Chapter Eleven

 

Kuma returned to the Machi and headed straight for the main building, finding his father and uncle eating together in the private room. Steaming bowls filled with noodles, a plate of fried chicken, and a half-full bottle of soju sat on the table. The haste with which he'd arrived had them both sitting up straight.

"Kuma?"

He spent the next fifteen minutes explaining what had happened with the Black Crows and their reaction afterwards. He told them about how Gregor had been frothing at the mouth, yelling and kicking over trashcans and smashing bottles against the wall. Niran stared into the distance when he was finished, while his Uncle Brazio poured him a glass of soju and slid it over.

"Have a seat."

Even though both men were family, under the circumstances, it didn't feel that way to Kuma. He felt the anger radiating from his father, smoldering beneath the surface like a dormant forest fire waiting for the right breeze to catch flame again. The veins on Niran's forehead looked like pulsing rivers. It was also surprising that his uncle was the calm one.

"You're sure it was Duro?"

"Positive. He'd lost his mask. Nearly smashed my brains in with his batons."

"You're lucky to have survived that. Few can say that much," said his uncle.

"I nearly put a hole in his chest. The sapphire knocked me off the roof before I could pull the trigger."

"Duro's stronger than a bullet. I've seen him take five or six at point-blank range, kill the shooter, and then heal himself in the aftermath. He's a hard man to kill," said Brazio.

His father pounded his fist on the table, rattling the ceramics. "Shadows below."

"Niran," said Brazio.

"I know. We have to respond."

"Gregor said as much."

Niran growled under his breath. "I'm not responding because of that greasy fuck. I'm responding because the clan will demand it once they hear what happened."

Hearing his father disparage his ally surprised Kuma. Brazio chuckled under his breath.

"Careful, brother, you're going to pierce the illusion of stable leadership for your son."

"He's aware of the contradictions." Niran looked up, the wrinkles in his tanned face deeper than normal. "But the Black Crows are useful to us. What did Duro take?"

"I don't know," said Kuma. "He never said, but whatever it was, it was extremely valuable. You'd have thought someone had killed his kids by Gregor's reaction."

"He doesn't have kids thankfully," said Brazio. "What are we gonna do?"

"Do you have a suggestion? And stop looking so smug. If Kuma hadn't seen Duro's face, I would have thought it was you trying to trigger a war."

"If I wanted to do that, brother, I could have done it long ago. Hitting the Black Crows doesn't help us, and even as much as I want to take the blade to the Drops, I wouldn't do it that haphazardly."

"I know," said Niran, frowning. "How do we hit them without breaking the peace? It should be obvious that it's us without revealing our hand."

"We could hit their businesses in the light. Or have Black Crows do it," said Brazio. "That would piss Daraja off, but there'd be little she could do about it."

"A possibility."

"What about the Lazona?" asked Kuma.

"What about it?" asked his father.

"The elevator. If the Drops want to have a stronger economic base like we have with Big Dave's Town, that easy passage into the Undercity is important for their long-term prospects. I can't imagine they have guards along the entire construction project, especially as difficult and ambitious as it is."

Niran raised an eyebrow. "Intriguing, but risky."

"We could herd some critters into their area," said Brazio. "It's worked in the past."

"No," said Niran. "It's an indiscriminate attack. Only their workers or families would get hurt."

"They won't extend us the same courtesy," said Brazio.

"Our principles have guided us this far," said Niran.

"The only principle that matters in war is winning."

Niran shook his head. "Do we have a good list of Daraja's businesses?"

"Fairly complete. There are probably some that have escaped our notice."

"Work with Black Crows on hitting them. As long as it's their people, we're in the clear," said Niran.

"But that won't make our people happy. There has to be some retribution. Duro almost killed your son," said Brazio.

"We'll do something, but I need to think on it. Thank you, Kuma. You can return to the Academy. Let nothing of what we've discussed slip your lips."

Kuma left the two brothers conversing quietly. When he returned to the Academy, the evening meal was in full swing. He joined his friends at their table, catching a head nod from Deacon, who was sitting with Yara.

"Did you really fight Duro?" asked Tick, a little too loudly, bringing stares from the others.

Kuma sensed a great interest in his answer and since it was clear Deacon had been telling stories, he thought it was okay to divulge.

"Fight? I'm not sure I'd call it that. Did my best to stay alive."

Camina leaned forward. She was back from the above ground hospital, looking like nothing had happened. "Deacon said you nearly blew a hole in his chest, but got thrown off the building."

"I had the drop on him," said Kuma, pride welling in his chest as he caught the many stares from around the room. With everything that had happened, he hadn't considered how others might view him after the fight. He'd always been in the shadow of his father, but now he was making a name for himself. Kuma felt buoyant.

The normally stoic Camina grinned with wild abandon. "First the duel on Shade's End and now Duro. Soon the Drops will be whispering your name in fear."

"I don't know about that. I can't imagine Choo-Choo feeling anything but rage."

"Put a target on your back," said Tick as he scooped up some broth with his spoon.

"For sure," said Camina.

Kuma leaned back in his chair. They were right. The duel and now the fight with Duro would make him a target whenever the war started. He was finally getting out from under his father's name, but realized that infamy came with new problems.