Sunstone - Dishonor's Bane (Book 2) (13 page)

Shiuki, leaning against the stable wall, shrugged. “I honestly don’t know. We certainly don’t keep track. A country-wide society would definitely draw unwanted attention.”

“All can shield themselves?”

She nodded, rubbing one arm. The temperature had dropped in the last few days as fall deepened.

“Disguises?”

“That’s the test, isn’t it? Maybe four or five out of ten.”

Shiro thought as he continued to brush the horse. “I’ve been thinking, maybe we can organize.”

That brought laughter from the woman. “Such a thing would bring a death sentence. As I told you when you first came, if we don’t cause trouble, we won’t get into any trouble.”

One of the serving women ran into the stable. “Soldiers and sorcerers!”

Shiro stopped his grooming. “Testing?”

“No.” Shiuki wrapped her shawl tighter. “That happened last year. They shouldn’t be coming through for another few years.”

It had been thirty years at Koriaki. Could they be looking for him? He felt better prepared, but he didn’t want to expose Shiuki to any danger.

“I’ll leave immediately.”

Shiuki shook her head. “There is no need. Your tattoo is removed except for the blue dot and your disguise can’t be penetrated.”

His wrist had taken well to the cook’s healing magic while she had taken off the tattoo and left the wrist nearly as clear as it had been before he got it in Koriaki. “I’ve got something to do.” He dropped his grooming tools and ran up to his room above the stable. Pulling the sword out from underneath clothing shelves, he hurried down to an empty stall and cleared out enough straw to dig a hole in the ground and threw the weapon in and covered it with dirt in a horse’s stall. Then he tossed the straw back over his work and shoveled some horse dung on top of that. He brought in a horse from another stall to stand over his treasure.

Shiro fought to regain his breath and took up his brush once more, working on another horse as he heard calls for the stableboy. He took a deep breath and assumed a hunched posture. He repeatedly bowed as five soldiers and three men in the robes of sorcerers dismounted in front of Shiuki’s inn.

“Just watch the horses. We won’t be long,” the soldier with the fanciest uniform told Shiro.

All of the men tramped into the inn. None took off their shoes as they stepped up to the inn floor. That didn’t bode well for Shiuki.

Shiro heard yelling within.

“I am who I am!” Shiuki said. Shiro ran into the inn to see two of the soldiers holding her and each of the other soldiers held the maid and the cook and her helper. He didn’t have time to retrieve his hidden sword and swore under his breath.

“You are White Rose Society!” one of the sorcerers yelled. They all stood three abreast. “We are to take you to Sekkoro.”

“Ashiyo will vouch for me. He’s stayed here in the past.”

The sorcerer laughed. “The Guild is holding him in their Guildhouse. He’s in no position—”

The cook stepped back and threw a sheet of flame at one of the guards holding Shiuki. In an instant, two of the other sorcerers had thrown spells at all three of Shiuki’s servants. They collapsed on the floor.

“We’ll take her now,” the sorcerer said. He cast a casual glance at the soldier screaming on the floor, covered in flames, and then left the inn without helping the man.

Shiro had no way to fight these men. His sword had been hidden in the earth and he just didn’t possess the magical offensive skills that even the cook had displayed. He rushed outside and stood by the horses with his shoulders hunched and his head down.

Shiuki’s eyes warned him off, but he didn’t need any one to tell him he couldn’t retaliate. A sorcerer caught her eye and gestured towards Shiro. He gasped and clutched his chest, falling to the ground. Shiuki had been put on the fallen soldier’s horse and all Shiro could do was roll over and watch them disappear in the dust their horses kicked up.

He smelled flames inside the inn and struggled to stand. He leaned against the doorpost and made a little storm that put out the flames on the charred figure of the soldier. He slunk to the edge of the raised floor of the inn and put his head in his hands. Three women who had helped him for the past weeks lay dead on the floor, killed out of hand by the sorcerers. He gained his feet and took a bucket of water and dumped it on the soldier again before any passersby came in. The women had no obvious cause of death, but all three had changed appearances except the cook. He remembered how his heart had stopped. An easy way to kill or was it?

He put his hand on the cook’s chest and found that her heart still beat. He used his magic to give her strength. She responded to his touch and removed his hand as if it were poisoned.

“Nothing for free, yet.” She groaned and put her hand to her head and sat up on the floor.

The other’s hearts had stopped, but he did the same as he did to Cook. He gave them a pulse of power, hoping that would revive them. They both responded to his magic and recovered, but could only lie on the floor, moaning. Before any could peek inside the door, the Cook yelled out. “Find the mayor. People have been killed!”

