The top of the mountain looked as if had been broken off, leaving jagged peaks that looked like old temple ruins surrounding an unearthly paradise. Standing above the cloud line, it was as if they'd climbed their way to heaven.
She walked down onto the soft black sand shore of a lake with waters that were a pure sparkling emerald green.
"Amazing. I've never seen water so beautiful," Kira said. Taejo nodded in awe.
The other two spun around at her words.
"What are you seeing?" Kwan asked. "All I see is a frozen lake."
Jaewon huffed. "Is this like the last time? When you got to see the Heavenly Maidens and we didn't? So unfair!"
"Perhaps only Taejo and I can see the enchantment," she said. "So you probably can't see an island in the middle of the lake either."
The two men glared at the lake, similar looks of bewilderment on their faces.
"Are those chollimas, the flying horses?" Taejo asked, a note of wonder in his voice.
Kira nodded and smiled in sympathy when Jaewon made a garbled noise of frustration.
In the middle of the lake there was an island, where a large herd of chollimas was grazing in the grass. Some flew in playful circles. Their wingspans were as long as their body lengths. Their coats and manes of colors were a variety of colors-white, yellow, brown, black, spotted. There was even a brilliant red horse that soared high in the air, its wings blocking the sun.
They were beautiful, and Kira could have stood there all day watching them. A young white chollima flew over to them, whinnying and nosing them with curiosity.
"Great heavens! Where'd it come from!" Kwan shouted in shock.
Jaewon crowed in delight, but both of them stayed behind at Kira's signal.
Kira greeted the horse and then retrieved the tidal stone and jeweled dagger from her bag. The horse neighed loudly and flew back to the island. Minutes later several chollima landed on the shore before them. A large black chollima stepped forward and tossed its head at Kira.
Inside her mind, she could hear the chollima's thoughts.
I am called Raiden. No human has ever come to our home. Are you friend or foe?
She bowed low and held out the tidal stone and jeweled dagger.
"I am Kang Kira, the Dragon Musado, and I have found two of the Dragon King's treasures," she said.
The chollima whinnied loudly. The rest of the herd echoed him, fanning their wings.
We were once the steeds of the great Dragon King. Although we no longer serve man, we are indebted to the Dragon King and his heirs. What is it that you want from us, Bearer of the Dragon King's treasures?
"Until this moment I thought you were a myth. To see you now is a dream come true. But it is urgent that we go as quickly as possible to the shores of Jinhan, where my oldest brother is fighting the demon invasion. It is said that you can travel one thousand li in a day. Can you take us there?"
Raiden conferred with the others in the herd before returning with three chollimas.
We will help you, he said. It will take a few hours, so it would be best if we leave right now, while the sun is still high.
The chollima knelt before her with his wings folded, allowing her to mount him. Gom climbed on behind her. His cudgel was tucked between them while his hands gripped firmly on to Kira's belt.
"Is flying like being on a boat?" Jaewon asked in a panic-stricken voice.
Tell your friend that he will not suffer from sickness, Raiden said.
"You'll be fine, I promise," she said to Jaewon. "Just trust your chollima."
With a nervous expression, Jaewon mounted the brown flying horse, who stood perfectly still.
Kwan and Taejo had no such hesitation, each eagerly bonding with the beautiful creatures before them. Happy and excited, Taejo climbed on top of the pure white chollima, giving him many admiring pats which the chollima enjoyed. With a great burst of energy, the chollimas soared into the skies and away from Mount Baekdu.
It was as cold in the air as it was climbing the mountain. Raiden took the lead as they flew faster than any horse could ever gallop. Through the breaks in the clouds below them, she viewed the rapidly changing landscape.
She wondered how far they had traveled.
We have passed beyond the Guru boundaries, Raiden answered.
Below, Kira admired a sprawling city that she didn't recognize. It reminded her of home. She missed the walls of Hansong and streets of the city. She missed her parents and her aunt. So many memories. So much lost. Kira worried about everyone she was leaving behind. She wondered if she'd ever see them again. And then Shin Bo Hyun's face flashed before her eyes.
