Part 3 (2/2)
”Why?” she asked. ”I'm the dreaded Demon Slayer. People think I'm a k.u.miho. Why would you want to have anything to do with me?”
”Because you'll never bore me,” he said.
”So if I'm boring, you'll object to the betrothal?” she said hopefully.
He observed her with a curious gaze. ”My uncle is the head of the family. I owe him my duty. To do otherwise would dishonor my entire clan. I would marry a bald, cross-eyed idiot if that is what he asked of me.”
”Oh, that makes me feel so much better!” Kira sneered at him. ”There goes my plan to shave off my hair.”
”That would be a crime,” he said. ”I'm afraid I wouldn't allow that.”
”You have no right to tell me what to do,” she said. ”And don't tell me you will when we're married, because that's not going to happen!”
”I don't understand you,” he said with a puzzled expression. ”You are bound by your duties even more rigidly than I am. You can't disobey the queen.”
Kira grew fl.u.s.tered. Her entire life had been geared toward serving the royal family. She didn't want to disobey the queen. But this was the one thing in her life that she wanted to control.
”I don't want to marry! Especially not you,” she said. The images of her nightmare flitted through her mind again. ”I don't have time for it.”
”Perhaps I can change your mind,” he said.
”No,” Kira bit off the word, wis.h.i.+ng she could bite his head off.
”I'll take that as a maybe,” he said.
Kira struggled to breathe normally, hoping he couldn't hear the erratic beat of her heart. There was something so mesmerizing about him-the sleek lines of his masculine body, the broadness of his shoulders. Disgust at herself triggered a fresh wave of anger.
”Leave me alone!” She shoved him hard.
s.h.i.+n Bo Hyun put his hands up in a conciliatory gesture.
”There's that legendary temper.” He grinned. ”I was wondering when it would show up. I've always loved making you mad. Your eyes turn a deep golden color.”
Crus.h.i.+ng the urge to punch him, Kira shouldered past him and stomped away. As she rounded the castle wall, she glanced back to see if he was following her. s.h.i.+n Bo Hyun remained where he was, staring after her with a thoughtful expression.
Wiping him from her mind, Kira ran to her family quarters. She knew one thing with absolute certainty.
Trouble was coming.
7.
Several days later, the palace was bustling with news. A diplomatic envoy had arrived during the night from Jinhan, demanding an immediate audience with the king. Since then, the hallways had been filled with senior advisers, military generals, and diplomats, as messengers raced all about the palace grounds.
Kira watched her young cousin pace the entire length of the courtyard. His large white dog came bounding over.
”Hey, Jindo,” she said. She bent down slowly to caress the dog's thick, soft fur.
Jindo lapped at her face and b.u.t.ted her shoulder playfully. His fluffy tail curled up to nearly touch his back, at odds with the proud tilt and carriage of his large, triangular head. Her cousin was lucky to have such a loyal companion.
It would be another hour before the sun rose. But everyone was ready, and the hunting dogs strained eagerly against their leashes.
There was no sign of the king.
”Where could he be?” Taejo asked.
Kira shook her head in commiseration and leaned against a column. She knew her cousin was anxious about his first real boar hunt. But the truth was that this trip was merely a ruse to take the prince to safety. When she'd told her father of her dream, he'd consulted with the king and they'd agreed to this course of action.
Just then, a loud salute heralded the arrival of the king, General Kang, and several court advisers. The king was dressed in an armored tunic instead of his hunting outfit.
”Father, are you not coming?” Taejo asked in alarm.
”Forgive me, my son, but troubling news has reached us from Jinhan and the south. It appears that the Yamatos have captured Kaya and are now pressing on Jinhan's southern borders. We have sent troops to them, but we must prepare for war to reach Hansong.”
”Then we should cancel the hunt and I should stay home with you,” Taejo said. ”What if something happens while I'm gone?”
The king laughed as he cuffed his son on the cheek. ”Do not fear! Our walls are unbreachable.”
Kira s.h.i.+vered at her uncle's words, her nightmare flas.h.i.+ng before her eyes.
”You will have your first boar hunt and stay at Stone Temple until I can join you,” the king said.
”But Father-”
”That is an order,” the king said with mock sternness.
Someone tapped Kira on the shoulder. Turning around, she saw her brother Kwan motioning her over to where the general stood waiting for them. She followed Kwan into a large garden pavilion, out of earshot of the hunting party. Kira and Kwan were dressed alike, both in their saulabi uniforms underneath black leather hunting armor. Kira's dark hair was tied neatly in a long plait and covered with her nambawi, as usual. She carried her bow and arrows and her sword strapped onto her back.
There was a frown on General Kang's rugged face.
”Kyoung left yesterday for Jinhan,” he said. ”Today, I send my two youngest off with the prince. My heart is heavy.”
He rubbed his forehead. ”I admit to having misgivings about this trip, but Kira's dreams have never been wrong, and the king wants to keep Taejo safe from harm. The boar hunt is a perfect diversion for sending Taejo away. The traitor will not know we are suspicious, and we can find him while the prince is hidden.”
General Kang turned to Kira. The flickering flames of the lanterns surrounding them lent shadows to his face.
”What is it, Father?” Kira asked.
He shook his head as if to ward off his worries. ”The king insists that Lord s.h.i.+n escort your group. He will send a message to Lord s.h.i.+n when it is safe for the prince to return.”
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