Shiro rose and closed the sliding door to inn, but didn’t lock it. The two maids had finally recovered enough to sit up.

“Lie down and pretend to be dead,” Shiro said. “Cook,” he didn’t know her by any other name, “you can survive the attack, but I died as did the other two.”

“How do we explain the soldier?” she said.

“Tell the mayor that I did it. I’ll pretend to be dead, as well.” Shiro turned to the cook’s assistant and the maid. “Change back to your inn disguises.”

Shiro lay down as soon as he heard a knock on the door. The mayor walked in. “Chika, what happened? You all took such a risk running this inn.”

“The innkeeper has been taken. The sorcerers killed this man. He was an old farmhand that Shiuki had taken in. He killed the soldier while they held Shiuki. Then the soldiers…” Chika, the cook, who now had a name, broke down in tears. “One of the sorcerers killed Yore and Ima and nearly did me in.” Shiro could see her clutch her heart from where he lay, looking at the mayor’s back. “We must go after Shiuki,” she said.

The mayor held up both of his hands. “No. Enough damage has been done. All of you women will now have to leave the town. I can’t have you putting the rest of Rumoto in jeopardy. Can you do something about the bodies? I’ll have some men take the remains of the soldier. I don’t want to know where you have buried them when soldiers return.” He left shaking his head.

Chika bolted the door shut and the two girls stood up. “We’ll all have to go.”

Shiro grabbed a jug of wine and sat down at a table and poured a cup. “Those who wish to remain can change their disguise. Those who can’t will have to leave, but where will they go?”

The three women joined him at the table. Each took a drink and shuddered. “We have long talked and planned of this happening. There are places for most of us, but if there is an island-wide search…” Yore shook her head in despair and looked at Shiro. “What will you do?”

Shiro hadn’t known until that moment. “I’m going after Shiuki. She doesn’t deserve a moment’s interrogation by the Guild. Do either of you know the streets of Sekkoro?”

Chika stood and looked behind the counter and pulled out a sheaf of papers. “Here are maps of the island. Shiuki kept them to show travelers. Maybe there is a city map in there.”

Shiro looked through the maps and found a street diagram of Sekkoro. He might need these. “Is there something I can use to tie these up?”

Chika disappeared behind the counter. “Will this do?” She held up a tubular case with end caps.

“That’s it.” Shiro said. He’d never seen a map case before but recognized what it was. He had one more thing to do. “Is there another one that’s longer?” Chika gave him a blank look.

“I have something that needs a case.”

“Your sword?” one of the maids said.

“How did you know about that?”

She giggled, covering her mouth. “Who do you think cleans your room and empties your chamber pot?”

Shiro felt the heat of a blush. “Well?”

The maid rose and took Shiro’s hand. He let her lead him to a door. “Here are the lost items that are left in the inn. You might find something in here.”

Shiro rummaged around though packs, chests of clothing, parcels and baskets of sandals. The place was filled with all kinds of cast-offs.

“She’s given clothes out to the needy and still it accumulates. Take what you will. I’m sure Shiuki won’t mind.”

He looked at the clothing. He still had only one set of clothes except for the extra set of small clothes he used while washing. If he were to pose as a traveler on the way to Sekkoro, he’d need something in his luggage. Soon he had found three decent fitting sets of clothes and some better quality sandals as well as leggings to match. He shoved these into a set of old leather saddlebags and spied what he sought.

A roll of old leather that came up to his chest stood in a corner. He would make his own scabbard including a pouch for a staff. He found a suitable dagger in a pile of rusty knives and used his magic to sharpen the blade and began cutting out a sheath for his sword from the leather. Chika took thin slabs of hardwood from a sword stand that sat in the best room of the inn and began to whittle them down once Shiro retrieved his sword from the stable and showed it to her.

“That is not from Roppon.” Chika said.

Shiro paused. Trust? The woman should be dead fighting the sorcerers. They had mutual enemies. He had no reason to hold back. “I found it on Diakko Island. It’s an ancient weapon, but it keeps a sharp edge.”

“Why do you cover part of the blade?” she said, reaching out to touch the wrapping

Shiro pulled it back before she could make contact. “It is an etching that shows a man and a woman…”

Chika scoffed. “Suit yourself.” She looked at the leather pieces. “You make a sheath for a staff?”

“A staff is less lethal than a sword. There is a hardwood pole in the stable that will suit for now. I’ll replace it with a finer one in time.”

“You know how to use one?” She grinned.

Why did the cook grin about weapons?

“I do. Why?”

