Storm Phase Series: Books 1-3

by Hayden, David Alastair

  “It belongs with Master Turesobei.”

  “Since he’s not awake to safeguard it, they took it to the High Wizard’s Tower,” Iniru said.

  “That’s going to make protecting Master a lot harder if the demons come for him again before you get the vessel.”

  “You said Grandfather is safe for now because of the tower,” Enashoma said, “so couldn’t we move Turesobei there as well?”

  Iniru shook her head. “There’s no way to sneak him inside in his condition. And if we can’t tell anyone about the demons, then there’s no way the other wizards will listen to us if we ask to have him moved.”

  “I could bring Sumada here,” Enashoma said. “The guards know me, so getting in will be easy. But … I’d never be able to get back out there carrying a sword … unless you helped me, Lu Bei. You could fly up to one of the windows, and I could pass the sword to you.”

  He sighed and frowned. “Alas, I cannot go more than a hundred paces away from Master.”

  “That — that’s lame,” Enashoma said.

  “Maybe you can go farther now that you’ve grown,” Iniru said.

  “Maybe, but we’ve no time to test it. Someone must stay to guard Master anyway, and we know that I can hurt the demons a bit, as long as only one makes a try …”

  “Quiet,” Iniru whispered. “Someone’s coming.”

  They fell silent, and Lu Bei turned into a book and fell into Enashoma’s lap. A few moments later, Imi tapped on the door and entered. She didn’t even notice the diary. Instead, she eyed Iniru in her towel and giggled. “Anything I can do for you, Lady Enashoma?”

  “Not right now,” Enashoma snapped, frustrated by the interruption. Imi’s eyes flared with surprise, and Enashoma softened her tone. “Sorry, Imi. I’m just a bit rattled at the moment.”

  “Miss Iniru?” Imi said, her posture relaxing.

  “My clothes would be nice.”

  “Oh, of course. Sorry I didn’t think of that already. Obviously you don’t want to go back to your room just wearing the towel.”

  Imi bowed and exited.

  Once she was out of earshot, Iniru said, “So what does this vessel look like, and where will I find it?”

  “The vessel is a fancy, lacquered, double-layered box with a pattern of spirals etched into the surface. The only identifying mark is a Chonda Goshawk on the lid. Nothing else shows that it’s special. And there are masking spells inscribed in between the layers, along with binding runes to hide its magical nature. Even to a Kaiaru, unless examined under the most rigorous spells, it would appear as nothing more than a wooden box. As to its whereabouts, it should be in the treasury.”

  Enashoma flinched. “Oh no! I know that box. They inventoried the treasury recently and sold off some unwanted items last week. Remember that function Mother made me go to, Iniru? That’s where I was. I saw them sell that box.”

  Lu Bei slapped his forehead. “Chonda Lu made up a story about it in case something ever happened to him. That way it would always stay with the clan and never be messed with.”

  “They asked every noble family and searched the library and the archives. No one knew why it was special. So it was placed on auction. King Ugara is raising funds for the military.”

  “Do you know who has it?” Iniru said.

  Wincing, Enashoma nodded. “Lord Kobarai bought it … for his daughter.”

  Iniru dropped her towel. “Awasa has it?!”

  Lu Bei slapped his hands over his eyes, dramatically. Enashoma couldn’t even manage a laugh. “Uh-huh.”

  Iniru shrugged and picked up her towel, wrapping it back around her. “Well, it could be worse. Lots easier to break into the Kobarai household than the Chonda Treasury. And Awasa doesn’t know what it is. Though that begs the question, how has she managed to release a wizard leech?”

  “Easy, she put something in the box,” Lu Bei said. “Each item you put into the box releases one of the tukukagi.”

  “Seriously?” Iniru said. “That was your master’s clever way of activating it? Who wouldn’t put something in an empty box?”

  “It has to work that way for reasons I don’t have time to explain. But like I said, the magic on the box must have failed. She should never have been able to open it. The box was sealed with an incredibly powerful binding rune.”

  “A locking rune made by Chonda Lu failed?” Enashoma said.

  “No one is perfect,” Lu Bei responded. “And everything fades in time. Besides, someone could’ve damaged the rune during the inventory process. Or perhaps the demons damaged it from inside. Who knows?”

