Night had fallen, and the head priest was just about to sit down to share his dinner with the two miko who had worked with him at the shrine on the side of a rarely travelled road.
It was a small sanctuary for those who had suffered from the constant war and wanted a place to rest and recuperate before they continued their journey. The shrine was dedicated to a lesser known, local shintō deity who protected travelers.
Their evening respite was interrupted by a loud bang as the door to the shrine was kicked in. Two figures stood in the dark outside, one bending over in pain. The priest immediately stood up and approached the strangers with caution.
“We need your help,” was all the man on the left said. He was supporting his companion.
“What happened?”
“He was shot by a Westerner’s pistol,” he replied. “Can you help?”
“Bring him in,” the priest replied as he turned around and directed the two priestesses to prepare a futon and to bring medicine and equipment. Thankfully, he had had experience treating wounds, even the kinds caused by these new weapons the Westerners had brought with them.
The two strangers were suspicious, but he didn’t judge them. After all, it was his mission to help anyone in need, no matter their background. The injured man looked like a samurai while his companion’s attire reminded the priest of the rumored shinobi.
By the time he finally got the bullet out of the samurai’s wound, a windstorm had arrived, flinging the wooden shutters on the windows. The two miko went around to secure all windows and the door. Soon, the rain’s quick pitter-patter could be heard. It was as if they were under rapid gunfire.
Sweat trickled down the priest’s forehead as he prepared to use his holy powers to close the wound on the samurai’s side. But as soon as his hand hovered over the injury and he let the power flow through his fingertips, electricity burned him. He quickly withdrew his hand, his expression grave.
“What is it?” The samurai’s companion asked. A small shadow moved on his shoulder, and the priest only realized just now that they were accompanied by a cat. Not just any cat, but a two-tailed one. He gulped, thinking over his options.
Thunder rumbled in the background as if warning him. The fact that his holy powers didn’t work on the samurai meant he had a significant amount of monster blood in his veins. The two-tails was another sign his own life and the lives of his priestesses were in jeopardy. Lightning flashed and illuminated the entire room for a moment. The sharp, grey eyes of the shinobi scrutinized him closely.
“Mayu, bring some bandages,” the priest directed the miko, and she hurried off right away. He turned to the shinobi. “We need to stop the bleeding then bandage him. Can you help me with that?”
The stranger nodded, waiting in silence. The priest couldn’t help but think that he was being evaluated and his life was hanging on a thin thread. He wouldn’t turn someone away who was in need, but he didn’t want to risk the lives of everyone here, either.
Soon, they had managed to stop the bleeding and wrap the wound, and the priest and miko had retreated into another room. Their dinner had long gone cold.
Meanwhile, the samurai’s eyes flickered open in the other room.
“Taiki?”
“I’m here. How are you feeling, Juro-dono?”
“Been better.” He coughed. “Damn. That little bitch did something unexpected.”
“The bullet has been extracted. Your wound should heal soon.”
“How are the preparations coming along?” he asked, reaching for his haori and pulling it close. His hand disappeared into a pocket.
“I hid the mirror before we left. It’s in a safe place,” Taiki replied dutifully.
“Bring it here.”
“Understood.” The ninja didn’t comment, but Juro could see the question in his eyes.
“We don’t have much time left until the solar eclipse. If we miss this chance, it will set my plans back for years.” Finally, his hands found the item he’d been looking for. His fingers closed around the cold, smooth surface of the egg-shaped jewel hidden inside his pocket. A smirk appeared on his face. “And we can’t have that.”
***
Find out what happens next in Smoke and Jewel (Book 2 of the Yōkai Treasures series). If you enjoyed the book, please consider leaving a review.
Smoke and Jewel
A fugitive ninja. A kind-hearted witch. 16th-century Japan. Traitors don’t deserve a happy ending, do they?
Karen has finally found a clue to her cousin Ciara’s disappearance. But before she can follow, she’s kidnapped and finds herself in a war-torn, 16th-century Japan. The madman that kidnapped her forces Karen to use her magic to enchant weapons in a castle full of half-yokai. To top it off, her magic is restricted. There’s no escape… unless she trusts an untrustworthy ninja, Taiki.
Taiki is an excellent spy and assassin. He’s also a traitor, as Karen learns.
If he’s willing to betray someone as powerful as Katsuo, what would he do to her? Which is worse; trusting a traitor or facing a bleak life as a slave enchanting weapons? To complicate matters further, she’s falling for the aloof ninja even as he struggles between saving her life at the peril of his own. If he helps her—and is caught—he risks certain death. Will her heart survive any outcome?