Blades and feathers, p.1
Blades and Feathers, page 1
part #3 of Yokai Treasures Series
Blades and Feathers
(Yōkai Treasures book 3)
written By Kate Grove
Blades and Feathers
Written and published by Kate Grove
Copyright © 2020 Kate Grove
Kate Grove asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work, under the Act LXXVI of 1999 on Copyright.
https://kategrove.net
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All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or portions thereof, in any electronic or mechanical means, without prior written permission from the author.
Paperback ISBN: 978-615-00-9093-1
E-book ISBN: 978-615-00-9094-8
Hardcover ISBN: 978-615-01-7264-4
Cover design © Lauren Bearzatto of Sly Fox Cover Designs “Goddess of Cover Design”
Editorial work by Red Loop Editing
This book is a work of fiction. People, names, places and events portrayed in it are purely products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, places, or events is entirely coincidental.
Happy reading!
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***
Blades and Feathers
A stolen treasure. A desire to be recognized. And a dangerous time to live in.
Whoever returns the stolen Jewel to the Tengu clan, will be recognized as the next leader. This is the perfect chance for Yoriko to gain her family's affection, and she throws herself into the mission immediately, disguising herself as a man.
She didn't plan on working as an aide to a greenhorn lord in the process but she's certain the Jewel is somewhere in his castle and Yoriko is determined to find it. As she watches Takeru deal with the aftermath of the war that left his new territory in shambles, she admires his tenacity and dedication to his people.
Unexpectedly drawn to him, Yoriko soon realizes that there may be a place that accepts her as she is, without pretense and bribes - and it isn't the Tengu compound. While secrets threaten to keep them apart, she forgets one thing.
Jewel has attracted others, far more dangerous and ruthless than Yoriko.
In order to protect him, Yoriko must betray the trust of the only good man in her life. Will they find their way back to each other? Can their love survive her betrayal?
To Anilla, with love.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Epilogue
Author’s Note
About the Author
Chapter 1
"And then, the tengu grabbed the mischievous children and flew away with them!" the young woman finished her fairy tale. She flipped her long, black hair over her shoulder and looked at the faces of the village children surrounding her. They sat in a half-circle in front of her with scared expressions.
"What..." a boy started, then gulped, gathering his courage. The young woman fixed him with her ebony eyes, nodding to encourage him. Her long bangs moved with the gesture. "What happened to the children?"
"I told you. The tengu kidnapped them!"
"Yes, but what did he do to them?" another child, a girl this time, piped up.
The young woman leaned forward, making the children huddle closer. Her eyes sparkled mischievously as she quietly replied, "Maybe he ate them for breakfast."
As the children's screams assaulted her eardrums, Yoriko immediately regretted teasing them so. Maybe I should've lied to them, she thought. However, one boy was strangely silent.
"I don't understand," he said, shaking his head. The other kids fell silent, looking at him in disbelief.
"What is it, Jun-kun?"
"Yoriko nee-san, you said the tengu are mischievous people, right?" The young woman nodded, interested to see where the boy would end up with his reasoning. He was a little older than the others. "So then, if the children were mischievous as well, wouldn't he take them in and make mischief together?"
"Uh..." Yoriko was at a loss for words, debating whether they could take the truth this time.
Thankfully, a familiar voice cut in. "And that's it for today! It's dinnertime, and your mothers are looking for you, kids," Hina, Yoriko's friend, said, shooing the children away. The girls and boys cheerfully said goodbye and ran off at the mention of food. Yoriko let out a relieved sigh.
"Thanks. Jun-kun tends to ask some difficult questions."
"It's because you take him too seriously," Hina replied, chuckling. "Come, eat with me before you go back."
"Gladly!" Yoriko followed her friend to a nearby shabby hut. Ever since Hina's mother passed away a year ago, she had lived alone, but as Yoriko stepped into the humble abode, warmth surrounded her. Hina's touch could be felt everywhere; in the neatly organized kitchenette, the small purple kerchief covering the low table, and the mismatched sitting pillows scattered around it.
"Here you go." Hina retrieved a pot from the hearth and put it on the table, which was already set for two since Yoriko often dined here.
"Thank you."
They ate in silence for a few moments until Hina started talking about her suitor. Her dark brown eyes sparkled as she thought of him, and Yoriko listened patiently, trying to learn from her. As she grew up in a household full of men, she often felt inadequate when it came to certain things other women took for granted. At first, she befriended Hina to observe and learn from her but enjoyed her company so much that they became best friends over time. Still, to this day, Hina was the only friend Yoriko had.
"He said he is going to visit soon," Hina finished.
