Page 83 of Lord of the Lone Wolf
With another gesture, black stones covered in runes tumbled out, each pulsating with an eerie green light.
Jaega’s mood darkened with recognition. “Soulcages.” When Kitsuki reached out, Jaega’s hand blocked his nephew’s movement. “Do not touch them. They will extract the soul from anyone who makes direct contact.”
Kitsuki eyed them with newfound wariness. “Explain, Lieutenant.”
“The Enchanters discovered these embedded within each ritual site,” Norkon said. “They contain bound souls that powerthe necromantic energy of the Deathward. We extracted these to disable the ritual sites, while the warriors destroyed the platforms. Even if they try to rebuild, there is no way for them to succeed on a scale large enough to cause problems during our invasion. The Enchanters were quite clear on that point.”
“What of the souls trapped within?” Kitsuki asked, his gaze fixed on the pulsing stones.
“The Enchanters wish to consult with their colleagues back in Tiora,” Norkon explained. “They hope someone might know how to free the souls bound within them.”
Jaega nodded. “Until then, I will keep them safe.” He used his magic to return the spilled stones back into the bag before vanishing. “They will be secure in my private cabinets in Tiora, where no one can access them without my permission.”
“I cannot overstate how valuable Maseo’s intelligence proved to be,” Norkon said, turning to smile at the half-wolf shifter. “We never would have succeeded without his detailed knowledge of Norello’s underground passages.”
Maseo’s cheeks flushed at the praise. “I am grateful I could help, though I still wish I could have done more.”
“You did the most important thing by surviving this war, which is no small feat, given the dangers we have faced.”
A frown crossed Maseo’s features. “It does not feel like enough.”
Kitsuki’s dragon yearned to reassure Maseo by telling him how valuable he was. Kitsuki suppressed the urge, maintaining his silence. His dragon had already revealed too much. He would not compound that error.
“Where does this leave us ahead of our approach to Norello?” Jaega asked, redirecting the conversation to strategic matters.
Norkon leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. “Nasume has sent the bulk of his army to the war front. The city itself is lightly defended, and the guards who remain are not his best warriors. Our mission was almost too easy in that regard.” He paused, his brow furrowing. “What troubles me is that we never encountered the hooded shadow figure I observed during my reconnaissance. It should have interfered with our plans to destroy the necromantic sites, yet it never appeared. I cannot fathom Nasume’s game in this.”
“It is Nasume’s arrogance,” Jaega suggested. “He does not believe he needs anyone to defend Norello because he cannot imagine losing this war and facing the full force of the Valzerna army.”
Norkon hesitated. “That may be part of it, but my fear is that Nasume is planning to use his lichen army. Unfortunately, we could do nothing about the bones in the graveyard. The Enchanters were too exhausted, and the risk was already too high when the Hollowed patrolled the area.”
“You did more than enough,” Jaega assured him. “We are now in an excellent position to make our assault on the city once we close in after a few more weeks of advance.”
“Lieutenant Norkon, you have my gratitude for leading such a dangerous mission to success,” Kitsuki praised. “Valzerna owes you a debt.”
Norkon bowed his head. “It is my honor to serve Your Majesty.”
Jaega rose from his chair. “Lieutenant, let us leave to debrief with the other elite task force warriors and Enchanters. Theremay be additional details that could prove useful in our coming fight.”
Norkon stood, bowing once more to Kitsuki before following Jaega from the tent. The flap closed behind them, leaving Kitsuki alone with Maseo.
The silence between them stretched thick with unspoken words. Kitsuki’s dragon clamored within him, desperate for proximity, connection, and acknowledgment of their shared feelings. Kitsuki remained still, his expression neutral despite the storm raging within.
Maseo’s expression grew troubled, his brow furrowing as he stared at the table where the soulcages had been.
“What troubles you?” Kitsuki asked, bracing himself for an uncomfortable conversation, perhaps a return to the revelations his dragon had made weeks before.
Maseo looked up, his eyes meeting Kitsuki’s with unexpected directness. “It’s becoming more real that I will soon face my father. I don’t know what to expect, especially if he wields the power of necromancy.” He swallowed hard. “I fear I might freeze in our encounter because of old trauma. I’ve spent my life fearing him. How do I overcome that when the moment comes?”
The vulnerability in Maseo’s admission stirred something deep within Kitsuki. “You are not the frightened boy you once were,” he said, his voice gentle despite his resolve to maintain distance. “You have grown into a strong young man who can stand against your father’s hatred. And you will not face him alone. I will be with you, as I promised.”
Gratitude softened Maseo’s features. “Thank you. I’m determined to do whatever it takes to dethrone him. He can’t continue his reign of terror.”
“We will defeat Nasume and free the people of Kunushi from his tyranny and you from his shadow.”
“And you,” Maseo added.
Kitsuki blinked in surprise. “Me?”
