Song of Thieves Duology Box Set Read online

  "You're always welcome to eat with us," honorable mother said."

  "Yes," Shaya said. "As I said what's mine, is yours, but now let us discuss the business at hand."

  Honorable mother knew she was dismissed and made herself busy with cleaning while they conversed.

  "As First Sworn, you'll be expected to fight for me. Kill for me. And if need be, die for me."

  "I'm honored to serve, Kaito-Tanken Shaya."

  "Shaya."

  "What?"

  "Just Shaya. When we are alone like this, I don't want you to be so formal. We must learn to trust one another implicitly."

  Akio didn't know what implicitly meant, but he understood the duty of trust well enough. "As you wish . . . Shaya."

  "See Akio, it's not awkward after all. I'm sure we'll soon be close friends. Towards that end, I've enrolled us in Weapons Master Takumi's school. We start first thing in the morning. Come the next time of daggers, you and I will be all that stands between the other thief lords, and the utter destruction of my clan."

  "I'll die before I let them hurt you."

  Shaya's eyes narrowed and she stared at Akio for a long time, she blinked first and said, "I respect your courage, but you and I both need training if we're to stand any chance against the many threats of the Bloody Square."

  CHAPTER TWO

  "ARE YOU A MAN? Or a dog to lay on your back in the dirt?" Takumi jabbed Akio's side with his training sword.

  It was well past noon, and they'd been training since before the source-light rose. Akio's whole body ached, and all he wanted was to lay on the ground for ten minutes to recover, but with Shaya watching his training there was no way he could indulge his desire for rest.

  "A dog is it?"

  "No!" Akio didn't mean for it to come out as a yell.

  "Good. Then get up and show me what you've learned."

  Akio used his training sword as a crutch and pushed himself onto his feet. The old man hit him three times in quick session; ankle, hip, wrist. Akio's face hit the straw mats. The last blow had sent his sword flying right, and himself forward. He could taste a hint of blood—the inside of his lip was cut.

  So much for impressing Shaya.

  The floor felt as soft as his bed at home. If he kept his eyes closed, he could fall asleep in no time.

  "Up! Get up."

  Akio groaned but managed to find the strength to push himself to his feet, and as he hobbled over to his sword, saw Shaya returned to her own training. He may be her first sworn, but no Thief Lord can rely on others to protect them. They each must learn to fight to the death for the time of daggers, and Shaya's youth would only make her more of an enticing target.

  "Defend yourself."

  This time Akio managed to block the old man's attacks as he only moved at half speed, making it easier for Akio to follow. If Takumi wanted, he could easily kill Akio even with a practice sword. Akio was smart enough to know it, and thus listened to everything the old man told him as if his life depended on it—there was a real possibility that one day it would. Shaya was counting on him to defend her at all costs.

  Three more repetitions passed, and Akio found himself short of breath; the warmth of the source-light baked down upon his back as he danced in circles with the master.

  "Good," Takumi pointed his sword to Akio's right foot. "But you're still leading with your feet in all the wrong ways. You show your intent to attack before you strike. Any observant opponent will notice this tell, and punish you for it. Observe."

  The master struck the air, again, and again. "Do you see? Be the octopus, not the shark. Everyone will fear a shark, but an octopus can lull its opponents into false security and then strike." He punctuated the last with a sword strike he stopped inches from Akio's face.

  Akio bowed low, "Yes master."

  "Good. We're done for the day. Tomorrow you'll bring two sacks filled with stones."

  "Yes master," Akio bowed, but Takumi was already walking away to speak with Shaya.

  Fortune smiled upon Akio to have Shaya as a Lord, there was no other Thief Lord who'd spend such a fortune on training a lowly son of a fisherman to become a fighter. Using the practice sword as a stick, he gripped either end and pulled left then right—doing his best to stretch out the tension he could feel coalescing between his shoulders. He'd never realized just how heavy swords were, the wooden practice sword was filled with a weighted core to create the right balance, and build the proper muscles. A practice sword needed to be as close to the real thing as possible, it wouldn't be of much use if he grew accustomed to a lightweight version of the weapon he'd actually use in a life and death situation.

