The Wind and the Void by Ryan Kirk Read Free Book Online Page B

prepared for invasion, it would be impossible to procure food.
    Regardless, she had to try. She and Ryuu had plenty of money, as their needs were simple, and Shigeru had left a fair amount of gold behind when he died. Even if food was expensive, she should be able to get what she needed, if it was being sold at all. If nothing else, she needed to get out to learn what was happening in the world. Knowledge was safety.
    She packed up their medicine kit. The nearest village was a two day’s walk away, but she was known there as a wandering healer. It brought in some money while providing a backstory for a woman who came into town so infrequently.
    The walk was cool but pleasant. Moriko had dressed in simple garb so she wouldn’t be recognized, her sword hidden on her back, covered by the bulky medicine cabinet. It would be awkward to draw, but she kept her sense alive and expanded. She didn’t worry about anyone sneaking up on her.
    She arrived at the village without incident, but when she arrived, she thought for a moment that the village had been abandoned. It was small, about sixty people in all, mostly farmers. But though the village was small, it had always been lively. Most days people were outside working or talking with neighbors. People rarely stayed in. It wasn’t their way.
    When the village first came into view, Moriko couldn’t see a single person. She worried for a moment, but when she extended her sense in the direction of the village she could sense the warm glow of life. Moriko frowned. It was cold, but not so cold people would stay inside. She didn’t sense any danger, so she came down among the houses.
    It was an eerie experience, standing in the middle of the village without anyone to greet her. She and Ryuu came through infrequently, but when they did, they had always been welcomed warmly. Today doors and windows were shut against the outside, and no one even knew she was there. Moriko wandered over to the house of the village matriarch. She had seen almost sixty cycles, and her house was the center of all activity.
    Moriko knocked softly against the door. “Hello?”
    She didn’t hear anything, but she could sense the fear and panic in the house. She knocked softly again, and finally she sensed the old woman coming towards the door.
    The door opened, just a crack, and Moriko saw a small fire burning in the center of the hut. When the old woman saw who it was, there was a commotion inside and the door opened all the way. Moriko was ushered into the house, quickly, and the door was shut behind her.
    “What are you doing outside?”
    Moriko wasn’t sure what her best answer was. Something was happening, and if she was a wandering healer, she would be aware of it. She needed a story, but her mind didn’t seem to work fast enough.
    “I’ve been wandering for some time. I thought it was time to come to the village and see how you all were doing.”
    The old woman eyed her with a hint of suspicion. Moriko was surprised. They had always received such a warm welcome. What could be happening to make them act like this?
    "I am sorry," said Moriko, "I have been in the deep woods for over a moon caring for an old man who behaves like a hermit. I have had no news in that time. What has happened? Why are you all inside huddled together with so much fear?"
    The cloak of suspicion the old woman wore dropped in a moment. Despite her fear, she was still the matriarch of the village, and she believed in kindness and hospitality. "I am sorry too, my dear, but these are dangerous times, and no one travels the roads."
    Moriko frowned. She had only been back in the Three Kingdoms for about two moons. How much had happened in that time to instill such fear in the people? "What do you mean? What has happened?"
    The old woman looked around, as though the very mention of the danger might bring it into her household. "There are strange rumors going about. All we hear from everyone on the road is how entire villages are