Bridge of Swords by Duncan Lay Read Free Book Online Page A

Sumiko may be right. Perhaps the human world is the best place for you,’ Gaibun offered.
    ‘Please — the message?’ Sendatsu pleaded.
    Gaibun nodded, embraced Sendatsu one more time. ‘If you do go, then know both Asami and I will be doing everything we can to help you get back home, my brother,’ he whispered.
    Sendatsu hugged him back, feeling tears prick his eyes at the thought of having such a good friend. Gaibun left, with a nod to Asami, the first time either had acknowledged each other.
    ‘Put your trust in the Magic-weavers. Get us the evidence we need to show the Council is lying to the people and can no longer be trusted to protect Dokuzen, and everything will go back to the way it was,’ Sumiko promised.
    Sendatsu took Asami’s arm and guided her out into the garden.
    ‘What do you think?’ he asked softly.
    Asami looked torn. ‘I do not love Gaibun but I trust his words. If he says your message will not stop those guards outside, then it must be true. But to go into the human world … you’d have to find evidence the Magic-weavers can use to turn the peopleagainst the Council. You need to find humans who know what happened three hundred years ago, why the elves sealed themselves away.’
    ‘But, even then, can Sumiko overthrow the Council and give me my life back?’
    ‘Of course. If the people know the barrier is failing and the Council cannot stop it, naturally they will turn to the Magic-weavers to save them. And things will be different with Sumiko in charge. The Magic-weavers are sick of the way the Council rules Dokuzen for the benefit of the nobles, grinding the lower classes down. We would make a better Dokuzen, one where your skills and character are more important than your clan and family. I believe that with all my heart.’
    ‘Can I trust Sumiko to give me my life back?’ he insisted.
    ‘You can trust me,’ Asami promised. ‘Get what we need and I will get you back here, get your children and life back.’
    Sendatsu felt torn. Even if his father intervened and saved him, life would never be the same. He would be working for his father, doing everything he hated and missing his children. Jaken would use them against him every day. The thought was revolting. But to risk everything on going out into the human world … Sendatsu had never liked making decisions and his mind rebelled at the size of this one.
    Unthinking, he reached out and held Asami’s hand, just as he would hold Mai’s and Cheijun’s hands when they were upset or scared. The tension was too much to bear.
    ‘Where has Gaibun got to?’ he asked the question that was twisting his insides around.
    Then Gaibun burst into the garden, waving his arms. ‘Sendatsu! Run! They are coming!’ His bellow confirmed Sendatsu’s worst fears.
    It had barely finished echoing around the garden when the first of the guards began dropping over the walls, swords in hands.
    ‘Wait!’ Sendatsu cried, holding up his hands — but arrows flickered close to his head, forcing him to duck. There was nowhere out of here — he was surrounded.
    ‘Asami! Get him away!’ Sumiko called.
    ‘She’s right, you have no choice, you have to go!’ Asami cried, dragging him across to the oak tree in the centre of her garden.
    ‘But how do I get back?’
    ‘The moon. The tree you come out, return there at each phase of the moon and I shall open a gateway at midday and midnight.’ Asami grabbed the oaken staff that Sumiko had left against the tree, closed her eyes and thrust the staff deep into the trunk.
    ‘Is it safe? Are you through?’ Sendatsu worried.
    ‘I am through the barrier!’ she exclaimed, then opened her eyes. ‘It is even weaker than we thought. But you must hurry. Hold onto the staff until you are through.’
    Sendatsu could see the guards closing in and, although he did not want to go, did not know what else could be done.
    ‘Hold!’ Gaibun waved down the archers who had drawn their bows again. ‘My wife is there, he