The Ninja's Oath, page 29
Living my father’s life was kicking my butt.
But it also filled me with unexpected joy.
Our entire staff had pulled together and bonded closer than before in a united effort to make the restaurant succeed while I scrambled to learn and fill very big shoes. Overwhelmed by the tedious accounting and endless orders I needed to place, I finally allowed DeAndre into our inner sanctum upstairs. He took over the laundry, helped with checklists, placed smaller orders, and updated our social media and blog—an online presence I had created and had helped my father maintain. It benefited from DeAndre’s enthusiasm and fresh young voice.
He skipped down the stairs, dreads bobbing and a huge smile on his face as he carried a fresh load of newly laundered and folded linens. Baba’s high school intern would become a restaurateur, for sure.
“How’s the lunch crowd, boss lady?”
“Busy. The studio orders are boxed for delivery. Did you order more duck?”
“Check.”
“And the chicken feet on Uncle’s list?”
“Double check.”
“You’re a wonder, DeAndre.”
“Don’t I know it.”
He flashed a toothy smile, dashed down the back corridor to drop off the linen, and picked up the boxes on his way to the rear door. His brotherly banter had become a tad more professional now that I was in charge, but his wary respect for Uncle had markedly increased.
“Eh, lazy boy,” Uncle yelled. “Hurry up with that delivery before you ruin my food.”
“On it, Lee.”
Uncle muttered angrily in Shanghainese and clanked his wok with his metal spatula to hurry DeAndre out the door. Then he looked at Bayani and Ling and laughed like hell.
I wagged my finger. “You’re incorrigible.”
“What?”
“You know what.”
He ladled water onto the wok and cackled through the steam.
Uncle ran DeAndre like a Scorpion recruit, piling task upon task to prove his commitment and worth. I kept an eye on them both to make sure everything remained legal and safe. Truth be told, Lee Chang and I made a formidable team.
He swiped a cooking chopstick off the counter and sailed it across the kitchen at me. I plucked it from the air before it skewered me in the eye.
He cackled.
I grinned.
Some things never changed.
I turned in surprise as my parents entered through the rear door. This was Baba’s first visit since he had closed the restaurant three months ago. Ma hadn’t set foot in this kitchen in years.
Ling dropped a pork bun out of the steamer and apologized in Mandarin as it rolled onto the floor. Baba tried to stop it with his cane, lost his balance, and grabbed the storage shelf for support. Although he tried to laugh off the dizziness, Ma locked her arm in his as if he was gallantly escorting her.
Uncle glared at Ling. “There’s more dim sum in the steamer if this one hasn’t dropped them all on the floor. Someone get them a stool so they can sit down and eat.”
Brett, a Desert Storm veteran, wiped the suds on his apron and set two stools at the end of the prep counter before Uncle had finished his request. As a former US Army staff sergeant, he always knew where everyone was. Baba had tried to promote him over the years, but he enjoyed the Zen-like quality of washing things clean. After the bloodshed I had inflicted and suffered in Osaka, I finally understood what he meant.
Baba patted Ma’s beautifully manicured hand. “No need to fuss over us. We only came by to say hello. Isn’t that right, Vi?”
Ma arched her brow. “If you meant did we come to check on your baby and make sure Lily and Lee haven’t run her into the ground…then, yes, that’s exactly why we came by.”
“Balderdash. I said no such thing.”
I snatched up the sweet and sour pork Uncle had just plated and wafted the fragrant steam toward my father’s nose. “Whatever you say. I guess you won’t want any of this.”
“Hold on now. My name’s on the storefront. I insist on quality control.”
“Your name?” Ma asked. “Last I checked, this was Wong’s Hong Kong Inn.”
He grabbed a sticky chunk of deep-fried pork. “Since when do you care about cooking?”
“Since you went and got yourself sick. And I’ll have you know I scramble a mean kimchee and eggs.” She winked at me. “But I was referring to your daughter’s name, not mine.”
He ate the morsel and smacked his lips in approval. “Well, that’s a horse of another color. If everything runs as smoothly as this kitchen, I’d say the restaurant is well named.”
I blushed with pride at their praise, but I certainly hadn’t done it alone. Everyone had stepped up to fill in for Baba’s absence—Bayani, Ling, Brett, DeAndre, all of the servers—especially his number one cook. Uncle and I had collaborated on more than a well-run kitchen and sweet and sour pork.
