by NAK Baldron
"Yes Master."
At the edge of his porch Takumi bowed to Shaya. "It has been an honor, Kaito-Tanken Shaya. Will you return tomorrow?"
"Yes, Master Takumi."
Takumi bowed his head again, before returning to his private courtyard, leaving Akio and Shaya alone on his front porch.
"What was that about, Kaito-Tanken Shaya?" Akio asked.
"Respect." Shaya began to walk away from the porch and Akio followed close by. "I'm a Thief Lord, and Takumi is merely a teacher. The greatest swordmaster, yes, but I outrank him."
"Then why call him master?"
"Because honorable politeness should always be repaid. As First Sworn, I'll expect you to always adhere to proper etiquette with outsiders."
"Yes, Kaito-Tanken—"
"Shaya will do. And don't worry, I'll instruct you how to act based on the social situation. The other Thief Lords are real sticklers for their etiquette. It offers them a disguise for their true intentions. But, when we're alone like this I see no need for such formality."
"Yes . . . Shaya." The name left an awkward taste in his mouth, like fish fresh out of a salted barrel. He felt as First Sworn it was his duty to always pay her the proper respect of using her title, but if she insisted on using her first name, he'd do as he was told.
"Tell me of your mother," Shaya said.
Akio did as he was told—doing his best to leave out any of the embarrassing parts which she might judge him for—as they walked to Shaya's home for lunch.
CHAPTER THREE
THE SACKS OF STONES WEIGHED HIM DOWN, preventing Akio from finding his proper footing. Shaya struck high, low, high, center thrust. The air left his lungs, and he collapsed to his knees, the sacks of stones falling off his shoulders, scattering across the sands of Master Takumi's courtyard. His feet sunk into the sands as he moved, slowing him down and tripping him up, but Master Takumi claimed it was good training for his footwork, and would save his life one day.
Each breath a labored gasp.
There wasn't enough air.
"Master Takumi!" Shaya called.
In the span of three gasps Takumi was there with his hands pressed tightly into Akio's core, just under the chest bone. Akio gasped again and Takumi pushed hard with both hands. Suddenly air returned to Akio's lungs causing a span of coughing.
"What happened?" Shaya asked softly.
"When you struck him," Takumi said. "You contacted his solar plexus which in turn disrupted Akio's energy flow."
Takumi crossed the sands to return to his assistants, leaving Shaya to sit next to Akio as he regained his strength. It took several minutes, but Akio's breathing calmed and he returned to normal. The whole time he lay there looking upon Shaya and her face of stone, unable to decipher what she thought.
"Can you stand?" She asked.
Akio accepted her hand and found his legs were weak underneath him.
"I'm sor—"
"It wasn't your fault. I should have guarded myself. I'm sorry for failing you Kaito-Tanken Shaya." Akio bowed to her, and didn't rise until she touched his shoulder.
"Nonsense. You didn't fail me. Besides we're both learning. That's why we're here."
"You two are free to leave," Takumi called from across the courtyard. "Return your weapons, and return tomorrow after first light."
Akio began to pick up the rocks, but one of Takumi's assistants kneeled before him and took the sack away. "I'll do that sir."
Akio froze.
No one had ever called him sir before. No one had ever looked at him with respect and reverence. He was just a son of a lowly fisherman, not some great lord. His father wasn't a formally recognized clan member. The class difference settled in and he realized he was no longer his father's son condemned to the life of a fisherman.
"Sir, I can take it from here."
"Okay." Akio got back to his feet.
Shaya had returned their training swords to the trunk under the covered porch. "Ready?"
Akio was still working through the ramifications of being called sir. But he managed a nod before following her out of the courtyard. Thick black clouds hung in the sky, probably twenty miles south of Shinzo. A curtain of rain blocked the view of the ocean horizon. The small part of the harbor visible from Takumi's front porch showed tiny vessels quickly coming into port. No doubt the merchant fishermen, with licenses to fish the Emperor's waters.
