Kira knew he was thinking of his mother, of how she had tried to kill him when they were in North Wagay Village.
“Well, I am impressed because I can’t cook anything,” Kira said. “I think there is a talent for cooking that you either have or don’t have. And I most certainly don’t have it.”
Jaewon shook his head at her. “Not true. You roast meats.”
“More like burn them,” she retorted.
Jaewon shrugged. “I like my meat well done.”
Kira gave him a disbelieving look.
He smiled back. “Cooking, like anything else, can be learned. Even the worst cooks can eventually make simple yet flavorful meals. I think the truth is you don’t want to cook. You are one of those people who just want to eat the food and not make it.”
“That is very true,” Kira said complacently.
They finished eating in contented silence. The sound of the gentle waves coming in and out was peaceful.
“You know what I like best about this island?” Jaewon asked.
Kira cocked an eyebrow at him.
“Your brother is not here.” He grinned.
“I thought you liked Kwan.”
“I do,” Jaewon said. “But he is always hanging around so I can’t be alone with you.”
“He is very smart, my brother,” Kira teased. “He recognizes a lecher.”
Jaewon was insulted. “How dare you! I’m no lecher!”
With a snicker, Kira pulled out her blanket and laid it next to the fire. It was so easy to joke around with Jaewon. He was a comfort to her.
As she settled herself, she worried about Taejo and Gom. She wondered what was happening to them. If they were eating and how scared they probably were. She needed to get to Jindo as quickly as possible. If only the pathway would appear, it would take far less time to run the miracle bridge than to row over to the island.
“What are you thinking of?” Jaewon asked.
“I’m hoping that this magic path opens up at the right time,” she said. “I’d rather run than row.”
“Yes, but I’d rather row than drown, thank you very much.”
Jaewon unfurled his blanket and lay down on the opposite side of the fire. “What do you think about the admiral’s crazy plan?”
“Kyoung Oppa thinks it’s brilliant,” she said, “so I’m sure it will work. Hopefully, all the patrols will be called away and we can sneak across.”
“Maybe it would be better if we take the boat over,” he said.
“We’ll see,” Kira said, her eyes closing. “My concern is that we need to take advantage of the initial chaos when the patrols will desert their posts. Rowing would take a long time. But let’s get some sleep. I want to wake up early and try to collect morning dew for water.”
“How do you do that?” Jaewon asked.
“I’ll show you tomorrow.” With a tired yawn, Kira fell fast asleep.
It was nighttime. She was standing outside a large encampment full of soldiers. Her body was rigid, her teeth grinding down on each other. With all her might, she willed herself desperately not to move, but she was no longer in charge. An overriding compulsion forced her to enter the campsite and walk through. As she passed the soldiers, they greeted her with respectful bows. But she took no notice of them. Struggling mentally against the force that was controlling her, Kira was in a panic. She had the same sense of invasiveness she’d had when Nara had shared her memories. But this time the intrusion was by a malignant force that overpowered her. She moved as if in a waking nightmare, aware of her actions but powerless to stop herself. Sweat beaded her forehead. Kira tried to open her mouth and scream, but her lips wouldn’t move. Only her legs kept going, cutting through the Iron Army, leading her to the command center. This would be where her brothers were.
She tried to stop herself, but the intruder was like a vise in her head. With mounting dread, Kira knew that she was being forced to do something horrible. Her left hand swept the entrance curtain aside as her right hand gripped her sword. Inside, her brothers were both huddled over a map with several other generals. They looked up at her approach, first with smiles and then with growing confusion. She dispatched the generals first, before they could even register the attack.
“Kira, what’s wrong?” Kyoung asked, his eyes wide with alarm. “Can you hear me? Are you still our sister?”
Kwan circled around Kyoung with his sword drawn. It tore at Kira’s heart to see the agony in his face.
“What have you done to our sister?” he shouted.