"What's going to happen now?" Jaewon asked.
She had no answer, for she feared the worst.
7
Her brothers arrived early the next morning, their faces tight with worry.
Kira leaped up to grab Kyoung's hand and survey the damage.
"It's all right, little sister," Kyoung said, trying to ease her fears. "I was a fool. I should have known better than to touch that blade."
Ignoring him, she carefully examined his hand. Both the middle finger and the ring finger were still grayish black. They were smooth yet cold and hard to the touch, like stone.
"I can't feel anything there, but I'd rather have them than not," Kyoung said. "I've no doubt you saved my life, little sister. Thank you."
Kira held her brother's hand between both of her own, trying to contain the emotions that threatened to spill over in a surge of hot tears.
"But I didn't save the king," she whispered. All night long her mind kept replaying the moments of the assassination in an endless cycle. If she'd moved faster, if she'd killed the assassin sooner, if she'd seen the blade that had slipped past her. How could she have failed the king so completely? Her last remaining uncle was dead. Her brothers and Taejo were the only family left.
Kyoung placed a comforting hand on her head and leaned his forehead to hers. "No one could have saved him. It wasn't your fault. I won't have you blaming yourself. Do you hear me?"
She nodded and took in a shaky breath. In her mind she knew he was right, but her heart refused to relinquish the guilt that had sunk deep into her soul.
She was also in pain from the ordeal with the Demon Lord's dagger. Her tiger spirit had not come to heal her in the night as usual. She didn't know if it was because of her inability to sleep or her guilty mind, but she missed it sorely. She could still feel the effects of the curse, still hear the Demon Lord's voice in her head.
A scuffle and sharp protests could be heard from the courtyard. Major Pak's soldiers had been ordered to let no one in to their building.
"That sounds like Kim Jaewon," Kwan said.
"It is him," Taejo said. He leaped to his feet and raced for the door. Kwan stopped him and pushed him aside with a firm but gentle grip. He then opened the door and stepped into the hallway. A moment later, he reentered, bringing Jaewon, Brother Woojin, and Seung with him. Seung stood by the door, looking uncomfortable, as always. Catching Kira's eye, he frowned in concern. With a bow, he quickly exited the room again.
"The kingdom is in pandemonium. Even with Oakcho and Hansong honoring the Guru agreement, Tongey is going to be problematic. They've already openly refused to accept Prince Taejo as King Eojin's heir. And General Kim is calling for your arrest," Jaewon said. "What are we going to do?"
Everyone turned to Kyoung. Kira was not surprised by this. Her eldest brother was one of the most respected men in all Hansong. His mere presence was heartening-tall, broad, and muscular, with a weathered face both young and old. Looking at him now, she could see how much like their father he'd become.
"The Tongey diplomats didn't waste any time at all," he said with a deep sigh. "They've declared Prince Namhoe the new king of Tongey and are now pushing for him to take over the Guru throne."
Angry shouts filled the room and Kira clamped her hands over her ears, her head still hurting from her encounter with the cursed blade.
"Those traitorous dogs! They swore an oath of fealty to Guru!" Kwan said.
"They swore fealty to Eojin and now that he's dead, they claim they are released," Kyoung said. "They don't accept Prince Taejo as the rightful heir and seek to take over the Guru empire, including Hansong, in one fell swoop."
"Have their army attacked?"
"No, it is all diplomacy right now. They aren't stupid enough to think they could win against the Iron Army. So they are using persuasion to speak to Oakcho and all the military leaders. They're after Kira, claiming she's in league with the Demon Lord and allowed the king to die."
Kira snorted. "That's no surprise."
Kwan cursed a long series of creative and inventive curses that caused Taejo to gawk at him. Even Kira had to smile at that.
"We should gather the army and crush them," Kwan said.
Kyoung shook his head. "No, this is not a fight of strength. This is fight of words. A show of force would only exacerbate the situation. We must find a way to prove to them that they are wrong."
"But how?" Kira asked.
