“Since General Shin has been captured and imprisoned for leading the insurrection”—I pinch the bridge of my nose—“the northeastern division has no direct leadership.”
“Regretfully, no.” General Jo breathes a weary sigh. “The soldiers who aided General Shin in the insurrection are either dead or imprisoned, and those who refused to join him are scattered throughout the kingdom.”
“In other words, our primary military unit—and our first point of defense—is in shambles.” Then I mutter under my breath, “Talk about a perfect shitstorm.”
“The majority of the enemy’s forces are marching straight for Shinsi, cutting across the northeast quadrant toward the southwest quadrant,” General Jo continues. “Our troops are doing their best to slow the enemy’s progress, but we are quickly losing ground.”
“General Hong, Your Majesty.” A tall, broad male steps forward and executes a sharp bow. “I command the southeastern division. I have sent five thousand soldiers to the northeast quadrant, but, unfortunately, I cannot spare any more because ... May I approach the throne?”
“Your Majesty?” Jihun asks, even as he gives me a minute nod to communicate his assent. He trusts these generals, and if need be, he could take down all three without breaking a sweat.
“Approach, General Hong,” I say with a sardonic glance at my royal adviser.
Coming to stand next to Jihun, General Hong unrolls a map of the Kingdom of Mountains and holds it out for both of us to see.
“We found signs of an enemy brigade approaching the southeast quadrant from the north.” He traces a finger in a half circle from the top right of the kingdom to the bottom right. Then he repeats the movement on the left half. “We anticipate additional combat brigades to move around the western outskirts of the Kingdom of Mountains to launch a coordinated attack on the capital.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less from General Bak.” My hands fist on the throne. “He would have all grounds covered.”
“With our remaining troops, General Jo and I must defend the northwest and southeast quadrants to prevent Shinsi from being hit from every direction,” General Hong continues. “But the northeast quadrant remains our weakest point.”
My brows furrow into a frown. “Would the enemy forces be able to moon shift past our defenses?”
“It is difficult to moon shift in mass numbers, but dividing their units risks weakening their forces,” the general explains patiently. “Furthermore, it is too dangerous to moon shift into a hostile territory without knowing what awaits them on the other side.”
“That makes sense.” I’m in way over my head. My mortal college education didn’t cover magical warfare. “Thank you, General.”
I resist the urge to drag my hand down my face, and I push aside the wave of uncertainty. I can’t afford to be embarrassed by my inexperience. I have a lot to learn, but I have the generals and Jihun by my side. I am not fighting this war alone.
Unlike Sunny.
The quiet accusation lands on me like an anvil, and my lungs seize up, cutting off my air supply. I promised her we’d face whatever lies ahead together. I promised her she would not be alone. My heart screams at me to run to her. I don’t know how much longer I can resist its plea.
My gaze drifts back to the bowl.Come back to me, Sunny.I close my eyes and exhale a long, slow breath. She will come. We are bound by the threads of fate. I feel it in the depth of my soul. Wewillbe together again.
For now, I must focus on what I can control.
“Generals, where am I needed most?” I shoot my palm out when General Im opens his mouth. “Where can I be of the most usein the battlefield?”
“You are most needed in the northeast quadrant, Your Majesty.” Despite General Im’s death glare, General Jo continues staunchly, “It is where the fighting is the fiercest, and the morale is the lowest. And perhaps, with you there, the soldiers dispersed by General Shin’s revolt will return to fight at your side.”
“Then that is where I’ll go.” My tone brooks no argument.
I am done watching people die for me. It is long past time I protected my people ... even if it means taking down my own grandfather.
Chapter Seven
Sunny
Captain Seo, Minju, and I land in Korea just before sunset. I’m proud of myself for eating and sleeping my way through a thirteen-hour flight without once thinking about anything more complicated than chicken or beef.
And the captain let me. In fact, she doesn’t poke and prod me, neither literally nor figuratively, evenafterwe get off the plane. Maybe she gave up on trying to figure out what happened to me. I shrink in on myself. Or maybe she thinks I’m beyond help. I shrink even smaller.
I don’t give a fuck.
Besides, this situation has a calm-before-the-storm vibe. The captain doesn’t give up on anything. A slow, dull ache spreads in my chest. Even if I give up on myself, she won’t give up on me.
Stop it, Sunny. Hope is stupid.
