Two updates in a row on time!!!!! (one and a half hours before midnight but is counts). Which is not something to celebrate but when it is me... it is an achivement 

Byul volunteered to go with TaeOh to get the horses. It wasn’t a long walk to the village, she should be able to make it without exerting too much energy. She wanted some time to think about this new plan they had put into action, but mostly she just wanted time alone with TaeOh.
 Byul and her brother had grown slightly more apart since entering the Knight. Not because they disliked each other, but because they no longer had only themselves to rely on. It was kind of nice to walk with just him once again through the woods, like old times, but it wasn’t long before Byul could feel the absence of the others.  
There was nothing Byul wanted more than to be going with them at first light. When YongSun had first suggested that she should stay behind, it was like being slapped, as if she somehow failed them and now was being punished somehow. She knew better, they were just looking out for her, making sure she was safe, and it did make more sense for her to be on the outside of the castle to receive TaeOh’s messages, it would just be better if she could be by his side. 
As if knowing what she was thinking, TaeOh commented on her thoughts. “We will be fine Byul.” She gave him a side glance. “There is no other person I’d rather walk back into that palace with than you, but this is the way it needs to be.” Another beat of silence. “I will make sure she is safe.”
That made Byul’s heart swell with warmth. “And what about you?” She said it more harsh than she intended. It wasn’t just YongSun she was worried about. There was more than a good chance he would be imprisoned upon their arrival. They had no idea what Henry would have in mind for them.
TaeOh merely shrugged. “We can only hope for the best, besides I am good at talking myself out of a lot of problems.” He winked.
Byul let out a small laugh. “Yeah and you are just as good as talking yourself into them.” She sighed. “Please be careful, I can’t lose you.”
TaeOh patted her on the back. “We’re in this together Byul, no matter what. Besides, I need someone I can trust to make sure that WheeIn doesn’t try to force information from our allies.” 
They both snickered. “Yeah, I am sure more than one of them would be shocked we sent such an enforcer to talk with them.” One part of the plan was to collect allies. If they needed to rush the castle or find a quick way out, they needed a lot of people on their side. Henry was powerful but TaeOh and Byul knew a lot of unhappy people willing to help shut him down. 
As they were reaching the town, TaeOh watched her. “How are you feeling?… Honestly” 
Byul knew better than to try and lie to him about these things. “I’m not in a lot of pain but everything hurts like if  I did six months' worth of hardcore training in a single afternoon.” Even breathing hurt but she was determined to fight through it.
“Then why would you come with me to get the horses, you should be resting.” 
He knew very well why she didn’t stay behind, he would have done the same thing, they needed this time for a proper goodbye. “I won’t say it, you know.” She said in reference to the last thought she had. 
TaeOh smirked, already knowing what she meant. “Never goodbye but we will meet again.” They bumped fists. “We will meet again Byul, I will make sure of it.”
Byul nodded, they had to believe in those words. Like the old days, it was all that kept them going while they had to be apart... knowing they would meet again soon. “If you don’t keep your promise you know I will beat you up in our next life.” 
He let out a sharp laugh. “I’d like to see you try.” They engaged in a small slapping fight as they walked, laughing the entire time. After they caught their breath TaeOh put his hands behind his head. “So are you going to tell me about you and YongSun?” 
Byul raised an eyebrow. “Are you going to tell me about you and Luna?” 
A shake of his head. “And here I thought I was being subtle.” 
Byul laughed. “As subtle as a bomb TaeOh, and I am sure that goes for me as well.” 
He shrugged. “She kind of snuck up on me, caring for someone that I could not stand. I see her passion, dedication, spirit, and strength.” 
“And she is pretty hot”. Byul added humor. “I am happy for you, she better treat you well.” 
A gleam in his eye. “So spill it, you two finally saw what was right in front of you this whole time?”
Byul was quiet for a few moments. “I wouldn’t say this whole time. Yes, I thought she was cute...well, more than that, but I never thought we would get to this point.” A slow smile spread across her face. “It is like living a dream.” She couldn’t help but feel giddy, it was hard to remember that she was allowed to reach out and grab YongSun’s hand, to hold her, to feel her. All of that was about to be taken away, her face fell at that thought. 
“Hold on to that happiness.” TaeOh said to her. “I will make sure she gets back to you.” There was a firm promise in those words. 
Byul nodded. “And I will make sure you get back to Luna.” She almost grimaced on how hard it was going to be to keep Luna out of trouble. 
“And we will get back to each other.” TaeOh added, Byul nodded in agreement. “So…” He said mischievously. “Have you guys done it yet?” He let out a laugh as Byul continued to smack him, he really knew how to push her buttons, but she couldn’t keep the smile off of her face. 

