World's Edge by Ryan Kirk Read Free Book Online Page B

assassin behind you.
    His thoughts turned to Ryuu. He had been thinking about the young nightblade more often, particularly since the report of the scout. Of course the idea of nightblades was being discussed throughout the camp. It was a legend, one many considered an overblown myth. But deep down, everyone believed. It was the way they were raised, in fear of those almost too strong to die. Soldiers would scoff when the sun was up, but they’d all be silent at night, in the darkness rumored to be the domain of the nightblades. The scout’s story ignited the kindling that lay dormant in the hearts of all Akira’s warriors.
    But Akira was one of the few people in the world who knew nightblades still existed. He had known for many cycles. First it had been Orochi, a man who kept his own secrets. Although he never said, Akira suspected Orochi had come from a haven for nightblades. The man had come well trained. Somewhere in the world the path of the nightblade was still being taught. Akira didn’t know how large a haven it was, but he guessed there were at least a few dozen. After Orochi, there had been Shigeru and Ryuu, two nightblades who called the Southern Kingdom their home. If there were three, there were probably more.
    He was troubled by the possibility of nightblades down in Azaria. Was that where Orochi had come from? Akira had seen Azarians, and they were physically different than his own subjects. Orochi had been large, like an Azarian, but he undoubtedly traced his ancestry back to the Kingdom. Perhaps the nightblades and the Azarians had a relationship? He shook his head. The possibilities were limitless, and he had no way of knowing what was happening. He stretched in the morning sun. There were too many problems and not enough information. He thought about trying to send a scout to find Ryuu, but dismissed the idea out of hand. Akira had given his word, and Ryuu had given his. Ryuu hadn’t surfaced for over two cycles, and Akira hadn’t gone looking for him.
    The sun was beginning to burn brightly, and it was almost time for Akira to head back to another round of frustrating conferences with his generals. Nothing had changed. Construction on the defenses of the pass was in full swing, but it was almost time for him to head back to the Southern Kingdom. Akira had sent in another scouting party to follow the directions of the first scout. He needed more information. The scouts should be back any day, another reason Akira spent so much time on the overlook tower.
    Unfortunately, it looked like the scouts would not be returning this morning. In front of him the world might as well have been empty. There wasn’t even the hint of a dust trail. As he turned to head back to camp he heard the beginnings of a commotion in camp. In the few moments he was paying attention, the disturbance turned into a clamor. There was yelling and shouting and anger throughout the camp.
    He didn’t even have to come down from his tower to hear. When Akira heard the news, shouted from person to person as it spread through the camp like a river breaking through a dam, his stomach fell and he almost doubled over. There was no way it could be possible, but the word echoed throughout the camp, ringing in his ears like a death bell.
    Invasion.
     
    Akira strode into the command tent, trying to give off an air of command he didn’t feel. He felt like he was losing his grasp on reality. The treaty had held for hundreds of cycles, and he hadn’t provoked an invasion. His contact with Sen and Tanak was minimal at best. They met once a cycle, and sometimes even that gathering was canceled. Most cycles there was little for them to discuss.
    He scanned the room. There was a messenger, as well as his top generals. He had requested the group be as small as possible. Rumors would start fast enough as it was, and if the news was true there needed to be some honest discussions without fear of political consequences.
    “What do we know?”
    Toro