by Ryan Kirk
“Either way, it sounds as though you don’t think our mission here is accomplished yet,” Rei said.
Moriko shook her head. They had dealt the Azarians a blow, but it wasn’t enough.
“I fear they are attempting to assemble,” Ryuu said. “I can sense a collection of hunters near the center of the Gathering, and they are attracting many of the Azarians. I fear our attack will only provoke them.”
Moriko wondered if their attack had made the situation worse. Had they managed to do what Nameless never had? Had they truly started the unification of the clans?
The nightblades sat around the tent in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Moriko tried to think of a way to save the situation, but nothing occurred to her. She raged at fate. After all their sacrifice, they still hadn’t accomplished what they set out to do. It wasn’t fair.
The silence stretched out, and eventually Ryuu stood up. Moriko studied him carefully. His face was a mask, but she had lived with him too long. He had a solution, but he didn’t like it. She wasn’t even sure he was going to share it with them. Understanding dawned on her. She couldn’t believe what he was thinking, but there wasn’t any other way. It was beyond horrible. It was unspeakable. But maybe it was necessary.
“Ryuu, you need to tell them.”
The nightblades from the island looked up, questions on their faces. Her eyes met his, and she offered him what strength she could. He needed to speak up. He shook his head.
“We need to attack the Gathering itself.”
Rei didn’t understand. “What do you mean?”
Ryuu crouched down, and Rei worried he was about to explode. “Look, we know the Azarians respect one trait above all others. They respect strength. The reason we haven’t succeeded yet is because despite our best efforts, the Azarians still believe they are stronger. As long as they believe that, the kingdom will always be in danger. It isn’t enough for us just to beat them. We need to put so much fear in them they never threaten the kingdom again.”
Shika’s and Rei’s faces fell. They began to understand what Ryuu was suggesting. Rei shook her head. “I can’t order the nightblades to do this, Ryuu. It’s wrong, and even if it does work against the Azarians, the story will eventually come out, and it will reaffirm every nightmare the citizens of the kingdom already have about us.”
Ryuu shrugged. “I hate it too. But I don’t see any other way. If any of you does, please speak up. I would rather do anything else.”
The silence spread again, oppressive. Moriko knew it was their only path forward. She just wondered if the nightblades from the island would realize it too.
Moriko looked up as she heard a sniffle. Tears were streaming down Rei’s face. “I can’t order this, Ryuu. I won’t.”
Ryuu spoke softly, and Moriko’s heart broke when she realized he had made his decision. His voice was firm. “You don’t have to. Put out a call for volunteers. We will do all we can to save those who hope for peace, but I need nightblades who are willing to shoulder this shame for the rest of their lives.”
Shika stood up. “I will join you. You don’t have to bear this alone.”
Ryuu nodded. Moriko spoke up. “I will join you as well.”
Ryuu shook his head. “No. I need you to do something else. Our salvation lies with you. You know a clan leader. I need you to bring a message to him. You need to find him and tell him we attack tonight. All those who wish for peace should remain in their tents. No livestock will be harmed, but any soul who is out tonight when the moon is high in the sky will be slain. We will treat with those who remain in the morning. With any luck, they will all stay in their tents. You need to do this for all of us.”
Moriko studied him carefully. She didn’t want to leave his side, but he wasn’t in any physical danger. If she wanted to save him, this was what she needed to do. With a sigh, she nodded. She would try to find Dorjee, if he was even still alive. Perhaps she could convince him to put a stop to the madness. She stood up and left the tent to make her preparations for going into the Gathering once again.
Moriko ran as fast as she could. Thanks to the care of a dayblade, she had regained most of her strength, but still it felt as though she couldn’t run fast enough. The nightblades had set up their tents about a league to the west of the Gathering, but no matter how fast she ran, she felt like she was running in place. She kept her focus on the sun, watching as it continued to approach the horizon. There was time, but it didn’t feel like it was enough.
