As the Shadow Rises: Book Two of The Age of Darkness
Page 42
Edo stood waiting at the door of the carriage but slid out of sight as Ryoji marched Tanaka up to it and thrust him inside. He held the door open for me to follow, and I took my seat, trembling from head to foot.
Still holding the door, the general leant in. “Do you have a death wish, boy?”
“I was the one trying to stop anyone getting killed, General, if you didn’t notice.”
“And painting a great big target on your back while you did it.”
“They loved me!”
General Ryoji snarled an animal’s anger. “You think it was you they were cheering for? They weren’t even seeing you. That was Katashi Otako standing before them once more.”
“And I’m proud to look—”
“Your father was a traitor. A monster. He killed thousands of people. You—”
Words seemed to fail him and he slammed the door. A shout to the driver and the carriage lurched into motion. Tanaka scowled, ignoring Edo’s concerned questions, while outside, more people willing to die for the Otako name bled their last upon the Shami Fields.
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