The Twilight War Read Online Free

desk in the archives and worked on his duelling manual, with his sword at his side, so that he could rehearse and document complex moves.
    â€˜Where is Badger then?’ Eagle groaned. ‘There are pressing matters to discuss.’
    Along with Eagle, Heron tilted her head on an angle. ‘I can hear him, still fussing around in the archives. I’m sure he’ll come soon.’ Her soft eyes glided to Moonshadow.
    He saw her look and bowed, then grinned warmly.
    â€˜While we wait for Badger, I have a question for you, Moon-kun.’ Heron flashed a reassuring smile. ‘About something mentioned in your report of the White Nun rescue mission.’
    Moonshadow hesitated, then gave her a slightly suspicious nod.
    â€˜Is your sleep disturbed,’ Heron asked gently,‘because the White Nun unexpectedly spoke of your mother?’ She sighed. ‘It would weigh heavily on my mind.’
    Snowhawk shifted uneasily on the spot. Groundspider looked a little startled and Mantis, with one eyebrow rising slowly, appeared to hold his breath. Eagle didn’t flinch.
    Moonshadow looked around and swallowed. For three weeks now, he had been expecting either Eagle or Heron to raise this. No doubt they had already discussed it and made a decision that the matter was best brought out into the open. And now, here it was!
    Heron was like a mother to him, but this concerned his real, unknown mother.
    Witnessed by Snowhawk, the White Nun had abruptly spoken of her own personal debt to Moonshadow’s mother. The mystic had then refused to discuss the matter further until she next visited the Grey Light Order in Edo. That was yet to happen.
    â€˜The great sage,’ Moonshadow replied slowly, ‘never explained whether my mother is alive or dead. She chose not to tell me, not yet. So I have vowed not to seek out the truth – or, my mother herself, if she lives – until my immediate duty is done and the present threat to our Shogun removed.’ He hung his head. ‘Of course, I still find myself thinking about her. I try not to, butI do.’ Moonshadow straightened up and glanced about, his eyes burning. ‘Since I was young, I’ve had dreams of a man and a woman, dressed like farmers. A vision of my parents, maybe.’ He shrugged. ‘Who knows?’
    Snowhawk watched him with sad, knowing eyes. Groundspider, his chin in hand and powerful shoulders hunched, appeared to be feeling the moment too. Like Moonshadow, they had both been orphans and knew nothing of their true origins.
    â€˜Your resolve is admirable,’ Eagle said. ‘And of course it weighs on your mind. But the White Nun is very wise and must have her reasons. Hard as it is, be patient, eh?’
    â€˜I will do my best, master.’ Moonshadow gave him a dutiful, seated bow.
    â€˜And feel ever free to speak of it, should you need to –’ Heron swept a hand around the table – ‘with any of us.’ One by one, the whole group nodded, except for Groundspider, who was staring into his lap. Suddenly he looked up, meeting Moonshadow’s gaze.
    Moonshadow smiled, though a little warily. Now what would Groundspider come out with? Level-headed or totally crazy words? One could never tell. The big shinobi had a mad sense of humour, but often missed the cue that it was time to be serious. This was, after all, the man who had oncebragged about eating an entire raw goose while out on a mission. All of it, he’d insisted, but the beak. Today however, he did look oddly sombre.
    â€˜It’s sad that you have to wait,’ Groundspider said quickly. ‘And I hope … I hope when she tells you more, it’s good news.’ He clicked his tongue. ‘In a way I envy you, in a way I don’t.’ Groundspider scratched his solid jaw, then scanned the group. ‘What? Why do you all look surprised?’
    Snowhawk smirked. ‘I’m in shock. What you said was actually …