  “Well, hopefully she hasn’t dropped all her jewelry in it and released all of them,” Iniru said.

  “You’d better get going,” Lu Bei said. “I will guard Master and teach Lady Enashoma the command phrase. When the tukukagi shows up and we have the box —” He smacked his fist into the palm of his other hand and did a pirouette. “Bam!”

  Enashoma bit her lip in worry. “You sure I can pull it off?”

  “Oh sure, of course.”

  “What exactly does she have to do?” Iniru asked in a commanding tone.

  He sighed with exasperation. “We don’t have time for this.”

  “If she can’t pull it off, then we’ll have no choice but to alert the wizards. Otherwise, everyone will die.”

  “All Lady Enashoma needs to do is recite the command phrase while holding onto Master’s kavaru.”

  “I can’t use the stone — I’m not a wizard.”

  “But you could be a wizard. You have the lineage. You have all the talent you need to pull this off.”

  “I have the talent to be a wizard?”

  “Obviously,” Lu Bei answered. “And any wizard with half a brain could tell you that.”

  “Wait a second,” Iniru said. “I’ve seen the doddering fools and half-witted apprentices this clan has for wizards. Why the heck isn’t Enashoma being trained?”

  “Because I’m a girl. Girls can’t be wizards.”

  “That’s stupid,” Iniru answered.

  “I agree,” Lu Bei said. “A Kaiaru could be male or female when reborn, depending on the host selected. But as the Kaiaru became fewer and wizards took up their kavaru … things changed.”

  “Anyway,” Enashoma said, “I still can’t use Sobei’s kavaru — I don’t have any training — I don’t know how to channel power. Turesobei had years of training to learn all that stuff and he has a bond with the kavaru.”

  “Yes, but you are his sister,” Lu Bei said, “and a descendant of Chonda Lu. That will let you bond enough for this command to work. It’s not a spell or a ritual. It’s just a command. And we will practice it while cat-girly gets the box. That shouldn’t take long.”

  “Breaking into a guarded estate isn’t something you can rush, fetch.”

  “You need to rush it. We’ve wasted way too much time talking and that tukukagi can’t be far off. He’s going to figure out that neither of us is a serious threat soon enough. We’re just lucky they’re pretty stupid.”

  “He’s right, Niru,” Enashoma said. “Being walled inside Inner Ekaran like we are, the Kobarai Estate doesn’t need to be that well guarded. They’ll have two guards at the front door and there’ll be a guard near Awasa: Zaiporo. He’s a zaboko the same age as Turesobei. He’s a good fighter and he’s … I think … just — just please don’t hurt him, okay?”

  Iniru cocked an eyebrow.

  Enashoma’s cheeks blushed. “It’s not like that. He’s nice to me when we have to have tea with Lady Kobarai, and was especially nice last time when I was having a horrible day, and I appreciated it. Besides, I really feel sorry for him. You have no idea what he has to put up with.”

  “Oh yes I do,” Iniru replied. “I’ve met Awasa.”

  “Please,” Enashoma said. “Awasa’s nothing. Her mother’s the real piece of work. Worse than mine.”

  Iniru made her yikes face, then said earnestly, “Don’t worry, I won’t hurt anyone. I know what
I’m — shh! I hear Imi’s footsteps again, and Shurada is with her.”

  Lu Bei returned to diary form, and Iniru began to talk about the weather. Imi and Shurada entered and bowed.

  Shurada held out the formal robe of lilacs and peonies, and Iniru cringed. Imi pulled out a sleeping gown and whispered, “We thought you might want to sleep here … comfortably … to keep Lady Enashoma company.”

  Iniru relaxed. “Thank you. This is perfect.”

  “Don’t worry. We’ll cover for you. As far as we’re concerned, you slept all night in your room.”

  Smiling, they bowed and departed.

  Iniru pulled the sleeping gown over her head. “They sure are smitten with your brother.”

  “Like you aren’t?” Enashoma said.

  “Didn’t say I wasn’t.” Iniru took the sash from the formal robe and belted it around her waist, making the sleeping gown into a tunic. “But until I got here, I thought maybe it was just me.”