A variety of emotions tore through her. She was glad they were alive. They hadn’t expected to make it out of that battle, but together they had. It was an unspeakable relief. But it was overshadowed by the dread growing inside of her. The worst part of it was that she agreed with Ryuu. They needed to take an action to prove their strength to the Azarians. Try as she might, she couldn’t come up with a better solution. They needed to break the Azarians for good.
The price was too high, though. When she and Ryuu had fought in the clearing against each other so many moons ago, Ryuu had found the purpose he was looking for. He had discovered he was willing to kill to protect the kingdom. He would go as far as was necessary. Though he had found his purpose, he was still a kind man, and she feared this action would destroy him.
Their only chance was her. If she could somehow convince the Azarians not to put up a fight, to spend the evening in their tents, perhaps Ryuu’s actions wouldn’t ruin him. She had to get to Dorjee, convince him and give him the time he needed to spread the word throughout the clans. Everything required time, the one thing she didn’t have much of.
Although she covered the league to the Gathering quickly, her eye was always on the sun. Most days she welcomed the coming of the night, but today it was coming too fast. She abandoned all attempts at stealth, running straight to the crest of a small hill that overlooked the Gathering.
It was so much smaller than it had been last fall. She remembered the Gathering stretching on almost as far as the eye could see. It was still a tremendous collection of people, but it lacked the scope of the previous one. The Azarians really had been decimated by their time in the kingdom. Her eyes scanned the tents, trying to make out the emblem of the Red Hawks that would be painted on their coverings. Her first glance didn’t reveal any familiar symbols.
She considered her options. She could run directly into the Gathering, although she knew she would attract unwanted attention. She could fight quite a few people at once, but if everyone in the Gathering was focused on her, it was only a matter of time before she would fall. Stealth had to play at least a small role in her movements.
Moriko ducked beneath the hill and started running around the Gathering. Last autumn the Red Hawks had been near the very edges of the Gathering, a statement against Nameless and his ideas. She assumed they would be on the outer fringes of the Gathering again this cycle, but it was an assumption. A lot could have happened between now and then. Perhaps the Red Hawks had been killed.
She refused to give in to despair of any kind. Dorjee was a strong leader. There was no way he would allow his clan to perish. But no matter how many times she came within view of the Gathering, she couldn’t see the tents of the Red Hawks. Either they were closer to the center of the Gathering or they were dead.
The sun was beginning to set, and Moriko faced a choice. She hadn’t run around the entire Gathering yet, but she was running out of time. She needed to go in. It wasn’t the smartest idea, but she didn’t have time for anything else.
Moriko studied the tents below her. She didn’t recognize the symbols on their tents, but there weren’t many people out and about. Ryuu had said they were beginning to gather near the center of the camps. Perhaps it would be easy to sneak in.
She didn’t have the time to think it through. Instead, she ran straight down to the nearest tent. Her sense told her the tent was empty and she stepped inside. She tore the tent apart searching for clothes. She found some that were too large for her, but she threw them on ov
er her black robes. There was no way she would pass as an Azarian under scrutiny, but if no one looked too closely, she should do pretty well. She stepped out of the tent and went towards the center of the Gathering.
Her luck changed just as the sun was hitting the horizon. She had only encountered a few people on her way towards the center and they had paid her no mind. But without warning she found herself among tents decorated with the Red Hawk she had looked so long for. Dorjee and his clan had moved towards the center of the Gathering. Moriko didn’t have time to question why it had happened. She just needed to find Dorjee.
A young man stepped out of the tent next to her. He looked familiar to Moriko. With a start, she realized he was one of the young men who had tried to attack her when she had entered the camp last fall. She laughed, drawing his attention to her.
He had changed. Last fall, when they had met, he had still been a boy. But now he had the eyes of a man, the eyes of one who has seen war and death and survived it. He held himself straight, and this time he didn’t attack Moriko without thinking. Moriko could see he was on his guard, but he spoke before attacking.
“Why are you here?”
