Chapter 6

  “You hold both hands on the pommel of your sword like this,” Akira said to the young recruit.

  “That you, sir,” the boy said, his voice cracking.

  Thanatos had been recruiting as many new soldiers as possible for the invasion of Relancia. It was up to Akira to prepare them for when they would face the new armour. He gnashed his new teeth. Training boys who didn’t even have hair on their chins yet was frustrating. Closing his eyes, he visualized Jin’s breathing techniques to keep his calm, but they could only go so far.

  “The Relancian armour is strong, but heavy. If you overbalance them, they will fall over. When they rush you, use their momentum to draw them off balance and cause them to trip.” He handed the wooden sword back to the young man.

  “Thank you, sir,” the soldier said, face lighting up. He turned to face the other man across the practice field. Both wore extra weights to stand in for the heavy Relancian armour.

  Akira watched them come together. The new soldier used the technique to take down the other man. If they hadn’t been using wooden swords, the second man would have died. He nodded his head and smiled at the boy.

  “Thank you for showing my recruits how to hold a sword,” General Saku said. He slid up next to Akira, his hands twitching. “They appreciate learning from a true hero. However, you should learn their names. It would make it easier to give them directions, and doing so would improve their opinion of you.”

  “If they survive the coming skirmish against the Relancia border team, I’ll do that. Until then, if I remember their names now, it’ll be bothersome if they don’t come back,” Akira said, dismissing Saku’s concern with a wave. “I like teaching them Master Jin’s techniques, though. That bastard tried to hoard all of his secrets.”

  Saku’s eyebrows went up in surprise. “Jin! I know that name. He was the last sword master under Lord Thanatos’s father but disappeared in disgrace after a scandal with Lord Thanatos’s aunt. He was your Master?”

  Akira nodded. “The man was a drunken fool, but put a sword in his hands and he was unstoppable.”

  “What happened to him?” asked Saku. “If he were here now, even as old as he would be, it would help increase the morale amongst the troops.”

  “You, with the red hair. Don’t choke up so high on your sword. Caresses it as you would a lover,” Akira yelled to the tall, ginger soldier. He wrinkled his nose. “I believe you’re right. Learning their names may help me,” he mumbled. “I’m getting tired of calling them ‘you’”

  “Lord Akira, I don’t know if you heard me, but…,” Saku started. He was dry-washing his hands.

  “I heard you,” Akira grumbled.

  General Saku put his hands behind his back. “Then what happened to Master Jin?”

  Akira was silent, his hands twisted the scabbard of his sword. Saku was tugging at memories he had buried deep. Dragging them out was never fun. “I hated that man. He would spend most of the time not teaching, drinking, and whoring. There were a few of his bastards running around Goido before Kolori invaded and killed everyone. If he had been there, things might have been different.” He narrowed his eyes and glared at Saku. “I still remember the faces and names of everyone there. They haunt my dreams. I don’t want more.”

  “I’m very sorry for our invasion of your home. You must understand, it was a time of war,” General Saku said.

  Akira sliced his hand through the air, dismissing Saku’s concern. “I’m over that. My sister survived may have survived, but I have no idea where she ended up. I want to find her, but I have no idea where to start.” Akira stared at the trainees and sighed. They were like him once. Eager to improve.

  He wrinkled his lip and turned to Saku. “I’m not proud of myself when it comes to Jin. I wanted him dead and after he’d taught me everything, he could I had enough. On my sixteenth birthday, I challenged him to a duel.”

  “You did?” Saku’s eyebrows went up, wrinkling his forehead. “To the death, I’d imagine. So, you killed him in combat.” He sounded sad.

  “No, he thrashed me soundly, and broke my sword, my arm and my ribs.” Akira winced at the memory. He’d blocked it for so long. Bringing it up here and now exposed the same raw nerves as then. “He just laughed at me and dismissed my pain. I wanted to run away, but stayed for my sister.”

  “I see.” Saku was silent. “But how did Master Jin die?”

