The Forbidden Library (49 page)

“Lady Hannya, you are hereby free to live as you once did. I, Chonda Turesobei, possessor of the Storm Dragon’s power, claim no authority or control over you.”

Hannya shuddered with delight and took in a deep breath. She twirled on her tiptoes with her arms outstretched. “You have no idea how good this feels after so many millennia being trapped in that sword.” She kissed Turesobei on the forehead. “Bless you, Chonda Turesobei, you brave fool. Now, follow me. You can leave your packs here. There is something I must show you now. All of you.”

With Motekeru carrying Kurine cradled in one arm and dragging Awasa along with the other, they followed Hannya through the trapdoor and down a staircase that led to the empty courtyard with its barren soil and dry ponds and fountains. Hannya shoved open a door on one edge of the encircling temple complex and they entered a long, lavishly-built hallway of cedar and stone that ended with a set of elaborate rune-carved doors. Hannya breathed in deeply and pushed them open. 

At the end of this rectangular chamber a steep staircase led up to a high dais and a throne carved out of pure jade. Turesobei’s breath caught, his heart raced. He wanted to run but couldn’t bring himself to move. 

On the throne slumped a Kaiaru with sea-dark hair and skin the pale color of fog. He wore a simple gray robe like that of a monk. It hid all of his kavaru, save the one on his forehead and the ones on each hand. His eyes were closed, but his chest heaved up and down with breath.

Hannya knelt at the foot of the steps. “Blood King of the Nine Realms, I beseech you, awake and rise again!” 

“No!” Turesobei shouted.

Eyes alight with blue-white flame opened. As their color turned to flickering vermillion and then deep green with specks of gold, a deep sinister laugh rumbled free from parched lips.

Afterword

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