"When? I don't want to disturb you."
"Oh, don't be silly." Hina waved at her friend but blushed. Unconsciously, she tucked her short black hair behind her ear and looked down shyly. "I want you two to meet. I hope you'll get along."
Yoriko scoffed, but at Hina's hurt expression, she apologized and promised to try.
"But I have no idea when he's coming," Hina admitted.
"He didn't say?"
"No."
"Hmm..." Yoriko pondered over the information when her gaze landed on the door. The blanket covering the opening didn't reach all the way down, and a chilly breeze swept in. She shuddered for a moment, worrying about her friend. Don’t humans easily get sick? Yoriko wondered before she realized it was already dark outside.
"Heavens!" She shot up from her seat and headed for the door. Stopping at the last moment, she twirled around to see a bewildered Hina staring at her. "Sorry, but I forgot that I had to go back early today! I'm already too late!"
Hina stood up and approached her. "But night has already fallen. It's dangerous outside."
"I'll be all right." Yoriko mustered a smile and strode outside. She was much more worried about her brothers and father than the animals lurking in the surrounding forest. Hina followed her.
"But—"
"Hina, I'm sorry, but I need to go," Yoriko repeated as she looked at her friend. "Don't worry about me. You know I live nearby."
"Yes, but..." Hina trailed off, not wanting to argue but worried for Yoriko. She held out her hand, offering an onigiri for her. "At least finish your dinner at home."
Yoriko accepted the wrapped rice ball with a smile. "Thank you, Hina. Good night."
"I—yes. Good night, Yoriko! And take care on the way home!"
She nodded and flashed Hina smile.
"See you tomorrow."
Hina's face brightened instantly. As they bid farewell, the sun dipped lower on the horizon. It got dark unexpectedl
Yoriko briefly stopped in the middle of the clearing and let out a deep breath. She closed her eyes and waved her hand in front of her face. A red mask appeared, covering the top half of her features. It had a long bird's beak, making the lips beneath invisible to the eye. It weighed nothing, however...
She shook herself and sighed in relief as she got rid of the illusion hiding her wings. As Yoriko unfurled them, beautiful black feathers quivered in the evening breeze. Her eyes flashed green for a moment as she undid the magic, then she crouched and leapt into the sky.
***
"Haku, what have you been doing?" Yoriko asked the white bird as it arrived next to her.
"Caw!"
"Sorry, but I must hurry," she replied, holding out her hand. "I can hold you if you're tired."
The white raven cawed indignantly; however, he soon realized he couldn't keep up with his master.
"Caw!"
"Told you..." Yoriko mumbled but slowed down to allow Haku to settle on her back, between her wings. She dipped briefly as the bird touched down and made himself comfortable under her hair, like a chick under his mother's wings.
Yoriko sped up, her flight accompanied by frequent caws as she neared her destination: the tengu compound.
She landed a few moments later, her nerves on edge. The place was eerily silent as she made her way toward the main hall. Supper must be— She couldn't even finish her thought when a roar pierced her eardrums.
"What the hell?" She covered her sensitive ears, glaring at the main hall, where the loud voices came from. Now this was much more like the usual atmosphere, and she let go of the tension that had built up in her. Yoriko blew out some air before strolling up the steps leading to the building.
Quietly opening the door, she hoped she could slip in unnoticed because of the rambunctious lot.
No such luck.
"Yoriko!" her father's voice boomed, and immediately, silence descended on the huge hall. He was Gorō, the leader of the tengu clan.
"Good evening." She bowed so low that Haku almost lost his balance and toppled forward to Yoriko's nape.
"How courteous of you to grace us with your presence," Gorō replied, scowling.
"I'm sor—"
"Don't want to hear it." He waved his hand, and Yoriko gritted her teeth. She straightened up, thankful the red bird mask was covering her facial expressions. Her father turned to the others. "That's all. Happy hunting!"
Just what did he concoct in that brain of his this time? Yoriko suppressed a troubled sigh. Her father was the biggest troublemaker out of all the tengus. Looking around, she quickly spotted her elder brothers. As usual, the youngest, Aki, was sweet-talking to their father while Haru, the oldest, was already next to Yoriko.
"Can you tell me…?" She trailed off as her words fell on deaf ears. Haru hurried away, paying her no attention.
That left the middle brother, Natsu. Yoriko glanced around, determined to hunt down her last brother and get the information out of him. All the other tengu seemed excited, and there was a nervous energy present in the main hall, which meant whatever their father had said had a bigger than usual impact.