  “I don’t know.” Akira shrugged. “The last I saw him, he passed out after our duel, drunk on some wine. I went to the aid station to treat my injuries. When I came back, he was dead. The investigator suspected the wine, but nothing was ever proven. Kolori invaded soon after.”

  Saku narrowed his eyes. “I find it hard to believe he died so easily.”

  “He was dead,” Akira repeated and glared at General Saku.

  Saku gulped, and Akira saw his hands twitch.

  “You still want to rub your head, don’t you?” Akira asked.

  “No, Lord Akira. You made it clear that it annoyed you.”

  “I wish to apologize for my rudeness in the Deadland forest,” Akira said, putting his hand on his heart. “It was unforgivable of me to threaten to kill you for doing something so mundane.”

  “My Lord?” Saku raised an eyebrow.

  Akira continued, “I swear on my sword that I will not kill you if you feel the need to wipe your head in my presence.”

  Saku bowed. “Thank you, my Lord. I appreciate your kindness from the bottom of my heart. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must see to the men.” He straightened and walked into the sea of recruits.

  Akira wasn’t quite sure if Saku was being serious or not.

  “Tito, straighten your stance. Mar, put your left foot forward first. You don’t want to lose it. Alphonse, what did I tell you about anger? It has no place on the battlefield. Get better, turn that rage to pride in your skills.”

  Akira watched Saku weave through the men. They had only been here for three weeks, but already the General knew their names and had a good idea of their skills. Akira could see the soldiers that Saku singled out. Mar was the one Akira had shown Jin’s grip to, and Tito had the red hair. Both stood straighter and their eyes looked more confident.

  “The man’s not a fool,” Akira snorted. “I may have to take his advice.”

  “Lord Akira,” Sir Reginald said from behind, “His Majesty requests your appearance in the privacy of his study,”

  “I’m busy training with the men,” Akira said, not bothering to turn around. Showing his back to the knight was a slight insult, but Akira didn’t care for the man. He reminded him too much of Jin. “After this, I plan to spend more time in the library. I’ve found something interesting.”

  “I understand the urgency of the matter, but news has just been conveyed regarding a new general in the Relancian army. He is unlike anybody we have faced before.” Reginald paused. “We need your assistance in planning a strategy to oppose him.”

  Akira smiled. He could taste the venom in his words. It had cost the proud knight much to say such praise. Relancia was good at creating weapons, but he always felt unappreciated there. They never treated him with the respect he deserved. Kolori was no different, covering spite with a veneer of politeness.

  Stolen story; please report.

  “Very well, let’s go.” Akira turned away from Saku and the trainees. “Imparting my skills is important, but who am I to reject such a humble request?”

  “Thank you for your generosity,” Reginald said, narrowing his eyes to slits. He gestured toward the exit off to the right side of the field.

  Akira nodded and followed. Learning the names of the soldiers could wait. If they were going to face Relancia, many of these fresh faces would die. He had enough ghosts haunting his dreams and didn’t want any more.

  **************

  “An older man from an unknown country is giving you all this trouble?” Akira slapped the report on the strategy table. “He’s destroyed three scouting incursions already. Where is he getting his information?” He asked Reginald, “Do you have a spy in your ranks?”

  Akira saw the veins pop in Reginald’s face and snorted. The man was very outstanding at controlling himself and swallowing his anger.

  “We have no records of his generalship in Relancia’s army. This man has skills beyond what we know. Who knows what kind of military training he’s had? There are two more things we have discovered, however.” Reginald handed Akira a new report. “The new general is looking for something and he is creating something.”

  Akira snatched the paper from Reginald’s hands and grimaced. “I don’t care what he is looking for. I will go out there and put him down. Someone needs to stop him, and your men don’t seem up for the job.”

  “Please look at the report, Lord Akira,” said Sir Reginald. He had a smug look on his face.

  Narrowing his eyes, Akira smoothed out the paper and glanced down. His eyes widened at the name printed there.

  “Melisia? He wants Mel. Why?” he asked, sweat beading his brow.

