A Crane Among Wolves

36. Daehyun

Wind and darkness tumbled outsidethe House of Bright Flowers, and uneasiness stirred within.

“We are a day away from a coup, and Choi Ikjun is dead,” Maggot said, flicking a narrowed-eyed stare at Daehyun.

He stared back. Iseul’s pet name for Official Wu Sayong was indeed fitting—the man was as vile to behold as the soft-bodied grub that feasted upon decay. Yet his contempt was pinned upon another—the killer on the loose, causing mayhem on the eve of a rebellion. He had searched for Wonsik’s son, as Iseul had requested, only to uncover two facts: The young man was missing, and shortly before his disappearance, he had been in search of “a girl named Iseul.”

Perhaps it was a good thing that Iseul was secured within Wongaksa Temple…

“All we know,” Maggot continued, his reedy voice grating at Daehyun’s nerves, “is that Official Choi was found in a palanquin, placed on the road facing Gyeongbok Palace.”

“Did Nameless Flower leave another bloody message behind?” Official Seong inquired.

“No one seems to know. The State Tribunal moved quick, leaving behind little to be witnessed, and the king has ordered strict silence over this incident. His Majesty will not even confide in me, a senior first-ranking official. But…” Maggot’s stare crawled down the long table around which the coup leaders had gathered and stopped before Daehyun. “Perhaps you know, daegam? The palanquin was meant for that girl, Iseul. Why did her uncle end up in it?”

“I suppose Choi consulted you,” Daehyun retorted brusquely. “It was your idea, perhaps, that he kidnap the girl—?”

“Gentlemen.” Deputy Commander Park splayed his fingers on the table; his stare remained pinned on the map before him. “We will investigate the matter once the coup is over.”

“My concern is,” Maggot pressed, “that any one of us might be next.”

Six other officials were present, and they all exchanged nervous glances.

“We have our private soldiers, do we not?” The deputy stared down each man, as though to shoot down their fears. “Keep them close, gentlemen, at all times. With only a day remaining, we must rein in all our thoughts, all our concerns, and focus our minds upon the Great Event and nothing else.”

Maggot slid his hand against his jaw, his stringy beard whispering against his touch. “Of course. You are right, deputy.”

“Now.” He rapped his knuckle against the map. “Military Official Park Yeong Mun will lead the troops from Suwon and should reach the Han River before the first watch. They are likely marching over as we speak. Once they cross the river”—he slid his knuckle across the sheet—“they will meet us at the military training field here. Soldiers from the Royal Stable Department will also arrive, along with the newly recruited generals and their men from the Hunting Department. They have pledged up to five thousand soldiers.”

“So we will have more men than originally thought,” Maggot observed. “A total of fifteen thousand…”

As the deputy’s voice continued to rumble, Daehyun returned his stare to Maggot. It was loathsome, the thought of handing any young woman to this man, let alone Iseul’s own sister.

“Daegam.” The deputy scowled his way. “It seems you have not heard a word I have said.”

“The troops will attack from the northwest Hyehwa Gate and northeast from the Changui Gate,” Daehyun replied. “And I will release eight hundred prisoners from Milwicheong.”

A muscle worked in the deputy’s jaw, then he spoke. “Official Yun Hyungro will go to protect Grand Prince Jinseong. Officials Un Sangun and Lee Gye, along with dozens of other soldiers, will stand by in case of unforeseen occurrences. Others will be sent to assassinate key personnel—”

“And who shall go before Dowager Queen Jeonghyun?” another official interrupted. “We must receive permission to place her son on the throne. It is upon her decision that our entire revolt rests.”

“Deputy Commander Park will go, of course,” Maggot murmured, sliding his gaze down to the man, who squared his shoulders and raised his bearded chin. “And you tell the dowager, if she refuses to place her son on the throne, that there are other princes who would most gladly become king.”

More questions arose from the officials present, rising with panic as the morrow encroached. Questions about the grand prince’s wife, about her family members who had refused to join the coup. Questions about key locations they would strive to take control over. And there was one question that was asked over and over.

“Are you certain, deputy commander, that the king will vacate the capital tomorrow? Are you certain, absolutely certain, that he will leave for Kaesong City?”

“We chose the eighteenth for this very reason,” the deputy reassured the men each time. “The capital will be empty for our taking.”

But no matter how much the deputy reassured each official, the discussion grew more fraught, as though every man were inspecting the thoroughness of his lifeline. By the time the questions and demands died down, the sky had turned into the miserable gray of dawn.

“Daehyun-gun.” The deputy lay a cautious hand on Daehyun’s shoulder. “You keep to your plan. General Jin will meet you at the Red Lantern Inn in the afternoon for further planning.”

Daehyun lowered the brim of his hat, about to set out, when a shadow slid up beside him.

“One moment.” Maggot drew him to the side. “The Milwicheong idea, I hear it was yours. With such a mind, you have a bright future awaiting you.”

“Indeed?” Daehyun was done with courtesies. “Go on. What do you want?”

His smile only deepened. “What do I want? I only wish for you the brightest of futures, daegam.” He took a step closer, and he whispered, “Be careful whose side you choose. The side of a mere chit, who has no connections whatsoever to speak of? Or us—the ones who are soon to rule this kingdom? You must betray or be betrayed. That is the way of the world, daegam.”