World's Edge

by Ryan Kirk

  Renzo was brought in first to join the small group in the dining room. He looked inquisitively at Tanak. Tanak replied. “Lord Akira believes you are a nightblade. You are to be tested by the monks.”

  Akira replied. “I think it only fair all of us be tested in the room, so there is no room for error or accusations of bias.”

  Renzo bowed to Akira. “It is a wise decision, Lord.”

  Akira studied Renzo carefully. The man wore loose robes which hid his body well. He was tall, but Akira couldn’t tell by looking at him he was a nightblade. But a warning went off in his head. Renzo didn’t seem concerned at all. Could he hide his ability? Akira had heard it was a skill Ryuu’s partner, Moriko possessed, but he also remembered hearing the skill was rare. Ryuu had also said the monks would be able to sense anyone’s skill when they touched a person. There was no way to hide from a monk’s touch. Akira relaxed. Perhaps Renzo could contain his emotions better than Tanak, but he would be found out. Akira would ensure it.

  Three monks came in. Akira recognized one as being the one who traveled with his own party. Akira tried to remember his name, but couldn’t. He did remember the monk had been at Perseverance when Ryuu had killed their Abbot. That was good. He would have no love lost for a nightblade. The other two he didn’t recognize, but it made no difference.

  Sen motioned to Akira to proceed.

  “To all of you, thank you for being here. The Three Kingdoms requires your assistance. Would you please test everyone in this room to see if anyone here is sense-gifted? Do not speak your results, but test us all, by touch if you would. When you are done, we will have a guard escort you out so you can’t speak to anyone.”

  Akira had thought the test through carefully. There had to be no collusion possible, none at all, not for a test this important.

  The three Lords waited as the monks each walked around and tested every person in the room. They tested the Lords, the guards, even the scribes. No one was spared, and Akira made sure all three monks tested Renzo. He smiled, his victory almost complete.

  Afterwards, the three monks left and were summoned back in one at a time. Akira couldn’t wait. He called in the monk from the Western Kingdom first. If one would lie, it would be him. The monasteries were supposed to stay out of political affairs, but Akira knew it wasn’t as true as it should have been.

  Akira asked the question. “Sir, is anyone in here sense-gifted?”

  The monk spoke without hesitation. “No, Lord.”

  Akira nodded, allowing himself to remain expressionless. So the western monasteries were cooperating with Tanak. It was a problem to be dealt with later. He called in the second monk, the one from the Northern Kingdom, and repeated the question.

  The second monk also spoke without hesitation. “No, Lord.”

  Akira glanced at Sen, who was watching the proceedings with interest. He couldn’t read Sen at all. Had he stumbled onto a conspiracy?

  Akira dismissed the monk with a wave of his hand. It wouldn’t look good to have only the monk from the Southern Kingdom speak against Renzo, but Akira could beg for another test.

  The monk from Perseverance came in, and for the third time, Akira asked the question.

  “No, my Lord. No one here is sense-gifted.”

  The floor fell out from under Akira. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Renzo was a nightblade, but none of the monks sensed him. His head spun as he checked his facts. What was happening? He couldn’t process everything fast enough. He could hear Tanak speaking, but everything was jumbled in his head. When he was finally able to focus, the monk was gone and Tanak was denouncing the proceedings. “I didn’t come here to be accused of cooperating with nightblades! I came here to speak about reunification.”

  Akira tried to wrap his head around where Tanak was going.

  Tanak continued. "Let's not mince words while we are here. This is a Conclave, and the people have been hoping for a reunification for almost a thousand cycles. We have all been trying to figure out a way to force reunification. Each of us have desired the title of King. Do either of you deny it?"

  Akira couldn't, but he was surprised that Sen didn't speak out. Every assumption he had made was wrong.

  Akira's misery wasn't over. Tanak continued. "I propose we discuss the reunification of the Three Kingdoms. It has been almost a thousand cycles, and the time has come."

  He couldn’t recover fast enough for his thoughts to catch up to reality. One Kingdom?