  “We were hoping you could tell us, Lord Akira,” Emperor Thanatos said. He had been silent for most of this meeting, only greeting Akira with a nod when he had arrived. “It might be prudent to place your mage under the Kolori compulsion. I have someone who can perform the spell. The requirements aren’t easy to prepare, but she is quite skilled.”

  “Compulsion?” Akira asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “Uncontrolled magic is anathema to Zial,” Reginald growled. “That is why all the magic users used in Kolori are bound to the emperor with a compulsion spell. If he dies before it is released, they die.” He crossed his arms. “We should do the same thing with her.”

  Akira let the thought run through his mind. It was tempting and would solve all his problems with Mel, but could he take away her free will?

  He shook his head. A hero shouldn’t be doing that. “No. I can’t do that to her. I don’t know what’s happening, but I will find out. May I be excused to ask my former companion about this?” Akira bowed to Thanatos.

  “We will respect your wishes and not proceed with the compulsion at the moment,” Thanatos said. “Please discuss this information with her. I do hope this is resolved, quickly. I’d hate to lose the trust we’ve built up over the last month,” Thanatos said, giving Akira a small smile.

  “Yes, my liege.”

  “You are dismissed.” Thanatos shooed Akira away with a wave.

  Akira spun around, ignoring Reginald’s smirk, and left the room. He clenched his fists around his sword, letting the song soothe his rage.

  After the first day, he refused to leave his sword in his room again. He was willing to compromise and sealed his sword with an elaborate cord wrapped around the hilt and tied with an unbreakable knot. Before going into the emperor’s presence, one of the guards outside his room always tested the bindings to make sure the cord was still secure.

  He had figured out how to unravel it the first day.

  The song did little to quell his rage today. Akira had realized after coming here that simple rage, not peace, made it easier to move. Meditation helped suppress the pain, but rage allowed him to use it. The only danger was not letting the rage control him. If he could keep a level head, the pain from Ayasse’s wound dimmed to a dull ache.

  “How dare she betray me!” Akira spat. Some blurs, probably servants, jumped out of his way as he stalked toward Mel’s room. “I convinced the old fool to let her stay in a palace when he wanted her confined to a dungeon. I even visited her twice to find out how she liked her new quarters.” Akira sneered, showing off his new teeth.

  He hated going to her rooms. They were far from the main centers of power and influence, but with her magic powers, anywhere near Thanatos was dangerous.

  “Damn Kolori bigotry,” he mumbled and turned a corner.

  A servant crashed into him, dropping the towels she was carrying.

  “Watch where you’re going, fool!”

  The young girl trembled and prostrated herself on the ground. “I’m sorry, my Lord. I offer no excuse for my rudeness. My life is yours.” She stuck out her neck.

  Akira stopped and released his sword. The silence flooded his mind, bringing reason back with it. He sighed, wishing he could survive away from his sword.

  Kneeling, he placed both hands on the servant's shoulders and forced her to look up. “Forgive me. I was distracted by something else and took out my anger on you, an innocent. In the name of Zial, you will come to no harm.”

  She stared at his face and started to cry. “Please forgive me for offending you, making you touch this unworthy form.” She wriggled out of his hands and prostrated herself back on the floor.

  Standing, Akira looked around the hallway. There was nobody there to assist him. He could feel a heat spreading up his cheeks. He hated dealing with zealots and slaves. Quickly picking up the stack of towels, he gestured for her to stand. Wide-eyed, she got to her feet and continued trembling. Akira handed her the towels, nodded, and stepped around her. Ignoring her gasps, he continued to Mel’s room, putting the woman out of his mind.

  He nodded to the guards at Mel’s door and knocked. She was still angry with him and wouldn’t speak a word when he visited the last time. This time, he heard a click as the lock shut him out.

  “Open it,” he said to the guards.

  The man on the left reached over and inserted the key. Akira heard the click and stepped through the now-opened door.

  “What did you do here, Mel?” he asked, glancing around the empty room in surprise.

  The last time he was here, the room was covered in lace and antiques peppered the alcoves in the walls. Thanatos had placed her in the old palace, usually reserved for foreign dignitaries. Now all the walls were bare, and the treasures that had decorated the room were gone. Only a small table and hard wooden chair remained.

