Page 31 of King Foretold
“Mine.” Captain Seo walks in without bothering to knock, which makes sense in light of what she just said. “The uinyeos at the infirmary are petty cowards ... At any rate, I needed to find you somewhere private, and close to the training yard, to heal. My room was the obvious choice.”
“Thank you, Captain.” I force out the words even as they cling to my throat for dear life.
“I did my duty.” She arches a perfectly shaped eyebrow.
I want to think she would’ve left me to bleed out if it wasn’t forher duty, but that doesn’t ring true somehow. So I arch my not-so-perfect brow and say, “Nevertheless.”
“Of course, she can’t stay here much longer.” She addresses Jihun. “The cadets are ... wary.”
“But they aren’twaryof Jo Danbi?” My voice rises with each word.
They’re happy to rub elbows with that cheating, murderous piece of shit, but not me. Not the big, bad gumiho. What have I ever done to them? Except what happened in the training yard today. In my defense, I only went after Jo Danbi, and dark magic or not, she had it coming.
“Her conduct was unacceptable,” Captain Seo says with a steely glint in her eyes. “As a consequence, she is no longer a cadet.”
“She got off easy.” Jihun seethes.
To my utter shock, Captain Seo nods in agreement. “Bloody politics.”
“Politics?” I ask Jihun, because I get the sense Captain Seo doesn’t want to talk to me unless it’s strictly necessary.
“The relationship between the Kingdom of Sky and the Kingdom of Mountains, which has always been tenuous, became even more unstable after the death of the Queen of Mountains,” he says. “The Council of the Suhoshinstronglyadvised that we do not discipline Jo Danbi to the extent that it would increase the tension between the kingdoms.”
“Oh.” I can’t express a proper level of outrage as a wave of vertigo hits me and cold sweat breaks out on my forehead.
“You should lie down.” Jihun wraps his arm around my waist to hold me steady as I mimic a tall, delicate willow swaying in the breeze.
“I’m fine.” My head lolls onto his shoulder without my consent, and I squeeze my eyes shut against the tilting room.
“Minju, the comforter.” He shifts onto his knees and sweeps me into his arms.
I’m too busy trying not to hurl to object to the manhandling. He carefully lays me down on the sleeping mat, and my head gradually stopsspinning. I crack open an eye and see Captain Seo frowning down at Jihun, who kneels by my side with his body curved protectively over me.
“Why is she so weak?” he barks, his voice cracking on the last word. “Are you sure she is fully healed?”
“She needs rest, Captain,” Minju says calmly. “And we should send for dinner. It’ll help her get her strength back.”
“Dinner?” I had breakfast right before I sparred with the Mean Girl. “How long was I out?”
“About twelve hours.” Minju places her hand on my forehead. It feels so cool and soothing that my eyes drift closed on a sigh. “First, you need to eat, then you can sleep.”
“Jihun,” Captain Seo says. “Can I talk to you? Outside?”
I force my eyes open in time to see him glance up at Captain Seo, then frown down at me, hesitant to leave my side. I scowl at him because even the thought of rolling my eyes makes me dizzy. “Why are you sitting here? Go talk to her. Outside.”
“Only if you’resureyou don’t need me,” he teases, his lips quivering at the corners. For some reason, Captain Seo looks furious at this.
“Bye, bye now.” I sink as much sarcasm into my words as possible, but it’s not up to my usual standards.
I don’t bother watching the suhoshin captains leave and close my eyes again. I drift in and out of sleep until Minju urges me to sit up.
“Here, have some dakjuk.” She holds a spoon to my lips.
I try to grab the spoon from her, but I end up swiping at the air because I see two spoons laden with chicken porridge. It smells so good that I give up and open my mouth like a baby bird.
“Mmm.” I swallow and open wide for another bite. “Yummy.”
After a few more bites, I manage to eat the rest on my own, feeling strength return to my limbs. Then I drink from a small bowl, thinking it’s tea, but it’s savory.
