Warrior(The Dragon King Chronicles)(28)

"I was wrong, Father, I was scared," he whispered. "I didn't believe you could ever forgive me."

"We lost two sons that day," Chief Kim said. "How could you do that to us?"

Jaewon flinched.

"I am so sorry."

"How can you be a leader if you run at the first sign of trouble? How can you become a good man if you reject your family? How can you be my son?"

Jaewon fell to his knees and hung his head in shame.

As much as Kira wished to stop Jaewon's pain, she knew she could not interfere. She folded her arms across her stomach, saddened by his ordeal.

"Jaeho died because it was his fate. But you chose to desert your family and your clan. You turned your back on all of us and that is your greatest sin."

The chief's words echoed in the silence. Jaewon was almost doubled over, his hands pressed against the snowy ground. After a long moment, he pushed himself up.

"You're right. I can never expect you to forgive me. How can I when I can't forgive myself? If I could, I would gladly give my life for Jaeho's and end my wretched misery."

He bowed deeply. "I know that I can ask for nothing, but can you let Seung return to the clan? He left only because of his loyalty to me, but it is time he came home. However, I will not burden you with my presence any longer."

The silence stretched for such a long moment, Kira became agitated. She was ready to interrupt when the chief spoke.

"So you would abandon us again!"

Jaewon froze, his face showing his uncertainty.

"Father, what is it you want me to do? Tell me and I will do it," he said.

"I want my oldest son to come home to me!"

Jaewon choked on a sob. He ran forward into his father's embrace. Father and son hugged each other tightly.

"My son, my son," the chief said over and over.

Kira blinked away the tears that she could not contain. She was awash in emotions. As happy as she was for Jaewon, she was overwhelmed by her own grief. At that moment, she missed her parents so much that she felt a physical pain in her chest. She struggled hard to contain herself.

Suddenly, the door behind them was flung open and an older woman, dressed only in her bedclothes, came storming out. Her hair was tangled and dirty and her face was a mix of grief and tormented fury. Several women tried to intercept her, but she pushed and hit and screamed at them. She broke free and came racing toward Jaewon.

"Murderer!" she screamed, and pointed at Jaewon. "He murdered my baby!"

She ran forward and began beating Jaewon with her fists. Alarmed, Kira pulled the woman off of him as Jaewon muttered "Mother" and "I'm sorry" over and over.

"No! Don't call me that! Don't you ever call me that!" Jaewon's mother spat on the ground. "You are no son of mine."

She turned and slapped Kira hard on the face. "Don't touch me, evil one! I should have known he would surround himself with the likes such as you. Stop looking at me, soul eater. I won't let you take me. I'll kill you!"

With a shriek Jaewon's mother raised her clawed hands at Kira's eyes. Jindo rushed at the woman, barking furiously. Kira wrapped her arms around Jindo and clamped a hand around his mouth, keeping him from attacking Jaewon's mother. She felt the crazed woman's nails gouge deep into her cheek before she was pulled off by the chief. Holding his wife by the waist, he carried her thrashing body away, her unholy screams lashing through the stillness of the crowd. Only then did Kira let go of Jindo, allowing him to lick her hands in comfort before returning to Taejo's side.                       
       
           



       

Kira saw Jaewon's ashen face, an expression of horrified agony distorting his good looks. She put a hand up to her cheek and realized it was wet with blood.

"This was a terrible mistake. I should never have come," he whispered.

With a sudden turn, he ran from the village. Seung rushed after him, calling his name, but Kira didn't move. She stared in stunned disbelief at the closed door of the chief's house, where Jaewon's mother continued to shriek.





24





Brother Woojin shook his head as he, Taejo, and Kwan came to stand by Kira's side.

"This is so sad," he said. "It is worse than I'd expected."

Taejo was angry. "I don't understand it. Why is his mother so mean? How can she be so cruel?"

The monk placed a gentle hand on the prince's shoulder. "She is not of her right mind anymore, Your Highness. We cannot judge her."

