Prophecy (12 page)

Kira bowed in thanks and left, anxious to share the plans with Taejo and prepare for the hunt.

Taejo appeared at Kira’s
door, dressed in his leather hunting armor and boots. His sword was slung on his back along with a bow and arrows borrowed from the monks. In his hands, he carried his father’s hunting spear.

“I’m going to catch me a big boar today!” he shouted.

“No,” Kira said. “We’re not attempting a boar. It’s too dangerous, besides being a terrible waste since we can’t bring it to the temple. We catch only what we can eat.”

Taejo looked disappointed, but just for a moment. “Can I bring it anyway?” he asked.

Kira nodded and filled their water pouches and packed rice balls wrapped in dried seaweed. She’d toyed with the idea of leaving Taejo behind, but the monks said the hunt would be safe as long as they stayed within the shadow of the mountain. Besides, with all that he’d been through, a simple hunt would raise his spirits.

“Your Highness and young mistress,” Brother Insu said as he approached them. “The light within me shines to meet the light within the both of you.”

Kira was delighted to see the gentle monk from Kaya. He was one of Kira’s favorite temple companions. Whatever she needed, Brother Insu always tried to provide.

Today, he was to be their guide. As soon as Kira entered the stable, Jindo bounded around their feet. It was hard to believe the dog had suffered a recent injury.

Leading their horses, they passed through the long passageway to the stone door. Several monks lifted up the heavy latch and pulled the door open. Kira, Taejo, and Brother Insu followed the narrow trail that snaked down the mountainside to the edge of the forest.

The morning sun was bright, but the woods remained fairly dark. A chilly wind blew hard along the floor of the forest, stirring up the fallen leaves and sending them into a frantic whirlwind of crackling colors. Protected within the confines of the temple valley, Kira had forgotten how cold it got in the mountains. Autumn was changing into winter. She wished she’d brought a heavy coat.

They reached a small clearing alongside a rushing stream. Brother Insu dismounted and tied his horse to a low-hanging branch.

“I will set up camp here,” he said. “This area should be sufficient for your needs. As long as you stay close to the stream, you will have no problems finding me again. But remember, stay within the shadow of the mountain and be very quiet. Sound carries a great distance in these woods.”

“Thank you, Sunim,” Kira said.

Brother Insu bowed. “May you return as you leave, in peace and harmony.”

Kira and Taejo left their horses with Brother Insu and began trekking upstream. They took with them their water pouches and weapons. Kira also carried a small satchel with food and supplies.

They hiked silently for a short distance. Taking a deep breath, she caught the musky odor of wild ginseng. Following her nose to a shaded section, she spotted large, leafy plants with small red berries sprouting on top.

She knelt before the plant and gently dug it up, pulling out a long, knobby root with tendrils. Cutting off the leafy stems, she placed the ginseng carefully in her bag and rose to her feet.

“Who’s that for?” Taejo asked.

“I thought we could give it to Brother Insu as a thank-you.”

They moved deeper into the forest, Jindo padding ahead of them, his ears alert as he sniffed the air. The big dog froze, one paw raised in midstep as he scrutinized a thick bush. Kira readied her bow and signaled for Taejo to keep quiet. Jindo rushed into the shrubs, flushing out a small white hare. Taejo shot his arrow, missing his target as it zigzagged back into the thick underbrush.

Taejo yelled and charged after the hare. Cursing under her breath, Kira chased after him when she noted the strong odor of a wild animal. A group of boars and piglets fled past her, shrieking in outrage. She hurried forward only to stop short.

Taejo stood petrified before the largest boar Kira had ever seen.

The boar charged at Taejo. Snarling and barking, Jindo came rushing
up from behind Kira and launched himself at the animal’s throat, trying to wrestle the fierce creature to the ground. It bucked high, flinging Jindo over its back. Taejo pulled out his hunting spear and tried to stab the boar.

“No, Taejo!”

