Nightblade Boxed Set by Ryan Kirk

Author:Ryan Kirk [Kirk, Ryan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Waterstone Media
Published: 2019-12-17T22:00:00+00:00

Tenchi ushered him in without fanfare, but Ryuu could still tell he caused quite a stir with his arrival. The island was small enough that everyone knew everyone, so an outsider stuck out from the crowd. To his host’s credit, everyone was very polite. He had worried he would be mobbed, but people circulated easily and Ryuu was introduced to people one at a time, each person having enough time to introduce themselves. Ryuu was able to remember most names, but it wasn’t just the people in front of him that interested him. It was the crowd.

Tenchi had warned him about the tension among the island’s population, but it was nowhere to be seen in this room. Everyone seemed to mingle freely, and Ryuu couldn’t identify any distinct cliques. The atmosphere was more “family dinner” than “political showdown.”

There were nine long tables spread throughout the hall, three rows of three. Ryuu was seated next to Tenchi at the table in the center of the hall. They were joined by another eight, men and women alike. As Tenchi sat down, so did all the others. Conversations ended as people made their way to seats. Ryuu noted each table had ten people, for a total of ninety present. Tenchi had said tonight’s meal would be held among the leadership of the island, so it seemed ninety people ruled over three thousand. Ryuu wished he understood government better.

Tenchi introduced Ryuu to all the people at their table, even though Ryuu had already been introduced to many of them. Ryuu’s attention was immediately drawn to a small woman just a few cycles older than him named Shika. She was quiet, but very attentive, and she seemed to command the focus of the room whenever she spoke. Ryuu knew he was making a host of assumptions, but he somehow knew she was the leader of Tenchi’s opposition. It was something about the body language and the effortless way she attracted people to her. She was a natural leader, even though she was quiet. She radiated power and confidence.

Once food was served, the volume of the room increased. People were busy speaking to one another, and at Ryuu’s table almost all conversation was directed at him. People were eager to hear news of the Three Kingdoms, even if Ryuu didn’t feel qualified to give it. He was hardly versed in the current affairs of the region, and really only knew what Akira had told him before he left. But he recognized he was still more familiar with the Three Kingdoms than anyone at the table and tried to answer questions as honestly as he could.

As he gave his answers, he watched Shika studying him. He felt that she could read him like a book. He wondered what Shika was thinking, what was going on in her mind. His wondering was put to rest as she asked him directly.

“What do you think would be the reaction of the Three Kingdoms if they learned about this island?”

Ryuu paused. He felt like he had walked right in front of an archery target, and Shika was holding the bow.

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