Soul of the Sword (Shadow of the Fox #2) - Julie Kagawa Page 0,94

If you return to the Imperial city, Hakaimono will kill us. And then he will take the pieces of the scroll to the Master of Demons, who will then be free to summon the Dragon. And the empire will fall.”

Daisuke was silent, his features expressionless. Okame held his gaze, unrelenting. “I know I’m an honorless ronin dog,” he said quietly. “I know I’ve lost all concept of duty, obligation and sacrifice. The emperor must be warned that Hakaimono is free and the Master of Demons has returned, I realize that, but…right now, we need you more, Taiyo-san. If you return to the Imperial city and we fail to stop Hakaimono, you might not have an empire to protect much longer. So, I’m asking you, as a friend and a brother in arms, will you help us save Kage Tatsumi?” One corner of his mouth twitched, the hint of a smirk crossing his face. “Or do you still need me to drop to my knees and humbly beg your forgiveness for implying that you’re a coward? I don’t normally beg, for anything, but I’ll prostrate myself right now, if that’s what it takes.”

“Okame-san…” Daisuke closed his eyes. “You…”

“Excuse me.” A soft tap came from the door, a moment before the servant slid it open, peering in at us on her knees. “Pardon the interruption,” she said, with a wide-eyed glance at Daisuke and the ronin, facing off a few feet away, “but I have an important message from Lord Iesada. Before you depart, he wishes the Lady Yumeko and the rest of her companions to join him for tea in the autumn wing of the castle. If you follow me, I will take you there.”

“Give us a moment,” Reika said shortly. The maid blinked, either in surprise or offense, but slid the door shut once more, leaving us alone. I wrinkled my nose as Reika immediately rose, walked to the door and pressed another ofuda to the frame, silencing the room again.

“Why does Lord Iesada want to see us?” I wondered. “He’s been horribly rude, not to mention his shinobi tried to kill us in the city. Do you think he wishes to apologize? Is this an ‘I’m sorry I tried to assassinate you’ tea ceremony?”

Reika snorted so loudly that the dogs raised their heads and pricked their ears at her. “Most assuredly not,” she said, rolling her eyes.

“Well, we don’t have to attend, do we?” I asked. “We can sneak out of Kage lands through the Path, and Lord Iesada would be none the wiser.”

Daisuke turned then, his expression faintly horrified as he faced me. “That would be an enormous insult, Yumeko-san,” he said. “Iesada-sama is a lord of the Kage and does us a great honor. To ignore him would be unforgivably rude. The Shadow Clan itself might take offense to such a slight.”

“What do you care about it, Taiyo?” Okame demanded roughly. “I thought you were going back to Sun lands. Don’t worry about the rest of us—I’m sure we can muddle through somehow.”

Daisuke’s shoulders slumped, and he bowed his head with a sigh.

“You shame me, Okame-san.” The noble’s voice was soft. “I know of no samurai who would admit an opponent was too strong for him, but you, a ronin, put aside your own honor, your own pride, to make me see the truth. You are absolutely correct—warning the emperor will accomplish nothing should the Master of Demons succeed in summoning the Dragon. My place is here, with those I have sworn to aid.

“Yumeko-san,” he continued, rising to face me, his expression intent. “I must beg your pardon, as well. If you would still have me, let me swear a new oath. I vow to protect you and the Dragon scroll, to be the blade that stands between you and your enemies, for as long as I have the breath to keep fighting, or until the Harbinger has passed on from the world once more. Let me accompany you to the Steel Feather temple, and I will face Hakaimono unflinchingly. On my honor, he will not touch you as long as I still breathe. That is my new vow. If you will accept it.”

I nodded. “Arigatou, Daisuke-san.”

“Good,” Reika snapped. “So, if we’re finished making vows and being honorably dramatic, perhaps we can leave? Hakaimono isn’t getting any farther from the Steel Feather temple. And now, we have to decide if we’re going to attend Lord Iesada’s tea ceremony. Though I might be getting slightly ill, because I