Page 28 of Son of Shadows

Leave it to his shadow to show such concern.

Masaru ignored the shadow’s question. “I thought you trained him, Koichi?”

Koichi smirked at Masaru. “Thought you were supposed to be helping the brat fight.”

“I can’t always hitch a ride in his body. Sometimes he’ll have to fight without me.” Masaru jutted his chin at the tengu. “Besides, I don’t want to interfere with Sensei Katsu’s lessons.”

Koichi snorted. “Because you know you’d lose.”

“I refuse to acknowledge your lack of faith in my abilities.”

“Because you know you’d lose.”

“I know no such thing.” Masaru stretched out his legs as they continued to eat.

Once they were finished, Ryuichi returned to practice.

Over and over again, he thrust and parried, fell to the ground, and was tossed around by both Koichi and Katsu. By the time the training session ended, even Katsu was exhausted.

He saluted Ryuichi, who could barely raise his arms. “Very good. I admire your stamina, boy. Never have I met a student so . . .”

“Stubborn,” Koichi called.

Katsu glared at him. “Determined.”

He bowed to Ryuichi, who returned the gesture.

“Finally. You two were way too hard on him!” Keiko brought a gourd of water for Ryuichi.

Ryuichi sat down to drink. He watched as Katsu ruffled his feathers and then vanished, reminding him that the old bird held no real loyalty to him.

Unlike the friends who were with Ryuichi right now.

In spite of his aching body, Ryuichi pushed himself up. Koichi handed him a bowl of roasted chicken and rice. “Here. You’ve earned this.”

Indeed, and he was starving. Ryuichi took the chopsticks from Koichi and started shoving food into his mouth while the others talked among themselves.

As he ate, his mind suddenly filled with dark, foreboding thoughts. Doubt about his abilities and this feeling of futility, like all this training was for nothing. But he knew dwelling on this would lead to nothing but his own downfall.

He needed to be fearless.

Only those crazy enough to believe they could change the world actually found a way to do so.

And should death come for him, better it find him putting everything on the line to achieve his mission than hiding from his responsibilities.

Masaru stood up as a crow flew over their heads, heading toward the main fortress.

Scowling, Keiko watched it too. “Is that a messenger?”

Masaru nodded. “I’m sure it’s what Lord Hayasaka has been waiting for.”

Koichi let out a long, tired sigh. “I hate war.”

“We all hate it.” Ryuichi turned toward Ryuichi-kage.

“And it’s coming as fast as a heartbeat,” his shadow said.

Without warning, a brisk wind whipped through the courtyard and a spiral of black mist formed next to Ryuichi. When it lifted, Haruki appeared, her bone-white hair flowing behind her. The rest of the group rose to their feet, waiting for whatever dismal thing she was surely about to say.