Two days later, Yipachai was grinning as he flew through the clearing, his sword straight down beneath him. He wheeled around in a wide arc, then bored down on the opposing team.

  This time, Mamoru was his opponent, along with Koji and Akio, two of the initiates.

  The three combatants had formed a loose ring around Yipachai’s regular teammates, Naoko and Atsushi.

  Yipachai hadn’t faced Mamoru very often, but it must have meant that Master Rurou thought highly of Mamoru, to have placed him on a team with Koji. The softspoken older boy was generally regarded as the best individual duelist amongst the initiates. And though it was never spoken aloud, outside of Yipachai’s usual team, Rurou tended to choose teams according to their level of skill.

  Yipachai swooped in, aiming straight for his friend. Mamoru was ready, however—he tended to be better about keeping an eye out for Yipachai than the other boys—and blocked Yipachai’s attack. Mamoru even refrained from lashing out at Yipachai’s back as he soared off.

  But he wasn’t prepared for Naoko’s follow-up strike. Just as they’d planned, she broke away from Atsushi’s side the moment Mamoru’s eyes went up.

  Her blade made a solid thud against Mamoru’s ribs. One that Yipachai could hear even with the rush of the wind in his ears.

  “Mamoru’s out!” Rurou called from his place on the edge of the clearing with the rest of the novices and initiates.

  Yipachai craned his head over his shoulder just in time to see Naoko skip back into position with Atsushi, who was now fending off an advance from both Koji and Akio.

  He won’t hold for long. Help him, Naoko.

  You know she cannot hear you, do you not? Pingou said in Yipachai’s mind. The heron’s voice nearly dripped with boredom.

  Yipachai faltered, losing altitude as he flinched mid-flap. Pingou never spoke to him while he was sparring. Pingou, I’m trying to focus right now.

  He spun himself around and angled back down for another pass. This time, he aimed for Koji—Naoko could handle Akio with her strength, but Atsushi would need help against a more skilled opponent.

  As am I, Yipachai. Pingou’s tone shifted, a sense of urgency carrying through the bond. I just thought that you might like to know—

  Not now, Pingou!

  Yipachai dove in low, until he flew at eye-level to to the Banqilun. He came at Koji from behind, but at enough of an angle that Koji would be able to see him coming.

  Koji would only be able to defend himself from one direction—Yipachai soaring in for his back, or Atsushi in front of him, awaiting an opening.

  Koji chose to turn and deal with Yipachai’s attack and leave his back open to Atsushi, who gave Koji a light tap on the spine with the tip of his practice sword.

  “You’re dead,” Atsushi said, a glint in his eye as he grinned at Yipachai.

  Koji merely nodded and gave a brief dip of his head to Atsushi as he jogged off to the side of the clearing, leaving Akio to deal with all three members of Yipachai’s team.

  Before long, Naoko had Akio pinned beneath her blade. The strength she’d borrowed from Suiwei was more than enough to keep him there.

  “I yield,” Akio croaked, then breathed a heavy sigh as Naoko released him.

  “Atsushi’s team wins,” Master Rurou said. “Now, all of you go take a rest, and we’ll start again tomorrow after lunch. Mamoru, have a healer look at those ribs if they start to swell too badly.”

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  “Yes, Master Rurou,” Mamoru said with a bow. He winced slightly as he did it, which made Yipachai feel a stab of regret at having left his friend open to one of Naoko’s brutal strikes.

  “Good work today, Yipachai, Naoko,” Atushi called. He was already on his way out of the clearing with the other initiates and some of the novices. “See you tomorrow.”

  Naoko inclined her head towards the older boy, and Yipachai gave him a wave. Then, the two of them converged around Mamoru, who had taken a seat on one of the stumps at the side of the clearing, and was resting with his elbows on his knees.

  “I’m sorry we had to do that to you,” Yipachai said. And he meant it. He’d never been hit full-force by Naoko, but it certainly looked painful.

  Naoko nodded her own apology.

  Mamoru huffed a laugh, then winced again. “It’s fine. I’ll be alright soon.” He paused, looking up at the two of them like he wanted to say something, but couldn’t find the words.

  Yipachai’s eyebrows rose, and he cocked his head. A silent question.

  “Do you two think…” Mamoru started, then shook his head. “No, never mind. Forget about it.”

