Reading Online Novel

The Spirit War(143)



“For which your people will forever sing your praises, Empress.”

The Empress nodded and sheathed her sword. “So long as the sleeper accomplished its task, it matters little, I suppose. I’ll just have to make a new Conqueror when this is finished. We have more with us, don’t we?”

The general bowed. “Seventy-three of the Hundred ride with your fleet, Empress. They await your command.”

“That should be more than enough,” the Empress said. “Report.”

The general stood at attention. “A hundred ships approaching from the island, all light attack craft, just as in the last war. None have shot the clinging fire yet, but your wizards are standing by to squelch the flames if needed.”

The Empress nodded. “And the shallows Den warned us about?”

“At our present speed, our front line should cross them in plenty of time to avoid the tide,” the general said.

The Empress frowned. “The front line is fifty palace ships?”

“Fifty-five, Empress,” the general corrected gently. “More than enough to take such a small island. We’ll begin bombardment as soon as the first ships are in range. The land will be yours before nightfall.”

“See that it is,” the Empress said.

The general bowed and backed into the palace, closing the curtain behind him. The moment he was gone, Nara felt the hair on the back of her neck prickle in a familiar way. A smile of pure joy spread over her face as she turned to find the Shepherdess lounging on her imperial couch.

“My Lady,” the Empress whispered, falling into a deep bow.

How goes the invasion?

Nara stiffened. The Lady did not sound happy.

“We’re about to crush the Oseran fleet,” she said quickly. “Do not worry, Lady. I told you I would give you the world, and I will, starting with this island.”

It is a dour little island, the Lady said, twisting her snowy hair between her fingers. Promise me you’ll burn it to the ground.

“I will crush it into the sea,” Nara swore. “Anything to make you smile.”

And to her great joy, the Shepherdess did. She held open her arms, and Nara ran to her, falling into the Lady’s lap like a lost child.

Darling, loyal Nara, the Shepherdess said, stroking her dark hair. Would you die for me?

“In an instant, Lady,” Nara said, tears rolling down her cheeks as she pressed her fingers against Benehime’s bare, white skin. “I am loyal to you body and soul, life or death. Every breath I take is yours, as it always has been.” Unlike the boy, she wanted to say, but she did not dare. She would not bring that thief into this precious moment when she had her Shepherdess to herself at last.

The Lady pet Nara’s head like a cat’s. Remember, she said. Crush this island and its defenders. Break them utterly. I want them desperate.

“It will be done, Lady,” Nara said, clinging tighter than ever. “I swear it.”

The Lady smiled one last time and vanished, her body slipping through a white line in the air. Nara fell forward, collapsing on the couch where the Lady had been. As always, her absence left Nara reeling, and she lay gasping on the silk cushions, her eyes shut tight against the hateful darkness that remained when Benehime was gone.

When the weakness finally passed, Nara pulled herself onto the couch and opened her soul a fraction. A wind answered at once.

“Tell the front line commanders to fire as soon as they’re in range,” the Empress said. “I mean to make an example of this island. Tell the wizards to use every war spirit we’ve got. I want Osera burned to ash.”

“Yes, Empress,” the wind whispered, spinning away.

Nara smiled. She wasn’t sure what the island had done to deserve the Lady’s displeasure, but it was a boon to her. An absolute victory here could be enough to make the Lady remember at last who her true servant was. That thought made her sigh in happiness, and Nara sank into the pillows to watch the show as the first of her palace ships hit the Oseran fleet.

The Oseran runners darted between the palace ships, the flagship shooting ahead as arrows rained down on them from the enemy decks.

“Hold steady!” Josef cried, cutting an arrow out of the air just before it landed in the rower behind him. “Are the others in position?”

“Right behind us!” the captain shouted.

Josef looked over his shoulder. Sure enough, the other runners were coasting right on their tail with their clingfire already lit in the throwers. Josef grinned and pointed the Heart at the palace ship on their left. “Bring us up right next to the hull.”

The flagship surged forward, cutting through the breakwater until they were an arm’s length from the palace ship’s cliff-like side. Josef set his feet on the bucking deck and held the Heart in front of him, closing both hands on the wrapped hilt. He closed his eyes with a deep breath and let his thoughts go. His mind cleared like the sky after a storm, leaving only the sword in his hands. He could feel the Heart’s presence resonating with his own, and the image of a mountain appeared behind his eyes. An enormous, sharp peak, cutting the clouds. A sword cutting a ship.