Page 69 of Reign of the Talon
Rui’seyes.
My cheeks are red with laughter and exertion as I hurl snowballs at him, shielding Eunbi—gods, Eunbi—from his snowy attacks. I stare. Is this…how Rui sees me? It does not match how I see myself—my eyes are bright and shining with mirth and kindness, not glowing with hatred and violence. My hands, as I tug off my mittens mouthing,Now it’s serious, aren’t stained with blood. They’re just…hands. Normal hands.
I look like an ordinary girl, giggling so hard that I clutch my stomach. Stepping into a snowball hurling directly for Eunbi’s path, picking her up as she squeals and swinging her around in the snow until we both fall down. Rui’s gaze softens somehow, the moonlight above glowing brighter as he looks at me, trapped underneath Eunbi. His eyes focus on the snow crusting my lashes and the way I’m sticking my tongue out at him.
The snow shifts underneath my feet, and I feel like I’m almost being dragged back, back in time. The world blurs, and suddenly I’m watching myself from the dark ground of the palace gardens in Gyeulcheon. Rolling out of my safe hiding place in the shrubbery and charging an enemy I am far outmatched against. For him.
Rui’s eyes are unfocused, blurry from the pain of Jiwoon’s attack, yet I can still make myself out as I face down the rebel—trying futilely to protect him, despite my mortal body. Through Rui’s eyes I see my bravery, armed with nothing but a whip in front of a powerful immortal. Determined to save the Dokkaebi I was growing to love, even if it kills me. Rui’s emotions crest through me like a tidal wave.
Awe, relief, and joy…as if he’s looking upon a—asavior.
This is what Gameunjang shows me. These…these moments I’d forgotten about, in my despair. Moments where I am not the utter monster I’ve believed myself to be for so long now. Through Rui’s eyes, I watch myself laugh, and cry, and roll my eyes. I see my fury over the innocent humans stolen away by Manpasikjeok, my heartfelt apology and offering of protection to Im Yejin, the shipsmith I’d once hunted, blamed for the deaths of my parents. I see myself fight so hard against the Prophecy in the pouring rain outside of the vegetable shop in the Coin Yard, bearing the agonizing pain of Rui’s fire if only to speak to him as myself for what he feared was the last time.
Before all of this, I had been trying to be Good.
Perhaps if I’d had more time, I would have gotten there. And perhaps…it’s not too late.
I know I’m no hero. Yet as I resurface from the thread, spiraling up back toward my body, I begin to think I am not the hateful, wretched beast I’ve believed myself to be.
Am I somewhere…in between? What was it I’d told Eunbi, so long ago?
“Nobody’s truly Good. And nobody’s truly bad. We’re just…us. Shades of gray in a dark world.”
Gameunjang’s smile is knowing.
“You can be worthy of Rui’s love,” the goddess says quietly, “if you allow yourself to be. Now, try the knot again.”
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Rui
In the Gyeulcheon gardens, the Dokkaebi emperor stares at the scroll crumpled in his hands. The ink, still fresh, drips down his fingers like blood onto the withered plants below. Amidst the war, there has been nobody to tend to the once-vibrant grounds. The tall hedges are nothing but skeletons, the flowers slumped over in defeat, all color leached from their petals. Even the jade fountain in the center is ruined; it spills dirt and dust instead of the sparkling azure water it should. Rui sits on the edge of that fountain as a litany of curses runs through his mind.
The missive was delivered to him in the mouth of a panting Bulgae, sent by the divine twins. They will be making their way here, tonight. The purpose of their visit is clear. Their Bulgae failed to stop the Prophecy, and Rui lost Wyusan. So tonight, he is to be their sacrificial lamb. Dalnim has apparently put aside her unwillingness to directly raise a hand to her own descendant. How thoughtful of them, to give him this time to primp and preen himself for his own death. How vain they think him.
Fingertips lighting blue with blue fire, Rui burns the scroll to ashes. This will yield…complications.
Significant complications.
For it is not yet time.
Rui tilts back his head, staring at his moons. They glow softly in the night sky, their crescents almost resembling mocking smiles. Everything is falling apart. He canfeelhis soldiers’ schemes: more than half of them, they too want to kill him, if only to kill the Prophecy. They have begun to chafe underneath their orders, and no amount of silvertongued speeches can soothe their ire. Sitting here, he would be a prime target for one of their assassination attempts, if not for their fear of his fire. Rui’s lips twist bitterly.
And then he gasps.
The red thread stitched to his heart has suddenly appeared, giving him a franticyank.Eyes widening, Rui leaps to his feet, half expecting the Prophecy to impossibly appear in Gyeulcheon, but when the gardens remain empty and quiet, he knows it is someone else calling to him.
His Lina.
And as pain begins to wash over his body, he knows that she is in trouble.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
The Prisoner
The key from Gameunjang is small and red, with a charm replica of the dongsimgyeol knot attached to its top. It clinks against the other two as I slam the Dalgyal Gwisin—Yego—into the icy ground in the forest glade before the familiar chogajip. I taste blood in my mouth as I grit my teeth, straining to hold the beast down for enough time to behead it.
Damn you, Gameunjang, I think viciously.Control your pests—