“No one can replace you, Baba. We’re thriving because you brought together an amazing team who have learned to work seamlessly and happily from you. I’m just following your lead and trying not to muck it all up.”
Our staff returned to their tasks with bigger smiles than before.
Ma opened the top level of the steamer and chose har gao, turnip cakes, and tofu skin wraps for their plate. Then she removed that basket and released a new level of steam. She picked a new dim sum with her tongs and held it for my father to see. “Look, Vern. Your Dumpling has left dumplings for you.”
He laughed with delight.
Then he looked sternly at me. “Don’t discount your accomplishments. Your mother and I have seen how hard you work managing this restaurant and caring for me. Do you think I haven’t noticed the light under your bedroom door in the wee hours when you spend the night? The YouTube videos and Ted Talks you listen to about the restaurant business? The accounting books you bring home and try to hide? You have applied yourself to business with the same discipline and dedication you applied with the martial arts. I am proud of the maturity and empathy you have shown.”
His words struck home.
Discipline, dedication, and empathy.
Sensei’s lessons had reached beyond the mat.
Uncle flipped a bite of sautéed tofu in the air and caught it in his mouth. Then he grinned and flipped one across the wok station to me. It flew with perfect aim—straight at my eye.
I rose to the toes on one foot and snatched it with my mouth.
Every moment presented an opportunity to train.
The course of my life had veered dramatically for a second time—first, with my sister’s murder; now, with my father’s hopefully temporary inability to work. During both transitions, the faster I had accepted the new conditions and motivated myself into action, the better I had felt. Bemoaning what I had lost would have kept me locked in the past.
Although most people believe ninja fight in the shadows alone, my parents, my teacher, and my friends would disagree. I was never alone with role models like them. They fueled my spirit and picked me up when I fell. I did the same for them whenever I could. Their love and support gave me a new outlook on who I was and what I could be.
My father called me Dumpling.
My mother called me Lily.
J Tran called me K.
Whatever the name, I was ninja to the core, adapting to new realities and forging bravely ahead.
Acknowledgments
In order to properly thank the people who have helped me write this book, I feel a need to share some background on what Lily Wong and this series mean to me. From the moment she popped into my head, Lily has inspired me with her courage, her boundless athleticism (which far exceeds my own!), and her commitment to empower and protect women and children in need. Her self-questioning nature combined with the audacity of youth grounds me to the earth and lifts me to the stars. Sharing her Chinese and Norwegian heritage honors my parents and helps me keep their memory alive. I’m so grateful my mother knew of this project and that my father was able to read the first draft of The Ninja Daughter before they passed away.
Not only does Lily Wong connect me to my past and present through our shared ancestry, our current city, and our martial arts training, she connects me to the future through my darling granddaughter, Moana, who was born in Shanghai. When I created Lily Wong, I had no idea that my protagonist and my future granddaughter would share the same maternal Hong Kong roots. I often wonder… Did I welcome Moana into being in some unfathomable way? Or was she already waiting for me in my heart? Either way, The Ninja’s Oath is dedicated to her.
I must also thank Moana’s parents—our eldest son, Stopher, and our daughter-in-law, Joeye—for introducing me, Tony, and our youngest son, Austin, to the wonders of Shanghai and Hong Kong. That trip of a lifetime came shortly after I signed the two-book deal for The Ninja Daughter and The Ninja’s Blade. Experiencing Hong Kong with Joeye and her family gave me a local perspective that enriched The Ninja Betrayed. And as soon as I saw Shanghai in person, I knew I had to send Lily there next. Experiencing that magical city in person and hearing insider perspectives from our son over six years added authenticity to the story that I hope readers could feel. Shanghai is amazing. I loved diving into its history for The Ninja’s Oath.
Additional thanks go to Stopher for also bringing me to Japan, a country that has played an important part in my life since my parents met and married in Tokyo, where my two elder sisters were born. I often wonder if my family’s history attracted me to the Japanese ninja martial arts.
From the inception of the Lily Wong series, I have strived to bust through the ninja myths and give my readers a peek into modern-day ninja training and practice. To accomplish this, I have relied heavily on my own journey as a 5th degree black belt in To-Shin Do ninja martial arts and my training experiences with skilled ninjutsu practitioners from a variety of schools. I wanted to share the comprehensive and pragmatic scope of our training as well as the little-known empowering and esoteric aspects that have meant so much to me.
