A Path Through Destiny, Wolfheart [crime books to read .TXT] 📗

Tiger’s paw was one of those dishes.
“Emperor Haruko.” The men bowed. He sat at the head of the table. His plate was currently empty, awaiting me. “We present to you Ambassador and Commandant Kasumi.”
“Ah. Kasumi. Welcome to my palace.”
His tone was too gentle, as if she were frail and stupid. She was a woman and from a barbaric nation. She couldn’t allow those thoughts and still work with him.
He’s insulted our nation enough!
“I am honored to be here, Emperor of Japan.” She spoke his title without a name, as if it were beneath her to even learn it. “It grieves me that we have to meet on such terms, and less barbaric food were served.”
Instant confusion and abrupt surprise.
“I will not eat the paws of our people’s ancestors any more than you would your father’s hands, Lord.” She approached him, even bowing slightly. “I speak your language, honor your ways by entering your palace rather than be at peace aboard The Storm. I call you by your title. I eat most of your food. Yet you continue to insult me and my people. It is as if you thought we were not a people, as if you believe we have no culture of our own.”
His shock tripled. He was speechless.
“I must apologize, young Commandant. I am afraid I do not understand how I have slighted your people as you now slight mine.” He managed to say, trying to gain the high ground.
“You have separated me from my lover and High Priestess, served food of horror and confined High Lord Ren’s daughter to a ship she has never seen but for a few weeks. You speak to me as if I were a child, though even your science has made it clear that I am older mentally than a Human of twenty-eight. There are many more insults to my people, but those even my High Lord will find offensive. I thought to meet with you and find the source of your reasoning for these affronts. It seems that though I know much of your people, you have bothered not at all to learn of mine.”
He paled. “I do apologize. I was not informed that you remain with your Priests and Priestess, or that you even remained with your lovers. Please forgive me, for I did not even know that Lady Ren’s child would accompany you. Give the names to my servants and I will have all three of them moved to your quarters at once.”
Three?
She thought a moment. “I must have misspoken my Japanese, Lord, for I mentioned only two Demis. The Priestess is my lover.”
There was a tense silence. It was clear, however, that he was not willing to make the same mistake twice of underestimating my customs. He nodded. “Of course. Give the two names to the servant. She will be placed in your room and Ren’s child in a comfortable one as well.”
“Your servants know my Priestess. Azoic is High Lord Ren’s daughter. She is a healer, and the only Snow Leopard Demi upon The Storm.”
After a moment’s silence, Emperor Haruko offered with a wave of his hand my place at his awful table.
“I hear you are found of fine sake. If I have the Tiger Paw removed, will you yet join me? I will attempt to understand more of your customs and honor your ways as you do mine.”
“Ah. And when you show me and my people honor, I shall repay you thrice fold. Until then, I bid you goodnight. This day has been one of many horrors, and I have lost my appetite. I take my leave, Emperor of Japan.”
She walked out with her head held high. The doors hadn’t even had time to shut. She followed her nose rather than the servants, who were no longer behind her. Once inside, she slipped back into her Demi form, frustrated by her human’s incapable, small body. She lay on the silk bed and drifted to sleep.

She woke to the sound of Human footsteps; bear this time, within her room. The scent of a Human was heavy, as was the tangent reek of cleaning supplies, mixed with fine sake and rice balls. An apology snack, of course.
“I can clean my own room, servant.”
He jumped, whirling around in terror. He was only around twelve.
“It is alright, boy.” She snarled. “I will not eat you.”
“I apologize, Lady, but this is my job.”
She sighed, rising.
“Then you should tell me if you know of Akira’s coming.”
“Within the hour, Lady.”
“Good. Leave as soon as you’ve finished your pesky task.”
He bowed low and returned to cleaning. He left about twenty minutes later. Kasumi ate the rice balls, then drank a little of the Sake before giving herself a good grooming. Akira arrived suddenly, carrying with her a sense of frustration and agitation. Servant men carried all of her belongings; that always pissed her off. Kasumi took the bags and shooed the servants away. Then she closed the doors, set down the bags and went over to Akira to wrap arms around her Priestess. She breathed in her sweat, herb-filled scent deeply.
“Damn those Humans! Damn them all to their eternal Hell!”
Kasumi didn’t say a word, letting her love relax in her arms.
“Never mind them. Humans are arrogant creatures; especially the Japanese. It is unfortunate that they are the ones to create us. After all, they worship the sun and the moon. How intelligent can they really be?”
She leaned back into Kasumi’s arms. Then, she turned to face Kasumi and wrapped around her that way, burying her face into Kasumi’s chest fur. She asked “I’ve been complaining all day. How in Gaia’s name did you manage to do so?”
“I complained to the Emperor himself for all the slights he’s made to our culture. They even still eat Tiger Paws!”
“With you there?”
“He was ready to remove it at once to get me to forgive him by the end. Overall, it went well – at least for such men as he.”
“They are not but barbarians!”
“They think that of us, you realize.”
“Oh. So I suppose I am dishonoring their every custom?”
“We are lovers, and female.”
“What’s wrong with that?” She growled.
Kasumi purred “According to Gaia or the sun and moon?”
Akira’s playful smile seemed impossibly alluring. She purred wordlessly into Kasumi’s chest as she leaned into her further. She rubbed against her. “What inspired you so to bring me so urgently here, my love?” She asked in Demi. Her tone was luring. Kasumi buried her muzzle into Akira’s neck. But Akira playfully pulled away, shifting toward the bed.
“Tired already, my dear?” Kasumi teased.
“Not at all.”
Kasumi followed her. Just as they lay down under the covers and their Demi forms dissipated as fast as their clothes, there was a sharp, loud knock, knock, and knock.
Kasumi snarled several swear words in Demi as she ripped the blankets off, thrust up and practically tore her robe as she put it on and yanked the door open, expecting another servant. Instead she saw a huge, broad shouldered Demi with fire orange fur and shadow black stripes. It was female.
“Good Gaia!” A familiar voice growled. “They weren’t yanking our chains after all, Sauda! It is Kasumi!”
A black shadow moved and formed a slightly smaller but equally powerful black Jaguar Demi. Kasumi gasped.
“Anya! Sauda! You have made it at last!”

