Redbark

Sherwood Smith

Description

Twenty-five years ago, a sworn bodyguard and a reluctant bride fled an angry prince, married in secret, and vanished. That prince is now the emperor, with a very long memory.The children of the missing pair are now making their way in the world under assumed names, hoping to avoid the emperor's wrath while following their special Talents.The eldest son Muin is rising the ranks of the army. The second son Yskanda, a remarkable painter, is a prisoner in the lethal, silken cage of the imperial court.The youngest Ryu, disguised as a boy, studies martial arts and the mysterious Essence power while leading the Redbark Sect that fights for justice for commoners. Her closest companion hides dangerous secrets of his own. Meanwhile the emperor's own children test the boundaries of royal power and intrigue, stirring ripples that threaten guilty and innocent alike.

Sujets

• Fantasy (canción de Mariah Carey)
• Fantasy

Informations

• Publié par: Book View Cafe
• Date de parution: 12 octobre 2021
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781611389883
• Langue: English

Extrait

The Phoenix Feather: Redbark
Sherwood Smith

Book View Café edition October 12, 2021 ISBN: 978-1-61138-988-3 Copyright © 2021 Sherwood Smith
www.bookviewcafe.com
Table of Contents
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Read a sample of The Phoenix Feather: Firebolt
About the Author
Also by Sherwood Smith
Copyrights & Credits
About Book View Café
The Phoenix Feather: Redbark
1
Our story continues, beginning withMouse, who stood on the deck of the supply ship, wondering why Commander Wekenhad sent Orderly Yaso along. Perhaps he could not conceive of a life without anorderly, even for a lowly second year cadet.
Anyway, the sailors were pulling upthe ramp, and nobody seemed to be unduly worried about two orderliescoming aboard, for there was Shigan lounging up to stand next to Yaso.
Mouse retreated to the far end ofthe deck as the sailors began doing things to ropes and sails, putting the shipunderway.
Mouse sat tucked up between abarrel and the hull, out of the chill wind. The sun warmed the top of her head,and the rocking of the ship made her drowsy. She was beginning to drift intodreams when a rough hand shook her. “Wind’s shifted,” someone said cheerily, asthunder rumbled in the distance. “Rain on the way. Best get below.”
She dragged herself to her feet,wondering why she was still so very weary, after two days of doing nothing butwalking and sitting on a rock staring at the sea. Icy splats of rain struck hercheek, rousing her. She got to her feet and went below.
This ship was not nearly as largeas the one that had brought her to the training island, but it was also not ascrowded. She saw shelves built along the compartment she was pointed to.Blankets rolled neatly at the ends indicated one could lie on them. But werethey reserved for sailors?
She hovered uncertainly, as conversationwent on around her.
“. . . Turtleback told me themoment the dock hands saw those longboats running in with no lanterns, theywoke everyone and climbed to the roof with fish spears to hand. But the piratesran straight up to the fortress, as if they weren’t even there.”
“Pirates,” a big, broad sailorrepeated scornfully. “I’ve seen pirates. I’ve fought ’em. Everything they say,those were hired swords. Mercenaries.”
A tall woman whistled. “Mightyexpensive expedition, that. For what? Everything they have there they grow, or we bring it.”
Mouse spotted Shigan sittingagainst the hull, knees up, his long eyes open, reflecting the light in thelantern swinging overhead. Yaso bent over a basket of something. Mouse wentthat way, and sank down against the hull between the two, as the big sailorsaid, “They wanted into that fortress. My guess is they were after someone, orsomeones.”
“But they raided the village,”someone else said.
The woman nodded. “So Turtlebacktold us. They were chased out of the village, but not before they grabbedvillagers. Maybe it was a slave expedition, sell them to the WesternIslanders—”
The big man, who had sailed betweenthe docks at the fortress and Te Gar, said, “I was there . Those werehostages. To force the fortress doors open. I’ve been fighting pirates off andon for twenty-five years, and let me tell you, those weren’t pirates, orslavers. Not from what we heard. They wanted in, and since there isn’t anythinginside that fortress but a lot of boys eager for the kill, they were desperateto get at someone.”
“Who would they want?” asked asailor, with extreme skepticism. “I’m told it’s all second sons and the likethere. They also take anyone—carter’s boys, sweepers, doesn’t matter as long ashe can hold a sword.”
“Someone rich sent thosehirelings,” the big man said stolidly. “Why do rich people do anything? Maybeone of those second sons got himself kicked out and wanted revenge against themasters. Or there’s a clan feud going.”
“Clan feud,” someone else repeated.“ That sounds more like it. The rich do love their clan feuds, thoughit’s always the likes of us doing the dying.”
“That’s right. Unless someone evenmore powerful goes after them, then it’s every head that bounces, from the clanchief’s granddam to the newborns,” another remarked sourly. “I’ve heard aboutthose clan feuds. Ayah, the main garrison will be sending the inquisitors, and they’ll find ’em out, ha ha.”
“Food’s ready,” an older womaninterrupted them, pointing to the galley. She turned toward the threepassengers. “Crew gets served first.”
The storm broke overhead in a roarof thunder as people moved to get their meal. When the rumble rolled away tothe west, Shigan turned to Mouse. “Teach me your style of defense,” he said inan undervoice.
From habit Mouse was about to refuse,for Heaven and Earth, and the martial arts style based on it, had always seemedto be part of The Story. She and Muin had kept it secret in case it somehow ledback to Father—for the tassels knew their island of origin.
But now she was free, and if shetold no one where she came from, then no one could trace her, or Heaven andEarth, back to Sweetwater. And Father had only made her promise not to revealit to anyone in the village. “If you tell me what you know about joining the gallantwanderers,” she said, “I’ll show you what I can until we go our separate ways.”
Shigan sat back, tension leavinghis shoulders, his hands, his forehead. He didn’t say anything more, but shut hiseyes. A very short time later, when one of the sailors came around with grilledfish and sticky rice balls, he didn’t react. Then they saw that he was sound asleep.

