Kira swallowed a curse. Not only was Lord Shin her father's greatest political enemy, he was the most detestable person Kira had ever met. The joke in the palace was that if the Heavenly Father himself were to grant Shin immortality, Shin would complain that he'd be cheated of a fancy state funeral. Good moods never lasted long around him. If he weren't such an influential member of the court, no one would tolerate him.

General Kang paced before them. "I would feel better if Kyoung or I were going with you. But there is nothing I can do. The world is off-balance, and I find myself unsure of what is to come." He stopped pacing and gazed first at Kira and then Kwan. "You must stay safe, my children. Be wise."

General Kang gripped his son's shoulders. "Even though the king has placed Lord Shin in charge of this mission, you are its true leader. I know I could leave the prince in no better hands! Now, go on and prepare to depart while I speak with your sister."

Kwan bowed and marched off.

General Kang's countenance was still troubled.

"Kira, you have vowed to the king to protect the prince with your life," he said. "Now I ask you for something more. You are closest to the prince. He looks up to you. You are more than his bodyguard; you are also his big sister. Promise me that you will always care for him, as if he were truly your brother, and not just your prince. Advise him, guide him. Help him grow into a great king."

The heaviness of his words and bearing struck Kira with foreboding. "But you will be there for him, too," she said.

"Of course," her father said, a rare smile on his face. "But he likes you better."

Kira bowed. "Father, you have my word."

"That is all I need," he responded. He pulled a pouch from underneath his armor.

"I have something for you," he said. Opening the tiny bag, he took out the jade haetae figurine that always sat on his desk. "Keep him with you. He has always been good luck for me, helping me make the right decisions at the right times. Now I think you may need his guidance more than I."

He placed the haetae and the pouch in her hand. He leaned over to touch his forehead to hers and then cupped her cheek. "I'm proud of you, little tiger."

She smiled to hear his nickname for her, something he hadn't used since she'd grown so tall. The smooth jade was cool to her touch. She traced the fangs and bulging eyes of the haetae. After placing it in its bag, she hung it over her neck and tucked it away within the folds of her jacket underneath her armor.

In the courtyard, the king called over Lord Shin, who was dressed in a gaudy red-and-silver hunting outfit with leather padded armor. Kira couldn't help comparing the senior adviser to his nephew. Where Shin Bo Hyun was tall, muscular, and handsome, Lord Shin was wraith thin and sharp-featured. And although he was the same age as the king, he looked a decade older.

Kira noted Taejo's unhappy expression and sighed. It was going to be a long trip.

"My old friend," King Yuri said. "Take good care of my son for me. Treat him as if he were your own."

Lord Shin bowed deeply. "Of course, Your Majesty. I will endeavor to do the best I can, to insure the safety of your son at all costs, even if it is at my own expense and were to cause my demise. Regardless of the incompetence of your guards, rest a.s.sured that I, Lord Shin Mulchin, will not fail you."

Kira saw a look of satisfaction replace Lord Shin's normally morose expression. How like Shin to insult everyone else in his eagerness to kowtow to the king.

Only then did she notice the tall figure standing by Lord Shin's side. Shin Bo Hyun wore a broad, toothy smile as he made his way over to Kira. He had a way of walking that reminded her of a wolf readying for a kill, deliberate and predatory.

"Kira, I was hoping to join you today for the prince's boar hunt, but my uncle informs me that I am needed here," Shin Bo Hyun said.

Kira scowled and looked around, hoping that someone would rescue her.

He shrugged. "Ah well, I would have been happy to relieve him of his duty. But as you know, no one can refuse the king's request." He nudged her with his elbow.

Kira ignored Shin Bo Hyun and lowered her gaze. To anyone watching, her response would appear proper.

"Pity about this trip. I've been looking forward to spending time with you," he said. "Perhaps one day, we can have our own hunting excursion."

Shin Bo Hyun stepped a little closer, causing Kira to step back with a quick angry glare. She stared at the tips of his black leather boots.

"I'll eagerly count the days till your return."

"I'm so glad you have something to keep you occupied," she replied in a low, biting voice. "But don't let it overburden you."

His eyes flickered with a flash of humor. "She speaks."

"She also kills," she said.

He let out a low laugh. "You have no idea how much I look forward to our marriage."

With a short bow, he sauntered away. Fuming, she placed her trembling hands over her hot cheeks and willed them to cool.

"Gah, I can't stand that man!" She took a deep breath and rejoined the hunting party, catching the end of the king's talk with her cousin.

"Son, you must listen to Lord Shin, for he acts in my stead," King Yuri said. Then with one last wave, he went inside.

