Nightblade's End

by Ryan Kirk

  Asa realized that bumping into him might not have been quite as random as she’d first believed.

  She nodded and joined him as they left the interior of the castle. They paused at the front gate. The castle stood on one of the highest points of Stonekeep, and from the front gate one could look out over the city and the valley below. Far below, the camp of the blades was visible, looking pitifully small from this height.

  “We believe we have found a place,” Hajimi said, his voice soft.

  “So soon?” Mari couldn’t hide the disappointment in her voice. She realized a part of her had been hoping that the strife in the Kingdom would end soon enough for her to join a new expedition.

  “We were extremely fortunate,” Hajimi said. “The location is nearly ideal.”

  Asa started, understanding the full implications of what Hajimi said. Suddenly, her dream of leaving the Kingdom became that much more real. “Is that why you’re here?”

  “No. I didn’t tell Lady Mari, and for the moment, I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t either. I’ve sent another small expedition, looking for some more information. But it looks promising. It’s an island in the Northern Sea. I believe soon we’re going to have a large decision in front of us.”

  Asa agreed. What would the blades decide? Would they even have a choice, once the chaos settled? If the blades left now, the slim chance Mari had of surviving this war disappeared. Hajimi seemed to be reading her thoughts.

  “There’s time. Mari still has our support, which was the real reason I made this journey. I’d heard about Isamu’s visit.”

  Asa began to understand. “You want to have a seat at the table.”

  Hajimi nodded. “Once, such an idea would have been nearly unthinkable. But now I worry what decisions might be reached about the blades if we aren’t present. I won’t have us sacrificed for political ends.”

  Asa understood Hajimi’s concerns well. Though she hated to admit it, she could see Mari using the blades as a bargaining chip in the negotiations.

  They walked down the narrow streets of Stonekeep. As challenging as ascending to the castle could be at times, the walk down made the price worth it. Views of the valley below kept opening before them, and even though Asa now made this walk daily, she still felt the urge to stop and stare. She understood now the connection Mari felt with the mountains.

  “I don’t know if it matters to you, but perhaps I should warn you: Isamu isn’t preparing for peace.”

  Asa started. “What do you mean? Is he going to make an attempt against Mari’s life?”

  Hajimi shook his head. “I doubt it. Weak as he is, Isamu is generally honorable. No, he is breaking up his armies to strike against Mari’s flanks. If I had to guess, he plans on either using threats or moving against Mari immediately if his demands aren’t met. We still need time, and Mari can’t fall yet.”

  “How do you know this and Mari doesn’t?”

  Hajimi sighed. “General Masaaki, while a plenty capable commander, is too cautious. He’s brought even his scouts in as they approach the mountains. He doesn’t know the full extent of Isamu’s moves against him. I used the information to extract a promise from Lady Mari to give us a place at the table.”

  As they neared the gate that led from Stonekeep, Hajimi turned to her. “Do you ever miss Kiyoshi?”

  The question made Asa stop in her tracks. Despite the time that had passed since she’d taken the old man’s life, she still thought about him often. Cycles had passed and she still wasn’t sure she could sort out her feelings about the man who had killed her father. She nodded in response to Hajimi’s question.

  Hajimi looked out at the valley below, his eyes passing over the blades under his care. “I do too, sometimes. If anyone could have pulled us out of this fire safely, it was him. There are days when I wish I hadn’t sent you on that task.”

  With that, Hajimi turned and left Stonekeep, leaving Asa alone with her churning thoughts.

  Asa decided that when she was reincarnated, she was going to do everything in her power not to become a guard again. The preparations for Isamu’s visit continued to grow in complexity with every passing day. Thankfully, Takahiro had been able to guide Asa through large parts of the task, but Asa was exhausted. As she stumbled into the inn for a drink, she felt as though she could barely keep her eyes open.

