Kyoung nodded and bowed to the monk. "Then we will all leave on your quest as soon as we possible."
Kira started at his words. "But aren't you needed here?"
Her brother's tanned face grew darker. "I'll not see my family hurt again. We'll stay together."
With a relieved whistle, Kwan clasped arms with his elder brother. Looking at her two brothers together, Kira breathed a sigh of relief. Having them both would be a great comfort to her on the trip that was to come.
"One word of caution," Brother Woojin said, his kind old face looking unhappy. "The jeweled dagger is guarded by a dangerous dragon called Fulang. Not much is known about it other than that he emerges from the underworld every hundred years, hunting for treasures from all over the world."
There was a long pause as the Kang siblings considered his words.
"Well, then it is a good thing that I'm coming along," Kyoung said with a grim smile.
The door slid open and Seung reentered, carrying a tray with a steaming cup of tea. He crossed to Kira's side, setting down the hot beverage on a small table that he placed before her.
"This will help you feel better," Seung said with a gentle smile. "There's no ginseng in it."
She took a deep breath and was grateful to take in the sharp aroma of ginger mellowed with the sweetness of honey. Kira thanked him gratefully and sipped the healing draught, her senses stimulated by its soothing fragrance.
Brother Woojin clasped his hands together. "I will start the preparations." Patting Seung on the back, he said. "You will not be rid of us so easily."
Seung smiled in happy confusion. "Where are we going?"
Jaewon gave Kira a satisfied smile. "North," he said. "Again."
8
Four days had passed since Eojin's assassination, and Hansong was once again in a state of chaos. Fierce debate raged over who would now control the Guru state of affairs.
Kira could see how difficult and stressful the situation was for Kyoung. Constantly sought by Guru ministers and military chiefs for his advice and leadership, Kira's oldest brother had become a voice of calm and a stable force in uncertain times. But he was adamant about leaving Hansong.
"The northern passes are no longer safe," Kyoung said, his face grim and tense. "General Kim has lost his mind and blames everything on Kira. He knows the only safe route for us is to head north away from the Yamato. He has men and mercenaries everywhere."
"Maybe I can lure them from here, so you can get the prince to safety," Kira said.
"Absolutely not!" Kwan was adamant.
"No, young mistress," Brother Woojin said, raising a hand to keep the others quiet. "You are the Dragon Musado. Prince Taejo is safest with you."
Kyoung nodded. "You must stay with the prince. General Kim would capture him to get to you."
"But then where do we go?" Kira was frustrated and upset.
"We should head west to the Yellow Sea," Brother Woojin said.
Jaewon cleared his throat. "Sunim, we need to head north. Isn't that where the next treasure is?"
"We can't head north over land, it's too dangerous," Kyoung said. "But General Kim won't expect us to go west. It would make no sense to him. He's a Guru soldier: he never thinks of the sea as an option. But once we are at Minchu Port, we can take a ship to Uju. It's the largest port city of Guru, right on the Yellow Sea. We can trade for horses there and head inland, toward Mount Baekdu."
Taejo smiled for the first time since the king's death. "The Yellow Sea! I've never been to the sea. I've always wanted to go."
Jaewon looked unhappy. "Is this the only way? I don't enjoy boat rides."
"It's true. He gets terribly seasick, even on the calmest ferries. He always throws up." Seung gave Jaewon a worried look. "Always."
"Well, they're not looking for the two of you, so you can still head north to your clan," Kyoung said.
Jaewon shook his head, his eyebrows drawing tight. "No, we have to stick together."
"So then it's settled," Taejo said. "How soon can we leave?"
Kyoung paused, his eyes looking uneasy. "I just don't know of a safe way to get you off of the palace grounds. The general's men patrol the entire perimeter of the palace and city gates."
"What about the tunnels?" Taejo asked.
Kira shook her head. "General Kim had me show him the tunnels all over the city for security reasons. And then he sealed all but one. There's no way we can use any of them."
