Wall of Spears Read Online Free

with the cup before leaning back against the side of the stall and clutching the tea close, hoping it would stop her hands shaking. She wondered who had sent six warriors to kill her.
    ‘How could such a thing happen? In the marketplace? I shall tear Dokuzen down with my bare hands until I find out who is responsible, then I shall rip them into pieces!’ Gaibun raged, storming around the garden.
    ‘Calm down,’ Asami told him. She had changed but the smell of blood and death and shit was still thick in her nose and she had to be out in the fresh air, where the scent of the autumn flowers could at least distract her. ‘We know who is responsible but proving it will be near impossible.’
    ‘There has to be something we can do!’ Gaibun spat. ‘We shall wring answers from the one who survived —’
    ‘Sit down and listen to Asami, my son,’ Retsu rumbled. ‘The last attacker died before we could get anything from him. He seemed to have some sort of fit at the first question and choked to death.’
    ‘Well, that proves it was Sumiko. Nobody else would have the magical ability to make that happen.’ Asami closed her eyes to shut out the look on the faces of her attackers as she had killed them. Then a memory stirred and she gasped.
    ‘What?’ Retsu asked.
    ‘One seemed familiar somehow — I think I know from where. Talking about them reminded me of the time Sumiko sent a group to kill us here and steal that book Sendatsu found in Vales. I stunned one but he escaped. I only saw his eyes then but now I am sure it was the last one I killed today.’
    ‘Sumiko is dead. I will take her head as soon as she returns.’
    ‘Sit down!’ Retsu barked and, surprised, Gaibun obeyed him.
    ‘Listen for a moment. Sumiko and her deputies were far away, in another country. To say they were behind this is foolish. Already Jaken raises Sumiko above all others on the Council. If we were to accuse her, we would be lucky to escape with our lives. Remember, Jaken has no love for our family. And, since Sendatsu left Dokuzen, Jaken has been worse than ever. Instead of seeing Sumiko punished for her crimes, we could be the ones executed.’
    ‘That could never happen!’ Gaibun protested.
    ‘Really?’ Retsu raised an eyebrow. ‘I never thought to see the day when Jaken was Elder Elf and Sumiko his most trusted counsellor, but it has happened. And let us not underestimate Sumiko. What if this was her plan all along?’
    ‘What — to fail?’ Asami asked, amused.
    ‘Send six warriors to kill you. They stand a chance of success but she knows you have both prodigious magical skills and are deadly with the blade. So if they kill you, all well and good. If they fail and you dare to accuse her in the Council Chamber, she can use her newfound political power to have you imprisoned. Either way you are removed as a threat.’ Retsu shrugged.
    ‘Who thinks like that?’ Gaibun asked.
    ‘Jaken does, for one. And I am sure Sumiko does as well. Wheels within wheels; plans within plans. I think our only choice is to keep quiet and accept the Council Guards’ apologies, and ensure Asami is kept safe from now on.’
    ‘So we sit here and do nothing?’
    ‘No, we avoid the trap Sumiko has left for us. Years ago I was quick to confront Jaken, quick to denounce him, and it cost me both leadership of our clan and something more important.’ Retsu fell silent for a moment. ‘I still believe in honour but I also believe in learning from one’s mistakes. I shall not charge headlong into traps any more.’
    ‘But we cannot do nothing,’ Gaibun protested.
    ‘We are warned and prepared. We wait for them to make a mistake,’ Retsu corrected. ‘Meanwhile, Asami must stay in the house at all times.’
    ‘No!’ Asami exclaimed. ‘I shall go mad if I am forced to stay here all day long!’
    ‘Well, what do you suggest? Sumiko wants revenge. How else do you keep safe?’
    ‘But I do not want to just keep safe. I want to strike back at