Prophecy (29 page)

Authors: Ellen Oh

BOOK: Prophecy

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At the foot of the palace stairs, Taejo dismounted and hesitated. This was where his father and hers had been executed. In her mind, she urged him forward. He straightened his shoulders and climbed up to Eojin’s side.

The crowd became silent, sensing something momentous. The king embraced him. Eojin kept his arm on Taejo’s shoulders as he announced, “My good people, I bring to you your prince!”

The crowd roared with wild enthusiasm.

Eojin raised a hand for quiet.

“Today, Hansong has become part of the Guru Kingdom. As your new king, I will provide you with the full protection of the Iron Army. We will fight on, and drive these Yamato devils back across the seas!”

Eojin waited for the crowds to quiet down before continuing.

“On this momentous day, I declare Prince Taejo of Hansong, my nephew and clansman, to be my heir and successor.”

This time the response was deafening. Taejo looked up at Eojin in bewilderment.

“Look to your people, young prince!” Eojin said with an indulgent smile.

Taejo faced his audience and seemed to search for someone. His eyes caught and held Kira’s. She released the breath she’d unconsciously been holding.

His smile, tinged with sadness, made her ache with sympathy. She knew his grief at losing his parents. She smiled in encouragement, forgetting the pain in her head.

Kira raised her arms in victory. He responded in kind, whooping a great loud cheer.

They weren’t done yet. There was still too much to do. The Yamatos had retreated south. Kudara needed to be dealt with. Kaya and Jinhan had to be rescued. And she still needed to find the last two Dragon King treasures. But for now, nothing else mattered.

They were home.

Glossary

Baduk
—Korean term for the ancient Chinese board game Weiqi and the Japanese game Go

Daegam
—Your Eminence or Your Excellency; term of respect used for high ranking officials

Daimyo
—powerful Japanese feudal lord

Dongji
—winter solstice; usually falls on December 22 of the solar calendar

Haetae
—mythical fire-eating dog

Hanbok
—traditional Korean dress

Hanja
—Korean name for Chinese characters used to write the Korean language

Imoogi
—half-dragon, half-snake mythical creature

Jangseung
—totem poles made of wood or stone traditionally used to ward off evil spirits; also used as village boundary markers

Jesa
—memorial service

Ki
—life-force energy

Kumiho
—nine-tailed fox demon

Li
—Korean measurement unit; 1 li is equivalent to 500 meters, 0.5 kilometers, or 0.31 miles.

Makkoli
—milky rice wine drink

Musado
—warrior

Nambawi
—traditional winter hat

Noona
—boy’s honorific term for an older sister

Ondol
—a floor heating system unique to Korea

Oppa
—girl’s honorific term for an older brother

Sang gum hyung
—double-sword form

Saulabi
—soldier

Suchae
—untouchables, the lowest members of the caste system, including actors, butchers, hunters, and prostitutes

Sunim
—honorific term used for monks

Taekkyon
—the original martial-art form of ancient Korea that has evolved into what is referred to as tae kwon do

Ya
—hey; can also mean “you”

Acknowledgments

While writing a novel is largely solitary, getting it ready to be published is a team effort. I have been so fortunate to have a wonderful team at HarperCollins help bring
Prophecy
into the world. The very first thank-you is to my brilliant editor, Phoebe Yeh, who believed in my book from the first moment she read it. I believe she is a genius. Big thanks also to the incredible Jessica MacLeish, who is so awesome to work with. To my fabulous HarperCollins team made up of the following amazing people: Emilie Polster, Olivia deLeon, Jenna Lisanti, Stefanie Hoffman, and Molly Thomas. My brilliant art directors, Amy Ryan and Joel Tippie, and Sarah Hoy, who created my beautiful cover. To my copy editor, Kathryn Hinds, and production editor, Kathryn Silsand. And of course to Kate Jackson, editor-in-chief, and Susan Katz, publisher extraordinaire.

This book would never have happened if it weren’t for my awesome agent, Joe Monti, who said those four very important words: “I love your book.” Joe, you rock! And I’m so fortunate to be part of the Barry Goldblatt agency and have the fabulous Barry Goldblatt and Tricia Ready, who make all their authors feel special.

My infinite gratitude to:

My ninja writer buddies, Mike Jung and Martha Flynn. What would I do without you guys?

My wonderful writer friends who supported me in all their various ways, including Cindy Pon, Juliet Grames, Caroline Richmond, Marie Lu, Robin LaFevers, Jenn Reese, Elsie Chapman, Carrie Harris, Kiki Hamilton, Laura Riken, Christy Farley, Lisa Liebow, Michone Johnson, Joy Wiznauski, Renee Ahdieh, Aerin Rose, Richard Levangie, and Charles Gramlich. You guys saw me through the hard years.

The incredibly talented Virginia Allyn, whose kindness and generosity I’ll never forget.

Verla Kay and all my blueboarder friends, especially the No Newsers. My Inkies over at the Enchanted Inkpot and my Friday the Thirteener buddies, especially Erin Bowman, who started it all with me.

The supersmart and amazing Stacy Whitman.

Professor Wontack Hong of Seoul University, who so generously shared his time and work with me during my research process.

The best friends a girl could have: Sylvia Lara, who always knew what to say and when to say it, and Anna Hong Kim and Jennifer Choi Um, who were my very own cheering squad.

My dad, who has always been so amazing and supportive; my sister, Janet Poirot, who is an incredible writer herself; my brother-in-law, Laurent Poirot, whose genius tech brain kept me sane; and to my mom, who told me not to be a plain old chicken but to soar like an eagle.

My three daughters, Summer, Skye, and Gracie, who would sit at my feet and listen to my stories, laughing and crying and cheering. Everything I do, I do for you girls.

And my everlasting appreciation to my husband, Sonny, who told me “to just write that book already and buy me a boat!” You are Da Man.

About the Author

ELLEN OH is an adjunct college instructor and former entertainment lawyer who one day picked up a Genghis Khan biography and was never quite the same again. It was the start of an obsessive fascination with ancient Asian history that led to years of researching, which culminated in writing
Prophecy
, her first novel. She also loves martial arts films, K-pop, K-dramas, and cooking shows, and she thinks the
Last Airbender
series was the best animated show ever created. Originally from New York City, Ellen lives in Bethesda, Maryland, with her husband and three daughters and is always on the hunt for a decent bagel. You can visit her online at www.ellenoh.com.

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Credits

Image of gem © Charles D. Winters/Getty Images

Cover design by Sarah Hoy

Copyright

HarperTeen is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Prophecy
Text copyright © 2013 by Ellen Oh
Map copyright © 2013 by Virginia Allyn
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Oh, Ellen.

Prophecy / Ellen Oh.—1st ed.

p. cm.

Summary: “A demon slayer, the only female warrior in the King’s army, must find the lost ruby of the Dragon King’s prophecy and battle demon soldiers, an evil shaman, and the Demon Lord to save her kingdom”—Provided by publisher.

ISBN 978-0-06-209109-3 (hardback)

EPub Edition © DECEMBER 2012 ISBN: 9780062091116

[1. Adventure and adventurers—Fiction. 2. Demonology—Fiction. 3. Prophecies—Fiction. 4. Soldiers—Fiction. 5. Kings, queens, rulers, etc.—Fiction. 6. Fantasy—Fiction.] I. Title.