Chapter 2: The Night of Falling Snow

The snow began shortly after sunset.

By midnight, the mountains had disappeared beneath a sea of white.

Kim Taehyung pulled his cloak tighter around himself as his horse carefully navigated the narrow mountain path.

Only six trusted guards accompanied him.

Officially, he was traveling to inspect military positions near the border.

Unofficially, he was following a trail left by the mysterious letter.

The trail pointed toward the Northern Frontier.

Toward secrets someone desperately wanted buried.

The wind howled through the cliffs.

Taehyung's horse suddenly became restless.

Its ears flattened.

Its body tensed.

Immediately, Taehyung's eyes sharpened.

Something was wrong.

Very wrong.

"Stop."

The entire group halted.

The guards exchanged confused glances.

"My prince?"

Taehyung slowly looked around.

The forest was silent.

Too silent.

No birds.

No animals.

Nothing.

The realization struck him instantly.

Ambush.

"Draw your—"

TWANG!

An arrow exploded from the darkness.

One of the guards collapsed before he could even scream.

"ENEMY!"

More arrows followed.

Dozens.

No.

Hundreds.

The mountains erupted with movement.

Masked figures poured from every direction.

The assassins had been waiting.

The first wave targeted the horses.

The second targeted Taehyung.

Steel flashed beneath the moonlight.

The narrow mountain path became chaos.

Taehyung drew his sword.

The elegant crown prince disappeared.

In his place stood the man feared by every enemy strategist.

Blood sprayed across the snow.

One assassin.

Two.

Three.

His blade moved like silver lightning.

Yet more enemies continued appearing.

Far too many.

Someone had invested enormous resources into ensuring his death.

A familiar dread settled inside his chest.

This was not merely an assassination.

This was extermination.

A guard stumbled toward him.

"My prince!"

Blood poured from the man's mouth.

"There are traitors among us—"

An arrow pierced his throat.

The guard collapsed.

Dead.

Taehyung froze.

Traitors?

Before he could think further, a deafening explosion echoed through the mountain.

The ground trembled.

The cliffside above them cracked.

Rockslide.

The assassins had prepared everything.

Massive boulders crashed downward.

The mountain itself seemed to collapse.

"RETREAT!"

Taehyung shouted.

But it was already too late.

The world exploded around him.

Several miles away.

Jeon Jungkook's situation was no better.

His escort had already been reduced by half.

The assassins moved with military precision.

Every attack anticipated his reactions.

Every escape route blocked.

Someone knew his habits.

Someone had sold information.

Jungkook cut down another attacker.

His sword dripped crimson.

The snow beneath his boots had turned red.

A messenger attempted to reach him.

"Your Highness!"

A blade emerged from the man's chest.

The messenger fell.

Jungkook's expression darkened.

Even his personal attendants had been infiltrated.

The conspiracy reached further than he imagined.

Then he heard it.

A distant roar.

The sound of a collapsing mountain.

His instincts screamed.

Danger.

Without hesitation, Jungkook spurred his horse forward.

Moments later the path behind him disappeared beneath tons of stone.

The assassins scattered.

Even they hadn't expected such destruction.

Jungkook barely escaped.

His horse wasn't as fortunate.

The animal lost its footing.

The world tilted violently.

For one terrifying moment, Jungkook felt nothing beneath him.

Then gravity won.

The cliff vanished beneath his feet.

And he fell.

Pain.

Cold.

Darkness.

Taehyung slowly opened his eyes.

Snowflakes drifted down from somewhere above.

His entire body ached.

The fall had thrown him into a narrow ravine hidden beneath the mountain.

Miraculously, he was alive.

Unfortunately, he wasn't alone.

A sword rested against his throat.

Instantly, every instinct awakened.

Across from him sat a tall stranger dressed in black.

Dark eyes.

Sharp features.

Dangerous posture.

The sword remained perfectly steady.

Neither spoke.

The silence stretched.

Finally, the stranger broke it.

"Who are you?"

Taehyung's mind raced.

The man was injured.

Exhausted.

Likely another victim of the ambush.

Or perhaps one of the hunters.

Either possibility was dangerous.

"A traveler."

The stranger stared.

"A terrible liar."

Taehyung almost smiled.

Interesting.

"Then what are you?"

"A mercenary."

Now it was Taehyung's turn to doubt.

That answer was equally ridiculous.

The stranger's bearing screamed nobility.

Neither believed the other.

Neither cared.

At least not yet.

A distant horn echoed above.

Both men froze.

Search parties.

The assassins were still looking.

The stranger immediately extinguished the small fire nearby.

Darkness swallowed the ravine.

Voices drifted from above.

"Search below!"

"No survivors!"

"Check the ravines!"

Taehyung and the stranger exchanged a glance.

For the first time, they shared the same thought.

If discovered, they would both die.

The search continued for nearly an hour.

Neither moved.

Neither spoke.

The space between them felt impossibly small.

The ravine was narrow.

Barely large enough for two people.

When the voices finally disappeared, Taehyung released a slow breath.

Unfortunately, a new problem emerged.

The temperature was dropping rapidly.

A blizzard approached.

The stranger glanced upward.

"We're trapped."

Taehyung followed his gaze.

The collapse had sealed most exits.

Climbing out was impossible until daylight.

Perhaps longer.

The stranger cursed softly.

"We'll freeze before morning."

Taehyung looked around.

There was only one relatively sheltered alcove within the ravine.

Small.

Cramped.

Large enough for two people if they sat very close.

The realization seemed to strike them simultaneously.

An awkward silence followed.

Neither appeared pleased.

The wind howled louder.

Snow continued pouring into the ravine.

The temperature fell further.

Finally, the stranger sighed.

"Either we share the shelter..."

He paused.

"Or we die."

Taehyung stared at him.

Then at the tiny alcove.

Then back at him.

For the first time since the ambush began, he genuinely considered that fate might hate him.

The stranger looked equally unhappy.

Neither knew the other's name.

Neither knew the other's status.

Neither knew they were sworn enemies.

Yet before the night ended, they would be forced to spend it side by side.

Close enough to hear each other's heartbeat.

Close enough to notice things they should not.

And close enough for fate to begin its cruelest game.

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