Wolf's-own: Koan Read Online Free PDF

up to Dakimo. “He has come alone?"
    Not only come alone, but nearly spitting and snarling about it too. He hadn't been happy that Dakimo chose not to disclose how he'd managed to find them. Even less happy when Dakimo had dryly inquired if perhaps Kamen shouldn't be a bit more circumspect about throwing his power around inside the Statehouse itself. Of course, it had been rather strained and lost some of its acerbity, what with Dakimo pinned to the peak of the vaulted ceiling as he'd been. But still. As if Dakimo didn't have his own tricks and contacts. As if he didn't have too many years on Kamen that he would be so put off by a little Null magic. And Kamen had let him down eventually.
    "He has, Madame,” was all Dakimo said.
    Emika scowled. “And should I take this to mean that he is everything I've been led to believe he would be?"
    Insubordinate? Arrogant? Disrespectful, rebellious and uncooperative? If Dakimo's past experiences with Kamen were any indication—"I'm afraid so, Madame."
    "Brilliant."
    Emika shut her eyes, running a hand through silver-shot mahogany before pausing to rub at her temples. Dakimo traced the scrolling patterns of the henna wards on the backs of her fine-boned hands as she did so, noting their depth and detail, checking his work. Just a touch faded, but these were precarious times. He'd have to be sure to clear her schedule for a few hours to renew the spells before the week was out.
    He usually tried very hard not to get attached to mortals. But he liked this one very much. Perhaps even loved her a little. As Wolf's emissary here in Tambalon's capital, Dakimo had worked with Emika since her installation as governor, and more closely, once Wolf entered his Cycle. Beautiful, in the way of mortals, with a brilliant mind and a sincere desire to do well by her people and her office. She would make a fine Temshiel , should Wolf ever decide he had a use for her. Perhaps Dakimo would test those waters before it became too late, before that silver in Emika's artfully arranged dark hair turned to brittle white, and the fine lines at her mouth melted into folds and furrows. She certainly had the sort of heart Wolf sought.
    "Fine,” Emika muttered. “ Fine , damn it. What's one more arrogant immortal in a city full of them?” She peered up with a wry twist of her lips at Dakimo's delicate cough and subsequent smirk. “Present company excepted, of course."
    "Of course."
    They shared a small grin before Emika slumped back on her cushions. “He'll be able to help."
    Spoken evenly, a statement, but Dakimo had known Emika for quite a long while, and had no trouble recognizing the underlying plea. He sighed. “Madame, he is our best hope."
    It would have been better, though, if Kamen had brought the Incendiary, as he'd been ordered to do. Dangerous though they were, the Incendiary's arrival in Mitsu two weeks ago had sent futures-possible into a murky state of flux that Dakimo had seen only once before, and it would be wise to gauge intentions and opportunities before moving ahead with any of the myriad proposals and risks now before them. What he'd heard of the Incendiary's state of mind did not fill him with confidence, and he would have preferred to see the man for himself.
    Incendiary were dangerous enough, but this particular Incendiary.... Dakimo could only trust in his god, he supposed. He'd been entrusted with the knowledge of what this Incendiary was— who this Incendiary was—and whether or not Kamen was informed was up to Dakimo's discretion. Today was to have been a test of the Incendiary, more than of Kamen, but the way things were working out... well. So far, Dakimo wasn't finding himself tempted to relay the information. Powerful though he was, Kamen was not known for his even temperament and careful consideration.
    "Kamen is the only Null in existence,” Dakimo went on, “and he is in his own Cycle. If he cannot root out the banpair and put an end to them....” He trailed off then