The children all laughed at his dramatic pronouncement and Kira rolled her eyes. But it was a pleasure to see Jaewon interacting with the kids. He was a clear crowd-pleaser. She loved to hear him speak.
“When I left the inn, I never thought I’d see her again, but fate had other plans for us,” he said. He explained how it was Jindo who found him and Seung and brought them back to help Kira when her party was being attacked by Yamato soldiers. The children banged on their legs and booed the Yamatos. They listened in rapt attention as he described the Dragon King’s Temple hidden in the mountains and the prophecy. How the monks believed that the young prince was the Dragon Musado and how it was Kira’s job to protect him always. The children all stared in deep admiration at Kira as Jaewon described her fighting abilities. Kira felt her face growing hot as he waxed poetical. She shot him an irritated glare until he continued. Then he told of how they took the prince north to his uncle for safekeeping and convinced King Eojin of Guru to bring the Iron Army and help fight for Hansong. Jaewon explained how some of the citizens began to believe King Eojin was the Dragon Musado.
The children gasped and one child got so upset he jumped to his feet shouting, “That’s wrong! The prince is the Musado! Not the old king! They’re all stupid!”
Such a loud ruckus ensued that Gina had to shout down the others for quiet so that Jaewon could continue. He described their secret trek down to the Diamond Mountains and how Kira and Taejo met the Heavenly Maidens, who explained where the first treasure would be. When Kira and Taejo went deep into the caves behind the Nine Dragons Waterfall, they found a large turtle who opened its jaws and on its black tongue rested a ruby as big as an apricot. This was the tidal stone that had the ability to control all the seas. He told them it was Kira who accepted the stone and Kira who wielded the power of the stone. And when enemy soldiers were about to kill him and his friends, she made an enormous water dragon out of the river that saved all of their lives.
This time Gina interrupted.
“It’s her! She’s the Dragon Musado, not the prince!” Gina shouted. “Am I right? I’m right, I know!”
Kira acknowledged her with a bow.
All the girls began to scream and clap in absolute glee. “I knew it! And she’s a girl!” Gina was bouncing up and down in happiness.
Kira noticed that many villagers had quietly appeared, sitting down on the grassy area around them. They looked content to listen to the ongoing story.
Jaewon then took them through their reunion with the Iron Army and their return to Hansong. When he got to the part where Kira and the prince were captured by the traitorous Lord Shin, the children gasped in fear. They stared at Kira as if they believed she was in grave danger, even at that very moment. Kira pinched her nose to keep from laughing. She’d never been the subject of such adoration. The feeling was both embarrassing and uplifting.
“This part of the story might be scary for some of you young ones. I’m not sure if I should continue,” Jaewon said sorrowfully.
A chorus of indignant complaints assaulted Jaewon. Even the adults began to yell at him. This time Kira laughed out loud. She loved the lively, playful interaction of the villagers. It was comfortable. It was homey.
“In Hansong, Kang Kira and Prince Taejo were trying to rescue the queen when they were captured by Lord Shin and the evil Shaman Ito. All three of them were marched through the streets of Hansong to face the firing squad on the cliffs overlooking the Han River. It was there that the beautiful queen saved her son and niece by wrapping her arms around Lord Shin’s neck, throwing them both over the cliff. At this sacrifice, the citizens of Hansong revolted and attacked the Yamato, helping Kang Kira and the prince escape into the crowds.”
Some of the children and adults wept openly.
Jaewon went on to describe the exciting battle against the imoogi, where Kira used the tidal stone to create a water dragon that turned to ice. The ice dragon killed the imoogi and Hansong was saved. King Eojin marched into Hansong and proclaimed Prince Taejo his heir. The children all rose to their feet in thunderous applause. Even Kira had to clap in sheer admiration of Jaewon’s storytelling skills. She couldn’t take her eyes off him. He was magnificent.
Kira noticed that the courtyard was now filled with all the adults who had been in the marketplace earlier. They were listening as if spellbound. Someone handed Jaewon a ladle of cool water. He drank gratefully before continuing.