by Ellen Oh
“Jiho! Get over here!” Tess ordered. “You help the princess, I’ll lead, and Jay will cover us from the back.”
Jiho nodded and grabbed hold of Koko, who was too weak to walk on her own. But his mind was still on his father. He wanted to go back and help him. Yet his responsibility was to Koko. His father would never forgive him if he abandoned her. And he would never forgive himself either. Koko needed him.
Resolute, Jiho followed Tess as they made their way to the east gate. They weaved their way through crowded streets, hiding from soldiers.
“We’re almost there,” Tess said.
“Watch out!” Jay shouted. Heavily armed Orion soldiers were patrolling the gate.
They stopped and pivoted into a side street, only to come face-to-face with the Botan clan.
Just then a large runaway wagon barreled into the Botan clan, sending them flying. Off jumped Ranger Park, Calvin, Shane, and Frankie.
Jiho was relieved to see all of them, but especially his father.
“This way,” Ranger Park said. They could hear the shouting of the soldiers attracted by the noise. Weaving in and out of side streets, they bypassed the soldiers and came back to the east gate. This time only Micah and Samena stood blocking their way. The fairy somehow looked bigger than before, as if she’d magically enhanced her size.
“I’m afraid I can’t let you go,” Samena said. With a flick of her hands, fire shot out in a fantastic blaze.
Before the fire could reach them, Master Remauld appeared and formed a protective barrier of crystal magic. He sent a lightning bolt that crashed onto the spot where Samena was standing. Micah and the other soldiers were thrown back from the strike, but Samena had vanished. She reappeared only a second later, and her form seemed to flicker with anger. What happened next was a wild and furious battle between two powerful magical beings.
During the fury of battle, Remauld unleashed a magic strike that destroyed the city wall, to the far left of the fairy.
“Go, now!” he shouted. “I shall cover you.”
Samena unleashed a rapid volley of fireballs, setting the entire area ablaze. From behind, an army of Orion soldiers appeared in attack formation.
“Koko, if you can do anything at all, this might be a good time to use your magic,” Jiho whispered.
She nodded weakly and staggered away from him. She faced the army behind them and took in a mighty breath. And then Koko let out a scream. A magically enhanced bellow that was like a hurricane-force wind. It sent the soldiers soaring into the sky as if they were snowflakes. Jiho watched them turn into specks and vanish in the horizon. Without stopping her scream, Koko turned toward the gate, and her scream kicked up the debris from the exploded wall. She aimed it at Micah and Samena, who were now surrounded by a cloud of rubble and dust.
The danger was gone, but Koko could not stop. Jiho could see her face turning dangerously purple.
He ran and grabbed Koko, immediately stopping the scream and catching her as she collapsed into a dead faint.
“Good job, Jiho,” his father said as he picked the princess up in his arms and ran for the exit. “Quickly! To the Kidahara!”
Only then did Jiho realize that his friends had been hurt. Both Calvin and Frankie were bleeding from different wounds, while Tess and Jay were helping Shane, who was limping.
Jiho ran over to support Calvin, who seemed dazed from a head wound.
“Thanks, Jiho,” Calvin said. “I’m starting to see double now.”
“I got you, friend,” Jiho said. “Let’s get you safe.”
Supporting Calvin’s weight on his shoulders, Jiho rushed them out of the east gate and into the thick forest of the Kidahara. As they ran, Jiho glanced over to see Micah and the Botan clan members lying among the cloud of rubble. But the fairy was gone.
Once they were in the Kidahara, Nackwon scouts appeared and guided them to a cave entrance that was covered over with vines and hidden behind large bushes. Inside the cave, a hidden tunnel took the group into a vast cavern filled with several thousand soldiers. The scouts escorted them to Master Aeria’s private tent, where all the other masters were already gathered.
“Master Remauld, thank the earth goddess that you all are safe! Were there any complications?” Aeria asked.
Remauld pointed at Ranger Park, who carried Koko into the tent and laid her down on a cot that was magicked.
