Read The Wind and the Void for Free Online

tables had turned. It was too late for Tanak to order Akira around, and he knew it.
    “You wanted to die, didn’t you?”
    Akira glanced up, surprised at the question. He met Tanak’s gaze. “I am the first lord to have lost his kingdom to invasion in the history of the Three Kingdoms. I am dishonored.”
    Tanak weighed Akira’s answer. “And now?”
    “The Azarian threat needs to be dealt with. Once I am certain my people are safe and well-governed, I may once again seek the Great Cycle. But until then, I am needed.”
    Tanak considered Akira’s response. After a few moments of silence a smile broke out on his face and he started laughing. “Akira, you are too much. I will say this for you, your precious honor has been a great help to me.”
    Tanak looked over the treaties one last time. There were three copies. One for each kingdom and one for the monasteries. It was only a moment’s work, but Tanak signed them all and turned them over to Akira. Akira scanned them himself, making sure the key terms of the treaty were unchanged, but everything looked to be in place. He held the quill in his hand, hesitating at the last moment.
    Tanak watched with interest, but Akira was glad he maintained his silence. If the other lord had said anything it might have been too much for Akira. With a single stroke he would give away his entire kingdom, the work of his entire life. But there was no other way. He signed the papers, and the Western Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom became one new kingdom. It would still be called the Southern Kingdom, but it wasn’t the land he was born or raised in. It was something new, and hopefully stronger.
    Akira leaned away from the table. “It is done.”
    Tanak made as if to leave, but Akira gestured for him to stay. “What will be done about the Azarians?”
    Tanak laughed. “They are your phantoms, Akira. I have sent spies down into Azaria, and they report the Azarians wanted nothing more than to reclaim the land south of the pass. Now that you have abandoned Fort Azuma, I expect hostilities will cease. My first act as lord of the Southern Kingdom will be to ride south and present a formal treaty to the leader of the Azarians.”
    Akira couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Are you serious? The Three Sisters is closed.”
    “Yes, but my scouts report some of the game trails are still open. It’s not enough for an army, but a small party can get through. I will take a small force, but I have already sent envoys, and they have been well received.”
    Akira’s head was spinning. “But they have hunters.”
    “And nightblades are clearly running all over our land, so we have nothing to fear. I will establish a new peace that will last for lifetimes.”
    Akira was trying to understand what Tanak was saying. If he was speaking the truth, it cast doubt on over sixty cycles of combat between the Azarians and the Southern Kingdom. Had his people really been the aggressors? It wasn’t logical. Toro had written of a host of Azarians almost beyond count. It was much more than was needed to take Fort Azuma, especially if there were hunters in the party. No, Akira was missing something, but he didn’t know what it could be.
    “Tanak, I think you are making a mistake. We need to gather our forces and prepare for the upcoming war. The Azarians will be here in the spring and we need to be ready for them.”
    “We don’t need to be ready for them. I will treat with their leader, and when I come back, we will have peace.”
    Akira saw he had no hope of changing Tanak’s mind. He couldn’t shake the feeling there was something more he was missing, but without any idea what it was, he had no options. As much as it pained him to do so, his new role was to obey.
    “Very well. What would you have of me while you are away?”
    “Lead the hunt for the nightblade. Work on the successful merger of the kingdoms. I want some of the goods from the Southern Kingdom sent into the Western Kingdom. If this