Shadow of The Fox (Shadow of the Fox #1) - Julie Kagawa Page 0,115
to you, but I have an important mission to complete, and Tatsumi has already promised to accompany me until it is done. He is my escort to the capital, and I cannot allow him to die before I finish my task.”
“You cannot...allow.” Oni no Mikoto blinked at her behind his mask, looking confused, then stunned. Unexpectedly, he sank into a low bow at the waist. “Forgive me, my lady,” he said earnestly. “I was unaware of your station. I mistook you for a simple peasant, but if Kage-san is your yojimbo, I have made a grave mistake. I humbly beg your pardon for my error in judgment.”
I frowned, vaguely annoyed at the assumption. I was no one’s bodyguard. No one save the Kage commanded me. Though I wasn’t going to correct the swordsman’s conclusion. If he thought Yumeko was a lady and I was her yojimbo, protecting her on the roads, then so be it. It might save us questions later.
“Yes, you should feel ashamed,” the ronin broke in, pointing at the girl. “Obviously a simple peasant could not be under the protection of the infamous Kage demonslayer, because peasants cannot have missions or goals or anything meaningful in their lives except serving samurai. Surely she must be a shrine maiden, or wandering onmyoji. That is the only explanation for this travesty, isn’t that so, Oni-san?”
Had it been anyone else, the explanation would have made sense. Yumeko had grown up in a temple and spoke about her Master Isao all the time. Monks, shrine maidens and onmyoji held a different position in Iwagoto; they weren’t part of the warrior caste and, technically, were considered peasants, but they were respected for their wisdom and enlightenment, and were recognized as teachers, masters of their art or spiritual advisors. Onmyoji, especially, were revered among samurai and peasants alike; they were diviners, exorcists, fortune-tellers and specialists of the spirit world, and they were highly sought after for their talents. Because many onmyoji traveled the land, and because they typically dealt with all manner of ghosts, yokai and restless spirits, my path had crossed with theirs on more than one occasion.
It was unlikely, but not impossible, to think Yumeko could be a traveling onmyoji, and had requested the aid of the Shadow Clan’s demonslayer to act as her bodyguard. But I had been traveling with the irreverent ronin long enough to recognize his veiled sarcasm and disdain for the warrior caste and knew he was misleading the other without telling an outright lie.
“But, Okame-san,” Yumeko began, “I’m not—”
“Besides,” the ronin continued loudly, “is this really the time to keep fighting? You fell into the river, and Kage-san looks spent. If this is truly the duel you’ve been waiting for your whole life, do you really want to proceed now, when neither of you are at your best?”
“Hmm.” The Demon Prince crossed his arms. “You make an excellent point,” he admitted, his tone begrudging. “If we fight now, how will I know if it was skill that won the battle, and not blind luck or misfortune? If we are to duel, we must both be prepared and leave nothing to chance. Very well.” He gave a decisive nod and turned to Yumeko. “My lady,” he said, “please allow me to accompany you and your escorts to the capital and wherever your travels take you afterward.”
Startled, I narrowed my eyes, as Yumeko straightened. Apparently she had not expected this, either. “Why?” she asked.
“I know my way around Kin Heigen Toshi,” Oni no Mikoto continued. “I have lived there for many years, and my name carries much weight. I would be happy to offer assistance while you are conducting your business in the capital.”
“We don’t need assistance,” I told him. “Thank you, but we can get by on our own.”
“Forgive me, Kage-san.” Oni no Mikoto sounded amused as he glanced at me. “But we were just attacked by a giant centipede monster. I may not know much about demons, but I have to assume that was not a random assault.
“The life of a demonslayer must be a dangerous one,” Oni no Mikoto went on, as unease flickered within me. Here was yet another who knew entirely too much about the Shadow Clan and Kamigoroshi. Another I might have to kill, should the clan order it. “Especially if he is acting as a bodyguard to an onmyoji. The road ahead could be full of peril and evil creatures—protecting both your charge and yourself will prove challenging if demons continue