The Kite Fighters by Linda Sue Park Read Free Book Online

others.
    The King waited until the huge carved doors had closed again. Then he hopped down off the throne and took the kite from Kee-sup's outstretched hands. His face shone with open delight.
    "This is wonderful! Better than I could have imagined. Look at how it sparkles!" He tilted the kite to and fro for a few moments, then looked at Kee-sup. "This is even better than the tiger kites!"
    Kee-sup stammered as he answered. "I—I am honored that Your Majesty is pleased with the kite."
    Young-sup saw the startled look on Kee-sup's face and sensed at once the source of his brother's discomfort. He cleared his throat and addressed the King. "I
think you will have to command him, the same as you did with me."

    "Oh, that. Yes, of course. Kee-sup, isn't it? Lee Kee-sup, when we are alone, you are not to address me as the King. Just act as if I'm any old—any old—"
    "—pig-brain," Young-sup finished for him.
    Kee-sup looked for a moment as though he might faint. But the King only laughed and gave Young-sup a shove.
    "Who are you calling pig-brain, you cow-dung?"
    Young-sup would have continued the banter, but one look at the shocked and confused expression on Kee-sup's face gave him pause.
    "Brother, I'm sorry. The King has been coming to the hillside to fly with me. I meant to tell you....I just—I just never found the right moment." He looked at Kee-sup pleadingly. "It's all right, brother. We always make sure no one can hear us, like now. Besides"—and his joking tone returned—"what can I do? The King has commanded me to call him a pig-brain!"
    At that Kee-sup laughed and appeared to relax, but Young-sup could see that he was still not entirely at ease.
    The King, too, seemed to sense it, and began to
speak more seriously. "I am glad you came, because I've been thinking about something, and I need to talk to you—to both of you," he said. "Come."

    He led them through a side door into a smaller room. There they sat on cushions around a low table. The King summoned a servant and ordered tea and sweets to be brought. The three boys ate and drank in silence. Then the King put his cup down.
    "I want to talk to you about the New Year kite festival," he said.
    ***
    The New Year holiday was in the next moon, and like the brothers themselves, the King was most excited about the kite festival. He was personally planning the events of the final day.
    "I was thinking about competing in the festival myself," the King explained.
    Young-sup felt a wave of panic. Would he have to fly against the King?
    But the King was still speaking. "I decided not to, for a couple of reasons. First, I don't think I'm good enough yet. I can't launch by myself every time. And I need a lot more practice with fighting maneuvers. But that's not really the most important reason." He
paused, his face sober. "If I fly in the competition, I don't think anyone will try to beat me. I'm the King—so everyone will just let me win. It wouldn't be a real competition. Don't you agree?"

    The brothers nodded; Young-sup had been thinking that very thing.
    The King sighed. "But I still want to be part of it, somehow. I thought that even if I don't compete, perhaps my kite can." He looked at his companions expectantly. "Kee-sup, you have made the kite—a kite truly worthy of a King. It deserves to be in the competition."
    Kee-sup bowed his head in appreciation.
    "As for you, Young-sup—I want you to fly it for me. But I don't want anyone to know that you're my flier. If people find out, it would be the same as if I were flying it myself—no one would try to beat you."
    Young-sup felt his heartbeat quicken. Blood rushed to his face, and he could sense that he must be as red as a peony blossom. He was dazzled by the thought. To fly for the King! It was an honor beyond imagining.
    Through the haze of surprise, he heard Kee-sup's voice. "I speak for both my brother and myself when
I say that this could be kept a secret from all