“I need to see Dorjee. Something horrible is about to happen.”
Doubt flickered across the young man’s face, but he made his decision quickly. “I can’t take you to Dorjee, but I can take you to Lobsang.”
Moriko didn’t ask questions. Any progress was worthwhile. “That’s fine.”
The young man turned and started walking briskly deeper into the camp. His attitude welcomed no questions, and Moriko didn’t ask any. She understood she was a victor walking into the camp of the recently defeated. It would be hard for her to find a welcome here. She was fortunate as it was.
The Red Hawk came to a tent and spoke loudly in Azarian. Moriko could hear the noises within, and in a moment, Lobsang appeared at the front of his tent. Despite everything, he was grinning from ear to ear. “Moriko.”
She bowed to him. “Lobsang. I regret the circumstances that bring me here, but it is good to see you again.”
He motioned her inside, and she went into his tent. Most of his large family was there, and Moriko was surprised at the trust he showed her. “Lobsang, I am sorry I don’t have time to catch up, but my task is urgent. Something horrible is about to happen, and I need to speak to Dorjee.”
He frowned. “Dorjee is in a meeting of all the clan leaders as we speak. Taking you to him would be a death sentence for you, for him, and the messenger. As you can imagine, you and your people are not welcome here right now.”
“I understand. But the Gathering is going to be attacked.”
Lobsang’s eyes rose in surprise. “It would be suicide. We know you don’t have the strength to attack the Gathering. That’s why they are planning a counter-attack.”
Moriko was confused for a moment, but realized they were speaking at cross purposes. “I’m not talking about the army from the kingdom. I’m talking about my people, the nightblades. The ones as strong as your demon-kind.”
Lobsang’s doubt was replaced by fear. “We hadn’t been told there were more of you.”
“There are. Many more. Enough to cause terrible harm. I’ve come to try and save as many of the People as I can.”
Lobsang hesitated and Moriko pressed him.
“Take me to where Dorjee is. If you fear for your life, simply point the way. I can find it on my own. Just, whatever happens, don’t leave your tent tonight.”
Lobsang stood up. Something Moriko had said made up his mind for him. “I won’t hide while a small woman risks everything. I would never live it down.” He smiled at Moriko and grabbed his blade.
Together they moved towards the very center of the Gathering. Moriko kept her head down, trying her best to be invisible next to Lobsang’s bulk. As they walked, Lobsang tried to fill her in quickly on what was happening.
“Much has changed since you left. Dorjee had become respected once again, and strangely enough, he was on good terms with the leader of the demon-kind. They both see far into the future, and they shared a common goal in helping the People. Dorjee has gained much respect, but I fear it isn’t enough. He argues for peace, but his voice is overpowered by others on the council. The death of the leader of the demon-kind was a blow to him, and he fears he will march to war until there are none of us left to march.”
Moriko took it all in. Dozens of questions raced through her mind, but there wasn’t any time to ask them. She simply had to take Lobsang at his word.
The center of the Gathering was well guarded, but Lobsang was able to get them in with the correct passwords. Moriko knew he was risking his life by bringing her in this far. Lobsang tried to get Dorjee’s attention from across the fire, but Dorjee was engaged in a passionate argument in Azarian with another man.
The sun had set below the horizon, and its last orange rays were disappearing. Moriko didn’t have time to wait. Impatience seized her and she broke into the center of the ring surrounding the fire. The council was surprised, but not as much as when she threw off the garb of the Azarians and stood before them as a nightblade. A roar came up from the council as swords were drawn all around her.
Moriko was about to draw her own sword when a commanding voice shouted. “Stop!”
Everyone paused, responding to the authority of the voice. It had been Dorjee who shouted, who stood a pace in front of his companions. He looked at Moriko and she couldn’t decipher the look on his face. A combination of surprise, fear, and awe.
Dorjee seized the moment. “This is the woman who cut our leader last fall. If she has come this far, it is with good reason. Let us listen to her before we slay her.”
