Page 31 of Son of Shadows

He was never honest.

That was what war often required. Dishonesty and trickery. It was why creatures such as he did so well at war. Why they were sought out and put in command.

And there was only one way he could think of to save his hide and that of those who served him.

Hayasaka dodged a fireball hurtling toward him and flew past a large-horned blue oni, who tried to swat him down. There were more in his path, but he swerved past them all.

And there below was what Hayasaka sought.

A snake-headed officer, dressed in red armor, was in the middle of it all, swinging his sword as if he were a tengu.

Tanaka Ishida.

As soon as Hayasaka made eye contact, Tanaka froze in battle, staring him down with a look that could kill.

Wary of Tanaka’s treachery, Hayasaka blew fireballs at everyone around the demon until the field was cleared enough for him to land. But that was easier said than done, given the number of enemies who fired back.

It was a terrifying game of duck and weave that left many of his feathers scorched.

Luckily, it also left him alive.

Growling, he magically formed a protective barrier around himself that wouldn’t last for more than a few minutes. He swooped in and landed in front of Tanaka, who immediately launched fire and daggers at him. They hit the barrier and bounced away.

As soon as he was on the ground, Tanaka rushed him with a sword, only to hit the barrier with full force and fall flat on his behind.

“Well, that was embarrassing,” Hayasaka said, snickering.

He might as well get his laughs in before he died.

Meanwhile, Tanaka eyed him suspiciously. “Hayasaka Saburo. I knew I smelled something foul.” Even though he couldn’t get close enough to kill him, he still angled his flaming sword at Hayasaka’s throat. “Do you really think your meager shield can protect you from me?”

“Long enough to bargain.”

“Bargain? We have you surrounded. Your forces are dead or dying, and soon so will you. I don’t believe you have very much to offer at this point.”

Hayasaka tsked at him. “Ah, my fork-tongued friend, that is where you are wrong.” He tossed the mon from Ryuichi’s armor toward the old beast. “I have the Ryukage’s son.”

Tanaka chuckled. “Why do you think we’re here, you stupid bird? Soon he will be ours.”

Hayasaka swallowed hard. He hadn’t counted on this. His messenger said Orochi wanted to exploit the weakness of the gate. He had no idea that the dragon demon and his minions knew Ryuichi was here too.

His plan was to negotiate. To use Ryukage’s son as leverage and end this battle before all was lost.

Now it appeared the only thing left to do was submit to death at this ugly snake’s hands.

“Once we have Ryuichi, the realms will bow to Orochi!” Tanaka sneered.

With that, he blasted the invisible wall around Hayasaka and landed a vicious blow that sent the old tengu flying.

Hayasaka cursed in pain, but he wouldn’t surrender to this pathetic yōkai’s blade.

At least not yet.

As Tanaka’s archers began firing on him, the tengu leaped up and spread his wings, flying while twisting to avoid being hit. He soared toward his castle but could not outrun the arrow that pierced his shoulder.

I’m finished, he thought as he tried to teleport himself to the fortress.

He had enough of his powers left to make it back alive.