“Iron poisoning,” he said. “She used her powers, and it weakened her badly. But it was an amazing display of power. The strongest I’ve ever seen in a child so young.”
Jiho felt terribly guilty.
“It was my fault,” he blurted out. “I told her to use her magic even though she was so sick.”
“Don’t worry, young Park. The medics will come and take care of her,” Aeria said. “She’ll be fine after some rest.”
But Jiho was concerned. Koko had never seemed weak before. She was always strong and vibrant and full of life. To see her so pale and lifeless felt so wrong. It made Jiho want to do something to help her. But what could he do? He didn’t have any magic.
“We heard reports of a powerful fairy, Remauld,” Master Diana demanded. “Did you recognize her?”
Remauld shook his head. “She calls herself Samena. I’ve never seen her before, and yet there was something familiar about her.”
“Samena? I don’t know of any fairy by that name,” Diana replied. “She must be a rogue fairy. Tell me everything you can about her.”
As Remauld described the fairy and their altercation, Jiho remembered something strange.
“Master Remauld, when we were leaving I saw Micah, the bandit leader, knocked out on the ground, but not the fairy. There was no trace of her. She must have disappeared before the blast,” Jiho said.
“Coward,” Diana spit out. “Disappearing during a fight is cheating. She’s probably no one of consequence.”
“But I thought I saw a moonstone in Micah’s hand,” Jiho continued.
“What? Are you absolutely sure?” Diana asked sharply.
“Yes. I remember because it looked like a tiny moon. The other strange thing is that I remember seeing the fairy before.”
“Where?”
“She was talking to the Omni Murtagh guy when I first joined them,” Jiho said.
“Then she is in league with Luzee and her forces,” Diana hissed. “We must find the moonstones and destroy them before they can set her free from the volcano.”
“We know that there is one moonstone in Jinju,” Remauld said. “But it is useless without the other two, and no one knows where they are.”
“The second moonstone is probably in Roku’s hands by now,” Zaki interrupted. “It was in the safekeeping of the king and queen of Joson.”
“Then we have no time to lose,” Diana said. “We must get them.”
“Even if they have all three moonstones, they can’t resurrect the staff of ki without Sejo’s staff and a dragon’s egg,” Remauld said. “Moreover, even if they had the staff and the moonstones, they will never find another dragon’s egg.”
“Remauld, you are forgetting the power of those moonstones,” Diana retorted. “They are the strongest of all fairy magic. When the first fairy queen felt herself fading from this world, she transferred her essence into the three moonstones that she harvested from moonlight and ocean spray. Then she became one with the wind. Because of the perversion created when Luzee made her staff of ki, the three moonstones completely bonded with Luzee and her magic. They may be enough to free her from the volcano.”
Diana gazed bleakly at the others. “And then we would be doomed.”
Chapter 20
IN THE PALACE receiving rooms that had become Roku’s, Micah stood behind Samena as Prince Roku paced in front of them like a caged animal.
“She was here and you let her escape!” Roku seethed.
“She’s not very far at all,” Samena responded, with a languid wave of her slender pale hand. “I know exactly where she is.”
&n
bsp; “Then what are you waiting for? Bring her to me immediately!”
Samena stood very still. A stillness that was frightening in its malevolence. Micah didn’t have to see her master’s gaze to know what it looked like. The complete blanching of Roku’s face let her know exactly how terrifying it was. Samena vanished and abruptly reappeared mere inches from Roku’s face, causing the prince to lurch backward in fright.
“Do not forget who you speak to, Princeling,” Samena said. “I am not a mortal at your beck and call.”
“Terribly sorry, madam,” Roku stuttered. “It is just that as long as she is free, my hold on the throne is tenuous.”
“I don’t care about your troubles,” Samena said.
“But you should!” Roku retorted. “We made a deal. The princess in exchange for the moonstone.”
Micah perked up. So Roku had the other moonstone. The sister to her own. Then who has the third moonstone? she wondered.
