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two centuries ago. The idea of elves without magic — the idea is laughable!’
    ‘But Father, what about the passage where it describes how we will lose magic with each passing generation? Two centuries ago the magic was much stronger. Now there are few who use it intheir ordinary lives and fewer still who have the power to become Magic-weavers. You cannot argue against that. And if that is correct then it means the barrier is also fading, will soon be gone. What will happen then?’
    ‘It is all nonsense,’ his father still dismissed.
    ‘I did think that,’ Sendatsu lied. ‘After all, there was also a passage about clan Tadayoshi ruling the elves …’
    He held his breath, expecting to have his head taken off with a torrent of derision but, for once, Jaken looked interested in what he had to say.
    ‘Where is this scroll?’ he asked.
    ‘At my home. Safe.’
    ‘You must get it and bring it back here, at once. I shall have a squad of Council Guards meet us here. Once the Council has it under safekeeping, you must never speak of it again.’
    Jaken grabbed a piece of parchment and began furiously scribbling something.
    ‘Well, what are you waiting for?’ he snapped.
    Sendatsu still sat. ‘It is true, isn’t it?’ he said softly. ‘It is all true and you seek to hide it.’
    Jaken surged to his feet and loomed over Sendatsu.
    ‘Listen to me, boy,’ he snarled.
    Sendatsu gritted his teeth as he prepared for another lecture. That term always infuriated him. One day he might even tell his father that.
    ‘There is so much you do not understand, that you have chosen to ignore. Dokuzen is balanced on a knife-edge. Only the authority of the Council and the habit of people’s obedience are keeping us from falling apart. If it was to get out that the magic was dying within us and that soon there will be elves born with no more magic in them than a gaijin baby — how would the people react? And most of them think all that stands between their children and hordes of ravening gaijin is the magical barrier around Dokuzen. If they knew that was fading, the people would panic. The barrier is the one constant in every elf’s life. Without it, Dokuzen will fall apart. And what would the Magic-weaversdo with this knowledge? They have long lusted for power, sought to overthrow the Council and rule themselves. Why do you think every elf must learn the sword and bow? It is not just to protect us from humans. It allows the clan leaders to summon an army of elves, means the Magic-weavers cannot take power by force. But if the people refuse to obey the orders of the clan leaders, there is nothing to stand between the Magic-weavers and absolute power.’ Jaken paused and looked sternly at Sendatsu. ‘But you don’t want to know all that, do you? You don’t want to think about your every action, try and anticipate what your enemies are doing. You don’t want the responsibility for the safety of an entire people. You would rather play with your children and let your brain rot away.’
    ‘I …’
    ‘We don’t have time for this. Go and get me that scroll, then take your children, go home and forget all about this day. At least you had the sense to come and see me first …’
    Sendatsu tried to compose his face but he was horribly aware he had never been good at creating what the elves called a mask of inscrutability, not letting others read your thoughts on your face.
    ‘You have told another,’ Jaken breathed. ‘Please tell me it was not Asami …’
    Sendatsu thought about lying but knew it was pointless.
    ‘I thought it a children’s tale, or similar. I wanted to know if the passages about magic and the barrier were worth bothering you …’
    ‘You mean you wanted to impress her,’ Jaken spat. ‘And what did she say?’
    ‘That the Magic-weavers would believe it true and she wanted to give it to Sumiko …’
    ‘Sweet Aroaril, boy! If brains were fire, you wouldn’t have enough to light tinder! This scroll