“The prince must show his people that he is ready to be a king,” he said. “This is his chance for glory. We must all support him.”
As everyone agreed, Kyoung continued. “This is also your moment, little sister. The prophecy has always been about you, not the prince. I think we all recognize this now. Even Brother Woojin has agreed that the interpretation of the monks was false. The One of the prophecy is you and only you. You must now meet your destiny without the shackles placed on you by our uncle and our father in their efforts to protect the prince. You’ve met those vows. Now, you must let him go and fulfill your role in the prophecy. Are you ready?”
Kira exhaled a long, drawn-out breath that released the last of her self-doubts.
“Yes, I am.”
“Then let’s go kill the daimyo and drive this demon scum off our land!”
They left for Nosong immediately. Kira joined the Dragon Fighters, adding their distinctive headband to her forehead. Her hair had grown long enough to pull into a stubby ponytail. Nara rode by her side, changed back into a Dragon Fighter’s uniform of red.
But it was the sight of Jaewon that shocked Kira the most. When she saw him, she caught her breath. He’d changed into full armored gear to match her own. He wore a black saulabi uniform under the black-scaled armor that covered his entire torso. Leather bracers protected his forearms while the Dragon Fighters’ insignia was displayed proudly on his forehead. His long hair was left flowing down his back instead of tied up into a topknot like the others. He looked amazing. She noticed the admiring looks he was getting from the female soldiers. Kira felt a fluttering inside her chest as he approached her.
“You look good,” she said gruffly.
He gave her an admiring look. “So do you.”
Seung rode with him. He too was wearing a headband and leather armor. His friendly face seemed untroubled by the danger they were heading into.
“Look, they have given me a sword,” Seung said in awe. “I’ve never had my own before.”
“I thought you were going to stay in the medical tent,” Kira said in confusion.
Seung nodded solemnly. “Your brother said just in case, I should have a sword.”
Understanding dawned. “Then I hope that you will never have to use it,” she said.
Their group joined with Taejo, who was flanked by Kwan and Major Pak. Brother Woojin rode behind them and Jindo and Gom kept up on foot.
As they rode, Jaewon stayed close to Kira.
“I don’t know what will happen in Nosong. But I wanted to tell you that I regret nothing,” Jaewon said.
“Me too,” Kira said.
“Maybe one day, we can go back to Modo Island and walk across that bridge without worrying about drowning,” he said.
“Only if we get to eat Grandma Song’s grilled fish and soy sauce eggs again,” Kira replied.
Jaewon groaned. “Why did you have to remind me! My mouth is watering.”
They laughed as they traded their memories of happy times.
“When I first saw you in the stables that night we met, I thought you were like someone out of my dreams,” he said.
“More like nightmares, you mean,” she quipped.
“No, Kira. I’ve always thought you were the most beautiful girl in the world,” he said.
Kira was silent. “Do you still feel that way even though my eyes are plain old brown?” she asked.
“Plain old brown?” he asked in amazement. “If that is what you call them, you have not really looked at them.”
It was true that Kira had been avoiding mirrors, even more so than ever before. The one time she looked, she’d hardly recognized herself. Most of the self-inflicted scratches had faded away but for one claw mark that had gouged the middle of her cheek. The same cheek that had been marred by the whip so long ago. Her eyes were so dark now that she almost felt like she was looking at another person.
“Before your eyes were a golden yellow, now they are a golden brown. To be honest, I can’t really describe them. I think they are beautiful,” he said.
A light rosy flush covered Kira’s cheeks. She was still not used to anyone calling her beautiful. Self-conscious, she rubbed her fingers along her old and new scars. Jaewon reached over and pulled at a curl that had come loose.
“Do you remember that night on Modo when you slept in my arms?” he asked.
“I’d had a terrible nightmare,” she said.
He nodded, smiling, with a faraway look on his face. “That was the happiest night of my life,” he said. “Because I got to hold you and watch you sleep.”
Kira was moved, a lump forming in her throat at the wistfulness in his voice. “Don’t let my brother hear you,” she warned in a husky voice.
“I wouldn’t tell anyone,” he said. “I refuse to share that memory. It is precious to me.”
“Me too,” Kira replied.
Suddenly, a horse maneuvered in between them, forcing them apart. Kwan glared at Jaewon and then at Kira. “I think I will ride with my sister for some time,” he said.