by Noah Ward
“He bought me food,” Shay said, and knew it sounded pathetic.
Gin sighed. “He’s here, then.”
Shay wasn’t lying.
“He’s gone, though,” she said, back to staring at the portrait.
“Shay. Shay.” Gin took her gently by the shoulders. “Did he say where he was going?”
The girl shook her head, then her eyes widened a fraction. “He was gathering dirt--soil.”
Gin frowned.
“It’s for Mudan. An offering at a shrine. I guess he was going to one.”
“I never did pay attention in training. At least where the shogens were concerned.” Gin stood and began pacing. “There are probably dozens of shrines to Mudan in Zenitia. Finding the right one…” He trailed off. Snapped his fingers a moment later. Rushed back towards the recess behind the bookcase.
“Ah...shit,” he spat as several scrolls and tomes hit the floor.
Shay barely heard him rummaging, still transfixed on the portrait in front of her. It was him. That’s what he looked like. Her mother had said she always took after her. Said her father would have joked it was for the best. What she had felt from that man at Shirocairn wasn’t an intense anger or hatred or fury. He seemed calm, a little weary.
You think people are simply good or bad, Shay?
Maybe it was an act. Maybe he knew it was her all along and just wanted rid of her.
Her head felt as if it were about to burst. When Gin unfurled a large map on the desk, she jumped.
“There are probably uncountable shrines to Mudan scattered around Zenitia,” Gin said, though it sounded more like he was talking to himself.
Shay peered at the map of Zenitia in front of them. She recognised Akimaru near enough the centre, with the rivers running around it. The Sea of Spears off to the east, Shiromanzu a little way further, too, and somewhere called the Gashul Mountain Range nearer to the north east.
“Everyone knows Restudan’s war of unification was merely to capture Ur-krystallis in the north, and he did a rather exemplary job of it.” He tapped a black diamond at the top of the symbols denoting Akimaru.
“Shizanagi...Shirocairn,” Shay answered numbly.
“Exactly,” said Gin.
There were other differently coloured diamonds scattered around the map. A cursory glance picked out the crimson krystallis of Ryudan, close to a hot springs in the southwest; one to Isumi at the heart of a large lake off the coast to the west. There were, perhaps, a dozen more.
“These were targets for Retsudan’s army as they invaded Zenitia. Major shrines to Shogens. The oldest.”
“People first built the shrines at sites of Ur-krystallis,” she answered automatically.
“My clan should hire you to teach the youth,” Gin quipped. He appeared animated now, like a dog who’d caught a fresh scent. “The problem was, when Retsudan’s forces invaded, Zenitians had hundreds of shrines. To their credit, they did find Minori and Isumi, but had also expected to locate Mudan. They failed.”
Gin fished a bit of charcoal out of his pocket and drew a circle around Akimaru. Then, he began marking Mudan’s shrines. When he’d finished, there were five in total. Two were in the south; two were close to Gashul, and the fifth…
“He probably came from the south, so they’re no good,” said Gin. “Gashul is a dead end, which means…” He drew a line from Akimaru to the shrine off to northwest. “Diekameda.”
The kamen took a deep breath and tossed the piece of charcoal on the map. Shay glanced at the path the line crossed. A river barred passage on foot, towards a smaller village on its bank, then a forest that led to a mountain range; its opening was shaped like gaping jaws.
Shay tore her gaze from the map and focused on Gin, who had the beginnings of a smirk on his lips.
“We have a boat to catch,” said the kamen
41
Set Sail
Gin was a genius. Sure, the girl had created the spark but he’d coaxed it into a mighty blaze of deduction.
He scrambled for another piece of thin parchment and created a quick rubbing of the path to Diekameda. The distance itself wasn’t too far. With a few kevals, supplies, and equipment, he could be on the trail soon enough.
What to do with the girl, though?