“What about my brother?” Micah asked.
“What about him?” Roku responded.
“Our deal was for me to get the princess to you, and you would release my brother. Now I want him freed.”
“No, you were supposed to bring the princess directly to me!”
“Which I did! I brought her to your men, and your men lost her!”
“Micah’s right,” Samena replied. “She met her end of the deal. Release her brother. Now.”
Samena’s eyes glittered at Roku, and her fingertips lit up with electric sparks. Roku noted the threat immediately, and quickly ordered his men to release Micah’s brother.
“And how are we going to get the princess back?” Roku demanded.
“We don’t have to do anything,” Samena said. “She will come to us. But she will not be alone.”
Samena glided across the floor to gaze out the terrace windows at Mount Jiri.
“I adore this view,” she drawled. “It reminds me of the old days. So kind of you to give me your rooms, Roku.”
Staring at Roku until he stuttered his agreement, Samena floated toward the door.
“Come, Micah, let us make sure your brother is set free.”
Micah scrambled to her feet and ran after her fairy master.
“My dearest girl, you are the only one I can trust,” Samena said in her hypnotic voice. “The only one who is loyal to me; isn’t that right, my pet?”
“Yes, my lady,” Micah rushed to answer. “You can trust me completely.”
The fairy stopped to smile at her young servant. “That is why only you can hold the moonstones for me. I cannot trust the others.”
“The others? Do you know who has the third moonstone?” Micah asked.
“Yes, and it is on its way here. When it arrives, it is imperative that you take possession of both moonstones immediately.”
Before Micah could ask another question, Mari appeared with Micah’s brother, Kai, walking by her side.
“Micah!” Kai said in relief. “Thank the earth goddess! I can’t believe you captured the princess!”
“We did, but the prince’s stupid men let her escape,” she said peevishly. “But that isn’t our problem, Kai. The only thing I was worried about was saving you.”
An unhappy look flitted across his face, surprising Micah.
“What, aren’t you happy to see us?”
He recovered with a grateful smile. “No, of course! I’m so happy you were able to free me. It’s just that I worry about what Roku will do to our clan, now that he doesn’t have the princess.”
“Nothing will happen to your clan as long as I am your benefactor,” Samena cut in as she stepped forward into the light.
Kai’s jaw dropped as he took in the fairy’s extraordinary beauty. “My lady, I beg your pardon for not seeing you first,” he said as he bowed deeply. “I am Kai Valon, Micah’s older brother, and it is my honor to serve you,”
An unexpected surge of jealousy caught Micah by surprise as she watched her brother smooth-talk Samena.
Then, tearing her gaze away, she found Mari at her side, an anxious look on her weathered face.
“We’ve been away from the clan too long, Micah. We should return immediately,” Mari said.
“Oh no, my dear one, Micah can’t go home just yet,” Samena interjected. “I need her. She is the only one I can trust.”
“You can trust me too, my lady,” Kai eagerly offered. “I will be your right-hand person.”
Sharp anger stabbed Micah in the chest. “Mari, take Kai and go home. Now.”
Kai faced Micah with an expression of hurt. “But I want to stay with you, Micah. You are my only sister. I can help you here. It is not a safe place for you to be alone.”
She felt herself waver. When she was little, her brother used to take care of her, look after her. But he’d stopped once she became the White Peony. She missed the old days.
“Mari,” Kai continued. “Don’t you think you’d feel better if I stayed with Micah and you could go back and take care of the clan?”
“That’s a wonderful idea,” Samena offered. “We shouldn’t keep Mari here when she is desperate to go home. Right, Micah?”
Micah nodded unhappily.
“Very well then, I shall leave you to your goodbyes,” Samena said as she began to glide away.
“My lady, let me assist you!” Kai said, impulsively moving closer to the fairy. A bright explosion of sparks from Samena’s arms sent Kai crashing to the ground.
“Kai, are you okay?” Micah asked in alarm.
