Warrior(The Dragon King Chronicles)(10)

Kira nodded in approval. "Nice," she said. "But do you know how to use it?"

The young gisaeng twirled the dagger in her hand before throwing it in one fluid move. The jeweled handle protruded from a narrow beam on the far wall.

Grinning, Kira looked in admiration at the other girl.

"I'm impressed," she said.

Mija inclined her head as she retrieved the knife and replaced it in its ornate sheath.

"Even pretty things can be deadly," Mija said.

They entered the next interior room, where Kyoung waited impatiently. He nodded in approval when he saw his sister's transformation. Standing behind him was a small servant boy who grinned at Kira.

"Is that the prince?" Kira started in amazement. Taejo was now an ordinary looking boy dressed in clean commoner clothes. A beige vest made of hemp over his white jacket indicated his status as a palace slave. His hair had been thickened with a hairpiece and made into a coarse braid. A wide, beige headband was wrapped low over his eyebrows. In his hands, he held a small tea tray.

"It's going to work, Noona!" he said. "No one will recognize us."

Before she could respond, Mija went over and reminded Taejo to keep his eyes lowered.

"Let's start the show," Kyoung said.

Slinging an arm around Kira and Nami, he pushed them toward the outer chambers. Mija slid open the doors and bowed as they exited, Taejo hidden behind her. Kira saw the younger gisaeng's smile as she followed her brother's lead.

"Minister Hwang, while I appreciate your gift to me, I must return them to you, for I fear I am too drunk and too tired to enjoy their services," Kyoung said.

Kira kept her eyes down, as Nami disengaged herself from Kyoung and linked arms with her.

"Hold up your hand to your mouth and giggle," she whispered.

Controlling her urge to gag, Kira did as she was told. From the corners of her eyes, she noticed several gisaeng were entertaining high ranking officials in the large chamber. She saw Mija and Taejo shuffling toward the other end of the room, blending in with the other quiet servants.

"It is time for the men to speak and the pretty ladies to leave," Kyoung said. He gave a coarse laugh and slapped Kira on her back. Suppressing her natural instinct to punch him, Kira giggled again and followed Nami out of the room.

In the hallway, the other gisaeng crowded close together, keeping Kira in the center. Kira peeked behind her and was assured to see six servants surrounding Taejo and Mija. She was relieved to see that Mija carried the long parcel that contained her weapons as well as her travel bag.

They left the west side of the palace grounds and headed to the northeast side, where the lotus pavilion was located. Kira had never been in this side of the palace grounds as it was an area reserved for the gisaeng.

It was a beautiful place filled with elaborate gardens and ornamental ponds hidden behind high brick walls. Here in the far northern end of the compound, the mountains made a majestic backdrop and gave the illusion of another world. It was the perfect place for entertaining and romantic intrigue.

They stepped through the gate that opened in to the inner courtyard and came to a sudden stop. A group of soldiers stood waiting for them in the shadows.

Their leader stepped forward, his sword raised menacingly.

"Look at the pretty flower girls coming to service us," he said with a greedy leer. He seized the nearest gisaeng, pulling her against him and feeling up her body. Kira drew a hissing breath wishing she had her sword with her. Before she could do anything, she felt Nami give her a hard pinch on her arm.

"Don't do anything or you will kill us all," she whispered, before stepping forward.





10





nami stepped to the front, pushing Kira subtly behind her. "Are you truly that stupid that you would risk the wrath of Minister Hwang?"

"Minister Hwang? Who's he?" The guard laughed. "We take our orders only from General Kim."

The other five soldiers surrounded the women, reaching over to finger their dresses or caress their skin. Kira still stood in the middle of the circle of women, watching the danger through narrowed eyes.

"So, we heard that you ladies were over at General Kang's quarters, entertaining the Kang brothers. Is that correct?"

The women stayed silent. The guard released the gisaeng he'd been fondling and choked Nami by her neck.

"I asked you a question!"

Nami whimpered in pain, her hands fluttering to her throat. "Oh please, sir, we were just called to entertain them! We didn't listen to their conversation and don't know anything about the war plans!"

