Soul of the Sword (Shadow of the Fox #2) - Julie Kagawa Page 0,96

Then we had to watch the tea-master clean the bowl and the utensils again, slowly and with the utmost care, before the entire process could start once more.

“I am curious,” Lord Iesada said, in the space between waiting for the next round of tea to be served. “You all traveled with the Kage demonslayer for a time. Tell me, how is it he did not kill you to a man?”

I jerked, causing Reika to give me a sharp look over the tatami mats. Fortunately, Daisuke sat closest to Lord Iesada, and gave him a serene smile.

“An interesting topic, Iesada-sama,” he said in a voice of cool politeness. “I myself am curious as to why one would bring up the subject of your clan’s demonslayer. Please forgive my ignorance—in the Sun lands, the topic of demons is considered unfit for polite conversation.”

I reached for another sweet, a bright pink rice cake wrapped in a leaf, and let the flavor melt away the bitter taste in my mouth. Okame caught my gaze and rolled his eyes, and I bit back a grin.

“Ah, forgive me,” continued Lord Iesada, his own voice unruffled. “I forget that in the Sun lands, everything is far brighter and safer than in our humble lands of Shadow. The people there do not have to fear the dark, nor the creatures that lurk within. Often I wish our own samurai knew such peace and frivolity, but alas, such danger is part of our everyday lives. I meant no offense, of course.”

“Of course,” Daisuke replied, still smiling. “Certainly, it is understandable that the Kage can sometimes struggle with the concepts of etiquette and social graces. Being so far from Sun lands and the Imperial capital must be a terrible burden for your clan. Lady Hanshou must be commended for doing so much with so little.”

I shifted my weight on the pillow, absently twirling the discarded leaf between my fingers. Beside me, I heard Okame’s bored, barely audible sigh. Without looking at me, he pointed to the black iron teapot sitting on the brazier, then waggled two fingers in a strange, dancing motion. Reika, unfortunately, caught the gesture, and very slightly turned her head, pinning me with a tight-lipped, wide-eyed look that very clearly said do not dare.

“Taiyo-san is too kind.” Lord Iesada’s voice held a bit of an edge now, before his cold black gaze shifted to me. “But what does our esteemed guest have to say regarding the demonslayer?” he purred. “I understand she traveled all the way to the capital with him. Did he do anything to put you in danger? Did you know he had a demon lurking inside his sword, waiting to be unleashed?”

I lightly cupped the leaf in my fingers, hiding it in my palm as a flutter of fox magic went through the air. “He saved my life,” I told the Kage lord. “The road was very dangerous, yes, but I wouldn’t have survived if not for Tatsumi-san.”

“Tatsumi-san, is it?” Lord Iesada looked amused. “I had not realized you and the demonslayer had grown so close. Perhaps you think you owe him a debt of gratitude, then?” He chuckled, shaking his head. “Do not bother. The demonslayer is naught but a weapon. A tool that the Shadow Clan uses to slay dangerous monsters and yokai, because he is as much a monster as the creatures he hunts. He has no feelings, no emotion, no personal honor. He is barely human. You might as well owe a debt of gratitude to an ox cart for carrying you to the next town.”

“I’m sorry, Lord Iesada, but you’re wrong.”

Lord Iesada raised both pencil-thin eyebrows in either shock or outrage. “Excuse me?” he exclaimed.

“Tatsumi isn’t just a weapon,” I said. “He’s not an unfeeling monster. He was brave and honorable, and was constantly worried about Hakaimono. And he was worried about Hakaimono because he didn’t want to hurt me, or bring shame to the Shadow Clan. That isn’t the mind-set of a creature who is barely human.”

Lord Iesada stared at me, eyes glittering. “You are quite bold for a woman, and a peasant,” he said at last, managing a tight smile. “Consider yourself lucky that you are Hanshou-sama’s honored guest, for in my estate such audacity would not be tolerated. I shall tell you a simple truth about Lady Hanshou’s demonslayers. They are monsters, because we train them to be monsters.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Do you wish to know how the Kage demonslayer is created? When one