The boar slammed into Taejo, who fell backward and landed with a heavy thud. Quickly, he jumped to his feet and ran toward Kira, the boar close behind him.

Dropping her bow and satchel, Kira raced to meet him. “Throw me the spear!”

Catching it out of the air, she raised the spear high past her ear and stepped right into the path of the maddened animal. It made a deep, ugly grunt before attacking. At the last possible moment, she leaped aside, slashing down with her right arm, aiming for the left flank. The blade pierced through the heavy hide. The boar’s high-pitched shrieking turned into a scream as it vaulted away, ripping the spear from Kira’s hands.

Grabbing Taejo by his collar, she dragged him all the way over to a large maple tree and rapidly pushed him onto the overhanging branches. “Climb up and stay there! That’s an order!”

“Look out!” Taejo screamed.

The boar was rushing toward them. Holding the hilt of her sword with two hands, she stabbed at an angle, deep into its neck. Leaving her sword where it was, Kira then grabbed hold of the spear still protruding from the boar’s left side. Using all her might, she launched her body onto the spear and she shoved it deep into the animal. Its front legs buckled under her weight, until finally it fell.

She looked up at Taejo.

“You all right?” she asked.

He started and looked around for Jindo. Not far away, the great white dog lay against the trunk of a cypress tree. Taejo jumped down and scrambled over to him.

Kira retrieved her bloody sword and spear. Glancing around to make sure there were no other boars or predators in the area, she ran to grab her belongings. They’d made a lot of noise. Even Brother Insu back at the camp had to have heard the battle with the boar. She hurried over to Taejo, who was checking Jindo for injuries. Jindo yawned and rose to his feet. Kira knelt before him and patted his head, receiving a lick from his raspy tongue.

Kira rummaged through her bag for a clean cloth and camellia oil to clean her blade.

“You did it!” Taejo said with pride. “Can you believe the size of that thing?”

Kira put her sword in its sheath and leaned against the trunk of the cypress tree.

“I think that boar was harder to kill than a demon,” she said.

“Thank you, Noona, for saving me.” He paused. “Again.” His eyes were teary. Kira knew he was thinking of all they had lost.

“Come on,” she said. “Let’s carve a portion for us.”

She rose to her feet and was immediately overwhelmed by the odor of approaching demons. She yanked Taejo up and pushed him behind her, freeing her sword in one fluid movement.

Jindo growled.

From the depths of the darkened forest, a small contingent of mounted soldiers appeared, surrounding them.

“Shin Bo Hyun?” Kira said in disbelief.

Her fiancé gazed back at them, a slight smile playing on his lips.

“Your Highness,” Shin Bo Hyun said. He dismounted and bowed. His
men fanned out behind him, filling the clearing before them.

“Thank the heavens we’ve found you both!” he said. “We’ve been searching these woods for days to no avail. How fortunate we were to hear the ruckus that led us here.”

Kira took a close look at the thirty-odd men in Shin Bo Hyun’s company. They were Yamato soldiers disguised in Hansong uniforms, with at least four demons in their ranks. She spied the slight shimmer in the air above them, the telltale sign of an otherworldly being in the human world. Jindo was by her side, barking and snarling. With no horses and the soldiers closing in around them, she could see no possible escape. She wondered if the young lord knew of the demons among his men. They held no loyalty to humans, unless called by one, and even then, it was an uneasy truce. Shin Bo Hyun was no shaman—he would find it hard to control them. Perhaps she could use this to her advantage.

Her eyes darted about, taking note of her bow and arrow case a short distance away. Taejo stepped forward to stand by her side.

“What do you want?” he asked, his voice filled with hostility.

“I’m to take you to the queen,” Shin Bo Hyun replied. “She’s been so worried about you.”

In the background, loud noises indicated approaching horsemen. Shin Bo Hyun signaled to his men, and several moved off to investigate. Not long after, Brother Woojin and a group of temple monks appeared. Brother Insu rode behind them, leading Kira and Taejo’s horses.

