Takeo's Chronicles, page 31
“Would you prefer we begin in the morning,” he asked, “to give your ego time to heal?”
Hyun flinched, and it took some effort for Takeo not to grin. The coldness surrounding them took on a hostile flair, and he saw more than one openly balk. Surely someone wanted to yell, but Hyun held the reins of this group too tightly for that. They would keep their mouths shut, only speaking when spoken to. The samurai of the Nguyen family were revered for their zealotry and obedience.
A moment later, Hyun sighed and hung his head. “Well spoken,” he said. “I am being prideful, aren’t I? My lady requires two rakshasas, and I have yet to capture—let alone even find—one. Meanwhile, new severed heads sprout like macabre flowers upon spears outside every major city in Savara. The rakshasa race is being slaughtered, dying off as if hunted for sport. Every day that passes brings me that much further from my goal. You’re right, far too right. Damn my pride. I should have sent for aid months ago.”
Hyun’s head did not rise, and Takeo realized the samurai had been speaking mostly to himself. For a second, the once cocky and confident man was reduced to a pile of shame, and Takeo’s gaze drifted away out of respect. That gaze fell on Qjang, who stared stoically into the night. She didn’t seem to be in disagreement with Hyun’s words.
“Well then,” Hyun finally spoke up, lifting his head and casting aside his shame. “Let the bruising begin. There’s no need to wait until morning. The night is young. Tell me, Takeo, how I might complete my lady’s vision.”
“Thank you for understanding,” Takeo replied, bowing low. “I come only to help. Firstly, I’ll need to know what you’ve done since arriving, what you have and haven’t tried, and how this land fairs. Can you give me an overview of your time here?”
“For my lady, I can,” Hyun said, nodding and then shifting on his blanket, as if settling in. “As I said, we’ve had no success. The genocide of the rakshasa race began years before I arrived, unfortunately, which means that a good number had already been killed and all the survivors had gone into hiding. It didn’t disturb me at first because I knew I only had to find two, but I quickly discovered my forces were unwelcome in this land.
“You see, when Jabbar came to Savara those years ago, he arrived with a similar number of samurai as I did, and then he used them to conquer this land at a frightening pace. With that memory still fresh in every warlord’s mind, my force is seen as a real threat, even if we are vastly outnumbered. I’m camped at an oasis right now, you see, because it is safer for me and my troops than any town in this land. And by my lady, this land is huge! There is so much of it, easily twice that of all Juatwa. I could spend months just traveling in a straight line and never see a single structure. That leaves a lot of ground to cover, countless places for rakshasas to hide, and too many places for things to go wrong.
“Up until recently, I also lacked a proper guide. I tried to hire one or another here and there, but they were either incompetent or tried to betray me. One even tried to rob me, the fool. Now, at least, I have found a man formerly from Juatwa who has spent some time in Savara. He knows plenty, but not about rakshasa hunting, which makes his usefulness limited.”
“Is he the one who got you the golem?” Takeo asked.
“Yes.” Hyun nodded. “That was his bargaining chip to join me, actually. A relic of the old Savara, this monstrosity will aid me in capturing two rakshasas easily. And before you say anything, I’m not a fool. I’m well aware the jinn created them, and I know the consequences of what I’ve done. This golem is bound to me, and should it ever die, I will die with it. That is a risk I’m willing to take, as I can only suffer defeat for so long. I will do as my lady commands, and I will sacrifice more than my life to see her desires met. I am a true samurai.”
His eyes lingered on Takeo, as if daring him to raise a voice of dissent. Having none, Takeo continued.
“Well, that’s good to hear,” Takeo said. “It’s clear that although you haven’t captured a rakshasa yet, the problem does not lie with your desire or effort. That’s why I’m here, to help give you the means. First, though, I feel it would be rude not to introduce my companions.”
“There’s no need.” Hyun shook his head. “All bandits look the same to me.”
Gavin and Nicholas bristled, and they looked about to shout their anger until Takeo gave a warning glance.
“If you insist.” Takeo shrugged. “Can you at least introduce me to your informant? If he’s a Juatwa native who can procure a golem, then he sounds like a man worth knowing.”
