The priestess heard him leaving and shouted after him, "You cannot leave me here alone!"
He ignored her, consumed by the hunt. Whoever they were, they had mastery over their spiritual energy, which meant they were very powerful. Few were of an equal level with him, and he knew them all. But this energy was unfamiliar; there was a strange note to it. It was an imperfection that he could not quite place.
Kaito ran to the edge of the forest, where the energy vanished and did not reappear. He stood at the edge of the forest, the road stretching out in either direction, darkness enclosing him. Kaito turned in place, his senses on high alert. There was nothing here, not even a void to indicate someone masking their spiritual energy. Despite that, he knew they were watching him.
He felt a spark, a tiny insignificant burst of energy. Had he not been focused on finding something, he would not have noticed it. Casually he turned and shot a blast of icy energy in its direction. A crystallized ofuda materialized, hanging in the air before it fell to the ground, shattering into thousands of pieces. He walked over and stared at the fragments of frozen paper.
Someone clapped slowly. A peasant stood on the roadside, rake slung over his shoulder.
"That was impressive, how'd you make that beam of ice?"
"You can see me?" Kaito asked, narrowing his eyes. He probed the man's energy, but he appeared to be a mundane human. There wasn't even a hint of spiritual energy; he shouldn't be able to see him.
"Of course I can, I've always been able to see your kind." He grinned, but there was something off-kilter about his expression as if he was disconnected from his body somehow.
"You're lying," Kaito rumbled.
The man smiled in a sinister way before he rushed Kaito, swinging his rake at Kaito's head. Kaito dodged it, and as the rake went zooming over his head, he transformed his hand into a claw and popped up to swipe at the farmer. The farmer jumped backwards, laughing all the while. Kaito lunged forward, and though the farmer bobbed and weaved, he landed one claw on the farmer's face. Then like a crack in a door, a sliver of spiritual energy escaped from underneath the mask. The farmer noticed and ran a hand along the seam, hiding the energy. All that remained was a veneer of an average human.
Kaito jumped backwards; he had grossly underestimated his opponent. He had never met someone with this sort of power, hiding his spiritual energy as if he were human. Then it dawned on him, the shifter had been a diversion. This was the real menace the salamander had warned him about. "Who are you?" Kaito asked.
"A friend, an enemy? Only you can tell," the man taunted. He stood a few feet away, the rake held in front of him like a staff. He knew the pose because Kazue had fought with a staff.
"What are you?"
He peered at the farmer, but no matter how hard he tried, he could not break past the barrier he had created to mask his energy. If he didn't know any better, he would think he was human.
He shook his head. "I just came to see the famous Dragon, ruler of Akatsuki. I can understand how Kazue could seal you away now. You seem to have a soft spot for humans."
Kaito snarled and bared his teeth, he would rend this creature apart piece by piece, and maybe once his guts were exposed, he would know how he could hide so well. He tapped into his spiritual energy to unravel it and transform into a dragon. But though he could feel the energy, he could not unleash it. He looked at his hands and arms, there were no seals on him, nothing that could stop his transformation, but try as he might, he could not transform.
"She took more of your energy than you realized, and you're weak from being locked away in a holy place." The farmer sighed.
"You did this?"
"Sent the monkeys and the Aryūru after you?" He shrugged his shoulders. "They do what they want. That's how things are run around here now. All the leaders are gone, except for a few clans. There are no Kami, there are no emperors." He smiled.
Kaito was done talking. He had met enough tricksters in his life to know he wouldn't get a straight answer out of this fool. Kaito shot a blast of ice at the farmer, weaker than he would normally be able to do, but it should at least knock the farmer off his feet. But before it hit him, he disappeared.
The farmer laughed behind Kaito. "You think you can hit me with such a weak attack?"
He turned around to see the farmer standing on the grassy knoll where he and the priestess had stopped earlier. The farmer rested his palm against the tree and then pulled his hand away, rubbing his fingers together as if residue remained.
"The priestess is delightful, though." He inhaled deeply as he waved his hand towards his face. "So much power and so little control. She leaves traces all over. You shouldn't have left her alone. Who knows what will find her."
The sun started to rise behind the farmer, framing him in the morning rays. He had not even realized the entire night had passed while they fought.
"What do I care?" Kaito snarled. "She's just one priestess."
The farmer leaned on his rake and with his free hand waggled his finger at Kaito. "Now, now, there's no need to lie to me. I know all about her because I sent her to free you. In fact, you should be thanking me for setting you free."
"You're right, I'll thank you by ripping off your head."
He ran up the hill, but ever since the farmer mentioned it, he noticed how much weaker he felt, as if he couldn't reach the speeds he could normally. The farmer stood smirking as Kaito reached out to grab him. But as he was about to place his hands around his neck, a rip in the air behind him opened up, glimmering with a white border and on the other side a starry sky. The farmer stepped backwards into the rent in the air and gave a backwards wave to Kaito as he went through the portal.
His voice echoed after him. "We'll meet again soon, Dragon."