"Still, it's not right!"

Kwan ignored their talk. Instead, he grasped Kira by the chin and examined the painful gouges on her face.

"This needs to be cleaned thoroughly," he said.

Kira nodded, not trusting herself to speak. He hurried over to the women near the open pit to ask them for some clean water and cloths.

"Noona, it looks really bad," Taejo said. "Does it hurt?"

Kira shook her head absently, her attention captured by the sharp gaze of an old man. He had the eyes of a hawk and a long white beard. She could sense his power even from across the village square.

"Brother Woojin, who do you think that is over there?" Kira asked, motioning to the old man.

The monk peered over and crowed in delight. "Why, he has a beautiful violet aura! He is filled with magic! He must be the village shaman, and a very powerful one."

Kira wasn't surprised. She gave him a deep bow of respect and watched as he approached.

"It has been an unfortunate welcome for you all," he said. "My sincere apologies. The chief's wife has not been well since the loss of her youngest son. You must forgive her."

Kira was in no mood to forgive anyone, but she inclined her head in agreement. "Were you surprised that Kim Jaewon was able to find you?"

"Of course not," the shaman replied. "He's always known of these hereditary lands of ours-the lands of our Puyo forefathers. Once he heard of the evacuation, he would have had no doubt of where we would relocate. This was once an ancient city called Gaema. Now there's nothing but the old city wall and some building foundations." He pointed to the large ruins of stone buildings that marked the outskirts of their village.

"We now have built our home here in what we call Northern Wagay village," Shaman Won said. "We may no longer be in Kaya, but Kaya will always be with us."

Kwan returned with a wet rag, but the shaman stopped him.

"Please, come to my home instead and let me treat her wounds," he said. "I am Shaman Won Ji-Mon, and it is an honor to meet the Demon Slayer in the flesh."

They followed the shaman to a large wooden hut with a straw thatched roof. Inside, the room was cozy and warm.

"Please take off your outer garments and sit," the shaman said.

The dirt floor was covered with layers of woven straw rugs. They piled their coats in a corner and sat on the ground.

"Master, how is your house so warm? There is no ondol flooring or stove," Taejo asked.

The shaman gave a knowing smile. "It is my magic and Mount Baekdu. It's not just a mountain, it is also a volcano."

Taejo's eyes widened in dismay. "How can you live here then? Isn't it dangerous?"

"Perhaps it is inactive," Brother Woojin said.

The shaman shook his head. "Oh no, it is very much active, my friend, which is why there is so much power here. For now, we are safe. One day it will indeed erupt again, but that day will not come for many years."

He brought over a small wooden bowl with a paste that smelled of ginseng, ginger, and something less pleasant. Kneeling before her, he smoothed the concoction over Kira's cheek with a wooden spoon. The pain relief was immediate as the medicine cooled the burning of her wound.

"Thank you, master," she said. "That feels much better already."

"Then I shall give you some to take with you," he said.

When he was done, he rose to his feet and spooned the salve in to a small leather bag, which he wound tight and brought to Kira.

"I have been impressed by the protective wards that have been set up around this village," Kira said. "It would seem that most travelers would pass right by, as if the village would be invisible to them."

"I come from a family strong with magic. My family has guarded our clan for generations," Shaman Won said. He then pointed at the mountain beyond the village. "Ever since we came here, in the shadow of Mount Baekdu, the White-head Mountain, my powers have increased threefold. The magic is strong here."

The shaman pointed to the four corners of the village. "This entire area is under a misdirection spell, something I could not have done back at home. It's not just a repellant, for that would indicate that something was here. Rather, the spell causes them to avoid this area, which is how we are protected."

"How far does the magic extend?"

"Approximately twenty li around the village," he answered. "The spell also works on humans, but to a lesser extent."

"But how do you trade and survive?" she asked.

"We send all our trade to Wando or Jilin. There's no reason for anyone to seek us here," he replied. "Besides, we will not settle here forever. This is only our temporary home until we can return to our beloved Kaya."