  “Don’t be silly,” Enashoma said. “He’s brilliant, good-hearted, and easy enough on the eyes. My brother is a much better catch than anyone I’m likely to end up with.”

  “You sure you can do this without your uniform or weapons?” Lu Bei said.

  “I’m trained for all potentialities. Besides, if I get caught in this sleeping tunic, I can make up a story about sleepwalking or something. If I were to get caught wearing my combat uniform or carrying weapons, I’d be done for.”

  Iniru went to the window.

  “Ooh, wait,” Enashoma said. She rushed over to the satchel that she took everywhere with her and pulled out a sheet of paper and the case containing her ink and brushes. She opened the case and pulled out a bottle of Zhura ink and her special brush.

  “The Maker’s Brush!” Lu Bei exclaimed, too loudly.

  Iniru slapped him on the back of the head. “Shh!”

  Lu Bei hopped up and down. “The Maker’s Brush! She’s got the Maker’s Brush!”

  Iniru put a finger on his lips and shook her head at Enashoma, who was about to ask him what he meant. “I’ve got to get going. We’ve already wasted too much time talking. Turesobei’s life is on the line. All our lives are on the line.”

  Enashoma quickly folded the sheet of paper into a very simple bird. She inked Iniru’s name on it and her own, and then drew the activating rune. “If you get in trouble, touch this symbol and say the word, "go." It will fly back to me, and I’ll think of some way to help you.”

  Enashoma had already delighted Iniru with animated origami creatures, so Iniru didn’t ask what it was. She simply tucked the folded bird into her makeshift belt, nodded her thanks, and leapt out the window into the night.

  Lu Bei’s eyes were locked onto the brush. “May I?”

  Enashoma handed it over, and he reverently clutched it in his tiny hands, tears rolling down his cheeks.

  “Master said it was destroyed,” Lu Bei whispered. “Why? Why would he lie?”

  “I’m sure he had a reason,” Enashoma offered, doubtfully.

  Lu Bei frowned. “I’m sure … I’m sure he must have. Though maybe … maybe it remade itself … that’s possible, I think. Where did you find it?”

  “I didn’t find it,” Enashoma replied. “Grandmother Yui — Kahenan’s wife — she gave it to me and taught me how to use it, just as her mother had taught her. Only a Chonda woman can use it.”

  “Only a Chonda woman?” Lu Bei said incredulously. “Are you sure?”

  Enashoma nodded vigorously. “Turesobei has tried loads of times, but it just won’t work for him. That really irritates him, too.”

  Lu Bei chewed at his bottom lip and swished his pointed tail back and forth. “Very, very strange this is. I will have to investigate it further when I have the chance.”

  “Does it work for me because I could be a wizard even though I’m a girl?”

  “Yes.” He kissed the brush’s handle and passed it back to her. “This brush is sacred — a treasure beyond all reckoning — far more powerful than your clan’s wizards realize. Guard it well.”

  “I will. I mean, I already do. And we do know that it’s a treasure.”

  “You know very little. Guard it stronger. Guard it with your life.”

  “I will! I promise. Now tell me about it. Why’s it named that? Because it can animate paper creatures? What makes it so powerful?”

  Lu Bei shook his head seriously. “No. No, I will not. I cannot. In fact, tell no one that is called the Maker’s Brush. It would be very dangerous for such knowledge to float about. Someone out there might remember it.”

  “I can’t even tell Turesobei or Grandfather?”

  “No one.”

  “No one,” she repeated.

  “It is our secret, yes?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good,” said Lu Bei. “Now, let’s work on that phrase. And maybe you could get the servants back in — have them fetch two cups of tea? I’m thinking a strong black — almost over-fermented — with a pinch of citrus and the tiniest hint of vanilla would make this mission go better. What do you think?”

  “I think we don’t have a recipe even close to that. And I think if you ask Imi or Shurada for anything more than hot water and some loose tea leaves, you are asking for disappointment.”

  Lu Bei sighed. “A plain black for me when they come by, then.”

  “Are you sure that’s a good idea? I don’t want to put them in any more danger by calling them back to this room. Besides, they’ll notice that Iniru’s gone.”

