Page 3 of Drawn into Oblivion

“Very true, my friend,” Vallen agreed. “Let us return to the demonstration. As I said, circumstances may turn against you, forcing you to fight in near or total darkness. Perhaps you’ve had no time to prepare your weapons for such a fight, or you’ve been disarmed. Perhaps you’ve been blinded in battle.”

The soldiers shifted uncomfortably as their instructors blindfolded themselves, and Mai couldn’t blame them. Fighting without the benefit of sight was a serious disadvantage.

“The darksight spell isn’t without its limitations, but mastery of it will be essential for achieving victory in Oblivion. Observe.” Vallen drew his sword, a wicked-looking blade with serrated edges, and confidently turned toward Rosuke, who casually held his wide, curved sword in one hand.

Mai glanced at the empress, wondering if Shumei looked as concerned as Mai felt, but the empress wasn’t even watching them. Instead, Shumei had found Mai hiding behind the tree, and Mai’s heart raced as the empress commanded eye contact without moving a muscle.

She had dined with the empress many times, and normally felt rather comfortable around her, but as the empress bent her regal gaze upon her, Mai felt as if she were being squeezed. She shrank even more against the cherry tree, pulling herself as far behind it as she could, and breathed a sigh of relief when the empress looked away. Only then was she able to return her attention to the sparring match.

With a sudden lunge, Vallen was in front of Rosuke and swinging his sword. Mai nearly called a warning before Rosuke brought up his blade, deflecting Vallen’s blow as certainly as though he was fighting with his vision unhindered. He twisted and pushed Vallen’s sword aside, and a bit of footwork gave him an opening. Vallen deflected Rosuke’s jab and then raised his sword to block another swing. The men who watched cheered them on, and the only thing louder than their voices was the clang of steel.

Mai looked to the empress again, wondering if Shumei was as worried as she was, but the empress seemed relatively calm. Next to her, Oka had pressed his hand to his head while grimacing. Confused, Mai wondered if he was anxious, but his eyes were shut rather than on the sparring match. He was in pain. The boy had recently shown quite an interest in sweets, though, so perhaps he’d eaten too much sugar.

Several soldiers in front of Oka scattered, pulling Mai’s attention back to the two men on the verge of killing each other. Their fight was taking them all over the other end of the courtyard and forcing those on the ground to fling themselves out of the way.

After several nail-biting minutes, Vallen tripped Rosuke and became the first to gain the upper hand. Mai gasped at how hard Rosuke landed on his back, and Vallen swiftly brought down his sword, looking as though he intended to drive it right through Rosuke’s throat. Without thinking, she jumped out of her cover and screamed. But Vallen’s blade sank into the dirt several inches from Rosuke’s neck.

The soldiers cheered uproariously. Vallen pulled off his blindfold and turned toward Shumei as though seeking her praise. Indeed, her expression toward him was warm. Rosuke stood, his blindfold already off, but his back was to Mai. He brushed the dirt from his clothes as the soldiers swarmed him, showering him with compliments.

Vallen approached the walkway, took the empress’s hand, and kissed it. Oka leaned forward in his seat, eyes bright as he clapped Vallen’s shoulder and no doubt gave his own compliments. His headache must have subsided.

Mai glanced at Rosuke again and gasped, pressing her hand to her heart. He was looking at her with a degree of focus not unlike what she’d seen the night of the dog-soldier fight. Mai couldn’t help wincing with embarrassment. Had he heard her scream? He must have, it had been so loud. She was such a fool for coming here.

Then his expression became something else, something more predatory. He lowered his arms to his sides and faced her more directly, almost daring her to respond somehow. A blush burst across her cheeks, and a quick sweep of those nearest to him confirmed the other men had noticed her standing there. She was quick to retreat, hopping up the stone steps that led to the covered walkway and shucking her shoes. She picked them up before disappearing inside the building, but she swore his gaze lingered on her as she cowardly fled the courtyard.

Chapter Two

Empress Shumei sat by the large window in her bedroom and gazed out at the gardens below while she waited for a private audience with one of her house elders. That she even had to schedule one with practically the only woman she considered a friend made her sigh and slouch. Shouldn’t friends meet under less formal circumstances?

Mai’s attendance at the advanced-training practice that afternoon—if one could call hiding behind a tree “attendance”—had been rather unexpected. Mai tended to shun large gatherings, especially those consisting of mostly men, so prior to today, she had avoided even observing the advanced trainings, which Vallen and a couple of his hand-picked subordinates led. But today’s demonstration had been special, and Vallen had required Rosuke’s assistance. Mai’s scream of panic when Vallen had stabbed his sword into the ground inches from Rosuke’s head had greatly interested Shumei.

When she’d first met Mai, the twenty-five-year-old would hardly acknowledge Vallen and Rosuke’s presence, let alone anything they said to her. But her impressive magical talent and her dedication to Shumei’s goals as empress earned Mai an appointment as elder of House Sakura. Over the subsequent weeks, Mai had softened somewhat, but even as a high-ranking member of the Dark Court, she remained taciturn during meetings and preferred to avoid her peers, men in particular. Any man who approached her would spread stories of getting frostbite.

The night of the attack on Vallen’s estate, Majo had gloated that a benefit of being the Damned One’s champion was being able to name anyone’s greatest fear. To prove it, she had claimed that Mai feared men, specifically a man’s touch, more than anything else. Shumei had thought Mai’s most painful memory, and the event that had triggered her magical talent, had been her mother’s death due to an infection. But Mai’s shaky grip on her sword had been proof enough that Majo had told the truth.

The Divine One had charged Shumei with helping Mai heal and move on from her painful past, and Shumei was certain Mai was hiding why her magic had truly woken. A sinking suspicion twisted Shumei’s stomach.

She leaned back against the recess of the window, a couple soft pillows supporting her as she laid her head against the windowpane. She’d been feeling inexplicably listless ever since she’d left the courtyard, and hoped she wasn’t sick or overworked. Deciding to take a few minutes’ rest, she closed her eyes and wondered if the faint smell of flowers was from the garden below or the bouquet on the table near the door.

The sun emerged from behind a cloud, shining into her room and onto her face. Shumei opened her eyes, intending to lie upon her bed for a short respite out of the sunlight. However, someone sat across from her.

“I put you to sleep so we could talk.”

She gasped and sat up straight. Visits from the Divine One were more like dreams, common enough that she shouldn’t be so startled to see him, but who could ever become accustomed to visits from a god?

The Divine One wore a long robe that shimmered like sunlight on water, his face hidden within a deep hood. According to him, he wouldn’t have a face until she decided what he looked like.

“Anything, Divine One,” she said, heart fluttering. Should she kneel? Touch her forehead to the floor?

“You may always sit as an equal with me, not as a dog. You are my progeny, my beloved, and my champion. Come and greet me,” he commanded, voice deep and resonating, but kind.

He held out his hand, his skin silken even though it shimmered like a mirror. Shumei slid her trembling fingers into his palm and savored the safe feelings emanating from him like a summer breeze.

“I’m proud of your progress,” he said, gently gripping her hand. “You have shouldered a heavy burden, and you are caring toward your people. You have given attention to everything you can.”

“I’m surrounded by good advisors, Divine One. We won’t lose sight of what must be done. I pray that you continue to bless us all with wisdom.”

“Today, I would speak with you of the one named Mai. She comes soon.”