There was a knock at the door and a voice called for General Kang.
Kira felt a sharp pang to hear the title that was once her father's. Her eldest brother rose to his feet and slid open the door. Lord Hwang, Guru minister of foreign affairs, and General Nam, Guru vice minister of military affairs, entered the room.
"General Kang, you must not leave us now. The Iron Army needs you," Lord Hwang said.
"Soldiers loyal to General Kim have broken off and are now supporting his claim to the throne. The Tongey are pushing for their new king, and everyone else is confused and scared. You are our only hope!" General Nam said.
"This is not my problem. My sister and Prince Taejo are in grave danger as you well know," Kyoung retorted. "I need to protect them or there will be no hope for any of us!"
"This is your problem!" General Nam shouted. "The soldiers are looking to you for leadership. They trust you! You can't turn your back on those who would still support you and the prince."
Kira could see her brother's anguish at General Nam's words. Kyoung had been trained by their father to be a leader to his men at all times. The idea of leaving them behind would go against his very nature. She understood the reason for his turmoil; he was caught between family and duty.
Lord Hwang faced Kira. "Your brother is right. You are both in great danger. You aren't safe here in the palace and your chances of leaving the city aren't good. I understand your brother's concerns. But without his leadership, keeping you both safe will become moot. There will be nothing left."
Kira rubbed a tired hand over her eyes. As much as she had hoped both her brothers could accompany her, it was not to be.
"Oppa, you must stay here," she said. "Your job is to keep the army together for Taejo until we finish our quest. We will keep him safe."
"But who will protect you?"
Kira scoffed. "I can take care of myself and the prince! Now stop worrying about us!"
Kyoung slammed his hand down on the low table. "I don't even know how to get you off the palace grounds-how can I not worry!"
"General Kang, if you stay, I can get the prince and your sister out of Hansong."
They all turned in surprise to the Guru minister of foreign affairs.
"But only if you stay," he repeated.
9
The morning of their escape was cold and overcast, in keeping with Kira's mood. She couldn't shake off the feeling that it would be her last time in Hansong. There was nothing to hold her there anymore, only painful memories. And yet, it was depressing to think of leaving forever.
For the last seven days, Kira had been confined to the western building of the palace. Too many spies were watching her every move, eager to cash in on the huge reward General Kim was offering to bring her to him, dead or alive.
For his safety, Taejo was never left with anyone but Kira or her brothers.
She chafed at her imprisonment, anxious to depart from Hansong. The impending sense of doom was suffocating her. Her tiger spirit had not visited her since the king's death. Kira was tired and short-tempered, still not completely healed from her ordeal with the cursed dagger.
However, Kira had something far worse to contend with. She could not speak of it to anyone, and no amount of Seung's herbal tea remedies would heal her. Ever since King Eojin's death, an insidious voice whispered in her ear at odd moments in the day, waking up from sleep. It was loudest when she was all alone and depressed, missing her parents. It would speak to her of death and destruction and the utter hopelessness of resistance. Taunting her and belittling her, it was the voice of an entity more frightening than a thousand imoogis. The voice she'd heard as she'd tried to save Eojin's life.
The Demon Lord.
At first, she thought it was a figment of her imagination. For the voice delighted in blaming her for Eojin's death. Perhaps her own guilt and stress were causing her to hallucinate. She wanted to believe this. The thought that the Demon Lord might actually be speaking to her was frightening. But as time passed, it became impossible for her to tell what was real anymore. All she knew was that she had to fight it.
Trying to keep herself calm, Kira concentrated on sewing. She sewed socks, satchels, undergarments, hats-anything to keep the voice at bay. She packed and repacked her traveling bag, trying to keep it light as possible but knowing she could never return to Hansong. It wasn't too hard. Anything of true value had been sent on with the monks who'd left for Dragon Springs Temple before her uncle's assassination.
The door slid open and Kwan entered the room. Taejo jumped up at his appearance, bombarding him with questions.