Her dazed brother nodded. “I’m okay. It was just a shock.”
“My apologies,” Samena said. “I do not like anyone too close to me.”
Kai jumped to his feet and bowed, promising it wouldn’t happen again. He followed the fairy out, still apologizing. Micah stared after them, thinking of what she’d just seen. When Kai stepped close to Samena, right before the sparks, Micah had seen Samena flicker, as if she was a mirage. It was odd.
When they disappeared from sight, Mari let out a deep breath. “I don’t like her,” she whispered. “She’s evil.”
“You’re wrong,” Micah said. “She is the clan’s savior.”
“Or our undoing,” Mari muttered. “Micah, please let’s go home! Something bad is going to happen here. I feel it in my bones.”
“Mari, go home. That’s an order,” Micah commanded. “Take the others and leave immediately.”
The older woman let out a frustrated sigh. “Micah, I swear you’re as stubborn as your mother. But you are still only a child. Listen to me. You are in over your head. You don’t belong here. Leave the moonstone and come home. The clan needs you.”
Micah shook off Mari’s hand in irritation. “I’m not a child. I’m your clan leader, and I told you to go.”
Without a backward glance, Micah marched away to find Samena. It bothered her to realize she was suspicious of her brother and his obvious desires to get close to the fairy. Was her brother trying to displace her? Would Samena choose Kai to hold the moonstones over Micah? Raw jealousy sent Micah running down the palace hallways seeking her fairy master again.
But as Micah entered Samena’s receiving rooms, Brock Murtagh arrived at that very moment, with what remained of his men.
“My lady, I have failed to make any progress in clearing the Kidahara,” he said.
“My dear man,” Samena drawled. “You were never meant to. I needed you as a distraction to flush the princess out. Which you did very well, thank you very much.”
Murtagh looked stunned. “Do you mean all the money I wasted, all the men I lost? All that just to be a decoy for you?”
“Just a decoy? My dear, your role is critical to achieve our goal,” Samena responded. “And once we are done, the Kidahara’s resources will be yours to exploit.”
Micah could see the greed light up the man’s face. It filled her with disgust that her master would have to deal with such an unpleasant creature like him.
Now she understood why she was the only
one Samena could trust. Looking over and seeing the avarice on even her brother’s face made Micah feel protective of her fairy master. All these men who surrounded her only served her because they wanted something in return. Only Micah truly cared for Samena. Only Micah would do whatever she asked, with no expectation of any reward except for her master’s approval.
Chapter 21
JIHO MET WITH his father as they went to check on the princess. His father stood in front of Koko’s tent, leaning on his trusty staff. Jiho couldn’t ever remember a moment where his father was without it. It was as much a part of him as his long, mane-like black hair. He remembered asking his father where he’d gotten the staff, and he had said that it was a family heirloom, passed down to the oldest Park for centuries. That it was their family’s job to always keep it with them. Jiho thought it was bizarre. What was so special about an old wooden staff? It wasn’t even interesting-looking. Just a very ancient, thick walking stick, with a big knobby head.
“What are you doing, Father?” Jiho asked.
His father shrugged. “I don’t know why I feel so uneasy. Staying close to the princess makes me feel a little better.”
“But, Father, she’s safe here, isn’t she?”
“Yes, and yet I cannot quell my gut.”
Jiho was concerned to hear this. While Jiho could sense danger right before it would hit, his father had always been able to sense trouble ahead of time. It was an instinct that he said came with being a Park. Now Jiho too began to feel troubled.
“You can both come in,” Koko called out.
Inside, they found Master Aeria sitting by Koko’s bedside.
“I’ve been having disturbing dreams,” Koko was saying. “They all start with me in the castle. And then I see my parents, but it is only moments before a wave of lava engulfs them. Please, Master, we have to save them.”
“We will, Princess,” Aeria said soothingly. “Masters Remauld and Diana are working on a plan as we speak. You must be patient. The worst thing you can do is step foot in that castle again. It is what the enemy wants.”
