Rayna's Sacrifice (The Katori Chronicles Book 3) by A. Lombardo (intellectual books to read .TXT) 📗

under a limb. “The storm confirmed the elders aim to keep you out. With rumors of Keegan’s return flooding Katori, I can understand you being lumped in with his arrival. These two events don’t seem coincidental. Not to our obsessive, controlling chiefs. They fear you, while others believe in what you might represent.”

“What exactly do I represent? They don’t know me.” Kai stomped closer to Davi to gauge his reaction.

“Change. You are either Keegan’s son, power-hungry and planning to rise against them. Or, you are the legend, meant to change the Katori way of life. I told you this before. The legend speaks of a story depicted on the walls of Alenga’s lost Agora. Two warriors fight against the man with a black soul. Nobody wants a war, Katori fighting Katori.”

The burden of carrying the future of the Katori pressed on Kai’s heart. He never asked for this. All he wanted was his mother back.

Rayna stepped between Kai and Davi. “So how did you come to our aid in the storm?”

Davi’s kind eyes smiled at her. “Sabastian came to us, asked for our help. Another came to your aid, a young man named Shane. He has returned to his wife for the night, but promises to join you at dawn.”

The mention of Shane made Kai’s heart leap into his throat. It was not his wish to pull Shane into a battle. Guilt clawed at his insides. Kai dipped to avoid banging his head against a low branch. Shane had only just started his new life with Julia. This is not Shane’s fight.

Ahead of them, Kai could see the light from the campfire. It would be nice to rest, eat, and visit with old friends.

Davi crossed a small stream and offered a hand to Rayna. “Your friend, Shane, is a good man. He hunts with us, and we have met his young wife. The storm was already pounding the sky when Shane reached our homestead. Together we found a long line of Weathervanes along a ridge, south of Albey. We were lucky they had no Beastmasters with them, besides the two eagles. They outflew Sabastian to warn of your arrival. Sabastian is quite the Beastmaster. He took on both birds. You know, I can honestly say I have never seen anyone fight the way he did. Changing into a man and back again midflight. The other Weathervanes were no match for us. With their focus on the storm, we took advantage of their distraction. Shane is mighty quick with his arrows. Almost as fast as me. We wounded them, and they fled into the Zabranen Forest, lost in a white fog.”

Davi stepped into the campsite, and Naia rushed to hug Kai. Everyone was there, Kalia and Jada and her new baby. After introductions were made, Naia offered them shelter, clothes, and food. It felt good to be dry. They were safe for the moment, but Kai knew they could not stay here long. Time was running out, and his pounding head ticked like a clock announcing his approaching time limit. He feared his and Rayna’s magic would burn out with the fever before they could complete the Conhaspriga. Not that he fully understood how it worked—he only knew they needed to hurry.

Gabe poked at the fire. Davi dropped two more logs into the blaze. “Kai, what do you know about the Conhaspriga?”

“I know it is a rite of passage performed by all Katori when they come of age. It is a Calling. I know some choose to spend the year or two prior exploring the world before making their choice. They must either choose to return to live in Katori, or live out here, giving up their gifts.”

Hale interrupted, “A rare few choose to venture out into the unprotected world. Not worth the risk, I guess. Very few are curious about what lies beyond the Katori Mountains. Those that choose to skip all this adventure have a simple ceremony after a year of silent meditation. They still select a crystal from Alenga’s mountain, and dip into the sacred spirit pool within the Agora.”

“I know about the crystal stones, the Weathervanes, Beastmasters, Kodama, Stonekings, and Lumens,” Kai continued. “I even know my journey starts at the Three Sisters—three oak trees at the base of the first waterfall. They mark the entrance into the Zabranen Forest and the passage back to the Katori Lands.”

Gabe laughed. “Boy, your test started the moment you left Diu. The elders know you have the fever. Lucca may have never visited you, but he knows your age and that you are being called. The chiefs have no intention of letting you complete the Conhaspriga. Is nobody else thinking about it?” He paused to survey the group. “Kai is the legend.” Gabe rolled his eyes. “He will be a Beastmaster, and no ordinary Katori man who walks among beast. He will talk with them. He will become them. He was born to lead us to a new age.”

Kai pulled his feet back from the fire, feeling the heat. “I have heard this legend. Kendra spoke of two warriors who stand against one man whose soul is black as night. Davi and I already discussed this. But I don’t care to lead a revolution. Kendra said this story is carved in stone, but I will not let it define me or my future.”

Naia nodded in agreement. “Nobody has seen the lost Agora in centuries.”

This was new. Kai knit his brow together. “A lost agora. As anyone seen this place?”

“As far as I know, nobody alive today has laid eyes on the stone carvings. They are twisted stories passed down by each generation. Alenga holds your future, do not worry about what has yet to happen. When you get to Katori, you must seek out the invisible man. He will teach you if you are meant to become his equal.”

Bewildered, Kai looked at the others. “How exactly do I find an invisible man?”

Naia laughed. “He is a legend. I have no