Soul of the Sword (Shadow of the Fox #2) - Julie Kagawa Page 0,49
impassive. “I am Kage Ichiro,” the man went on. “Tatsumi is—or rather was—my student.”
Tatsumi’s sensei. The man who had trained him to be a demonslayer, to fight like a monster himself, and to guard his mind and soul against Hakaimono. He probably wasn’t happy that his student had turned into a demon. “Why have you brought me here?” I asked.
“Because Hakumei-jo is full of eyes, and I wanted to speak to you in private. Where the only shadows watching are the ones I control.” He lifted a hand, indicating the hallway behind me. “This is my territory, my labyrinth, but do not worry—if I wished to kill you, I would not have bothered to have Harumi-san bring you here. You would simply vanish down a corridor, or perhaps fall through a trapdoor, and no one would ever find you.”
I took a furtive breath to calm my heart. “What do you want with me, then?”
“I want nothing from you, girl.” The sensei’s voice was flat. “Except to extend this warning. I know what Hanshou-sama asked you to do. Nothing happens in Hakumei-jo without the echoes of it flowing to me. But you and your companions are not safe here—there are those in the Shadow Clan who do not wish Lady Hanshou to have her demonslayer returned, and will do whatever it takes to stop you from succeeding.”
“Lord Iesada,” I guessed, seeing no reaction from Tatsumi’s sensei. “But, why? Why is he so against us saving Tatsumi? Why doesn’t he want Hakaimono driven back?”
“The Kage demonslayers are trained for absolute obedience,” Ichiro replied. “I taught Tatsumi myself, stripped every weakness from his body and mind, forged him in fire and blood, until only a weapon remained. He does not fear death, pain or dishonor. His loyalty to the Kage is unconditional, but even more than that, he is also the blade that Lady Hanshou wields against her enemies. Long ago, after Genno’s rebellion, Hanshou-sama made the decision to begin training shinobi to use the Godslayer, rather than seal its power away. She believed the risk would be outweighed by the usefulness of having Hakaimono under her control. Over the years, I have trained several demonslayers to Lady Hanshou’s expectations. They cannot be swayed by bribes, threats, power or manipulation. They are her perfect warriors, the blade in the dark that even the Kage fear.”
“They’re afraid of him,” I realized. “Lord Iesada and the other Kage lords. He doesn’t just want Tatsumi killed, he wants Kamigoroshi sealed away forever. So Hanshou-sama can’t use the demonslayer to threaten the Shadow Clan nobles.”
And whomever else she wants.
“They are right to fear him,” Ichiro said gravely. “I have seen Hakaimono, I have spoken to the demon through my students. I know what he is capable of.” His sharp black eyes narrowed. “I thought I had trained Tatsumi well, that he was strong enough to control the demon. But this failure is my fault. Tatsumi has been taught to resist pain, manipulation, seduction, even mind control and blood magic. But I neglected to warn him about the most dangerous emotion of all.” A bitter smile curled one corner of his mouth. “After everything we put him through, I honestly thought the boy incapable of it. Apparently, I can still be surprised, after all these years.”
The most dangerous emotion of all. I wondered what Ichiro meant. I had watched Tatsumi; I knew he didn’t feel anger, grief or fear like the rest of us. What “dangerous emotion” could be left?
But, while I was curious, I was also certain that the sensei of the Kage shinobi wouldn’t tell me what he meant, so I didn’t ask. “I’ll find him, Ichiro-san,” I promised instead. “I’ll find Tatsumi, and I’ll save him from Hakaimono.”
He snorted. “You are no match for Hakaimono,” he said bluntly. “I will not hope that a single girl can defeat one who has slaughtered armies and laid waste to cities. But, in the slight chance that you do manage the impossible, I will tell you something about Tatsumi that not even Hanshou or her clever advisor knows.
“The ones who survive to become demonslayers,” Ichiro went on, “are not the strongest, or the smartest, or even the most skilled. They are the ones with the purest souls. Because only one whose soul is pure can resist Hakaimono’s influence. Remember that, and know that even now, Tatsumi is fighting.”
Kage Ichiro stepped away, the blank mask I’d often seen on Tatsumi falling into place. “Now go,” he ordered. “Save the