  She noticed the change in attitude immediately as she stepped into the room. Even though the volume wasn’t much louder than usual, there was a different energy in the room. Expectation ran rampant. Everyone knew the war needed to end soon. If it went on much longer, the consequences would begin compounding. Though the summer was just over halfway through, people spoke about the lack of food for the upcoming winter. Stores were already depleted, and the war took or destroyed much of what little remained.

  Isamu’s visit tomorrow represented a chance for a better future. If Isamu and Mari could sign an agreement, then perhaps Katashi would join behind them. They could put the war behind them and focus on survival. Everyone had seized on that hope, holding on tightly to it like a child holding a favorite toy at night.

  Asa couldn’t bring herself to be so optimistic. There were too many factors at play. Isamu was making secret troop movements in the south. She still believed Isau had been murdered. And Yoshinori and his schemes couldn’t be controlled by Mari. Too much could go wrong for her to find hope.

  But listening to the snippets of conversation around the common room, she could almost believe. Isamu’s honor guard could now be seen from the gate. Tomorrow they would make the journey up the narrow road to Stonekeep. Until then, Asa had decided to enjoy the calm before the storm. Her preparations were all in place, and she’d invited Suzo to come drink with her again tonight. The girl’s shift wasn’t due to end for a bit yet, but Asa figured she might as well get a head start. The girl couldn’t quite hold her drink yet.

  The innkeeper brought her a mug of beer, and Asa sipped eagerly, forcing herself to go slowly. If she wasn’t careful, she’d be drunk by the time Suzo arrived. The brew refreshed her as soon as it touched her tongue.

  She looked around. The inn was more crowded than usual. Word of the peace meetings had spread and merchants had flocked to the city, hoping to take advantage of the influx of people. Some of the regulars were present, but many of the faces were new. Asa was grateful the merchants brought their coin, but she hated that they made her work harder. More people and more strangers brought additional challenges to protecting Mari.

  Despite her efforts at restraining herself, she still found herself at the bottom of her mug in short order. It would probably be a little bit before Suzo arrived, but Asa figured another one wouldn’t hurt. She ordered, and soon enough a full mug sat in front of her, eager for her attention.

  Just then, a group of four large men came into the room. While most of the inn’s patrons were merchants, these men obviously were not. They were laborers of some sort, and loud at that. Asa didn’t recognize any of them. Almost as soon as they came in, the loudest of them, the one Asa identified as the leader, laid eyes on her. He took in her dark robes and the swords at her hips and he stumbled forward.

  Asa cursed. The last problem she wanted to deal with today was a drunk interested in a nightblade. Usually, men saw the robes and walked the other way as quickly as possible. Or at least they left her alone. But once in a while, a man got it in his mind that bedding a nightblade was a unique challenge. This man, inebriated as he obviously was, seemed to be one of the latter. He stopped just a few paces behind her.

  “You’re a nightblade, aren’t you?” His words were slurred.

  Asa tried ignoring him, but it didn’t work. He stepped forward, until he was close behind her. He practically towered over her, and she noticed that he had stepped around the sheath of one of her swords, standing over it, leaving her sheath in a particularly dangerous position. His breath reeked of drink when he leaned over her, putting his hands on her shoulders.

  Asa grabbed the hilt o
f her sword and pushed down as hard as she could. The other end of the sheath levered up quickly, striking the man square between the legs. She wasn’t looking at him, which was a shame, because she would have loved to see the expression on his face. But he dropped to the ground, holding himself in a voiceless scream.

  Before his friends could come to his rescue, her sword was out of its sheath and she was standing, her back to the bar. “He got off easy. Don’t come near me again.”

  For a few moments, Asa worried they might push their luck. Men always underestimated her, even if she was wearing the robes of a nightblade. The group gave her short bows of surrender, grabbing their unfortunate friend and pulling him out of the room, back into the street.

