Mako made an unintelligible sound that was almost a growl. Flicking his gaze across them, Theron saw Ria’s face redden, the edges of her mouth turning down. Then his father spoke up. “It wasn’t Iriana’s doing, Akiyama-san. It was mine,” smiling wryly, he said, “I wasn’t quite fast enough to escape being seen.” Kino turned to Ria, saying, “Thank you for trying to protect an old man’s pride, my dear,” and he shook his head. “You shouldn’t sacrifice yourself for such a thing.” Startled, Ria looked up with an apologetic smile, nodding.
Kit had been sitting rather impatiently through all this, but now was up and had moved over to the village girl. Taking her hand, he tugged her towards the horses, peering at the surrounding forest. The boy’s restlessness was catching. Looking at the brush surrounding them, Theron listened for a moment, but couldn’t hear any evidence they’d been discovered. Still, “We should leave as soon as we can, then.” Hopefully they had a few minutes to finish readying themselves.
He moved over to Ash, murmuring a greeting and looking over the party, thinking hard about where they should head next. Theron was grateful for the distraction. Having Lynea with them should have released the spiraling tension he’d been feeling, but now instead of some vaguely-timed threat, he was faced with an observable, malevolent curse that was slowly killing her. Those bites must have some type of poison in them, for he could see it working, in her shallow breathing, in the unnatural pallor of her skin.
Could he find a way to break it? By now he’d seen and learned too much of what the man had his hands into. All of it was evil. This gem was no different. If he were to break this curse on the lady, the Emperor could do his own dark deeds, for Theron would have no reason to.
Mm. Mysterious gems. He glanced at the band he wore on his wrist, a gift from Kitsune. With a braided strap, woven without fingers. A healing stone, shaped without the touch of a single tool. The witch’s creation had helped him (possibly saved him, if he were honest).
Though she claimed her abilities were not what they once were, it was obvious she had power. He knew where they would head next.
Chapter 19
“We’re going where?!” Mako hissed, voice lowered and looking back towards the clearing where the others were waiting. He and Theron were doing a quick check of the area before they rode out, making sure there weren’t any patrols nearby.
Only a few minutes had passed since Theron and Lynea had arrived and that had been only shortly after Ria and Kino. If their luck held, pursuit (if there was one) was still a ways off.
Theron eyed Mako a moment. This was the second time they’d been through this. Theron thought it had been pretty clear the first time. “We return Kino to Ume Village, if he won’t be in danger there,” he repeated slowly, trying to keep his voice calm. “Then we’ll head to the coast through Kikino Forest.”
“It’s not safe to travel through that forest.”
Irritation bled into the Protector’s reply. “You saw the map Kit sketched, too, yes? It’s where the boy lives.”
“He made his way out of Kikino Forest without us, surely he can find his way back.”
“We owe it to Kit, to see him home safely.” Eying the disbelief on Mako’s face, Theron thought maybe he shouldn’t tell him the other reason he wanted to go – that Theron intended to seek help from the witch that lived there.
“Owe it to him? How?” Why was the Mamoru so set on going through that forest? It was haunted, everyone knew that. After everything they’d been through, why do something so stupid? Mako was honestly confused. Admittedly, his mind was still reeling from seeing the Emerald Lady walk out of the Emperor’s Forest, scraped up and looking exhausted. She wasn’t someone people got close to. She was perfect and beautiful and was supposed to remain untouched by anything ugly. Anything mortal.
She was meant for the Emperor. And yet, the Mamoru claimed the Emperor couldn’t be trusted. That the Emperor meant to … no. Mako couldn’t believe it.
The Mamoru was talking. “I still haven’t figured out what Moss Beard was trying to tell us, but Kit’s the one who led us to the spirit-guide.” The man stopped peering into the trees, turning back to look at the former guard. “You’ve seen how that boy moves through the forest. He could have left at any time. He didn’t have to stay and fight the tokage with us. He didn’t have to get himself injured, when he took out those other two last night. It’s obvious he was trying to protect us.”
