by Claire Luana
“But there is something about a handsome man that tramples your common sense completely. While my mother was arranging a marriage to Ozora, we were sneaking off to be together. I showed him all of the hidden places at the citadel, and we would disguise ourselves and escape into the city to stroll through the market or watch a fiddler play in a bar. It was all foolish and dangerous, of course, as we were incredibly conspicuous, even with our hats on or hoods up.
“As much as I tried to hide it, Airi noticed his affection for me and grew jealous. You see, your father was so handsome and charming that he had caught my sister’s eye as well. One night, she snuck into his rooms and threw herself at him, trying to seduce him. At first, he thought it was me and began to reciprocate. But before long, he realized who she was and rebuffed her advances as kindly as he could. She grew furious. She tore her gown and ran from him, calling out that he had forced himself on her. She was only sixteen.
“I vouched for him as best I could, but I couldn’t reveal our love. If the man had seduced one princess, who was to say he wasn’t aiming for two? The peace threatened to unravel and something needed to be done to save it. I cried rivers on Master Vita’s shoulder until, appalled to see me so distressed, he tried to find a solution. He and Lyra told me an ancient secret. A way to give up your burning. If we could fake my death and commute your father’s sentence to exile, we could both burn ourselves out and vanish into the world, to live life as a normal man and woman. No one would ever find us. And so we did it. At the time, though, we didn’t realize the cost.”
“Your seishen?” Kai breathed.
“Yes, I lost Lyra and your father lost his seishen, Bako. He was a beautiful stallion; the only equine seishen I’ve ever seen. He encouraged the plan as well. I don’t know if Lyra and Bako knew what would come, but I suspect they did. They sacrificed themselves for us, for our love. The pain of losing her still cuts like a knife. It is like losing an arm and yet feeling its silent sensations. It was a long time before your father and I began to forgive ourselves and each other for what we had done.”
“How did you?” Kai asked. She couldn’t imagine losing Quitsu.
“It wasn’t until we had you. Life became worth living again.” Hanae stroked Kai’s cheek.
“But now I feel a different type of sorrow,” Hanae said. “Airi. I had hoped that without me, she could grow into the woman I knew she could be. But she has become twisted and cruel. Shortly after we disappeared, our mother died as well. Airi was alone at sixteen with a country to rule and a war to fight. She blamed the sunburners for my death and I suspect our mother’s. And near this time, Geisa appeared as well. She is a fanatical worshipper of Tsuki who quickly gained power and my sister’s ear.”
“Geisa’s hatred of the sunburners runs even deeper than Airi’s. I fear Geisa had a role to play in twisting my sister into who she is today. And Ozora isn’t much better. He was so angry about how the moonburners treated him and his favorite captain that when he returned home, he vowed to destroy them all.”
“Hence the Gleaming,” Kai said.
“Yes. He was young and hotheaded. I suspect that he has lost the taste for war over the last twenty years, from what his son tells us.”
“Airi is even worse than you realize,” Kai said. She poured out the details of the horrors she had outlined when they met in the spirit world. The testing that almost killed her. Emi’s injuries. Maaya’s beating. Tsuki’s appearance in the temple. The facility. The Oracle’s prophecy. The eclipse.
Her mother grew paler and paler.
“If I had known what my selfishness would bring, I never would have left,” Hanae said. “But I thought Miina would be safe in my sister’s hands. And I just couldn’t face losing your father.”
“It’s not your fault,” Kai said, some of the anger she had felt at her mother fading away.
“It is,” Hanae said. “But it is kind of you to say otherwise.”
CHAPTER 32
The next morning, Hiro’s manservant, Zeshi, unchained them and indicated that they should follow him. He led them to a small bathing tent where water was heated in big kettles over hot fires. They washed themselves and put on fresh clothes that had been laid out for them—a simple green dress for Hanae and one of aqua blue for Kai.
Kai’s heart missed a beat as she ducked inside their tent and found Hiro waiting there. He had no right to be so handsome.
