Tokaki Kui
An Offer[edit]
Tokaki Kui ran a hand across his eyes, flicking away drops of accumulated sweat and smoothing away hair the color of a roan stallion. He pulled down the cloth that protected his nose and mouth from dust and slid from the back of his horse, an affectionate pat on her neck signaling a job well done on their journey. Her saddle and reigns removed from her back, she whinnied softly and trotted towards the paddock where the other steeds of the Marukan were already gathered for the night. Kui watched her go before turning towards his own home, stretching the muscles of his lean frame as he did. Though raised as a rider like all his people, he had covered the distance between God Crossing and the capital in less than two days, and his muscles felt the miles.
Many of the structures of the town were still impermanent: large hide tents like this one were at least as common, if not more so, than the wooden structures that had been built. Lifting the flap of his door, Kui quickly eyed the interior of his home, looking for signs of disturbance. It was one of the first lessons the members of the Baihu Society learned: any tool you can use against your enemy, your enemy can use against you. All his safeguards were still in place, however, and a thin layer of dust lay undisturbed over everything in the room; no one had been here since his departure for Celeren.
"Welcome home."
The soft voice was like a knife through Kui's spine, setting every nerve on end as he whirled to find its source. There it was, seated on the edge of his cot where he was sure there had been no one moments before. A knife appeared in his hand, then slowly lowered, his breath slowing as he placed the form and voice. A second shiver playfully lapped up his spine; had this man wanted him dead, nothing he could have done would have stopped it.
"Greetings, sifu." Kui lowered his gaze for a moment with respect. "I have come back as you requested."
Leaf Shakes the Wind nodded and stood from the cot, movements fluid inside a robe the color of new grass. "Thank you for returning with such alacrity. Important works are close at hand." Leaf struck flint to steel, the spark lighting a small oil lamp. Kui's eyes quickly narrowed, guarding his vision from the sudden appearance of the light.
"You were the first of my Baihu society, submitting to the training of the three Dragons without question or consideration. Everything they or I have asked, you have lept into without hesitation. Some call it bravery. Many more call it foolishness." Leaf padded slowly around the room. "But I alone know the truth of why you train so hard, why you volunteer for the most difficult tasks." Leaf stopped directly in front of Kui, locking eyes with the young Marukani spy. "It is jealousy."
Kui stiffened, his training fighting with his sudden fear. Leaf Shakes the Wind allowed the slightest of smiles to crease his face, knowing this would only increase the terror that squeezed around his student's heart. "You are jealous of the twins, Cynis Lachid and Layochi. You are jealous of Cethak Nakuto. Most of all, you are jealous of me and my circle. You want our power, the power to wield your own essence and the essence of Creation. You think that if you train hard enough, learn our techniques, master our skills, that maybe the Dragon will awaken within you. Or even better, perhaps the Unconquered Sun will realize your extraordinary talent and grant you his divine fire."
"I... I am loyal, sifu." The tremble was only slight.
"Yes, you are loyal. If you were not, you would be dead." The cold certainty in Leaf's voice left no room for question.
"Then... you are not here to kill me."
A soft laugh drifted from behind the smile. "No. I am not here to kill you. I am here to ask if you will once again volunteer to be the first."
"The first in what?"
"You know of my circle mate, Rivers Between Us?"
Tokaki Kui nodded. "The Ancient Boy. He who treads in the demons' circles and breathes out wonders like the morning mists."
"He has developed a new technique, one which will reshape a man, body and soul, to build him anew according to our designs. While it is not Exaltation,it is a path to the power you crave. But it will mean leaving your humanity behind. You will be changed in ways that even we cannot fully predict. And you will be the first, the scion of this new line."
Kui did not hesitate. "Make me yaojing if you must; I will do it."
A bit of warmth touched Leaf's smile. "Of course you will. Your sisok will come to you when it is time and show you the way."
As the light in the tent faded behind him, Leaf Shakes the Wind climbed onto Wave of Smoke, shaking softly with laughter. "The Ancient Boy? Wait until Rivers hears that one..."