  "With my invasion, I recognize the balance of power has changed forever. There is no going back to the borders of the Three Kingdoms, so our only question here today is to decide how we want to move forward. We all want reunification, so why not make it happen right here, right now?"

  If Akira hadn't been sitting he would have collapsed. He could see where this was going. Everything he had worked for, everything he had lived for, had been a failure. He straightened his back with a strong effort of will.

  Tanak’s monologue continued. "I now control over half of the Three Kingdoms. It makes sense for me to become first King."

  Akira heard the words as though he were underwater. He knew they were being said, but he couldn't think fast enough around this. His kingdom, his people, had been victimized by this man, and he was brazen enough to ask for the crown? This wasn't justice, but a crime of the highest order. It sparked a bright, intense fire in his stomach that brought him back to focus.

  Akira looked to Sen for support. Sen would recognize the unjustness of the action.

  Sen returned his gaze calmly before responding to Tanak. Akira felt his spirits lift. He could trust Sen.

  "As Lord of the Northern Kingdom, I would be willing to abdicate, conditionally, to re-create the Kingdom."

  Akira felt like he would throw up. Sen’s words hit him like a punch to the stomach, and he almost doubled up in pain. Tanak and Sen had to have been allies all along. How had he missed it?

  His anger flared again at the betrayal he felt. "I will not abdicate to a man who has invaded my kingdom and killed my people. It will never happen."

  Tanak looked to speak, but Sen held up his hand, and the older Lord commanded respect.

  "Lord Akira, I urge you to consider. I recognize the anger and emotion you must feel, but think about your people, think about all our people. You yourself have indicated the threats your land faces. Although it is not what you have envisioned, the outcome remains the same. We can be one Kingdom again."

  Akira couldn't believe that Sen would turn the Azarian threat against him in this way. No swords were allowed at the Conclave, and this was for the best. He would have murdered the Lords in his anger.

  Tanak spoke next, focusing Akira's anger on him. "Lord Akira, you would have a place at my side. You have managed your kingdom well and your people are content and well fed. I would welcome your advice."

  Akira raged. He would never advise a man like Tanak. He was about to speak when Sen’s voice cut through the anger clouding his mind.

  “I see our discussion here will be ruled by emotion, not by logic. I propose we delay this discussion until tomorrow morning, when we have all had the benefit of a good night’s sleep.”

  Tanak agreed, and the meeting was over. The two Lords bowed out of the room, and Akira was left alone with his anger and confusion.

  That evening, Akira was still trying to process what had happened. Sen had been right. He needed time to think through the events of the day. His shadow had been so sure Renzo was a nightblade. But he had been tested by three monks, and Akira had designed the test himself. He could come up with all types of conspiracy theories, but the simpler explanation was that Renzo wasn’t a nightblade. But Tanak had looked so worried. There was something else happening, something he didn’t understand.

  Akira forced the thoughts out of his mind. He had larger problems than proving Tanak had a nightblade as an adviser. He was being asked to give up his kingdom. Sen was willing to abdicate, leaving the decision entirely on Akira’s shoulders
. Akira still couldn’t believe what had transpired. He thought he had come to the Conclave knowing what to expect, prepared for anything they might try, but he had been wrong.

  His thoughts went round and round as he tried to figure out what was true. He didn’t know who was allied with whom or what forces were arrayed against him. Perhaps he should abdicate to Tanak, watch as the dreams of so many Lords before him were realized. It would end the war.

  Akira’s thoughts were interrupted when there was a knock on the door. It was a messenger. Akira couldn’t contain his nervousness when he realized what the message was. The day had become so chaotic, he had forgotten entirely about the battle being fought to the south. It was a message from Makoto. The Second and the Third had crushed Tanak’s Second army in battle. Their results had been everything Akira needed to hear. Casualties had been light, but they had eliminated Tanak’s Second as a functioning unit. It was beautiful news.

