Valley of Shields

by Duncan Lay

  ‘Do not put your trust in magic,’ he hissed.

  Daichi turned to some of his warriors. ‘Search this place. Especially Lord Jaken’s study. We are looking for books and scrolls from the tombs of the forefathers.’

  As the warriors hurried away, Daichi said to Jaken, ‘I want the books you told the Council were all destroyed. We shall find them and, along with the words we heard, that will be more than enough for the people. You have lost, Jaken!’

  Jaken ignored Daichi, speaking instead to his son. ‘Congratulations, my son. At least you played the game. I did not think you had it in you. What was your reward? A seat at the Council? The chance to lead an elven army out into the human world?’

  ‘Just my children.’ Sendatsu hefted them in his arms.

  Now Jaken seemed beyond fury. ‘You went to all this effort for that? Aroaril, if you are prepared to gamble for power, at least do it for something worth winning!’

  ‘We have very different ideas on what is worthy,’ Sendatsu told him.

  ‘Walk away.’ Asami tugged at his arm but Sendatsu was not ready to move yet, not after what had happened over the last few moons — and then his father doing his utmost to kill him.

  ‘This is not over yet. Not by a long shot. The elves are meant to rule humans — it was written centuries ago and nothing you can do will stop it,’ Jaken snarled. ‘You are only delaying our inevitable triumph.’

  ‘Lord Daichi!’

  The shout from one of Daichi’s warriors made all turn to see a group hurrying out, books in their hands.

  ‘We have the books from the tombs of the forefathers, just as you said!’

  Daichi smiled broadly. ‘So now we have proof that you lied to the Council, to go with the words of treachery. Your fate is sealed, Jaken. Take him away.’

  Jaken stared at Sendatsu. ‘Let me die. You owe me that much. Be a true warrior — pick up my blade and finish this. Don’t let me linger on in shame and disgrace!’

  In response, Sendatsu turned away, closing his ears to the threats and shouts as guards replaced Asami’s magic with bonds of rope for Jaken.

  ‘You shouldn’t listen to him. I’ve told you that for years,’ Asami said, helping Gaibun to his feet.

  ‘I don’t have to listen to him any more,’ Sendatsu replied, feeling the truth of those words hammer home.

  ‘How did we survive that?’ Gaibun asked. ‘I thought he had me when I went down.’

  Sendatsu managed to free a hand. ‘Thank you for saving my life,’ he said.

  Gaibun clasped the hand Sendatsu offered. ‘Let’s hope I don’t have to do that again. Aroaril, he was good with the blade!’

  ‘Do you think …’ Asami began, then trailed off as Daichi strode towards them.

  ‘I shall leave Lord Moshin and two squads of guards here to clean up, while the rest of us need to get across to Sumiko’s villa and stamp on that nest of vipers. Only then will we be able to sleep,’ he declared.

  ‘Sumiko will not come easily, and her garden will fight of its own accord,’ Asami warned.

  ‘But we have you,’ Daichi said.

  Asami sighed. ‘It all depends on how many other Magic-weavers are there. If she has Oroku, or Jimai, or both her deputies, then I will be overmatched. Even if it is just Sumiko alone, I don’t think I can do more than hold her back. I could not defeat her. I need some help.’

  As she spoke, she glanced meaningfully at Sendatsu.

  ‘Well, of course every one of us here will offer our abilities, limited as they are —’

  ‘I need a horse or something to help carry my children,’ Sendatsu interrupted, seeing what Asami meant. ‘And I should get the two humans as well. They will be needed for this …’

  ‘What nonsense is that? What use, in the name of holy Aroaril, can a pair of gaijin be?’

  ‘It was one of the conditions from Sumiko. She wants the information the humans have, so she could use it in the Council meeting, against both you and my father,’ Sendatsu said hurriedly.

  ‘There isn’t the time for this —’

  ‘Lord Daichi, it could be the difference. If Asami arrives with the humans, then Sumiko will be lulled into thinking we are on her side. She will let her guard down,’ Sendatsu pressed. ‘Besides, it makes sense to bring the humans out now. If all goes well, then many people will be arriving at your home. To have two humans seen there will only confuse matters.’

  Daichi hesitated.

