The Oath (Kingdom)

II. Healing

He finally found Seo-Bi.

Chang was standing above her with his sword raised ready to hack. Seo-Bi was holding the baby pressed to her chest and she was shaking. That baby was the rightful heir to the throne. Yeongshin thought that the baby died with the queen. But Seo-Bi must've saved him from the hungry arms of the sick.

"Your highness! You must kill that baby. It's him, or you." Old Minister was shouting. That was reason why Yeongshin hated royals. They were planning to kill innocent baby just for politics. He looked to Chang face. His sword still high above his head. But his face was full of struggle and pain. He was not this kind of ruler. That was reason why he was following him. He wasn't rotten like other men with power. Chang want's what was best for his people. He gave them his food, he spilled blood for his people.

"I can't!" He lowered his sword and bowed his head weakly. "People need a rightful heir to the throne, son of king and queen. Not a traitor. People need stability after this disaster."

"Your highness!!" Minister cried.

"You must help him to be a good and strong king." Chang was leaving. Yeongshin held his rifle tighter ready to follow him. Seo-Bi passed the baby to one of the Ministers and followed them with Beom Pal behind her.

When they were in private distance, Chang turned to them and sighed "I need to make sure that they beat that disease in the whole kingdom."

"I will go with you." Yeongshin bows his head ready to follow the prince. After Moo Yeong died he will need a companion.

But Chang stopped him. "I need all of you to stay here for a while. To také care of injured soldiers. To treat and protect them."

"Your highness you will need us. We must figure out that disease." Seo-Bi spoke. "We won battle, but not the war."

"I know." Chang smiled lightly. "Meet me after three months in Sangju. Then we will start searching."

All of them bowed their heads and watched Lee Chang leaving the castle.

Yeongshin then turned to Seo-Bi. She was still shaking but he knew she was ready for everything. "I need your help."

"You are hurt?"

"No, I'm not, but a lot of soldiers are." He was hurt, he still felt tiny rivulets of blood running down his back and started to feel lightheaded, but there were others hurt worse than him. "There are some scholars but they are good at treating migraines and stuck farts."

"So, soldiers have special diseases?" Beom Pal laughs and follows them. Yeongshin doesn't know why, but he kind of liked that simple magistrate, but not right now. Right now he wanted to throw him to the rooftop. He saw that Seo-Bi rolled her eyes.

"Yes, they have. It's called broken bones and burns." He was getting impatient.

Beom Pal pops up his chest like a proud rooster. "I fought too!" Every time Seo-Bi was around, he had this habit to fight him. Like he needed to win her attention.

"Yeah, I saw you." He didn't want to make fun of Beom Pal, but he was tired.

"Enough! Stop it you two!" Seo-Bi shouted and pierced them with death glare.

But suddenly she froze, like she heard something. And Yeongshin heard that too. A painful cry that bit him to the bones.

"Nilah!" escape whisper from his lips. He found strength and started running towards the infirmary. In his head was picturing the worst imagination. What if there were someone bit. What if she was? Even if she told him she is not. Seo-Bi was behind him when he reached the small building. Soldiers were lying on cots and sitting on the ground while scholars and their helpers were treating their wounds. Some of them were making small fireplaces to keep patients warm. He found Nilah almost immediately. She was lying in the same place where he left her. There was a young man kneeling above her, holding her injured leg. It was obvious that his touch caused her pain. Yeongshin was suddenly furious. He caught the young man by his collar and threw him on the wall of the infirmary. He pressed a dagger against his throat. His heart was beating fast and he breathed like a furious bull. The young man looked scared to death. He lifted his arms and whimpered.