The Wind and the Void Read Online Free PDF Page B

return, not without betraying the trust of my people. I fear I’ll never hold a sword again. It’s hard to admit, but I’ll need to find a new path for my life.”
    “Any ideas?”
    Rei moved her head just a little from side to side. “No. Being a warrior is all I’ve ever known. I’ve forgotten what other dreams I used to have.”
    It was an impulse, but Akira blurted out, “You could stay here with me.”
    Rei shook her head again. “A nightblade and a lord? Our time has been enjoyable, and I wish it could be otherwise, but for the good of your kingdom we cannot continue. Also,” she gave a mischievous grin, “I’m paralyzed from the waist down, and don’t think I’d be as much fun as I once was.”
    Akira knew she was right. He didn’t know what it was about Rei that made him take leave of his senses, but there was no way he could take a nightblade as a consort, much less a wife.
    Akira stood up. “Rest well. I will come again before I leave to sign the treaty.”
    Rei smiled. “Thank you, for all your care.”
    Akira left the tent, thoughts wandering through his head, wondering how it had come to be the woman he cared for was a fugitive in his own kingdom.
     
    The morning of the treaty signing dawned cold and cloudy. Akira worried that a storm was on the way. It was early for blizzards, but this season had all the marks of becoming one of the coldest in memory. Though it was only late fall, Akira was already bundled in layers of furs to keep himself warm. It had been a long time since he had felt so cold.
    As Akira rode towards the field where the treaty would be signed, he realized he felt empty inside, as though giving away his kingdom meant giving away a part of himself. When he saw Tanak’s banners snapping in the wind, a surge of hatred ran through him. This was the man who had ordered the slaughter of thousands of Akira’s soldiers, the man who had broken a treaty that had protected the Three Kingdoms for over a thousand cycles.
    As bitter as the task was, Akira had no choice but to move forward. The Azarians were a fearsome enemy, and he’d have to bury his hatred of Tanak to defend the people of his kingdom. He dismounted easily from his horse and motioned his honor guard to remain behind. The tent had been placed in the middle of an empty field, and while both Tanak and Akira had brought their personal troops with them, the soldiers stayed away. Rumors of the treaty signing had leaked out, and people were scattered around, watching the tent with curiosity. It was the first new treaty in over a thousand cycles.
    Akira stepped into the tent alone and was immediately buffeted by the warmth of the space. Tanak had lit a fire and the tent was warm and cozy. Akira threw off his cloaks, grimacing in pain. When he tried to kill Ryuu, the nightblade had let him live, but his cuts had been deep. It still hurt to move.
    “Akira.”
    “Tanak.”
    A tense silence hung in the tent, thick enough to cut. The two of them didn’t like each other, but this treaty was necessary. Akira moved further into the tent and sat next to Tanak.
    “Do you find the terms for the treaty acceptable?”
    Tanak nodded. “I do.”
    “Shall we get this over with then?”
    Tanak shook his head. “You may remember that part of our agreement was that you would kill the nightblade in your camp. I see you didn’t bring any heads with you.”
    Akira silently stripped off his shirt, displaying the giant red scars that crossed his chest. “I honored our word. I said I would try to kill him myself. However, he left me alive. He escaped, but my men are hunting him. I have done all I can to fulfill the terms of our agreement.”
    Tanak sat and stared at Akira for a long time. Akira had a hard time believing Tanak would throw everything away over the fate of one nightblade. His invasion forces had retreated, a ways at least, and with the First up from the pass, Akira had more troops than Tanak in the kingdom. Time had passed and