  “Is that a piece of ceramic I see in the corner?” Akira pointed to the wall next to the door.

  “I’m ever so enjoying my prison, dear Akira. As for the shard, well, what do you expect me to do? Have a party?” Mel stood across the room. She still had the same dress she was wearing when he had her arrested. It looked clean, but it was getting rather threadbare.

  “You’re not wearing any slippers? The floor is cold,” Akira said. “Have they been treating you well?” Akira narrowed his eyes and turned back to the door. He was going to speak to the guards about this treatment.

  “I’m not wearing anything provided by Kolori, so drop it.” Mel crossed her arms. “What do you want, Hero?”

  Akira heard the disgust in the last word and closed his eyes to steady his emotions. Only Mel could turn such a beautiful thing into a curse.

  “There is a report of a new general out of Relancia. We believe he is from another world. He shouldn’t be a problem, but he’s proving difficult for the Kolori troops to overcome,” he started.

  “And you want my help? That time is long past. I won’t do anything for you,” Mel scowled.

  “No, we can take care of him, but he’s searching for you. Do you know him? Set a trap in his mind to rescue you?”

  Mel scoffed and started pacing. Her feet slapped the cold stone. “When would I do that? When we were fighting the Demon King together? Before the first failed attempt? After I was locked in here? When?”

  Akira raised his hands, palms up. “Calm down. There’s no reason to get so angry. Thanatos wants to know your connection to the man.”

  “How would I know? What does he even look like?” Mel said, sitting down on the last wooden chair and placing her hands in her lap.

  He shuddered. This quiet version was scarier than the angry one a moment ago. “I don’t know. The report only mentioned he was a foreigner, probably a mercenary. There was no name, just that he was looking for you.”

  “That could be anybody. Ever since you locked me in here, I haven’t done anything,” said Mel in a dead voice.

  “You’re not locked in here,” Akira responded.

  “If you ever cared anything about me, then let me leave,” Mel moved forward off the chair, tears forming in her eyes.

  “I’m sorry I can’t do that.” Akira rubbed his hand over his sword. “But I’m going to take you with me to the border.”

  Mel looked at him in confusion, waving her hands in the air, “What are you talking about? I can’t leave this place.”

  Ignoring her, Akira paced back and forth. “No, this is perfect. I will use you as bait to draw this general out, capture him, and present him to Lord Thanatos. At the same time, you will prove your worth to the emperor. I’ll have to petition Thanatos to let me take you, but it’ll work.” He smacked his fist against his palm. “It’s perfect.”

  “Then please explain to me why I need to risk my life?” Mel asked, sitting straight again. Her face was stone.

  Akira felt Mel’s eyes follow him. He could sense that she was smiling inside and would love the chance to escape the Kolori palace. He turned back to her. “It would also give the cleaners a chance to redecorate the place and return it to its natural state.”

  Mel hadn’t moved. Her face was still stone. If anything, her fingers were clenching her dress. “I see, my Lord.” She nodded. “Please let me express my gratitude to you and The Emperor for considering this. I so hope to be of service to you in any way I can.”

  “Why are you so cold all the time?” asked Akira, scowling. “It’s annoying. I’m trying to help you.”

  “Forgive me. I must be tired. If you’ll excuse me, I wish to lie down.” Mel stood up and went to the back room.

  “Good idea. I will have to discuss my plan with Thanatos. This kind of thing will take time and Reginald is stubborn. He’s always finding ways to interfere.” Akira bowed and left the room.

  At the doors, he turned to the guards. “Why is her room void of all decoration? She’s my important companion and deserves better luxury.”

  The guard on the right saluted. “Forgive us, sir. The head steward had us remove all the priceless artifacts after the sorceresses destroyed several irreplaceable pieces.”

  “She did that?” Akira shrugged. “She does have a temper. Thank you,” he said to the guards and headed back to Thanatos’s office. He would have to grovel, but if he could gain recognition in the battle against this new general, it would be worth the slight embarrassment.