The chief shook her head in pity. “You must pray to the heavens to have them send you a miracle. For you need all the help you can get. Their mountain is unnatural, but it was not always like this. Legend has it that there was a time when the monks were our friends and the temple was accessible to all. But then one day a young boy came from the mainland. He asked to become their disciple. They took him in and trained him, and he became like a trusted son. Unbeknownst to them, the boy’s true intent was to steal the Dragon King’s prized jade belt. He killed his mentor and broke into the heart of the mountain. But he was unaware that a dragon was guarding the belt.”
She paused, looking at Kira with worry. “The dragon killed him. Overnight the temple mountain changed and warped into the unnatural creation it is now. No one sees the monks anymore, but boys and girls disappear every year. That’s why the children must always travel with a dog. The dogs can sense the presence of a monk and warn the children to get to safety. It has been years since we’ve lost a child, but I hear the other villages have not been so lucky. People claim that the monks are cannibals, but I’ve never believed that.” The chief shrugged. “It’s ignorance. I think they take those children to become disciples. It’s interesting me that the boys and girls taken were always the most adventurous and rambunctious ones. Never the meek or mild. The Tiger’s Nest monks are warriors, first and foremost.”
“That is good to know,” Kira said. “It will relieve my friend’s mind.” Kira nudged Jaewon playfully. “At least you don’t have to worry about them eating me,” she teased.
Jaewon glared at her. “It’s not funny. They are still deadly warriors and you are their number one enemy.”
The chief sighed. “It’s true. If you are here for the Dragon King’s greatest treasure, then you are in grave danger. They will do anything to keep you from the jade belt.”
The sun’s fading light had brought shadows across the chief’s face. With a bracing nod, she rose to her feet.
“Come, I will show you to your rooms,” the chief said. She raised her hand to cut off Kira’s protests. “It’s too dangerous for you to travel at night. If it isn’t the monks, it’s the tigers that will get you. Better for you to leave early in the morning. You still have a half day’s travel before you reach the temple. Rest here. I insist.”
7
A sharp pain, like that of a knife slipped into her gut, brought Kira fully awake. Without lifting her head, she opened her eyes a crack and peered around the room. Gina slept soundly on a pallet next to her. There should have been no one else with them, but Kira knew someone was there. She felt it.
She turned to her side, freeing her legs of her blankets and reaching under her pallet, where she’d hidden her dagger. Now she faced the direction that she’d heard the intruder. Peering carefully through her lashes, Kira waited. Not long after, she saw the intruder approaching stealthily to her side. He had dark skin and wore only black trousers with a black sash tied around his waist. A long knife glinted in his right hand. As soon as the intruder got close, she lashed out high with her leg, catching him in the throat. With a quick move she jumped to her feet, hooking her leg around his foot and sending him crashing to the ground, facedown. She put her knee on his back and twisted his arm up, hearing the loud snap of the breaking bone. He dropped the knife, letting out an agonized cry.
Gina woke up with a scream, bringing Jaewon and Gina’s parents running in from the other rooms. By then it was all over. Kira stood over the injured assassin.
Gina quickly lit a candle and ran to her parents.
“So you’re a Tiger’s Nest monk,” Kira said. She studied him carefully. He was extremely well muscled and fit.
“I have to admit, I’m quite disappointed in your order. I didn’t think you’d be the type to run to sneaky assassinations in the middle of the night. I thought you were honorable warrior monks.”
His head whipped up in anger. “Come to the temple and prove your worth then, girl! Let us see if you are deserving of your title!”
“Prove my worth? To a bunch of assassins? You don’t even know the meaning of a fair fight,” she remarked.
His nostrils flared and his dark eyes narrowed in fury. “Who is not worthy? You, a proven thief, who comes to steal our greatest treasure? How should we treat you?”
“I come to save my cousin, who was kidnapped by Fulang,” Kira said. “If I am meant to have the third of the Dragon King’s treasures, then it will come to me, regardless of what you might do to stop me. I no longer question my fate. I follow my path wherever it may take me, and right now it leads to your temple.”
“Then come, Dragon Musado. I give you my word, there will be no further attacks from the monks until you enter our temple,” he said. “If you make it, that is. Then you can show us your true worth.”
She stared him down, judging the truth of his words before finally agreeing.
“I will be there,” she said.
The monk rolled onto his feet, cradling his injured arm, and strode out the door into the dark night.
Kira followed him into the jungle, but he vanished out of sight. Even with her night vision, she was unable to catch any sign of the monk. Jaewon appeared at her side.
“I wanted to kill him,” he hissed. “What’s going to prevent them from trying again?”