She was best utilised as bait, or more like a contingency. Keeping her in Akimaru was not an option, so he was already determining what to do with her. It was probably best if his contact here escorted her to one of the surrounding safe houses outside the city. Then, he could send the message out for reinforcements to be close at hand if needed. The possibility that Saito had somehow stumbled upon Ur-krystallis was a prize bigger than anything he’d ever captured. No, it was bigger than anything the rest of his clan had achieved. Just imagine the look on the old man’s face…
As he shuffled about gathering some meagre supplies and his stash of aians, Shay’s dejected face caught his eye. She was still staring at that picture of Saito. Although he’d promised to bring her along, it was just a way for Kaz to leave and him to get what he wanted. He knew she’d be upset, but she was just a young girl, had no idea of the gravity of the situation. And if it came to it, she shouldn’t see Saito slain. No point getting her hopes up. It’d be safer this way. Gin could always drug her if she became too petulant, especially when she was sworn just like Saito.
She’s just a pawn, Gin.
He shook his feeling of guilt away and tapped Shay on the shoulder.
“We need to leave,” he said. When his eyes flicked to the portrait, he said, “Keep it. C’mon.”
“But I don’t have anything. Where are we going?” she said as he she rose to her feet.
“To catch a boat, like I said.” There was no point in telling her anymore than he already had. It wasn’t like anyone would believe her anyway.
Gin ushered the girl down stairs to the inn’s front desk. The man had been replaced by a woman of similar age. The wife, he guessed. After a quick scan to make sure they were alone, the other patrons in their rooms or in the communal eating area, he leant in.
“You must get a message to Izado,” he said.
The woman cocked her head to the side. “Who?”
Gin frowned. Maybe they did not work with codenames or pseudonyms here. “An old man, white beard, smokes a pipe.”
The old woman glanced around. “Your contact is Tatsuki,” she hissed, as if he were an idiot.
“No, it is not,” he said through gritted teeth.
“Yes, it is, Gin, son of Kogure. He is in the room opposite yours.” She muttered something to herself.
An uneasy feeling stirred in Gin’s gut. “He is there now?”
“Yes,” she said, near exasperated.
He pushed himself upright. “Wait here, girl. Do not move.”
It looked as if Shay were about to protest, but a glare from Gin stayed her tongue. He set off up the stairs to the room opposite his, rapped on the door. Footsteps. Then the door slid open, but Gin was nowhere to be seen. He appeared behind the man, tachi unsheathed and held to his throat.
“Who are you?” Gin whispered into his ear.
“Tat--Tatsuki,” said the man.
“Of course.”
“You’re,” he gulped. “You’re Gin of the Kogure.”
“Whoever sent you is well informed, then. How did they find me? How many are there of you?”
“The...the Kogure Clan sent me,” said Tatsuki, confusion starting to replace fear. “I have worked here for several winters. I brought you back when you were injured a few days ago, bound you wounds.”
Gin grumbled. None of this was making sense.
“The one you work with--the old man. Izado. Where is he?”
Tatsuki swallowed. “There is no one named Izado here. It’s just me, I swear.”
Gin didn’t allow his hand to falter. Was Tatsuki and the old woman telling the truth? Honestly, he could not say. Though he knew Izado was far too knowledgeable to be just anyone. Perhaps he’d been m
ade, or the safehouse had. Either way, this place and those working out of it were now compromised. He could trust no one, forced to wait until he could reach another contact point across the river.
Gin loosened his grip on the man.
“Thank you. I--”
The butt of his weapon whacked the man on the back of the head and sent him sprawling to the floor, unconscious. Gin stepped over the body and slid the door shut as he exited the room. After rushing down the stairs, he found Shay and his possessions still thankfully there.
“C’mon,” he said, taking the girl’s hand. “It’s time we left this place.”
◆◆◆
Gin had rushed off upstairs, something clearly wrong. He seemed like a decent enough sort. The only time she’d heard of kamen were of the various tales in which they assassinated targets in fantastical ways, their numerous powers enabling them to do all sorts of miraculous feats. Gin, despite being sworn, seemed normal enough, though a bit sly and full of himself.
