Song of the Black Dragon

TWELVE

Han Shiwoon raised a hand in greeting just as the couple walked in through the outer palace arch. He strode toward them with a skip in his step, the torches and twilight sky-like cosmic wings to his back. Sun-ha knew it was too dark for him to have seen the entirety of their faces, but perhaps he had identified who they were only by the distance between them and the red flower tucked in her hair.

Jung narrowed his eyes at the incoming, beaming hwarang's apprentice. He turned to Sun-ha in a swift motion, the beads of his hat swinging threateningly with him. "Do you know this man?" he hissed under his breath.

"I—I've seen him around the Palace," Sun-ha stuttered in confusion, hiding her hands behind her jeogori and averting her gaze from both men.

"The night is young and beau—"

"What is your business here?" Jung interrupted with a frown. His voice was stern and authoritative. "Should you not be somewhere, brushing your hair?"

"How can you be so cold!" Han threw loose strands of hair over his shoulder, smiling. "Don't you remember me from the other night? The music was lovely, wasn't it?"

Sun-ha's eyes widened. Was I right to think Jung found me the night Ok-gyeong left because he was nearby?

Jung exhaled through his nostrils. "I do not have time for meaningless chatter."

"I am actually on my way to work on my sparring skills," Han continued, raising his eyebrows in invitation. "Perhaps a worthy opponent stands before me?"

"I do not have time to entertain the hwarang," Jung repeated, nearly spitting the reply. He gripped the hilt of his sword. "Be on your way."

"Are you afraid to lose in front of your lady friend?" Han replied, placing a hand on the sword strapped to his own waist to mirror Jung. He looked at Sun-ha.

Jung glanced in her direction, and Sun-ha's face flamed. What is Han doing? He knows the Tribunal wants the hwarang permanently gone! Antagonizing Jung won't help him at all.

But Han only smiled at the concern in her eyes. "We hwarang are not entertainers, I can assure you, agasshi."

"Learn to keep your tongue in line, hwarang. Do not speak so freely with my betrothed," Jung said.

Sun-ha stared at the ground. There was no emotion in his voice.

"Ah! Betrothed!" Han exclaimed before bowing deeply. When he looked up, he smiled wider and winked. "All the more reason to impress ma-nim with your skill, yongam."

Jung clenched his jaw at Han's obstinate nature, but his next words caught Sun-ha by surprise.

"Be at the barracks at midnight today," he said, squaring his shoulders.

"Midnight?"

Jung almost smirked. "Are you afraid of the dark?"

"Of course not! Until midnight, it is!" Han bowed once more to the two before walking past them at the same pace as he had approached them in.

"Let's go," Jung muttered, taking Sun-ha by the hand this time. "It is getting late."

Outside the Ho residence, Sun-ha and Jung were greeted by a small army of palace guards. He let go of her hand, and from atop the steps, the Lady Ho rushed down to meet them. Sun-ha held her head bowed for the duration of the Lady Ho's rapid, whispered reprimands. Unlike the last time, not even the favor she had for Jung could have her ignore that the two had partaken in questionable activity as an unmarried couple: staying unsupervised for too long by themselves.