Page 49 of Son of Shadows

The adviser gave them a sinister scowl. “I would say no, Inumagami-san. This isn’t the right time to disturb our lord. I think it would anger him.”

“Pardon?” Hayasaka was aghast, and so was Ryuichi.

Their outrage did nothing to deter the fox. “Our Ryukage would not have secluded himself from the matters of the world if he didn’t have good reason. You were given an order by the Ryukage that he should not be disturbed. A good servant respects the wishes of his master. Especially a servant who wishes to keep his head.”

This wasn’t good. Ryuichi tried to think of something to do. If they didn’t act fast, they’d wind up being sent out of here with no information whatsoever.

They needed his father.

Don’t do it. Keep your mouth shut.

No. He needed to do something, or else this was over before it began.

Here goes nothing. “Lord Inumagami, forgive me for speaking out of turn, sir. But I must remind you, as a loyal member of the Ryukage’s circle, it’s your job to use your own judgment on how to best serve the Ryukage. His seclusion means he knows nothing about the state of his realm or his enemies, who are rising up to steal his domain. Imagine his wrath should he learn about this from someone other than his most loyal servant. Or worse, if I, his son, was harmed while he knew nothing of the threat against me.”

The adviser bowed her head lower. “Does my master believe the Ryukage is so foolish, so shortsighted, that he would not place some safeguard for this very situation? You are a loyal servant, and so he trusted you with the position you are now in, with the knowledge you have been given. Information he didn’t give to anyone else. He did this knowing you would do as you were told. Reward the Ryukage’s trust in you by trusting him in kind.”

That made a nice story, but Ryuichi didn’t buy it any more than Masaru did.

Masaru let out a long sigh. “While that sounds good in theory, Hayasaka’s castle lies in ruins. Do you believe it was part of the Ryukage’s plan to lose the very castle he entrusted his vassal to defend? Was it a part of his plan to let one of his greatest enemies, the World Eater, gain power in his absence and go to war with his people?”

Naomi shook her head. “My lord, do not trust these traitors. Lord Hayasaka has failed to defend the land entrusted to him, and heaven has seen fit to remove those lands from him. He is a failure of a lord and now has hatched this harebrained scheme, which shall only end with his execution. Do not be dragged down with this failure.”

Katsu stepped between the adviser and Hayasaka, ready to cut down the adviser for her slanderous words against his lord.

Ryuichi wasn’t quite finished. “Inumagami-san, this is much bigger than Lord Hayasaka, me, you, or any of us. This is about the fate of all. If our request is denied and we are forced to wander, I am afraid we will be picked up by the forces of the World Eater, and that would seal your fate.”

Naomi laughed. “And why should my lord care about what happens to all of you?”

Masaru gestured at Ryuichi. “Evil though he is, the Ryukage is most loyal to his son.”

Inumagami considered what Masaru had said. Ryuichi was well aware that the next few words out of his mouth would determine all their fates.

No.

The fate of all worlds.

Suddenly, Yumi stepped forward, closing her eyes and raising her hand toward Inumagami. “Maybe I can help.”

Ryuichi was confused. What was she about to do?

Inumagami stared ahead, like he was in a trance.

“This creature owes his life to his master. In his home village, where there had been many inu yōkai, his parents had been helping to plan a rebellion. They’d known the price of betrayal, and still they’d foolishly put everything at risk. Everything. Even their pups.”

Ryuichi was aghast. She was reading Inumagami’s thoughts like a book.

Did she have any idea what a big offense this was?

“His parents were executed. Most creatures would have left the pup there, alone and abandoned, to die of starvation. A suitable punishment for the child of traitors.

“But instead, Ryukage scooped the young pup into his arms and protected him. From that moment on, Inumagami had sworn himself to his service.”

Ryuichi couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Neither could Masaru.

The Ryukage they knew was harsh, hateful, and angry. Yet somehow Inumagami had managed to soften his killer instincts. Hearing this story gave them a brief glimpse of the man the Ryukage had once been.

Before he transformed into the soulless demon that he was now.