Nara gave Kira a pointed look and then she heard the kumiho's voice in her head. Now is your chance to take the dagger. It is his source of power. If you cut it off, you will weaken him enough to escape. But you must act quickly.
Kira was stunned by Nara's words. How was she to cut off the claw without getting them both killed? Was she crazy to listen to the kumiho?
You must be careful to recognize truth from lies and follow your heart in order to obtain it.
"You'd have to catch me first," Nara mocked. "Somehow I doubt you can. Look how fat and lazy you've gotten."
The dragon roared and raised his claw to swing at the kumiho. Nara sprang into the air and landed behind him. As Fulang turned his head toward the kumiho, Kira made a split-second decision and charged forward. Raising the sword high, she sliced it down on the dragon's middle claw, where the dagger sat. Fulang let out an unearthly scream as black blood gushed from the wound. Kira snatched up the dagger claw, stuck it into her belt, and raced away from the thrashing creature.
"I'll kill you all!" Fulang bellowed.
Fire blazed bright and hot as an inferno appeared behind them. Kira pulled Taejo by his arm and raced around the corner. The kumiho was waiting for them.
"This way!" she shouted.
They followed her through the vast cavern, past the armored skeletons. Kira scooped up the bow and arrows as they raced by. Nara ran toward the front of the dragon's lair. The passageway narrowed until they reached a solid wall with no exit. Kira felt an immediate sense of déjà vu. She knew this wall. She'd dreamed of this wall. She could almost feel herself slamming her body against it.
"Quick, use the dagger! Stab it into the wall. That is how Fulang enters the human world. But you must close it quickly behind us."
Kira stabbed the dagger into the wall. It trembled and an opening appeared.
"You will all die!" Fulang howled. Kira could hear him moving his heavy body around, seeking them.
Nara and Taejo squeezed through the opening. From behind, Kira heard the dragon fast approaching. Grabbing an arrow, she aimed for Fulang's eye and fired. He screamed in pain. Kira pulled out the claw and pushed her way through the opening after the others. As soon as she made it through, the opening closed up entirely. The wall shook with the vibrations of the raging dragon throwing its body against it, leaving Kira with a sense of déjà vu and a niggling dismay she didn't comprehend.
31
Kira inspected the bloody claw. Leaning over, she began to clean it off in the soft snow. The handle was made of pure jade, covered in gold that was studded with rubies, emeralds, and diamonds. Now in her hands it no longer looked like a claw. Clearly it was the Dragon King's jeweled dagger. She'd found the second treasure.
She looked over to where Taejo and Nara had collapsed onto the snow, gazing up at the side of Mount Baekdu. A rosy tinge lightened the horizon where dawn was beginning to break.
Kira stood up and bowed to the kumiho.
"Thank you for all your help," she said. "But I don't understand why you came when it was so dangerous for you."
Nara cocked her head and watched Kira from black eyes that were sharp and clever and sad. Morphing into her human form, Nara stepped forward to gather Kira's hands between her own.
"You are the only one who has ever treated me like a human and not a monster," she said. "You were the only one willing to share your memories with me. From your memories, I finally understood what it was like to be human."
"We are connected now, aren't we?" Kira asked. "I know now that I can trust you. I feel that we can be friends."
Nara smiled, her eyes lighting with genuine happiness. "I have never had anyone call me friend," she said. "I would like that very much."
"If you ever need me, all you have to do is ask and I will help you," Kira said.
"The same is true for me. We are bonded," Nara replied. "And so I want to tell you something. I know that you think you are the Musado only by default. Because your cousin did not choose the ruby when the turtle offered it to him. But know this: I would not have helped your cousin secure the jeweled dagger. It was because of you that I came back."
She turned to Taejo and gave him a small bow.
"I mean no offense to you, my prince, but it is your cousin who was always meant to be the Musado," she said.
Taejo smiled. "I am not offended at all. I agree."
Nara nodded and turned to Kira.
"Now I will give you one more gift."
