by Ryan Kirk
Bai had no such problems. She remembered Lei’s final words, and the warmth that had been within. Whatever happened to him, he had welcomed it. That was enough for her.
“Did any survive?” Bai asked.
“Not many.” The princess’s voice was flat.
“I’m sorry.”
The princess shook her head. “Don’t be. He was an emperor first and a father second.”
Bai didn’t believe that was the full story, but decided not to press. “What comes next?”
“My real work. The empire must learn what happened.”
“What will you tell them?”
“The truth. My father and a rebellious sect of monks fought in the far north. It cost the emperor his life.”
“People will rise up against the monasteries.”
“No. Yang and I have been talking for a while, our plans mostly dreams, but now we have an opportunity. I’ll announce a new deal with the monasteries. Perhaps I’ll call it a surrender. But my father was right about one thing: the monasteries can’t continue as they have. The new treaty will demand that they open their doors, just as Yang has done in Kulat. It will be a long journey, but one worth taking.”
Bai understood the princess had learned the emperor’s strengths well. She would lead the empire forward through whatever came next.
“What of you?” asked the princess.
Bai looked to where Wu and Rong stood together, giving Bai and the princess some privacy. “I’m not sure yet. But I suspect I’ll have company.”
The next few months passed in the blink of an eye. That winter saw the princess’s ascension to the throne.
The transition wasn’t painless. Several small revolts cropped up throughout the empire, but the empress put her resources to good use. She used diplomacy, military strength, and the monks to quell the unrest.
Yang became an adviser to the empress, with a seat on the council. In private moments, Bai would chuckle at the irony of it all. After all of Chao’s efforts, his goals had been achieved. A gifted sat on the throne, advised by other gifted. It just wasn’t the world the man had planned for.
That spring seemed particularly poignant. The turning of the seasons represented a new beginning for the empire. Bai felt it everywhere she traveled. She, Rong, and Wu had completed several errands both for the princess and for Yang. In every town they felt the energy of rebirth.
Bai could feel her friends getting impatient as well. In a way, their lives had been filled with uncertainty the past several months. Bai hadn’t made any decisions; she’d only followed orders. It had given her the space to grieve while remaining active.
But it was past time to move forward. They all needed to.
One night she broached the subject while they ate supper. She decided the direct approach was best. “I think I know what I want to do next.”
Wu and Rong shared a glance Bai couldn’t read. The two of them had been spending more time together lately. Bai found the combination of Rong’s cynicism and Wu’s enthusiasm fascinating, but they made it work.
Bai continued. “If you would like, I would be honored to have you join me.”
She spoke true. Over the past few months she had gotten even closer to them. The idea of striking out on the road again on her own held a new fear. But she didn’t want to order them about. If they wanted to join her, it had to be their choice.
“Yang continues to believe that those with more unusual gifts are being born every day. I would like to wander the empire and find them, guiding them to the monasteries.”
It was the best Bai had been able to come up with. She wasn’t ready to settle in one place like Lei and Daiyu had, but she had little interest in seeking out fights. This way she could still travel throughout the empire and help however she could.
The two younger warriors didn’t answer immediately. Bai waited a second, but couldn’t contain her impatience. “Well?”
Rong and Wu shared another look, then burst out laughing, enormous smiles on their faces.
Bai didn’t think her heart had ever been lighter.
Epilogue
Even in summer, the wind that blew across the top of the mountains above Two Bridges knifed through Bai’s robes.
The monastery above Two Bridges was empty except for her. As part of Yang’s reorganization, several of the more remote monasteries had been shuttered, at least for a time. Once, monks had sought isolation for their training. Now, Yang demanded they be involved in the lives of the communities they served.
After the loss of the wraiths and the attacks from the Order of the Serpent, there hadn’t been enough monks to man the monasteries anyway.
If Bai’s work was any indication, that wouldn’t be a problem for long. More gifts were being discovered every day. Wonder had become almost commonplace in Bai’s travels.
It was a whole new world.
She held Lei’s sword in her hands. She’d kept it sharp and polished over the months, but she’d never had to use it, thankfully. She had finally gotten used to the weight at her hip, though, and she’d taken enough lessons to be at least somewhat dangerous with it.
