The Blood King’s Apprentice

by David Alastair Hayden

  “Ogling instead of blushing and looking away?” She chewed at her lip. “I suppose for you, that’s a big improvement.”

  Turesobei nodded and muttered, “Yeah…okay….”

  “I still have a face, you know.”

  “What?” He shook his head. “Oh!” He met her eyes. A bead of sweat ran down his flushed cheeks.

  “There’s the familiar blush.”

  He muttered something unintelligible.

  She sauntered over to him, hips swaying enticingly. “Is this the first time you’ve seen…of course it is.” She grinned, exposing her sharp teeth. “I guess it’s okay for you to stare, then.”

  That was good, because he hadn’t stopped. Which was wrong of him. Very wrong of him. He should stop staring.

  He didn’t stop staring.

  Iniru squatted down and sat in his lap. She ran her hands through his hair, which he’d left untied after a bath. She pulled him into a deep kiss. He ran his hands down the small of her back through her soft, damp fur.

  After a few minutes, she leapt up. “You know, I’d better go to sleep, or else I’ll keep you too distracted to work.”

  He blinked dumbly as she stood then sauntered over to the sleeping platform. He wanted to call her back. Was that what she expected him to do? Or was that kiss all she had wanted? He wanted more, but…but he had no clue what she wanted or what he should do. Had he done something wrong? Had he gone too far somehow? Really, they shouldn’t do more than that. It was wrong enough that she slept in here—not that he cared about that sort of thing anymore. He scratched his head.

  She winked as she climbed under the blanket. “Good night, Sobei.”

  She hadn’t done him a favor at all by ending the kiss. Now he was going to be way too distracted to work—for a long while.

  “I love you,” he blurted out.

  She made a satisfied murmur and curled up. He stared at her for a while, then at the wall, and finally at his spell book. He took several deep breaths and focused on his kavaru. His composure slowly returned. As he practiced the spell of needful cloaking, he noticed out of the corner of his eye that Iniru was watching him work. He turned and she pretended to be asleep. He smiled and continued working. Every so often, he glanced over to almost catch her watching. She thought she was clever because she was so fast and quiet, but with his energies attuned during spell practice, his senses were heightened and he could feel her attention.

  Eventually she fell asleep, and much later he made sure she was sleeping when he changed into his nightclothes. He crawled onto the sleeping mat and she stirred.

  “You really shouldn’t skip any meals,” she murmured. “You still look scrawny.”

  Turesobei flushed all over. “I—I thought—”

  “I was asleep? If you want to make sure I can’t see you, then you should probably turn the lights out first.”

  “Oh,” he gulped. At least he’d had his back to her! “Um…when you leave, could you wake me? I need to go back early. I’m afraid I’m going to be missing out on a lot of sleep.”

  “I know we don’t have to sleep, but I think you should probably make sure you get some, every night. Don’t wear yourself out.”

  “I’ll try, but I’m afraid if I can’t perform the spells as well as he expects, that he’ll punish…everyone.”

  Chapter Thirty

  Iniru tapped him on the forehead and he jolted awake.

  “Hey! I’d just fallen asleep.”

  “You fell asleep an hour ago.”

  He blinked the sleep from his eyes and noticed it was growing brighter outside. Iniru was leaning over him. He’d never actually seen her leave before. He watched her appreciatively. She gave him a kiss and darted out. That reminded him of her sitting in his lap…of them kissing.

  Lu Bei popped into fetch form. “Ready to go, master?”

  “Not…not yet. I’d like to lie here a little longer and…er…think some things over.”

  “Ooookay, master.”

  Lu Bei returned to fetch form. After a short while he popped back out and said, “You really need to get going or the BK is going to be angry as an evil, time-traveling hornet.”

  Turesobei washed his face and dressed. “Lu Bei, with Iniru…the way she is, the way she comes over here to sleep every night, the way she kissed me last night…I’m really not sure what I’m supposed to do.”

