Part 10 (2/2)

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

”No, by the queen,” s.h.i.+n Bo Hyun answered.

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

”My men are keeping her safe. They are pus.h.i.+ng 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,” s.h.i.+n 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.

s.h.i.+n Bo Hyun stared at her, a shadow of regret pa.s.sing 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.”

s.h.i.+n Bo Hyun's soldiers had circled behind the monks. Brother Woojin was not fazed. His penetrating glance brought Kira to the b.a.l.l.s 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.

s.h.i.+n 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 s.h.i.+n 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 G.o.ds 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.

Another demon soldier appeared before her. Kira could see right away that it was an older possession that had inhabited the human host for too long. Scaly gray hide shone through the flesh. It reached for the prince with a hand that was more claw than human. Kira slashed down with her sword, slicing the arm off at the elbow. With a reverse swing, she decapitated the creature.

Her senses finely attuned to the sickening stench of the unholy ones, she knocked Taejo to the ground with her foot as the momentum of her swing whirled her around to slice off the head of another demon that tried to sneak up on them.

Pulling her cousin up, she half dragged him toward the waiting horses. Up ahead, several soldiers appeared and raised their bows, preparing to shoot. Kira shoved Taejo to the ground and felt the whirring of an arrow whip past her ear. She deflected an arrow with her sword even as she felt the sharp burn in her left arm where another scored a hit.

Before they could shoot again, s.h.i.+n Bo Hyun appeared, shouting at them.

”No, don't shoot!” He was too late. The arrow had already been released. Distracted by the young lord's actions, Kira didn't notice the danger until someone shoved her from behind. In slow motion, she saw Brother Woojin pierced with the arrow meant for her.

Kira dropped her sword and pulled out her bow, shooting off a rapid succession of arrows and felling several soldiers. She saw s.h.i.+n Bo Hyun dash for cover behind a line of trees. She heard a choked sob. Taejo was holding the injured monk in his arms.

Around them, the others fought on, but the bodies of the temple monks littered the ground. Long staffs were no match for swords and demons.

”Young mistress, you must get the prince away from here!” Brother Woojin said as he tried to push the prince away. The arrow had punctured his left shoulder; bright red blood flowed from the injury, staining the fallen leaves below him. ”Leave me!”

”I won't leave you!” Taejo shouted.

Before Kira could respond, a disfigured demon soldier lurched into view, heading straight for them.

”My master will be so pleased with me,” it hissed. ”Not only will I kill the missing prince, but I will dispose of the Demon Slayer also.”

Kira stepped forward and blocked its path.

”You can try,” she said. ”But I don't think so.”

Her words were quickly put to the test by the powerful double-sword attack the creature let loose on her. It took all her strength to defend herself. She was tired from the previous boar hunt, and her left arm was on fire from her injury. The blood had coursed down her arm, making her hands slick. Barely deflecting a killing blow, Kira staggered back.

Just when she thought she couldn't hold out much longer, a sword slashed through the demon's neck, decapitating it.

s.h.i.+n Bo Hyun spit at the widening pool of black sludge pouring from the corpse. He kicked the deflating body of the demon before stepping over it. He grinned at her surprise. ”You looked like you needed some help,” he said.

”Why? He was one of yours!”

s.h.i.+n Bo Hyun's face darkened. ”No. I had no idea there were demons among my soldiers. I would never have allowed it.”

”I don't believe you,” Kira said. She picked up her sword and held it before her two-handed, praying that more help was on its way. Behind her, Taejo seemed oblivious to everything but the wounded monk.

s.h.i.+n Bo Hyun stepped closer. ”It doesn't matter. I'll forgive you.” He stopped to take in the tableau before him. ”Are you ready to return with us, Your Highness?” he asked.

”I will never go anywhere with you!” Taejo shouted. ”I'll kill you first!”

”How many more lives must be lost before you recognize the futility of your actions?” s.h.i.+n Bo Hyun asked.

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