Lean

VII

BEOMGYU

One morning, Beomgyu awakens to the sound of hooves echoing outside. His eyes snap open, and he turns toward the small window in his designated chamber within the castle. Slowly rising from the spacious bed, he sheds the layers of furs and blankets, making his way to the windowsill. Beomgyu's eyes widened at the scene unfolding before him. Outside, a vast assembly of bannermen stood in formation, patiently awaiting entry through the castle gates. He had never seen an army so large before. Were these the men Kang Taehyun planned on taking to meet his father's army on the battlefield?

The cold air nips at him, sending a shiver through his body. He wasn't yet accustomed to the freezing temperatures here in Frostholm. He longed to be back in Aurumstone with sunny skies and rocky beaches. He didn't enjoy the presence of snow at all.

Beomgyu lost track of how many days he spent here in Frostholm. The days were short and boring, but at least he wasn't treated terribly like he expected, especially after the news of Kang Seohyun's death. Jongho took the chamber next to him and they communicated daily. A few guards watched over them constantly, but Beomgyu was used to being watched at this point. He built up the courage to ask one of the guards if he could practice archery. They had laughed off his request but decided to ask anyway. The next morning, one of the guards was holding a bow and sheath of arrows for him. That was how he spent most of his days, shooting arrows at the wooden targets in the freezing cold.

He didn't know how long the Kangs planned to keep him in Frostholm to rot like this. He felt like he was slowly losing his sanity by speaking only to Jongho. Nothing seemed to change with each passing day. His mind often wandered back to his father and what he might be planning in response to his capture.

A sudden knock at the door startles Beomgyu away from the windowsill. He approaches the wooden door cautiously and swings it open, finding himself face-to-face with Junhui, the head of the bannermen from their journey from Evergreen to Frostholm. Junhui's sharp features and dark, penetrating eyes bore into him. A longsword is visibly tucked into his belt, and Beomgyu couldn't help but notice the royal blue cloak beneath his steel armor.

"Lord Taehyun has summoned you," Junhui states in a gruff tone. "Dress warmly and come with me."

Beomgyu nods quickly, allowing Junhui to shut the door for privacy. He had clothes draped along one of the chairs in his chambers. The clothes were similar to those that the villagers wore here in the northern kingdom. The material was thick and protective from the cold temperatures. He dressed in the dark garments, the large cloak extending past his knees. Beomgyu had never worn a wooly material like this. The temperature in Aurumstone was typically always sunny and breezy.

Once he was finished, he walked to the door and opened it once again. Past Junhui, he could see the guards surrounding Jongho. He was also dressed warmly in a similar attire as him. Anticipation built up inside of him as he stepped outside of his designated room. What could Taehyun want with them? Had he and his father made a deal to release them? Beomgyu could only pray that was the case.

Junhui and the guards lead them through the castle. They earn curious gazes from strangers, each of them sizing up Jongho and Beomgyu. He had noticed that Frostholm seemed to get busier by the day with numerous royal visitors arriving and armed bannermen. After news of Kang Seohyun's death arrived at Frostholm, visitors flooded the castle gates. Beomgyu wasn't invited to attend any of the funeral services for Kang Seohyun, and even if he was invited, he doubted his presence would be helpful.