“Nonsense!”
The scream came from a man to Moriko’s right. He leapt towards her, and Moriko sensed that he was a hunter. Perhaps one who sought to replace Nameless. His sword was high as he charged towards her, all technique forgotten in his rage at seeing a nightblade in the center of a meeting of the council.
The hunter never had a chance. Moriko stood still, and he couldn’t sense her at all. He swung wildly and missed, and with one smooth cut, her blade leapt out of its sheath, severed his head, flicked off the blood, and came back home to its sheath. It was a more powerful statement than if she had stood there and argued all evening. The Azarians responded to strength, and that she had plenty of.
“I did not come here to fight or kill,” Moriko began. “I came here to save your lives, if I can. My kind, the people who you call demon-kind, are camping just outside the Gathering. They know you mean to counterattack, and they will not let it happen. All of us wish for peace.”
She paused, realizing it was difficult for her to find words. She wasn’t a diplomat, but a warrior. The only way she could speak was bluntly.
“Tonight, a collection of my kind are going to attack the Gathering.”
There was a roar of voices, but Moriko drew her sword and silenced them.
“It may be hard to believe, but they do not wish to kill. Yet they will protect this land and the people of the kingdom. Tonight, if you spend the night in your tents, you will be spared. But if you believe you are still stronger than the warriors of the kingdom, try and stand and prove it tonight. Everyone not in their tent will die. They will come when the moon is high in the sky. Let all your people know not to leave their tents! Tomorrow, our leaders will treat with whoever is left.”
There was a stunned silence all around her, and Moriko seized the opportunity to exit the circle. She had delivered her message and everyone had heard it. There was no reason for her to stay. It would only complicate their discussion. She gave a short bow of her head to Dorjee and escaped before they could organize a hunt for her. She met up with Lobsang and the two of them left for the tents of the Red Hawks.
Lobsang had heard her message, and Moriko could tell he was full of questions, but the moon was quickly marching up the sky. It was time for her to leave.
“Lobsang, I hope we meet a
gain under better conditions. I would love for us to be at peace. But please, whatever happens, don’t leave your tent tonight.”
Lobsang nodded, and Moriko left. She had done everything she could. She hoped it would be enough.
39
The moon was high in the sky, but Ryuu hadn’t ordered the attack yet. It was the action he needed to take, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it, not quite yet. Behind him stood almost sixty nightblades, shuffling nervously in the light of the moon. Every one of them had volunteered.
Shika stood next to him, offering her silent support. Ryuu appreciated it. Like Moriko, she had a strength he admired.
“Do you think there is forgiveness for something like this?”
Shika considered his question thoughtfully, understanding the importance he placed on it.
“I don’t think it is about forgiveness, or even the idea of right and wrong.”
Ryuu frowned. “What do you mean?”
“The histories will always talk about who did what, and I have no doubt they’ll place a value on whatever is done here today. But that isn’t for us to know or even to worry about. In my mind, the only question is: Do we have the strength to do what is necessary?”
She paused before continuing. “There isn’t a person here who wants to do this. None of us are monsters. But we have agreed we need to act, and so we will. Our burden isn’t light, but we must be strong enough to carry it. If we don’t, think how many more people in the kingdom will die. We are causing suffering, yes. But we are preventing much more.”
Her words steeled Ryuu. Perhaps it was a thin justification, but as she said, it was what needed to happen. He turned around to the assembled nightblades. There was no need to yell or to encourage them. Everyone knew what needed to be done. He spoke in his normal voice. “Let us begin.”
With that, they ran towards the Gathering. They had elected not to ride into battle, being less experienced mounted. Moriko had not returned to the nightblade camp, but she had allowed Ryuu to sense her. She had gone into the Gathering and left it, so he assumed she had completed her mission and was staying away until the business was concluded. He hoped she had convinced many of them not to fight. He had no idea what kinds of debates they would be having in the Azarian camp.