Wolf's-own: Koan Read Online Free PDF Page B

shrugged.
    "Right,” said Emika. She stood. “Let us meet this Null, then."
    * * * *
    "I was busy ,” Malick snapped, heedless of his insolent tone. It was annoying enough to be summoned—by a bloody mortal governor —but to be summoned now was just... infuriating. And considering Fen's state since they'd arrived here, possibly unwise. “In case you hadn't heard, things got a little messy for a while there, and I was a bit occupied with trying to follow my own orders. I don't appreciate the implication that I'm responsible for you letting your problems get out of control."
    Dakimo merely lifted an eyebrow, at which Malick's teeth set a bit too tightly, but Emika held up a hand, placating. “Tambalon's problems are the problems of all Temshiel and maijin, and of the gods. As Dakimo said, we have been asking for Wolf's blessing since his Cycle began. You are, perhaps, late in bringing it, but Tambalon is grateful for your presence now."
    Malick almost snorted. He was pretty sure he'd just been very diplomatically spanked. He wished he knew how to diplomatically pummel.
    "Kamen,” Emika sighed, “we need help. Dakimo has been keeping a very close watch on the potential outcomes to what's happening, and every day the possibilities grow more worrying. Their numbers are growing, and so is the roster of the missing. And now the dead. What's worse, no Temshiel or maijin has thus far been able to find either the banpair themselves, or the spirits of the missing. Or those of the dead.” Her mouth twisted in mild revulsion.
    Malick narrowed his eyes and stood a little straighter from his deliberately impudent slouch against the wall. “Are you telling me that these banpair are somehow managing to steal the souls of the victims too?” He hadn't heard that one before.
    "We can't tell,” Dakimo put in. He shrugged when Malick gave him a glare. “No one can speak to the spirits as well as Goyo of Snake. He has worked doggedly with the Patrol for months, and yet he must have a direction to look to locate just one of the countless souls that walk the world. We have yet to find that direction."
    "And how long has that been going on?” Malick had only been told there were banpair operating in some kind of coven and managing to hide themselves from even the eyes of the gods—he hadn't been told they were stealing souls, as well. And considering what Yakuli had been able to do, kidnapping countless Jin and using their own magic against them to imprison their spirits, this was a lot more alarming than Malick had thought. It was a damned good thing he hadn't brought Fen.
    "Possibly since the beginning,” Dakimo put in. He opened a hand when Malick scowled at him in disbelief. “We have had dozens of disappearances over the past several—"
    "Four hundred and three,” Emika interjected. Her hazel glance moved from Dakimo over to Malick. “That we know of. We can't be sure exactly when they began, nor can we know which were victims of these banpair , and which met other fates. Nor do we know if that count is optimistic. Mitsu is a large city, and our ports are swarming at even the thinnest of times. People come and go."
    "Of those discovered dead,” Dakimo went on, “we believe more than half of them were victims of these creatures.” He paused and fixed his dark-blue gaze on Malick. “The method has become quite obvious. We believe they keep their victims alive for as long as possible, to prolong the torture and enhance the... taste.” He looked like he wanted to hit something.
    "And you looked—"
    "I assure you, every Temshiel and maijin with a talent for employing the spirits has looked within their realm. Goyo, as I said, is the best there is, but even he has been stymied. Those who have been lost remain so."
    And not even the gods could find them. This was... really bad. And not at all what Malick had been expecting.
    "Tell him all of it, Dakimo.” The tone was almost gentle, but the look in Emika's eyes was limned in