The Staff of Kyade Read Free Page B

Tokufumi. 'Now, please, you two sit so we can eat.' Kenji and Shin looked at the spread of food that consisted of white rice, miso soup, sushi, grilled fish, eggs, bread, umeboshi and green tea. The food looked so delicious. Shin immediately began to devour everything in sight. Kenji, however, was more hesitant; eating only once he saw everyone at the table do so as well.
    After only a few bites Kenji, noticed no one at the table had uttered a single word. It was odd to have so many people in one place and have a meal in silence. Kenji felt less at ease than before. Even Jun, the crown prince, acted awkward. Kenji looked around the room trying to examine and analyze each individual, but no one would look at him. Tokufumi tried to start a conversation to alleviate the awkwardness.
    'So, Kenji that is a very magnificent staff you have there. If you don't mind, tell me where you got it.' Kenji thought to tell Tokufumi the same lie he'd told Shin—that he'd been given the staff by a family member—but he realized he wanted to know what Tokufumi was hiding. He questioned what Tokufumi's motives were in helping them and there was no better way to find out than by telling the truth.
    'This staff is my village's sacred treasure.' Kenji said with a smile.
    'Is it really?' spoke Tokufumi with a wide eyed expression.
    'Yes, my emperor.'
    'What village are you from?'
    'I am from Kyade, but it is no longer there.' Kenji did not believe for a second that Tokufumi was as clueless as he was making himself out to be, but he decided to play along.
    'What do you mean … what happened?' questioned Tokufumi.
    'When I was a little boy my village was attacked; I am the sole survivor.'
    'How did you get away with that staff Kenji? You must have been really brave!' Tokufumi's voice was filled with sympathy and admiration.
    'It wasn't that. I knew what they were after and I was just lucky I got away.' Kenji said, looking down at his plate of food.
    'Well, I am glad you are alright.'
    'Thank you, but you know what is interesting?' Kenji said, adding a little bit of malice in his voice. 'That the people who attacked and destroyed my home looked almost like the person who attacked me here,' said Kenji and he stared straight into Tokufumi's eyes.
    'What are you trying to say, my young friend?' Tokufumi replied. Shin had noticed the atmosphere in the room was completely changed. He watched as Kenji and Tokufumi tried to intimidate each other with just their stares. Shin also saw that everyone at the table was looking at him. Shin nudged Kenji with his foot, alerting him to the situation. Kenji tried to break the tension before things got out of hand.
    'Nothing, your Imperial Majesty,' Kenji said with a smile. 'I was just speaking on an interesting observation. Even though Kenji tried to calm things down, the glares from the others did not stop. He realized the only way to relieve the tension was to temporarily separate himself from the group.
    'If you do not mind, your Imperial Majesty, may I be excused to use the restroom?'
    'You may,' replied Tokufumi, still studying him.
    As Kenji got up and slowly walked away, he realized he was playing a dangerous game with Tokufumi. He needed time to compose himself. There was a dark feeling looming over him that he could not shake. Kenji walked outside and to the garden at the other side of the palace. He looked at the birds in the air and the fish in the pond on the side of Tokufumi's palace and for a moment, Kenji was calm.
    Kenji stared, confused, when the staff once again started to glow. So far, the staff had only glowed when he was in trouble or approaching trouble. He was safe at the moment so he did not understand.
    He suddenly remembered that he had left Shin alone back in the palace. With a sinking feeling in his gut, Kenji realized that the glowing staff had something to do with Shin. Kenji ran through the palace as fast as he could back to the dining room. When he got there everyone was gone. There