“Can I show you around the camp?” he asked. “Consider it part of your initiation as ‘guest’ instead of prisoner.”
“That would be lovely,” Kai said, immediately kicking herself. Lovely? She sounded like a fluttery-eyed schoolgirl.
“I am feeling a little tired,” Hanae said. “I’d rather lie down. But you should take Kai and Quitsu.”
“Very well,” Hiro said. “Let Zeshi know if you need anything else.” As he turned to open the tent flap for Kai to exit, Hanae gave Kai a wink and a mischievous smile. Apparently Kai wasn’t hiding her feelings for Hiro as well as she thought. But the realization couldn’t dampen her spirits. She had one-on-one time with Hiro to enjoy.
Zeshi had given Kai a hat to help her avoid the attention her silver hair naturally brought. Despite this effort, the entire sunburner camp clearly knew who she was. She drew looks wherever she went, from curious glances to downright hostile glares.
The camp was clean and well organized. The soldiers and their followers looked well taken care of, sitting around tidy cookfires interspersed among the neat rows of white tents. The sunburners were consolidated in a large group of fancier tents in the center of camp. They had direct access to the camp’s horses and golden eagle rookery, which were on opposite sides in order to keep the horses from growing nervous.
As Kai and Hiro walked through the camp, the tradespeople and soldiers stood and saluted Hiro. He stopped at various fires, saying a few words and introducing Kai as his guest.
“Shira, did the soldiers deliver that new bolt of cloth you needed for the cloaks?” He asked an older lady sitting and mending uniforms.
“Oh yes, m’lord. Thank you.”
“Is Mika feeling any better with that new delivery of medicine?” He asked a young woman, introducing her to Kai, and explaining that her young son had fallen ill with a cough.
“Yes, m’lord. Thank you so much for seeing to him.”
“Do you know the names of everyone in your camp?” Kai asked, as they neared the pen where the horses were kept.
“Most of them,” he said. “They gave up their normal lives to be here and follow us. The least I can do is ensure they are well cared for.”
“Not everyone would see it that way,” Kai murmured.
Kai paused, resting her arms over a large fence surrounding the camp’s horses. The horses were sleek, impressive steeds, large enough to bear a sunburner in full armor. Nothing like the nimble ranch horses she had grown up with. She wondered what had become of Jaimo and Archer after her father had been killed. They probably belonged to Youkai now.
“You seem far away,” Hiro said, leaning on the railing beside her.
“Just thinking of home,” she said. “I grew up on a ranch. I miss our horses.”
“We could go for a ride if you’d like,” Hiro said. “Really?” Kai said, her eyes wide and bright.
Hiro laughed. “Wow, you’d think I just offered you the moon.”
“The moon isn’t yours to give,” Kai said.
“Bad example,” he said. “We can’t stray far, but let’s go for a ride.”
A groom tacked up two horses; a big chestnut that was Hiro’s preferred mount, and a fine, dappled gray mare for Kai.
“She matches your hair,” Hiro remarked, as they passed the gates through camp.
Kai pulled off her hat and ruffled her hair so it would lie down. “I have never been one to match my mount to my wardrobe.”
“No, you don’t seem the type.”
Signs of spring decorated the countryside. A warm breeze blew cherry blossoms across their path. Quitsu an
d Ryu trailed after them, jumping and bounding through the tall grass bordering the road like a pair of kittens. Kai breathed deeply and closed her eyes, savoring the moment.
When she opened them, Hiro was looking at her with an intensity that made her blush. He averted his eyes, like a schoolboy whose hand had been caught in the candy jar.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve ridden for pleasure,” Kai admitted.
“Me too,” Hiro said. “Brings simpler times to mind.”
“My father always said you could trust animals far more than people,” Kai said.
“Your father was a rancher, you said?” Hiro asked.
“Yes. But he was also a veterinarian of sorts, the only one our town had. He could nurse just about anything back to health. We always had stray animals running around. It drove my mother crazy, but I loved it.”
“He sounds like a kind-hearted man.” Somehow, the way Hiro said it made it sound like a trait he respected.
