She pulled out her small leather pouch that hung around her neck. Opening it, she placed the ruby next to her little haetae statue before tying it closed and tucking it under her shirt.

She gazed down into the water and reached her hand in, grabbing a small rock covered in green, glowing algae.

"Look! These rocks glow, even in the water!" she said.

Taejo glanced indifferently at her find. But Kira was intrigued. She leaned into the water and gathered several more glowing stones, which she placed in her bag. Catching Taejo's moody gaze, she smiled.

"They might come in handy," she said.

Without answering, Taejo ran up the sloping tunnel. They trudged back, neither speaking, too caught up in their own thoughts.

The warm, pulsing sensation of the ruby stone against her chest was pleasant. The power of it made her heady. Kira could use it to destroy Shin and the Yamato army. She could find the shaman who had cursed her family and kill him. Kill them all.

The stone grew warmer, pulsing against her skin, in tandem with the rapid beating of her heart.

34.

"I don't understand," Brother Woojin said. "Why do you have it?"

Kira could see the shock and confusion on everyone's faces.

"I am just the keeper of the stone for the prince," she replied. "He was in an accident in the cave and was unable to retrieve it. That's why he's all wet and should change his clothes now." Taejo moved away, avoiding Brother Woojin's questioning gaze.

Brother Woojin gasped with reverence when Kira placed the stone in his hands. He held it up to the light and watched it catch the rays of the sun. The stone remained dormant in his hands. With a heartfelt sigh, he put it back into the leather pouch and hesitated.

"Perhaps I should hold it for the prince?" he asked, turning toward Taejo.

Kira clutched the bag.

"It's my job to keep it safe," she said. She tucked the precious parcel under her jacket.

"Keep it near you at all times," the monk said.

Kira nodded. Of course she would keep it near.

She shivered in the cold. Taejo was still wearing her coat. She was wishing she had another layer to put on, when someone placed a warm blanket around her shoulders.

"We can't have you freezing to death," Jaewon said.

Kwan came between them, sending Jaewon an untrusting look. "Thank you very much, but my sister doesn't need yours. I'll give her mine."

He pushed off Jaewon's blanket and replaced it with his own. Jaewon shrugged and gave her a rueful wink before handing back her bow and arrows. Kira barely noticed the tension between the two. For once, she was really happy. She'd found the legendary tidal stone. And it had worked for her and not Taejo. For a brief moment, she wished that she could be the Dragon Musado. But it just wasn't possible.

They headed back to their campsite, Taejo setting off before them with only Jindo for company.

"Taejo, wait!" Kira said, starting after him.

"Leave him be," Kwan said. "He needs time to himself without you mothering him."

She halted, shocked at his words. "I don't mother him!"

"Yes, you do. You're worse than a dog with a bone, always all over him, checking up on him, coddling him. Give him some s.p.a.ce! Leave him alone," he groused. "I know Father asked us to protect Taejo, but you have to let him make his own mistakes, or he will never become the man he is destined to become."

Kira winced.

"I'm not trying to hurt you, little sister." Her brother softened his tone. "I'm just saying, let him have some room to grow into himself."

She pushed past him, unsure of what to think. Her vow was always first and foremost in her mind, and the Heavenly Maiden had also confirmed her duty.

Regardless of what Kwan believed, she would continue to protect her cousin to the best of her abilities. But she would give some thought to Kwan's words.

Just as she made her decision to run ahead, Jindo came crashing through the woods, barking. The hair on the back of her neck rose.

"Something is wrong," she said.

Jaewon pressed a finger to his mouth for silence. In the sudden quiet, they heard the crackling and shuffling sounds of many heavy boots tramping over snow and ice. Kwan signaled for everyone to disperse, and Kira took off, Jindo right at her heels. She raced deeper into the woods, away from the approaching men, and then began to cut diagonally toward their campsite. As she ran, she noticed Brother Woojin keeping up with her. There was no sign of the others.

Through a break in the trees, she peered below into an open clearing alongside the river. Taejo and Seung were prodded forward by Yamato soldiers with drawn swords. Shin Bo Hyun walked in the lead.

"Where the h.e.l.l are they?" he shouted. "They should have found the others and caught up to us by now!"

Kira pondered her next move, when the familiar sound of arrows whistling through the air dispatched the rear guard and two more Yamato soldiers. She raised her bow to fire, but Brother Woojin stopped her.

Shin Bo Hyun shouted into the woods for backup. Within minutes, a horde of enemy soldiers charged from the woods, swords held high. Kira gasped in horror. Where had these men been hiding? How could their group of six fight an entire troop of over a hundred enemy soldiers? She wanted to shoot, but again, Brother Woojin kept a firm grip on her bow, shaking his head.

"We must wait for the right moment," he whispered.

They slunk into the shadows of the trees and watched as Kwan and Jaewon were dragged out.

Her brother head-b.u.t.ted a soldier. With a slight pivot, Kwan reverse side-kicked, sending the soldier who was holding him flying back. Freeing his right hand, he struck an attacker in the chin with an upward thrust of the heel of his palm, knocking him unconscious. Kwan took down five Yamato soldiers before Shin Bo Hyun bashed his forehead with the pommel of his sword. Kwan fell to his knees as soldiers tied his hands. He was hauled next to Jaewon and Seung, both of them battered and bound.

Kwan spit at Shin Bo Hyun, hatred blazing hot on his face. "You filthy traitor! Cowardly swine! Come on and fight me yourself! Give me my revenge!"

The soldier next to Kwan punched him hard in the mouth repeatedly.