The sword reminded her of the past, but it promised a better future.
She figured Lei had wanted to leave the world. She could understand, even if she couldn’t quite put herself in his frame of mind. He’d lost the person closest to him in the world, and at the end, he’d made a discovery Bai still couldn’t puzzle out.
He had wanted to go, but she still missed him desperately. They hadn’t seen each other often, but he’d been a pillar she could rely on.
She felt foolish, but speaking out loud to the rugged mountains beyond somehow felt right.
“You were right. The view is better here.”
She paused, taking a deep breath.
“I think you would like what’s happening now. I think you’d be proud of me. You’d be proud of all of us.”
A lump formed in her throat.
“I miss you, Lei.”
Despite her efforts, a tear welled up in her right eye. She ignored it.
The wind picked up again, but this time, Bai barely felt it.
She didn’t believe in ghosts, but she could have sworn she heard his laugh, the same one she’d heard so often when they had trained together.
Bai spun around, looking for the source of the sound. It had come from just over her left shoulder, but no one was near.
Her heavy heart suddenly soared. There was no reason, just the change.
And then she knew.
Somehow, he was with her.
Not in any way she could measure or observe. But she was sure, all the same. He was there, watching over her. For just a moment, her vision shifted and she saw the world in a new way, her senses developed past human limits. She saw connections, everywhere.
Then her vision returned to normal, and she shook her head, not sure what had just happened.
Her tears dried, and she stared out on the mountains for a good long time. This had been Delun’s monastery, too, she knew. She wondered if he had also enjoyed this view.
The sun was going down when she came down off the wall. Beyond the gate, Wu and Rong had set out a bedroll and were sunning themselves against the rocks.
“I thought you were going to look through local reports of gifted.”
“You were up there a long time,” Rong drawled.
“So where are we going?”
“Just down the mountain to Two Bridges.” Wu tried and failed to contain a smile.
“What?” Bai knew they were saving a punchline for her.
“It’s a child who loves playing catch,” Wu said.
“Don’t most children like playing catch?”
“They don’t usually knock down their parents when they throw,” Wu replied.
Bai endured their laughter as they watched her reaction. She shook her head. It wasn’t the strangest manifestation of the gift they’d seen. Together, they began their way down the mountain.
Their work was just beginning.
Want more fantasy?
As always, thank you so much for reading this story. There’s an amazing number of great fantasy stories today, and it means so much to me that you picked this book up.
If you enjoyed this story, I also have two other fantasy series, filled with memorable characters. My first fantasy series is called Nightblade. You can check it out here:
Nightblade
In addition to the original trilogy, I wrote another trilogy in the same world. That trilogy (which stands separate from the original) is named Blades of the Fallen. The first book in the series can be found here:
Nightblade’s Vengeance
Thank You
Before you take off, I really wanted to say thank you for taking the time to read my work. Being able to write stories for a living is one of the greatest gifts I’ve been given, and it wouldn’t be possible without readers.
So thank you.
Also, it’s almost impossible to overstate how important reviews are for authors in this age of internet bookstores. If you enjoyed this book, it would mean the world to me if you could take the time to leave a review wherever you purchased this book.
And finally, if you really enjoyed this book and want to hear more from me, I’d encourage you to sign up for my emails. I don’t send them too often - usually only once or twice a month at most, but they are the best place to learn about free giveaways, contests, sales, and more.
I sometimes also send out surprise short stories, absolutely free, that expand the fantasy worlds I’ve built. If you’re interested, please go to https://www.waterstonemedia.net/newsletter/.
With gratitude,
Ryan
Also by Ryan Kirk
The Nightblade Series
Nightblade
World’s Edge
The Wind and the Void
Blades of the Fallen
Nightblade’s Vengeance
Nightblade’s Honor
Nightblade’s End
Relentless
Relentless Souls
Heart of Defiance
The Primal Series
Primal Dawn
Primal Darkness
Primal Destiny
Primal Trilogy
The Code Series
Code of Vengeance
Code of Pride
Code of Justice
About the Author
Ryan Kirk is the bestselling author of the Nightblade series of books. When he isn’t writing, you can probably find him playing disc golf or hiking through the woods.
www.waterstonemedia.net
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