Running a frantic hand through her short locks, Kira took a deep breath and calmed herself, willing her racing heart to slow down.
“I have had the same dream,” she said. “It is a vision. You know my visions. They tend to come true. But this one scares me to death too.”
She crawled over to his side and sat cross-legged before him. “Promise me that you will run from me if that ever happens.”
He hesitated and shook his head. “I can’t promise that.”
“You must!” she said. “If I’m under the control of the daimyo, you have only two choices. You must either kill me or run away from me. I fear that you will not be able to kill me. Therefore you must do whatever it takes to save yourself. Swear this now!”
He nodded slowly. “I promise to save myself.”
Only then did Kira subside. But the coldness in her heart stayed in place. She walked him to his room on the other side of the house and left him in Brother Woojin’s company. She turned to Gom, stroking the little dokkaebi’s wiry hair.
“Gom, I need you to stay by the prince’s side at all times,” she said. “And if you ever see me try to attack him, you must stop me. That is an order.”
Gom’s face looked confused and sad. “It’s all right, Gom.” She hugged him close for a moment. “Don’t be sad. But I’m afraid of what will happen if the daimyo gets control of me. I need to know you will protect the prince, even from me, OK? This is the right thing to do. I promise. But, please, stay with the prince.”
The dokkaebi sat in front of the prince’s door, looking forlorn. It was hard for Kira to leave him, but she knew he would protect Taejo.
She then went off to find her brothers. They were pouring over maps and charts in the command center. Nostalgia hit her. She remembered when she would walk into the supreme commander’s office and see her brothers standing beside their father. She could see her father’s stern face lighten into a smile at her entrance. She missed him so much.
They looked up at her expectantly. Kira swallowed down the bile that had suddenly risen in her throat. This would not be an easy conversation to have.
“I need to tell you something important,” she said. “Something I know will come true because I have had many visions of it. I’m afraid the daimyo will be able to control me.”
“Why? What makes you say that?” Kyoung asked.
With a deep breath Kira explained her visions; she told of the first where she had killed her brothers, then of the more recent one where she attacked Taejo.
“Taejo has never had a vision before, but suddenly he is having dreams where I’m under the control of the enemy? This is not a coincidence,” she said.
“But it might also be a vision of what the daimyo wants us to believe,” Kwan said. “Maybe he is manipulating your dreams.”
Kira shook her head. “No, I know the difference between a vision and a dream. I also know what it feels like to have someone in your head manipulating you. These visions are telling us what might happen and we have to listen. We must be ready for it.
“You must do what you have to do to stop me,” she said grimly.
“We need to keep you from the daimyo,” Kwan said.
Kira disagreed. “That is not the answer,” she said. “My fight is with the daimyo. I must face him. And I must stop him from controlling me. But if I lose . . .”
They looked at her with agonized expressions.
“No,” Kwan said. “There must be another way.”
“You must both promise me that you will kill me if you cannot stop me,” Kira said. “Promise me! If anything were to happen to either of you or Taejo or—” Kira caught herself from saying Jaewon’s name “—or anyone else I care about, I would not be able to live with myself. You must understand that.”
Kyoung pulled her into a tight embrace, while Kwan placed a hand on the back of her head. They stood together like this for a long time.
“Promise me . . .”
They nodded and hugged her tight.
23
On the morning of their departure for Nosong, Taejo called a meeting of the generals. All three of the Kang siblings were there, as was Major Pak.
“I want to lead my men into battle,” Taejo said. “I want them to know that they can count on me to be there for them.”
The generals looked uneasy, but Kyoung beamed proudly at Taejo. “The saulabi have been waiting for you, Your Highness. My brother and Major Pak will flank you and be your first and second in commands. Kira and the Dragon Fighters will join your formation. Your father would be proud.”
Kira was amazed to see that Taejo was as tall as most of the generals in the room. He wore his bright silver armor well, carrying his helmet at his side. He had grown so quickly. Almost thirteen years old and ready to lead an army into battle. Was he really ready? Would he be safe?
She sent her brother a concerned look.
He gazed back at her steadily.