Warrior(The Dragon King Chronicles)(41)

"Where?"

"Up," she said.

Jaewon scratched his head and looked uneasy. "Isn't Baekdu a volcano? Will we be safe climbing up there?"

"It's been inactive for the last hundred years," Kira said. "We should be fine."

"But what do you think you will find up there? It's still winter here in the mountains. Everything is covered in snow and frozen over. It will be too treacherous," the shaman said.

"There's something up there we need to find, but you won't believe me if I told you," she said.

"Ya, we've been attacked by half-breeds and seen a dokkaebi army formed from your blood. What won't we believe?" Kwan snapped.

Taejo was shaking his head. "But what about Jindo and Major Pak? They're waiting for us. We have to go back for them!"

"When they are completely recovered, they can return to us," Kira said. "But it is urgent that we help Kyoung."

"Sunim, you must return with Shaman Won to Kim Jaewon's village. The dokkaebi army will protect you. Once Jindo and Major Pak are recovered, head for the closest port By sea will be the fastest way south," she said.

"But how will we find you?" he asked.

"The dokkaebis will lead you straight to her," the shaman replied. "After all, they are of her blood."

"You've had an exhausting night and climbing the mountain will be dangerous," Jaewon said. "Why don't you rest for now? The mountain will still be here in the morning."

"But first tell us what we'll find at the top," Kwan said.

Kira grinned with glee. "Chollimas!"





32





In the morning, all the remaining dokkaebis lined up before Kira. They were half their original number and many of them looked bruised and battered. To Kira, they were still a beautiful sight.

"Thank you for protecting us from the demons," Kira said. "You are all the bravest and strongest soldiers I've ever had the pleasure of fighting with."

The dokkaebis cheered loudly, banging their cudgels on the ground.

"I will leave you with two last tasks to perform for me," she continued. "Please take Brother Woojin and Shaman Won to North Wagay Village. Then once Major Pak and Jindo have healed and are ready to travel, I ask you to stay with them and protect them on the journey south again. You must find me. I will be waiting for all of you."

All the dokkaebis grunted in agreement, bowed, and dispersed.

While Taejo talked in private with Brother Woojin, Kira went to speak with Shaman Won, her faithful shadow Gom following close behind.                       
       
           



       

Shaman Won cocked an eyebrow at Kira when he saw Gom by her feet.

"I do not believe that one will be leaving with us," he said.

Gom shook his head and held tightly on to Kira's leg as if worried someone would pry him off of her.

She smiled and scratched him behind his ear. "I feel safer having him with me."

Jaewon and Kwan both laughed.

"We don't go hungry with him around!" Jaewon said.

"But too bad he can't cook, also," Kwan said. "I do miss Seung a lot."

"What are you trying to say about my cooking?" Jaewon asked.

Kwan pulled a face. "You might want to stick to baduk."

As the monk and the shaman prepared to leave, Kira's worries resurfaced.

"Will you be all right?" she asked. "Will you be able to travel safely? Maybe we should build some litters so you can be carried home."

As soon as she spoke several dokkaebis appeared brandishing their cudgels. They pounded them on the ground, and several blankets appeared.

Bang, bang, went the cudgels again, and four long bamboo poles and some twine appeared. The dokkaebis quickly used the materials to form two litters.

Everyone was surprised but the shaman.

Shaman Won gave the dokkaebis a rueful look. "Dokkaebi magic is a conjurer's magic. These blankets and poles were taken from somewhere else. Given that the closest settlement is ours, I have a feeling someone from our clan is wondering where their blankets are."

Kira suppressed a laugh. "I will have to be careful what I ask of them."

She bowed in gratitude to the dokkaebis, who all bowed in unison, pleased by her reaction.

It was a tearful parting for Taejo and Brother Woojin. In the nearly ten years that Kira had known the old monk, she'd never seen him cry before. She saw the worry and concern on his face as he covered her hands with his.

"Your job is not done. You must move on to the third treasure," he said. "Remember, it is at Jindo Island in the Tiger's Nest Temple. But please be very careful."

"I will, I promise," she said.