“He was. But he was hard too, when he had to be. Even scary. He taught me to fight. One time, we went on a call to the farm of a man outside of town who had a sick horse. When we arrived, we could tell the horses were terribly mistreated and malnourished. My father beat that man into a bloody mess and told him he would come back every month and make sure he suffered as much as his horses until he treated them right. I’ve never been so terrified in my life. We went back a month later and those horses looked much healthier, and didn’t show any signs of abuse. We went back every month for years. ‘House call.’ My father would call it. No animal was ever mistreated in that house again.”
“That is an honorable thing, looking out for the well-being of others.”
“He thought it was his responsibility to look after those who couldn’t look after themselves. He said it was what the sunburners used to stand for, before they lost their way.”
“A bit of an odd thing for a rancher to say,” Hiro remarked, “though I suppose he is entitled to his opinion.”
“He wasn’t just a rancher. He was a sunburner,” Kai said, pointing to the tattoo on Hiro’s muscled forearm. “He was your father’s best friend and favorite captain.”
“Where is your father now?” Hiro asked, eyebrows raised.
“Executed,” Kai said. “Because he had the audacity to defy your father and refuse to turn his infant daughter over to be slaughtered.” She had been working up to this, she realized.
She and Hiro looked at each other for a long moment. The horses had stopped walking. A cricket sounded in the meadow.
“I’m sorry about your father,” Hiro said. “I believe I am familiar with his story. My father was devastated to lose his friend.” He raised his hands as Kai opened her mouth to speak. “I’m not saying that is an excuse for what has happened to you and your family. I can’t undo everything my father has done. But I will try to be different when I’m king. Better.”
Kai’s necklace lay cool against her chest. She softened. “I believe you.”
The next day, Hiro and Kai walked through camp again. Her mother had pleaded out again on account of a “headache.” Kai could kiss her for it.
As they passed the sparring ring, they paused to watch two sunburners spar with sharp ono axes.
“The taller man is better,” Kai remarked. “Look how he is toying with the other. He sees his move coming and counters easily. He could take him down quickly if he put his mind to it.”
Hiro glanced at Kai sideways, eyebrows raised. “The taller is Wuu, one of our captains and armsmasters. He is one of our best trainers.”
“His technique is good,” Kai admitted.
“You said your father taught you to fight?” Hiro said.
“Yes.”
“What weapons?”
“If it had a blade, blunt or string, he taught it to me. I think it was how he kept himself sharp.”
“Want to have a go?” Hiro asked. The two men in the ring were re-racking their weapons and wiping the sweat from their faces.
“Is that a good idea?” Kai asked. “Me in the ring with the crown prince?”
“You scared?” Hiro said, poking Kai’s shoulder with a finger.
“No,” she said, exasperated. “But won’t your people worry about you being wounded at the hand of an evil moonburner?”
“Maybe,” he admitted with a shrug. “But if we are to work together, my people have to start trusting you as I do. We’ll use staves. No blades. They can’t object to that.”
He climbed under the rope encircling the ring and held it for her. “Besides, if I can’t handle one drugged moonburner in the middle of the day, I’m not fit to be king.”
Kai shook her head, but couldn’t turn down the playful expression on his face. She climbed into the ring.
“Five silvers on Kai,” Ryu said in his deep rumble.
Quitsu chuffed with laughter, jumping gracefully onto one of the fenceposts for a better vantage point. “No bet.”
Kai grabbed two staffs from those piled neatly on the ground and turned to find Hiro with his back to her, taking his shirt off. She snapped him in the small of the back with one of the staffs, just hard enough to sting.
“Ow,” he said, whirling around.
“Never turn your back on your opponent,” Kai said, tossing his staff to him.
He smiled, rubbing his back. “That’s the only free blow you’ll get.”
“Should I take my shirt off too, before we start?” she asked, with mock innocence.
“I believe that is what we would call an unfair distraction.” But Kai thought it might even things up. She was having a hard time pulling her eyes from his firm chest, flat stomach, and strong arms. Merciful Taiyo, the man was muscled like a god. Kai came back to herself just in time to throw up her staff and block his overhead blow.
