Tengoku

  Other Books by Rae D. Magdon

  Death Wears Yellow Garters

  Amendyr Series

  The Second Sister

  Wolf’s Eyes

  The Witch’s Daughter

  The Mirror’s Gaze

  And with Michelle Magly

  Dark Horizons Series

  Dark Horizons

  Starless Nights

  Tengoku

  By Rae D. Magdon

  ©2016 Rae D. Magdon

  ISBN (trade): 9781942976271

  ISBN (epub): 9781942976288

  ISBN (pdf): 9781942976295

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form other than that which it was purchased and without the express permission of the author or publisher. Please note that piracy of copyrighted materials violates the author’s right and is illegal.

  This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at the address below.

  Desert Palm Press

  1961 Main Street, Suite 220

  Watsonville, California 95076

  Editor: Kellie Doherty

  Cover Design: Rachel George

  Blurb

  Aozora Kaede is on the run. Forced to flee from home after a violent disagreement with her aunt and cousin, she is a wanderer with a spirit wolf as her only companion. Homura Imari lives in the lap of luxury. As the daughter of a daimyo, her duties are clear: stay home and learn how to rule the province she will inherit. But when fate brings the two of them together, Imari notices Kaede’s connection to the spirits and decides to ask for a favor. She needs someone to guide her to Hongshan, a faraway mountain where a magical blacksmith is rumored to live—a blacksmith who can hopefully replace her missing left hand. Together, they must travel across the treacherous Jade Sea, protect themselves from Kaede’s vengeful family, and perhaps even save the Empire from destruction.

  Acknowledgments:

  During the writing of this novel, more than any other work I have ever written, I relied so much on the help of my friends and colleagues. Without them, I never would have been able to finish it, let alone ensure its quality and honesty.

  First, I must thank my friend Lex for his expertise on Japanese culture. It was a rough road at times, but he never gave up on me despite all my mistakes. Tengoku wouldn’t exist at all without him, and I hope he knows how much I appreciate his hard work. He is incredible, and he poured hours and hours of his personal time into this manuscript in order to bring valuable, accurate minority representation to a lot of people.

  Secondly, I need to thank Sarah. Not only did she guide me on how to write a believable trans lead, but she also served as a second adviser on Japanese culture. Although I tried to write Kaede’s relationship to her gender with as much care as I could, she helped me reach another level of authenticity.

  I also need to thank Kristin, who offered her valuable insight at several opportunities. It was incredibly important to me for a woman of color to read the manuscript and point out my (inevitable) errors, which she did with kindness and gentleness.

  Lastly, I need to thank the fantastic team at Desert Palm Press: Kellie, my editor, and Lee, my publisher. They have always believed in me, and I appreciate them every time I sit down to write. I love working with them so much, and hope to do so again many, many times in the future.

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Glossary of Terms and Places

  About Rae D. Magdon

  Other Books By Rae D. Magdon

  Prologue

  LONG AGO, BEFORE THE age of fire and steel, the lands of Tengoku were young and filled with wonders. The untamed forests and soaring mountains were home to the yokai, spirits of the wild. These gigantic beasts dwelled side by side with humans, taking their first steps, with the Great Spirits of the Sun and Moon watching over them all and smiling from their place in the sky.

  For a time, humans and yokai lived in harmony. But as the humans aged, they lost touch with the land they had sprung from and the yokai who lived with them. They built large, gleaming cities that sparkled like jewels and their rice fields stretched from one end of the continent to the other.

  Three kingdoms rose in this new age. First was Akatsuki Teikoku in the northeast, forged around the honorable samurai with a wise and just Emperor leading them into a new dawn. To the west was the Kingdom of Tsun’i, where science, art, and music blossomed. To the south was Xiangsai, a small nation of warriors who guarded their borders fiercely. These three nations grew together, and though they sometimes fought, they remained connected through the branching rivers that fed them and the common souls of the Ancestors, who found peace beyond the Roaring Ocean.

  And yet, even as the human world grows and changes, ancient magic still lives on. A chosen few maintain a strong connection to the yokai and the land of Tengoku itself. These few serve to remind the kingdoms of their past and guide them safely into the future, a future where humans and yokai are not divided, but live in harmony, two halves of the same whole.

  This is Tengoku: the land of sword, magic, and beast.

  Chapter One

  THE FOREST HUNGERED. SNARLING branches tore at Kaede's kimono, catching the hem as if to drag her back. She huffed in frustration, fighting her way through the undergrowth, but as soon as she kicked aside one curling limb, another took its place. The thick roots sent her stumbling, and she caught herself against a nearby tree trunk, rough bark grazing her palm. She hissed in pain, but didn't stop. Instead, she straightened, ignoring the sharp sting and ran into the darkness.

