by Ryan Kirk
It was only when the Abbot spoke about recent events that Akira’s attention was focused. One of their monasteries had been completely destroyed, the victim of a bloodbath of unbelievable proportions. Akira had seen the destruction Azarians visited on those weaker than them, but even he was surprised by the behavior. Moriko’s reports had told him that if nothing else, the Azarians were a very honest and straightforward people. It seemed unlikely they would break an agreement they made.
Akira pressed the Abbot, who finally admitted that the monks had been raiding Azarian clans in violation of their agreement. The monks had thought themselves more powerful than the Azarians. It made sense to Akira. If the monks were the ones who broke the agreement, the Azarians would have no hesitation about breaking their half of it too. But it was surprising one man could destroy an entire monastery. Akira didn’t hold the monks in the same esteem they held themselves, but they were strong warriors.
From the description, the man had to have been Nameless. His strength was incredible.
The action forced the monks to reconsider their plans. If one Azarian could do so much damage, they realized that they didn't have the power to hold back the invaders the way they once thought they could. They had realized their error was too much pride.
Akira was saddened to hear the news of the monastery. For as much as he detested the monks, he could imagine the pain and suffering of the people who believed they would be protected by thick walls and strong monks, only to find their beliefs were misplaced. He thought of the people at Hope, who had been working so diligently in exchange for the promise of protection. That hope was no more. The monasteries had been exposed, and while Akira was grateful for that, he wished it hadn't come at the expense of so many lives.
He said as much to the Abbott, but finished with a question. "As sorry as I am to hear this, I still don't know why you are here. What do you want me to do against such a threat?"
The leader of the monks responded, "I come because I know there are still men willing to fight, and we need to fight back if we are going to survive. My monks are willing to help, and now that our crimes are known, I hope it will help us atone for what we have done. But our betrayal has one benefit. We have been close to the councils of the Azarians, and I know how to strike them. I know how we can hit them so hard they will leave the kingdom forever."
31
He was able to sense them coming, a pair of demon-kind. He sighed to himself. A part of him had hoped they wouldn't find him, but there was no chance of that. He was too strong, and there was no way he could hide his power from those who had the gift.
Ever since the monastery, Nameless had refused the company of others. He didn’t feel guilty for his actions, but he had no desire to rejoin the People. When he traveled with the People, he invited complications, and he had enough of those. He had done what was necessary for them to survive, and at the moment, all he desired was solitude. He craved the simplicity of survival.
There was a certain beauty to wandering the earth alone, a beauty he'd forgotten in his effort to bring the People to a new land. It was just you against nature, and nature wasn’t plotting against you. It just didn’t care about you. It was simple and he understood the rules. Survive or die. There was nothing else to it.
It hadn't been very long since he had destroyed the monastery, but in that time he had traveled a great distance. At least it felt like it. The geography was varied in this new land. He had experienced the awesome power of a thunderstorm as it rolled across the plains, and as he rested in the woods he had sensed a diversity of life he had never before experienced. Their new land was an incredible place, and Nameless felt as though he could wander for the rest of his life, always finding something new to discover.
But it seemed he would not be so fortunate. He knew why the pair of demon-kind came searching for him. The autumn moon was approaching. There was only one message they could bring. Nameless thought long and hard about what he would do when this moment came, but he still hadn't decided on his answer.
It didn’t take long for the demon-kind to reach his location. They moved even faster than Nameless expected. But when they came into view, he understood. He knew the pair, and they were one of the best pairs of trackers alive. They had been staunch supporters of his campaign to bring the People into this new land. He wondered if they had volunteered for this task or if someone had sent them knowing their previous relationship.
Nameless greeted the pair warmly. Whatever their reasons for coming, they were a worthy pair, and deserved all the respect he could offer.
They never stopped walking as they spoke. It wasn’t their way. Demon-kind knew that life was movement, and all important discussions were best held on the trail. It was refreshing to return to the way after so many meetings held around fires.
The pair did not bother with polite trivialities. "The time of the Gathering is almost upon us. There are many who ask what your plans are."
Nameless kept his peace for a while, and they walked in silence. He still hadn’t decided one way or the other, but didn't know how to say so. Finally, he decided the truth was his best strategy. "I'm unsure. The People are in their new land, and I feel that my work is done. My presence brings no joy to many clans, and it seems best to me that it is time for the clans to lead themselves, as it has always been."
Nameless saw the pair exchanged glances and wondered what was being said about him among the demon-kind. He realized with a surprise that he cared deeply about what his peers thought. He was fine losing the love of the clans, but he still desired the respect of the demon-kind. They had been the ones who understood that the People needed to move.
It was the tracker who spoke. "You know as well as any of us this has been a great trial. Our people grow stronger every day, but still, they need the guidance you offer."
Nameless was surprised. "And whose will is this?"
"The will of all of us." Nameless knew the tracker was referring not to the clans, but to the demon-kind. "Lend us your strength one more time. Then the People will find their way."