  Lu Bei’s cheeks turned a dark amber. “Oh, well, I never thought I’d have to give you—or anyone—the birds and foxes speech, but I’ll do my best, master.”

  “No! Not that! That’s not what I mean. We’re not ready for…well, I’m not ready for that…I think. Because we’re not married and…not that she cares, but…I mean I’m…. You know, forget it.”

  Lu Bei shook his head. “That, master, was an utterance of glorious clarity. I couldn’t remember it if I tried.”

  “Shut up.”

  “Seriously, master, I get it. You’re not sure what she wants, so you’re not sure what to give her.”

  “Basically.”

  “Master, do you know why you have a girlfriend, two fiancées and a sister that, oddly enough, adores you?”

  “Because I’m a good person?”

  “That and because you let the girls make all the relationship decisions in your life.”

  “That’s a bad thing, right?” He was pretty sure most men would say so.

  Lu Bei shrugged. “It’s one way to do things. You might want to strive for more balance, though. Maybe learn to take some initiative. But your way is certainly a better way than the one Master took. He made all the decisions. That never brought him lasting happiness.”

  “But he had so many wives!”

  “Those were the weak ones, the ones he married for political or financial reasons or because he fancied them from time to time. Nothing but the sort of girls like Awasa used to be. The good ones, the ones that really mattered, the ones that were strong and provided a challenge—like Aikonshi—he drove them away.”

  “Oh.”

  “As long as you show Iniru affection, you’ll be fine. She knows you’re clueless and in need of guidance.”

  “You’re probably right.”

  “Of course I am. After all, I am the Illustrious Lu Bei, Master of the Art of Tea Making and Relationship Counselor Extraordinaire.”

  Turesobei snorted. He forgot sometimes that beneath Lu Bei’s childish exterior was a wealth of knowledge and experience. “Okay, help me figure out the pronunciation on this scroll the Blood King gave me.”

  Lu Bei taught him the pronunciations and Turesobei rehearsed it several times. He probably should’ve worked on this all night instead.

  “Here goes.”

  While focusing his internal kenja as if he were casting the spell of locating that which is hidden, he recited the seemingly gibberish words. It would’ve helped a lot if he had known what this spell was supposed to accomplish, but clearly the Blood King didn’t want him to know yet.

  Energy surged wildly within him and throughout the room.

  Then some unknown force jerked him forward.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Turesobei stumbled forward. A wave of vertigo so intense he nearly passed out washed over him. He crashed onto his knees and dropped the scroll. The energies faded and his head cleared. His knees hurt, but otherwise he was okay.

  He took deep breaths and looked to Lu Bei.

  “I don’t know what it was either, master.”

  After a quick breakfast of eggs and rice with Awasa and Enashoma, he headed to the Workshop. The Blood King slouched on his jade throne, staring into the distance with his cold, gray eyes. Turesobei wanted to ask about his attempt with the strange spell, but he wouldn’t dare speak to this version. Leaving as much room between them as possible, he circled around behind the throne and entered the Workshop.

  A few hours later, the Blood King strolled in. His eyes were pale blue and he had almost a smile on his face. Turesobei finished making a strip of the sp
ell of summer healing.

  “Master, I’d like to talk to you about the spell on the scroll.”

  “We will not discuss it today.”

  Turesobei reined in his exasperation.

  “Kneel in the center of the room and cast the spell of the moon mirrors. Maintain it as long as you can.”

  Turesobei had frequently used this spell based on air kenja to create a light source in the Ancient Cold and Deep. He cast the spell, which was harder than the flicker flame spell. The Blood King summoned four small whirlwinds and placed them along the edges of the room. The whirlwinds swiftly gathered up all the air kenja.

  After a few minutes, he failed.

  “Acceptable.” The Blood King walked up the steps. “Continue practicing your spells.”

  Turesobei returned to the worktable, picked up a spell strip and remembered something he’d wanted to ask. “Master, the bronze spell strips you use for the resurrection and torture spells….”