He is taking you to meet your father, Shay. That’s something, isn’t it? It was more than Kaz was willing to do.
The reminder that she had left so suddenly, without even a proper goodbye, was still fresh. After everything they had endured, to just disappear like Shay didn’t even matter.
Maybe you don’t matter to her? Did you ever think that?
Shay’s presence was just a hindrance to Kaz. But trying to get angry over it did nothing to supplant the sense of betrayal she felt. Despite it all, a part of her still wanted the woman to be around. She knew she couldn’t protect herself or bargain with Gin if he chose to simply lock her away or outright kill her.
Shay suddenly felt infinitesimal and weak. Maybe, just maybe Kaz might care enough to come back. The woman didn’t know how she’d met her father, how...normal he seemed. Nice, even. Shay could repay Kaz by fixing whatever rift had formed between the two of them. She couldn’t give the woman the krystallis she desired, but to know she did not have to flee and hide was still worthy recompense for all her help.
“Excuse me,” Shay said to the woman. “Do you have ink and parchment?”
“Yes…” said the woman a little warily. “Why?”
Not great. But the old woman didn’t know the full extent of Shay’s role here, nor that of Kaz’s.
“Gin would like a message sent to the other clan member with us earlier. You saw her, yes?”
The old woman nodded. Shay didn’t have much time before Gin would return, though she had no clue what he was up to.
“Please,” Shay said, holding out her hand.
The old woman grumbled but retrieved a quill and sheaf of parchment, which she set down in front of the girl. When she would not stop staring, Shay said, “Some privacy, please.” The innkeeper huffed and busied herself.
Shay hastily scrawled a note, letting Kaz know where the two were headed (gleaned from Gin’s map), how she promised to make things right with her father if only she’d meet them, admitting she’d actually met the man in Akimaru. It was all poorly written and a jumble of thoughts, but it was the best Shay could do. When finished, she rolled up the scroll and handed it over to the woman.
“Please send it to Kaz at The Resting Swallow. You can say it is from a friend,” said Shay.
“Hmph, very well,” said the innkeeper as she slotted it away under the desk.
“And please do it as soon as possible.”
“I will,” she said with a roll of the eyes, just as footsteps thundered down the stairs to reveal Gin at a brisk clip.
“C’mon,” he said, taking the girl’s hand. “It’s time we left this place.”
42
Failed Experiments
Asami glowered down at Kuma, who was doing his best to look like his namesake going into hibernation. Her hands repeatedly curled and uncurled by her sides while her brain tried to process the dumbfuckery he had enabled.
“You had her,” she spat, and searched for something to fling around the tiny room of the inn she had commandeered in Akimaru’s second level. There was no one else in the building, she’d sent them all away with her ability, and the inn’s workers were comfortably under her spell. Her room, despite being the largest, did not amount to much given this was more a rundown shack than an inn, chosen specifically for its inconspicuousness.
“I...I…” Kuma sputtered, worrying the back of his hand where the krystallis was set.
Her falcon chirped by its perch on the windowsill. “After that thing did the hard work of tracking them from the Sea of Spears to that backwards village all the way to Akimaru, all you had to do was just keep her one place.”
Kuma held up his hands like a child expecting a beating. “The girl ran, Asami. I don’t know why. I told her of her father, just as you said--”
Asami waved away his excuses. Her falcon cawed. An explosion rent the air. She squinted out of the window, towards the docks, then back to Kuma.
“Where is the one you commanded to deal with the ryojin?” she asked him.
He licked his crooked teeth and wounded gums. “I did as you instructed. She followed the ryojin to her inn.”
“Then why is an explosion coming from the docks!” she roared. Asami grabbed his head in her palms and wrenched it towards the window, where fresh plumes of smoke were rising.
“I...I…” Kuma blubbered.
She threw him off and marched towards the falcon. She placed her palm atop its feathery head and instructed it to scan the area to see what had occured. With a great flap of its wings, the bird ascended.