"What are you thinking?"
Her question pulled Akio out of his own train of thought and back to the present.
"My father. Fishing."
She stepped closer to him, and they were close enough that their shoulders rubbed against one another as they walked. He stood a head taller than her, but she set the pace they walked, and he was forced to take slightly larger strides to keep up as they headed for her apartment.
"Does your father like fishing?" Her voice betrayed the fact she knew nothing of fishing.
"No," Akio said. "I'm not sure any of the men like fishing. I think he likes sailing though. He'll talk about the open ocean, and the huge fish that are so large that no ship could haul them in."
Shaya's eyes widened. Apparently, she'd never heard of the large fish of the ocean. He was thrilled to have something to teach her, rather than the other way around—even if it was about fishing and the open sea.
CHAPTER FOUR
THREE DAYS EARLIER MARKED THE START of the rainy season. The first rainstorm blew in from the East and pelted Shinzo all evening. Rain was a constant companion for Akio as he still trained in the courtyard with Takumi—though usually he sparred alone most sessions, practicing his forms—he must become the octopus.
Drenched from the day's training, a mix of sweat and rain, Akio pushed open the door to his house expecting to find his mother ready to lecture him. Instead he was greeted with a warm embrace from his father. He'd returned from his fishing expedition while the first storm pelted the island. It was far too dangerous to be out on the open ocean during the week-long, and sometimes month-long storms. Only pirates and large merchant vessels could transverse the waves which could reach fifty feet high.
"It's good to see you again." His father pushed him back to get a better look at him. "But you've changed. You're so dark, and what's this?" He prodded Akio's arms. "You've grown muscles. What have you been up to?"
"I thought it best you explain your foolishness to your father." His mother eyed him with disgust as she placed a bowl of soup on their small table before walking past the two of them. "I'm going to see Mei. Maybe they were able to buy up spices before this weather blew in."
"What's this nonsense she speaks of?" His father guided him to the table where his own bowl sat half-empty.
Akio didn't know how to begin. He bought himself a moment to think by trying the fish soup—very plain without the spices, it tasted more like the ocean than the soup he'd grown to expect from Honorable Mother's cooking.
He pulled his shoulders back and looked his father in the eyes. "I'm First Sworn to Kaito-Tanken Shaya."
Silence sat between them. For a moment, Akio thought his father might yell at him, but instead he placed a hand on his shoulder. "Congratulations. Why did your mother call this foolish?"
"She thinks I shouldn't have sworn myself to Shaya, and has been after me for weeks to abandon my position and recant my oath."
"You can't."
"I know. I've tried to tell her, but she won't listen. Every day is the same. I train with Shaya, and come home to mother, who complains and tells me how disappointed she is in me."
"Well I'm proud of you!" His father squeezed his knee. "You can't know just how proud I am of you. I'd have never dreamed that my son could become First Sworn to a Tanken." He chuckled to himself. "Wait until the men hear about this."
"When do you have to leave again?"
"Not for many days. This storm will last at least a month, maybe longer. Only Sueun and his priest know."
* * *
THE SOURCE-LIGHT SUNK BEHIND THE HORIZON
and Akio excused himself to sleep. He'd been in bed only half an hour when he heard his mother return.
"Where's the boy?" she asked.
"Asleep."
Both their voices slurred slightly from drink. When the rain brought his father home, both his parents would spend their evenings drinking—turning last harvest's rice into wine insured it wouldn't spoil in the deluge.
"Did you tell the boy to learn his place, and forget his silly pledge to that damned girl?"
The sound of clay pottery clinking on stone drifted into Akio's room, and he closed his eyes tighter.
"Akio swore himself to Clan Kaito, there is nothing you can do." His father's voice was stern. "You ought to be proud of our son."
"Proud? Don't be so childish. Why should we be proud?" she asked. "He's a boy playing at a game for men. He'll get himself killed and you know it."
"I'm proud to have a son who's First Sworn to Clan Kaito."
