“Then you can tell us a story,” Gina said excitedly. “We never get any strangers in our village. Tell us all about the Seven Kingdoms and your cousin and the River God’s daughters, and why they made you cut your hair!”
At that moment, the old woman came out carrying a large tray filled with food. Two bowls of piping-hot rice mixed with red beans and a large platter of grilled fish made up the main meal. An array of side dishes was also set out. Jaewon whistled in appreciation. Although the side dishes were simple, they hadn’t seen this many since their last palace meal. Pickled cucumbers and cabbage; sweetened black beans; eggs boiled in soy sauce; tiny seasoned anchovies; and marinated watercress, seaweed, and beansprout salads. Kira’s mouth started watering immediately.
“I will gladly tell stories all night long for this feast,” Jaewon said in awe.
The little girl squirmed with joy at his pronouncement.
“This is an amazing meal. Thank you so much,” Kira said to the old woman.
“The chief said to feed you, then I’ll feed you! She’s the reason our village is so prosperous,” the woman replied.
“So the chief of your village is a woman?” Jaewon asked as he dug into his food. “I’ve never heard of that.”
“Our clan has always had women leaders,” Gina piped in. “My mother says that someday I will be clan leader. I already know everything that goes on in our village.”
“That’s because you’re a busybody who doesn’t know when to mind her own business,” the old woman said.
“You shouldn’t talk to your future clan leader like that!” Gina stood up and faced the grandmother with an assertive lift of her chin.
“Ya! I can say whatever I want to you, little girl. I’ll be long gone before you get to put me in my place,” the old woman cackled.
Gina deflated. “Oh, grandmother! I wish you wouldn’t talk like that.”
“Why? It’s the truth. Nobody lives forever and that’s a good thing.”
“Yes, but nobody wants to be reminded of it all the time, like you do,” Gina complained.
Grandmother Song smirked. “That’s one of the privileges of getting old, little one. I get to say what I want whenever I want and you have to respect me anyway.”
Watching Gina interacting with the grandmother reminded Kira of Taejo. She had a sharp, painful awareness of his absence. She needed to keep going. She needed to find him before it was too late.
They ate the incredible meal quickly. Kira demolished three bowls of rice with red beans along with all the food served to them. She could have happily eaten the rice alone, she’d missed it so much. The simple meal was delicious.
By the time they finished eating, the other children had returned, bringing what appeared to be every child in the village. They sat in the grass, looking up at Kira and Jaewon expectantly.
“Tell us about demons!”
“What do they look like? What do they do?”
“Are you married?”
“How’d you get to Jindo?”
“How come you’re wearing pants?
“Why is your face scarred?”
“Why are your eyes yellow?”
“Do your yellow eyes mean everything looks yellow to you?”
For a moment, Kira was lost in the memories of her childhood, surrounded by noble children taunting and bullying her. These were the same questions she’d heard all her life. And yet hearing them again from these children was a completely different experience. There was no malice or fear, merely curiosity.
She tried to get to them all, but each answer set off a series of more questions. Confused and dizzy from all the attention, she sent Jaewon a pleading glance.
Jaewon stood up and raised his hands for quiet. “Let me tell you our story.”
At his words, the children erupted into excited chatter.
“I met Kang Kira because of a very special dog named Jindo,” he said.
“That’s the name of our island!” Gina exclaimed. “Why is he named Jindo?”
“Because that’s where he came from,” Jaewon said. “He traveled all the way up to the kingdom of Hansong, where he became the best friend of the crown prince.”
The children became so elated at the idea of a prince having the same dog as they did that they burst into chatter once again.
“What does Jindo look like?”
“How old is he?”
Laughing, Jaewon shook his head at them. “I’m never going to get through this story if you keep interrupting.”
They quieted immediately, staring up at him with bright expectant faces.
“It started with a baduk game,” he said.
“What’s baduk?” a little boy asked.
“Jung, shut up!” Gina yelled. “It’s that boring black-and white-stone game that Grandfather Moon is always trying to challenge people to play.”
Jaewon looked aggrieved to hear her describe his favorite game as boring but sighed and continued. “After winning a baduk game at an inn, I’d gone into the stables to check on my horse when I met a beautiful white dog named Jindo. Not long after, Kang Kira showed up and my life has not been the same ever since!”