Their argument persuaded him. As much as he no longer wanted the burden, he felt in his bones that they were right. His strength was still needed, at least for one more Gathering. He would set them on their way and then disappear into the land forever.
His assent was nothing more than a small nod of his head. It was all the sign they needed, and the three of them turned in a different direction, walking together towards the Gathering.
32
As the island faded from view, Moriko felt a chasm open up in her heart. She hadn't said much to Ryuu, but she was going to miss the island far more than she admitted. For the first time since she was a little girl, she had been home. In her time there she had felt welcomed and safe, but more importantly, she had felt whole. She never realized the toll it took on her to always be hiding part of her identity in the kingdom.
She and Ryuu left the island first. It was going to take some time to put together an expedition and land them discreetly on the shores of the kingdom. The past few days had been full of discussion and debate as the leaders of the island figured out how best to mount the expedition. Ultimately, they decided on a simple strategy. They planned to use almost every ship at their command, including many of those hidden around the island in case of emergency. While they were on the way to Highgate, many of the other boats would take different routes, mapped out long ago. The leaders of the island had always known such a day might come.
The expedition looked to be over three hundred blades. Once landed in the kingdom, they were going to meet inland at a designated meeting place. Their goal was to avoid detection as well as they were able.
Moriko and Ryuu had a different task. They had been assigned the job of meeting and coordinating with Akira. Ryuu and Tenchi could sense the king was still alive. If anyone could guide the nightblades upon their return to the kingdom, it would be him.
Moriko glanced back towards the island. It had dipp
ed below the horizon, but at the moment she wasn’t thinking about the island. In a few days, the sea would be filled with ships setting sail for the kingdom. Each ship would hold over a dozen blades. She was struck senseless by the enormity of what they were about to accomplish.
The journey across the sea was uneventful, and when they got to Highgate, it was even more desolate than before. Several sections of the city had burned, and if people ever returned, it would be a long rebuilding process.
The streets were almost entirely devoid of life, and the only people still in the city were scavengers seeking valuables families had discarded. People were dirty and grimy and hadn’t seen a bath in some time, but everyone carried their discoveries with them.
At times, Moriko worried someone would be foolish enough to attack them. Although their clothing wasn't the finest quality, it was far superior and more durable to anything being worn on the streets. They had to be tempting targets. Fortunately, no one dared. Moriko was relieved. She had no desire to fight citizens of the kingdom.
At the outskirts of the city they found horses for sale. The prices were extravagant and the horses poor, but Ryuu didn't argue. Speed was of the essence, and it was important they arrive at Akira's location ready to jump into whatever happened next. They mounted the horses and were off, beginning Moriko's first adventure through the land that had once been the Northern Kingdom.
As they rode, Moriko was astounded by the beauty of the land. Like Ryuu, she had been a child of the forest, and she wasn’t used to mountains. Her only previous experience had been in the Three Sisters, and that pass paled in comparison to the peaks they rode by. It was hard to keep going when all she wanted to do was stop and stare at the majesty of the jagged rock.
Despite Moriko's reluctance, they made good time towards Akira. Every night before they went to sleep, Ryuu would extend his sense and find exactly where they were going. In less than a half moon, they were looking down upon Akira's camp.
When they arrived, Moriko noticed the size of the camp. Ryuu had told her Akira was traveling with a small contingent, but she had assumed it was at least several hundred men. Instead, he was traveling with less than a hundred, and each of them looked haggard and worn. Time had not been kind to Akira or his men since she had last seen them.
They rode into the camp, where they were recognized by Akira's guards. The guards allowed them to pass, and in just a matter of moments Moriko found herself in the tent of the king.
Akira greeted them warmly. "Come in, come in. I had hoped I would see you two before too long."
Moriko was grateful to see Akira as well. She was amazed he had gone from a man who had ordered her death to a friend, but the world was a strange place.
Ryuu was about to leap into the reason they'd come, but Akira held up his hand for a moment of silence. "Wait. Knowing you, you'll want to get right to the heart of the matter. Please indulge me. I have a gift for you. I wasn't sure I would ever see you again, but I had these made for you just in case I did.”
Akira handed them a parcel, and Moriko looked at Ryuu suspiciously. The package was soft, and she had no idea what was inside. Ryuu shrugged, indicating he had no idea either.
They opened their gifts, and Moriko's breath was taken away. Inside was a beautiful set of robes, made of the blackest material she could imagine. She could tell right away the quality was far beyond anything she had ever worn, and she recognized immediately what it was. It was the robe of a nightblade.
Akira chuckled, delighted at the effect his gifts had on his guests. "I hoped you would like them. They are made from drawings from the time of the kingdom long ago."
Moriko looked up, a question in her eyes.
Akira answered her unasked question. "While you've been gone, I’ve been busy. I have been preparing the way for you. It is time for the nightblades to return."
