For Peace

25. Chanson de Geste

It was windy as regular in Morden, and the breeze carrying from the southern sea smelled of salt. At least today, no thunderstorms of rain chased after the group that waded through the tall grass.

San plunked his lute, tried to find a melody simple enough to memorise it. Yunho walked close by his side, giving him pointers whenever his mouth wasn't occupied with suckling the honey off his fingers.

Their modest festivities had to happen during their walk and with the constant paranoia of an attacker looming in the bushes. Yeosang filled everyone's cups with the Eastshallow mead Yunho had carried around for this very reason, and they drank while they walked. Even Mingi let himself be seduced to a drink, though he didn't partake in the conversation and trailed behind them with heavy thumps of his staff to the ground.

Perie wasn't back from her journey yet, so it was just them and their good mood.

Hongjoong walked with a hand possessive in its grip around Seonghwa's waist. The other one nursed his drink as Seonghwa tentatively sniffed at his cup. He was no stranger to the taste of alcohol, seeing that red wine was a fundamental drink of his faith, but the mead didn't smell like a sacred rite. It smelled like adventurers getting drunk after their voyages, so they had the courage to woo women with their rosy cheeks.

Yet, Seonghwa had promised to drink with them. After all, they celebrated his health. He lifted his cup when Hongjoong leaned to click them against each other.

"To you. And to the beating heart in your chest." A harmless claw nudged at the spot above Seonghwa's heart. Then, the gargoyle tilted his head back to drink.

When his throat dried out at the sight of that neckline cast in sunlight, Seonghwa also took a sip.

The taste wasn't as horrid as other drinks he had smelled tavern-goers down. Though it made him stick out his tongue in repulsion at the bitter aftermath, it didn't linger too long.

Behind them, the others cheered as they lifted their mugs. Though their voices could go much louder - especially Wooyoung's - they refrained from too much turmoil in case the Reds were aware of their location.

"How's the mead, priest? Are you properly repelled?" Yunho called from the back. Blinking the disgust from his eyes, Seonghwa gave him a grimace and a thumbs-up.

"It tastes like a grimy adventurer."

Yunho's laughter bellowed over the fields.

"Then it's properly ripe! To your health!" He drank again and Seonghwa toasted at him, though he was reluctant to try more. Attentive to his hesitation, Hongjoong took the cup from him while the others weren't looking. He handed it back once he had emptied it and wiped his chin with the back of his hand. His wild grin was terrifyingly beautiful in the sun's light.

San chirped up, spurred by the lighthearted atmosphere.

"What should I sing? I should sing now that the mood is so merry, yes?"

"Sing one of those hero tales!" Yeosang requested with sparkling eyes.

Helpless, San looked between the wolf, his lute, and his guiding lover.

"Uhh..."

Wooyoung snickered into his chest as if he could do it any better. Fond of their usual bickering, Jongho limped along with his cup.

"Chanson de geste. A tale about the epic adventures and magnificent deeds of a hero. Imagine a story, a romance, a drama, whichever you fancy. But instead of simply reciting it, you sing it," Yunho explained. San's eyes lit up. His fingers strummed his lute, seeking to find a tune that resonated with him.