Enthroned by Amethysts (A Dance with Destiny Book 3) Read Online Free

where she is by her clumsy feet.”
    The girl chuckled and her ebony-framed smiling face was before the Emperor once more.
    “And that’s not even the worst part,” Goemon continued. “She forgets we can even see her at all. She traipses back from the bathhouse without a stitch on, and starts humming or singing before she’s inside her room.” He snorted. “Then we’re all forced to look at that.”
    “Goemon, enough! Sire, please forgive my children’s atrocious manners and come inside for some hot tea.”
    Musashi had to hide his laughter again. “Gratitude for your gracious offer, but I seek words with your clan’s elders.”
    “Of course, Emperor. I’ll bring them at once.”
    The woman bowed slightly toward Masashi before she hurried off into the village proper. He gave a little squeeze to the delicate hand he still held captive.
    “Maiden, your mother speaks true. Your manners really are atrocious. We’ve been holding hands since first we met and I’ve yet to be graced with your name.”
    “Apologies, Your Grace.”
    She was once again on her knees with her head bowed when she came into view. He gave her hand a little tug, she rose as she vanished.
    “Your name?” he asked again.
    “Mika.”
    Her bright lavender eyes appeared before him as her name spilled over her pink lips, landing firmly upon his frozen heart. Musashi rocked inside as she faded from view.
    “Again,” he demanded.
    “Sire, my name is Mika. Mika Hattori of the Iga clan.”
    Musashi feverishly tried to take in her delicate features, record them in his mind before they were lost to sight once more.
    “Again,” he whispered.
    “Shall I sing you a song, Milord? No, wait…” She smiled, innocently. “I will recite to you a poem of my people.”
    Mika orated her lovely prose. Emperor Musashi was lulled by her voice, entranced by the hauntingly sorrowful story of fated lovers and an ancient battle.
    “Sire, the elders have come. Mika, tend to your affairs,” her mother urged.
    “No,” Musashi said, a bit louder than he meant to. “The girl stays with me.”
    Everyone froze, slowly turning toward the mighty Ronin. He was just as confused by his own demand as the others obviously were.
    “Very well, then,” her mother continued. “See the Emperor to the parlor, Mika. Serve his tea as he desires.”
     
    *****
     
    “Why have you graced our humble village, Sire?” Hanzo inquired.
    There were four village elders , yet Musashi would’ve guessed their ages closer to his own.
    Hanzo Oni was the obvious leader of the group, but each man spoke as he saw fit.
    Saizo Katou’s eyes were the palest lavender Musashi had ever seen. The thin, graceful man wore his shouzoku covering from his nose down. The curious Ronin couldn’t help but stare as the man spoke to him through the dark cloth. It was a bit unnerving.
    Orochimaru Mori had a pinched face and sharp nose to match his even sharper chin. Musashi tried to glance at his defined features only momentarily, but found he couldn’t turn away from the man. The elder Mori had no eyebrows and the effect was startling. His forehead seemed to cover half his face, with only the deep purple eyes acting as a strange border.
    I wonder… When he closes his eyelids, does he have a face at all? Or is it just a blank canvas, coming to life through his eyes alone? Musashi did not retain a single word Orochimaru had said. He was lost in the curious thought of why a man would remove his lashes and brows. Perhaps he was born minus these things. Or perhaps, they are a sign of his magical abilities. I wonder what they are.
    “But enough with all this,” Sasuke said. “Emperor Musashi, how can your humble servants be of assistance?”
    The fourth man’s words caught his attention, coupled with a little tug on his earlobe by an invisible Mika, pulling his mind from its fascinated musings.
    Sasuke Akoi was staring at the silent Emperor as Musashi took in each man’s face once more.
    “The sacred