"You're a fool just like him." His mother sighed. "My mother was right about you. You'll never amount to anything more than a simple fisherman!"
For a moment Akio thought she may have left again.
"Clan Kaito is doomed. It's the talk of the square," his mother continued, "and our son will be forced to die alongside them."
"At least his name will be remembered when he dies!"
A clay cup shattered.
"You underestimate him," his father said. "You've always underestimated him, and me." The last was barely loud enough for Akio to make out.
"Damn you men and your pride." His mother left the living room, slamming her own door behind her.
Akio listened to the clink of pottery as his father uncorked another bottle of wine from the pantry. Silence filled the house again, and Akio heard the rain pelting the outside. No doubt the square was already flooded. During most storms, it would turn into a large wading pool, and all the young children would play in the rain. Akio realized he wouldn't be able to join the children anymore. As First Sworn, it would be dishonorable.
"The rains fall cold and gray."
His father sang out clear and Akio felt as if the source-light shined upon him.
My ships have sailed away,
Leaving me marooned with wine.
Drink to the Dead, Sueun's Blessings upon you,
Drink to the Dead, Sueun's Blessings upon you,
Drink to the Dead, Sueun's Blessings upon you.
Source-light's rise bring bloody pools,
Sharks encircle my island,
Hunger Staved off by wine.
Drink to the Dead, Sueun's Blessings upon you,
Drink to the Dead, Sueun's Blessings upon you,
Drink to the Dead, Sueun's Blessings upon you.
Darkness comes as source-light sits,
Cold engulfs my lonely spot of land,
Little warmth left to find; the wine is gone.
Drink to the Dead, Sueun's Blessings upon you,
Drink to the Dead, Sueun's Blessings upon you,
Drink to the Dead, Sueun's Blessings upon me.
The last line drifted off into the night, and Akio couldn't be sure, but he thought he could hear his father slowly snoring. The song had brought tears to his eyes which he wiped away—he'd never known his father could sing. He began to wonder what else he didn't know about his father, and while lost in thought he fell deep asleep.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Sapphire Nation, Fencura
As Ren made his way north away from the docks and into the heart of Shinzo. The streets sloped up toward the single hilltop which lay at the center of the island. The further he got from the shoreline the shorter the buildings became, and soon they were all single or two-story buildings. In the distance—as far as the eye could see—stood a wall that towered over the other buildings. It stretched from the northwest of the island, down to the center, and back up to the northeast. Casting a long shadow.
Ren tried to ask for directions to the Noble's Quarter, but none of the men passing him would stop to answer. A few of the girls his own age kept their eyes glued to him as they passed and giggled to each other. Ren would have cared any other time, but his anxiety over finding a room kept his mind distracted.
Desperate, he broke Tomoko's advice and approached a merchant, confident he'd know and help. His stall was set up on a corner outside the entryway of a private home. The man wore a light-weight green tunic and stared at Ren before he crossed the street.
The colorful stones laid out in woven baskets momentarily distracted Ren. The merchant had arranged his wares in accordance to the light spectrum, giving an impression of a splintered rainbow upon his stall.
"Excuse me," Ren stammered before finding his courage. "Sorry to bother you, but can you tell me the way to the Noble's Quarter?"
The merchant gave Ren a slanted smile that bared bright white teeth. They shone like new snow at dawn as the source-light crests the horizon to shine a new day's light.
"You're nearly there." The merchant pointed west. "Go about a quarter-mile that way and turn north. When you pass through a wooden wall, you'll know you've arrived in the Noble's Quarter."
"Thank you." Ren gave a curt nod of his head and went to leave, but the merchant stopped him.
"Ne!" The merchant called out, and the crowd turned their gaze upon Ren.
Ren turned back to the merchant. "Sorry?"
"You owe me a silver quarter for my time assisting you."
