There was no room in her head for a thought that shape. No world where it could make any kind of sense.
Akihito took her hand, his massive paw swallowing hers whole. She squeezed his fingers in return. After months spent believing he’d died in Kigen jail, seeing him again had felt like coming home. They’d sat together on the Blackbird’s ship during the retreat from Kigen, the big man speaking of his missing months, his injured leg, finding the street-urchins Hana and Yoshi. Yukiko spoke of the gaijin lightning farm, the sea dragons, the Razor Isles. And at the very end, she’d hung her head and spoken about what was growing inside her, swelling the Kenning beyond anything she’d ever known.
She’d told him who the father was. He hadn’t even blinked. Just wrapped her in one of those fearsome Akihito hugs, kissed her brow, and told her everything would be all right.
He sat beside her now, hair tied back in cornrows. His right shoulder was wrapped in bandages, the Shōgun’s tattoo burned from his flesh. Yukiko remembered Daichi doing the same to her, here in this very room. The thought of the old man chained in some chapterhouse filled her heart with flame, her mind with burning images of the boy who’d betrayed them all. Selling out the Kagé leader. Returning to the Guild he’d once fled from. A boy who’d said he loved her.
She sighed, brushing her hand across her eyes.
Gods, Kin, how could you?
She could feel Kaiah circling high overhead, the female thunder tiger delighting in the rumbling storm. Buruu was curled up on the landing outside, watching her with wide eyes. Anxiety written in the sway of his tail, the tilt of his head. He feared for her.
ARE YOU WELL, SISTER?
Feared for the twins inside her.
My Gods.
She tried to swallow with a mouth dry as dust.
Twins …
“Yukiko,” Kaori repeated. “Are you well?”
She blinked. Shook her head. “I’m sorry. I’m just tired.”
“We’re all tired. Sleep when you’re dead.”
“I’m fine.” She sat up straighter, tossed the hair from her eyes. “Go on.”
“So,” Kaori said. “We must plan our next steps. With Hiro’s wedding foiled, the alliance between the Tiger and Dragon clan has crumbled. Daimyo Isamu of the Fox clan refused to even attend Hiro’s wedding, so we can assume the Kitsune have no love for the Tigers either. This presents opportunity. An opportunity to purge the Guild from Shima once and for all.”
“We have bigger problems,” Yukiko said. “This Earthcrusher you spoke of will march soon, with Hiro leading the assault. Even if he doesn’t have Aisha to tie him to the Kazumitsu line, fear of this machine might still make the other clanlords swear allegiance. Hiro already has the Phoenix armies at his command, and their Daimyo imprisoned. If the other clans unite with him and march north to the Iishi, we have nothing to throw against them.”
“And the Guild know exactly where we are,” Michi said softly. “The betrayer will have told them.”
The puppy climbed off the girl’s lap, began snuffling at the corner.
Yukiko nodded, swallowing bitter rage. “We have to assume Kin told them everything. This forest won’t hide us anymore. I think we should seek permission from the Fox Daimyo to move to Yama city. They have a fortress there, at least. A fleet. An army.”
“You asked us to place our faith in strangers before,” Kaori said. “Look where it led us.”
“… Are you saying Daichi’s capture is my fault?”
“I’m saying my father is in Guild hands because we trusted the strangers you brought to our door. From now on, the Kagé stand alone.”
“We can’t win this alone, Kaori.”
“No? Not even with the mighty Stormdancer at our side?”
“Kaori, I know you’re angry at—”
“My father is a captive because we put faith in your beloved Kin. And your once-lover Hiro is leading an army up here to annihilate us. Forgive me if I don’t place much stock in your judgment, Stormdancer.”
“Kaori, I loved Daichi too—”
“Don’t do that,” Kaori snapped. “Don’t speak about him like he’s already gone.”
Michi’s puppy began dancing in circles and barking at the roof, his tail a blur.
“Tomo!” Michi hissed. “Hush!”
Yukiko and Kaori stared at each other for an age, the crackling fire the only sound between them. Kaori’s stare was almost hateful, finally broken as she turned to Akihito.
“What of the children you brought with you, Akihito-san? The gutter-waifs from Kigen? Two more fighters with the Kenning could be formidable allies, considering we now have two thunder tigers. If one could be taught to ride the female…”
The big man cleared his throat, cast an uncomfortable glance at Yukiko. “I’m not sure we can ask much of them. Yoshi has a bad concussion, probably a fractured skull. Hana is shaken up pretty badly. She’s not sleeping.” He grimaced. “Her eye is hurting something fierce.”
“Her eye is cause for concern,” Kaori nodded.