Shadow of The Fox (Shadow of the Fox #1) - Julie Kagawa Page 0,57

trees, no insects droned, no deer or small animals moved through the undergrowth. An ominous taint hung in the air, a subtle aura of fear that was enough to silence the whole forest.

We came to a ravine, a gap in the earth that dropped sharply away to a nearly dry riverbed, far below. A bridge made of rope and wooden planks spanned the gulf, swaying gently in the open air. A tiny roadside shrine to Doroshin, the Kami of roads and travel, sat next to one of the bridge posts, the base littered with offerings of coin and withered flowers. As Yumeko walked to the edge of the cliff and peered down, I placed a copper kaeru at the base of the shrine, then closed my eyes and put my hands together, offering a quick prayer to Doroshin for safe travels. I wasn’t certain that the gods would hear the prayer of a lowly assassin, especially one whose hands were stained with blood and filth, but it was always better to be cautious. Better that the Kami ignored you than risk their wrath and bad fortune.

Opening my eyes, I was surprised to see Yumeko standing beside me, hands pressed together and eyes closed. Lowering her arms, she stepped back and turned to me with a smile.

“I used to pray to Doroshin every night,” she explained, with a quick glance at the shrine. “I always dreamed of traveling, of leaving the temple and seeing what’s out there, even though it was frightening. I would ask Doroshin to show me a way.” She sighed, her gaze traveling to the bridge and what lay beyond.

Her eyes darkened, a shadow falling over her face, but she blinked and shook herself, and returned to normal. “This is not how I wanted it to happen,” she murmured, “but I’m here, on the open road, like I asked. I figured I would at least thank him, just in case.” Looking at me again, she tilted her head, regarding me curiously. “I didn’t think you would be the type to pray, Tatsumi-san.”

“The Kami see everyone,” I replied simply. “I’m not exempt from their notice, and I carry a sword named Godslayer. Whenever possible, I try not to offend them.”

We started across the bridge. The weathered planks creaked under our weight, rocking back and forth as we walked over empty space. Below us, a steady wind howled through the ravine, making the bridge sway in the breeze, but the ropes were thick and strong, and in no danger of snapping.

However, when we were halfway across the chasm, a sudden gust of wind caused the planks to buck wildly. I dropped my weight, bending my knees to keep my balance, as Yumeko yelped and grabbed the railings tightly. As the wind died down and the bridge stopped moving, high-pitched laughter echoed over the ravine, and I jerked my gaze to the cliff.

A woman stood on the other side of the bridge, blocking our path. She was tall and slender, with long black hair, and she wore wooden geta clogs and a blue-and-white kimono that did little to hide her body. Ice-blue eyes glittered coldly as she watched us from the edge of the ravine.

I sank into a crouch, my hand dropping to the hilt of my sword, as Kamigoroshi flared with excitement. The woman smiled.

“The fearsome Kage demonslayer,” she called, still smiling. “Bearer of the infamous Kamigoroshi. Your reputations precede you both. Allow me to introduce myself.” She gave a shallow, mocking bow. “My name is Mistress Kazekira, wind witch of the Howling Mountains, and I have been waiting for you.”

A wind witch. So, the kamaitachi were probably her familiars. That meant the attack on Yumeko wasn’t a random occurrence, but a threat or a warning aimed at me.

I took a step toward the witch, tightening my fingers around the hilt of my blade. “If you know who I am, you know what will happen if you fight me here,” I warned. “Leave this place, before I cut a path right through you.”

The witch laughed. “Well, that’s not very polite, Kage-san,” she said, her voice echoing over the chasm. “Threatening a person you just met, and a woman at that. How unforgivably rude. Didn’t your people teach you any manners?”

Wind began swirling around the witch, causing her sleeves to flap and her hair to stream behind her. Yumeko gasped, grabbing the ropes for balance, as the bridge swayed dangerously from side to side. I kept my feet, adjusting my weight