For Peace

26. Polite Farewell

San merrily poetised his hero chants until his throat was hoarse. All too infatuated with his new hobby and the praise it garnered him, he crafted line after line, forgetting them as soon as they had come, though he claimed for each text that it would be the hit that would properly rekindle his bard career. As soon as he was back in Alverton, he wanted to display his talents on a busy street and make some coin. Once he caught a noble's eyes, he would be offered a place at a royal court and forever be tended to with the softest beds and the most delicious foods.

It sounded like a beautiful dream, so Seonghwa would support him. When Hongjoong rolled his eyes, about to pop San's bubble, Seonghwa hissed at him to shut his mouth or so help him. As he found the priest's threats amusing, Hongjoong obeyed. His amber eyes left no doubt about who of them made the other submit.

With San as their constant background noise, they strolled the fields. As finding the way back was easy by following the mountain line, they discarded the paths that tracked their trails. The tall grasses shrouded them in privacy as they wandered late into the night and then more once they woke.

Jongho altered between limping along on his crutches and resting his leg as Hongjoong and Yeosang carried his stretcher. He held up well and not a sound of pain escaped his gritted lips, even as his leg throbbed in a flaming red.

Mingi was quiet for the most part, blissfully so. The others could celebrate their little win, more excited about Seonghwa's healing than the priest himself was. Since he was still stuck in not believing in his current health and desperate for any second spent with Hongjoong, as death could be imminent, his friends reminded him he would be fine.

Once they were in Alverton and the strain of their fear of these lands would ease, Seonghwa might find the time to accept his healing. To thank the Lord for granting him another chance. He would use this one wisely and not foolishly claim superiority over the old creatures roaming the forests.

The Morden mountains were near enough that Seonghwa could tell the snowy tips from the white of the bleak skies on the third day of their journey. Perie returned that morning with a reply from Yongguk. With few words, he congratulated the priest and affirmed his wellbeing. Any other detail would be told by fate once it was time.

As they drew near to their destination and their freedom showed in the tiny watch tower Seonghwa could spot when he squinted his eyes, his companions got more ecstatic with their plans as soon as they returned and had time for their own aspirations.

Hanging from Yunho's arm, San gushed about his new dream of being a bard and travelling the lands with Yunho. He wanted to see the southern sea where Yunho's ancestors had lured countless people to fall for their charms, and the wild horses he liked to tell them about. Yunho gladly invited him along, kissing the giggles from San's lips when he turned shy.

Yeosang asked Jongho where he would go once they were back in Alverton. Still undecided, the crusader had shrugged with a blush. He wasn't used to anyone caring, or to having someone who might want to accompany him.

Wooyoung was sure as a rock what it would be.

"I will stay by Seonghwa's side and help him with his search for that coin. Who if not I could judge what type of coin is the biggest I ever saw? I will hold it in my hands and become the king of lutins as everyone will bow under the marvel of such coin."

"Why don't you employ San at your royal court, then?" Seonghwa proposed with a snicker.

"Eh. Maybe once he improved his lute plucking. Every time he starts to play, I hear a cicada die."

San had pouted and Yunho soothed him, neither angry at Wooyoung. As they bickered, Seonghwa and Hongjoong marched ahead to lead the way back to familiar lands.