“Your M-Majesty. We are f-finished administering acupuncture on the queen.” She wrings her hands. “Hergiis much improved, b-but she has not regained consciousness.”
“I must see her.” I step toward the door, and theuinyeoscrambles away to let me through.
My reckless anger falters when I see the Queen of Sky lying on the sleeping mat, pale and still. I’ve seen my mother’s face reflected on the mirror of her memories, and my aunt looks so much like her that yearning twists in my chest.
“Your Majesty.” I sit down next to her. “My name is Ethan. I ... I am your sister’s son. She didn’t leave me many memories of you, but I know she loved you very much.”
I stare expectantly at her, hoping for a reaction—even a twitch of her finger—but she remains absolutely still. What if she doesn’t wake up?
No, she has to.
“General Bak waged war against her people, and he refuses to surrender, even though the Kingdom of Water and the Kingdom of Underworld fight at our side.” I keep talking. “He would rather see all his soldiers die, and die himself, than admit defeat to the Kingdom of Mountains. And he plans on taking as many people as possible with them.”
Please wake up.
“More than anything, he ...” My voice breaks, and I cover my eyes with my hand. “He wants to seemedead. And I can’t watch more people die because of me. You’re the only one who can stop this war. Please.”
“Is it truly you?” a reedy voice rasps.
“Your Majesty.” I drop my hand from my face and scramble closer to her. “Are you awake?”
Her eyes remain closed, and I hold my breath.Did I imagine it?
“Hyeok.” She calls me by the name my mother gave me—a name I only learned of when I broke the stone of tears. No one has ever called me that before, and it warms my heart.
“Y-yes,Imo.” My eyes round at my own slip, but calling herauntfeels so natural.
She opens her eyes, and I suck in a sharp breath. Wordlessly, we stare at each other for a long moment. Then she shifts onto her side, and I rush to help her sit up.
“Hello, Nephew.” She offers me a soft smile. “I am so happy to finally meet you.”
“Me too,” I say with an answering smile, but it fades abruptly. “I-I need your help. You have to order the arrest of General Bak and stop this war. We have to stop this bloodshed. Too many have died already.”
“War?” She looks around my study in confusion. “Where are we?”
“We’re at the Shinsi Palace. Jihun and I found you on the battlegrounds, being held prisoner under General Gim’s watch,” I belatedly explain. “Grandfather poisoned you, then launched an attack on the Kingdom of Mountains. Then he brought you with him to hide what he’d done.”
“So it has come to that,” she sighs, her shoulders falling.
General Bak betrayed and hurt her too. “I’m sorry.”
“There will be time for that later. Help me up, Hyeok.” The queen holds on to my arm and rises to her feet. She sways and leans heavily against me, but her voice is implacable. “Take me to my father. There is no time to waste.”
By the time we reach the courtyard, her breath is already labored. She’s in no condition to make the trek to the wall. She was poisoned and unconscious for days. It’s a miracle she is standing on her own two feet. She needs more rest, but so much is at stake.
I glance over my shoulder at Captain Ha, who followed us from the study. “Please assist the queen.”
“Yes, my king.” He rushes to the queen’s side, then pauses. “With your leave, Your Majesty.”
The queen nods, and he takes her arm. The captain towers over her, but her regal posture lends her a more imposing presence. The knot in my stomach loosens slightly. She is more formidable than she appears.
“I must go ahead of you to the fortress wall,” I tell my aunt. “I will prepare a bowl of water for you to moon shift there.”
“I understand.” She squeezes my hand. “How long do you need to reach the wall?”
“Minutes.” With mygipartially restored, I should be able to get there in ten minutes, but I can’t risk stranding the Queen of Sky in theabyss. “Captain, wait thirty minutes, then fill a bowl with water for the queen.”
“Of course, Your Majesty.” He bows with his head, holding my aunt steady.