  Asa looked around the room one last time. Something seemed off, but after a few moments of wondering about it, she decided she was just being paranoid. She turned back to the bar and took her seat. Her beer had never looked more inviting. She drank it down quickly and frowned. This mug was particularly bitter, but it was still refreshing. Suzo should be along shortly, but Asa didn’t see why she shouldn’t have a third. She’d have to cut herself off soon after, though. She raised her hand to order.

  Her third drink tasted normal, but she noticed that she was feeling pretty drunk already. Had she remembered to eat supper? She’d been so busy. She couldn’t recall.

  Asa decided to slow down. She could finish this one when Suzo came, then go get some good sleep to prepare for the big arrival tomorrow.

  But even as she stopped, she felt sluggish, and the world started to wobble in front of her eyes. She put her head down, suddenly feeling even more tired than before. She needed to get home.

  A strong arm put itself around her. Asa looked up, expecting Koji. But he wasn’t there. The face was familiar, but she couldn’t quite place him. It was a young man, his lips turned up in what seemed to be a perpetual smile. She’d seen him before. She was certain of it. But she couldn’t get her mind to work. Every time she tried to hold onto a thought it slipped away from her, like trying to grab an eel.

  “I think my friend here has had too much to drink,” the man said. He slipped some coins onto the bar, paying for all her drinks. She became fixated on the coins, gleaming bright against the dark wood of the bar. The stranger stood her up and Asa didn’t resist. She knew she needed to go back to her place anyway. She’d have to apologize to Suzo for not being here, but she was just so tired.

  The man led her out of the bar. Asa needed to lean against him as they walked. Some part of her screamed, but she couldn’t react. She didn’t even think she had the strength to pull herself away from him.

  They walked out into the cool night, the streets largely empty. She looked over at him. “Who are you?”

  He just kept smiling, not replying. Then her world went black and she didn’t remember any more.

  14

  Koji woke up every morning feeling exhausted. Being on the road was never easy. Camp needed to be set up and broken down daily. Food had to be hunted and gathered, butchered and cooked. He needed to train, complete his missions, and cover leagues of ground day after day. He liked the challenge and the simplicity of life on the move, but they were all getting worn down like swords in need of sharpening.

  Despite the sheer amount of work, Koji didn’t think he’d ever been more content. His tiny force, small yet powerful, made a name for itself as they wandered through Katashi’s lands. They’d fought in a few small skirmishes when local militia groups tracked them down, not realizing the force they were up against. More than once, after a storehouse burned or a noble died, a local commander and his troops took it upon themselves to exact vengeance. They never made that mistake twice. Koji’s blades made certain of it.

  Since they crossed the border, Koji had yet to lose a single blade. Twice he had come close, but twice the dayblades with them managed to save the lives of the injured.

  Rumors of their group flew on the wind. They couldn’t even approach villages safely any longer. Sometimes they would send in a pair to gather what information they could, but no one welcomed strangers anymore. The laws of hospitality, it seemed, were broken and discarded in Katashi’s lands. When they were lucky enough to meet someone who would speak to them, they heard all about the demons terrifying the countryside. But everyone believed help was coming. They didn’t know how or when, but they were certain it was on the way. Their faith in their leader was absolute.

  Koji wasn’t sure they were wrong. He suspected his blades had caused enough damage that they had attracted Katashi’s attention. If they hadn’t already drawn part of the army out of House Kita’s lands, the time would be coming soon. They would soon face a challenge stronger than a local militia.

  The fact that he was changing the course of the war was everything Koji could hope for. Maybe, if he killed enough nobles, he would be able to lure Katashi himself. The thought of driving a sword through that man brought him immense joy.

  Koji also reveled in the continued companionship of those he fought beside. His blades trusted him, and he was willing to die for them. They still suffered through the occasional petty arguments, but the blades were united by a common purpose, and their particular style of training—relying so much on partners—helped build a measure of respect few other fighting systems could. Laughter echoed around the campfire at night, and even though their task was sometimes horrible, Koji couldn’t think of a single place that he would rather be.

