“The Kingdom of Mountains lies above the Kingdom of Water.” The queen stacks her hands as she explains. “The Amheuk won’t be able to reach the Kingdom of Mountains without first going through the Kingdom of Water.”
I nod, struggling to swallow. “What’s above the Kingdom of Mountains?”
“The Kingdom of Sky lies at the top, farthest from the entrance to the Realm of Four Kingdoms,” she answers.
“So the Kingdom of Underworld is closest to the entrance?” My heart pounds against my rib cage. Minju is still there—and my new friends. “Does that mean that the Amheuk already went through it? Is the Kingdom of Underworld g-gone?”
“Taeyoung is awfully clever.” A nerve tics beneath the queen’s right eye, and her voice trembles. “He wouldn’t let something as silly as the Amheuk destroy his kingdom.”
“You’re right,” I agree quickly. “I bet the King of Underworld devised a nerdy work-around to evade the Amheuk’s invasion.”
“At least, temporarily ... But like I said, first things first.” The Queen of Water raises one hand without glancing back. “General Dokgo.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” a female says, stepping out in front of us.
“Assemble troops to deploy to the Kingdom of Mountains,” the queen commands. “Without delay.”
“At once, Your Majesty.” General Dokgo executes a sharp bow, but she hesitates, glancing at the darkness thrashing above the dome. “But with this imminent threat, how many soldiers can we spare?”
“Half. We can spare half of our military force, General,” the queen answers with steely determination. “No kingdom can last long against the Amheuk on its own. We must stop the war in the Kingdom of Mountains so we can unite the forces of all four kingdoms.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” The general spins on her heels and marches away from the audience hall.
“GeneralJeong,” the queen says, and a short, stout male steps up to bat. “Prepare to evacuate as many people as possible. I will send word to the Queen of Sky to request asylum for our people.”
Of course.Everyone should evacuate to the kingdom farthest from the reaches of the Amheuk.
“Right away, Your Majesty.” The general bows and takes his leave.
I want to go to Ethan so badly that pain claws at my chest.But I can’t.I glance down at the mark of the blood oath on my palm, then curl my fingers over it. I have to focus on what I can do.
“Is there a way to contact someone in the Kingdom of Underworld?” I ask the queen. “I want to make sure my friend is okay.”
“Whatever the King of Underworld did to evade the Amheuk”—she worries her lip as though she knows what that might be—“will probably prevent any typical means of communication.”
“Gods.” I tousle my hair aggressively. “What a shit show.”
“Thereisone way.” The queen blows out a long sigh. “I can call the King of Underworld.”
“You cancallhim?” I gape at her, worried my eyeballs might pop out. “You have aphone?”
“A phone?” She snorts delicately. “Of course I don’t have ... Never mind. I’ll show you.”
“Sunny.” Haesan places a hand on my arm. “I will go to the Suhoshin headquarters here. There must be something I can do to help.”
“Be careful, Nephew.” His aunt, who had been hovering beside the queen, pulls him into a teary hug.
“I will.” He steps back from her.
I hug him as well. “See you soon, Haesan.”
“Don’t die, Stormy.” He squeezes me a little too tight, then drops his arms. With a bow to the queen, he leaves us with long, determined steps.
GangSanggungturns to JoSanggung, who stands at the threshold of the audience hall. “What will you do?”
“I must prepare the queen’s meals even if the world ends tomorrow,” she replies staunchly. “I will do my duty.”
“Stay safe.” GangSanggungsqueezes her friend’s hand.
