Part 21 (1/2)
”We've been known to lose a couple of novices down there every so often,” Master Hong chortled.
”He's not serious, is he?” Kwan asked Brother Woojin.
”It's hard to know,” Brother Woojin replied. ”He has an unusual sense of humor.”
Captain Pak hailed them. ”I am grateful to see that all of you are safe,” he said. ”I admit to having quite a few nightmares while you were gone.”
”King Eojin was successful?” Kwan asked.
The captain grinned. ”The Iron Army easily defeated the Yamatos and has been chasing them back down the peninsula.”
”That's excellent news!” Kira said. ”Where is he now?”
”How is the king?” Taejo cut in anxiously. ”Is he angry at us?”
”Well, King Eojin was not happy with me,” the captain replied. ”For a moment there, I thought he was going to throw me in prison. But then he decided to send me after all of you with a message instead. He asked that you all rejoin him at our next rendezvous point as the Iron Army is heading to Hansong.”
Kira and Kwan looked at each other in relief. This was where they needed to go.
”He's going to save my mother!” Taejo said.
After several more minutes of conversation, the captain left to address his soldiers, leaving the cousins to plan their journey. Brother Woojin intervened.
”I'm sorry, but we cannot afford to go to Hansong at this time. We must press on and find the other two treasures,” Brother Woojin said. ”It is our first priority.”
Kira caught sight of Taejo's crushed face and thought of her own family.
”Sunim, I beg your pardon, but our priority right now is to save what remains of our families.”
The monk raised his eyebrows.
”And what good is it if the Dragon Musado is killed or captured before we're able to find the rest of the treasures? You vowed to keep the prince safe!”
”My first and most important priority is to keep Taejo safe. But no less important is my responsibility to save my family. My mother is trapped in the shadow realm. If I don't do all I can to save her, then she will be trapped there forever. She will be a lost soul. I can't let that happen,” she said. ”My brother and I must return to Hansong. You and the prince can continue without us.”
”No!” Taejo shouted. ”I'll run away and follow you! I swear it! You know I will!”
”Hush, be quiet,” Kira said.
The monk rolled his prayer beads between his palms and stood in deep repose. After several minutes, he nodded at her.
”We can't let that happen,” he said.
Kira bowed in thanks.
”But I caution all of you to keep the discovery of the tidal stone secret. Even from King Eojin!” he said.
Ten days later, Kira and the others were reunited with the Guru army. They were camped within the mountains that stretched north of Hansong City. When they arrived, Eojin swept the cousins and Brother Woojin aside, where he took all of them to task for sneaking away and leaving him with only a note.
”I should be very angry with you all. But I find I cannot hold onto my anger when I see you standing safe before me,” Eojin said, his eyes lingering on Taejo. He cuffed the prince on the cheek and smiled. ”Come and tell me about all your adventures.”
Kira could see Taejo's happiness to be reunited with their uncle. It was clear to her that they had developed a close bond. She was relieved to know that she could count on her uncle to protect Taejo.
The next morning, they attended a meeting with Eojin and the Guru commanding generals. Captain Pak was reviewing the plan to recapture Hansong.
”There is an old tunnel entrance into the palace compound, which is now completely submerged underwater,” the captain said, pointing at a detailed rendering of Hansong Palace. ”It was once a private underground pier for escorting the royal family to safety in case of a siege. The water levels rose years ago, and the entrance is long forgotten. The only way to access it is to swim under the palace wall for a distance of twenty to thirty horse lengths, through the entrance, and up into the underground pier.”
”How do we know this is viable and not a death trap for our men?” one of Eojin's generals asked.
”Because my father did it once years ago,” Kwan answered. He stepped forward and took his place next to Captain Pak. ”He said he was underwater for at least two minutes, possibly three, before he reached the entrance. It's doable, but it is only for the strongest and fastest swimmers.”
Captain Pak continued. ”The first problem is that there will be no light. Fortunately for us, our young mistress Kang brought back these stones.” He placed one of the glowing stones on the table, where it pulsed weakly. The men all looked at Kira in surprise.
”It doesn't emit a strong light, but it's enough to see where you're going,” Kira said with a shrug.
”It's excellent. This plan wouldn't work without them,” Pak responded. ”Once inside the palace, the group will rendezvous with our spymaster, proceed to the northern gates, and wait for the signal.”
”Who is leading this group?” General Kim asked.
”I am,” Kwan said. ”I'll take my sister and four additional men.”
Taejo started in surprise. Kira avoided his gaze, guilty that she'd hidden their plans from him.
King Eojin placed a new map on the table. ”We will attack at dawn. Our armies will approach from three directions. The main charge will proceed southwesterly, down the line of fire. General Kim will command the special units and approach from the west. They will lay siege upon the city walls.”
”How will special units bring their equipment through the mountains?” a heavily armored general asked, frowning down at the map.
”Piecemeal,” Eojin replied. ”They are carrying parts of the catapults over the mountains. Most are already on their way. The shaman went first and killed all the imp spies in the area. Our spymaster tells us that Lord s.h.i.+n has become complacent. He doesn't believe an army can come over the mountains, so he mans a single guard tower over the northern pa.s.ses.”
General Kim snorted. ”s.h.i.+n is a fool.” The officers muttered their agreement.
”During the initial battle, Captain Pak will lead his men to the northern gates from the mountains for a surprise attack. When Kwan and his men hear the captain's war cry, they will open the gates.”
What would happen if they were not there to open the gates was left unsaid.
Taejo approached Kwan. ”I am going with you,” he said.
”Absolutely not!” Kwan retorted, pus.h.i.+ng Taejo away. ”It's too dangerous for you.”
”My mother is in there!” Taejo shouted. ”You can't keep me from helping her!”
Kira stepped between them before her brother said something he would regret.
”This is a dangerous mission. Only the strongest and fastest swimmers have a chance of making it through,” she said.
”I can do it,” Taejo said. ”I may not be as strong as you, but I'm fast.”