“The ears of the Mikai are as keen as ever,” said Sylk. “It is about the Rah Ven…”
“Not here. Let us go see father and then we will discuss the cancer that has infected the Mikai.”
They made their way through the forest until they were in the deepest part. The foliage was so dense that it blocked out most of the light. In the shadows were several large dwellings.
“Are these their homes?” asked Mara.
“No—for the Mikai, the forest is home.”
“Who lives here?”
“Only the elders of each clan live in one place. They function as a clan resource. Elders are revered by the Mikai,” said Sylk.
“Our elders are our greatest treasure. They hold the knowledge of our past, passing it on from one generation to the next. This way,” said Mariko as she guided them to the largest structure. It was a home that merged with the forest around it, creating the perfect camouflage.
“He will be in the back most likely, practicing,” said Mariko with a smile.
They entered the house and were greeted by several Mikai.
“Sylk! It is so good to see you,” said a woman as they crossed the threshold into the house proper. She hugged Sylk and then stepped back, looking at him.
“You are not eating enough. You will stay for the evening meal.”
“Mother, Master Sylk is here on important matters. I don’t think he has the time…” started Mariko.
“He will stay for the evening meal.”
“It will be my honor to join you, Lady Ono. This is my disciple, Mara,” said Sylk.
“Yes, I know. She will join us as well.”
“Can he see us, Lady Ono? I have some urgent matters to discuss with him.”
She waved away his words. “There are no titles under this roof, Sylk. You know that. He is in the back. He will be pleased to see you. Be ready, he is working the sword today,” said Lady Ono.
They walked through the house and were led into a large garden at the rear of the home. In the center of the garden was a large square of stone worn smooth by years of training. Inside the square there was a training circle. The circle touched each corner of the square. Eight lines radiated outward from the center of the circle in every direction. On either side of the square there were racks of weapons. In the center of the circle was an old man holding a sword. He was standing perfectly still with his eyes closed. His gray hair hung loose, down to his shoulders. His sinewy arms held the sword in a loose grip. He was thin and his robe hung on his frame loosely. Although he was medium height, he gave the impression of being much taller. His brown eyes gleamed with energy as Sylk entered the circle.
“I was just about to enter the dragon-tiger form. Come join me, if you still remember it,” said the old man.
Sylk walked over to one of the racks and chose a practice sword. The edges of these swords were blunt, allowing them to be used for teaching. He picked one up and checked its balance. He gave a few practice thrusts and swung it once or twice. He could feel the old man looking at him, measuring him.
“Now that you’re warmed up, grab a live blade and let’s begin,” said the old man, pointing at another rack.
Sylk walked over to the different rack and took hold of one of the blades. Each sword was both a work of art and a deadly weapon. He paused while holding the sword and reflected a moment on the dual abilities of every warrior: to create and to destroy.
“It is not a koan, Sylk. It’s a sword. That one is named Shadowstrike,” said the old man as he entered a ready stance.
“After the third focus?”
The old man nodded. “Good to see all those lessons didn’t go to waste. Yes, after the balancing sword. It is a good copy but nowhere near the original.”
“Was Shadowstrike ever found?” said Sylk.
“Do you remember why it was called Shadowstrike?”
“It allowed the bearer of the sword to skip time like the Rah Ven and to ride the mirror like a wavedancer. It was forged to answer Maelstrom’s power,” said Sylk.
“Correct. It gave the bearer a great advantage in a battle, but like all weapons, they are only an extension of the person wielding it.”
“So it is lost?”
“Not lost, hidden. A weapon of that magnitude is safeguarded until it is needed.”
“I think it will be needed soon,” said Sylk.
“Indeed. Are you ready?”
Sylk stood behind him and entered the same ready stance.
“I shall be dragon,” said the old man.
Sylk nodded and remained still as the old man began a series of intricate movements around him. When it appeared the old man would thrust through his midsection, Sylk leaped in the air, avoiding the attack. He landed beside the old man and responded to every attack he made without making contact. It was an intricate dance of timing and precision.
“My father has never taught that form to an outsider, except your master. It is one of our most difficult and complex forms. Most Mikai go their entire lives never learning it,” said Mariko.
“I have seen my master only do this alone. Seeing it now with your father…amazing,” said Mara.
Sylk lunged, then leaped. The old man slid to the side and avoided the leap. Bending low, he brought his sword low in a scooping motion, which Sylk rolled around to bring his sword to lock with the old man’s. It was the end of the form. Both men were sweating and breathing hard.
“You have been practicing. That is good,” said the old man.
“That is as close as you will ever hear to a compliment coming from my father,” whispered Mariko to Mara.
Sylk bowed his head. “Thank you, sensei.”
“I am certain Ono spoke to you about titles in her house.”
The old man walked over to Mariko and Mara with Sylk trailing behind. He bowed deeply.
“I am Zanshi, head of this clan and father to Mariko, leader of the Mikai.”
Mara bowed. “It is an honor, sensei.”
Zanshi turned and looked at Sylk with a smile. “She is going to get you in trouble.”
“Yes, sensei,” said Sylk.