Taejo gazed after him, his face as wilted as a poppy flower in a drought.

"It was not his choice to abandon you today," Kira said, nudging him on the shoulder. "One day you'll be king, and you'll find yourself making difficult choices, too."

The smaller boy shrugged and nodded before mounting his horse. Jindo kept close to his master's side.

Kira looked for one more glimpse of her father. Instead, she caught Shin Bo Hyun's amused gaze, causing her mood to grow dark once again.

8.

A contingent of thirty soldiers escorted the hunting party along with a pack of ten dogs, including Jindo. Twenty-five were the prince's personal guards. Each wore a knee-length silver tunic of scale armor and carried twin swords in iron sheaths. The other five soldiers were Lord Shin's private bodyguards.

Taejo's chief of guards, Captain Pak, and Brother Woojin rounded out the party. The monk was dressed in his usual gray robes, his only weapon a long black staff tied to his saddle. Around his neck, he wore his one valuable possession, a 108-beaded prayer necklace of green jade.

"Captain, tell your soldiers not to ride so close to me; I'd rather not choke on their dirt for the entire trip," Lord Shin complained.

Kira and Taejo exchanged amused glances. "I wish he would choke on it," Taejo said. Kira rolled her eyes heavenward.

Several days in the mountains with Lord Shin would sorely test all of their patience. For Kira, this trip was difficult in so many ways. While Captain Pak had always been respectful to her and kept his men in check, Lord Shin's soldiers didn't bother to hide their contempt. They muttered insults under their breath and spit on the ground whenever she drew near. It was all Kira could do to keep her temper in check.

The dirt road they followed narrowed and widened with the pa.s.sing terrain. It was the beginning of the tenth month, and the trees were vivid with their autumn plumage.

The sun had begun its descent when the tired group came to the outskirts of a bustling village. Farmers drove ox-drawn carts through the dirt streets, while groups of peasant women ambled, carrying hefty bundles on their heads.

Soon they arrived at a large and prosperous inn. A portly man hurried out to meet them, followed by several white-clothed servants.

"Welcome to my humble establishment," the man said with a deep bow. All the servants bowed in unison behind him.

"Is it possible to find a clean room in this establishment?" Shin asked in a languid voice.

The innkeeper nearly touched his forehead to his knees in his effort to kowtow to the senior official.

"Of course Daegam, Your Eminence, we live to serve you! And I will have a fine dinner sent to your room." The innkeeper fawned over Lord Shin.

"My young nephew is with me," Shin said, waving a hand over at Taejo. "Make sure to take good care of him."

They'd agreed earlier that the prince's true ident.i.ty should be kept secret, although Kira was too well known to disguise.

The innkeeper began to direct his servants, who rushed over to a.s.sist Taejo and Brother Woojin. Taejo parted reluctantly from Jindo, who was sent away with the other hunting dogs. The innkeeper was just about to lead them inside, when he caught sight of Kira. His face contorted. "Daegam, must that one be allowed into my establishment? She will scare off my patrons."

Kira pulled her nambawi down lower, wishing she could smash the man's face.

Lord Shin smirked. "Ah, the famous Demon Slayer. Yes, she is a fearsome sight, isn't she? The king was kind enough to lend her services to me as a personal guard for my nephew. Now take me to my room and make sure you don't serve me the same slop you serve your ... other guests," Shin said.

The innkeeper bowed again and led Shin away.

"My wife is a wonderful cook," he bragged. "Best in the village! You won't be disappointed."

"I can only hope your food tastes better than the way your establishment looks."

Kira shook her head in disgust.

At the entranceway to the public room, she hesitated, made uneasy by the crowd. Bracing herself for the worst, she stepped inside.

9.

Bamboo walls part.i.tioned the public rooms into three sections: a crowded main room that stank of vomit and feet, and two smaller dining rooms that sat empty. Kira scanned the area, noting that several of Captain Pak's soldiers had already positioned themselves in the main room, while Captain Pak and Kwan canva.s.sed the area outside. It was Kira's duty to keep close to the prince.

She breathed deeply through her nose. Nothing unusual.

Taejo walked restlessly around the main room, Kira and his guards close behind. At their entry, the crowd didn't quiet down, but Kira noticed their keen attention. Several groups of men sat together, drinking from small brown ceramic bowls as loud discussions arose in merry disagreement. Kira picked out the merchants from the farmers, and the mercenaries from the builders. Even knowing that no one outside the palace had ever set eyes on the prince, she was on edge.

"Perhaps we should follow Lord Shin's lead and retire for the night," Kira said to Brother Woojin and Taejo.

Taejo's face fell.

