The Destiny of the Sword by Dave Duncan Read Free Book Online Page B

made him one for their own purposes. You are talking power, my lady, and power does not attract Shonsu.”
    “Power?” she repeated thoughtfully. “Yes, I suppose I am.”
    “Well, ambition. He has none! He is already a Seventh, so what is left? But Adept Nfianji... now there is ambition for you.”
    Thana frowned again. “He is a killer! Remember when the pirates came? Yes, it is good to kill pirates. But Shonsu wept afterward—I saw the tears on his cheeks. Nnanji laughed. He was soaked in blood, and loved it.”
    Honakura had known much worse killers than that amiable young man. “Killing is his job, apprentice. He welcomed a chance to do his job. He is honorable and kills only in the line of duty. A swordsman rarely gets a chance to use his skills. Adept Nnanji is very good at his job—better in some ways than Lord Shonsu is.”
    “You think Nnanji will be a Seventh one day?” she asked idly, but he sensed the steel in the question.
    For a moment he hesitated, pondering the inexplicable lack of wind, the breathless pause in Shonsu’s mission. Then he decided to gamble on this sudden hunch of his.
    “I am certain.”
    “Certain, old man? Certain is a strong word.” She sounded like her mother.
    “This must be in confidence, Thana,” he said.
    She nodded, astonished.
    “There is a prophecy,” he told her. “When Shonsu spoke with the god, he was given a message for me. Shonsu did not understand it—it was a message that only a priest would hear. But it comes from a god. So, yes, I am certain.”
    She had very beautiful eyes, large and dark, set in very long lashes.
    “This prophecy is about Nnanji?”
    He nodded.
     
     
    “I swear on my sword, holy one—on my honor as a swordsman. If you tell me, I will not reveal it.”
    “Then I shall trust you,” he said. “The prophecy is the epigram from one of our sutras. We—the priests, I mean—have always regarded it as a great paradox, but perhaps to a swordsman it will not seem so. The epigram is this: The pupil may be greater than the teacher.”
    Thana drew in her breath sharply. “That refers to Nnanji?”
    “Yes, it does. He was destined to be Shonsu’s protege. He was only a Second, you know. Shonsu made him a Fourth in two weeks. And he is the equal of a Fifth now, Shonsu says.”
    “A Sixth!” she snapped, and fell silent, thinking.
    He waited patiently and after a while she looked up. “It only says ‘may’ be greater. Not ‘will’ be.”
    Honakura shook his head. “Gods do not cheat like that, Thana. The god was saying that Nnanji will be greater. It is obvious! He is absurdly young for even his present rank, and Shonsu says he fences better every day, without exception. He forgets nothing. Yes, Nnanji will be a Seventh—and very soon, I think.”
    She frowned. “He thinks he is a Sixth now, but Shonsu will not tell him the sutras—the last few he needs to try for Sixth.”
    “I am sure,” Honakura said, and then wondered if he was sure, “that Lord Shonsu has his prote”ge”’s best interests at heart. Nnanji had been very lucky to find a mentor like him—few do. Many mentors grow jealous of successful proteges and hold them back. Indeed, that is the thrust of that sutra I mentioned—that proteges must be encouraged and aided at all costs, not impeded.” He chuckled, thinking of examples he had known. “Even priests can be guilty of that sin, and obviously there are special advantages to a swordsman in having a protege who can fight above his rank. Whereas, when mat protege’ gains promotion, he may set off on his own. But I do not think that Lord Shonsu would ever do that to Nnanji. If he is holding him back from trying for Sixth, then it is only because he does not think that Nnanji is ready.”
    / think that, but Shonsu is no fool.
    She nodded. “And when the tryst is over, then Nnanji will not be satisfied to be merely reeve of some polliwog village?”
     
    “Nnanji wants to be a free sword. He would be happy