by Ryan Kirk
“It’s my first jailbreak. Hope you don’t mind showing me how a professional operates.”
Daisuke barked his short laugh.
Asa watched as the sun came up over the horizon.
Chapter 20
Minori believed that too many people put too much stock in the wrong values. Everybody was so concerned about their honor, they were blind to more devious means of seizing power. But if deception meant more people could live, wasn’t that worth something? Life was much more precious than honor.
They had sent out the news this morning. The old king was dead, and Lord Shin had been named the new king just prior to Masaki’s death. Simply say it and it would become true.
There were complications, of course. For one, the king wasn’t dead. In fact, he was in Kiyoshi’s windowless room, probably being healed right now. Minori smiled. Kiyoshi would never stop fighting, but he had lost. Minori had achieved a victory over his strongest opponent yet.
The other lords were also a problem. Neither was particularly pleased about being taken hostage and becoming embroiled in lies.
Minori wondered which would chafe more: being confined to their palaces or their people believing they had supported Shin. He supposed it was the latter. And Isamu had been particularly disappointed when he discovered his buildup of guards had been escorted from his castle with the help of a large group of blades.
The Kingdom was far from unified, but if the next few days were peaceful, Minori thought his and Shin’s plan would work. Both Juro and Isamu were part of large, powerful families, and if the clans decided they didn’t like what was happening, they could always resort to force. But there would be an element of confusion. Forged letters had been sent to both families, claiming the lords had supported Shin’s ascension. Even if the letters weren’t believed by the clans, they would sow doubt, and by the time the families decided on a course of action, Shin would have solidified his base of power and moved his armies into strategically vital locations. At least, that was the hope. That, and the fact that the heads of their families were being held as hostages.
In all other ways, the takeover had been smooth, almost too smooth. Minori hoped for more violence. He needed more violence. The pieces were in motion, and Minori was playing a very long game. He wanted Shin to have to resort to authoritarian measures so that the blades would soon have a reason to depose him.
There was still hope. Asa and some other nightblade had escaped the palace. It seemed as though Asa and her friend had made some trouble at a gate, too—a strange situation. The commander reported being deceived by two blades, but when he returned to the gate, the posts had been completely abandoned.
Minori wondered if the two had escaped the city or were still here. He couldn’t decide. On the one hand, he could see Asa trying to get back to Starfall. She would go to the Council of the Blades, only to find no help there. Minori had their support, even if they might disapprove of his methods. On the other hand, Koji had said Asa was working for Kiyoshi now. She and her blade ally might remain in the city and try to rescue him.
A rescue would be obnoxious, but Minori wasn’t worried. Kiyoshi and the king were near the center of the palace, with nightblades roaming the grounds and four guarding the door. Asa wasn’t nearly good enough to break Kiyoshi out from such defenses.
At the end of the day, he didn’t have enough information to make a decision, so he put the matter out of his mind. There was no point worrying about what he couldn’t control—a hard lesson for him to learn, but one he had taken to heart and that had changed his life.
Anyway, he thought as he smiled to himself, there was an upcoming conversation he was very excited to have.
Minori walked through the halls of the palace, preparing for his next meeting. He hadn’t spoken with Kiyoshi in any real way since the first conversation they’d held back when Minori had first come to Haven just over a moon ago. That initial meeting seemed lifetimes away.
He was pleased to see the four nightblades on duty were alert. Blades had a difficult time with guard duty. Since they could sense anyone coming, it was far too easy to slip into a state of complacency. Fortunately, the habit didn’t seem to be affecting these four. He nodded at the sentries and walked into Kiyoshi’s room without pause.
Minori was surprised. He had expected to see both Kiyoshi and the king, but the room radiated a peace he hadn’t expected. Incense was burning in the corner, and the light was dim, the entire space lit by a single candle. The combination of smell and muted luminance had the immediate effect of calming Minori. He wondered at the change.
