“Young mistress,” a servant called to her from outside her door. “There are a group of soldiers here to see you. They say it is urgent.”
With a tired sigh, Kira rose to her feet. She’d become too used to sleeping. Inertia and depression threatened to constantly overtake her.
Late in the night, Jaewon had knocked softly at her door, asking her if she was all right. When she didn’t answer, he’d said, “I’m sorry about Shin Bo Hyun. He was a great soldier and devoted to you. As jealous as I was, I would not have wished this on him.”
After he left, Kira held tightly to her little tiger figurine and tried not to cry anymore.
Outside her room, she pulled on her boots and exited the house. As she stepped onto the patio that led to the courtyard, she paused at the incredible sight before her. All of Shin Bo Hyun’s army stood before her, numbering over a hundred men and women.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
A female soldier stepped forward and bowed. “I am Ha Minhee. I was first captain under Major Lee and Commander Shin. With the death of the major and our commander, I am currently in charge of the Dragon Fighters,” she said. “We want to stay and fight, but the Dragon Fighters are now leaderless. We cannot be absorbed into another battalion. We’re not professional soldiers. What we do best is guerrilla warfare. And we need a leader who understands us. And more than a third of our force are women fighters. You’re the only female to have ever been accepted into an official army. You’re one of the elite saulabis. That’s why we’re here. The Dragon Fighters would like to ask you to be our leader.”
Kira couldn’t speak at first, fighting to retain her composure. She was so touched by the display of faith they showed in her.
“I am deeply honored by your request,” she said. “But are you sure about this? I’m no longer the same person I was before.” Her voice grew hoarse. She cleared her throat. “Perhaps my second brother would be the wiser choice.”
Captain Ha shook her head. “You are our only choice. And we believe it was what our commander would have wanted.”
Kira had to look away. She refused to cry anymore. The sharp pain of Shin’s loss was too recent. The guilt too hard to overcome. But perhaps this was what he would have wanted. Maybe by taking over this group of soldiers that he had become so close to, she could honor his memory in some way.
“Captain Ha, if you would be my first in command, then I would be happy to be your leader,” she said.
The Dragon Fighters cheered, setting off a loud roar.
Kira stood on the raised porch of the house she’d hidden herself away in. For the first time since losing her tiger spirit, she felt a renewed energy and purpose.
“Shin Bo Hyun,” she whispered, “I shall lead your soldiers into battle and we will seek a victory in your honor. I promise.”
“Noona,” Taejo called to her. “I must speak with you privately.”
Kira opened the door and let her cousin into her room. They sat on opposite sides of the room, leaning comfortably against the walls.
“I feel guilty that I was never nice to Shin Bo Hyun,” Taejo said. “And now it’s too late to apologize to him for all that he did to help us.”
“I’m sorry too for being the one to drive him away,” Kira said. “But I think he knew. He knew we needed him and appreciated his help. It was not in his nature to stay where he wasn’t wanted or needed.”
“So Sunim was right. He really was a good man,” Taejo said.
“Yes, he was. He redeemed himself from all that his uncle had done and forced him to do. He died a hero,” Kira said.
The silence between them was heavyhearted.
“Noona, I’m frightened.”
Taejo hung his head, looking ashamed of the words he’d uttered. “I’ve been having terrible nightmares,” he whispered. “Filled with monsters that are overtaking the world. And life as we know it is no more. But the scariest dream I had was the one with you.”
He hesitated, his eyes round and frightened.
“It’s all right, tell me,” she said.
Taking a deep breath, he spoke quickly, his words jumbling together in his rush. “I dreamed that you were under the control of the daimyo and were trying to kill me.”
Kira bolted up, shuddering at the vision that came instantly to mind. This was not a coincidence. Her worst fear could possibly come true. Kira’s heart pounded in her chest as if she’d been running up a mountain. A fear like never before iced over her spine.
“Listen to me,” she said urgently. “You must promise me that if I ever appear as if I’m not in control of myself, you are to run away from me—do you understand?”
He looked more frightened. “Why are you saying this?”