Warrior(The Dragon King Chronicles)(14)

"What does that taste like?" he asked.

The vendor gave him a grasshopper and smiled toothlessly.

Taejo recoiled and shook his head, causing the vendor to cackle.

After over a week at sea, Kira was eager for a hot meal. The city was not as cold as the ship, but the wind still blew hard through their coats.

They headed for a local inn, where Jaewon sat with relief on a square stool at a small table with Taejo and Brother Woojin.

"Kira, you'll stay here," Kwan said. "Major Pak, Seung, and I will seek horses and supplies. The soldiers will take orders from you."

While Brother Woojin ordered food, Kira organized the soldiers for guard duty and meals by shifts. At first she had been concerned that they would rebel against her lead, but her actions on the ship had cemented their respect for her. They saluted her with deep respect and followed her orders with great alacrity.

Sitting down next to Taejo, she was delighted to find her food was ready and waiting for her. She breathed in the delicious aroma of a hot bowl of noodle soup piled with chicken, scallions, dried seaweed, boiled eggs, and pickled radish. The next few minutes were filled with the sound of slurping noodles. Jaewon, who was only drinking chicken broth, looked on enviously.

"It's very cruel of all of you to give me broth while you guys are eating delicious noodles," he groused.

"Just following young Seung's prescription," Brother Woojin said. "I promised him that I would not let you eat anything solid while he was with gone."

"Seung is evil and no longer a friend of mine," Jaewon complained.

He nudged Taejo and made a pleading gesture for one of his noodles. Taejo covered his bowl with his arm and pulled it closer to him. Jaewon frowned and then reached stealthily over to Kira's bowl, trying to snag a piece of chicken. Kira hit his thieving fingers with her chopsticks and shook her head.

"You are all mean and I don't like any of you anymore," Jaewon said, subsiding with a huff. Taejo giggled.

While she ate, Kira kept her eyes roving around the room, taking note of every person coming into the inn. She was particularly interested in the commotion that was happening in the far corner, where a dirty, disheveled-looking man sat drinking from a bowl with badly shaking hands.

Finished with her meal, she rose to her feet, motioning for Jaewon to stay with Taejo and Brother Woojin. Keeping her nambawi low over her eyes, she wandered the room until she stood but a few steps from the frightened man and a small group of spectators.

"You've been drinking again, Lee Shin," a nearby man said. "Who would believe such a story?"

"I'm telling you the truth!" Lee Shin sputtered, his drink spilling all over his coat. "The whole village was possessed. They attacked my caravan and ate the merchants and my crew! They ripped them apart with their bare hands and ate them! I was lucky to get out of there alive."

"That merchant group from Cathay who hired you last week to take them to Wando?" someone asked. "With these weather conditions, you never should have taken them in the first place! In fact, the truth is, you probably got your group killed in an avalanche or they froze to death."

Lee Shin just kept shaking his head. "They were real. Their eyes were big and all black. No white at all-like a frog's." He shuddered.

"So they're all dead? What about their wares? Did you bring'em with you? That's a mighty big windfall."

Lee Shin glared at the other man in disbelief. "Are you crazy? Did you not hear a word of what I've been saying? I nearly died! I had to leave the caravan behind!"

He then started to laugh, but it was completely mirthless. "I know what you are thinking, but don't do it. It's just silks and ivory! It ain't worth your life."

The two men smiled at each other over Lee Shin's head. One of them ordered a new bottle of soju, distilled rice liquor, and poured more into Lee Shin's bowl.

"Well, we'd better warn everyone of the danger. Where did you say this happened?"

"Over at Hekou. It's like they're lying in wait for people, and then they attack." He whimpered and took a deep drink. The two men who'd been so attentive got to their feet and quickly left the establishment.

Kira had heard enough. She retraced her steps and returned to the others, quickly filling them in on the details.

"Demons for sure," she said.

Jaewon agreed. "We just need to chart a route around that village."

Kira couldn't help but worry if that was enough. The closer they got to Mount Baekdu, the harder it was to keep the voice of the Demon Lord quiet. It questioned her, seeking her weaknesses, looking for a way to erode her confidence.