  The lonely howl of a wolf cut through the night air, covering the sound her sandals made as they crunched across the ground. She turned left, heart racing. Did the call come from that direction? Who did it come from? After a moment of indecision, she decided to take a risk. Alone, she didn’t stand much of a chance. She needed to find Rin.

  She plunged back into the thick of the forest, heading in the direction she thought the noise had come from. The wolf's cry didn't echo again, but a flash of white in the trees made Kaede's frantic heartbeat pound slower. "Rin, please tell me that's you."

  "Stop!"

  Kaede skidded to a stop, her small supply bag slipping perilously down her shoulder. Pulling it up, she
squinted at the uneven twilight of the undergrowth, trying to locate the voice. A pair of ice blue eyes peered out from a patch of shadow, and she could just make out a white whiskered muzzle. She breathed a sigh of relief.

  "Get down and stay out of sight,” Rin growled. “We won't be able to outrun them."

  Kaede began to protest, but another piercing howl changed her mind. She flung herself to the ground, scrambling beneath the overhang. Shivering with fear and cold, she tucked herself into the giant wolf's side, curling up as small as possible beneath the thick tree branches.

  The sound of rapid footfalls came closer and she caught sight of swaying branches several yards away. A tall, broad-shouldered figure dressed in black stepped up to the same tree she had fallen against. His katana was drawn, and moonlight glinted from its sharpened edge.

  Hayate. Kaede would have recognized her cousin even if she hadn't glimpsed his stony face. But where is Kaze?

  Her question was answered a moment later. Another dark figure padded up to the tree, this one on all fours. The black-furred wolf was huge, standing high enough for his muzzle to reach Hayate's shoulder. They whispered together, words Kaede couldn't make out. She could barely concentrate on anything but the pleading chant circling through her head. Please don't see us. Please don't see us. Please don't see us.

  After what felt like an eternity, Hayate relaxed. He sheathed his katana back into his saya beside his shorter wakizashi before starting off in another direction. His strides were swift and purposeful, but he made a great deal of noise as he disappeared into the depths of the forest. Kaze didn’t follow. He lifted his nose into the air, sniffing the wind. When his eyes locked onto her, Kaede's blood went cold.

  Kaze didn't lunge for them. Instead of howling in triumph, he padded off after his companion, swift and silent as an owl's wing.

  Once they were alone, Rin hauled herself out of her makeshift burrow, shaking off dirt and twigs. The coarse fur on her back still bristled. "Come. We need to leave before Hayate finds us."

  Kaede pushed down her fear. The forest was dangerous, but she knew it far better than her cousin did. If he thought he could catch her, he was mistaken. She started off again, away from the clumsy path Hayate had left in the brush, heading toward the river. Sharp pants of breath spilled from her mouth as she ran, hanging before her in coiling clouds of silver mist. She had no idea where she would go when she left the forest, but she did know one thing—she couldn't stay in Kousetsu, or anywhere in the province of Yukimura for that matter. She couldn’t even go to the neighboring province of Aozora, where her father was daimyo. Everything that had happened back at Setsuna's cave was her fault.

  Once more, her ears reverberated with a haunting echo. Your fault. Your fault. Your fault. It drowned out even the murmur of the blue-black river travelling through the trees. She blinked her watering eyes, trying to banish the ghostly images. The flashes refused to go away: mangled bodies bleeding onto the snow, gleaming black claws rending flesh, and hungry, gaping mouths. The yokai aren't always like this. I know they aren't. She glanced over at Rin who was still hovering close to her side, nose pointed into the wind. Setsuna is the one who made them violent. And I helped her do it.

  "Kaede, slow down. We're safe for now."

  It took Kaede a moment to notice the familiar clearing. The riverbank they had been following branched off into a small pool, its starlit surface smooth as glass. The pool held special memories, and Kaede slowed her run to a stumbling stagger as she approached its edge. There didn’t seem to be anyone else nearby, but Kaede remained silent, listening. She couldn't hear anything apart from her own breathing, but Rin's ears perked high. Trusting her companion's senses better than her own, she reached for her katana, but Rin stopped her. "Don't worry. It isn't Hayate and Kaze."

  Rin turned her head and Kaede followed the motion, catching sight of more large shadows weaving through the trees. She still didn't hear anything, but she did sense the prickling aura of a nearby spirit’s ki on the back of her neck, rolling down like beads of sweat. Yokai were close.

  When she removed her hand from her blade, the presence made itself known. Another wolf stepped into the clearing, a fierce-looking grey creature even larger than Rin and standing slightly above Kaede’s head. A scar slashed down one side of her muzzle, and Kaede’s left cheek ached in sympathy. The crescent-shaped scars she carried there had healed surprisingly well over the past several days, but they still bothered her.

  "Haruna," she said, making a polite bow.