Ren chuckled, realizing why Tomoko had tried to warn him off dealing with their merchants. He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out the wallet Brandon had provided him. Not trusting that a merchant demanding payment for common knowledge would be honest about the conversion rate, Ren handed over a five-credit note and said, "This should more than cover it. I'm sorry, but I've not had time to convert my money yet."
The merchant eyed the plastic then held it to the source-light. The light changed to a deep blue as it passed through the credit. With a whistle the merchant pocketed the credit and said, "Sueun's blessing."
"Thank you." Ren bowed deeper this time before leaving. The crowd watched him leave, but no one's gaze lingered on him for too long.
* * *
Pulling his trunk behind him, Ren made his way to the wooden gate the merchant spoke of. As he strolled closer, the buildings grew taller again. Towering over the cobblestone walkway, they provided shade from the source-light as it sunk lower in the sky. A cool breeze whirled down the street, drying the sweat on Ren's brow. The wooden gate was nearly large enough to fit Captain Kaito's ship through, and Ren wondered if that was its purpose. He'd seen craftsmen throughout the city, but he'd yet to see a new ship being built.
Two city watchmen stood on either side of the gates but did nothing to interfere with the movement of people. They seemed to be mere decoration. As Ren crossed the barrier into the Noble's Quarter, the colorful houses astounded him. Unlike the simple stone and wood buildings he'd seen throughout the island, these used multi-colored bricks. Arranged during their construction to create murals of oceanic views. Pink dolphins leaping from deep ocean waters covered the walls of the first building he stopped to admire. The sight filled him with disappointment for not glimpsing a dolphin on his voyage. The building next door matched the deep ocean landscape—as they shared a wall—with islands of white sand topping the blue waters with palm trees sprinkled across.
All the buildings showed the same level of care and dedication in their murals. The detail was so fine that from a distance the images look lifelike. Reminding Ren of being back at sea.
The men and women inside the Noble's Quarter wore vibrantly colored fine garments. Loosely hung against their bodies, allowing the breeze of the day to flutter the silks, creating a flurry of colors dancing in the street.
To avoid paying for information again, Ren kept to himself and didn't speak to strangers. They eyed him suspiciously and gave his trunk a second look, but no one stopped him while he searched for an inn.
After nearly
an hour, he located an inn. A tall corner building with four floors and a discrete sign above its entryway. The sounds of drums, flutes, and men rowdy from drinks drifted through the open door.
Inside the establishment, Ren found two men standing behind a bar, which stretched the length of the left wall. At the end of the bar sat a stairwell. To Ren's right was an open floor large enough to dance on, with dining tables against the walls. Elevated above the floor, against the far-right wall, stood a stage for musicians.
A small band of three men switched from a lively tune to a quiet song, more background noise than an actual performance. The sounds of drunken men were just a small group near the foot of the stage, harassing their waitress. Ren approached the bar and slid his trunk under his feet as he hopped on a barstool.
After settling up with one of the waitresses, the taller of the men came over to Ren. "Sueun's blessing."
"Sueun's blessing," Ren replied.
The bartender grimaced, but only for a flash of a moment. "How may I help you?"
Don't repeat the blessing!
"I could use a dinner, and I'm looking for a room until the examination."
"I have a fresh fish stew and rolls in the oven now." The man paused for several moments while he took in Ren's appearance. Being at sea for four days, Ren hadn't had a proper bath aside from a saltwater scrub. With only three shirts, one coat, two pairs of jeans, and three pairs of socks, Ren had found it hard to stay pristine. In short, Ren looked scruffy.
"As for the rooms, they're reserved for men and women of stature. With the examination upon us, many will come to watch their children or to see the spectacle. You would be an insult to my honored guests. However, you're welcome to eat for five silver quarters."
Ren didn't know if the man was making a joke or if it was a form of negotiation, but either way, he wouldn't pass on a chance to eat. He could always negotiate a price of the room later. Still unsure of where to exchange his money, or the proper conversion rate, he pulled out a five credit note and handed it over. The bartender examined it and a blue shimmer fell upon the man's face.