  ‘It is still dark, Lord Daichi. If we give them robes, nobody will even know they are there. But if the people see them leave your home in full light tomorrow …’

  ‘Fetch them. But hurry!’ Daichi urged. ‘We might need you to go into Sumiko’s home with Asami, like you did your father’s —’

  ‘No,’ Asami said. ‘I am the only one able to go in there and survive. It needs to be me.’

  ‘It’s too dangerous to go in by yourself,’ Sendatsu began.

  ‘It is the only way. No other elf has the power to stand against Sumiko.’

  He could not argue with that.

  Daichi was in no mood for more discussion anyway.

  ‘A horse for Sendatsu! Quick, now! The rest of you — to the Magic-weavers!’

  ‘Wake up!’

  Huw leaped to his feet, heart racing. He had been dreaming, again, of King Ward hunting for him, getting ever closer. In his dream, Ward and his soldiers had tracked him down to his father’s house, surrounded it in the night and were now moving in. Huw had tried to warn the dream Huw, who was slumbering peacefully, but no matter how hard he tried to shout, nothing would come out. He had been forced to watch the Forlish close in, helpless to stop them, witnessed Ward striding into his father’s cottage and sitting in his father’s chair. The dream Huw had been dragged before Ward, who had declared he merely wanted to talk. Both Huws had been struck dumb with terror — until the shout woke him. The mingled fear and frustration of the dream, the desperation of needing to shout a warning but being unable to make a noise, was still thick within him.

  He blinked open gritty eyes to see Sendatsu standing in the doorway, a child holding each hand.

  ‘Are those your children?’ Rhiannon asked from the other bed.

  Sendatsu stepped into the room, a gentle smile on his face.

  ‘This is Mai and this is Cheijun,’ he said. ‘Mai, Cheijun, these are my friends Huw and Rhiannon. They are humans but they are not gaijin.’

  Rhiannon went down to one knee and held out her hand. Cheijun hid behind Sendatsu’s leg but Mai shyly held out her own hand and Rhiannon shook it carefully.

  ‘We have heard much about you,’ she said softly.

  ‘Rhiannon and Huw love to sing and dance, and play music. Perhaps they will play something for you later,’ Sendatsu said.

  Huw stood awkwardly. He had never been good with children — he had never needed to be.

  ‘Please, say hello to Cheijun,’ Sendatsu invited.

  Huw squatted down and held out his hand.

  ‘Look, Cheijun. Huw is not frightening, is he? He’s not a monster?’

  Huw could not help but glance to his right, to see if Rhiannon was tempted to add something, but she was instead sitting on the floor and holding out her hands to Mai.

  ‘No,’ Cheijun admitted.

  ‘Touch his hand. Nothing to be scared of.’

  Slowly, hesitantly, Cheijun stretched out a small hand. Huw held his own steady and smiled when the little boy’s fingers merely brushed his own before whipping behind his back.

  ‘It’s a start,’ Sendatsu said.

  ‘What is happening?’ Huw asked. ‘Have we succeeded?’

  ‘Nearly,’ Sendatsu said, then lowered his voice. ‘We must go to Sumiko’s villa. Asami will need your help, but we cannot yet let anyone know about Rhiannon’s magic. Have you slept? Eaten? Are you rested?’

  ‘We ate, as best we could. The food you eat here …’ Huw grumbled.

  ‘We slept little,’ Rhiannon admitted. ‘But I am ready.’
r />   ‘I hope so, for Asami’s sake.’

  ‘How do we get out of here?’ Rhiannon murmured back.

  ‘Your horses are ready, Lord Sendatsu!’ a guard called from outside.

  ‘That’s how. We persuaded Daichi that you had to go with Asami into Sumiko’s villa, that she was expecting you.’

  ‘And he put his trust in humans?’

  ‘Well, we also persuaded him we needed to get you out of his house while it was still dark. Since he has my father in custody and his own position assured, he was in an agreeable mood,’ Sendatsu explained quickly.

  ‘So it really is all going to plan?’

  ‘Absolutely! By dawn, I think we will have won — and an elven army will go to help fight off the Forlish.’

  Huw stood. ‘Thank the skies above for that! I was having the strangest dream about Ward wanting to talk to me —’

  ‘No time for that now,’ Rhiannon said impatiently.

  ‘Will you help Asami?’ Sendatsu asked.