The monk shook his head. "Don't worry, young mistress. I believe our charge will be safe here." He waved at the soldiers who had filled the room.

"And besides, Noona," Taejo whispered, "no one will bother us while you are nearby." He grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief. He only called her noona, "big sister," in private, or when he wanted to get his way.

Kira smiled reluctantly, glad that he could joke about her role in his life. It couldn't be easy for him. Taejo still had nightmares about the demon that had attacked him when he was a toddler.

She saw the innkeeper whispering to his customers. Within the next few minutes, everyone in the room would know who she was. That was fine. The good thing about her reputation was that most people stayed well away from her.

The men reeked of body odor and the sweet and pungent smell of makkoli, the milky rice wine. Kira felt a slight headache coming on. It was part of her curse, this extraordinary ability to pick up scents. As with anything, there was good and bad. She could smell a demon in hiding or wild honey in the forest. Scents could not escape her. Nor could she escape them. Privies were torturous for her, and public rooms filled with malodors sometimes made her ill.

Trying her best to ignore the scents, she swept her gaze around the room. In a far corner, another group crowded around an incongruous pair pondering a baduk game covered with strategically placed black and white stones. Taejo nudged her and motioned over to the game. They moved closer to watch the play.

A middle-aged merchant, dressed in rich robes befitting his prosperity, sat glaring at his junior opponent. While both players had an even number of captured stones, the older player looked frustrated.

"Excellent strategy!" Brother Woojin whispered into Kira's ear. "I see the young one has set up a truly devious trap. He is surely a master player."

Kira nodded in admiration. Baduk was a very simple game to learn but an incredibly difficult one to master. The object of the game was to take control of as much of the board as possible by capturing or surrounding the opponent's stones. It took most people a lifetime to get as good as the player before her.

He looked to be about Kwan's age-nineteen or twenty years at most-with long, dark-brown hair tied loosely at the nape of his neck. Kira studied his narrow face. He had handsome features that bordered on prettiness, with large, deep-set eyes that stared unwaveringly at his opponent. In fact, Kira thought he was better looking than half the court ladies of Hansong. She grinned at the idea of how incensed the n.o.blewomen would be at such a comparison.

Suddenly, she realized that the baduk player was gazing at her. Embarra.s.sed, she looked away and relaxed only when he returned his concentration to the game.

Kira couldn't help but be curious about this young man. He was dressed in a dark-gray silk jacket and pants of high quality, which proclaimed his n.o.ble status, but his clothes had seen better days. Yet the collar of his white shirt under his jacket was clean and crisp and showed careful attention to his appearance. By his side sat a heavyset youth with a chubby face who watched the game with an intense, nervous focus.

The merchant cursed as he moved one of his pieces, only to have it captured. Scowling, he conceded the game and threw a small leather bag at the young player, who caught it and surveyed the contents before nodding. He and his companion rose from the table and left the common rooms just as her brother entered, heading straight for her side.

"Kira, I'll escort Taejo to his room," he said. "The captain wants you to do a thorough perimeter check before you take your post tonight."

Kira nodded and headed for the courtyard. She was most concerned about imps, the small demon spies that wandered out usually at nighttime. Although they were not as dangerous as demons, if they latched on to an unwary human, they could manipulate them, wreaking death and violence.

Satisfied that the external area was safe, Kira proceeded to the stables. Inside, she was surprised to see the young baduk player sitting beside Jindo. At her arrival, Jindo raced over and licked her hands in greeting.

"I hope you don't mind that I've been playing with your dog," the baduk player said. "He's very friendly."

Kira raised her eyebrows. "Friendly?" she asked. "That's a first! Jindo only likes a few people; everyone else he frightens to death."

Jindo returned to the baduk player's side, rolling onto his back and exposing his belly. The young man laughed and rubbed Jindo, causing the dog to pant in satisfaction.

"Well, I guess he likes me! And I like him too," he said. "You're really lucky."

Before she could reply, someone dashed into the stable.

"Young master!" the new arrival said. "I brought us some dinner. It's not much, but it smells good. Are you sure we can't stay here for the night? It looks like it's going to rain. We should at least sleep in the stable."

He pa.s.sed over a bowl of rice gruel topped with slivers of dried seaweed garnish and sat down to eat from his own bowl, when he noticed her. Jumping to his feet, he bowed low.

"I'm so sorry," he said. "I didn't expect anyone else to be here."

He looked up and gaped in sudden alarm, pointing a finger at Kira's face.

"Y-y-you. Y-y-you're. You," he stuttered, then cleared his voice. "You're the Demon Slayer of Hansong!"