They were fairly matched, trying out tentative test blows at first, exploring each other’s styles and weaknesses. The tenor of the fight began to grow as they attacked, sparred and fell back, the sound of their clacking staves echoing through the campground. They were drawing a large crowd, a crowd that she knew was not rooting for her.
She blocked and attacked, her staff whirling in her hands. Sweat poured off of her. She was tiring. Hiro was, too. She could see his chest heaving and his movements were growing sluggish. She thought she still had the better on him in speed. There! His foot caught on a rock and he stumbled a step, lowering his staff to catch his balance. She almost went for the “kill,” but held back. She couldn’t win this fight. Hiro righted himself and attacked with fury, no doubt angry at himself for opening himself up. She allowed herself to stumble backwards and fall to the ground, with the end of his staff pointed at her eyes.
“I yield,” she said.
Hiro stood breathing hard for a moment with his staff at his side before he extended a hand to her and pulled her up.
“Good fight,” he said loudly, clapping her on the shoulder.
“The woman can fight, can’t she!” he said to the crowd as he grabbed his shirt and held the rope for her.
Kai heard a few mutters and the crowd began to disperse. She saw Daarco towards the edge of the clearing, arms crossed in fury. She looked away as they began walking back to her tent. “Friendly bunch, aren’t they?”
“They’ll come around,” Hiro said.
“I really wish I taken that bet,” Quitsu said.
The evenings were quickly becoming Kai’s favorite part of the day. Hiro had taken to inviting her to eat with him. Her mother and his staff and retainers joined them, but then would trail off one by one, leaving the two of them alone.
Kai and Hiro talked until the candles burned low, trading stories of childhood, learning to burn and military life. Hiro loved hearing stories of her near misses with being revealed as a girl.
She couldn’t help laughing herself as she recounted them, despite how life-threatening it had been at the time.
“As you know, at age fourteen all Kitan males need to be evaluated for service in t
he army. The recruiter came to town, and we were all supposed to strip down to our underwear to be evaluated by the physician. My parents and I fretted and agonized over how to get me out of it. Finally, my mother gave me a powder to swallow right before that part of the evaluation. I started vomiting and bleeding out of my eyes and ears so bad that they called my mother immediately. The army didn’t want to touch me with a ten-foot pole after that!”
Hiro laughed his deep barrel laugh that resounded through Kai’s body and warmed her to the core.
“I was throwing up for a week after that. I still don’t like the taste of cinnamon.”
They were sitting across from each other on two stools, a small table between them at an angle. He leaned forward and put his hand on her knee. Her senses buzzed, as if her body and mind were electrified by his touch.
“There is something I need to ask you. Something serious,” he said.
“All right,” she said softly, heart pounding.
He looked into her eyes. His golden hair glistened in the candlelight and his green eyes danced with the reflection of the flame between them.
“You threw that fight, didn’t you?”
Kai laughed, playfully swatting at him. “I thought you were going to ask me something serious.”
“That is serious,” Hiro said with mock offense. “A woman beating the crown prince of Kita in a duel? It’s a scandal!”
“Not just any woman,” Kai said, smiling.
“No, that’s exactly right. Not just any woman.” He put his hands back on her knees. “I knew it from the moment I knocked you out of the sky. I couldn’t have killed you as sure as I couldn’t cut off my own arm. There is something about you that speaks to me.”
“I . . . feel the same way,” she said, embarrassed to find her voice breathless.
“My men warn me that you are a sorceress, manipulating my mind.”
“Daarco?” she asked, already knowing it was so.
“Yes. And others. I know I should heed their advice and be wary. But every time I try, I am pulled back in.”
He had slid his hands up her legs slightly, so they now rested on her mid-thighs. His face was close to hers, his mouth full and fine. Her excitement was laced with a thread of panic. Was he going to kiss her? He leaned forward and she closed her eyes, sucking in her breath.
