Jungkook saw the door to his room open a crack. He watched as Soyeon walked in, her sword at the ready.

“We’re letting you and Jimin go,” she said.

“And where are you going?” he asked as she knelt and checked his sling.

“Away.”

Jungkook didn’t press further. Soyeon helped pull him up. He stretched. For the last day, he’d been cooped up in this room. While Soyeon didn’t bind him, she didn’t let him leave, probably because she thought he’d try to make an escape. But he didn’t, just lying in bed and letting his body recuperate. Jimin was supposedly sleeping next door, but Jungkook couldn’t find a way to talk to him.

“Come down. You can eat something and then make your way back to the castle.”

Jungkook followed Soyeon out into the hallway and down the stairs into the kitchen. Jimin was already sitting at the worn table, a mug of ale and a plate of bread and cheese in front of him. He gave Jungkook a small wave.

“You look better,” Jungkook weakly said as he sat down.

Soyeon placed a plate in front of him too with the same cheese and bread.

“Well I feel a bit better. Thanks, Soyeon, for taking care of us.”

“Well, it was my y trap which did you in so I guess this is payback,” Soyeon tossed over her shoulder as she busied herself with washing the dirty dishes.

Jungkook looked around. The room seemed barren, all useful things stripped from the walls. A line of bulky saddlebags stretched into the hall. The archer, Minnie, was checking something inside one of the bags. No one else was around. Jungkook looked at Jimin who really did look better. He had more color in his cheeks and the bandage around his head was white and fresh.

“What you looking at boy?” Jimin cockily asked as he tossed back the rest of his ale.

Jungkook grinned and wolfed down his food. While being an army recruit meant that he ate better than most, recently there had been a shortage of rations. Jungkook had heard that the new officers took most of the delicacies for themselves, leaving the recruits like Jungkook with crusts and water.

The sound of footsteps coming down the stairs made Jungkook turn around. Another girl with long black hair and dark rings around her eyes stepped into the kitchen. She poured herself a mug of ale and took a seat at the table too. Soyeon tossed a hunk of bread to her and she deftly snatched it from the air.

“Do you want me to lead Yongsun’s soldiers back to the castle Soyeon?” she asked.

Soyeon gave her a nod and the girl stood up. She crammed the rest of the bread into and motioned for Jungkook and Jimin to follow her. They obediently rose and bowed to Soyeon.

“Thank you for not killing us,” Jimin humbly said. Jungkook bobbed his head.

“You’re welcome.”

Jimin and Jungkook followed the girl down the hall and out the door.

“So, you two are the Minister’s guards, eh? Served under Moonbyul?” she quietly asked as they started walking down a street.

“Yes. She’s my captain and I was her second in command. Jungkook here was her page,” Jimin replied.

“Do you by chance know if a prisoner named Amber is in the castle?”

“Amber?” That rang a bell in Jungkook’s head. “Wasn’t she the one who killed three of the Royal Guard? I think the Minister has her in the dungeons right now.”

In a flash Krystal’s hand was at Jungkook’s throat. He choked and scrabbled at her arm but it was like she was made of iron. Jimin sprang forward but the girl kicked out and swept his legs from under