“Come,” she said, motioning to Kuma.
Wrapped up in her robes, Asami took a palanquin to the entrance gate closest to the docks. Already Retsudan’s guards were amassing, and a knot of them rushed towards the site of the explosion. With Kuma at her heels, she kept a respectful distance to their destination.
The road towards the house Asami had claimed for the girl swelled with rubberneckers all the way towards the burning building. Gouts of black smoke still belched skyward, and the front portion of the house had been blasted across the street in chunks of singed debris.
“You had better hope I do not find the charred corpse of a girl in that building, Kuma, or I will flay the flesh from your already scrawny body.”
“She would not return, Asami. She escaped. She…” he stumbled.
Asami grabbed him by his scruffy jerkin and bullied him through the crowds. At the touch of his flesh, they parted like a boat cutting calm waters. Retsudan’s guards now at the front of the crowd would not be a problem as they were either corralling denizens or scratching their heads over had happened.
“Come,” she said to Kuma as she peeled off into a side alley. At the end of the narrow passage was a rear, raggedy garden and a series of brittle-looking fences. “Clear a path.”
Kuma nodded weekly and yanked the wood away as if it were soggy parchment, creating a path for Asami to walk unhindered until she arrived at the destroyed house.
A quick survey of the damage confirmed the explosion had occurred on the first floor, the shockwave having blackened the inside of the smouldering house. It wouldn’t be long before it collapsed, judging from how the flames devoured the wood.
It was certainly the work of her bomb, that much she knew.
She was about to punish Kuma by sending him into the inferno to search for the girl when Asami noticed the charcoaled corpse on the floor. Her heart leapt against her chest for a moment, but upon close inspection, the cavity in the body’s chest told her it was one of her minions.
“She may not prove to have been completely useless in the end…” Asami muttered as she held an arm to her face to combat the heat and approached.
At times like this, she wished she could have brought the full might of her forces, but an act such as that would not go unnoticed by Retsudan, especially in what he believed to be a covert operation. Still, that didn’t mean the corpse was entirely devoid of purpose.
While the body was warm, it did not
risk burning her, having perished in the snow several feet from the blaze. Now, however, the majority of snow had turned to water or slush.
Asami placed her hand on its crisped skull and shut her eyes.
It had followed the ryojin to an inn: The Resting Swallow. The ryojin--still could not see their face--had rushed back to the this place. Here, they had encountered her warrior, chest in hand. They had been poised to fight...but another had appeared.
“Kamen…” she whispered. It had to be the same one Mei had encountered and claimed she’d administered enough poison to to kill. Not good.
But the girl was not here.
A fight. Explosion. It had survived the blast, crawled out. The kamen had saved the ryojin. Then the ryojin had attacked...the krystallis. A bonded blade.
Unease stirred in her stomach. None of this felt right. It was slipping through her fingers.
With a growl, Asami pulled her hand away from the corpse and rose. Kuma whined at her, shifting her focus towards the pathway she had cleared, revealing two approaching guards. One of them was of senior rank. An annoyance, but it could work in her favour.
“Hold where you are,” the one with two curved lines on his gauntlet denoting his higher station said to her. Her wore a helmet, had ten summers on the younger man to his left that had drawn his blade.
Asami did as instructed. Kuma was huffing beside her, agitated, but she held out her palm to indicate he should settle down.
“This will be over in a moment,” she whispered.
The two men approached. The one with his blade drawn kept enough distance so that he could lunge forward and skewer them if needed, or circle around. His superior kept his hand on the hilt of his sword.
“Why are you--” the superior began.
Asami spun forward and pirouetted. Her right leg knocked the junior officer’s wrist aside, putting him off balance. Her left leg curled around his neck, locking his throat between her calf and hamstring. He choked while the superior went to draw his sword. A blade snapped into Asami’s right hand from within her sleeve. She drew a faint line of blood across the senior guard’s cheek and then grasped his chin.