Free Prophecy by Ellen Oh Page A

nodded. They headed down the riverbank on foot, keeping to the woods, away from the road.
    Soon after, she smelled the entrance to the sewage tunnel, a recess built below the city wall and hidden by the forest that spread out from the riverbank. Kira held her breath as she pushed her way through the opening and down a short set of stairs, Kwan right behind her. Hansong was the only city in the entire peninsula that had sewage tunnels whose real function was a secret escape route for the royals.
    It was dark except for the sunlight filtering through the drainage grates above them. They rushed through the tunnel and exited into an alley behind a public bathhouse. On the main thoroughfare, Kira noticed the shops were closed and very few people walked the city streets. Those who were kept their heads down, carefully avoiding eye contact. It was such a change from how life had been just a few days ago.
    At the marketplace, the normally crowded stalls were only half full with vendors, and few customers. Enemy soldiers patrolled the perimeter. The red uniforms of Kudara soldiers were mixed in with Yamato soldiers, who wore coarse white uniforms under simple black armor vests.
    “Where is the tunnel?” Kwan asked.
    Kira pointed down an alleyway on the left side of the marketplace, across the main promenade. Suddenly, a crowd began to form at the other end of the street. People came running out of buildings, pointing in horror, while others wept and wailed. Angry shouts forced the crowd to the sides as a dozen enemy soldiers beat back those who didn’t move quickly enough. Her nose confirmed what her eyes could also see: these soldiers were possessed. Their skins undulated with the movements of the demons within.
    She hunched down, her hat obscuring her face, to avoid the restless eyes of the demon soldiers. She heard Kwan curse under his breath.
    Kira looked up and froze, horrified. It was King Yuri, in heavy chains that wrapped around his neck, hands, and feet—his robes filthy and torn as he faltered under the weight of his shackles. Behind him walked Taejo, holding up his exhausted mother.
    But it was the sight of her father, tied up like a common criminal, that sent Kira into a mindless fury. Reaching for her sword, she started to shove past the spectators when a hard jolt on the head sent her crashing to the ground.

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    Kwan pulled her up and shook her. “What are you doing? Get ahold of yourself and don’t do anything stupid!”
    Mortified, Kira bit her lip so hard she could taste blood. She willed her body to remain still even as her mind screamed in outrage and fear. Taejo looked tired, his face carefully blank. But her father’s face showed signs of a recent beating.
    The general walked with his head held high, giving no hint of any strain or emotion.
    Kira gazed at her father, wishing he’d look at her and know that she and her brother were there. The general marched past, ignoring the soldiers that prodded him with their swords. One lone horseman rode behind the procession, his red-and-gold robes gleaming in contrast to those of his prisoners. Anger coursed through her at the sight of Lord Shin’s arrogant face.
    “They’ve got to be heading for the palace steps,” Kwan said.
    Kira agreed. Royal pronouncements were always made on the tiered steps for the citizens to see. And Shin was out to make a spectacle of the royal family.
    Kira and Kwan pushed through the crowd and ran into an alley. At the end of the alleyway, Kira found a tunnel entrance covered by a shed.
    Kwan began pulling the shed away from the wall. “Come on, Kira, help me already!”
    Rage and fear warred within her as his words rang in her ears. Something cracked inside of her. With sudden violence she twisted and kicked the side of the shed, causing it to collapse.
    “Have you lost your mind?” Kwan said. Grabbing her by the arm, he yanked her against the wall. “Are you trying to get us caught?”
    Her brother shook her hard