"But there's something I didn't tell you before that is important to know."

"What is it?"

"About the monks there-"

"Yes, I know: they are savages."

Brother Woojin shook his head and pulled her closer, whispering in her ear. "They are cannibals. They eat the flesh of their enemy. And you are their greatest enemy."

"Why me?" Kira asked.

"Because you are the Dragon Musado and they have sworn never to let the jade dragon's belt fall into your hands. For they believe that it will bring about the destruction of the world."

Her eyes widened, but she stayed silent. Now she understood the monk's secrecy. Her brother and Jaewon would never agree to let her near the temple if they knew of this. She had no intention of telling them. All it would do is worry them even more. They would redouble their efforts to stop her and that she just didn't want to deal with. For there was no choice. She had to go to Jindo Island. But she would go alone.

The dokkaebis lifted their litters and carried the two elderly men to Northern Wagay village. She watched the procession until they were gone.

Jaewon and Kwan had packed up their gear and stood ready to leave camp.

Only Taejo loitered, sitting before the embers, warming his hands.

"What is it?" Kira asked, sitting down by his side.

He shrugged, avoiding her gaze.

"Are you scared?"

"No!"

"Are you worried about Jindo?"

He didn't answer.

"You'll see him again, I promise," Kira said.

"It's not that."

Kira waited patiently for him to continue.

"Everything has happened so fast. I feel like my life is out of control and there's nothing I can do about it. Nothing I can do to feel better," he said. "I don't even know if I want to be king."

Kira nodded. This she understood. But what could she say?

"Maybe you will be king, maybe you won't. I will not tell you what to do. These are choices that you must make. It isn't too late to join Sunim and return to the village. I can ask the dokkaebis to come get you and take you to North Wagay. You can stay in the village and be safe. Between the dokkaebis and the shaman, nothing will harm you there. I will not fault you if that is your decision. As much as I would miss you, part of me would prefer that you stayed safe in the village. But I must go on," she said.

"Why can't you stay with me?" he asked tearfully. "You are supposed to always protect me!"

"There will be no reason to protect you if the Demon Lord wins," she said. "My choice was made the minute I accepted that I was the Dragon Musado, and I will do everything in my power to fulfill the prophecy. But it seems to me that you are not so sure of yourself. I have no answer for you. I know only this-I could not have made it this far without you. So the choice is now yours. You can choose to be safe, or you can choose to seek your destiny."

She stood up and joined Kwan and Jaewon.

"Let's give him a few minutes. He's only twelve," she said. "Sometimes I think we are asking too much of him."

Kwan gave her a pointed look. "Strange, I feel the same way about you."

She raised an eyebrow at him and shook her head. "I feel I've already lived a lifetime in less than a year."

Her brother sighed. "I'm sorry for that, little sister." He went to check their bags one last time.

Jaewon gave Kira a friendly nudge. "So now do we also call you Dragon Slayer?"

"I doubt that I killed him," she responded.

"Even if your shot didn't kill him, if he's trapped in his cave, then you've given him a death sentence," he said.

The thought depressed her. Would it have been better to kill the dragon rather than have him die a slow painful death?

Over and over she threw herself against the wall, reveling in the cracks. Laughing as the wall began to break free.

Disquieted by another glimpse into her vision, Kira shook her head. It was impossible. Fulang could not escape without the jeweled dagger.

Taejo approached, a determined look on his young face.

"Let's go," he said.

Kira smiled in approval. "I knew you would come."

Gom found the quickest and safest route up the mountain. They hiked around to the northern pass, where hot springs and geysers filled the frigid air with thick clouds of mist. They walked parallel to a rushing stream before soon hearing the roar of a waterfall that came from a lake at the top of Mount Baekdu. Gom pointed them past the waterfall to a steep path. They climbed for an hour, through snow and ice, taking it slow and steady.

Finally, as they reached the summit, Kira swore she could smell the freshness of spring. The closer they got to the top of Mount Baekdu, the less snow they saw. Kira was surprised to find soft green grass below her feet, and the strong tingle of magic in the air.