“I know this is not a social visit, though it wouldn’t hurt you to visit more often,” said Zanshi. “Some of your stances need polishing.”
“Thank you, sensei. You are correct. This is not a social visit. I believe the Mikai are being coerced into kidnapping and killing Rah Ven. Do you know anything about this?”
“Are you asking as Alpha to the Rah Ven or as Karashihan?”
“Does it matter?” said Sylk, his tone short.
Zanshi gave a small sigh. “Yes it does, Sylk. Let’s go inside. Ono will have the evening meal ready by now. We can discuss this after we eat,” said Zanshi.
They entered the home and were seated at a large table. Zanshi sat at one end and Mariko at the other. At his right hand, Ono was seated followed by Sylk and Mara. Their proximity to Ono and Zanshi spoke to the esteem in which they were held.
At the other end sat Mariko with her attendants to either side of her. The center of table was the dividing point: the youngest were seated near the center with the age increasing upward from there.
The food was served and everyone waited for Zanshi to begin. Once started, the table was a hive of activity. When the meal was done, Zanshi stood.
“As usual, Ono, you have surpassed my expectations. I do not deserve you.”
“I know, husband, and yet here I am,” she said with a small smile and bow.
Zanshi smiled and then grew serious.
“Mariko, Sylk, Mara, please do me the honor of joining me,” he said and left the dining area.
They followed him to a small sitting room with comfortable furniture. In the center of the room two chairs sat facing each other. A small sturdy wooden table occupied the space between them. On the table sat a game of Go in play.
“I will give you two answers to your question based on the position you are asking from. If you are here as the Alpha I will te
ll you that the Mikai are being coerced to perform acts against their will. They are being made to target the Rah Ven young.”
“For what purpose?”
“The most logical outcome is the eradication of the Rah Ven. To what purpose I have not discovered, yet.”
“And if I am here as Karashihan?”
“Then I would tell you a story of the Samadhi and how a group of them banded together to exile a perceived threat. This threat discovered their plans to infiltrate the planes. He discovered how they were organizing to keep the planes under their control. They killed his family, his wife and children. Then they accused him of treason against the newly formed Order of warriors. He forged the three foci and waged a one-man war on the Order. He nearly succeeded, too. Finally, because he was too powerful to kill outright and they were cowards, using subterfuge they trapped him in one of the outer planes and severed the connection to the hub, stranding him.”
“Lucius Iman,” said Sylk. “I have heard this account.”
Zanshi raised his hand. “I’m not finished. The plane he was on was devoid of chi. Lucius grew weaker by the day, especially severed from the hub. They waited until enough time had passed and they came back with prizes. They had purged his entire line. The Imans were wiped from existence and the three foci were gone.”
“Except…” said Sylk.
“Except they missed two. Your mother and her younger sister, distant relatives, but still Iman and capable of wielding the foci. Understand that we are talking a scope of centuries. Your line ages slowly but it isn’t immortal.”
“That would explain much of the persecution. I am a threat like Lucius was.”
“Is. He has regained Maelstrom. I heard you were there for that one.”
“I arrived too late to prevent it. His shadow is quite powerful and knew my ancestry. It wasn’t a warm family reunion.”
“The loss of his family and isolation have driven him to the brink of madness, if not past it. With Maelstrom in his possession he will work on repairing the severed connection to the hub.”
“If he manages that…”
“Maelstrom is entropy given form. He will undo everything. It is his purpose. The only thing that can stand in its way is the third focus, Shadowstrike.”
“Only an Iman can wield the foci. That means I must…”
Zanshi shook his head. “Not you. Your agreement with the Watch is tangled up in your energy, your chi is compromised. Any of the foci would deny you and probably end your life in the process.”
“Then who?”
“I understand there was a warrior who held Maelstrom briefly. Before Lucius reclaimed it,” said Zanshi.
“But that would mean that Dante is…”
“Your kin. Somewhere along the tangled branches of your family tree you two share blood.”
“Impossible.”
“And yet he held Maelstrom and survived?”
Sylk nodded a silent yes.
“No one has been able to hold that weapon besides Lucius, much less bond with it without becoming a homicidal lunatic.”
“How can this be?”
“There is more on the board than you are seeing. Hidden stones that have been put into play.”
“He has been seared,” said Sylk. “Lucius wanted to make sure he couldn’t wield the third focus. I didn’t understand the action at the time, but now I do. He was being preemptive. Somehow he knew about Dante.”
Zanshi nodded. “That searing needs to be undone and you need to find Shadowstrike.”
“The undoing is possible. As for Shadowstrike, I wouldn’t know where to begin looking,” said Sylk.
“If only you knew of a repository of knowledge. Then you could go there and ask. Possibly even speak to the librarian— what’s his name again, Mariko?”
“Raja,” said Mariko.
“Yes, Raja,” said Zanshi. “He may know where it is.”
“What of the Mikai and the Rah Ven?” said Sylk.
“You leave that to me and the clan heads. With Mariko by my side we will remove this cancer from our midst. We have no interest in wiping the Rah Ven out.”
“Who are the Samadhi?”
“How are you asking? Alpha or Karashihan?”
“Karashihan. The names.”