  “What is it?” Naoko asked.

  Mamoru nearly cowered as he looked around the clearing, then over his shoulder. Master Rurou and all the other students had left already. “I was wondering if either of you be willing to…teach me Lan Kuanghi?”

  Yipachai couldn’t stop himself from flinching. That was one of the last questions he’d ever expected to hear Mamoru ask him. And the Banqilun even looked embarrassed—another oddity.

  Naoko looked equally astonished, her mouth working as she tried to formulate a response.

  Evidently, it was up to Yipachai to make a decision.

  “I’d be…happy to help,” Yipachai said at last. “If I can.”

  “You don’t have to if you don’t want to,” Mamoru said, rising quickly and stifling a grimace. He put a hand on his ribs. “I only asked because I don’t think my chances of making the dueling team are very good. And you two seem to be doing well with Atsushi, so I thought maybe if I were able to bond with a beast, well…I thought it might give me an edge. But it’s alright, I won’t force you.”

  “No, I didn’t mean it like that,” Yipachai said. “I merely meant that I’m not sure if I’ll be any good at teaching. What do you think, Naoko?”

  The girl shrugged. “We can teach you what we know, I suppose. We meet every evening already. I don’t see any harm in adding another.”

  “Thank you,” Mamoru said, his face softening. Then he shook his head and furrowed his brow, his gaze suddenly intense. “Wait—you two meet every evening? You’re not…”

  “No!” Yipachai and Naoko said at the same time.

  “We just practice team fighting maneuvers together,” Yipachai said, his hands feeling suddenly shaky.

  He’d never even thought to look at Naoko like that. A Hetanzou and a Banqilun, together? He wasn’t entirely sure how they did things in Amigawa, but he’d never even heard of a Hetanzou marrying an outlander.

  “Exactly, that’s why we were able to trounce you so easily,” Naoko said with a grin.

  A look of relief crossed Mamoru’s face. “That explains why your team works so well together. Does Atsushi go with you, too?”

  Yipachai shook his head. “No, it’s only the two of us. But you are welcome to join us. We usually go to start practicing around this time.”

  “Do you need to go get your ribs fixed first? I hit you pretty hard earlier.”

  “I’ll be alright,” Mamoru said, working his arm in slow circles, letting his bruised side stretch with the movement. “Especially if we’re mainly focused on Lan Kuanghi today.”

  “Well, come on then,” Naoko said, then started off in the direction of the clearing, her bun bobbing atop her head, leaving Yipachai and Mamoru to look at one another confusedly.

  Mamoru leaned over until his mouth was close to Yipachai’s ear. “Is she always like this?”

  Yipachai let out a laugh. “Most days, yes,” he whispered.

  “Are you two coming?” Naoko called. She didn’t look back.

  Yipachai sighed and beckoned for Mamoru to follow.

  The forest was surprisingly pleasant as they walked. Birds chirped and chattered, while mhonglun of several varieties danced and sang, as if all of nature had decided to encourage the sun on until it reached its resting place for the evening.

  Even the rain held off for that afternoon, leaving the air feeling crisp. Not too humid. Comfortable walking weather.

  Naoko led the way, but Yipachai saw no sign of Suiwei. She often joined them on their journey to their training clearing, but Naoko must have told her to keep her distance for now. There was no need to startle Mamoru before they arrived.

  “Did you have a beast in mind that you wanted to bond with?” Yipachai asked. He had to walk rather quickly to keep up with the Banqilun’s stride.

  “Not yet, no,” Mamoru said. “I’ve hardly tried to speak to a beast since I was small.”

  “I suppose we’ll have to fix that, then.”

  Yipachai. Pingou’s voice was stark and sudden in Yipachai’s mind.

  He’d completely forgotten that the heron had tried to speak with him during the team duel. Oh, Pingou. I’m sorry for making you wait. Was there something you wanted to say?

  Indeed. The…how do you call it? The ship—the thing you told me to watch out for. With the four leaf-like parts. It is here.

  The Rising Blade is set in the wider world of The Mhong Chronicles, only about a hundred years before the events of the main series.

  The Emperor's Dream, is out now! And you can . More on that below.

  have to read that series in order to continue on The Rising Blade—this story stands on its own.