Kiyoshi looked up at Minori. He obviously wasn’t surprised at the visit. He would have felt Minori coming from quite a distance. Something had changed in him, though: the older man was looking healthier than he had in some time.
Minori had come in feeling victorious, but something about the atmosphere of the room made him pause. Here in Kiyoshi’s sanctum, he was nothing but a healer, and one of the best in the Kingdom. Politics seemed undeniably petty.
The nightblade glanced down at Masaki. The king had once been a great man, but those times were long past. Minori hoped the same fate would never befall him. He would rather die with a sword through his chest than suffer the indignities of an age that took away your abilities. Perhaps he’d still have the chance.
“How is he?”
Kiyoshi frowned, and Minori understood the question must have sounded strange coming from him. He had admitted he’d just as soon kill Masaki, so inquiring after the king’s health must have seemed odd. But after a pause, Kiyoshi seemed to understand. Politics and power were one thing. Personal feelings were another.
“Not much has changed. To be honest, there are times when I wonder if I should keep trying. Once, I thought maybe his life would hold off the chaos, but that was overly optimistic of me. Now I wonder if I should just let him pass on his way. Perhaps it would be better for him.”
In a flash of insight, Minori understood. Kiyoshi was giving less and less of his energy to Masaki, hence explaining why he was looking so much better. Seized by a sudden feeling of compassion, he reached out and grabbed Kiyoshi’s shoulder. Too late, he forgot what Kiyoshi could do through touch, but he wasn’t so cowardly as to remove his hand.
Minori needn’t have worried. The healer glanced up at him, but then kept staring at the king.
“We don’t agree, Kiyoshi, but it’s a good thing you do.”
A little tension seemed to evaporate from Kiyoshi’s frame. Minori let go and stepped back to a safer distance.
Kiyoshi spoke thoughtfully. “I wonder sometimes. Dayblades and nightblades. Two sides of the same coin. Some have the power to take lives; others have the power to save lives. It seems as though one is better than the other, but at other times, I wonder if maybe this power is unnatural. Maybe none of us should have these abilities.”
Bespeaking his calm, Minori didn’t respond in anger. “There’s no point in questioning whether we should have our gifts. We do. All that is left is to decide how best to use them.”
Kiyoshi sighed. “But do you think there is a best way? What if by prolonging Masaki’s life, I’ve brought about more suffering? Maybe none of us are wise enough to know what truly is best. Perhaps we should just let the Great Cycle turn.”
Minori thought he understood. “I don’t know what you’ve seen, Kiyoshi, but we can’t give up. We’re not perfect, but we have choices. We can make this world a better place.”
Kiyoshi got up from his place near the king and moved to his bed. “I want you to be right, but my heart doesn’t believe it.”
Kiyoshi looked as though he was debating whether or not to say something. His words eventually came out. “Aligning with Shin is a mistake. He seeks to eliminate the blades from the Kingdom.”
Minori scoffed. “Even if that was true, he wouldn’t have a chance. We are far too strong to be removed from the board by force.”
Kiyoshi looked like there was more he would say, but
the older man just shook his head and remained silent.
The two looked at each other, the silence growing. Minori found it deeply saddening that day and night couldn’t agree. If they could, their friendship would be the subject of stories for generations. He smiled and saw Kiyoshi notice.
“I’m sorry, I was just thinking of something Koji said. He told me you and I were more alike than either of us wanted to admit.”
“He’s probably right.”
The next silence was broken by Kiyoshi. “Why are you here, Minori? I know you didn’t come to gloat. You’re a better man than that.”
“I wanted to ask you about Asa.”
That surprised Kiyoshi. “Has something happened to her?”
Minori was tempted to lie. “No. I don’t know where she is, although we are searching for her. I wanted to learn more about her.”
“Why?”
“Because although in many ways she seems perfectly unremarkable, my instincts tell me much hinges on her. If I’m going to succeed, I need to understand her. I need to know why she wants to kill me.”
Kiyoshi smiled at that. “She wants to kill you because she thinks you’re Osamu.”