“Yeah, well. How do you know that is what he meant to do?” Mako growled. “He can’t talk. I don’t think he understands us. Maybe he was just doing it because he didn’t know any better.” The large man shrugged. “We can’t be sure why he killed those lizards. They might not have even been there for us.”
Theron raised an eyebrow. “You really think that, Mako?” He huffed a breath, frustrated to be having this conversation again. “So it was just chance that they had a piece of my tunic?”
“Ah. Well …” Eyebrows furrowing, Mako’s voice trailed off.
“And,” Theron continued, “I didn’t tell you yesterday, but there’s no point in keeping it from you.” He sighed, taking one last look around, before turning to walk back towards their little group.
“Keep what from me?” A wary edge had crept into Mako’s voice and Theron thought that maybe he didn’t blame the man. He had not been the most honest over the past days. It didn’t matter that he’d had good reasons for it.
Theron looked off to the side a moment. Gritting his teeth, he sighed. “That handler? The one I found with the dead tokage.”
Mako nodded, frown deepening.
“He was wearing the Emperor’s mark.”
“What? I don’t believe that.”
“It was as clear as the mark on your arm.” Making a disgusted sound, Mako glanced down at his own forearm and the tattoo there. Shaking his head, Theron said quietly, “I wasn’t lying when I said the Emperor was the one behind the threat to the lady.”
“So you found a dead man with an Imperial tattoo. Someone else could have sent him, could have corrupted that guard. Or they were after you because of what you did at the palace.”
“The Emperor sent him, to stop me from saving the lady. From stopping his plans.” Looking at the shadows around them – they were almost back at the camp – Theron finished, “and now he’s using the lady to force me to steal this stone for him.”
Mako didn’t say anything for a few steps. And then, “I can’t believe that is all that’s going on. He must have a good reason.”
“A reason doesn’t mean he’s good. Evil can have a reason, too. We just don’t know what it is.” Theron reached out, pulling a branch back, revealing the campsite.
The former guard started to shake his head, disagreeing, but Theron wasn’t done. “Even if we knew, it wouldn’t make a difference, now. I’m sworn to protect her. I’ll do what I have to.” He stepped into the clearing. “And I have less than a fortnight to do it. Going through the forest will save time on the way to the coast, as well as see Kit home. It just makes sense.”
That seemed to be all the Mamoru had to say on the subject, for he turned away, heading towards the horses and leaving Mako standing at the edge of the camp. Mako scowled at the other man, thick brows drawn down. It makes sense, but I don’t have to be happy about it.
The rest of the group was milling around, getting ready to leave. Mako watched the lady stand up, delicately dusting off her silk kimono. Her lips pursed, as she looked at the damage along the lower edge of the embroidered cloth. The former guard could see she didn’t look well. Even from a distance, he could see her eyes were dark-rimmed, nearly sunken and, barely visible at the cuff of her sleeve, an angry red mark. The Emerald Lady was sick. That much of what the Mamoru said was true, but how was the Emperor to blame for that?
The Mamoru said it was two days’ ride to the coast. That gave him some time. One way or another, he’d find out the truth. In the meantime, he’d do everything he could to safeguard the future Empress. For
now, he’d have to put it out of his mind, though. Some quality of the rustle and clatter around him said the other members of the party were almost ready to go. Heaving a breath, Mako went to gather his things.
Quickly, everyone was ready. There was a problem now, however. They were very short on mounts. Ria’s forehead creased. This was a problem she was painfully sensitive to, after her ride with the Protector on the way here. And with two horses, five riders and a long way to go, it desperately needed solving. “The horses can’t ride double as far as we need to go,” Theron looked back toward the palace.
Ria looked up at the Protector as Mako said, “Don’t be foolish, you can’t go back there. They will certainly have noticed by now that Isao-sama has been freed.”