  ‘Of course. For without her, who will show me how to use my magic properly?’

  Sendatsu smiled in relief.

  Mai yawned. ‘Where are we going now, Papa? Can we go home?’

  ‘Not yet. One more stop before home,’ Sendatsu said.

  ‘Where is Sendatsu with those gaijin? We cannot wait much longer!’ Daichi muttered. ‘Sumiko will learn we are here and then all surprise will be lost.’

  They were almost half a mile back from Sumiko’s villa, hiding in the trees, although calling it a villa did not really do the compound justice. Jaken’s home had been a villa, large and expansive. But Sumiko’s was more than just a home, office and reception area. Here were smaller villas for many of the Magic-weavers and their families, as well as classrooms for teaching. All of it was surrounded by a wall — and much of it protected by Sumiko’s garden. The garden did not like visitors and reacted violently to intruders. The surviving birds of the area had long ago learned to stay away.

  ‘We can give them only a quarter-turn of an hourglass more before you should go in there.’

  ‘A little more time — Asami needs the humans to trick her way in,’ Gaibun pleaded.

  ‘I have set my limit,’ Daichi said coldly.

  Gaibun watched the sand trickle through the hourglass and tried to think of a way to protect Asami. The sand was running out and he was still thinking when a warrior rushed over and bowed low.

  ‘Lord, they approach!’

  Daichi turned to Asami. ‘What will be your signal for us to attack?’ he asked.

  ‘I’ll talk to Sumiko and lull her suspicions. Give us a quarter of a turn of an hourglass before moving in. But if fighting begins, come as fast as you can.’

  ‘How will we know?’

  ‘Oh, if it begins, you won’t be able to miss it,’ Asami promised.

  Daichi did not bother talking to Huw and Rhiannon, who joined Asami in walking forwards while Gaibun and Sendatsu stayed hidden, Sendatsu’s hands full of Mai and Cheijun.

  ‘And just what will I need to do?’ Huw asked nervously as he followed Asami and Rhiannon down the path to Sumiko’s villa.

  ‘Stay alive and stay out of our way. The only reason you are here is I could hardly take Rhiannon and leave you behind without Daichi asking questions. We will do our best to protect you when it all starts,’ Asami whispered.

  ‘You might be able to help convince her that our visit is harmless. After all, you are very good at lying,’ Rhiannon said.

  Huw turned to see her staring him down and bit back the words that crowded onto his tongue.

  ‘What has happened between you two?’ Asami asked.

  ‘Nothing to concern you,’ Rhiannon stated.

  ‘It will be if it gets me killed!’

  ‘It will not affect what we have to do.’

  ‘Look, just follow my lead,’ Asami said softly. ‘We’ll get inside Sumiko’s study, past her defences. Once there, we stall her until Daichi attacks. When he does we just have to keep her occupied, so she can’t use the compound’s defences. By the time the other Magic-weavers have woken up, it will be too late.’

  ‘And if they are already awake?’

  ‘Pray to whatever gods you worship that is not the case,’ Asami said.

  The Magic-weaver compound seemed large and forbidding in the pre-dawn light but Asami had been there so many times before that she was able to walk naturally up to the main gate, which was watched rather than guarded by a junior Magic-weaver, a student barely a year past his Test.

  ‘Who are you, to come here at such a time of night?’ he demanded irritably. ‘Do you know where you are?’

  ‘Goshin, it is I, Asami.’ Asami recognised the young man in the light of the lantern he was holding up at them. ‘We are here to see Sumiko.’

  ‘Asami!’ The young Magic-weaver grinned in relief. ‘Of course. Do you need me to escort you there?’

  ‘Perhaps I could take your lantern?’ Asami asked. ‘It is almost dawn — why don’t you head off to bed? I can see myself out again …’

  ‘I wish I could! But Master Oroku told me I cannot leave my post until I am relieved.’

  Asami nodded. ‘Quite right too. But isn’t that him I see now?’

  She pointed over Goshin’s shoulder and, when he obligingly turned, she slammed his head into the wooden gate, then helped turn his fall into something closer to a gentle trip to the ground.

  ‘What was that for?’ Huw hissed.

  ‘If he was still at his post, Daichi’s warriors would have killed him. This way, he will wake with a sore head — but at least it will be still attached to his shoulders,’ Asami explained. ‘Now grab his lantern and hurry.’

