Moribito II Guardian of the Darkness by Nahoko Uehashi

Author:Nahoko Uehashi [Uehashi, Nahoko]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2014-11-14T16:00:00+00:00

Search parties continued to comb the mountains for the woman, but all trace of her seemed to have vanished at a little hollow on a steep rocky slope. Even after three days, they still had not found her.

The atmosphere in the clan settlement was unusually lively, but Kassa’s heart was heavy. On their way back from the great hall, he had accused his father of breaking his promise to defend the woman, but his father only told him that it was for the best.

“You’re a man now, so you should remember this lesson well. Master Yuguro made a political decision to protect our clan. We don’t need to stir up any more trouble.”

Even Kassa understood that much. But still …

As he could not talk to his parents, nor tell the truth to his friends, he had no choice but to confide his frustration in the one other person who knew the secret — his sister, Gina.

Out of view among the rocks on the mountain, Kassa told her what had happened in the chieftain’s hall. She frowned. “You know,” she said, “it seems like one lie just keeps getting added to another.”

“That’s what I think too, and it makes me feel awful. I can’t stand to think the lies started with us.”

Gina leaned toward him. “Kassa, we should do something. That woman saved our lives, right? And now she’s being hunted because we broke our promise.”

“But she’s trying to hurt Master Yuguro! And she snuck into the caves to —”

“Just a minute, Kassa,” Gina interrupted. “That’s what Master Yuguro says, right? But we’re the ones who met her in the caves. Shouldn’t we consider that? I’d rather decide for myself.”

Kassa stared at her in surprise. She was only twelve, but sometimes she impressed him with her logic.

“Don’t you think so? We already know what he says isn’t always true. So let’s think about what we saw before we listen to him. Did she seem like a bad person to you?”

Kassa shook his head.

“You see? And if she really did come for the reason Master Yuguro says, then she could have just ignored our cries for help. If the hyohlu had eaten us, there would’ve been no one to tell on her. I don’t know why she came to Kanbal, but whatever the reason, it doesn’t change the fact that she risked her life to save us.”

Kassa nodded emphatically. For the first time in days his mind felt clear. “You’re right,” he said. “Gina, you’re pretty smart sometimes.”

Gina gave a shy, pleased smile.

“But even though it’s true, I wonder if we can really do anything to help.”

Just then a shrill whistle sounded, surprisingly close. They both jumped as Yoyo poked his face out from behind a nearby rock.

“Kassa, you shouldn’t talk so loudly! Sound carries far in such a rocky place. There’s a search party over there. If they had heard you, you’d be in big trouble!”

Kassa felt a sudden stab of panic squeeze his chest. “Yoyo! How much did you overhear?”

Yoyo raised his hand in greeting to Gina and then whispered, “Everything.

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