Chapter Four
Anya and Sauda

Akira was furious when she heard Anya and Sauda’s voices at the door. The two of them had always meant Kasumi had some kind of business; trading, military, expeditions for the High Lord. They always seemed to have the wrong timing; they always prevented Kasumi from spending time with her. Aki recalled the day they had gone to get a rare herb for trade on Mount Kilimanjaro. The Russian Border Guard had spotted them and they had come back half dead on stolen Caelum Boards – which were Russian issue. Akira had had the most awful time mending them because they wouldn’t take the medication until Kasumi threatened them.
“Do I smell Akira?” Anya’s deep, loud voice irritated her ears and gave her an instant headache. Akira saw Kasumi’s tail twitch irritably.
“Yes, you do. We’re trying to enjoy some time together and relax. I am glad you two have made it, I really am, but this is not the time for a friendly visit.”
“That’s fine.” Sauda’s voice wasn’t as brass, and held less of a growl to it. It was less irritating to Akira’s sensitive ear fur. Her voice, however, had the effect of pissing her off. “This isn’t a friendly visit. We were told to come up with a strategy with you, but figured it would be more of a briefing by you. We came by to hear it and perhaps add something.”
“I’m in no mood to brief anybody right now. I have had a long day, you two, and just wish to relax. If dawn is alright, we can discuss this over a meal tomorrow.”
“Sure. I bet you’re exhausted. From this little stir you cause, the Emperor will have to consider us independent allies. That’s some big shit to have your shoulders.”
“We’ll discuss this later, Anya. Dawn tomorrow and no sooner or later. Now leave us in peace.”
They muttered their apologies and good-byes. Being a few years younger, they were a little less experienced and tended to look at Kasumi for guidance. Especially military guidance. Sauda was more of a merchant than a soldier, but she was one hell of a leader. And Anya had a problem with controlling her temper around almost anybody else.
Akira turned away from Kasumi when she returned to bed, making absolute sure that she felt her frustration and headache. Kasumi sighed.
“Look…I’m sorry; love, but I need this information. I can’t fight a war without a strategy, and I’m obviously the head right now.”
“Why do you need it so early? Can’t we spend the morning together?”
“Why spend the morning together when the afternoon sun is so much warmer on the fur? I promise that I will not spend all day in the briefing.”
“Or playing catch-up?”
“With whom do I have to catch up with? I know those two well. I don’t need to hear about the prices of silk or wheat; we are merchants only during peaceful times. I do not need to know their personal life; we are comrades in war, not lovers like you and I.” She curled around Aki. “And besides, that will leave you time to sleep. Dawn is quite an early time to awake for somebody who may need to stay up all night at any given moment.”
I don’t want sleep! I want time with Kasumi!

There was frustrated, tense silence as there always was after Anya and Sauda brought news about leaving or partnering up. Just as Aki was becoming restless and preparing to rise, Kasumi did. Curious, the Priestess watched the Commandant as she dug through her belongings. Somehow, they had managed to remain packed. Eventually she pulled out a rectangular oak case. Aki’s spirits rose instantly as she recognized Kasumi’s violin case. It was rarely played for anybody else.
“I truly am sorry.” Kasumi told her. “Let me prove it with our favorite song.”
She popped open the case to pull out a violin made from the same tree as the case; it