  The letter went on to say Makoto and Mashiro were bringing their forces north and east, to meet with Tanak’s Third and the remnants of the First. Tanak still had the advantage in men and material, but Makoto and Mashiro were hoping to get to the foothills in the eastern half of the kingdom before Tanak’s troops. They could set up a defensible position and fight from high ground. If they were successful, they could end the invasion.

  The letter brought a hope to Akira he hadn’t felt before. Perhaps they could turn the invasion around, defeat it with nothing but their own strength. His soldiers were the best in the Three Kingdoms. They could handle whatever was thrown at them.

  Akira’s mind was decided. His men were fighting and dying for their kingdom. He couldn’t throw their sacrifice away. It would dishonor their memory. Perhaps reunification was at hand, but it wouldn’t come about because of violence. It would come around due to diplomacy. Akira was confident. He drafted his own message to send back to his generals, urging them forward, telling them he would be with them soon.

  That night, Akira slept well. He would protect his people, never giving them a ruler they didn’t deserve. His course was open and obvious to him.

  The next morning the three Lords met again. Akira could see Tanak had received news of the battle also. He didn’t look like he’d slept as well as Akira. Good. Their bargaining positions would be much more even today.

  Sen opened up the discussion. “Lord Akira, have you thought more about the offer Lord Tanak has made?”

  “Yes. I have given it serious consideration.” Akira spoke for the benefit of the scribes. His words would go down in history. “I believe more than anything our three kingdoms need to reunite once again. It’s the dream we have all shared, and my feelings have never changed. At one time, I entertained dreams like Lord Tanak, that perhaps the kingdoms could be reunited through violence. Now, though, I see that reunification through violence is never possible. Some scars never heal.”

  Both Sen and Tanak looked like they wanted to interrupt Akira, but he kept his speech moving forward, not giving them a chance to interject. These words would go out to all the people.

  “We have all received news today of the battle in my kingdom. More life has been lost, but Tanak’s armies are weaker now than they’ve ever been. A kingdom can’t be taken from people in violence, but it can be given in trust.”

  Akira looked directly at Tanak. “Lord Tanak, I can’t surrender my kingdom, not after the violence you have visited on my people. I can’t trust their welfare to your care, not right now. But like you all, I want reunification. Lord Tanak, pull back your forces beyond the river. I will order all my units to grant you safe passage back to the Western Kingdom. Then let us meet back here again and decide the fate of our people. All our people. If you do this, I will give you my word I will consider granting you the crown you seek. But it must be done in peace.”

  Sen looked to Tanak. It was a reasonable offer, and Akira didn’t lie. If the terms of the treaty were good enough for the people of the Southern Kingdom, Akira would consider giving up his throne. The thought pained him, but he would do it for the people of the Three Kingdoms.

  There was silence around the table as Tanak considered the offer. Slowly, he shook his head.

  “I’m sorry, but I came here to bring about reunification. Not in the future, but now. If you hope to delay the process so your troops can recover, I won’t allow it. If you won’t see reason today, I don’t see how you will see reason in the future. I will not ask my troops to retreat.”

  Sen looked back at Akira. “Lord Akira, will you relent?”

  Akira shook his head. He would destroy Tanak if the war continued. He believed it, though he was sorry the Conclave had to end this way. “I’m sorry, but I won’t negotiate with the man who has invaded my kingdom and killed my people. Any treaty signed here today wouldn’t last.”

  Akira looked to Sen, and Sen seemed more unhappy than Akira had ever seen him. Akira’s heart went out to his fellow Lord, but he couldn’t relent. He believed in what he was saying. Any treaty that came out of talks today would be met with resistance from his people. It wouldn’t be a peace that could last.

  Sen took a long look at each of the other Lords, but neither backed down. “Well, it appears we have come to an impasse. Thank you both for coming. I would have liked to have seen reunification happen, but perhaps we three aren’t strong enough to make it work. This Conclave is concluded.”

  With that, the three Lords of the kingdoms stood up and bowed to one another. Akira left the room first, to return to his kingdom engulfed in war.

  Chapter 22

  Ryuu stretched his muscles. It had been another long day of training, but he was beginning to understand the technique Tenchi was teaching him. He could snap his mind on command now, and he was learning how to move faster every day. His growth was worth the pain he went through.