“Certainly—oh.” Hyun straightened and blinked, as if a sudden realization came over him, and then a wicked smile crept across his lips.
In the dark, the ceaseless wind grew chilly, and the dying embers cooled until only a hint of red remained. Gavin and Krunk shivered, but Nicholas didn’t move. He’d spent a year in a frozen prison cell beneath a layer of ice, so the desert night wind was like a tropical breeze to him. Or at least that’s what Takeo figured.
“You don’t know this man already?” Hyun asked, his tone a step away from taunting. “The name Aiguo Mein means nothing to you? He was a part of Katsu’s army once.”
“Katsu’s army was tens of thousands strong,” Takeo replied. “I didn’t know a tenth of his army, nor did I even see half of it. I never met Aiguo, or saw him that I can remember, yet when he saw me as I entered your camp, he acted like he knew me personally. He was, or at least seemed, afraid of me.”
Hyun glanced around at this samurai, sharing grins with them. Takeo’s eyes narrowed.
“This will be interesting,” the man finally said. “Aiguo! Stop hiding and come out. We might as well do this now.”
The eyes of the crowd shifted and turned to the far right, and Takeo followed their attention to where the samurai parted. A reluctant man appeared, shrinking from the sudden attention, his clean-shaven face stained with apprehension. At first glance, Takeo swore he’d never seen the person before in his life, but then he blinked and recognized Aiguo.
That’s strange. I just saw him a short while ago.
“Have a seat,” Hyun commanded.
Aiguo darted a nervous glance at Takeo, then did as commanded. He sat down just out of arm’s reach from Krunk, which was as far away from Takeo as he could be without making it appear intentional. Aiguo bowed to Hyun.
“Sir, you asked for me?” he said.
“Yes.” Hyun nodded ever so slightly in return. “I’m sure you heard your name mentioned. My guest here seems to think you know him. Have you met Takeo Karaoshi before? Or his three merry men?”
“Krunk not married,” the ogre grumbled.
Nicholas and Gavin muffled a laugh. Takeo had to clench his jaw. Hyun gave Krunk a disapproving stare until he realized the ogre hadn’t intended to mock.
“Do you know him, Aiguo?” Hyun repeated.
“What samurai doesn’t, sir?” Aiguo asked in return, bowing once more. “Takeo and his brother carved fearsome reputations for themselves in Ichiro Katsu’s armies. What sort of guide would I be if I hadn’t at least heard of them?”
Aiguo had calmed down considerably from the last time they’d met, but his voice still wavered, or at least it seemed to quiver to Takeo’s ears. Perhaps this Aiguo was perpetually nervous?
What game is being played here? Takeo thought. Why should I care whom this man is, or he me? Katsu’s army was too massive for that to matter. There is some obvious connection I’m missing.
“Are you certain?” Hyun continued. “I heard you recognized him on sight.”
“Once again, I’m merely an informative guide,” Aiguo squeaked. “I don’t know any of his merry men, for example.”
“Krunk still needs to pee,” Krunk grumbled. “And why does everyone think Krunk is married?”
Aiguo Mein, Takeo rolled the name over in his mind. I only know three things about him. He served in Katsu’s army, he’s afraid of me, and now he’s in Savara. He’s been in Savara for several years actually. . .
“This purple beast is trying my patience,” Hyun said in a low voice.
“Hey, don’t blame us,” Gavin said and shrugged. “He doesn’t understand sarcasm. You’re the one preventing him from answering nature’s call. Maybe you should be less condescending. That would help.”
“I don’t recall asking you to speak.”
“And I don’t recall giving a damn what you think.”
Nicholas muttered an agreement. Hyun drew in a breath of rage, while Aiguo cleared his throat. The samurai crowd began to grumble at Gavin’s insolence.
Meanwhile, Takeo realized just whom Aiguo Mein was, and the sound of his sword clicking free from its sheath made the entire camp go silent.
Chapter 5
Eerie silence followed the click. Every head except the golem’s turned to see Takeo with one hand on his sheath and one hand gripped firmly to his katana. The blade was only a hair’s breadth exposed, but it was enough to raise the pulse of all who could see it.