  Of course, Shaya's form was perfect, as Akio watched with jealousy. Master Takumi didn't chastise her for dropping her guard, or whack her on the wrist every time he passed it. No, Takumi danced with Shaya, and she proved herself to be worthy of the title Kaito-Tanken. This only made Akio more determined to become the greatest fighter he could. His honor wouldn't permit him to allow his Lord to be a better fighter than himself. Else why wear the title of First Sworn?

  In a quick thrust, parry, thrust, Shaya managed to slip under Takumi's guard and touch the tip of her sword to his stomach. Not a quick death, but a killing blow nonetheless.

  Takumi bowed to her, "Congratulations. That was hidden eel, and excellently done. It would appear your weapon has chosen you." He turned away from her and addressed his two assistants and Akio. "We're done for the day. You can all leave now."

  It wasn't a suggestion, it was a command, and they quickly gathered their things and left the training room passing through the sandy courtyard of Takumi's estate. A lavish home on the far east side of the city, cut off on the south and west side by streets. To the north lay the Emperor's wall, denoting his private lands. To the east stood a sheer cliff face which also acted as a barrier between the city limits and the Emperor's estate.

  Akio sat alone on the front porch waiting—the assistants having long since left—when Takumi and Shaya emerged from the courtyard. She walked with a slight spring in her step, clearly happy from their conversation.

  "Akio. Tomorrow you'll bring stones and we'll train up your strength. You're still young, but it's never too early to build."

  "Yes master."

  At the edge of his porch Takumi bowed to Shaya, "It has been an honor, Kaito-Tanken Shaya. Will you return tomorrow?"

  "Yes, master Takumi."

  Takumi bowed his head again, before returning to his private courtyard, leaving Akio and Shaya alone on his front porch.

  "What was that about, Kaito-Tanken Shaya?" Akio asked.

  "Respect," Shaya began to walk away from the porch and Akio followed close by. "I'm a Thief Lord, and Takumi is merely a teacher. The greatest sword master, yes, but I outrank him."

  "Then why call him master?"

  "Because honorable politeness should always be repaid. As First Sworn, I'll expect you to always adhere to proper etiquette with outsiders."

  "Yes, Kaito-Tanken—"

  "Shaya will do. And don't worry, I'll instruct you in how to act based on the social situation. The other Thief Lords are real sticklers for their etiquette, it offers them a disguise for their true intentions. But, when we're alone like this I see no need for such formality."

  "Yes . . . Shaya." The name left an awkward taste in his mouth, like fish fresh out of a salted barrel. He felt as First Sworn it was his duty to always pay her the proper respect of using her title, but if she insisted on using her first name, he'd do as he was told.

  "Tell me of your mother," Shaya said.

  Akio did as he was told—doing his best to leave out any of the embarrassing parts which she might judge him for—as they walked to Shaya's home for lunch.

  CHAPTER THREE

  THE SACKS OF STONES WEIGHED HIM DOWN, preventing Akio from finding his proper footing. Shaya struck high, low, high, center thrust. The air left his lungs and he collapsed to his knees, the sacks of stones falling off his shoulders, scat
tering across the sands of Master Takumi's courtyard. His feet sunk into the sands as he moved, slowing him down and tripping him up, but Master Takumi claimed it was good training for his footwork, and would save his life one day.

  Each breath a labored gasp.

  There wasn't enough air.

  "Master Takumi!" Shaya called.

  In the span of three gasps Takumi was there with his hands pressed tightly into Akio's core, just under the chest bone. Akio gasped again and Takumi pushed hard with both hands. Suddenly air returned to Akio's lungs causing a span of coughing.

  "What happened?" Shaya asked softly.

  "When you struck him," Takumi said. "You contacted his solar plexus which in turn disrupted Akio's energy flow."

  Takumi crossed the sands to return to his assistants, leaving Shaya to sit next to Akio as he regained his strength. It took several minutes, but Akio's breathing calmed and he returned to normal. The whole time he lay there looking upon Shaya and her face of stone, unable to decipher what she thought.