Over the next few days, Shiganmostly slept. Mouse found herself less listless each day, especially after Yasobrought her more of that medicine to drink. Its pungency was distinctive. Notbad, not good. More . . . odd. It tasted much as the ground smells after thefirst thaw of spring.
When Mouse asked what it was, Yasosaid, “I had to use most of the precious herb on the wounded, but I did save abit. I’ve brewed slivers for your tea.”
Four mornings later, they sailedinto the harbor at Te Gar Island.
Mouse had thought the harbor at herhome island large, but it was not half the size of the one they sailed into.
The sailors expected them to help bringto the deck all the empty baskets and receptacles that would be filled againnext month. Mouse was relieved to feel closer to her old self again. But toomany days had passed since she had done Heaven and Earth, and she felt stuffyand crowded inside her own skin.
At last they dropped into the backof one of the longboats to be rowed ashore.
The ship captain said, “If you’regoing up to the garrison, I can show you the way.”
Mouse took out the letters. Herheart drummed as she held them out. “Will you take these? I want to get in aday of liberty before I go.”
The captain laughed, taking theletters and the tally. “I usually do, and it means a free meal for me. Oh, tobe young again!”
Soon the longboat bumped up againsta piling. They climbed up a barnacle-covered stone stair to the upper part ofthe dock, where boats tied on when the tide was high.
The sailors wished them a goodjourney, then headed off toward the warehouses as Mouse, Shigan, and Yasostarted up the quay toward the main street.
As soon as they were alone, Mouseturned to Shigan. “Should we seek the Hall of Justice? There should be a wallwith notices.”
Shigan’s brows slanted at a steepangle. “Why would you want that? All you’ll see are warnings and capital lists—andthere’s sure to be someone watching to see who is interested in them. Which thegallant wanderers aren’t. They have their own ways of communicating. We justhave to find one who will talk to us.”
“Oh.” Mouse shivered at the idea ofunseen eyes watching to see who read the notice boards. She was now glad thatshe was with Shigan, annoying as he could be.
They followed a stream of people uponto the quay, and then to a street that led into the city. Everything was newand interesting, from the ornamental trees to the accent the vendors called outin. But familiar smells drifted on the cold air, waking her appetite.
Mouse stared in a swoopingcombination of amazement and consternation. The street was fascinating, but hadone common factor: everyone seemed to have a hand out for money. Her stomachreminded her that she hadn’t eaten for what now felt like an age, and she wasaware of a pulse of regret about the garrison. At least it would be familiar,unlike this world in which money was charged for lychee nuts, and melons. Athome, when you wanted a snack, you picked and peeled the nuts yourself, andsame with fetching a melon off its vine.
Familiar—and back to the oldquestions, she reminded herself as Shigan lounged along with scarcely hiddenboredom. And Yaso . . . was just Yaso.
Under Commander Weken’s orders.
Mouse stopped suddenly, and whenthe other two stopped, she turned to Yaso. “You’ve been really good to me. Idon’t want to lie to you. But I’ve decided to leave army training.”
“All right,” Yaso said amicably.
Mouse frowned, unsure whether Yasowas hiding something, or didn’t understand.
“Ayah,” she sighed. “I overheardsome fourth and fifth years once saying something about deserters. I think theyonly behead you if you run from battle, but still, if you feel you have toreport on me to Commander Weken, I’d rather we part now.”
Yaso said, “I want to follow you.”It was simply said, with sincerity Mouse could feel.
“Let’s go, before those sailorsfinish up their other cargo, and see us standing around,” Shigan suggested.
The three followed the crowd uptoward a vast intersection with what appeared to be a main road, runningparallel to the coast. Mouse stared avidly at the shrines, the performershoping for coins, and the shops, the embodiment of the country bumpkin. Thethree of them caught the eye, Shigan for his striking go