Chapter 3

Prince Yu-Jun wanted to be on the road as soon as possible, but Prince Jae-Sang had to have medical attention removing the arrows from his body and stopping the bleeding to ensure he made the journey to Altrane. His men needed time to gather up the dead off the battlefield and bury them with full honour. He was sitting at his desk writing reports and keeping an eye on Reid.

Reid hadn’t taken his eyes off Jae-Sang and Danu. It was as if he was daring them to make a move so he could finish them. They would answer to the people through the courts for their crimes against Dernancourt along with the captured enemy commanders of prominent ministry families.

Yu-Jun addressed Reid, his face hardening as he spoke. ‘Organise the transport for their departure tomorrow. I want guards inside and outside this tent. I don’t want any of them to escape.’

Reid nodded. ‘Yes, Your Highness.’

Prince Yu-Jun scanned the battlefield, taking in the damage and the quietening of the camp. He turned to Griffith. ‘We’ve won many skirmishes, but this was our first major battle. Its success was all thanks to you,’ Yu-Jun said, his expression serious. ‘Thank you on behalf of my brother and father. The rebellion is over, and we can have peace.’

Griffith nodded, his gaze lingering on the fire. ‘I wasn’t sure which way it was going to go, to be honest.’

‘Neither was I,’ Yu-Jun said quietly, his expression far away, ‘but I’m grateful it went our way. I just hope my father and brother have been as successful. I want to find out who else was involved and purge the Imperial Court.’

‘I guess Reid will be busy then.’ Griffith grinned.

‘Are you going to stay in the capital or head to Aven?’

‘I will stay with you. I haven’t heard from my father,’ Griffith said.

‘You, Taiden, Bowie and Reid are all welcome to stay at my manor,’ Yu-Jun offered. ‘I can introduce you to the lovely ladies at court.’

‘I’m sixteen, Yu-Jun. I’m not interested in getting married yet. You’ll be married well before me, given you are older than me,’ Griffith scoffed.

‘I was thinking that one day we may join our families together in marriage. What do you think?’

‘We’d need wives first. I wouldn’t be opposed to marriage between our children, providing that’s what they want. How much would you give me for a dowry?’

‘Isn’t my child enough for you? What do you need more money for? Your family is already beyond wealthy.’

Griffith laughed then turned serious. ‘What would my son or daughter be worth to you? My family has a longer history in this country than yours. But to be truthful, I’m not sure I would want any child of mine to join the Imperial family given the stories you have told me over the years.’

‘I’m glad to be the second son of the King. I get a lot more freedom than my brother as he will need to rule Dernancourt when the time comes and have a political marriage. I am more than happy to be his defender as I’d like to be the Imperial Commander one day.’

Griffith handed a flask to Yu-Jun, then tipped his own flask before drinking.

Yu-Jun and Griffith returned to the command tent where Prince Jae-Sung was sitting chained on the ground, the weight of his defeat settling over him like a shroud. Danu was beside him chained and gagged, his eyes showing his fury to anyone who looked at him. Yu-Jun stood tall and resolute in front of his uncle while Griffith stood at his back.

‘You will be returned to the capital for trial. I have to ask you, Uncle, why did you do this? My father treated you like a brother, why did you betray him?’ Yu-Jun’s voice cut through the tension like a blade.

His uncle remained silent, his gaze cast downward.

Yu-Jun’s voice grew colder. ‘There were other ways open to you, but you chose to betray Grandfather’s wishes. My father was crown prince long before Grandfather died. He’s your brother—you should have supported him. All of this was to gain power that doesn’t belong to you. Look around you, Uncle. Look at what your vanity has cost you, your son and our country.’

The mood in the room grew heavier as Yu-Jun’s words hung in the air. He took a slow, deliberate step forward, his face hardening. ‘You will go to trial. Given all the evidence of your treachery, you will be executed for treason. I will not mourn you or honour you in death. I hope you spend the afterlife burning in hell.’

A whisper cut through the room, the last plea of a desperate man. ‘Spare my son.’

Yu-Jun’s eyes flared with a cold resolve, his posture stiffening. ‘Your actions have consequences, and the House of Yi will follow the law.’

The room fell silent again, the weight of Yu-Jun’s words settling like the dust on the battlefield outside. His uncle remained bowed, his request for mercy fallen like dead leaves on the ground.

‘Reid, get them into the wagon. We leave now.’

Three months later, Prince Jae-Sang and his son Danu were found guilty of treason. They were stripped of titles and lands, which were returned to the crown. Prince Jae-Sang was beheaded in front of the court, and Prince Danu was imprisoned for life. Jae-Sang’s wife, having lost both her husband and her only child, was given the choice to be exiled or cloistered. She chose to be cloistered in Dernancourt.

Six months later, Prince Yu-Jun followed the guards up the long flight of stairs to the tower where high risk prisoners were kept in the Imperial Palace. The guard unlocked the door to reveal Prince Danu reclining on his bed. His cell was devoid of any personal items. It was a far change from his rooms in the palace. The room contained a bed, a table and two chairs. There were no bathing facilities, only a chamber pot.

‘Hello, Danu.’ The prisoner was wearing very simple clothes, the opposite of what he had worn when he was at court.

Yu-Jun put down a basket full of food, a change of clothes and some soap and candles and put a blanket on the bed.

‘What do you want?’ Danu sneered at him.

Yu-Jun was not surprised that he still had the attitude of one who had been wronged.

‘I wanted to see you.’

Danu kept silent, turning his head to look at the cell wall.

‘I brought you some things that you might need, but it seems that someone is also sending you care items as well,’ Yu-Jun said, noting a good supply of candles and a couple of books to read.

‘I am not without friends.’

‘Maybe for the time being, but how long will that last? The longer you are in here, the more people will fade away because you will not be of any assistance to them.’

‘I am not defeated, cousin.’

‘Then I guess I will see you in another six months. Take care.’ Yu-Jun knocked on the door for the guard to let him out.

‘How was he?’ Griffith asked when Yu-Jun met him at the bottom of the tower stairs.

‘Not defeated, apparently,’ Yu-Jun replied.

‘Give it time. He still has hope that he will be released sometime, but your father is never going to agree to that. Rebellion against the Imperial Crown is not something that is forgiven. He will spend the rest of his life locked in that cell.’

Yu-Jun kept his word. Every six months or so, he would make the journey to see his cousin. He made sure that supplies were provided to his cell. Three years later, Griffith and Yu-Jun heard that Danu had died of a fever. His body was not buried among the Imperial family; instead, it was taken to be buried next to his mother in her cloister.