  The Blood King paused and turned around. “Each metal plate holds an entire ritual so well that it allows me to cast it as if it were a spell. I need only reinvest the energy after each casting. And unlike your bamboo spell strips, the runes never disappear and the strip itself never degrades.”

  Having some of those would make maintaining his spells a hundred times easier. “How do you make them?”

  The Blood King smiled sadly. “I cannot make them. I recovered them. And the material may appear to be bronze, but it is not. Despite months spent ghosting through the past, I could not find the maker nor the source of this unique metal. The art and the material belong to an ancient culture far beyond any that exist today.”

  * * *

  Turesobei skipped lunch and tea, despite Lu Bei’s protests. He dined with the others and enjoyed a meal of roasted duck, oranges, rice and spinach. He studied until late while Iniru lay in the covers on the sleeping mat, watching him. Unfortunately, she hadn’t gone running beforehand. He almost suggested that perhaps she should run again on the next night but decided that was going way too far. His heart raced as he slipped into the covers and curled up against her. He barely slept before she woke him as she left.

  He practiced the strange spell on the scroll, did the casting and again crashed onto his knees, nauseated.

  Over the next ten days, he worked as hard as he possibly could. He began to miss dinner and return to his room later and later, until the only reason he left the Workshop at all was to spend an hour curled up with the girl he loved. He didn’t mind working that hard on wizardry. Actually, he enjoyed it. And it was a lot better than fighting demons or trekking through frozen wastes. Given the amazing food, the challenge of learning new spells, and the nights he spent with Iniru, this would have been paradise, if not for the Blood King and the need to get home as soon as possible.

  At the end of two weeks, the Blood King tested him and was satisfied with the results from all of the spells except four of the harder ones Turesobei had never cast before.

  “Work on those four and study the Kaiaru spells. I will test you again in a week. Meanwhile, we will continue to work on your endurance. And after that, I will begin teaching you gate and realm theory.”

  Turesobei knelt to work on his next spell strip. He had filled one pouch with sixty spells. Now he would start work on a duplicate set for the second pouch.

  “Also, I performed the last necessary procedure on Kurine last night. She will wake soon. I believe her to be fully recovered.”

  “When she wakes, I’m going to take a day off,” Turesobei said boldly. “There is so much to tell her and she will want to spend time with me. She deserves that.”

  The Blood King stared at him silently, his jaw twitching. His eyes alternated colors then settled on bright blue. “Fine, but only one day.”

  “Also, when we go on missions, I’d like for her to stay behind.”

  “If she is healthy, she will fight. I did not bring her back to life to look pretty and please you. She must be useful as well.”

  “But—”

  The eyes turned orange. “You will accept this, or suffer the consequences. Do not argue with me, apprentice.”

  “Yes, master.”

  The Blood King left and Turesobei sat steaming for a while.

  “I saw Kurine crack open a few of those knob kagi with a hammer,” Lu Bei said. “She’s tough and can take care of herself.”

  “I know. I just hate leaving Shoma here alone. And it doesn’t seem fair to throw Kurine right back into danger.”

  Lu Bei shrugged. “If that's what he wants, master, what can you do about it?”

  Nothing. Nothing at all.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Turesobei was curled up asleep with Iniru when Enashoma burst into the room, lantern in hand.

  “Sobei!”

  He and Iniru sat up.

  Enashoma’s face went red. “Niru, go!” She waved her hands as if shooing off a cat. “Awasa’s coming.”

  Iniru jumped up and darted outside. Turesobei stood and arranged his clothes. A look of relief spread across Enashoma’s face once she noticed he was wearing them.

  “Shoma, this isn’t what it looks like.”

  She held up a hand and shook her head. “I don’t want to know what it is. It’s your business, not mine. Besides, it seems in every culture but our own you’re an adult already. And we are far from home.”

  “Shoma, why are you here?”

  “Oh! We were meditating with Hannya—”

  “This late?”

  “You’re not the only one who works late.”

  Awasa appeared in the doorway and he flinched. Every time he saw her, he still felt a jolt of fear. That she had to carry Fangthorn around with her everywhere didn’t help. “Lady Hannya told us she sensed that Kurine was about to wake up.”

