"If you betray us, I will shoot you through your heart," Kira said. "Know that you will not escape my arrow."
The kumiho shook its fox head at her sadly. You asked your men to trust yo;, now I must ask the same of you. Kira heard in her mind again. The kumiho lifted its head and sniffed the air. Now we must fly. The abominable ones are almost here.
Kira ordered the others to follow, giving them no chance to argue with her.
The kumiho ran ahead, its nine reddish-orange tails whipping behind it like flags in a heavy wind. Kira stayed right on its tracks as the others rode close behind her. They wove through the thickest part of the forest and over rough terrain. The colorful tails flew ahead, but ever visible, until finally the kumiho stopped beside a steep granite rock face. It pawed at a small crevice for several seconds. A grinding sound filled the air as the face of the wall parted, forming a narrow opening.
"Where are we?" Jaewon asked in wonderment.
"This is the hidden entrance to the River God's domain," Kira answered.
Release your horses here, the kumiho said.
They all dismounted and released their horses.
Before entering the cavern, Kwan pulled Kira aside. "How do you know this isn't a trap?" he asked.
"I don't know how to explain my feeling to you. All I know is that my heart tells me to trust her," she said.
Inside the cavern, they found the tunnel was lit by eerie phosphorescent lights, similar to what Kira had seen in the cave behind Nine Dragons Waterfall. When the last of them stepped inside, the rock face slid shut. Major Pak and his soldier lit torches, as the glow within the cavern was too dim to see by.
The kumiho led them down into a narrow passage-way that headed farther underground. They walked single file, Kira behind the fox, then Kwan, Taejo, Jindo and the others. No one spoke as their steps echoed within the tunnels. To their surprise, they heard the sound of water lapping on a shoreline. As they reached the end of the tunnel, they found themselves in a thick forest. It was the most extraordinary vision: an underground forest, no different than any they would find above land except that when they looked up, instead of the sky all they saw was a rocky cave interior. They walked through the woods until it opened into an enormous cavern, where an underground river flowed. The forest ended at a beautiful sandy beach with an elaborate gold pavilion.
Shafts of sunlight filtered down from small holes in the high ceiling, bringing fractured light into the cavern and glinting off the sparkling stones and iridescent pearls that covered the pavilion.
The kumiho morphed into her human form.
"This is where I will leave you," the kumiho said. "When darkness falls, the daughters of the River God will dine together in their pavilion. Stay hidden in the forest. Do not step foot inside until they invite you in. When you enter, bring only yourself and the prince. You may eat or drink anything they offer the both of you. However, when the princesses offer any of their food or drink to your men, do not let the men partake. Otherwise they will be beguiled and will want to stay with the river princesses forever."
Kira nodded, listening carefully.
"Are they not like the Heavenly Maidens at all?" she asked.
The kumiho laughed. "Just because they are related does not mean they are similar. Be very wary of them. They are capricious and dangerous. You must capture one of the princesses and hold tight to her, no matter what happens. She is pure magic and can change into any form. If you manage to hold her until she tires, then will she grant your wish. Be warned, it will come with a price. You must willingly give up something you treasure to her," the kumiho said.
Kira bowed deeply. "Thank you. You have saved all of us."
"But now I will claim my prize," the kumiho replied.
Nodding, Kira sat on the cool sand before the fox girl.
She gazed into the kumiho's jewel-toned eyes, noticing how the reddish gold flecks seemed to enlarge and take over the irises. The kumiho placed her hands on Kira's head and pushed into her mind. Kira reached for her tidal stone and held her thoughts firm, not allowing the kumiho to overwhelm her. It was a strange sensation, as if someone was thinking along with her. Slowly the kumiho's mind began to seek images of the life Kira had led. Her life from when she was a little girl began to fly through her brain in rapid succession. The kumiho sighed in pure satisfaction-soaking in the emotions of love, jealousy, hate, sorrow, anger, and envy. She was particularly interested in the memory of Kira's first meeting with Jaewon and her recent emotional turmoil over Shin Bo Hyun. The kumiho seemed to be curious about the guilt and sorrow that Kira had experienced. She lingered over the memory of Jaewon's impassioned declaration to Kira from his sickbed.