  "Can you stand?" She asked.

  Akio accepted her hand and found his legs were weak underneath him.

  "I'm sor—"

  "It wasn't your fault. I should have guarded myself. I'm sorry for failing you Kaito-Tanken Shaya." Akio bowed to her, and didn't rise until she touched his shoulder.

  "Nonsense. You didn't fail me. Besides we're both learning. That's why we're here."

  "You two are free to leave," Takumi called from across the courtyard. "Return your weapons, and return tomorrow after first light."

  Akio began to pickup the rocks, but one of Takumi's assistants kneeled before him and took the sack away. "I'll do that sir."

  Akio froze.

  No one had ever called him sir before. No one had ever looked at him with respect and reverence. He was just a son of a lowly fisherman, not some great lord. His father wasn't a formally recognized clan member. The class difference settled in and he realized he was no longer his father's son condemned to the life of a fisherman.

  "Sir, I can take it from here."

  "Okay," Akio got back to his feet.

  Shaya had returned their training swords to the trunk under the covered porch. "Ready?"

  Akio was still working through the ramifications of being called sir, but he managed a nod before following her out of the courtyard. Thick black clouds hung in the sky, probably twenty miles south of Shinzo. A curtain of rain blocked the view of the ocean horizon. The small part of the harbor visible from Takumi's front porch, showed tiny vessels quickly coming into port. No doubt the merchant fishermen, with licenses to fish the emperor's waters.

  "What are you thinking?"

  Her question pulled Akio out of his own train of thought and back to the present.

  "My father. Fishing."

  She stepped closer to him, and they were close enough that their shoulders rubbed against one another as they walked. He stood a head taller than her, but she set the pace they walked, and he was forced to take slightly larger strides to keep up, as they headed for her apartment.

  "Does your father like fishing?" Her voice betrayed the fact she knew nothing of fishing.

  "No," Akio said. "I'm not sure any of the men like fishing. I think he likes sailing though. He'll talk about the open ocean, and the huge fish that are so large, that no ship could haul them in."

  Shaya's eyes widened. Apparently, she'd never heard of the large fish of the ocean. He was thrilled to have something to teach her, rather than the other way around—even if it was about fishing and the open sea.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  THREE DAYS EARLIER MARKED THE START of the rainy season. The first rain storm blew in from the East and pelted Shinzo all evening. Rain was a constant companion for Akio as he still trained in the courtyard with Takumi—though usually he sparred alone most sessions, practicing his forms—he must become the octopus.

  Drenched from the day training, a mix of sweat and rain, Akio pushed open the door to his house expecting to find his mother ready to lecture him, but instead he was greeted with a warm embrace from his father. He'd returned from his fishing expedition while the first storm pelted the island. It was far too dangerous to be out on the open ocean during the week long, and sometimes month-long storms. Only pirates and large merchant vessels could transverse the waves which could reach fifty feet high.

  "It's good to see you again," his father pushed him back to get a better look at him. "But you've changed. You're so dark, and what's this," he prodded Akio's arms. "You've grown muscles. What have you been up to?"

  "I thought it best you explain your foolishness to your father." His mother eyed him with disgust as she placed a bowl of soup on their small table before walking past the two of them. "I'm going to see Mei. Maybe they were able to buy up spices before this weather blew in."

  "What's this nonsense she speaks of?" His father guided him to the table where his own bowl sat half empty.

  Akio didn't know how to begin, so he bought himself a moment to think by trying the fish soup—very plain without the spices, it tasted more like the ocean than the soup he'd grown to expect from honorable mother's cooking.

  He pulled his shoulders back and looked his father in the eyes, "I'm First Sworn to Kaito-Tanken Shaya."

  Silence sat between them. For a moment, Akio thought his father might yell at him, but instead he placed a hand on his shoulder. "Congratulations. Why did your mother call this foolish?"

  "She thinks I shouldn't have sworn myself to Shaya, and has been after me for weeks to abandon my position and recant my oath."

  "You can't."

  "I know. I've tried to tell her, but she won't listen. Every day is the same. I train with Shaya, and come home to mother, who complains and tells me how disappointed she is in me."