  “Oh, fine.” Lu Bei pouted. “Let’s begin your study. Repeat after me …”

  Chapter Six

  Iniru climbed to the top of the garden wall and, with a sharp scan of the area, analyzed the route to the Kobarai Estate, envisioning what lay beyond her range of sight. Memorizing in intricate detail the city’s layout on her first day here would now pay off — her mother would be so proud.

  Darkness lay across the city, punctuated by streetlamps and candlelit windows. With her hyper-sensitive k’chasan ears and nose alert, Iniru closed her eyes and took a deep breath … dozens of floral scents (the Chonda loved lavish gardens) … the reek of humanity (the odor was fainter here than in other cities) … meat and vegetables steamed and baked and kissed by flame … bats and birds aflutter … the drone of cicadas and the croak of frogs in the many ponds … distant mutterings of people going about their peaceful evening lives … broken by one couple’s fussing over the quality of the rare salmon steak served at dinner.

  She took it all in. And then she blocked it all out.

  Her mother’s voice came to mind.

  Dart from shadow to shadow … speed and caution … avoid the streetlamps, they are the enemy … a random child staring from a random window is just as dangerous as a guard on duty, the world is full of eyes … focus, but do not think … as the bats squeak but no one pays attention, be at one with your surroundings.

  Iniru released her breath and leapt off the garden wall. She darted to the first shadow and then on padded bare feet, she ran with a speed only another k’chasan could match. In a thousand heartbeats — or one single exhilarating thump — she sped past the great houses of the Copper Ward and the even greater estates of the Jade Ward and raced up to the last estate before the street wound uphill to the palace.

  A patrolling guard turned a corner. She flexed the extra muscles in her hands and feet that only k’chasans possessed, and claws popped out from beneath her fingernails and toenails. Using these, she climbed up the garden wall and peeked into the back gardens of the Kobarai Estate. A dense stand of bamboo screened this section near the wall from the rest of the gardens — clearly, security wasn’t a major concern. Iniru scrambled over the top and dropped in behind the bamboo. A smile spread across her face and soaked deep into her heart. This thrill and danger that a k’chasan qengai embraced: this was what she loved most of all.

  With a silent laugh, she pinched the bottom ends of her makeshift tunic and spun around. She’d done it all
in this ridiculous silk nightgown embroidered with … what was it embroidered with? She hadn’t noticed. She looked carefully and wished that she hadn’t. Kittens?! Seriously, Imi? She sighed. It was insulting … but she was fairly certain Imi was only teasing her.

  At home she could’ve worn — anywhere, anytime — a simple pair of shorts and a sleeveless shirt that came down to her navel. The rainforest was hot, especially for people with fur. No one overdressed, except when they wore their padded bodysuits for training or when going out on a mission. But she couldn’t wear her casual clothes here, oh no. Baojendari were shocked at the public sight of bare skin … well, fur in her case.

  These few weeks amongst Turesobei’s people had been a revelation. It was one thing to know how fussy baojendari and zaboko customs were compared to those of the k’chasa, but it was quite another thing to experience it firsthand among the nobility — two layers of clothes, minimum, three to be stylish — maids and cooks and guards ever-present — bowing to everyone who wasn’t a servant — tea bowl goes on the right, cakes on the left, chopsticks horizontal in the center — elocution and nonchalance … it was far more exhausting than climbing a steep mountain in full combat gear.

  Iniru crept through a hydrangea garden, waded through a large pond rather than being exposed crossing the bridge, and slipped up to a line of blossom-heavy azaleas near the back entrance to the house. She was surprised to spot a guard there beside the door. She was not surprised to find him asleep and well past a reasonable age for retirement. The Kobarai family didn’t expect anyone inside the walls of Inner Ekaran, much less their courtyard. Having guards was probably just a formality. Turesobei had made it clear that the Chonda had never been one of those clans where assassinating one’s rivals was the best way to achieve rank and social mobility.

  Iniru picked up a rock to throw into the bushes, just in case she needed a distraction, and padded up to the door. Sitting cross-legged and slumped back against the wall, the guard was inches away from her. She grabbed the handle of the door — please don’t be locked — and pulled it open. He didn’t budge as she slipped inside and eased the door shut. She set the rock down and glanced around.