She leaned her forehead against Kira's and closed her eyes. The first vision was of her brother, Kyoung, preparing for battle in his tent. Then he stood on a high cliff, watching as ships landed on the beach and an army of demon soldiers raced across the sand.
Is this happening now? Kira asked.
Soon, Nara responded.
Where is he? Kira asked.
On a far southeast corner of the Jinhan coast where the demons are amassing. Nara allowed the vision to pan over the ocean where hundreds of ships could be seen in the distance.
How can I help him when I'm so far away?
The kumiho sent her a new vision of majestic winged horses flying through the air with riders on their backs.
How can I find them?
They are right above us, Nara said. She looked up at the top of the mountain.
Nara grasped Kira's hands one last time before changing into her fox form.
Farewell, my one and only friend.
With a last look, the kumiho bounded into the forest, her fiery tails waving in the air.
Kira stared after her, watching the red tails disappear. She was saddened to see Nara go.
"Where are we?" Taejo asked.
Kira sniffed the air. She could smell the smoke of a nearby campfire.
"We're near our camp," she said. The sun was now peeking over the horizon. "We must hurry."
Before they'd gotten very far, Kira heard a wheezing sound, followed by loud panting. And then Gom flew out of the bushes and tackled Kira around her legs. He grunted happily as he grabbed Kira and Taejo by their hands and began to drag them forward. As they walked, the remaining dokkaebi army materialized and grunted in greeting, waving and bowing at them. They were making so much noise, it was no surprise when the rest of their party appeared soon after.
Kwan was the first to run up to them, his eyes wet with tears. "I thought we'd lost you both!" he said as he hugged Kira and then Taejo tightly.
Jaewon ran up to Kira and embraced her.
"Is it really you?" he asked. He touched her face with a gentle caress. "There's that bandit scar."
Kira shoved him hard.
"Yes, it's really you!" He laughed and hugged her tight. Letting her go only when Kwan gave an enraged shout.
"Ya! Kim Jaewon! Do you want to die?"
Jaewon raised his hands in apology and backed away, letting Kwan berate him for touching his little sister.
"Enough!" Kira said. "I'm glad to see you both, too."
She turned her attention to Brother Woojin, who was examining the prince with relieved concern.
"I'm sorry we didn't return before the sun rose. You must have been terribly frightened," Taejo said.
"It's not that," Kwan said. "Over an hour ago, something really strange started to happen to your bodies, and then you both disappeared. First Kira and then you. We thought you were dead."
Brother Woojin shook his head. "I didn't. I had faith that you would both be all right."
Kwan snickered. "Which is why he turned white as a ghost and prayed and chanted nonstop."
As they chattered in relief, Shaman Won came up quietly to Kira and pressed a firm hand on her shoulder.
"I'm so glad to see you made it safely," he said. "He has forgotten my words already and is focused solely on the prince, but I know that you are the real reason we are here."
"Master, it's not just that. Sunim has been the prince's tutor since he was a small child. He is like a son to him. What I see is love," she admonished.
Shaman Won touched his forehead in a respectful gesture. "You are not only a great hero, but a kindhearted person. I admire you immensely."
Kira repeated the gesture with a bow. "And I you, Master. Thank you for all that you have done to help us."
"It is my honor," he replied.
"Now," Shaman Won said in a raised voice. "Why don't we return to camp and let them tell us all the details?"
Taejo nodded. "Plus, I'm starving! I hope you have lots to eat!"
There was a cheerful grunt from Gom, before he took off into the woods.
"I think that means we'll have something to cook for you," Jaewon said with a grin.
His words were prophetic. By the time they trudged their way through the snow, Gom was waiting patiently for them with two rabbits.
As they prepared their meal, Kira began to recount all the events of the shadow world
"The kumiho shared a vision of what is going to happen soon. The daimyo has sent hundreds of ships with demon soldiers that will land on the southern coast of Jinhan. Our brother and his troops will be slaughtered if we don't get there soon."
"Impossible! It will take us months to return to the Iron Army," Kwan said.
"Perhaps not," Kira said, thinking about what the kumiho had shown her. "We've one more place to go."