Minori returned the smile, his guess confirmed. “I wondered if that was the case. I told her I was at Two Falls. But she never would have seen any mention of my name.”
Kiyoshi nodded, and Minori frowned. “But you know my history. You know why my name never shows up.”
“Yes, I know you were the shadow who provided the information to Osamu. I’ve known about your background for a long time. When you were younger, you were sent as a shadow on some of the most dangerous missions in blade history. You risked more than most of us ever have.”
Minori chuckled. “And yet you somehow forgot all this when Asa told you of her suspicions?”
Kiyoshi’s grin was devious. “It might have slipped my mind for a moment.”
Minori was surprised, but he didn’t find himself angry. Perhaps it was the calming scents, or the refreshing honesty between the two men.
“You know, if we agreed on the future of the blades, you and I would be almost unstoppable.”
“Perhaps. I don’t believe the blades are as infallible as you think. Someone, somewhere would outsmart us.”
Minori changed the subject, unwilling to rehash old arguments. “I don’t suppose you have any idea where Asa went, do you? I’d rather capture her peacefully.”
Kiyoshi raised an eyebrow. “From a man who just tried to have her killed, I find that hard to believe.”
“She can’t affect the game anymore, and whether you believe me or not, I’d rather not shed unnecessary blood. At least, not from a blade.”
“If I did know her whereabouts, I wouldn’t tell you.”
Minori’s anger finally started to break through the surface. He swore. “Kiyoshi, I’m trying to do what’s best. But if you don’t stop getting in my way . . .”
Kiyoshi stood in one smooth motion, and before Minori realized what had happened, the dayblade was inside his guard, less than a pace away. Minori’s mouth stood open. He hadn’t sensed incoming movement. Just who was Kiyoshi, and what was he capable of?
“Minori, the time for games has come to an end. You’ve forced the blades into a place where they need to make a decision. Are they going to take a side, or are they going to stand for the Kingdom? I may respect the honesty you’ve had with me, but never consider, even for a moment, that I will help you. You will tear this Kingdom apart unless I stop you, and if not for those four blades outside who would come running the moment I killed you, you would already be dead. Fortunately for you, I need to stay alive to finish my work.”
Minori stepped back in fear and surprise. Twice now he had been caught off guard by Kiyoshi. It would never happen again.
Every possible retort he had felt empty and meaningless in his mind, so he snapped around and left the room without another word. He had a Kingdom to run.
Chapter 21
Although he didn’t show it, Kiyoshi was consumed by uncertainty, a sensation he hadn’t experienced in as long as he could remember. He was a man who thought through his actions carefully, but once he made a decision, he committed to it. These traits had always served him well, but ever since Masaki’s stroke, Kiyoshi had been beset by doubt.
Perhaps because the stakes had never been higher, Kiyoshi felt as though every decision he made changed the future of the Kingdom.
For the first time, Kiyoshi also doubted his decisions. Was he keeping Masaki alive for the Kingdom, or for his own selfish desires? He had convinced himself it was for the Kingdom, but was he deceiving himself?
Kiyoshi’s mind swirled, lost in conflict. In his windowless room, with no exposure to the outside world, it was too easy to lose track of time. His body and mind were tired and needed sleep. Masaki was resting comfortably.
The old dayblade lay his head down on the bed, thinking he would just close his eyes for a while. His world went black, and when he finally came to, he understood he had been asleep for a long time. But his mind was clear.
Out of habit, Kiyoshi knelt down next to Masaki. He was just about to lay his hands on the king when he stopped, sudden clarity striking him.
He was stuck, making the same decision over and over, even though the situation had transformed into something new. His plan, once reasonable, now seemed silly. He had been a fool for not realizing this before, blinded by hope and optimism. But he saw the truth now. Even if he could bring Masaki back to consciousness for a while, his work would never be enough. The king’s guard had already been scattered by Shin’s forces, and even if Kiyoshi could summon the troops, they were far outmatched by the combination of Shin’s guards and the nightblades assisting them.
