Until Forever

Part 2 - Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2     

Myeongwhal Sanseong, or Mountain Fortress, lay east of Seorabol, a fifteen-minute ride away from the capital. It was a medium-sized fortress built to withstand a full attack from hostile forces; the last defensive line of Seorabol. Ironically, the fortress had now become the stronghold of the rebel forces that threatened to engulf Seorabol itself.

Earlier that day, Bidam and his men had entered Myeongwhal Sanseong unchallenged. The other lords wanted to seek refuge farther south, as far away from Seorabol as possible but Bidam refused. He said that the reason why Lady Mishil’s coup failed was because she left the capital, making her vulnerable and isolated. He, however, would not make the same mistake that his birth-mother had done. He would make his stand in Myeongwhal Sanseong, gather support from the other provincial lords who sympathized with their cause, march to the capital and forcibly bring the battle right at Her Majesty’s doorstep.

Their main concern was to capture the fortress with as little casualty as possible. Myeongwhal Sanseong housed a formidable garrison. Knowing that it would take days to overtake the fortress, Bidam formulated a strategy that required the Queen to remove the troops inside the fort without getting wind of the rebels’ real objective.

Feigning an attack on Yeo Do, Bidam was able to force Her Majesty into deploying the Myeongwhal Sanseong garrison to reinforce the Yeo Do forces, leaving the mountain fortress under-manned and unprotected. With its borders practically defenceless, the once impenetrable fortress was easily overrun by the belligerent attack of Bidam’s rebel troops.

            The Sangdaedung, pleased with the outcome of their first endeavour, had been sitting alone in his newly acquired quarters going over the battle plans proposed by his War Cabinet when San Tak, one of his personal guards, came in with Jukbang in tow. Jukbang greeted the Sangdaedung and said that he had been instructed by Her Majesty to personally deliver a very urgent message.

            “Lord Bidam, I went to Chuwha Gun yesterday to deliver a personal message from Her Majesty but you were not there. Upon reading the notices that were posted around town I asked San Tak to help me search for you. We came here as soon as we learned that you had taken over this fortress,” Jukbang said bowing before the Sangdaedung.

            He then handed the envelope that the Queen had entrusted to him. Bidam opened the envelope and took out the parchment inside. His hands shook as he recognised the Queen’s handwriting. He couldn’t believe what he had just read so he furiously crumpled the letter with both hands and quickly turned to glare at Jukbang.

            “Are you saying that the Queen sent this? How can you expect me to believe you?” he asked Jukbang.

            “My Lord, I swear that the Queen personally instructed me to deliver this letter to you,” Jukbang assured him.

Bidam jumped from his seat and grabbed Jukbang by his tunic, his face contorted with rage and suspicion.

            “My Lord, what’s wrong? Why are you doing this?” Jukbang asked, slightly shaking. He knew how dangerous Lord Bidam could be when enraged. He had been witness, on countless occasions, to the Sangdaedung’s ruthless wrath and he honestly feared for his life at that moment.

            “Tell me the truth, and keep in mind that your life depends on it. Tell me who sent you here!” Bidam asked, his voice quivering with suppressed anger. He knew that Jukbang was Chunchu’s vassal and he feared that this could be another one of the young royal’s schemes.

            “My Lord, I already risked my life by coming here. Although I was not even sure that I could deliver the Queen’s letter to you I had promised to stake my life in order to do so! Did you think I would risk life and limb for a mere lie?”