What made the camp cold, though, was Takeo’s gaze.
He stared intently, with eyes darker than the night, at Aiguo. Takeo’s entire body was as rigid and motionless as a sennin. His heart boiled in a sea of fury so intense that all around him were held prisoner by his rage. The hand on his katana twisted with the strength of his grip. Even the wind, as if sensing the moment, died down to a low breeze.
“You served Jabbar,” Takeo said.
Aiguo didn’t reply. He was too busy shaking and looking elsewhere, from the ground to Hyun, as if searching for help. His every shift made the sands beneath him grind, and in the silence of Takeo’s gaze, that drew the attention of all who could see and hear. The wind kicked back up to blow a chill through them all, yet none of the tension eased.
Some of Hyun’s men, noticing Takeo’s hand still on his sword, began to stand ready. They reached slowly for their own weapons, while, nearby, Nicholas swallowed and touched his shoulder, the same shoulder from where his hammer could be drawn. Gavin was leaning forward, which Takeo knew would make the knight’s shield easy to free. Krunk’s massive hands closed into fists.
Hyun held up a hand, and all but Takeo paused.
“Answer him, Aiguo,” Hyun replied. “There is no way around this.”
“It wasn’t a question,” Takeo said. “You served Jabbar.”
Takeo made a conscious effort to remain seated. He worried that if he stood, he wouldn’t be able to resist removing Aiguo’s head. They weren’t so far apart that Takeo couldn’t charge forward and slay the man. He was fast enough that no one would be able to interfere before the deed was done. Takeo hadn’t needed to click his katana free either, but he wanted to see the look of fear in his victim’s eyes.
“Yes,” Aiguo said needlessly, voice surprisingly steady for one so shaken. “I . . . I served the rakshasa.”
“You were close, weren’t you?” Takeo continued. “Being originally under Katsu, you would have had to be close. You helped Jabbar invade Savara, stayed with him when he revealed he was a rakshasa, and then aided him in assaulting Lucifan.”
“I did. It’s true.”
Aiguo was nearly whimpering now. He was shaking so badly he threatened to fall over. He darted glances at Hyun, but the samurai seemed to be enjoying Aiguo’s torment. Nearby, Nicholas’ hand was still rubbing his shoulder, just a finger’s length from his hammer. Takeo heard a footstep behind him, but Hyun’s hand came up again.
“That’s enough,” he commanded. “From everyone. Takeo, I apologize but Aiguo is still somewhat useful to me. If you cut him down, that would delay the fulfillment of my lady’s wishes, and I would not be forgiving of such a thing.”
Takeo heard, but did not listen. He may have been courteous to Hyun when their conversation began, but that was only out of traditional respect for a fellow warrior. In truth, Takeo couldn’t give a damn what Hyun wanted, nor did he feel threatened by this tall, gaunt samurai who placed more value in loyalty than in virtue. So it was lucky for Aiguo that Takeo had already made the decision not to kill him.
Not yet anyway.
Takeo pushed his sword back into its sheath, clicking it closed as a chorus of sighs echoed from the camp. The loudest came from Aiguo, who wiped sweat from his forehead despite the chilly winds, smearing some grains of sand. Gavin buried his face into open palms.
“So long as he’s useful to you,” Takeo repeated.
On a logical level, Takeo knew Aiguo wasn’t directly to blame for Emily’s death. That had been Jabbar’s doing, through and through, and yet Jabbar would never have been able to do what he had done alone. The rakshasa had needed allies, an army at his side and trustworthy advisors who could rally human men to follow a beast. Aiguo would have been one of those men; he had to be. His fear alone revealed more than words ever could. His fear revealed that Aiguo had made terrible choices whilst knowing the consequences. Aiguo knew he was a monster, or at least had willingly worked alongside one to further the evils of this world.
Not that Takeo was innocent, of course, but that’s how he knew Aiguo was guilty. The best monster slayers were monsters themselves.
One day, he’ll pay for his crimes, as will I.