"That's enough," Shin Bo Hyun said. The soldier stepped away.

"Where's your sister?"

Kwan coughed up blood and spit on the ground.

"She's not here. We left her with our uncle in Guru."

"Please don't insult me. Kira would never leave the prince's side. She must be nearby," Shin Bo Hyun said.

"You leave my sister alone or I'll rip you apart and feed you to the dogs like you deserve!" Kwan shouted.

"Tut, tut. So much anger!" Shin Bo Hyun said. "It isn't good for you. Unhealthy." He paused. "Of course that's a moot point right now, unless your sister, my lovely bride-to-be, would be so kind as to trade herself for you. All three of you."

He raised his voice, letting it echo over the ridge. "What say you, Kira? I know you're out there. You're not doing a good job of protecting the prince. I think your father would be very disappointed in you."

Kwan was shouting profanities, but Kira could no longer hear him over the ringing in her ears. She closed her eyes and tried to think of what to do.

"I wonder, will you continue to hide and watch as your brother and his friends die?"

Suddenly, Shin Bo Hyun hauled Jaewon away.

"No," Kira whispered.

Shin Bo Hyun shoved Jaewon into the middle of the clearing before several archers.

"Kang Kira!" he shouted. "Don't keep me waiting."

Brother Woojin stopped Kira from rushing down. "No, young mistress, not that way. Use the tidal stone."

The soldiers raised their bows. All Kira could see of Jaewon was his back-but he stood tall and proud. She could hear Taejo screaming at Shin Bo Hyun to let them go.

"No!" Taejo screamed. "Don't hurt any of them! You've got me. I'll go with you. Just let them go."

"I'm not leaving without my betrothed!" Shin Bo Hyun answered.

She heard Jaewon's calm voice. "It'll be all right, my prince."

With shaky hands, she pulled out the tidal stone. The ruby began to warm, glowing brightly as she concentrated all her thoughts on it. The stone seemed curious, asking her what she wanted from it. Her thoughts were too frenzied to be coherent. All she knew was that she needed to save them and that it had to be something really big.

"Kira!" Shin Bo Hyun shouted; a hint of desperation sounded in his voice. "His blood will be on your hands!"

Please, right now! she screamed inside.

"At my command!"

The archers were drawing their bowstrings when the river surged and bubbled, exploding into a huge tidal wave and knocking them off their feet. The water formed a large column that rose straight up into the sky. The soldiers panicked. Shin Bo Hyun shouted for his men to hold their positions, but all deserted their posts.

Kira's hands were burning from the heat of the stone. The ruby prodded at her mind, but Kira didn't know what it wanted.

Just save them, she begged.

Within the column, a figure materialized, obscured at first by the water seething about it. A large triangular-shaped head formed over an elongated neck as legs, claws, and a tail formed. It was a dragon, made entirely of water, that towered above the men on the river's edge. The dragon lowered its head until it faced Shin Bo Hyun. It opened its mouth and let loose a torrent of water that swept him and his men into a wild and raging flood. The tidal stone knew to protect Taejo and the others, listening to Kira's directions as it set the water dragon loose.

With the threat gone, Kira fell to her knees, exhausted. She carefully packed away the ruby as a gentle hand pulled her up. Brother Woojin held her steady as she felt the ebbing of the stone's power. Releasing her, he clasped his hands together and bowed in respect, acknowledgment of her power over the tidal stone. Kira bowed in return and raced down the ridge.

At the river's edge, Seung knelt before the water dragon and prostrated himself. It began to diminish, reducing in size until finally it disappeared completely. Kwan limped over, still groggy from his injuries, and wrapped an arm around Kira's shoulders.

"That was you, wasn't it, little sister?" Kwan asked. Taejo stood at his side, grinning broadly.

"That was spectacular! I can't believe you made a water dragon!" Taejo said.

"How in heaven's name were you able to do that?" Jaewon asked in astonishment.

Kira was still dazed by the power that had flowed through her body. "I asked the tidal stone for something really big to save you, and that's what happened."

"Whatever it was, it was amazing!" Kwan said. He gave Taejo an affectionate cuff to his shoulder. "Hey, maybe Kira's the Dragon Musado!"

Jaewon nodded in agreement, his eyes shining with open admiration.

"No, I'm not!" she said sharply. "Lady Mina told me Taejo is the One-the true king who will reunite the kingdoms."

She faced her cousin. "Listen, I know you doubt yourself. I mean, we all did. But now, I know what I must do and what I believe. I believe you are the Dragon Musado, and I am meant to protect you with my life."

Taejo's face was solemn. "If you say so, Noona. I trust you."

35.

They returned to Singing Temple to find it deserted.

"Oh no," Kira said. "Was this Shin Bo Hyun's work?"

"No, they are safe," Brother Woojin said. He headed for the wooden paG.o.da and rang the temple bell thirty-three times.

With the last toll of the bell, Taejo turned to Kira and asked, "What is he doing? What is the meaning behind the number of times the bell was struck?"

"It represents the monks' belief in the thirty-three steps to enlightenment," Kira replied.

At that moment, a hidden door opened from underneath the temple, and the monks came rushing to greet them.

"I knew you would return safely," Master Hong said. "Which is why I made your soldiers wait with us in the underground tunnels rather than have them get lost in the mountains trying to find you."

"Our soldiers?" Kira asked.

They were astonished to see Captain Pak and a company of Hansong soldiers leading their horses from underneath the temple.

"Master, just how big are your underground tunnels?" Kwan asked in awe.