Hundreds of gaijin watched them glide down to the frozen earth, many lowering their heads, parting like a wave as she slipped down off Kaiah’s back. Akihito grunted as he pulled his bad leg over and slithered down beside her. Hana noted dark stares aimed at the big man, aggression hanging in the air.
Aleksandar pushed his way through the mob, spitting Morcheban words she could only guess were curses. Piotr limped alongside, bowing when he saw her. Her uncle was wearing his wolfpelt, the battered breastplate embossed with House Mostovoi’s sigil, the same stag gleaming around her neck. She was wearing her mother’s gift openly now, after years of hiding it. Hiding who she was. Gold gleaming in the rising sun.
“My blood, come, come,” Aleksandar said. “We have little time.”
She noted her uncle refused to touch her, to take her hand and drag her along as someone in a hurry might be expected to. With a reassuring smile to Akihito, and a flood of warmth into Kaiah’s mind, she walked toward the command tent. Aleksandar strode behind, followed by Akihito and the thunder tiger, Piotr limping in the rear.
Soldiers in grubby uniforms and the pelts of mighty beasts lined her approach. At the end of the path stood the two Zryachniye. Sister Katya, for all her apparent ferocity, embraced Hana like they’d known each other all their lives. The Holy Mother Natassja also held her close, surprising strength in her bony arms. Wrinkled lips were pressed to Hana’s cheeks, the glow of the old woman’s right iris spilling into the furrows on her face.
Natassja spoke, Aleksandar translating her words.
“Welcome, Hana Mostovoi, in this, the hour of the Goddess. Are you prepared to meet her?”
“I don’t know,” Hana said. “I think so.”
“The Holy Mother bids you go with her,” Aleksandar said. “She has felt an ill-portent since late last night. But there is nothing to fear. You are amongst your sisters now. It is time to meet your mother.”
Katya held the tent flap wider, motioned into the dark. Hana turned, uncertain. Akihito had lifted his goggles, was looking right at her, a reassuring smile on his face. She reached out to Kaiah, feeling strength and ferocity prowling behind her stare.
- IF YOU NEED ME, CALL. -
I will.
A crackling voice echoed across the valley, edged with metal and static amidst the distant roar of sky-ship engines.
“People of Yama, warriors of the Fox clan, I am Shateigashira Kensai of Chapterhouse Kigen, loyal servant of Tojo, First Bloom of the Lotus Guild. Hear me now…”
This was who she was. And the longer she spent hovering on the edge, the longer it would take to help her friends. Michi and Blackbird, the Kagé and the Guild rebels. Even Daimyo Isamu. They were counting on her. She could do this. She was born to do this.
The words she and Yukiko shared at their parting rang clear and bright in her mind.
“I’m not you, Yukiko,” she’d said. “I’m not a hero.”
“You can be anything you want. Fate deals us our hand, but we decide how to play it. We all of us choose the people we want to be.”
And with a final smile to Akihito, she stepped into the dark to make her choice.
38
DISINTEGRATING
“Report!” Commander Rei bellowed. “All stations, immediately!”
A tumult of voices erupted, brethren reporting losses of all bridge-based functions. Kin smiled like the Kitsune who stole the Emperor’s dinner. Any second now, they’d hear the alarms heralding Shinji’s fire, drawing crews away from the engine room. Maseo would then be free to blow the cooling system. All according to— Kensai glanced up from his mechabacus, fingers dancing as he spoke with a sandpaper voice. “Calm yourself, Commander. All is as it should be.”
An icy certainty in Kensai’s voice. A fistful of dread in Kin’s stomach. The Shateigashira turned to two Lotusmen stationed near the elevator.
“Take him.”
The Lotusmen marched across the bridge and seized Bo’s arms, hauled him back from the communications hub as he squawked in protest. Pistons hissed, the air filled with short bursts of exhaust as the pair dragged Bo before the Shateigashira, forced him to his knees and tore off his helm. The elevator doors opened with a shuddering groan and two more Lotusmen marched onto the bridge, dragging brother Maseo. The rebel’s helm had also been removed, and he’d been beaten bloody, cheek and lips split, one eye swollen shut.
“Shateigashira?” Rei’s voice was incredulous. “What is this?”
“An operation, Commander,” Kensai replied. “To remove the cancer taken root aboard this vessel. The third conspirator will be in hand momentarily.”