You cannot defeat me. My servant raises an army of half-breeds that will destroy your world. Stop running from me, Musado. Join me and I shall reward you with greatness. You will be the most powerful human in the world.

It was taking more and more effort to ignore the voice. Sometimes she had to scream inside her own head to shut it up. But it was ever present, and so was her fear. Fear that the Demon Lord was somehow connected to her. Fear that she was losing her mind.

They waited uneasily for the others to return. Kwan and Seung arrived first, sitting down and ordering three bowls of noodles.

"We've obtained horses and supplies," Kwan said. "There's even a squirrelly looking guide who's offered to take us for an outrageous fee."

"We're going to need that guide," Kira said with a grim look. "How are we situated for money?"

He waved his hand. "Not an issue. Our brother made sure we were well funded."

Major Pak arrived and sat down just as the server brought over bowls of noodle soup for him, Kwan, and Seung.

"We're almost ready to leave," Major Pak said. "But I hear we may be in some rough weather. It'll be slow going to Mount Baekdu."

"That's not all we have to worry about," Kira said. As they ate, Kira filled them in on the news of the demon-infested village. The three men ate quickly, wolfing down their noodles in giant gulps. When they were done, Major Pak sent Seung out again.

"Go and fetch that guide we met with earlier."

Seung bowed and pulled on his coat to brave the cold once again. As the major spoke with Brother Woojin and Kwan, Kira turned her attention to Jaewon, who was holding a conversation with Taejo.                       
       
           



       

"How do you feel?" Taejo asked.

Jaewon smiled. "I think I'll live."

"You seemed like you were getting better once we passed the storms," Taejo said.

"Only because I had nothing left to vomit," Jaewon replied.

"So now we have to find your clan. Do you know exactly where they are?" Taejo asked.

Jaewon looked pensive. "I do. They'll be on the western side of the mountain, across the Yalu River."

"How do you know?"

"Ever since I was small, my father would show me the old maps of our heritage. He didn't want me to forget where we came from."

"I can't believe it! You were so close to your family when we were at Wando City," Kira interrupted. "Why didn't you tell us?"

Jaewon's face changed as intense grief overcame him. "I was too afraid to see them. I ran away again."

"Are you ready to face your family now?" Kira asked.

"I don't know." His eyes were so bleak that she struggled against her urge to comfort him. "I'm so scared. The nightmares are getting worse. Every night I relive that night on those temple steps, watching Jaeho fall. He lies there, bleeding on the ground, my bow still in his hands and he asks me ‘Why? Why did you hit me?'"

"It was an accident," Kira said. "It was just a terrible accident."

"He was a little boy! I should have let him have my bow. I shouldn't have gotten mad at him. I shouldn't have-"

He stopped to compose himself, his lips trembling.

"I can't breathe at the thought of seeing my parents again. I don't know if I will ever be ready. But I must, for Seung's sake. He has been without his family because of me."

It was the right thing to do, but it pained her to see her friend suffer.

"I'll stand by your side, no matter what happens," she said.

"Me too!" Taejo piped in.

"Thank you," Jaewon said. "You don't know how much that means to me."

His eyes were warm and tender, making Kira squirm in discomfort. They were quiet as Taejo stood up and wandered over to sit with Brother Woojin.

"You know you saved my life," Jaewon said in a low voice.

Kira raised an eyebrow in surprise. "I think you are confused, it was Seung that saved your life."

He shook his head. "It was you. Your constantly yelling at me not to die was what did it." He leaned closer. "To tell you the truth, I was scared of you."

Smirking, Kira reached over and tapped him on his nose. "You should be."

Before she could pull her hand away, Jaewon caught it and pressed it to his cheek.

"Thank you," he whispered. In the next moment, he released her, avoiding Kwan's fierce glance. Kwan stood glaring at both Jaewon and Kira before finally being called by Major Pak.

Only then did Jaewon let out a relieved sigh. "Tell you the truth, your brother is starting to scare me too!"