I told you I would do anything for you.
Kira rested her face against Raiden's mane and cried.
33
The sun was completely overhead when Kira smelled sea air. They'd reached Jinhan and were heading to its port city of Pusan. On the bluffs above the beach, Kira viewed the Iron Army and her brother Kyoung with a group of generals in the front lines. Farther away, she saw General Kim leading his men.
Like in the vision Kira had seen, the seas were filled with hundreds of ships flying the banner of the Daimyo Tomodoshi. Yamato soldiers possessed by demons poured off the ships and onto the sand by the thousands. Soon, the beach was filled with the roar of the enemy army. Kira flew straight for her brother, the others right behind her.
The Iron Army erupted with joyous cries. As people recognized Kira and Taejo, they began shouting, "Musado." Kira circled over the line of soldiers, flying first in front of her brother's men and then General Kim's. She kept her eyes steady on the general's as she flew by, enjoying his rage.
She headed to her brother, where the soldiers moved to allow the chollimas to land. The cheers were deafening as the sight of the chollimas reinvigorated the army.
Kyoung approached and helped Kira down, hugging her hard in the process.
When Taejo dismounted, everyone bowed before him.
"Here is the rightful heir to the Guru throne!" Kyoung shouted.
The army roared in approval. Even General Kim's men cheered.
"Thank you," Kira said to the black chollima.
Raiden inclined his head, and with a loud neigh vaulted into the sky, followed closely by the others. Everyone watched as the flying horses disappeared into the clouds. They began to chant Taejo's name, until the cheers reached a deafening level.
Kira stood at the edge of the bluff right above the beach. She barely paid attention to the drama behind her. She watched the numbers of the Yamato army grow. The stench of demon was overwhelming. Although the majority of the Yamato soldiers were demon-possessed humans, Kira was dismayed to realize that the daimyo had been very busy creating his half-breed army. There were at least a thousand of them.
The enemy didn't approach. They seemed to be waiting for something. It wasn't long to see what it was. Four half-breeds each carried a large cage containing an animal never seen by human eyes. They carried ten large cages.
"What in the world is that?" Jaewon asked. He'd come with both her brothers to observe the enemy lines.
"Another crossbreed," Kira said. "This time with some kind of animal."
Gom whimpered at Kira's feet. She couldn't blame him. The animal was terrifying. It had the face of a vicious wolf, the big bulky body, and the claws of a bear. But where there should have been fur, the creature had jet-black scaly skin.
"How can we kill it?"
Kira grabbed her bow and nocked her arrow. Taking quick aim, she shot the creature through the bars of its cage. Her arrow bounced off its skin, clattering to the floor. The creature went wild with rage, but the half-breeds let out a howling laugh that was ghastly to hear.
A strident order rang across the beach as a figure appeared before the Yamato army. Kira strained to see who it was, hoping it was the daimyo.
"Is that the Daimyo Tomodoshi?" Kira asked Kyoung.
"No, it is Lord Kaneda. The daimyo has not left Yamato," Kyoung said.
"Coward," Kira sneered.
Lord Kaneda was speaking to his army of demon soldiers. They could not hear what he said until the soldiers chanted his order.
"Kill the prince! Capture the Musado!"
Taejo had come to stand beside Kira. She pushed him out of the enemy line of sight.
"Do you hear them? You're their main target," she said. "You must stay back."
"They're after you too, noona."
"But they don't want to kill me," she said.
The chants of "kill the prince" grew louder and faster as the Yamato prepared to open the cages. Kira placed a hand over her chest, feeling the outline of the tidal stone. It pulsed with heat and filled her mind with a suggestion.
Use the jeweled dagger. Bring forth an earthquake.
Quickly, Kira leaped from the bluff, a straight drop two horse lengths long. She half rolled and half ran onto the sand below.
She raced forward as the cages were opened and the creatures targeted her. Pulling out the jeweled dagger, Kira slammed it hard into the sand. Nothing happened. She hit it over and over, but the dagger had no effect.