  Leaving the main gate wide open, she led the way through the compound, past darkened villas and classrooms, going to the main building. She skirted Sumiko’s garden and came to Sumiko’s door, as she had done so many times in the past few years.

  ‘Do we knock?’

  Asami shook her head. Instead she took a deep breath and pressed her hands on the door. It had a large brass doorknocker but no visible handle.

  ‘Magic is the only way inside here. As soon as I open it, it will wake Sumiko. She might greet us, she might attack us — or she might be so intrigued by you and Huw being here that she decides to find out what is going on. I hope for that — but we still have to be ready for anything. If she attacks us, just concentrate on slowing her down. Don’t attack her — leave that to me.’

  ‘But —’

  ‘Our lives depend on this. Believe me.’

  Rhiannon nodded. ‘I shall follow your lead.’

  ‘Me too. And I’ll try not to get myself killed,’ Huw said.

  Outside, the watchers saw the little group disappear into the compound and then nothing more. All eyes turned to the warrior with the hourglass, watching the sand trickle through.

  ‘I’m bored. Can we go home?’ Cheijun announced.

  ‘Ssh!’ Sendatsu soothed. ‘We shall soon.’

  ‘What are we waiting for?’ Mai asked.

  ‘For a signal to go and rescue Asami and my friends Huw and Rhiannon,’ Sendatsu said. He was beyond happy to see his children but his attention was being distracted by the thought of Asami, Huw and Rhiannon in the compound. He had become used to having some control over events, out in the human world — being reliant on others was a strange feeling.

  He had been sure his children would have blocked everything else out and, while he was eager to hear about Cheijun’s dreams and the strange things Grandmother Noriko had made them eat, he found his mind wandering to what was happening in the compound and his worries about Huw, Rhiannon — and especially Asami. What had she meant by putting leadership of the Magic-weavers over leaving Dokuzen with him? He had been so sure she would jump at the chance to put everything aside for love. Now he was not sure what he should say …

  Gaibun interrupted his thoughts. ‘What have you and Asami been talking about?’

  ‘Brother, is this the
right time?’ Sendatsu said meaningfully, nodding both to his children and towards the Magic-weaver compound.

  ‘There is no right time!’ Gaibun hissed. ‘I want to know if you are planning anything with my wife.’

  ‘We already spoke about this,’ Sendatsu said, trying to keep his voice calm and reasonable. The last thing he wanted was Mai picking up what he was saying. She might be only five but she did not miss anything — and she seemed wise beyond her years, able to understand far more than she should.

  ‘She says you want her to run away with you,’ Gaibun said.

  Sendatsu glared at him, trying to carefully cover Mai’s ears. ‘The final decision will be Asami’s. But rest assured I will do nothing that breaks the laws of Dokuzen,’ he said. ‘And that will be the last thing I have to say.’

  ‘Well, it is not the end! If you want me to take over clan Tadayoshi, I shall need a wife beside me, and a son to follow me —’

  ‘I will not persuade her to do that!’

  Gaibun nodded slowly. ‘That’s what I thought. Thank you for finally answering my question.’

  ‘What does that mean?’ Sendatsu growled, but Gaibun had already walked away.

  ‘Welcome, Asami — what brings you out at this time?’ Sumiko asked, the moment they stepped inside her house.

  Light bloomed in a dozen lanterns and Huw and Rhiannon instinctively stopped. But Asami walked on calmly.

  ‘Greetings, sensei. We were anxiously awaiting your agreement to help us. And as Rhiannon here needed to come and talk to you about magic, we decided to combine the two. Apologies for coming so early.’

  ‘I was already awake. Come, follow me.’

  They trailed her into the reception room, where Sumiko only lit the lanterns that were closest to the three of them.

  ‘Where is Sendatsu, and your husband?’ she asked.

  Asami tried to study Sumiko’s face but the Magic-weaver stood in shadow.

  ‘They have little interest in magic. But Rhiannon here would like to learn more. If you would be so kind, I would like to leave her here in the compound to study with some of the teachers while I return with the agreement.’

  ‘And the other human?’

  Luckily Huw had plenty of practice in keeping the fear and nerves out of his voice and always sounding calm and in control.