Thank you, the kumiho's voice whispered in her head. It felt almost like a caress. Now it is your turn.
Images flooded Kira's head.
She saw her brother Kyoung rallying a huge army. She heard them chanting his name and then saw him leading them toward a large plain overlooking the shore. The ocean was filled with Yamato ships. She saw Kyoung fighting in a battle against half-breed demon soldiers.
Then there was the complete darkness of an underground cavern, shadows dancing and fighting all around her. Ghosts, spirits, and demons in a shadow world. Danger and agony. A question posed by a shadowy creature and a demand from another. She saw an explosion of fire and then the beautiful sight of pure white chollimas, winged horses, flying through the air.
The connection was abruptly cut off and Kira was left wishing she could keep the image of the chollimas with her forever. She contemplated the beautiful foxy features of the girl kumiho, who gazed at her with eyes that seemed almost human. As she watched, the face shifted, growing furry and pointed as the kumiho changed in to its normal body.
"Wait!" Kira called. "What is your name?"
I would like you to call me Nara, the kumiho said.
"Thank you, Nara. Thank you for saving us."
With a nod, the fox fled, its nine luxurious tails flowing behind it.
22
As night fell in the underground cavern, Kira found that it was not quite as dark as she feared. The cavern ceiling was covered with luminescent crystals that shimmered against the reflecting water. Her group had camped themselves in the woods behind the pavilion. Taejo was propped up against a tree next to Seung and Brother Woojin with Jindo sleeping by his side. The cave was cold but not as bad as outside. Kira unfastened her coat and took off her nambawi, sticking it into her bag.
Kira's thoughts kept returning to the kumiho. Like Shin Bo Hyun, here was another being who confused her. Although she should abhor the rampant murder that the kumiho had committed, what she really felt was pity and a sad sort of understanding. The kumiho wished for a human nature that was at odds with her animal one. And yet, there were facets of the fox demon that were almost humanlike. It was what made Nara so appealing to Kira. There was something about her that Kira liked. She wished the kumiho well, and hoped that one day their paths would cross again.
Not too long after, unseen hands lit lanterns within the pavilion, and she watched in shock as platters of food began to appear upon the long tables inside.
The water began to surge forward as if a large tidal wave was upon them. From the crystal waters flowed small, jewel-toned dragons that rose onto their hind legs and morphed into beautiful women. They were dressed in flowing silk dress robes of emerald and gold that bared their shoulders, arms, and midriffs. Jewels covered their arms and necks, and gems winked inside their belly buttons. Their hair was jet-black and left flowing down, nearly to their feet. Their skin varied in color from pale white to light brown, but all of the maiden's eyes were a vibrant green.
The women walked across the sand, laughing and chatting as they headed to the pavilion. When they reached the pavilion door, the lead maiden stopped.
"Sisters, I believe we have visitors," the maiden said.
"I smell men, several of them," another replied, peering about her coyly.
"Show yourself now," the maiden commanded, "or I will flood the area and you will all surely drown."
Kira revealed herself first and motioned for the others to join her.
"My ladies, we are on a mission set for us in part by your cousins, the Heavenly Maidens. We must seek the Dragon King's treasure at Mount Baekdu. But we are in mortal danger from half-breed abominations that hunt us," she said. "We seek your help."
"We do not involve ourselves in the problems of humans," the head maiden said with a dismissive air. She turned to enter the pavilion but the other sisters lingered, staring at Kira and Taejo with fascination.
"Sister, do let them in! We haven't had human company in so very long," she beseeched.
"Yes, do let them in," chimed in the other sisters.
The oldest snapped her teeth in a very dragon-like way. "Men are not allowed in the pavilion, must I remind you, dear sisters?"