Chika lifted her chin. “I could well use a staff, myself.” She covered her mouth with her hand. “I mean…” She broke out in laughter, but she didn’t look embarrassed. “You could take that the wrong way.”

“Indeed I could, but I know what you mean, right and wrong.” Her words made Shiro laugh. The woman was middle-aged and a bit on the fat side. What cook wasn’t?

She pursed her lips and smiled. “I am Chika Udishi. My father is Lord Udishi of the prefecture farthest to the east on the South Isle. I trained in weapons from childhood. My father wanted a son, but I was his only child. When I became a teenager, my power expressed itself and my mother had kept the knowledge hidden from my father.” Chika took a deep sobbing breath. “When she died, my father learned of my Affinity and banished me from the family. He told me that he’d rather I become a whore. I found my way here where I learned to shield my magic and learned food preparation from the Shiuki’s original cook. Another woman, who left the town last year, taught me to heal.”

After the shock of this revelation, he took the time to gaze at Chika. “I don’t think you can help me.”

“Didn’t you see me in action?”

“I thought it fitting that you would attempt to cook the guard.” Shiro said, wincing at his words.

She laughed anyway and then her face turned grim, “I would have fried them all, if given the chance. My shield nearly broke when the sorcerer stopped my heart. I noticed yours didn’t. Why didn’t you fight back?”

“I don’t know any offensive spells, but I can use the staff and sword.”

“I am best with the staff, as I said.” She smiled and then put her hand on his arm. “Let me come with you.”

“I… I—” Shiro said, unprepared by the offer.

“Certainly you need someone who can cook, heal, throw flames, and wield a nasty staff. I even have my own sword. Not like that,” she looked at Shiro’s blade and made a face. “It looks unwieldy and foreign.” Then she gave him a sly smile until Shiro turned red. Her discussion of ‘swords’ had just turned a little too personal for comfort.

Shiro swallowed hard. He hadn’t talked to a woman in such a way since before he married. But could he really take her? Shiro sensed the responsibility, but brightened. “Will you teach me to use power to heal? I’m somewhat self-taught and perhaps you can help me prepare to rescue Shiuki.”

Chika smiled. Her countenance turned solemn and she nodded her head. “I will not disappoint, Shiro of Koriaki.”