“Very well. No one knows their true names, only that they go by Master Phoenix and Master Wheel.”
“I will find them,” said Sylk.
“Do not underestimate them. These are men of power in search of greater power. Nothing is beneath or beyond them,” said Zanshi.
“The Records—and then I will hunt them down,” said Sylk.
“Make sure you find them before they find you.”
TWENTY-TWO
RAEL WALKED THROUGH the hub. The ascendants are in this plane, which means the prime must be involved. Except that I don’t sense any near.
He turned several corners and headed down one of the narrow corridors. He made sure to get further away from the Lotus area of the hub. In one of the corridors he found an empty room. He locked and barricaded the door and sat.
This is going to take some time, but it should be easier outside of the box and away from the Lotus’ suppression.
He sat and closed his eyes. Manifesting his swords, he let the energy envelop his body. Once his breathing was under complete control he expanded his senses again. He felt the energy of the hub, the bustle of activity in the area he had just left. He sensed the power fluctuations of the area around the hub. Expanding his senses even further, he could sense one strong fluctuation overwhelming the others.
Hello, Wei, feels like you’re busy. I hope this isn’t a bad time.
He absorbed his swords and allowed the energy to run its course over his body. The first bullet ripped through his neck as he opened the portal, turning him around. The energy around his body changed the trajectory of the bullet enough to make the wound superficial instead of critical. He righted himself against the wall as he turned to face his attacker. She stood between Rael and the portal. Both guns were drawn and aimed at his face. She lowered them several inches.
“You were on my to-do list. I just got a bit side tracked,” said Rael.
“Side tracked killing guards. Where is the rogue?” she said.
“You must have me confused with some other killer. I don’t know about any rogue. Did you lose one? By the way, that was some excellent masking. I didn’t sense you there until you pulled the trigger.”
He put his hand to his neck, pulling it away full of blood.
“You should have taken the head shot, gunslinger girl,” he said.
“I did,” said Raquel as she fired. Behind her, the light of the portal dimmed with each shot.
Bullets punched through his body as she kept firing. The impact slammed him into the wall. After several seconds he collapsed to the ground. Energy still raced around his lifeless body. She limped in close and aimed at his forehead. The blood from her wound had soaked through her makeshift bandage, covering the front of her pants. She was pale and breathing hard.
“Not so immortal after all,” she said with a ragged breath, pulling the trigger.
She turned and looked through the portal. “Where the hell were you going?”
She looked down at the blood seeping from her wound. Need to get this looked at before it gets infected—what the hell was that? She turned in time to see Rael lunge at her.
“Let’s go on a trip,” said Rael grabbing her as they both fell through the portal.
TWENTY-THREE
“DON’T LET THEM disrobe!” said Wei as he thrust at Tetra.
Tetra twisted his body and avoided the thrust. Ravia and Nerav spread out and closed on Roman.
“When the Wheel told me to eliminate the prime ascendant, I couldn’t believe my fortune.”
Tetra kicked low and slid forward to deliver a knife-hand strike to the side of Wei’s neck. Wei leaped over the kick and ducked under the strike. Touching one of the daggers to Tetra’s exposed
skin, he caused him to step back. Pain transformed Tetra’s features as a thin layer of scale formed where the dagger’s blade had touched.
“He is only using you. Once you fulfill your mission he will imprison you again,” said Wei.
Tetra ripped off more of his garments as he charged at Wei. He grabbed Wei’s wrists.
“He will try to imprison us again. Once we have the Fangs of Gren, no one will lock us up again. We will lay waste to this plane,” said Tetra.
“You will never get the Fangs,” said Wei, jerking his arms down.
Twisting his wrists and breaking Tetra’s grip, he slashed his arm. No blood spilled but Wei could feel the chi escape Tetra’s form.
“You will pay for that,” said Tetra, wrapping the wound and preventing the loss of chi. “I have used my time away to push my limits. I think you will be pleased, old friend.”
Tetra paused a moment and the garments around his body dematerialized, leaving only a thin layer covering his skin. Wei stepped back, clenching his jaw. The grass around Tetra’s feet turned brown and wilted. Wei touched the Fangs together. Each of the blades began to glow a dull orange. Wei focused his chi inward and used the power of the Fangs to mask himself.
“This is much better. Let us drop all pretenses and end this,” said Tetra.
**********
Ravia ducked under the hammer blow, laughing. She crouched and rolled to the side as Nerav closed the distance and unleashed a flurry of attacks. Roman avoided or parried most of the barrage. Too late he realized it was a distraction. Behind Nerav, Ravia had undressed to reveal most of her skin. Her body glistened in the sun.
That can’t be good, thought Roman.
She walked slowly toward Roman. Around her even the air grew lifeless as she devoured chi. She left a trail of dead grass behind her as she advanced. Roman could feel her siphoning chi from everything around her, including himself. He pulled his hammer back and slammed it to the ground. Nerav leaped back, avoiding the impact, but Ravia closed her eyes and stood still as the shock wave washed over her.
Once it had passed she opened her eyes again. Her body had filled out. Her long muscles rippled with strength as she continued approaching.
Warriors of the Way-Pentalogy Page 46