Byul ignored the looks from HyeJin, who was on watch, as she led YongSun past the circle of the camp and into the woods. Arcadia followed at her heels, feeling more clingy than usual because Byul left her behind while she went to get the horses with TaeOh. 
Byul waited until she was at a decent distance away from the camp before she took YongSun’s hand, still dedicated to keeping things between them, even if she was more than sure everyone already knew. 
She walked until they were in another small clearing, the one they had used for practice. 
They walked in silence, enjoying the night. Byul tugged YongSun to sit down next to her. Again more silence followed, YongSun seemed unusually tense. “Can I say something?” She asked in a small voice. Byul nodded slowly. “I am sorry for asking you to stay behind, I didn’t intend to blindside you like that, it was an impulse.”
Byul chewed it over. “May I ask why you said it?”. After seeing the look YongSun gave her, Byul rolled her eyes. “I know you better than you believe I do." She paused for a second. So, why are you holding something back from me?. You don’t have to tell me if you do not want to because apparently, me staying behind worked out for the better.” 
YongSun took in a long breath. “I would rather not say.” Byul tried not to feel hurt, but she had to respect YongSun’s choices. “Not because I don’t trust you, I trust you with every fiber of my being. I just don’t really understand it yet and I don’t want to say it aloud if I am unsure about it.” Byul didn’t have a clue about what Yongsun had seen but she nodded anyway. “So… why did you bring me out here?” She wiggled her eyebrows in a way that made Byul laugh. 
“Nothing like that… yet.” YongSun changed her expression. “I wanted to give you a few pointers about the castle." Byul wanted nothing more than having Yongsun prepared for what she was about to experience even if she knew there was no true preparation for that. Either way, she would try for the sake of the girl she loved. "The first rule is to trust no one, only TaeOh. TaeOh’s men, Jin, DaHun, and Hyuk, you can rely on them but we haven’t seen them in a while so I don’t know where their allegiance lies. If anything I’d say that Jin is the most trustworthy.” 
 She proceeded to give her a quick run-through of the possible escape routes she may need to take. “TaeOh will give you better ones when you guys meet up.” She tried not to say ‘if’. “They will put you in the princess room, that is in the west wing on the third floor. The fastest and most undetected way out is through the servant’s stairs and out the kitchen, try not to be too friendly with the staff, they report to Henry’s spies for bonuses… or out of fear of death.” YongSun’s eyes widened like she couldn’t believe TaeOh and Byul had worked for such a man. “We didn’t agree with his ways most of the time.” She tried to reassure her. “But we were just soldiers, fighting the cause we thought we were supposed to be fighting for. Not to mention deserting meant execution.” YongSun gulped at that. “The most important thing is to never be without your blade.” 
As if to prove herself, YongSun lifted her sleeve, the small blade was in its holder strapped to her arm. “I will never take it off.” She confirmed.
Byul nodded once feeling proud of what she was becoming. “But make sure no one sees it. You will be back in dresses.” YongSun rolled her eyes. “So the upper thigh would be best.” She reached forward and placed her hand on YongSun’s leg. “Right here, it will be easy to grab but well hidden.” 
YongSun shifted a little but nodded again. “I will.” 
“I have asked TaeOh to keep up your training for the last few days, including being your magic dummy. He will try as much as he can to train you while you are inside the castle but it will be harder.”
 Byul reached out and her face. “I didn’t want our last goodbye to be in front of the others.” She whispered, moving in a bit closer. Sadness suddenly filling the space between them. “I actually don’t like goodbyes.” Her breath washed over YongSun’s lips, her eyes closing slightly. “We say that we will see each other soon.” 
“I will see you soon.” She barely managed to get out as a tear rolled down her face.
Byul pressed her lips gently to YongSun’s, putting as much emotion behind it as she could. When she finally pulled back, they were breathless. “We will see each other soon, I promise.” She smiled trying to encourage Yongsun, and herself as well, even if that promise left a sour taste in ... for that, they kept themselves busy for just a while longer. 

The morning was almost unbearable. Byul woke up not early enough to see YongSun off to her final lesson with HyeJin, but enough to notice that TaeOh and Luna slipped off together. 
She was left alone with WheeIn, who was poking the fire pretending she was not bothered by any of what was happening that day, but Byul could tell that was not the case. 
TaeOh and Luna rejoined them not long after, the latter looking a bit flushed. They ate breakfast in silence avoiding making eye contact with each other, which make the situation much more uncomfortable.
 YongSun and HyeJin joined them in the middle of it. Byul liked that YongSun came and sat right next to her, their legs touching a little bit. 
There wasn’t much time for anything, TaeOh and YongSun needed to get on the road as soon as possible if they were going to make up time. 
Byul helped YongSun swing on to her horse, holding her hand for just a moment longer than needed. “Very soon.” She promised choking back a sob as she looked into YongSun’s eyes, the girl nodded with sadness in her eyes. Byul walked over to TaeOh and gave him a look. “Remember your promise.” She said sternly.
“Remember yours.” His eyes flashed to Luna.
“Always.” She gave him a smile, hoping he couldn’t see the tears welling behind her eyes. 
She stepped back, hearing the others give a few goodbyes and comments. As soon as Byul walked back to Arcadia’s side, they moved their horses, dashing off into morning light, Byul saw them give one more look behind them as they rode. The dust that flew up from behind them gave an excuse for Byul’s tears. 

YongSun thought it kind of poetic. Fleeing her castle on a horse only to dash toward a different castle on another horse. A place that she never wanted to go to. She only hoped that once they reached the gates, she would be able to have TaeOh next to her. It would be even better if she could have Byul next to her, but she needed to keep her as far away from the castle as possible... if that was even where she was in her vision. Maybe just by asking Byul not to go, she put her on the course to be chained up in that place she saw. 
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