Shadow of The Fox (Shadow of the Fox #1) - Julie Kagawa Page 0,114

it come after us? It’s like it knew exactly where we were.”

“It matters not.”

The Demon Prince turned to Tatsumi. “The monster is dead,” he announced, as if being attacked by and killing a giant centipede was commonplace. Something he did every evening before tea. “We are victorious, and the night is still young. Now that there are no more interruptions, shall we continue our duel, Kage-san?”

25

Proposal for a Demon Prince

“Nani?” Yumeko stared at him. “Now?” She waved an arm at the giant corpse, leaking greenish fluid into the trampled grass. “We barely survived being eaten by a giant centipede. Is this really the time to keep fighting?”

“The duel was issued, and accepted,” Oni no Mikoto said in a reasonable voice. “Interruptions aside, honor demands that we continue until a clear victor is determined. Kage-san.” He bowed his head at me. “Shall we return to the bridge? I am ready.”

I nodded wearily. If this was the only way to cross, then I would have to cut him down. I didn’t necessarily want to; he had proven himself in the fight with the omukade and refused to flee when it would have been the wiser choice. And from the glimpses I’d caught of his fighting, he was extremely skilled and fast, perhaps the best swordsman I had seen. He was going to be a deadly opponent, indeed.

But he wasn’t going to let me go, and I still had a mission to complete. If he wanted this duel, then I would give him an honorable death.

“Wait.” Yumeko stepped forward as we started toward the bridge. “Oni no Mikoto, stop.”

“Peasant girl.” Oni no Mikoto turned, and his voice, though polite, was chilly. “You travel with Kage-san, so I assume you are either his servant or someone under his protection. But servants do not give orders to samurai. Just a courteous warning, for the next warrior you encounter might take real offense.”

Yumeko blinked, but didn’t cower or back down. “Sumimasen,” she told Oni no Mikoto. “Was I supposed to bow? I was supposed to bow, wasn’t I?”

The ronin snickered. “Actually, I think he expected you to prostrate yourself at his feet and grovel. That’s usually what happens when peasants encounter samurai.”

“I’m sorry,” Yumeko continued. “I meant no offense. I grew up in a temple and never had to address samurai before. Um, besides Tatsumi-san, and he doesn’t seem to care.” I raised an eyebrow at that, but no one was looking at me. “I’m not very good at protocol,” Yumeko went on. “But I truly do not wish to offend. Should I fling myself on the ground now, Oni-sama?”

“No.” Oni no Mikoto sighed. “Just...what is it you want, girl?”

“If Oni-sama would humor me for a moment,” Yumeko continued, “and look at the omukade’s right eye. What do you see?”

The Demon Prince glanced at the yokai. The omukade’s head lay there, its jaws open in a last, furious snarl, a few of its legs still twitching in death. “An arrow,” Oni no Mikoto said, gazing at the ruined eye, where the shaft was easily visible in the moonlight. He paused, putting the pieces together, and drew in a slow breath. “Then...”

He glanced at Okame. “Then, you are the one who shot the monster,” he said, as if just coming to the realization. “On the bridge when it first attacked, Kage-san and I could do nothing against it. None of our blows could get through, but...” He looked at the eye again. “Something drew it away. That was you.”

The ronin shrugged. “I may have hit the thing,” he replied, and nodded at the girl, “but Yumeko-chan got its attention and told me where to shoot. You want to thank someone for not ending up as centipede food, thank her.”

“I see.” Oni no Mikoto turned to face Yumeko again. “Then, it appears I owe you a debt of gratitude,” he said, and though his posture was stiff, his voice remained polite. “That’s what you want, isn’t it, girl? The boon of a samurai. Very well.” He straightened. “I will grant this one favor. Though understand this—I will not abandon my duel with Kage-san.” His gaze slid to me. “This is a battle I have waited for since I picked up my sword, and I will not miss it. You may ask me anything but that.”

“Very well, Oni-sama,” Yumeko stated. “If you can’t agree not to fight, then grant me this instead. Postpone the duel.”

The Demon Prince seemed taken aback. “Postpone?”

“Yes,” she confirmed. “I realize this is important