  Turesobei decided that his nightclothes were decent enough and headed out in them. “All night meditation sounds intense.”

  Enashoma yawned. “You mean boring?”

  “We have to learn to embrace various mental states,” Awasa said. “Our minds pulse to different rhythms when we would normally be sleeping. It’s not hard. Besides, tomorrow we start learning to do things.”

  “Finally,” Enashoma said.

  They reached the door to Kurine’s room and Awasa backed away. “You’d better go in without me. Last time she saw me, I was a monster. Let me know how she’s doing later.”

  Lu Bei zoomed up, bearing a tray of tea. “A golden white. I remember she thought tea was strong and bitter.”

  They found Kurine sitting up, smiling and chatting with Motekeru. The two amber hounds nuzzled against her as she massaged their scruffs.

  “Sobei!” Kurine shouted. She leapt up from the covers, bounded forward and tackled him. It was a strong goronku hug and she crushed the wind out of him.

  “Oof!” He returned the hug. “Shouldn’t you—be in—bed?”

  “I’m tired of resting. I’m ready to live again.”

  She kissed him on the lips. He returned the kiss.

  Iniru entered the room. Crap. He was the worst boyfriend with the worst timing.

  But she didn’t react to the kiss. Instead, she stared in awe at Kurine.

  Kurine took Iniru into a big hug.

  “Hi,” Iniru gasped. “Good to—see you—too.”

  Enashoma got one next. She barely managed a whisper of a hello.

  When Zaiporo entered the room, he got a hug too.

  Everyone was smiling for the first time since they’d gotten here. Kurine’s enthusiasm was infectious as always. But despite her energy, they urged her to lie back down.

  “I’ve been resting for weeks. I don’t need any more.”

  Lu Bei hovered beside her, offering a bowl at arm’s length. “At least drink some tea, madam.”

  “Little demon! You need a hug too!”

  Lu Bei shook his head rapidly. “No, no. I don’t need a hug. Like Motekeru, I do not require hugs.”

  “I got a
hug,” Motekeru grunted. “I got the first one.”

  Everyone stared at Motekeru. He merely shrugged in response.

  Lu Bei held the bowl out. “Well…uh…you drinking tea is good enough for me.”

  Kurine took the bowl, handed it to Turesobei then reached out. She caught Lu Bei by the wing, pulled him in and squeezed him tight. She gave him a big kiss on the cheek and released him. Blushing, he raced to the other side of the room.

  She sipped on the tea. “It’s not as bitter as the last stuff you gave me.” She smiled. “I thought I was going to have to wait until breakfast to see you all. Motekeru said everyone was asleep or training.”

  “Lady Hannya told us you were about to wake up,” Enashoma said. “Looks like her calculation was a little off.”

  “I’ve only been awake about an hour.” Kurine glanced around. “Where’s Awasa?”

  “She didn’t want to alarm you,” Turesobei said. “The last time you saw her she was trying to kill us.”

  “How do you even know about her being here?” Zaiporo asked.

  “Motekeru caught me up on everything.”

  “Just the basics.” Motekeru stood. “I’ll go get Awasa. Best to get this over with.”

  Once he was out of the room, Kurine whispered, “He’s such a softy.” Everyone giggled. “I’m going to need a lot more details.”

  “Yeah, cause you certainly can’t fit everything that’s happened recently into a one-hour talk,” Zaiporo said.

  “I know you’re all worried about me, but I feel energized. Honestly, I haven’t felt this good in…maybe ever. But maybe that’s just because I’m so happy to be alive. I am starving, though. When can we eat?”

  “Anytime you want,” Turesobei said.

  “Then as soon as I meet—oh, hi.”

  Awasa had stepped into the doorway. “Hello,” she said in a quiet but still dignified voice.

  “At least I’m not the only one who was reborn,” Kurine said.

  Awasa almost smiled. “We have that in common, yes.”

  “We’re also both engaged to Turesobei,” Kurine said.