As soon as she and Ryuu stepped into the command tent the situation became charged. A large man in fine robes started at their appearance. Akira had asked them to come to the meeting in their new robes, and both of them had been happy to do so.
It was a strange sensation, to be wearing black out in the open, surrounded by men who would have been more than happy to kill her only a couple of cycles ago. But now they nodded their respect to her. It wasn’t a full bow yet, but in time, perhaps it could be. Maybe Ryuu was right. Maybe there was a chance for the nightblades to come back to the kingdom. Maybe the people were ready.
But not all of them. The well-dressed man drew a dagger and lunged at her. She sensed the strike coming, and with one hand she deflected the blow, while the other delivered a strike to the man’s face, open-palmed. Blood erupted from the man’s nose, and the look of horror on his face was almost amusing.
With a curt shout from Akira, guards separated the two of them. More accurately, they moved the large man further away from Moriko. None of them ventured too close to her.
The man sputtered, and Akira gave him a rag to stop the flow of blood. “That was a foolish decision.”
The man finally managed to find words to express his rage. “I had heard you were spreading rumors, but I never dared believe they were true! I will have your head!”
Akira glanced around the room. “You are welcome to try, but I don’t think my honor guard is going to help you.”
The man looked around and saw that if there was an enemy in the room, it was him. He settled back into his cushions, considering his options.
Ryuu leaned over and whispered in Moriko’s ear. “I think you just punched the Chief Abbot.”
The pieces fell into place for Moriko. She could feel the sense emanating from the man, but it lacked power. She hadn’t noticed at first, her own sense largely contained in the larger group of people. Ryuu was better able to use his sense in crowds, so he knew better than her what they were stepping into. He probably hadn’t told her on purpose, to see what would happen.
Moriko didn’t feel any guilt. If she had known who he was, she might have drawn her sword instead of using her fists. Perhaps that was why Ryuu hadn’t said anything.
Akira knelt to the ground, and everyone else followed suit. “Let’s get introductions out of the way. You all know me. To my left is my top general, Makoto. The man over here is the Chief Abbot of the monasteries, and he’s the reason why we are all here today. To my right are two nightblades who I’m honored to call friends, Moriko and Ryuu.”
The Abbot started at the mention of Moriko’s name. He fixed her with an angry stare. “You’re Moriko?”
Moriko didn’t realize her name had become so well-known in the monastic system, although she supposed it was understandable. The Abbot turned his gaze to Ryuu and a look of understanding came over his face.
“My king, these two nightblades are responsible for the massacre at Perseverance several cycles ago. They must be killed. I know you consider our work with the Azarians a betrayal, but if you must know, it was only because of the actions of these two we even sought the partnership.”
Moriko’s head spun at the news. The Abbot wasn’t lying. She and Ryuu had been responsible for the massacre at Perseverance, but it had been the fault of the monks. All Ryuu had done was help her escape. The monks had attacked them. It had resulted in the deaths of several monks and one Abbot. How had that one event driven the monasteries to betrayal of the entire kingdom?
Then she understood. The monasteries had thought they were the seat of true power. They had thought they were the only ones gifted with the sense, and maintained absolute control over it. They had thought all nightblades extinct. But then one breaks into a larger monastery and kills their best warriors without a problem. Of course it would have shaken their system to its core. In the Azarians they would have seen an alliance to both protect themselves from the nightblades and put themselves in a position of power in the kingdom. The monks had overestimated their strength yet again.
Akira spoke, and Moriko brought her attention back to the moment. “Trust me. I know what they have
done, and although I don’t condone it, I understand it. Since then they have been instrumental in aiding the kingdom, and I believe they will continue to do so.”
He silenced the outburst from the Abbot. “It’s time for us to be realistic. All of us want the kingdom to survive this threat, and each of us has a part to play. Yes, under the old treaty, cooperating with nightblades was punishable by death, but that treaty ended with the coronation of Tanak, our first king. Abbot, you know the monks don’t have the strength needed to resist the Azarians. We need the nightblades, now more than ever before. You need to accept the times are changing.”
The Abbot looked for a moment as though he was going to leave the tent, but then he thought better of it. The cynical part of Moriko’s mind knew that if nothing else, if they were successful, this meeting would lay the foundation for future work together. If the Abbot left and their effort was successful, the monasteries wouldn’t receive any support from the new kingdom. He had to stay, whether or not he liked it.
In the end, the Abbot nodded his acquiescence. “Very well.”
Akira smiled, and Moriko thought it was genuine. She realized he really did want everyone to work together. It was more than just out of necessity. “Good. I am glad. Now, if you would be so kind, please tell everyone here what you told me. I think they will be very interested.”
The Abbot looked to the group. “As everyone seems to know, we made the decision to cooperate with the Azarians several cycles ago. We were mistaken, and know that now, but if there is any advantage to our error, it is that we have been close to their councils and have some idea of what they plan.
