Page 22 of Son of Shadows

Every one of those beasts craved human flesh. They were united under Orochi’s red banner, which bore his circular emblem of orange fire.

All willing to fight and die for him.

Orochi spread his wings, the heads of his brothers either roaring or breathing fire. He leaped into the air and soared, the massive size of his body casting a shadow over the landscape.

His recruits looked up in awe, then shrank back in terror.

Orochi was so pleased to see how frightened they all were. Controlling them would be easy.

Orochi circled the camp twice before he swooped down to land in a field.

He reared up on his back feet so that he was as tall as a mountain. “Soldiers, we are ready to march!”

The first order of business: “Find the Ryukage’s son and kill anyone who gets in our way.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

“Time to get up.”

Ryuichi struggled to open his eyes. It was still dark outside. Who in the world could be yelling at him so early in the morning that not even the kami had risen yet?

Then he noticed the huge tengu staring down at him, and it all made sense.

Sort of.

“Good morning, Katsu,” Ryuichi said sarcastically.

He struggled to imagine anything worse than waking up before the sun did.

Maybe disembowelment, but given the way his whole body ached from the terrible mat he’d slept on, he doubted if even that would feel worse.

Katsu nodded at him. “Hurry up. We need to begin training.”

Ryuichi collapsed on the floor. “Please, just a few moments more.”

The tengu grabbed him by the legs and pulled him toward the door. “Preparation waits for no one, young master. Orochi approaches. Evil never rests.”

“That’s not true. Haruki and my shadow sleep all the time.” Ryuichi gestured to where his shadow was currently asleep on the other side of the room. The lousy beast hadn’t even stirred during this horrible ordeal.

Katsu released his legs. “It’s a metaphor, Kage-taro.”

“It’s too early for metaphors.” Ryuichi couldn’t believe it, but he was longing for that ramshackle campsite. At least under Koichi’s watch, no one had ever awakened him before daylight.

Katsu grabbed his legs again.

Scowling, Ryuichi protested. “You may let me go now.”

“Are you sure?”

“Am I sure I want you to let me go?”

Katsu, realizing it was a stupid question, released his leg.

He bowed stiffly to Ryuichi. “Follow me.”

Ryuichi stood and brushed the dirt from his yukata. Clearing his throat, he then followed Katsu to an open courtyard that was surrounded by buildings. An area in the middle had been cordoned off.

Obviously, this was their training grounds.