Nightblade by Ryan Kirk Read Free Book Online Page B

open for circumstances beyond his control. Taking on a student who could carry on his legacy could be the very act that killed them both. That fear prevented him from acting decisively. Instead, he continued to watch from afar, giving Ryuu as little direction as possible. If he believed in anything, Shigeru believed in the power of choice.
    The choice was too big for him to make by himself and wasn’t really his choice to make at all. Instead he would follow the Path of the Blademasters. The boy would be given his own choice to make. Shigeru would explain everything as clearly as possible and Ryuu would have to decide. It was a lot to ask of one who had only seen five cycles, but it was the only clear path forward. The decision made, Shigeru didn’t hesitate, but brought it up at that evening’s meal.
     
    At supper that night, Shigeru found he was more nervous than he had been in many cycles. Despite the thought put into his decision, he wasn’t sure it was correct. Giving the boy a choice was uncertain and Shigeru found that in the course of the past moon he had developed a certain level of affection for the child. He tried to hide his indecision, but apparently wasn’t succeeding. His young companion was able to pick up on it. Although, Shigeru argued in his own defense, Ryuu wasn’t a typical child.
    “Shigeru, what’s wrong?”
    Shigeru hesitated. He had rehearsed this moment over and over through the day, but the words no longer seemed right. He struggled to articulate what he wanted to say. Struggled to find the tone he wanted to say it with.
    Ryuu looked up from his bowl of noodles. He waited patiently for Shigeru. Shigeru respected that about the boy.
    “Ryuu, what do you know about me?” Mentally, Shigeru shook his head. He had wanted to start assertively, to come from a place of power and responsibility. Instead, he had come forward with a question that only indirectly led to what he really wanted to ask. When his own Blademaster had given him this choice, it had seemed much more formal.
    The boy looked up. He paused before answering, considering what he had put together. “You’re a nightblade, even if they are supposed to be gone from the Three Kingdoms.”
    Shigeru was surprised to feel an unknown weight lift off his shoulders. The boy spoke without a hint of judgment in his voice. It had been almost ten cycles since anyone had known the truth about him. In this land his kind were hunted without end, the public convinced they were the monsters responsible for the collapse of the Kingdom. In time, stories which had held the truth had become legends and propaganda with little regard to historical events. But Ryuu knew and didn’t care. He was the child of farmers though, so perhaps he had never been exposed to the prevailing attitudes. Shigeru hadn’t expected such relief at the revelation of his secret. It solidified his resolve.
    “Ryuu, you have the skills to become like me. There is a path forward which I can offer. It is one choice out of many. I will offer them to you today, and if you choose to stay with me, I will offer the same choices twice more. It was the same for me when I was growing up. Everyone has three choices, three chances to walk away.”
    Ryuu answered with conviction, “I would like to stay here with you.”
    Although Shigeru had expected this, hearing it out loud sent a surge of emotion through him. He checked himself. He had been away from people for far too long. Too much attachment to the boy would cause problems for both of them.
    “I understand that, but I want you to understand the choice you will be making. You are young, but the decision must be yours.”
    Shigeru took a few heartbeats to pause, collecting his thoughts. “Your first choice is to leave this place,” Ryuu started, but Shigeru held up his hand for silence. “I know you don’t want to leave now, but hear me out. I know people, good families who would love to have a child, or another child. You would