Warrior(The Dragon King Chronicles)(5)

The general whirled around to glare at Kira, his eyes narrowing into slits. She could hear the angry grumbling of her brothers as they moved closer. The general also took note of their reactions, as he seemed to catch himself before answering.

"You must learn to keep your opinions to yourself, young mistress Kang."

Kira was unfazed. "Why? Because I'm female or because I'm a Demon Slayer?"                       
       
           



       

"Because you are not important," he said. "Didn't you know that?"

Kira flinched at his words.

With a final contemptuous flicker of his eyes, he excused himself and left the room. Kyoung had to keep a furious Kwan from going after the general, and even Pak looked perturbed.

Eojin nodded to the three men. "You may leave us now," he said.

Taejo stood by Kira's side as the others left. He placed a comforting hand on her arm. "I don't like him," he said in an outraged voice. "He doesn't know what he's talking about."

"He is wrong. You are very important," Eojin said. "Never doubt that."

Kira swallowed her anger and tried to smile. "His words don't matter to me."

"Unfortunately, he is not alone in his beliefs and that is why I worry," he said.

A certain sense of bitter resignation had filled Kira since the general's abrupt departure. Some things would never change.

Kira shrugged. "I can take care of myself."

The king shook his head. "I have no doubt of your strengths and your capabilities. But you must also know your limitations. Know when you need help and do not be shy about asking for it."

"Your Majesty, it is not always easy to know whom I can ask for help," she answered.

Eojin put his hands on her shoulders and looked her deep in her eyes.

"You can always ask me," he said. "I promise, I will always help you."

As heartening as his words were meant to be, Kira was beset by a powerful unease that she couldn't explain.





6





The palace was filled with the bustling of visitors, servants, and performers. Tonight's celebration would be the first royal banquet for the new king on the night of Seollal, the lunar new year, which was also the second day of the second month of the solar calendar.

All Hansong's nobility, as well as those from neighboring kingdoms, would attend the gala event in the palace. Outside, on the streets, a large festival was in progress for the common folk who would also enjoy the new fortunes associated with being part of the great Guru kingdom. Merchants had flocked to Hansong once again, eager to take part in the celebrations. Although it was a very cold night with frigid winds, no one was willing to miss the fun.

A thunder roll of drums signaled the arrival of the entertainment, as brightly dressed acrobats rolled and flipped into the center of the palace courtyard. From the elaborate garden pavilion, Kira stood surveying the festivities under the midnight blue sky. The acrobats sailed in complicated maneuvers in the courtyard below her but she couldn't care less.

The entire palace grounds were swarming with shamans protecting the area, but still Kira was uneasy. Her gut churned with the sense of impending danger. After she'd shared her nightmarish visions with her brothers, they'd doubled the number of guards surrounding the king, but nothing could contain her worry.

She reached for the little bag that hung from her neck that she always wore close to her chest. It contained the little jade haetae statue her father had given her and the tidal stone, the first of the Dragon King's treasures. The large ruby gave the Dragon Musado the power to control water. Its magic had helped Kira save Hansong from Shaman Ito and his evil imoogi, a monstrous half-dragon, half-snake creature. She usually found it comforting to hold her treasures, but not tonight.

She hadn't stopped moving all evening, as if chasing some elusive spirit she was only vaguely aware of. All night her senses had stayed on high alert.

She moved down toward the banquet hall again, following the servants carrying trays of elaborate food for the dinner that night. Inside the hall, she breathed in the delicious aroma of the finest delicacies Hansong had to offer. Long tables were set with steamed whole sea bream in a ginger-soy sauce marinade; stewed chickens stuffed with ginseng, sweet rice, and chestnuts; clear noodle dishes stir-fried with vegetables; oyster and scallion pancakes; meat dumplings; soups and stews; and a variety of side dishes. Another wide table was set solely with desserts-sweet rice balls, pastries filled with red bean paste, layered rice cakes, and assorted drinks made of rice or persimmons. It was a royal feast befitting a conquering monarch.

She prepared to take another circuit around the hall when a whiff of a foul stench twirled her about, away from the laughter of the guests.