Catching sight of Shin Bo Hyun and his men, the group stopped. Brother Woojin looked unsurprised.

“Greetings, Sunim!” Shin Bo Hyun said. “I’m relieved to see you again. It was my understanding that your party was to head to Stone Temple, but I was unable to find any trace of you there.”

“Good day, my lord,” Brother Woojin replied. “I’m sure you can understand our state of panic and distress at the time. We feared Stone Temple was too close in proximity to the enemy, and it was our mission to keep the prince as safe as possible.”

He gazed at Shin Bo Hyun and then at Kira. “But how fortuitous to find you here,” the monk continued. “What news do you have of our kingdom?”

Shin Bo Hyun frowned. “It is sad news. Our king is dead, as is Lady Kira’s brave father.”

He hesitated before turning somber eyes to Kira. “Kira, I’m afraid to tell you that your mother perished in the attack.”

Kira stilled her body even as her mind reeled at his words. She didn’t believe him. Couldn’t believe him.
But
, a small voice inside of her said,
the court ladies were jumping off the cliff
. She shook her head. No, she didn’t believe him.

“The kingdom is in disarray. But we were able to evacuate Her Majesty to safety. I have been tasked with finding the prince and my betrothed, and bringing them to her.”

Taejo started forward at the incredible news, but Kira held him back.

“Tasked by who? Your uncle? The traitor?” Kira demanded to know.

“No, by the queen,” Shin Bo Hyun answered.

“Where is the queen? Who is with her?” Brother Woojin asked.

“My men are keeping her safe. They are pushing north to Guru, but it has been slow going due to the queen’s health.”

“What do you mean? Is she sick? What’s the matter with my mother?” Taejo shouted.

“She is not physically sick, Your Highness. It is more of an emotional malady she suffers from. One that I’m sure will be cured with your safe return,” Shin Bo Hyun said.

“I must go to her.” Taejo tried to break free of Kira’s hold.

“No. He’s lying. Don’t believe anything he says,” Kira said in a low voice.

Shin Bo Hyun stared at her, a shadow of regret passing over his face. “The truth is that I must deliver the prince to his mother.”

“My apologies, but I can’t allow that,” Brother Woojin said.

The young lord faced the monk. “I’m afraid there’s nothing you can do to stop me. You’ve been completely surrounded since the moment you arrived.”

Shin Bo Hyun’s soldiers had circled behind the monks. Brother Woojin was not fazed. His penetrating glance brought Kira to the balls of her feet, ready and waiting.

“And so have you,” Brother Woojin replied.

And with that, a swarm of monks attacked the soldiers, flying down from the trees and seemingly out of the air. Armed only with their long staffs, the monks knocked soldiers off their horses and circled Kira and the prince.

Shin Bo Hyun cursed and drew his sword as he wheeled around to face them. Right before him stood the little monk, who’d moved with lightning speed.

“Sunim! There are several demons within the enemy’s ranks. They’ll be impossible to stop without a sword,” Kira called.

“Then you must take the prince to safety!” Brother Woojin said, standing firm in a defensive posture.

Kira grabbed her bow and arrow case as they ran away, her sword still at the ready. They did not get far when a Yamato soldier attacked them. Kira parried his blows as Jindo rushed his feet, knocking him to the ground. Enraged, the soldier jumped up and drew a dagger. Brother Woojin smashed the soldier in the head with his long staff.

“Hurry! You must make for the temple!”

Kira nodded and kept Taejo close by her side. She scanned the area, searching for the horses. She heard Shin Bo Hyun shouting as he fought off two monks.

“Young mistress! Over here!” Brother Insu waved them over.

They raced toward Brother Insu when a demon soldier captured a young monk right before them, sending the horses into panic.

Taejo was screaming. The demon soldier gorged upon the monk’s liver as the monk begged the gods for mercy. She shot an arrow through the monk’s head to end his suffering. The monster roared at them, still holding the limp body in its hands. Kira drew her sword and flashed forward, severing its neck.