"Stupid wench," he said. "I don't care about that. I just want to know if you set eyes on the Demon Slayer."

"No, she never came out of her rooms," Nami said. "We never saw her!"

"Did you hear her? Did you have any reason to believe she was not in her rooms?"

"I don't know! General Kang would walk into the inner rooms, a few times during the night. I think he was taking food and drink with him," she said. "We assumed it was for the prince and his bodyguard."

"Bodyguard!" The soldier spat on the ground. "She doesn't deserve that title!"

He released Nami so abruptly she fell against the other gisaeng. She pushed forward and faced the guard again.

"You've gotten your answer, now leave at once!" she said.

"Watch your mouth, bitch!" The soldier backhanded Nami, causing her to stumble, her mouth bleeding from the hard blow. "We don't take orders from whores!"

Kira's hands closed into tight fists, but she stayed still. She noted the casual demeanor of the soldiers, the way they stood at ease, certain that there was no danger here. She watched as Nami straightened, holding her head high. She dabbed a handkerchief against her lip, dabbing at the blood with a curious smile.

"You may not want to listen to us, but if Minister Hwang finds you here, he will kill you all," she said.

The soldiers began to laugh.

"And who's going to turn us in?" the guard asked with a sneer.                       
       
           



       

The gisaeng smiled as she stepped closer. "No one," she said. Pulling her dagger from her hair, she slashed the man across his throat. Only then did Kira realize that all the other gisaeng had positioned themselves before a soldier. At Nami's action, they moved as one, whipping out their daggers and killing them in the space of a breath.

Only one man was alert enough to avoid the knife that had been aimed for his throat. He shoved the gisaeng down, kicking her hard before running for the courtyard gate.

Kira snatched her eunjangdo, slid the blade from its decorative cover and threw it with deadly accuracy. He dropped to the ground, skewered through the nape of his neck.

She made to retrieve her weapon when Nami stopped her.

"Leave it," Nami said. "I don't want you staining your robes."

Nami wiped off her own dagger, replaced it with a pat to her hair, and ordered the servants to stash the bodies in a nearby storage room. Within minutes, the courtyard was pristine and beautiful again. Kira couldn't even see any blood on the cobblestones.

"We must move quickly, girls," Nami said.

Kira's eyes searched for Taejo. He was watching everything with keen interest and admiration.

They hurried into the main room of the women's quarters where the women picked up silk-wrapped parcels and put on long heavy coats for the journey. Mija came forward and pulled a quilted coat over Kira's shoulders.

Thanking Mija, Kira made her way over to Taejo.

"How are you doing?" she asked.

Taejo smiled. "These gisaeng are quite handy with their knives."

"And you're happy about it?" she asked in mock surprise.

"No, I was shocked," he said. "And so were those soldiers. That's why they're all dead."

Kira agreed. "Even I underestimated the gisaeng."

"They're pretty amazing." Taejo leaned against a beam, watching the others rush around the room. "You know, I always thought that you and my mother were the strongest women I knew. But any woman can be powerful and dangerous, if they choose to be."

"Yes, I think you're right," Kira said.

Taejo grinned. "General Kim is an idiot."

"I agree with you," she said. "Mostly because he can't see what a great king you will be."

He looked alarmed at her words. "Not yet," he said. "I'm far from ready. But one day, with your help, I will try to be the best king I can."

Kira gave him a deep respectful bow from her waist. She was so proud of him.

Not long after, their group departed from lotus pavilion and headed for the east gate.

Guards were everywhere, and Kira was surprised that no one stopped them. None of the women looked around as they walked, but they chatted to each other in a light tone, laughing and giggling as if they hadn't just brutally killed six men. Kira stayed quiet within their group, very aware of Taejo walking silently behind her. Her senses were on full alert as she sniffed the air for any demon presence.

By the time they reached the outer palace gate, Kira's nerves were strained to the breaking point and even the ever calm Nami looked tense.

"The beautiful Nami and her flower girls are leaving us today," a guard called to them at their approach. "We will be brokenhearted without the sight of your loveliness."