  "Well I'm proud of you!" His father squeezed his knee. "You can't know just how proud I am of you. I'd have never dreamed that my son could become First Sworn to a Tanken." He chuckled to himself, "Wait until the men hear about this."

  "When do you have to leave again?"

  "Not for many days. This storm will last at least a month, maybe longer. Only Sueun and his priest know."

  * * *

  THE SOURCE-LIGHT SUNK BEHIND THE HORIZON and Akio excused himself to sleep. He'd been in bed only half an hour when he heard his mother return.

  "Where's the boy?" she asked.

  "Asleep."

  Both their voices slurred slightly from drink. When the rain brought his father home, both his parents would spend their evenings drinking—turning last harvest's rice into wine insured it wouldn't spoil in the deluge.

  "Did you tell the boy to learn his place, and forget his silly pledge to that damned girl?"

  The sound of clay pottery clinking on stone drifted into Akio's room, and he closed his eyes tighter.

  "Akio swore himself to clan Kaito, there is nothing you can do." His father's voice was stern. "You ought to be proud of our son."

  "Proud? Don't be so childish. Why should we be proud?" She asked, "He's a boy playing at a game for men. He'll get himself killed and you know it."

  "I'm proud to have a son who's first sworn to clan Kaito."

  "You're a fool just like him," his mother sighed. "My mother was right about you. You'll never amount to anything more than a simple fisherman!"

  For a moment Akio thought she may have left again.

  "Clan Kaito is doomed, it's the talk of the square" his mother continued, "and our son will be forced to die alongside them."

  "At least his name will be remembered when he dies!"

  A clay cup shattered.

  "You underestimate him," his father said. "You've always underestimated him, and me." The last was barely loud enough for Akio to make out.

  "Damn you men and your pride." His mother left the living room, slamming her own door behind her.

  Akio listened to the clink of pottery as his father uncorked another bottle of wine from the pantry. Silence filled the house again, and A
kio heard the rain pelting the outside. No doubt the square was already flooded. During most storms, it would turn into a large wading pool, and all the young children would play in the rain. Akio realized he wouldn't be able to join the children anymore. As First Sworn, it would be dishonorable.

  "The rains fall cold and gray,"

  His father sang out clear and Akio felt as if the source-light shined upon him.

  My ships have sailed away,

  Leaving me marooned with wine.

  Drink to the Dead, Sueun's Blessings upon you,

  Drink to the Dead, Sueun's Blessings upon you,

  Drink to the Dead, Sueun's Blessings upon you.

  Source-light's rise bring bloody pools,

  Sharks encircle my island,

  Hunger Staved off by wine.

  Drink to the Dead, Sueun's Blessings upon you,

  Drink to the Dead, Sueun's Blessings upon you,

  Drink to the Dead, Sueun's Blessings upon you.

  Darkness comes as source-light sits,

  Cold engulfs my lonely spot of land,

  Little warmth left to find; the wine is gone.

  Drink to the Dead, Sueun's Blessings upon you,

  Drink to the Dead, Sueun's Blessings upon you,

  Drink to the Dead, Sueun's Blessings upon me.

  The last line drifted off into the night, and Akio couldn't be sure, but he thought he could hear his father slowly snoring. The song had brought tears to his eyes which he wiped away—he'd never known his father could sing. He began to wonder what else he didn't know about his father, and while lost in thought he fell deep asleep.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  THE STRAIGHT SWORD AKIO WAS ASSIGNED on day one of training now lay inside the wooden trunk. Instead, Akio wielded a sickle sword. It had been weeks since they began their training, and while Shaya showed more promise every day—announced proudly by Master Takumi—Akio found himself falling further behind, with little success.

  "The sword chooses the master, not the other way around," Master Takumi had said when he offered Akio his new practice weapon.

  The curve of his blade was far more dramatic than Shaya's. Instead of a steady curve like a ripple in water, his curve would have looped back around to form a circle if the steel didn't stop. The tip of the sword pointed down toward the ground—Takumi explained the blade was intended to be swung in smooth arcs, but never thrust at the opponent.