Soul of the Sword (Shadow of the Fox #2) - Julie Kagawa Page 0,99

and ice. It was an oppressive weight, Suki thought, drifting closer to Taka. Cold and domineering, as if the snow was a cruel master, demanding silence and respect from everything it touched.

As they stepped into a small, peaceful clearing, the snow falling from the sky abruptly ceased, and the forest around them grew still. Not a breath of wind stirred the branches, though Suki could almost see the cold in the icicles that hung from the trees, in the billowing clouds writhing from Taka’s lips. Lord Seigetsu didn’t stop; he strode across the flat ground, Taka and Suki following in his wake. The snow was quite deep here, and it crunched under Taka’s feet, as if he was walking across branches or a bed of pebbles.

“Ite!” Taka suddenly stopped, hopping on one foot, as if he had stubbed his toe. “Ow, ow ow, sharp! What is that?” Lord Seigetsu paused, looking mildly annoyed as he turned around.

“Taka.” His voice was a warning.

“Gomen!” Taka whispered, wincing as he reached into the snow. “Forgive me, master. I think I stepped on a broken branch…”

He stammered to a halt, his eye going huge, as he pulled a shattered half of a skull out of the snow. With a yelp, he dropped the grinning jawbone; it hit the ground with a muffled crack and rolled away, revealing yet another skull hidden beneath the blanket of white.

A soft, feminine chuckle rippled along the edge of the clearing, carried on the wind and stirring snow into the air. Welcome to my garden, it whispered, as Suki gazed around wildly and Taka darted behind Seigetsu’s hakama. I don’t get many visitors, not anymore. Would you care to stay for a spell? Perhaps you would like to plant something here yourself?

The wind gusted, tossing snow into the air, whipping at Seigetsu’s hair and tugging at his sleeves. It blew away the top portion of white, revealing the carpet of gleaming bones beneath. Skulls, rotting armor and weapons, skeletons both human and animal, all lying half-buried in the frozen ground. Taka gasped, and Suki felt herself lose form, changing into the glowing ball of light. The strange voice giggled at their reactions. Seigetsu sighed.

“I have already seen your garden, Yukiko,” he called to the empty air. “It is not the reason I am here.”

Oh, Seigetsu-sama, you’re no fun. The voice almost sounded pouty, and snow continued to swirl around the clearing. As Suki watched, lacy fingers of windblown snow brushed Seigetsu’s sleeve, then curled around Taka, tugging at his hat. Are you sure you don’t want to leave me a present? I don’t have a one-eyed skull in my collection yet.

Taka cringed and whimpered, clutching at his master’s hakama. Seigetsu’s golden eyes narrowed.

“No, and don’t think you need any more ‘decorations,’” he said firmly. He raised a hand and waved it through the snow threads coiling around him. “I have come to collect on my favor, nothing more.”

The windblown flurries drifted back. That was years ago, Seigetsu-sama, the voice almost whined. Centuries, and you never came to visit me since then. I had almost forgotten about it.

“But I have not.” Seigetsu’s tone was unyielding. “Are you going to honor the promise you made to me that day, Yukiko, or should I become offended that I was misled?”

A long, dramatic sigh caused the snow to swirl frantically around the clearing. No, Seigetsu-sama, the voice said, sounding put-upon. I will honor my word. Let no one say Yukiko of the North does not keep her promises. What is it you need me to do?

Lord Seigetsu smiled.

“There is an oni by the name of Hakaimono on his way to the Steel Feather temple as we speak,” he replied. “I need you to stop him from getting there.”

17

THE PRICE OF ILLUSION

Yumeko

Naganori waited for us in the bowels of Hakumei castle, standing with his arms crossed in the center of the stonewalled room, but he wasn’t the only one.

“Yumeko-san.” Kage Masao smiled at me from just inside the door, the flickering torchlight casting his pale face in shadow. He was dressed in blue hakama trousers and midnight-black robes, with pink-and-indigo petals drifting across the fabric like rain. A black silk fan rested between his fingers as he nodded in my direction. “And the rest of our honored guests.” He gave a slight bow as the rest of the party entered the room. “Forgive me, I did not have a chance to introduce myself before. I am Kage Masao, chief advisor to Lady Hanshou. I