~Northern Border of the Unified Silla Empire, Late Autumn 675 AD~
The wind was unleashed across the valley, flaying the tall blades of grass and stripping the trees of whatever dried leaves remained hanging on the branches. A crude palisade wall had been raised in the middle of the open terrain but a cold gust easily swiped past it, making its way between the many scattered tents, their cloth flapping incessantly.
In the war encampment of old general Min-Jun, the changing of the seasons was fast approaching.
The night with its cloak of darkness had descended gradually. Here and there, campfires spewed light while the smoke carried the scent of charred wood, roasted rice cakes and meat. The hours were slowly creeping away and despite the candles kept alight inside the tent, Soo-Ah's eyes were getting heavy. All the other nights she'd spent by her grandfather's sick bed, helping him through his coughing fits, had taken their toll.
