“I thought you needed to breathe underwater.” The king’s brows knit in confusion.
“I do. Is ... that supposed to help with that?” I point at what I am now certain is a clothespin.
“Absolutely.” The King of Underworld reaches out and pinches my nose with it. “There.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” I promptly remove the offending clothespin and tuck it into my jeans pocket. “I’ll put it on when I get there. If you can point us toward the portal, we’ll be on our way.”
The corners of the king’s mouth droop. “So there is no time for you to show me your fox—”
“Your Majesty.” The Judge of Tenth Hell storms into the throne room with two males and two females in tow. “I have gathered the generals.”
“Very well.” The king glances at me and sighs forlornly. I consider taking mygumihoform because I feel bad for him. But then, he draws his shoulders back and says with dignity that belies the puppy dog face he was making a minute ago, “Gyun, this is Gang Haesan. He will arrange an audience with the Queen of Water for Sunny. Please escort them to the portal and have the keeper let them through to the Kingdom of Water.”
Gyun takes stock of Haesan before he nods. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Who is that?” thein’eoasks me from the corner of his mouth.
“He’s the Judge of Tenth Hell,” I say, also out of the corner of my mouth.
“Of course he is.” Haesan almost sounds cheerful. He might be going into shock.
“Sunny.” The king turns to me. “Once the Kingdom of Sky is subdued, will you arrange for Bora ... I mean ... the Queen of Water and me to meet with the King of Mountains?”
“I ...”Ethan.Suddenly, I can’t breathe.
“You do know the King of Mountains, do you not?” The King of Underworld cocks his head to the side. “It seems unlikely that anyone would risk their life to help someone they don’t even know.”
“I do know him.” Even if I can’t return to the Kingdom of Mountains, the Sentinels will know what to do. “The King of Mountains will meet with you and the Queen of Water gladly.”
I can only hope that the Queen of Sky will be cooperative once the war ends. We need all four kingdoms united, not just three. I knead the back of my neck.One thing at a time.
“Ready?” Gyun arches a thick eyebrow at me.
“Yes.” I tug on Haesan’s sleeve. “Let’s go.”
“With your leave, Your Majesty.” The Judge of Tenth Hell bows to the King of Underworld.
“Thank you for everything, Your Majesty.” I bow low from my waist, and Haesan mimics me at my side.
“Till we meet again,” the king says to me with a courtly bow.
“Come with me.” Gyun rushes us out of the throne room. Then he reaches out for Haesan and me, his hands hovering behind our backs. “If I may.”
I nod, and Haesan shrugs. The judge wraps his arms around each of us, and we’re standing outside the Jeoseung Palace. I squint, surprised to see the sun out.
Morning has dawned in the capital of the Kingdom of Underworld.Another day apart from Ethan.I push aside my longing. Moping because I miss him isn’t going to help Ethan. I have to send him reinforcements so he can end a war he never asked for—a war he tried so hard to stop.
“This city looks peculiar,” Haesan murmurs. “But not in a bad way.”
“Thank you.” The Judge of Tenth Hell looks amused.
I put a hand on the judge’s arm. “Were you able to reach Mun?”
“Yes.” Gyun nods. “He will escort Cheyun to the Jeoseung Palace to confer with the generals.”
“Good, thank you.” But I gasp, gripping his arm tighter. “Will you please let Minju know where I’ve gone?”
“I will be sure to tell her.” Gyun clasps his hand over mine in reassurance.