“I certainly hope I won’t,” Shiro said.

~~~

Chapter Seventeen

~

I
nstead of whittling staffs, Chika sneaked out
of the inn and bought two staffs at the only weapons shop in town along with two fitted leather sheaths. It seemed that the woman had brought along plenty of money when she left her father’s prefecture five years previous.

They took Shiuki’s three horses and left town that night after Chika, in the cook’s guise arranged with the mayor to close the inn down, but not do anything else with it until he received word of Shiuki’s death. The tears in Chika’s eyes remained after she transformed into the visage of a male youth after telling Shiro what she had told the mayor. “It is my sincerest desire to keep that letter from being written.” They used more money to dress as mercenaries, so they could openly carry their arms.

The extra horse held food and camping equipment. They stopped in the morning to boil rice and brew tea. It took some getting used to seeing the cook in the guise of a youth, but then he really didn’t know what she really looked like. The youth looked rather fit.

“I’ve been here before,” Shiro said. “I came from Diakko Island along that path across the road.” He looked at the path, knowing that two dead fishermen rotted in a grave not far from where they stopped. They remained the only two people that he had knowingly put to death. “Have you ever killed anyone before?”

Chika, in the guise of a young man looked up. “A few, including the guard at the inn, of course. I killed three men on my way to the White Chrysanthemum. It isn’t wise for a seemingly defenseless woman to travel by herself in Roppon, armed or not.” She sighed. “Self defense, both times.”

“You said three men.”

“Two attacked me while I slept at the side of the road. They didn’t know I was a woman. They also didn’t know I was armed.” She stared into the flames and shivered in the cool morning air. “I know how to take care of myself, Shiro.”

He left her to her thoughts and fought off the temptation to return to see if the fishermen had ever been discovered. Shiro wouldn’t share his experience unless she specifically asked. He looked back across the road.

“How about you?”

Shiro winced. “I had to take the lives of two fisherman. I had just come up from the beach after I arrived. An hour’s walk to the ocean from here. They decided to rob me. No different from your experience. I used a little magic and the edge of my sword to take care of them. They had families, I’m sure. I regret it.” He looked back across the road again.

“Don’t.” Chika said.

He turned back to her.

“Don’t dwell on it. I learned to forget most of it. I regret it as you do, but your fishermen wouldn’t have done so if they took your life.”

Shiro rubbed his mouth and focused on nothing with his gaze. “I’ve tried, but…” He shook his head. “I don’t want to forget. I don’t want to put it into some perspective. I take responsibility for their deaths.”

“Sure you do,” Chika scoffed, not meaning what she said.

“You’re right. One doesn’t bury bodies and hide them in a grave and then claim responsibility.”

Chika’s gaze at Shiro made him uncomfortable as she continued. “No. But that was a smart move if you want to cover your tracks. You did the right thing.” She stirred the rice pot and threw in some dried fish and vegetables. “It’s just about done.” She stirred the rice again and tasted a few grains. “The killing still bothers me. I’ll admit it. I regret having taken lives, but I did it in self-defense. I’d do the same thing if they attacked again. I’d say we’re much the same.”

Her admission made Shiro laugh. “I’d say we have a few similarities, but in other things we are much different.” He changed his guise to Shiuki’s image and they both laughed. Shiro was glad to have figured out a way to change the subject.

He took out the map case. The innermost map showed the entire Southern Isle. “How valuable is a map set like this?”

“You don’t want to know. There might be fifty sets like that on our island. Shiuki spent years accumulating these.” She looked over Shiro’s shoulder and pointed. “That’s my prefecture.” It wasn’t particularly large, on the eastern edge of the island.

“And where are the Barren Lands?”

“On the western side of this mountain range that runs north to south in the middle of the island.”

Shiro squinted at the map and imagined his travels with Boreko. “I think my mentor and I were transported to here.” He touched the center of the desert. We walked mostly south. The little village that we stumbled into was just outside of your prefecture. Then we made our way to Sekkoro.”

“I’ve never heard of anyone coming out of the desert on their own. My path led me along the southern edge. That was dry enough.”

Shiro smiled and created a little storm. “We had an advantage. It was a close enough thing even so.”

“How did you do that?”

“You have your talents, I have mine.” Shiro didn’t know why he showed off in front of the woman, but he couldn’t resist. “Now what towns do we go through on our way to Sekkoro? Are there any White Rose settlements?”

Chika stared at the map. “I don’t think it’s wise to try to contact anyone. If Ashiyo compromised Shiuki, what’s there to say all of the others along the way to Sekkoro haven’t been compromised as well?”

“We should see if that has happened. Perhaps we can find out by asking some questions. We’ve got a week to find out.”

~

Shiro led them to an inn at the third village they passed.

“What do you have to feed two mercenaries heading for Sekkoro?” he said to the serving maid.

“Thick fish stew over rice. Rice wine.” The maid shrugged. It looked like there wouldn’t be a choice.

“Very well, then,” Shiro said. He looked at the maid as she shuffled back to the kitchen.

“She is afraid of us,” Chika said.

“We are armed to the teeth,” Shiro said.

“Always watch what you do with your teeth,” Chika said and making a clicking sound with her own. “It is certain that we won’t find any help from here to Sekkoro.”

Shiro shook his head. “I had hoped, but I trust your judgment.”

The meal wasn’t any better than what they put together on a campfire and were soon back on the road.

~

The two travelers practiced with staffs and swords whenever they could stop and find a protected glade. No one really cared if two mercenaries practiced. Shiro learned that some of her story had to be true since he found Chika to be an average swordsman, but above average with her staff. He needed the practice and it felt good to practice his sword forms in an open area rather than in the stable or in his room.

