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Jung Sook also didn’t think she could eat.  Not right now.  Every time she closed her eyes, the trauma of last night was cascading through her soul.  As were all the reverberations of the past which the violence of last evening had unleashed to bubble up from her heart.  She was being swamped by their aftermath.

Shaking, she stepped outside.  Hoping that the bracing autumn air would soothe her soul.  But this morning, it didn’t work its wonders.  She was exhausted.  Both mentally and physically.  Despite all the hours that she’d slept in that luxurious bed overnight.

She leaned back against the door and closed her eyes.  She was safe.  Here.  At Soo Ho’s house.  Surrounded by his family and servants.  But she still felt like safety was an illusion.

Her childhood home had never been a haven.  The house of her husband surely had not been.  She had suffered the worst violence of her life there.  But the home which she had created for herself had been meant to finally be her place of security.  And it had been for nearly two years. 

Until last night.  Bo A’s father had destroyed the last of the illusion.  His blood now littered the floor of her sitting room.  Its door no defense against a man bent on evil.  The knife which he’d held to her chest had pierced more than her skin.  It had penetrated her worst memories, bringing back horrible echoes of her violent past.  Trapped in a loveless marriage to a cruel man.  Reminding her of her own vulnerability.  And obliterating her confidence in the sanctuary which she had built for herself.

Even walking down a public road, she’d been powerless.  Accosted by a stranger.  She had yet to find a true refuge.  At least, not in the form of a place.

But oddly enough, when she was with Soo Ho, she felt secure.  Upon reflection, it wasn’t really that strange.  The man had saved her twice now.  From two violent men.  Because of him, she had discovered that not all men were evil.  Not all men were bent on destroying her.  If anyone had ever proven his love to her, Soo Ho had.

And in so doing, he had become her fortress.  Her strong tower.  The one place that she felt truly safe was in his arms.  How she longed for them right now!

––

Soo Ho was chomping at the bit.  Missing Jung Sook.  Worried about Jung Sook.  Why had Jin Heung had to call him to the palace this morning? 

He had entered the king’s private chambers early to discuss the business for which Jin Heung had sent for both him and Ban Ryu.  Seon Woo was out traveling on the king’s business.  So Jin Heung had called on his next two most trusted men.  To discuss urgent matters.  Which took a couple of hours. 

By the time that they’d been released from the king’s presence, the sun was already riding high enough in the sky that no signs of its rising yet remained. 

Ban Ryu turned towards him.  “Are you coming back to the hwarang house now?”

Soo Ho shook his head.  “No.  I need to head home.”

“I’ll walk with you,” his friend generously offered. 

But Soo Ho knew that Ban Ryu had an ulterior motive.

“What’s going on?” Ban Ryu queried.  “You’ve been on edge all morning.”

“I killed a man last night.” 

Soo Ho had arrived a half an hour before his friend’s audience with the king.  So Ban Ryu had not been present when Soo Ho had spilled the details of last night’s disastrous encounter with Bo A’s father to Jin Heung.  Soo Ho had sent word to his king of the situation before he’d returned home early this morning.  But he had told the messenger not to wake the king with the news.  So Jin Heung hadn’t read his missive until very early this morning.  He had instantly called for Soo Ho to come visit him.

“What?”  His eyes round, Ban Ryu turned an astounded countenance on his friend.  “What happened?”

“Do you remember the little girl from the market?  I stopped her father from beating her.”

“Of course.  She’s now Jung Sook’s ward.”

Soo Ho nodded.  “Last night her father showed up at Jung Sook’s house.  And attacked Jung Sook with a knife.  He was attempting to rape her when I ran my sword through him,” Soo Ho reported through gritted teeth.

Ban Ryu looked stunned.  The whites of his eyes were now boldly glaring at his friend.  Finally, he whispered, “Is she all right?”

“She is.  I got there in time.  Mostly.  He had the point of the knife pressed against her chest.  So he did wound her slightly.”

“And the child?”

“She was also mostly unharmed.  If you don’t count the trauma of her watching what her father did to her teacher.”

Ban Ryu shook his head.  “No wonder you’re in a hurry.  Going back to see Jung Sook, I assume?”

Soo Ho nodded.  He glanced at his friend.  “Do you mind if I run ahead?”

Ban Ryu smiled ruefully.  Then he quirked a dark eyebrow at Soo Ho.  “How about we race?”

Soo Ho’s face broke into his customary grin for a moment before the two shot off down the street.

––

He saw her from afar.  She was leaning against the door to his parents’ house.  Looking completely lost.  And alone.  Her eyes were closed.  And a terrible longing had arisen to suffuse her entire face in agony.  And he knew that he had not come too soon.

––

She was going to have to tell him.  This morning.  Or whenever she saw him next.  Soo Ho deserved the truth.  If any man had earned the right to it, he had.  The question was…

How would he handle knowing that she had lied to him?  Was there any way that he could possibly understand the motivations of her heart?  And the terrors of her soul?

Or would he simply decide that she wasn’t worth all the pain which she’d cost him?

Despairing, she opened her eyes.  And was shocked to discover him moving towards her.  At an alarming rate.  In the next instant, he was before her. 

“Jung Sook!” he gasped as he reached for her.

And this time, she did not flinch as his arms touched her and drew her close to his chest. 

Ban Ryu spared a glance for them both before he stepped around them to enter the house.  Unannounced.  He had a question for Soo Yeon’s father.  But he wasn’t about to interrupt the reunion of the two lovebirds that was currently unfolding on the doorstep of the family home.

So he slipped quietly inside the house.  And glanced at the servant hovering nearby.  “Is Lord Kim Seub home?” he queried respectfully.

The servant bobbed his head. 

“May I speak with him?”

The man bowed to him and disappeared into another room.

Leaving Ban Ryu to cool his heels in front of the door.  A little curious as to what was happening behind him.