The Fox's God Read Online Free Page B

tracked down her parents in the next room. To be polite, she didn’t stay in her mist form but rather materialized as a sleek red fox. She was more vulnerable to attacks when she manifested fully, but she needed fear no one in the clan house.
    Good evening, Father, Mother.
    Her mother looked up from polishing her swords—rarely used, but tended well nonetheless. “Sanae! How is your brother?”
    Still breathing. Nobody’s started a fight yet. She would have liked to share her concerns about her brother’s dying shapeshifting powers, but the news would only worry them further. If she were to tell anyone, it should be Maru, the clan healer. If there was anything to be done, he would know. Yes, she really should have a word with him.
    That is good to hear, her father said, tail twitching, but you should visit Takashi. It’s not proper to give us the news first.
    Oh, how would he know?
    I might tell him, you rude child, a third voice said. The sounds were ageless and genderless, but she would have recognized that mind-voice anywhere.
    Currently, there were only two members of the Fox clan who’d completely separated their mind from their body in order to continue living as pure spirits: Sanae and Grandmother Naoko.
    Hello, Grandmother, Sanae said cheerfully . You’ve adapted well to spirit-hood if you’re already comfortable spying on people.
    Who are you accusing of spying, you pup?
    “Sanae,” her mother said. “Respect the elderly.”
    I’m no longer elderly, Grandmother Naoko said. I’m dead. There’s no comparison, I assure you.
    Her father deliberately scraped his claws against the floor. Sanae, please. Go see the clan leader and report. We can converse afterwards.
    Yes, Father. She misted her way to the clan leader’s quarters in a straight line, completely ignoring inconsequential things like walls. They didn’t matter to spirits.
    Sanae was noticed the moment she materialized in the room. The guards put hands to their swords but relaxed quickly, no doubt recognizing her aura. There weren’t all that many fox spirits running around.
    “Sanae,” the clan leader said sharply. “News? Have you found a god?”
    He wasn’t asking if she’d found a god; he was asking if she’d found their god. Humans worshipped Inari because she was associated with fertility and rice, but she didn’t belong to them. Inari favored foxes and that made her theirs.
    We only landed today, Sanae protested. We’ve yet to uncover anything. It’s true there’s something strong and hungry in the north, but I can’t say if it is Inari.
    Everybody in the room looked disappointed.
    “Very well,” clan leader Takashi said. “Continue reporting as you can. The clan trusts you will solve the situation.”
    The last time she’d been here to report—shortly before the ship departed— certain people had been absolutely outraged a mission this important would be in the hands of “a half-dead girl and her half-mad brother.” Now the clan “trusted” them? Ha! They must have reconsidered the wisdom of alienating the siblings who might be the first foxes to meet Inari in centuries. When they came back victorious, certain people would be at the mercy of her smugness. Such fun she would have!
    Maru the healer was alone, sitting on the floor methodically grinding herbs in a stone bowl. He didn’t so much as twitch when she popped in.
    “I do not believe I can do anything for you,” he said.
    It’s for my brother. I’m sure you’ve heard about the energy-eating swords we found. Well, my dear brother managed to get bitten by them twice. The wounds weakened him but he didn’t get trapped in the shape he was in at the time. Instead he’s in a strange in-between state. He’s strong enough to force the shift, and weak enough that doing so causes him severe pain. Have you ever heard of anything similar?
    Maru put down bowl and herbs. “Explain everything from the beginning.”
    She recounted everything in exacting detail. Maru