15
She closed her eyes just for a moment, too tired to stay up waiting for the Dragon to return any longer, when a shout woke her. She jumped out of her bedroll and looked around the empty campsite. When Kaito had disappeared, she thought it was to tease her again. Now he was nowhere in sight and all that remained were the smoldering embers of last night's fire. Where has he gone to now? I thought for sure he'd be back by now. She glanced around. There was no sign of him or who had shouted and woke her.
"You men hurry it up. We haven't got all day." The voice was nearby.
It couldn't be. Following the gruff order, she heard the nicker of horses and the trudging of many feet. Suzume ran towards the voices, thankful for her good luck. Over a hill and down an embankment, a dozen tents were arrayed in formation along three lines. Men hurried back and forth, carrying weapons and tending to horses.
She looked to the banners above the biggest tent at the back of the camp. A crimson banner with a yellow sun rising imposed on it flapped in the wind. She could have wept for joy. This has to be a dream. I am saved!
Suzume entered the camp with her head held high. At last, she was among civilized human beings again. A man walking by with a bundle of gear stopped when he saw her.
"Ho, girl, what do you think you're doing?"
Suzume placed her hands on her hips. "I am the emperor's daughter."
He looked her up and down, taking in her stained clothes and her disheveled hair. She had not even taken the time to braid it. Wisps fell into her face. She ran a hand over them, trying to flatten them down.
"What do you take me for, a fool?" he asked.
Suzume opened her mouth to give an angry retort; then she realized no self-respecting noble lady would present herself to a soldier let alone dressed this way. No wonder he does not believe me.
"I demand you take me to your general."
The man shook his head. "We don't have any scraps to give you, now get."
He walked past her. Suzume scowled at him and stomped further into the camp, intent on finding the general on her own. She did not get three steps before a hand came down hard on her shoulder. And he spun Suzume around.
"I told you to leave," the soldier said.
"I demand you unhand me!"
She tussled with the young man, but he was much stronger than her, and he pushed her to the ground. She caught herself with the palms of her hands, scraping them on the ground, and she glared at him from behind the curtain of her hair.
"You will regret this when I am returned to my place," she spat.
He crossed his arms over his chest and just glowered at her, most likely expecting her to turn around and walk away. Perhaps she should have. But after spending a few nightmare days with the Dragon, she was not about to pass up an opportunity to return home. She was even willing to risk him chasing after her, her father's army could protect her, surely.
"I demand I speak to the general!" she shouted. "I am Suzume, daughter of the emperor and his wife Izuki!"
A few more men passing by stopped to stare.
Suzume shouted louder. "I am a daughter of the divine emperor. You will be tortured for seven days and nights if my father learns that you left me here like this."
A crowd gathered. Suzume looked to each of them. None of them moved to help her but instead whispered to one another behind their hands. At least I've got their attention now.
"What is all this commotion?" said an authoritative voice from behind the crowd.
The men parted and a pair of warriors strolled to the front. They wore painted masks in the shape of Yokai. The larger of the two men had a thick waist straining against his sash and his mask was red and decked with black hair made to look like an overlarge mustache. The second man had a blue mask with large horns on the brow and a pair of sharp teeth on each side. Suzume took a step back. The two of them were rather gruesome looking, and considering the things she had seen as of late, she was more than a little wary.
The first man stopped in front of her. He looked her up and down. Something about him seemed familiar.
"Speak, girl," he said.
I know that voice. Could it be? "General Tsubaki?"
"How dare you address the general directly, peasant!" the man to his left snarled. From the way the men moved out of his way, she had to assume this was his lieutenant.
Suzume glowered at the lieutenant. "I am not a peasant. I am Princess Suzume, eighth daughter to the emperor by his second wife, Izuki."
"The emperor set aside his second wife and their children were declared illegitimate," the lieutenant snapped back. "If you were Suzume daughter of Izuki, you would know that."
I did, but I did not know every foot soldier in the palace did as well…
"Seize this liar. Perhaps if she loses a finger, she will learn some manners," the lieutenant commanded with a sharp wave of his arm towards Suzume. She held her ground, but inside she was devising a plot to get away with her limbs intact. Running away seemed the most viable option and she took a few steps back as men approached her, hands outstretched.
Now would be a good time for Kaito to jump in and save me. She took another step and a spear poked her in the back. While she had been talking, the other soldiers had surrounded her. She yelped and rubbed the spot where the metal had pierced her clothes.
"Hey, watch that thing."
Well, running away is out of the question. She fell to her knees at General Tsubaki's feet. She bowed low to the ground, her face nearly in the dirt. It killed her to grovel, but she knew she could not hope to outrun them, and her powers had disappeared. Perhaps they didn't work on humans.
"Please, you must believe me. I am no liar. I was sent to the mountain temple when my father set aside my mother. A dragon awoke and killed all the priestesses. I barely managed to escape with my life!"
She looked up at General Tsubaki with pleading eyes, or at least she hoped it was him behind that disturbing mask. "Please, Daiki. We were to be wed. I was planning on going to you. I still want to be your bride, if you will have me." She peered up at him through her lashes and hoped the general could see beyond the dirt and grime and remember her.