“What are we to do, then?” Ria managed to keep her voice steady, despite the worry that vibrated along her spine. The Protector was right, they had to leave. Now would be good. Or sooner. Movement would give her time to think, or better yet, help her to forget the argument she had seen between Theron and Kino.
“I have two horses. You may take them.” Kino-sama’s voice was tired. Ria’s mouth turned down in sympathy. When Mako and Theron protested the offer, he said, “Don’t be fools. If you don’t use them, you have no hope of finishing the task in time.” His gentle eyes landed on Lynea. Ria watched her elder’s gaze look at the mark on the lady’s forearm, just a few inches showing beyond the cuff of her kimono’s sleeve. Less angry now, but still reddened along the outline. Tension tightened his expression. “They are good animals. Not quite as fine as Ash, but Tsumi was my son’s horse. He’s fast.” Eyes moving quickly to Theron and away again, he said, “And Chikara’s a good horse. Theron knows better than any, he learned to ride on him. He may not be the youngest any more, but he’s strong and steady.”
Ria wasn’t sure if the others saw it, but she knew the young Protector well enough by now to see that something in all that had upset him. Still, he bowed his head in gratitude.
“I’ll thank you to treat them well, though, and return them once this errand is complete.”
In the meantime, it was decided the two women would ride double on Ash. He had carried Theron and Ria together. He was strong enough for the two women the short distance to the village. Kino was not up to walking, so he would ride double with Kit on the other horse. It left the two younger men on foot, but there was no help for it.
Ria may have nodded her understanding that she would be riding with Lynea, but that didn’t calm the unsettling churn of her stomach. The anxious roll of it had started the moment the two of them returned to the camp and Ria was avoiding thinking on it too deeply. She watched Theron as he talked quietly to the lady and led her to Ash. She watched him take one knee, knitting his fingers together to boost her into the saddle. The village girl couldn’t help but notice the smile on Lynea’s face and how she put a hand on his shoulder to steady herself. The future Empress mounted much more smoothly than Ria would ever manage.
“Ria, come. I’ll help you up.” Theron was looking at her expectantly.
Stop it, you’re being a child. She stepped forward quickly. It wasn’t as difficult to mount now, thankfully, and with minimal fuss she settled in behind the lady. Up close, Lady Lynea was more beautiful than she had been from a distance. Even after everything the woman had been through, and even though the beautiful kimono she wore was torn in spots and stained from the trek through the forest, she was still so perfect. Her features were fine, with almond shaped, deep green eyes, her long midnight black hair was smooth and glossy, especially compared to Ria’s. Each perfect fingernail had been buffed to shining.
Ria turned her hands over, seeing each callus from years of climbing trees and every scrape from her recent adventures. The lady’s hands looked so soft. Shifting a bit, she tried to scoot back as far as she could without being obvious. She remembered what Theron had said about being safe and making Ash tired, but it felt wrong to sit so close to the Emperor’s future wife.
Something about the way she was sitting must have registered with the lady, because she looked back. One delicate eyebrow went up. “You can rest your hands on my waist, girl.” The way she said it made Ria frown, but the lady was right. Theron had already taken the reins for the gray from Mako. He watched Kino wince when he reached up to mount the willowy-looking animal. Theron frowned, but said nothing, however, only turning the horse and starting into the trees. Ria, deciding it would be better not to risk falling or hurting Ash, did as the lady instructed. She noticed for the first time how stiffly Lynea was sitting. Inside, she smiled, just a little. So, the lady was as uncomfortable with this as Ria was.
“Thank you, my lady.”
Not looking at her, Lynea nodded. With a small movement, she had Ash moving. Everything was quiet for a long time. Then, “How long have you been traveling with the Mamoru?”
Ria blinked at the edge she heard in the other’s voice. “A few days, my lady.”
“Days?” Ria could hear her frown. “How did that work, with two men and that boy in the camp with you?”