  His entire body hurt. His back and shoulders were sore from a full day of swinging a sword, and much of the rest of his body was covered with bruises. Tenchi could move fast for an old man, and Ryuu suspected the leader of the island was still holding back. But then again, so was he.

  Ryuu was rubbing his shoulder when he sensed Rei come up behind him. He turned to look at her face, practically glowing with excitement. "Yes?"

  "You're walking the wrong way for food."

  "Not tonight, Rei. I'm exhausted and all I want to do is sleep."

  Rei's look of disappointment couldn't be matched. She was a voracious eater, and if Ryuu skipped a meal, it meant she did too. Ryuu found it silly. He was more than capable of taking care of himself, and he didn't think the island held any real dangers for him, despite Shika’s cryptic warning.

  "Rei, I'll be fine. Go grab a meal, then if you want to camp out outside my place, go for it. I'm just going to fall asleep anyway."

  Rei looked torn, but her desire for food won out over her typical discipline. "Don't worry, I'll be right back."

  Ryuu watched her go. He hadn't been completely truthful. He would search for Moriko, the same as he did every night. But then he'd fall asleep.

  Ryuu looked up at the stars, burning bright above him. He had grown up with the stars and always found them comforting. Whatever they were, they were far, far away, and just watching them made Ryuu feel small. Perhaps he was strange, he thought, but the idea of being small and insignificant comforted him, made his problems seem less pressing. He wondered if Moriko was looking at the same night sky tonight.

  It was the thought of her that saved his life. Some correlation in his mind, but as he thought of Moriko, he sensed something was off. Shadows were nearby, two of them.

  Ryuu frowned. They felt familiar, but strange. Why did they seem familiar? He placed them just a moment before it was too late. Hunters, like the ones that had come for him at Shigeru’s hut. He didn’t question how they had gotten on the island. He trusted his sense. They were here.

  Ryuu drew his blade as the shadows detached from the walls of nearby huts. He had been right. They were hunters. He felt a pang of
nervousness as he saw their short blades, and he remembered how he had almost lost Moriko. His rational mind was screaming questions, but he shut it off as he dropped into a combat stance.

  His mind snapped and he found the energy flowing through and around him. As the hunters took their first steps, Ryuu fell into the flow of energy, moving to meet their attacks.

  They came from each side, their short blades darker than the night. Ryuu shifted, leaping towards the hunter on his right. Isolate and defeat, just as he’d drilled over and over here on the island. Their blades met, the hunter just getting his blade up in time. The strength of Ryuu's attack sent him scrambling backwards, trying desperately to keep his balance.

  Ryuu wasn't going to let him stand, but the second hunter moved faster than Ryuu expected. He was the dangerous one. Ryuu could sense him, a malevolent shadow. He turned and met the attack, blades dancing against each other. This hunter's attacks felt random and uncontrolled, challenging Ryuu's sense of proper swordsmanship. The hunter attacked with big, powerful swings not suited to his short sword, masking them with remarkable agility.

  It took Ryuu a moment to adjust to the new style. It was designed to confuse opponents with the sense, make them doubt what they were sensing was real. Ryuu trusted his sense and tried to strike, but the agile hunter melted away from each attack.

  Then the first hunter was up again and Ryuu was on the defensive. He had taken on two nightblades before, but these two were a different order of deadly. They had blood on their hands.

  Ryuu dove out of the way of two cuts, rolling to his feet and gaining just a moment of freedom. The agile hunter leapt into the air, ready to bring his sword slicing down on Ryuu's head. The other hunter came in from the side, attempting to strike at the same time.

  The smart move would have been to move back and dodge, but they would be expecting it. Ryuu stepped forward at the last moment, his cut a hair faster than the agile hunter's. Ryuu felt the first hunter's sword graze his back, but his own sword slid through the hunter like he was cutting water. The agile hunter fell to the ground in two pieces while Ryuu focused his attention on the second hunter.