The Wrath of Silver Wolf Read Online Free

decision.
This big decision! Badger, the Order's irritable
archivist, battlefield history tutor and devoted
monkey owner, would simply snap, 'A lways review the mission rules .'
    So he did, quickly. Their orders this morning
were to memorise the intelligence, collect a
message from the nearby village of Yokohama
and then return home. No special limits on
the use of force had been mentioned. That
left things up in the air. He could slay a skilled
pursuer and be neither dishonourable nor
disobedient. He could, but should he? Sorry
Badger, he sighed, this time your approach is of
absolutely no help.
    'Curse it!' Snowhawk clenched a fist. 'He just
dodged both trip-wires. He's on the move again.'
She shrugged. 'Oh well. Might not do as well
against my tetsubishi.'
    If Groundspider were here, Moon decided,
he'd advocate cutting down the pursuer without
hesitation. Groundspider had been Moon's
sparring partner during his apprenticeship and
his trainer in the use of throwing knives and
smoke bombs. The young, often whimsical agent
had a dark, ferocious side. He considered himself
a true follower of Lord Hachiman, the god of war,
patron entity of all samurai and many shinobi.
    No, he was the if in doubt, kill it anyway type.
Not a voice to listen to right now.
    'Look,' Snowhawk whispered, elbowing him
gently. 'He's almost here, see, far edge of the
second flat roof. Damn it. His head's turning slowly.
I think he's seen the tetsubishi.'
    A heavy feeling of responsibility gripped
Moonshadow. At any moment he'd have to make
this decision. His mind raced even faster. What
about Brother Mantis? He'd take the opposite
line to Groundspider, of course. Once a famous,
bloodthirsty duellist, now a sword teacher who
never stopped going on about mercy and compassion,
Mantis would say just don't kill , unless you
have no choice.
    Being a fine strategist, he'd also, quite wisely,
advocate gaining a prisoner – and potentially all
he knows – rather than simply notching up a kill.
Moon shook his head. So this was leadership. It was
all so confusing. Was that only because he lived
daily with advisors of opposite natures, constantly
giving him conflicting advice?
    He finished his reasoning at a desperate pace.
Speaking of leadership and its decisions, how would Brother Eagle, head of the order, call this
one? Eagle had been born and raised samurai
but later trained in Iga ninjutsu and the Eye of
the Beast, which he had taught Moon. Perhaps
because Eagle had lived in two different worlds,
his constant counsel was for Moon to trust his own instincts. Fine, then! What were they saying?
    Snowhawk gave a soft gasp. 'He's balancing on
the edge, sneaking over the tetsubishi. This fellow
is sharp.' She patted Moon's arm and raised her
sword. 'Better not take any chances. I'll just slay
him then, neh?'
    Moonshadow swallowed hard. Where was the
instant wisdom he needed? Then he thought of
one of Mantis's obsessions: the real meaning
of part of their furube sutra, the shrugging-off
rite intoned each dawn, sunset and before every
mission.
    Scatter not one grain of life . Since it was the
sutra of spies and assassins, it meant, surely, one unnecessary grain. At least his instincts about
that message were clear. It was, in itself, a code to
follow whenever in doubt. A reminder too: where
possible, walk the highest path, always winning
yet doing no needless harm.
    'He's heading for this roof.' Snowhawk started
to rise.
    'Alive,' Moon whispered quickly. 'That's my
decision. We take him al–'
    He heard a minute grunt of disappointment
from Snowhawk but there was no time for debate.
With a soft whump the pursuer landed on their
roof and began hurrying up its slope for the apex
and the cedar beam. Snowhawk sheathed her
sword, irritation in her eyes. Moonshadow turned
from her and squinted through one of the beam's
holes.
    The man was bigger than Groundspider and
easily as agile. They were in for a tough, ugly fight.
What if it spun out of control? It might be him