The odor was fleeting, but enough to send her tearing after it. Somewhere in the palace was a demon presence. Catching her brother Kwan's eye, she waved him over. With him came Jaewon.

"I smell something," she said, still walking, following her nose. "Stay close to Taejo for me."

Kwan nodded and joined the tail end of the royal procession, which was now entering the banquet hall. Her cousin, Prince Taejo, was following their uncle to the dais set in the back of the brightly illuminated chamber.

Jaewon stayed by her side.

"What is it?" he asked.

Kira breathed deeply, just barely catching the trail again. "Demon," she said, and started running, taking a huge lungful of air as she ran. The source of the odor continued to elude her. It led her up toward the southern walls of the fortress. Then past the sentries standing guard and up into the darkness of the cliffs. There it abruptly disappeared. Kira scanned the murky depths of the Han River. Had she chased the demon into the water?

"What happened?" Jaewon asked, breathing hard by her side.

Kira looked wildly about her. Was it really gone? She couldn't tell. "I don't know," she whispered as she began to pace.

Jaewon gripped her by the arms. "Calm down," he said. "It's all right. Just breathe and think."

Kira closed her eyes and cleared her mind as she opened her senses once again.

Her gut began to twist and the tidal stone at her chest burned red-hot as she realized her mistake.

"Oh, Heavenly Father, I've been tricked!"

Cursing, she ran for the banquet hall. She just hoped it wasn't too late.

Precious seconds ticked off as she raced through the corridors of the palace. How could she have been so stupid? She should never have left Taejo's side. They'd lured her away.

Unsheathing her sword, Kira ran for the stairs.

"We've got to return immediately!" she shouted at Jaewon.

Their leather boots pounded the pavement as they reached the exterior of the palace hall. Guards seeing their approach came to immediate attention.

"The king is in danger!" she yelled. "Follow us!"

Something terrible was about to happen, but she didn't know where the danger was. She shoved past gawking servants and burst through a side door of the banquet hall. Nearby observers glared in disdain as her gaze swept over them. Kira scanned the entire room. Where was the assassin? Who could it be? The guards came up right behind her, causing a commotion among the guests closest to the door. She ignored the complaints and slowly paced around the entire room, moving ever closer to the royal dais.

In the middle of the hall, a troupe of red-gowned dancers stood in two circles, one within the other, their large feathered fans overlapped in perfect symmetry. They began to dance. A group of musicians sat in the far corner playing a variety of delicate stringed instruments.

Kira scanned the guests, looking for the assassin. She motioned for the guards to surround the room. Jaewon stayed close by her. From across the room, Kira signaled to her brother Kwan where he stood not far from Taejo's side. He nodded and unsheathed his sword. More guests stirred anxiously, noticing her and the guards' drawn swords.                       
       
           



       

The acrid stench of demon magic hit her nose. She whipped her head around to face the dancers. And then the odor disappeared. Kira ground her teeth in frustration. Where could it have gone? In confusion, she scrutinized the dancers. Red robes swung in unison, fans flipped open and closed in harmony.

There was the odor again. But which of the women was a demon? She focused on the dancers, studying each dancer's face and posture. Pretty faces, wide smiles, and glittering eyes-all except one. Kira concentrated on one dancer whose sharp smile and narrowed, intense eyes caused Kira's flesh to tingle in alarm. The woman was clearly not a demon, but all Kira's senses were at high alert.

She began to walk toward the dancers, her uneasiness drawing her forward like an irresistible force. As Kira approached, the intense eyed dancer flipped open her fan, causing the ripple of demon magic to shimmer slightly around the spokes.

"Assassin!" Kira shouted as she launched herself at the dancers.

The woman flung her arm at the king and prince, and several blades instantly shot out. Kira leaped forward, twirling her sword in a furious circle, she sliced the blades out of the air. She landed in front of the assassin and thrust her sword through the woman's chest. The woman peered down at the blade and then up at Kira. Her heavily painted face pulled into a macabre smile as she choked on a laugh, her fan still extended over Kira's shoulder.