“The people of the Kingdom of Sky really came through for us.” Haesan’s face lights up. “They are working nonstop to feed and house everyone from the Kingdom of Water.”
“I’m so glad to hear that.” It took an apocalypse to smack the bigotry out of these shinbiins, but at least they stepped up when it counted. “How long was I out?”
“A couple of hours,” he says. “I think you needed the rest.”
“You should’ve woken me up,” I grumble, but he’s probably right. I feel more alert after the nap. I jerk a thumb toward the cranky keeper. “I should go talk to him.”
“Sure thing.” Haesan grins, and I stare blankly at him for a moment too long. I still can’t believe he’s alive.
I spin away from thein’eobefore I do something foolish, and I skulk up to Keeper Bae. I cough into my fist and wait for him to turn around. “I, um, thank you for saving my friend.”
The male turns a mottled red, but he manages a curt nod. It seems we’re on our way to becoming best buds.
But in a sudden panic, I step closer to him, and his eyes widen in alarm. He must think I’m trying to hug him or something. Instead, I just grip his sleeves, my knuckles turning white. “Has anyone come through from the Kingdom of Mountains?”
“No, not yet.” Keeper Bae looks relieved not to be hauled into my arms.
“Well, they’ll come over soon.” I don’t like the slight waver in my voice. They are coming.He’ll be here.“When they’re ready, we need to keep the portal open for everyone to come through. Do you think the portal keepers from the Kingdom of Mountains will help from their end? It will make the evacuation much easier.”
“I’m afraid not.” The keeper’s mouth twists in distaste. “Before they went through, I heard General Bak order the troops to kill the keepers to stop them from trying to close the portal.”
“Gods.Those keepers aren’t soldiers. The general just ordered them to bemurdered?” I shudder at the male’s callous cruelty. “D-do you think they succeeded?”
“I can’t say for sure.” Keeper Bae’s voice is grim. “But I was able to keep the portal open for the army without resistance from the other side.”
“Maybe you’re justwaybetter at your job than they are,” I quip, tired of all the ugliness. “Do we need to send someone over there to twirl dirt around like Haesan did with the water?”
“Twirl?” Thein’eoscoffs from behind me. “You meangenerate a massive vortex.”
I smirk at him over my shoulder.Serves him right.I’m still mad at him for trying to sacrifice his life for me.
Keeper Bae first nods at Haesan, acknowledging his great feat, then answers my question, “No, the portal to the Kingdom of Mountains can be propped open from our end.”
“With what?” I crinkle my nose. “With like a tree?”
“A tree will suffice.” He confirms my wild guess. “A verylargetree.”
“Someone has to wedge a giant tree in the portal?” I massage my forehead, my fingers digging into my skin. “How the hell do we do that?”
“I am somewhat restored from enchanting the pond, but my magic will be drained after I prepare the tree,” the keeper says grimly. “I won’t be able to move it.”
“I can help carry the tree.” Haesan raises his hand, volunteering for the job.
“But you expended so much life force generating that massive vortex,” I protest, inadvertently borrowing his earlier words. What he did was really incredible, though.
“I did.” He crosses his arms over his chest with a proud, boyish smile. “This time, I’m merely offering brute strength for the job. I still have plenty of that left.”
“Then I will prepare the token.” Keeper Bae clomps down the stairs to the pagoda and walks over to a stand of trees across from it. He places his palms against the biggest of the bunch and, wearing a bad-tempered scowl, commences berating the tree.
“I like him,” thein’eosays.
“You like everybody,” I scoff, even though I like the grumpy keeper too.
I throw my hand over my eyes when a brilliant green light bursts from one of the wooden pillars of the pagoda, and a beautiful seonnyeo flies out of the portal and lands gracefully on the floor.
“Who—” Before I can finish my question, Jihun flies through the pulsating green portal with Captain Seo in his arms.
A tornado of questions and emotions slams into me at once, and I don’t know what to do.Thank gods, Jihun is okay. Is Cheyun hurt? Where is Ethan?But everything quiets in a heartbeat.My friends need me.I rush to their side.