All he would accomplish by waking Masaki would be to bring his old friend more sorrow. The king had already given everything in service to the Kingdom and deserved a peaceful rest.
Yet Kiyoshi refused to leave him. He didn’t think Minori would do anything to harm the former king’s body, but he didn’t trust the nightblade to give Masaki a proper funeral.
He almost didn’t realize he had made a decision. Kiyoshi knew he had to escape the palace. He assumed Daisuke would arrive sooner rather than later. His old friend wouldn’t leave him here, and he suspected Daisuke would have Asa with him. If that was true, Kiyoshi needed to be ready to move at a moment’s notice. And Masaki needed to be ready as well.
Decision made, Kiyoshi began making arrangements. His first step was to prepare Masaki. He couldn’t give the former king all the energy he had been providing. Kiyoshi was going to need more of it for himself in an escape. But he still had some to give, and in the calm environment of his old room, perhaps he could do delicate work.
Kiyoshi rehearsed his escape in his mind. He didn’t know what Daisuke would hatch, but he figured that at the very least, he should be prepared to kill the four nightblades guarding his door. Four nightblades would be quite an achievement, one that would live in infamy if the stories ever got out.
He might be a dayblade, but he had plenty of surprises up his sleeve. He was ready.
When the moment came, Kiyoshi was prepared. For most blades, it would have been impossible to sense Daisuke. His skill made him one of the most useful nightblades Kiyoshi had ever met, and he was grateful the two of them had become friends. And he had learned, after cycles of trial and error, ways in which to track his old friend.
Between healings, Kiyoshi would extend his sense throughout the surrounding corridors. Fortunately for him, Shin’s coup had largely emptied the palace. Kiyoshi didn’t know for sure, but he assumed Shin was still running his coup from the safety and security of his own home. The palace was large and expansive, with rumors of tunnels that ran underneath. Kiyoshi knew the rumors were true, and a part of him regretted that Shin had the wisdom to stay away.
Daisuke would be hard to find, especially if he were trying to hide, but Kiyoshi had made himself familiar with Asa’s pre
sence. If she entered the palace again, he would notice her.
After several days, his patience paid off. He felt her, moving into the grounds. He sensed they were using one of the two escape tunnels that had been built into the bedrock. Kiyoshi was grateful. He hadn’t remembered if Daisuke knew about the tunnels. The passageways would be guarded by Shin’s men, who wouldn’t have a chance against the two of them. The only nightblades in the vicinity were the four guarding Kiyoshi.
Kiyoshi knew he had some time before his two allies got to him. Daisuke was a cautious man, and he’d try to spare any lives he could. Kiyoshi put the time to good use. He had conceived of a stretcher using parts of furniture from his room, and now he took the time to put it together. The stretcher wasn’t well built, and Kiyoshi was sure his handiwork wouldn’t last long, but it would help them get Masaki out of the palace. Then he armed himself and stretched out his limbs. A long time had passed since he had fought, but he was confident he would hold his own.
Kiyoshi tracked Asa through the halls of the palace. As he expected, they were moving carefully, but they seemed to be close in no time at all. Kiyoshi took a deep breath, wondering what tricks Daisuke had planned.
He felt Asa pause at the corner of the hall, just out of sight of the guards. The action was silly. She was close enough that each of the four blades outside must know another of the gifted was close. Kiyoshi could feel them all on edge, ready to spring into action. Pausing only gave them more time to sense her.
Suddenly Kiyoshi realized that was the point. Two of the blades left Kiyoshi’s door and walked toward her. After they had taken a few paces, she turned the corner, and the pair of blades approached the intruder.
Kiyoshi wished he knew where Daisuke was. But there wouldn’t be a better opportunity than now. He drew his short sword and a knife and took a deep breath. He could feel the blades outside tensing. They could feel his actions, and they knew he was getting ready to leave his room.