“I’m glad that’s settled,” Hyun said. “As you wisely pointed out, Takeo, we have a task to complete. I’ve put aside my personal grievances with your past, so I expect you to do the same for Aiguo. Let none of us play the hypocrite. Now, unless anyone else has anything to say, I think it’s best we all get some sleep. I’ve had enough of the ogre’s complaints, not to mention that Savara nights seem to be shorter than those in the rest of the world. Takeo, you and your non-merry men can sleep anywhere you like. Except that one, though. Is he a viking?”
“Damn right.” Nicholas grinned and flexed.
“Yes, you will stay put,” Hyun said, unperturbed. “My golem will be watching you.”
Nicholas’ smile disappeared.
“Thank you.” Takeo bowed and then rose.
A flash of brilliant blue from the golem’s forehead lit up the night, blinding them all with the crudely carved name of Hyun Jee. Less than a heartbeat later, the hulking mass of clay burst to life with frightening speed, lunging forward with an outstretched palm for Takeo. He barely dodged in time, leaping back as the statue slammed its fist into the sand so hard the ground quaked. Gavin, Nicholas, and Krunk stumbled from their seated positions, the trembling ground making them falter. Hyun’s samurai shouted and readied, drawing swords but otherwise freezing in place from a mix of confusion and shock.
Hyun, also fallen to his side beneath the golem, shouted frantically, “Stop! Stop!”
Yet the thing ignored the calls. It leapt over its master in a single standing bound, landing just before Takeo with enough weight to make an audible thud that echoed across the empty land. Takeo’s feet slipped out from under him as the sands gave way, and he fell as the golem lashed out at him with two enclosed fists.
He rolled, ducking inside the statue’s reach rather than away, finding shelter in the space before the golem’s feet. The double fists hit the ground, striking with enough force to make Takeo’s heart skip. Before he could be trapped, he dove beneath the left arm, tumbled across the sands, and rose again, this time drawing his sword on instinct. The golem didn’t even pause, raising its hands again to crush Takeo at all costs.
“Stop, damn it!” Hyun was yelling. “Golem, stop!”
The man’s name flashed blue on the statue’s forehead, brown clay suddenly illuminated before being swallowed in blackness once again. The golem froze, hands still held aloft over the top of Takeo’s head.
“Sorry! I’m so sorry,” Hyun said, his speech still rapid with panic. “I forgot, honestly. I apologize.”
“Forgot what?” Takeo stammered, still gripping his naked katana. “Why did it try to kill me?”
“I only just remembered. I told it to kill any of you who attempted to stand,” Hyun replied, voice equally fraught. “I forgot to expressly tell it to stop doing that. I only waved my hand, not giving a verbal order. I realize now my mistake. I’m truly sorry.”
Takeo’s heart was racing in his chest. His body flooded with adrenaline, and his arms were poised to swing. His focus remained locked with the golem’s, the huge pillar of clay that had nearly murdered him—would have murdered him—had it not been for the choice words of a single man. Those hollow slots for eyes seemed haunting in the darkness. Takeo saw no facial expressions on this killer, no sign of remorse or even understanding of what it had nearly done. Frightfully, Takeo realized this thing never would have tired. It never would have been tricked. It never would have stopped, not until Hyun’s order had been fulfilled. There was nothing Takeo could have done either, not with all his speed and skill. There wasn’t any way he could have come out of this alive without Hyun’s intervention.
Such power, Takeo thought. Such power in the hands of one man. No wonder Hyun accepted this jinni’s curse.
Power.
And there it was. A second wave of realization washed over Takeo, and with it, his arms lowered, his muscles relaxed, and his heart began to steady. Takeo sheathed his katana slowly, making a conscious effort to hide both his contempt at Hyun’s carelessness but also his thankfulness over what had just happened.
He now knew what he had to do.
“Apology accepted,” Takeo said. “Let’s forget this ever happened. Nicholas, stay put. I don’t want you making my mistake. Krunk, you can go now.”
Krunk grumbled and shuffled in the sands.
“No need,” he muttered.
“Ah, damn it all,” Gavin sighed.
The knight stood and brushed himself off. Nicholas remained frozen on the ground, staring apprehensively at the golem’s back. Hyun mumbled another apology as his samurai regained their composure, but Takeo was not listening.
Power, I need power, his mind echoed under the shadow of that monument. I need the jinn.
* * *