For this particular book, I need to thank my primary teacher, Stephen K. Hayes—Black Belt Hall of Fame, co-founder of To-Shin Do, and ordained Tendai Buddhist priest—for allowing me to share his beautiful translations of the mantras and prayers Lily Wong recites. The esoteric and spiritual training I received from Anshu Hayes over the decades continues to enrich my life and daily meditation practice. The wisdom and lessons I share through Lily Wong reflect what is most important to me.
I also need to thank my ninja training buddy, Bryan Toutoshi Griffin, owner of Quest Martial Arts Raleigh, 6th-degree black belt in To-Shin Do, and United States Marine, during which he served two combat tours as a scout sniper in Iraq and Afghanistan. After my preliminary research for The Ninja’s Oath, I consulted with him for hours before writing the sniper scene with J Tran. My deepest thanks to Bryan for his service, generosity, and friendship over the years. Any errors regarding that scene fall entirely on me.
I’ve been blessed with many skillful, dedicated, and empowering ninja friends. I truly could not have written any of these ninja adventures if I had not spent so many years training with them. Mahalo to the To-Shin Do co-founders, Rumiko Urata Hayes and Stephen K. Hayes, and all of the teachers, training partners, and students who have influenced my journey in the ninja martial arts. My deepest appreciation to everyone who continue to show up and support me long after I stepped off the mat.
When it comes to publishing, it takes a whole team. Huge thanks to Jason Pinter, my publisher and editor from Agora Books (Polis Books) for believing in Lily Wong and releasing her latest adventure in a phenomenal hardback release. Thanks as well to Kristie at 2Faced Design for the stunning book cover and the fabulous sales and marketing reps from PGW/Ingram: Christy Quinto, Joy Hucklesby, Sarah Rosenberg, and Adrienne Maynard. I’m so grateful to my literary agents, Nicole Resciniti, Lesley Sabga, and everyone at The Seymour Agency for their caring and enthusiastic support for my career. I’m grateful as well for my incredible writing community from Crime Writers of Color, International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime, Capitol Crime, SinCLA, Mystery Writers of America, Horror Writers Association, HWALA, and all the wonderful local chapters and conference organizers who have invited me to present, teach, and share. And continued thanks to all the independent booksellers around the country that host my events and hand-sell my books. You have lifted my wings and helped me to soar.
And of course, my deepest mahalo to my patron saint of a husband, Tony Eldridge, and our youngest son, Austin, for their day-to-day encouragement, love and support. I would have imploded long ago if these men weren’t in my life. And special thanks to my friends who keep me anchored and sane enough to write. Looking at you, Tracy Clark, Terry Shepherd, Dana Fredsti, Naomi Hirahara, Kim Stahl, Lisa Gardner, Don Bentley, Lee Murray, Jonathan Maberry, Jeff Ayers, J. Dianne Dotson, James L’Etoile, Sujata Massey, Cheryl Head, Alex Segura, and SO many more. Seriously, we could be here all day.
Writing is a rewarding yet arduous journey, made bearable on challenging days by the encouragement, support, and guidance from family, friends, colleagues, community—and readers like you. I can’t begin to tell you how much it means to me that you read The Ninja’s Oath and have found value and enjoyment from my work.
You can find book club extras, discussion topics, recipes, ninja videos, and more on my website: ToriEldridge.com. And please, join my reading ‘ōhana while you’re there! You can also find me on Instagram (writer.tori), Twitter (ToriEldridge), Facebook and TikTok (ToriEldridgeAuthor).
Thank you all. Every kind word and review that you post brightens my day with a virtual hug.
Aloha nui loa,
Tori
About the Author
Tori Eldridge is the national bestselling author and Anthony, Lefty, and Macavity Awards finalist of the Lily Wong mystery thriller series—THE NINJA DAUGHTER, THE NINJA'S BLADE, and THE NINJA BETRAYED. Her shorter works appear in the inaugural reboot of WEIRD TALES magazine and horror, dystopian, and other literary anthologies. Her horror screenplay THE GIFT—which inspired DANCE AMONG THE FLAMES—earned a semifinalist spot for the Academy Nicholl Fellowship. Before writing, Tori performed as an actress, singer, dancer on Broadway, television, and film, and earned a 5th degree black belt in To-Shin Do ninja martial arts. She is of Hawaiian, Chinese, Norwegian descent and was born and raised in Honolulu where she graduated from Punahou School with classmate Barack Obama. Tori's deep interest in world culture has prompted her to visit nine countries including Brazil, China, and Japan.
Tori Eldridge, The Ninja's Oath
