The Twilight War Read Online Free Page B

it is: I now have reason to believe that Koga Danjo … is alive .’
    Snowhawk grimaced. Heron gasped softly. The others were silent, stony-faced.
    An image flashed through Moonshadow’s mind that set his heart pounding. He saw a rope bridge spanning a rocky gorge, The Deathless standing in the centre of it, beckoning him, glaring with soulless eyes. If Koga Danjo lived, then what about his most famous pupil? True, Moonshadow and Snowhawk had narrowly escaped The Deathless, but his destruction had been assumed, not proven. What if he too was alive?
    â€˜Fine! Let’s say Koga Danjo lives.’ Badger snorted. ‘How does this concern us?’
    â€˜Because of who he now serves,’ Eagle said testily. ‘We know that Silver Wolf plots to kill our master the Shogun and take his place. His wiles alone are burden enough to deal with. But it seems there may be another contender for the Shogun’s office. A warlord from a western province, whose name, as yet, my sources have not learned.’
    â€˜Hah!’ Badger waved a hand in the air. ‘Hardlya problem. These two rebel warlords will kill each other off, or Silver Wolf will crush this fellow for us – easily!’
    â€˜Not when his rival’s bodyguard,’ Eagle sighed, ‘is the immortal Koga Danjo.’
    â€˜Koga Danjo is his bodyguard ?’ Heron narrowed her eyes. Eagle nodded.
    â€˜They say that this Danjo,’ Mantis added reflectively, ‘is the last great warrior wizard, a survivor of bygone times.’ He glanced at Moonshadow. ‘A powerful sorcerer.’
    Everyone fell silent. Dread filled Moonshadow. He thought of all the wondrous encouragement the White Nun had given him, the hours of sword training he had received since the rescue mission to her dangerous mountain, and of his developing prowess with the Eye of the Beast skill. All strong grounds for confidence, yet this morning’s news had instantly snatched his away.
    Why did he feel so troubled? Again the rope bridge loomed in his mind’s eye.
    The kitchen was warm but a chill passed through Moonshadow and he shivered.
    He had faced The Deathless and barely survived. And that was merely the pupil.
    What if his destiny was to one day face Koga Danjo? He was the master.

 
    A circle of torches set on bamboo poles lit the clearing in the monastery’s largest garden.
    Drenched with sweat after sparring hard with Groundspider, Moonshadow propped his bokken against a sculpted tree and sat down on a nearby rock to watch Snowhawk take her turn. Pressure on his feet made him look down. Banken had slipped out of the gloom and was making herself comfortable. She looked up at him expectantly.
    â€˜Fine, you can watch too,’ he told the cat. ‘Just don’t cause any trouble.’
    Snowhawk hefted a bokken in her hands, adjusting to its weight as she entered the circle of torches. Packed gravel crunched under Groundspider’s big sandals as he stalked into the combat area opposite her, swishing his wooden sword left and right.
    â€˜So you feel like some pain this evening?’ Snowhawk smiled coolly. ‘You could just surrender instead.’ She winked at Moonshadow then looked back to Groundspider. ‘Should I turn my back when we start, let you attack from behind – to make it fairer?’
    â€˜Keep talking.’ Groundspider grinned menacingly. ‘Soon you’ll be whimpering.’ His face abruptly tightened. ‘Wait, I almost forgot. Before we spar, I’m supposed to show you some new moves. A waza that Mantis said the Fuma don’tlearn. It’s called shinobu . It’s a specialised attack to be used against sentries at night.’
    Snowhawk shrugged. ‘Fine, show me then. It’ll also delay your suffering.’
    Groundspider sneered down at her, then exchanged his bokken for a real sword. ‘Moon, you do this waza perfectly … partly because Mantis himself showed it