  It was late in the day’s march when one of their scouts approached. She’d come at a full run, and all eyes turned to her as she made straight for Koji. He raised his own eyebrow in anticipation. The woman had been scouting the land behind them, so it meant they were likely being pursued. Being as they hadn’t seen a local militia in days, Koji suspected he had a good idea who was behind them.

  The nightblade gave her report, gasping for breath. Koji held out his hand and encouraged her to take a few moments of rest. When she had gathered herself she started again.

  “One of Lord Katashi’s armies is behind us,” she said.

  Koji didn’t believe they’d been that successful, despite his hopes. “An entire army?”

  She blushed and hung her head. “No, sorry, but nearly as bad. I estimate maybe a hundred and fifty men, all mounted. They wear red uniforms and are making good time.”

  A hundred and fifty cavalry against his dozen blades? He wasn’t sure how they’d win that fight. Even if they weren’t tired, that was a difficult advantage to overcome. “How far behind are they?”

  “About three leagues. When I left, they were dismounting and setting up camp for the evening, but I expect they’ll be able to reach us by tomorrow.”

  Koji gave the woman a short bow. “Thank you. Get your rest. You may need it soon.”

  Everyone’s eyes were on him. He ignored the questioning looks, staring off into the distance, thinking. Nothing came to him. There wasn’t any terrain nearby that would allow him to negate the cavalry’s advance, and while nightblades could be effective against horses, they wouldn’t be at this scale. A single charge would wipe his small group out without problem. This was their first true challenge since coming across the river, and he wasn’t sure how to solve it.

  Fortunately, he wasn’t alone. Everyone had heard the report, so he asked for ideas.

  Several plans were suggested, but few appealed to them. The lands of House Amari were flat, at most suffering from the occasional rolling plain. There was no place to run to, no place to shelter them. On the open prairie, the mounted warriors had every advantage.

  Sakura suggested an idea that brought all other conversation to a stop. “We could double back and attack them as they sleep tonight.”

  Koji fought against his instincts. There was no honor in the action, but it was the only way he could think of where they could possibly survive. He waited for someone else to speak up against it, but no one did. The truth, horrible as it was, couldn’t be argued against.

  He hated to ev
en contemplate the idea, necessary as it might end up being. “Are there any other thoughts?”

  A few other strategies were suggested, but none that had a realistic chance of success. The cavalry could move faster, stay out of sword range, and harass the blades until they died. At night, though, every advantage would be theirs. Blades didn’t need to see to fight, so the darkness wasn’t a problem. The cavalry wouldn’t be mounted, negating the edge they had.

  Koji took a big gulp of air before he spoke. The mission would still be dangerous, and he would almost certainly lose some of the friends he’d made among this group. But if they didn’t act, they would all almost certainly die. “Get some rest. We move out when night falls.”

  Koji hadn’t slept much, but he’d managed a short nap. Given their work tonight, he suspected it was all he’d be likely to get. No one else slept much more. Koji considered allowing the blades to sleep without any guard duty, but the risk was too great.

  The night was dark when he gave the order to move out. They had a fair amount of distance to cover, and then they would have to fight. Koji allowed himself to slip into a trance as he ran at a steady pace, his awareness of his surroundings light. It wasn’t rest, but it would have to do.

  Like shadows, the blades followed, a soft rustling of robes the only indication they were still behind him. They were all in excellent condition, having trained since birth to run for long distances and fight at the end. That training, brutal as it was, rewarded them on nights like tonight.

  Koji fought against his exhaustion. He’d been tired before this, and his eyes seemed to close of their own will, ignoring his repeated attempts to force them open. He stumbled and quickly recovered, the short burst of energy enough to keep his eyes open. He only had to last a while longer.

  After Koji estimated they had covered a little over two leagues, he sent out scouts while the rest of the group slowed. Fortunately, the night was cloudy, and the moon was often obscured. Still, it was high in the sky when the scouts returned.