At that moment, Brother Woojin stepped forward, shaking his head.
"There is only one thing we can do," Brother Woojin said. "We must find the other two sacred treasures of the Dragon King. Only then will the people believe that Prince Taejo is our rightful king."
The Dragon King's treasures and the prophecy were the monk's greatest concerns. Kira could still remember sitting in the temple with Brother Woojin and Master Roshi and listening to legends that were now becoming true.
Seven will become three. Three will become one. One will save us all. But only in the hands of the Dragon Musado will the Dragon King's treasures destroy the Demon Lord, wreaking the vengeance of the heavens on earth.
"So we are to leave this mess behind and head to who-knows-where again?" Kira asked.
"What other choice do we have?" the monk replied.
"Stand and fight!" Kwan interjected.
"That's not an option!" Kyoung said sharply.
Her brothers began to argue. Kira closed her eyes and shook her head. It was starting all over again. Just when she'd thought they'd found security and stability, the peace was destroyed. Someone knelt by her side and she knew it was Jaewon. She breathed in the clean essence of his sweat and the woodsy smell of his clothes. There was always a certain sense of warmth that Kira felt around him. He was a comforting blanket that cocooned her.
"Come with us north-it isn't safe for you and the prince here," he said.
Kira looked up at him in surprise. "You're heading north again? Why?"
A shadow of pain passed over Jaewon's face. "When the Yamato invaded, my clan headed north, toward Mount Baekdu. Seung needs to be with his family, and it's time I faced my parents for my crime," he whispered.
"How do you know where they are?" Kira asked.
"They are at our ancestral lands of what was once the Puyo kingdom near Mount Baekdu. Many centuries ago, long before Guru conquered it, my ancestors lived there. My father has always spoken of returning to Puyo and the village shaman has always believed that the source of shaman magic lay within the heart of Mount Baekdu. He would persuade my father to take the clan as close as possible because that is where his power would be strongest."
"Are you ready for that?" she asked in sympathy.
Before he could answer, Brother Woojin approached with a serious demeanor.
"Young mistress, you promised me that we would continue our quest. Therefore none of these political issues matter right now. All that matters is that we find the treasures," he said. "Besides, your duty is to keep the prince safe. Hansong has now become the most unsafe place in the world for him."
This was absolutely true. Kira knew this the way she always knew when danger was present. They must leave Hansong soon, before it became impossible to do so. She heaved a great sigh. Given her restlessness and the constant nightmares she'd been having, it wasn't a difficult decision for her, but she knew it would be hard on Taejo.
"He's right, Oppa," she said looking up at her oldest brother. "We don't have a choice."
"I'm not sure that's a good idea," he replied.
Kira shook her head. "No, Oppa, this is something I must do," she said.
He was quiet, his expression worried as he gazed at Kira. She kept her eyes steady on his, trying to assure him that this was the right path for her to take.
"What is it you seek now?" he asked.
"The jeweled dagger," Brother Woojin said. "The Dragon King carefully hid his three most prized possessions so that they would be found only in a time of our greatest need. They are the tidal stone that controls the seas, the jeweled dagger that controls the earth, and the jade dragon belt. Your sister already has the tidal stone. She must find the next two treasures. The dagger can cause earthquakes, and the belt controls the fourteen dragons of the heavens but only when reunited with the dagger and the stone."
"And you know where this second treasure is?" Kyoung asked.
"In theory, we know where it should be," the monk said.
"Where is it?"
"The land of shadows which can only be accessed from Mount Baekdu," Brother Woojin replied.
"Sunim, when you say shadows, you mean the dead, right? Which means the shadow world is actually in the underworld," Kira said.
"Correct, although it is separate from where the Demon Lord resides," he said.
"And how are we to access the shadow world?" she asked.
"The door to the land of shadows will open for the Dragon Musado," Brother Woojin assured them.
"And you are sure of this," Kyoung cut in.
Brother Woojin hesitated for a moment. "It is what my brothers have learned from the ancient text."