He held up his hand and the soldiers who had been chattering amongst themselves fell silent. "Bring her back to my tent," he said.
"Sir," the lieutenant interjected.
"That is an order," General Tsubaki growled.
He bowed to the general. Then with a stiff bow he motioned for Suzume to follow him. When Suzume passed by the general, she nodded her head at him with a coy smile. It shocked her how easily she slipped back into her role from the palace, sly trickster and manipulator of men. The lieutenant led her through the aisles of the tents. Cook fires rose into the sky in serpentine shapes. I wonder what the Dragon will do when he realizes I have gone missing. I hope Daiki's army is enough to defeat a dragon.
They reached the largest tent in the encampment. Three times the size of the smaller soldier tents, this tent was decorated with all the opulence she expected of a palace dweller. Red and gold silk decorated the door, which the lieutenant pulled back to allow her to enter. The lieutenant held open the flap, and when Suzume passed him by, she felt his glare on the back of her head. Inside, bamboo mats covered the ground. One side held a sleeping area full of plush goose-feather-filled pillows and a proper futon. The cushioned sleeping mat made Suzume's own traveling mat look like a strip of fabric. In the center of the room sat a low table with cushions arranged around it. This is the right way to travel.
"Wait here. The general will come to you when he is ready," the lieutenant said before leaving her alone.
Suzume just scowled after him. Then she stood in the center of the room. Even after bathing in the hot spring, she felt too dirty to touch anything. After a few minutes of indecision, she sat down on the cushion nearest to her. She relished the touch of silk on the pillows. She ran her hands over the expert weave. She admired the soft futon where the general slept, wondering if she had time for a quick nap. At the back of the tent she found a small shrine with incense burning in it.
This is nearly a luxury after all the camping and swamp adventures.
Soldiers shouted and she thought she heard a voice calling her name. She got up to investigate, but as she did, a servant entered through the flap, carrying a tray with a kettle and a cup. She knelt down beside the table and poured the tea into the cup, and the tendrils of steam wafted towards her, bringing with it an earthy aroma. The soldiers will handle it, I'm sure, Suzume thought as she settled in.
Alongside the tea were pastries made of soft dough and filled with a red bean paste that Suzume had adored back at the palace. She grabbed one of the pastries and bit into it. The creamy, sweet taste filled her mouth. Suzume devoured it then licked her fingers clean after she was done.
Hours later, after Suzume poked around the tent, glanced over maps and skimmed a few letters with boring topics about strategy, General Tsubaki returned. The sun had started to set and the orange light pushed through the walls of the tent, casting the tent in a diffused warm light. Suzume sat at the table, reading an old novel that she found among the general's things. It was a scandalous tell-all about court life. She was rather surprised the general would read such a thing.
He stood in the entryway, not speaking for a long time. He had removed his mask and helmet and held them under his arm. She stood up to greet him, but when she did, he turned his head away.
"Thank you for saving me," Suzume said to end the silence.
"This is not right. I should not be able to look upon your regal face," General Tsubaki said.
Suzume wanted to laugh. She could be vain, but she did not think she was much to look at, at the moment. She had managed to braid her hair and the servant had washed her clothes, but a few of the stains would never come out. She wore none of her usual makeup that accentuated her best features, like her lips and eyes.
"I am no longer royalty," she said in a small voice—that was not entirely playacting.
"You are to me. What your father did to you—" He hesitated. "I advised him against it, but he swore I had been beguiled by your charms."
Suzume smiled to herself. That's probably true. "You must believe I never gave up
hope that you would come for me and that we could be together."
He did turn around then. His face flushed and his squashed nose was bright red. She looked at his receding hairline and gut that nearly burst out of his clothes. He is not handsome like Kaito, but he could give me a secure home, a place back at court. I should count myself fortunate I got away. The Dragon would kill me if he had half the chance.
"Princess—" He stopped and twisted his hands in front of him, not looking at her but looking at the bamboo mat beneath their feet.
Say something, she wanted to scream. Why will you not look at me, see me? Kaito saw me, all of me, and he never cared. The general cannot even look upon me clothed without breaking into a sweat. Is it because he is a mortal?
Suzume turned her head away. She could not stand to look at the general any longer. She kept comparing him to Kaito's broad shoulders, trim physique, his long hair and dark eyes.
"Princess, if your father knew that I had you here, alone in my tent, he would have my head."
"What does my father care for me? I was sent to the temple and out of his sight forever," Suzume said.
"He is an honorable man. He is the son of the Eight; his judgment is divine."
Suzume resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Her father was no more god than she.
"Then I am to be left here to die?" She looked up at the general. Sweat rolled down to his jowls and pooled in his sideburns.
He fell to his knees beside Suzume. A sticky sweet perfume wafted off him and his foul breath made her stomach churn.
"No, I would not allow it. Never. I will take care of you. I plan to have some men escort you back to my estate."
She searched his face. He's serious. He's willing to risk my father's wrath for me. "What, as your concubine?"
The Dragon Saga Box Set Page 11