Chika had also kept up with her practice well enough, but she admitted, when she observed Shiro at practice, that his sword skills were vastly superior. It didn’t matter as Shiro began to teach her how to enhance her swordplay with sips of power. Soon she used magic to improve her ability, but while Shiro sparred with Chika, he used no magic.

“Don’t overdo the enhancement. You might draw the attention of a sorcerer if one is nearby. Just enough to enhance,” Shiro said. “It’s better to keep your power in reserve in case you might need to drop the sword and defend yourself against another with Affinity.”

Chika nodded. “Perhaps I can learn to shoot flames out of my sword.” She pointed her weapon at a bush and it burst into flame. “Oops.” She laughed and covered her mouth as Shiro pulled water out of the air to extinguish the blaze. “I learn a bit too quickly!”

“I’d like to learn how to do that. An element of surprise!” Shiro said.

They spent the rest of their practice until each could control the amount of flame that they threw. He didn’t tell her how little power his sword took. He suspected that the jewel amplified whatever he tried.

With all of Chika’s playfulness, she took her practice seriously. Shiro found himself liking her attitude. He wondered what she really looked like, but she had maintained her youthful male guise the entire time since they left for Sekkoro. It helped him restrain any romantic thoughts even though she still often found ways to twist his words in naughty ways.

~

Sekkoro sat below them surrounding a blue bay. Ships dotted the water and naked masts clustered around the various wharfs. Somewhere below them Shiuki sat in some dungeon. Would she be at the Guild or at the Lord’s castle that poked up from the red and blue tiled roofs below? Shiro well remembered the city’s stuccoed walls.

He pulled out the Sekkoro street diagram. “Here is the guild and the castle is about five hundred paces away. Have you been in this area before?”

“We can’t stay there. The inns are for nobles and merchants. Perhaps we can change our clothing to mimic house guards,” Chika said.

“Disguises?”

“Perhaps. That would be much cheaper,” she said.

“I’ll have to see them first.”

Chika grinned. “You’ll see enough of them before we need to change. We’ll have to find a modest inn.” She sighed. “I’d like a nice clean bed,” she said and then narrowed her eyes at Shiro.

“I’ll not disagree. We need to stay focused from here on out.”

Chika nodded. “We’ll stay focused then.” However her lip still curled in half of a smile.

~

Rooms were nearly full in all of inns they tried and the innkeepers were only selling double or triple occupancy. “Why so full?” Chika said.

“There is unrest in the countryside. The sorcerer’s guild is hiring mercenaries to help them root out renegade sorcerers, male and female. Some of their leaders have been captured and reside in Lord’s castle and at the Guild. Now, I can spare a double, but that’s it.”

“We’ll take the double,” she said.

Shiro stared at her.

“Is that okay with your partner?”

He had to end the conversation before Chika said anything that would make him laugh. He nodded and nearly choked on the cost. Chika just jerked her head to get him to pay. Reluctantly, Shiro paid the innkeeper for three days. “Including meals, I hope.”

“Meals, but any wine you consume is extra.” He swiped the coins off of the counter and eyed the swords at their waists. “No weapons in the common room.”

Having used up most of their food supplies, they separated out their travel gear in the stables and lugged the rest of their belongings up the stairs.

Shiro looked at the paper walls, listening to the muffled sounds of the occupant next door. “We will have to watch what we say. Remember you are a youth, not a woman.” Chika pouted and moved side to side in a very feminine manner. Uncomfortably feminine. Shiro glared. “I know what you’re trying to do,” he said.

“As long as you don’t attack me in the night, I will behave properly,” she said with her voice low.

“Now,” Shiro said with a louder voice. “I’m hungry and the inn will provide us meals. Let’s go downstairs.”

“We will have to find a way of hiding our weapons,” Chika said.

Shiro looked around the room and then he turned his head towards the ceiling. “I’ll lift you up and have you scout the attic.” He lifted Chika and realized that the disguise didn’t truly change her woman’s body. He felt himself blush. “Sorry.”

She just giggled, soundlessly and lifted the thin wooden panel and looked around. The roof didn’t provide much room on the outside edge. She lifted herself on her elbows. “Give the swords to me. I doubt if our staffs will be particularly attractive to thieves.”

Shiro passed them up. “I agree.” He exercised more care as he helped her down. “Now, I really am hungry.” He put his mouth close to her ear. “Lifting you up gave me quite an appetite.”

Chika looked shocked. “Appetite for what?”

She made him blush again. Shiro just smiled and shook his head in silence all the way down to the common room. He just couldn’t be infuriated the way she manipulated his every statement.

They sat down.

“Chicken skewers or fish soup,” the serving girl said.

Shiro raised his eyebrows at Chika, giving her the choice. “Chicken skewers for me and fish soup for him. Rice and some pickled vegetables,” she said.

“Cost you extra for the vegetables,” the girl said.

“Do it,” Chika said.

He waited for the girl to leave. “Pickled vegetables?”

“I miss them. I made the best…” she casually looked around, “up north.”

“Look around for likely guard models,” Shiro said. “While you are munching on your vegetables. I shudder to think what they will cost us down here.”

“Don’t worry, guards aren’t too expensive.” Chika said, furrowing her brows. “You are too dour.”

“I meant the pickled vegetables!” Shiro said before he realized she had just made fun of him. “We’ve been traveling for more than a week and suddenly I’m too straight-backed for your taste?” She made him angry, this time.

“Taste?” she said and grinned.

Shiro sighed. Must she make his every word a joke? How did a Lord’s daughter develop such a mind? He shook his head in disgust and turned to look at the inn. He’d never given the place much of an examination. It looked much like the inn in Koriaki where he sold his produce. It was a little bigger and a little dirtier in the common area, although he had to admit their room was clean and well ordered.