“Oh,” Hesitating, Ria remembered some of the more embarrassing moments of the past few days. Obviously, the lady thought something she shouldn’t. None of them had done anything wrong. And then she felt her cheeks heat, thinking of the brush of her fingers across Theron’s chest at the river and her heart pounding by the campfire when he’d leaned in, so close to her. Thankfully, Lynea was faced away from her. With as much calm as she could muster, she said, “They took the watches, and I slept on the other side of the campsite from where they rested.” Which was pretty good, she thought, innocent enough. Until some rebellious part of her said, “And when it was time to get cleaned up, Theron kept guard over me at the river.”
Ash tossed his head as Lynea’s hands jerked at the reins. Theron must have heard the horse’s snort, because he looked back quickly. But the lady was already urging Ash forward again. “Ah, yes. Well, he protects people, doesn’t he?” she said, over her shoulder. “Especially if he believes they are weak. He would do so almost without thought,” and she paused, before finishing, “Even when they mean nothing to him.”
Ria didn’t respond, forcing herself not to react, to keep her hands loose where they rested. She resisted the brief, strong urge to push the lady off the horse. Instead, she willed herself to calm down and kept her eyes trained on the gray, watching Theron and Mako jog alongside. Mako was starting to breathe hard. Too many muscles, Ria thought again, remembering the thrill of escaping him back when she’d snuck on the grounds (so long ago) and her eventual discovery of the Protector’s practice yard. If they’re going to run the whole way, will Mako even make it to the village?
The practice yard. Ria realized Lady Lynea had probably seen the Protector train many, many times. The village girl’s eyes went to the lady’s perfect hair, perfect clothing and perfect hands, guiding the horse with such confidence. “He protects people. Even when they mean nothing to him.” Ria’s mouth turned down and she looked away. The trees, the road. Those things were less perfect than the lady and easier to watch.
The two women didn’t speak any more, which was fine. It was probably better if they kept their thoughts to themselves.
The ride should have been much quicker by horseback, especially since Ria normally traveled the distance by foot, but it seemed a very long time before they reached Ume village.
Once there, it was a short way to the farm. Unsure of what they would find, Theron had them circle the village first, so they did not need to go through the center of the town. That meant they didn’t see the damage until they rounded the cluster of trees edging along the rear of the property.
Ria’s throat ached when they caught sight of the farm. The house was still standing, but that was a small favor. Every window was broken. The door had been smashed in. Dismounting quickly when the lady reined in Ash, Ria ran to the area Kino kept the animals. The momma pig had been slaughtered, along with her piglets. There were strange wounds on all
of them that said men hadn’t done this. It made Ria think of that winged creature Theron had fought and those they had seen under the palace, pacing in cages. Even Mako had nothing sharp to say to her when she burst into tears.
“Where are the horses?” Mako asked.
“Here,” Theron called from the edge of the forest. He had the bridle of one, and was coaxing the other back into reach. “This must not have happened long ago,” he said, his brow furrowing. “They hadn’t wandered far. Be careful.”
At that, Mako drew his sword, stepping to the lady’s side and motioning Ria to come closer. Theron quickly tied the horses and joined them. Kino was stepping on to the porch, heedless of the possible danger, only seeing what was left of the home he’d left, whole, only a few days ago. The Protector nodded to Mako, motioning for him to stay with Lynea and Ria.
The two Protectors, young and old, approached the shattered door. The house was utterly silent. Nodding to each other, they went in, Theron first with his sword drawn. He forced his eyes away from the destruction in the house he’d grown up in, slashed paper doors, tatami mats and cabinets with chunks missing. His heart contracted, seeing his adopted father run his hand along the jagged edge of a tapestry that had been slashed, and bend slowly to retrieve a small portrait of his wife, with hair the color of sunshine, holding an infant with hair the same bright shade. He watched Kino carefully remove the picture from the shattered wooden frame and put it into a pocket in his jacket. The older man looked at him briefly, his brows crinkling a moment. He walked into another room and came back out, a worn and folded piece of paper in his hands. He handed it to Theron. “It’s a map. You know where the Emperor is sending you?”
Splinter (Trapped Souls Book 1) Page 30