It didn't take long to find Natsu. The glutton was in the corner, eating the leftovers from dinner. Yoriko marched over to him and pulled out the onigiri she had received from Hina earlier. She was still a little hungry, but she needed a bribe.
"Hey," she said as a way of greeting when she arrived next to Natsu. He didn't even look up from the food.
"What?"
"What did father say?"
Natsu chewed on some nori,1 seemingly bored. There wasn't much to eat now.
"Why don't you go ask? Oh, right!" He finally raised his head and looked at his little sister. Through the holes of his mask, Yoriko could see his carbon black eyes glaring at her in disapproval. "Because you can't be bothered to be on time. Leave me alone! Shoo!" He even made some waving gestures at her.
"Hmm... well, if you don't want to tell me..." Yoriko lifted her hand with the onigiri resting in it. She eyed the rice ball. "Then I'll just have to go and eat this delicious—"
"Wait!" Natsu yelled in a hurry.
"What?"
Her brother licked his lips—she couldn't actually see this, but she could discern from the sounds—and reached out for the rice ball. Greed reflected in his eyes, and Yoriko had a hard time managing her mood and not laughing out loud at his reaction. Out of all her brothers, Natsu was the easiest to deal with.
"M-maybe..." He paused, gulping, his eyes on the prize, then continued, "Maybe I could tell you."
"You suppose?" Yoriko asked, bringing the onigiri closer to her mouth as if she intended to eat it. Natsu probably wouldn't be bothered even if she did bite into it before giving the rice ball to him.
"The Jewel!" he shouted.
Yoriko almost dropped the food.
"What did you say?" she asked in a sharp tone.
"You know, it disappeared a while ago," Natsu hastily replied. "Father said the one who gets it back will be the next leader."
"Haah?" This time, Yoriko indeed dropped the onigiri in surprise. Fortunately, Natsu's reflexes were lightning-quick when it came to securing food, and he caught it mid-air. He cradled the poor rice ball before eating it in one bite.
The bribe was gone in a second.
Chapter 2
Yoriko left Natsu behind and hurried out of the main hall. She stopped in front of the building for a moment, thinking her options through; she didn't want to go back to her stifling room. Usually, when she wanted to think, she went for a flight, but she felt too tired tonight.
As she looked around, her gaze landed on the big oak trees surrounding the compound. Perfect! she thought, jumping off the ground and unfurling her wings in one smooth motion. She ascended higher than the treetops before gliding through the air to aim for the tallest tree in the vicinity. Yoriko perched herself on the highest branch that could still hold her weight and looked out at the surrounding forest bathed in the moon's silver light.
A cool breeze made her shiver, and she tucked her wings around herself in a protective shield. Her rich, black plumage kept her warm as the chill in the air got worse. No wonder, it's still winter, she mused. I hope it won't snow again. But even as she thought that, she knew it was a pointless wish, especially in the mountains.
"Yori! Yori!" As if sensing her uneasiness, Haku piped up, drawing Yoriko's attention. He couldn’t learn her full name, but he did know a few words. He only spoke when he felt like it. Yoriko carefully petted the raven on the beak, and he tilted his feathery head as if asking for more. She chuckled and stroked Haku's head affectionately.
"Show me what you saw," she asked the bird.
"Caw!"
Yoriko's eyes flared green and so did the bird's. Haku was her familiar and occasionally acted as a spy for her. Series of images changed rapidly in Yoriko's mind, all from the viewpoint of a certain white raven. First, a few circles around a castle, then the image of a foreigner confronting a samurai on top of that building. A strange aura surrounded him. Yoriko cocked her head to the side, assuming this was what had called Haku's attention to him.
The next image was through a window, and Yoriko gasped at the sight before him. The warrior from last time was injured and was cradling the Jewel in his hands. Yoriko furrowed her eyebrows for a moment, wondering why he wasn't already healed. Maybe he doesn't have anyone with him who can use the Jewel? She watched in silence as the scenery changed and the green Jewel was once again found.
This time, it was in the hands of another foreigner who had a strange hair color Yoriko had never seen before. It was bright like a flower, easily spotted even in the darkness. The woman was leaning over someone, her guard down. At that moment, Haku tried to get the Jewel but was attacked by pebbles thrown by another person.
Haku had managed to escape with a hurt wing. Yoriko frowned, memorizing the face of the person who had attacked her poor familiar. She silently swore in her heart to get revenge for Haku. The images cut off, and the green haze faded from Yoriko's eyes. She felt as if waking up from a vivid dream. The chilly breeze on her face quickly yanked her back to the present. Tonight, the wind blew from the north, bringing with it the promise of fresh snow.
