair rules. Yunho joined in, San, and even Jongho for a couple of rounds. They ordered drinks when their laughter turned their throats hoarse and later on food when their stomachs grumbled.

By the time Wooyoung admitted defeat, the sun was about to set. While Yunho invited the exhausted bunch to another drink, Seonghwa excused himself and stole away towards their shared room.

The clothes he had strung up in the morning swayed with the gentle breeze, but neither Mingi nor Hongjoong were in sight. Since it was never difficult to find the gargoyle, however, Seonghwa ducked past the garments and outside onto the balcony. The street near the inn was peaceful at this time of day, only the drunken workers unwinding after the evening milled around.

When Seonghwa turned to search the roof, the wind ruffled through his hair and threw it across his forehead. The gargoyle perched on the roof, cast in stillness so serene that his grey skin seemed to become rock again. Only the subtle glow of his amber eyes gave away his vigilance. He spotted Seonghwa right away and his wings opened farther.

"Need something?" The gargoyle drawled as his head perked up from his crouched position.

Seonghwa held up his index finger and then grabbed for the wooden edge holding the roof.

"Wait a moment."

With a few unbalanced jitters, he clambered up to the ledge. Fear of falling made his hands clammy when he robbed over and then crawled the last part of the wooden roof to reach Hongjoong. Once he dropped by his side, a relieved huff escaped Seonghwa. He wiped his hands on his pants, enjoying the view across the nearby roofs.

"I wanted to talk to you," Seonghwa opened when the gargoyle continued to stare in silence. As usual, his face was unreadable. While Seonghwa blushed upon a glimpse at those horrific clawed hands that had held him so intimately a few days ago, the gargoyle remained stony with nonchalance.

Since no reaction came from him, Seonghwa continued.

"I went to the church with Jongho earlier today. While I was there, a man approached me. He came from Morden."

Alert to that news, Hongjoong swiped his eyes across the street underneath them. When he found no lingering threat, he lifted his brow at Seonghwa.

"Jongho ditched you?"

"No, no, I didn't need protection. The Red noticed my curse, and he mentioned how their magic is in tune with that of the fairies. He said he might be able to help me if I went to Morden. We talked little; I'm supposed to meet him again if I want to know more, so I wanted to consult you about it."

The expression of scepticism on Hongjoong's face morphed into surprise, then a smirk.

"Why consider me, of all people?"

Bashful, Seonghwa fiddled with his fingers. He dodged the gargoyle's knowing eyes.

"I trust your judgment. Not that I can always follow it, but I trust it."

"I can't remember a single time when we listened to each other. We always pick opposite sides," Hongjoong snickered. Yet, he clasped his hands above his knees and stared into the first stars across the pink sky in consideration.

"I would hear him out and find out his intentions behind his offering. Trade, as you did with the witch, isn't worth another failed attempt. Morden is not a good place, from what I heard, and especially priests are a delicacy there. With us by your side and the stranger showing us the way, it might be worth a try. That's my opinion."