  "Kaede. I thought I might find you and my daughter here." Haruna’s voice was smoother than Rin’s gruff bark, serving to put Kaede at ease. She glanced at the shining pool, and then her one good eye fixed on Rin. "Where is your brother?"

  "With Hayate," Rin growled. "He didn’t engage us."

  Something unspoken passed between the two wolves and Kaede stayed respectfully silent. Rin's family struggles were private, just as her own were.

  "He is loyal," Haruna said, and Kaede thought she saw a hint of pride on the wolf's face. "And what about you? Are you leaving the forest with your human?"

  Rin inclined her head and Kaede felt a wave of relief. She had assumed her childhood friend would accompany her wherever she went, but it was still good to hear it. The forest was Rin's home, and she easily could have chosen to stay there

  "I ask your blessing to leave the pack, mother. Kaede is my friend. I want to protect her, as I have always done."

  A lump formed in Kaede's throat. She bit her lip, still unsure what to say. Rin seemed to understand, because the white wolf turned and nudged affectionately at her cheek, touching it with the tip of her nose.

  "You have my blessing, but if you return, you will not find us here." Haruna’s lips peeled back to reveal the sharp points of her teeth. "Setsuna has gone too far. We will not allow ourselves to become drawn into her ill-thought plans. The balance between yokai and humans is delicate enough as it is. Her attempts to twist it to her own purposes will only end in disaster, for her and many others."

  "If you believe that, then we should stay and fight." Rin took an aggressive posture, her tail sticking straight up from her bunched haunches. "We can't allow Setsuna and Hayate to continue with this. You agree, don't you, Kaede?"

  Kaede lowered her eyes to the ground, swallowing down her shame. "The best way for me to help is to get as far away from Setsuna as possible. She was using me, Rin. Those samurai who died could have been me, my family, and friends. Those yokai she killed could have been either of you. We have to get out of here."

  Rin looked as if she wanted to object, but there was little time. Another piercing howl broke through the silence of the night, and as Kaede turned toward the sound, she thought she saw the water of the small pool ripple.

  "You should leave." Haruna gazed past the clearing to where the forest led on. "Kaze let you go once, but he may not be able to delay Hayate for long. One day soon, he will have to make his choice and decide where his heart lies."

  "If he tries to harm Kaede, I won't go easy on him," Rin said.

  "I'm sure you won't." Haruna padded forward, touching her muzzle to Rin's. "I wish you luck and safe travels. Turn your anger to strength. My intuition tells me you're going to need it. If you wish to find your pack again, venture beyond the west snows and trust your instincts. And you, Kaede." Kaede looked up as Haruna approached, lowering her massive head and bringing them nose-to-nose. "May Tsukine, Goddess of the Moon, and the spirits of your ancestors watch over you. Remember your compassion for the yokai. We have given you many gifts. Someday, I hope you will repay that kindness."

  Kaede could only nod. After all, Haruna and the other yokai who lived in the forest had done for her, the least she could do was make sure she wasn't responsible for any more killing. "I will. Goodbye, Haruna." She flung her arms around the grey wolf's neck, burying her face in the soft fur.

  Haruna allowed the embrace, but after a moment, she stepped back. She disappeared into the forest without a
nother word, slipping off to rejoin her pack. "Come on," Rin said, giving Kaede a light bump with her shoulder. "Kaze's call wasn't too far away. He’s trying to warn us."

  Kaede spared one last glance at the pool. She picked up her jog again, heading off into the night and trying to ignore the weight of guilt as it settled back over her shoulders. She still had no idea where she was going, but she needed to get far away from here.

  ***

  A grunt of exertion burst from Imari's lips as the tip of her sparring spear scraped across Takeshi's. The carved wooden blades of their yari clacked together, ringing through the courtyard, but she didn’t pull back. Instead, she strengthened her stance and prepared for the next strike. She won the last two matches, but she wouldn’t be satisfied unless she went three for three.

  Takeshi’s second lunge came lightning fast. Imari met it with her left forearm, leading the blow to the side with the protective padding of her kote. The block forced his weapon to skid, but Imari knew from the jolt racing along her shortened left arm she had not been precise enough to redirect all the power behind the thrust. Takeshi had more upper body strength and two hands to her one. If she was going to win this match, she needed to do so with skill, not brute force.

  When he came at her again, she was ready with a different tactic. She shifted her weight from front to back, moving her yari in tight circles to avoid his. Takeshi was fast, but she was faster, dodging with subtle steps. Her eyes moved more than any other part of her body, searching for the perfect opportunity.

  Her chance came a few seconds later. Takeshi overestimated his next thrust. She took a step toward him, letting his spear miss her side by an inch, and twirled. With one quick motion, she struck at Takeshi’s unguarded stomach, driving the blunt end of the spear right into his gut.