Never make decisions while sober. You’ll regret it for the rest of your life. -The Demon of Ruthlessness, Marina Cohl

  I snatched the remedy from Ishida and downed it immediately. The qi blended into the bottle’s contents mixed with my own with a pulse of pure water. The fog in my thoughts cleared just as Lin jogged up behind me and accepted a bottle of his own.

  “Does anyone know what it is they’re trying to do?” I asked, trying not to think about the burning heat in my ears and cheeks. For the first time, I was extremely thankful for the black blood of a Voidspawn, because my blush would be far more difficult to notice than if I were human.

  Iza Kirana waved forward a jittery disciple. The girl’s hair was messy, and her breathing suggested that she’d run a great distance to reach us. Even with her Sect Leader standing watchfully over her, she still trembled with a mix of adrenaline and fear.

  “I…I just saw them. They had a dozen Reavers with them,” she explained. “And they had so many disciples with them, but the worst was their leader. It was Elder Song Qiu. I recognized him from when he used to frequent our establishments.” Based on the shudder that passed through her, I guessed they were not pleasant encounters. If rumors were to be believed, the Shattered Moon elder was in seclusion, advancing to Gold. He would be a difficult enemy, and one that only Lin and I could reliably face. Even Satoro would struggle without his full strength.

  “You’ve done enough, go rest. Get some water,” Iza instructed. The disciple bowed politely to all of us before rushing away.

  “I don’t envy anyone who has to see a dozen Reavers,” I grumbled.

  “I take it you’re familiar with them?”

  I nodded. “That’s an understatement. Have the other leaders been told?”

  “We have,” Xinya called. Shion and Erisa flanked the girl respectfully. Behind her, the Moon Guard observed our meeting next to Satoro.

  “The Shattered Moon Sect will almost certainly try to break the armillary and the array that powers it,” I explained. “We must keep them away from the dais, no matter what.”

  Xinya frowned and bit her knuckle, and I yielded the floor to her question. “What about the danger line?” she asked. “Anyone who enters it will be struck by Voidlight Misfortune, right? What chance do they have of breaking through that?”

  “Small, but we can’t take that chance,” I explained. “Reavers don’t feel pain. There’s every chance that a dozen of them could power through whatever misfortune befell them and damage the armillary before they fell.”

  “Not to mention a number of yokai with similar levels of fortitude,” said Satoro. “A kappa specialized in defensive techniques might be able to survive that for long enough.”

  Sect Leader Iza put up a hand. “If they fail to hurt the armillary, they’ll just turn on the businesses in the square. People will die if we do not intervene.”

  “The Sect Leader is right,” I agreed. “So, we need to focus our attention accordingly.” I turned to the Moon Guard. “The Shades of the Forgotten can move between walls, letting you move between those businesses more quickly and easily. Would you be willing to evacuate any civilians from the battlefield before joining the fight?”

  The Moon Guard bowed in a way I found painfully familiar. Hua Zhen might not have remembered who he was, but he hadn’t lost a single ounce of his personality and mannerisms. “Yes, sir. You honor us with this responsibility.”

  “Good.” I turned to Xinya and Sect Leader Iza next. “The Chikara are fierce warriors, and the Blushing Rose Sect is filled with cunning cultivators who are used to fighting independently. I believe your efforts are best served with the Chikara defending the armillary directly, while the Blushing Rose Sect pick off our enemy in small groups.”

  “I agree, Erisa and Shion can take care of the defenses,” Xinya said.

  “What about you?”

  “I’m assuming that you’re probably about to declare that you will fight Elder Song while Lin, Satoro, Ishida, and Xiaolong go where their efforts are most needed?” Xinya said. Before I could confirm, she interrupted. “I’m going to join that group. And, I will be most needed at your side.”

  “Xinya, we’re fighting a Gold artist, one we have very little knowledge of.”

  “And I seriously doubt that he will send all twelve of the Reavers at the armillary,” she continued. “He’s a self-important cult leader devoted to the Darkened Moon. Keeping a couple Reavers near him will improve his image to his followers.”

  Some days, I wonder if you’re really an eleven-year-old or an immortal in disguise, I thought. Then again, she was half-way raised by my sister’s shade, and Chouko knew people better than any of the rulers of Lanyue. With Chouko and Reili’s influence, not to mention their blood in her veins, it was hardly surprising that Xinya was so perceptive.

  “What are you suggesting?”

  Xinya grinned. “You said Moon Reavers are illusionists, right? Well, I’m a lightning artist! I eat illusions for breakfast!” Xinya practically vibrated with anticipation for the battle. She’d been waiting for a chance to shred an illusionist ever since we fought the spider matriarch of the Black Crevice.

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  I made a show of pondering the idea for a moment, but in truth, my niece had already convinced me. Xinya was Silver now, which put her on the level with Sect Leader Iza, the Moon Guard, and Miss Ishida. With the advantage of lightning, I was sure that she would be able to handle any Moon Reaver the Shattered Moon Sect could conjure. Having her deal with whatever honor guard Elder Song used would free me to focus on fighting a Gold.

  “Very well, you’re with me,” I said, relishing briefly in the joy echoing from the girl. “The rest of you, deal with the Reavers and any disciples who are stronger than the rest.”

  Chaos broke out as everyone moved at once. Armillary Square wasn’t far from the sect’s estates, but everyone needed to prepare. Weapons were secured, messengers sent back for reinforcements, and tactics prepared before each group set out. I ducked into the carriage that brought us for my bow and quiver. Just as I slipped them on over my festive robes, I felt Lin’s hand on my shoulder.

  “Do you want me to help with Song Qiu?” he asked.

  The logical answer was obvious to both of us. He was the only other Gold in the district. Though a two on one fight was less than honorable, the Shattered Moon Sect would act with even less. This fight was for the good of the district. We couldn’t afford to lose.

  Yet, my heart twisted. I looked away rather than meet that verdant gaze. I could still taste his breath on my tongue and feel the conflict rage within me. It felt good to kiss him, and that wasn’t just the wine talking. I didn’t know if I regretted it or not. Lin had never expressed those kinds of feelings for me, preferring to keep our relationship firmly under the term “sworn brothers.” I couldn’t help but feel like I’d disregarded his feelings by doing anything more.

  And that didn’t even begin to touch on my fervent hope that Jinshi was still alive…somewhere.

  But, now was not the time for any of that. This was a battle, and I needed to keep my head in the fight, lest I lose it. With a deep breath, I met Lin’s gaze and nodded.

  “I’d appreciate your help,” I said. “We don’t know what techniques this elder will specialize in.”

  We met back with Xinya, Satoro, and the rest of the Chikara who’d attended the feast. Having little to gather, the Forgotten had already gone ahead along with Miss Ishida who could tend the injuries of any civilians hurt by the Shattered Moon Sect already. Once Sect Leader Iza had gathered the masters and disciples representing Blushing Rose, we set off at a brisk jog.

  When we arrived, it was to a field of chaos. The Forgotten were already fighting to defend the homes and businesses around the edge of the square from yokai wearing Shattered Moon insignia. They were clearly outer disciples, with several in their ranks who bore no insignia at all and were just part of the aspirants who weren’t good enough to be considered for membership. The Forgotten were handling themselves, but they were spread thin.

  Gathered around the center of the square were more disciples, these ones dressed in the regular robes of the Sect. Among them, I counted six Reavers, but four more of them, these bigger than the rest, perched on nearby buildings, their mouths wide with sadistic mirth. To my horror, one of the large Reavers unhinged its jaw, and a silver ray of moonlight shot at the armillary. The dragon that coiled around the sphere of light reacted, slithering forward to swallow the beam before returning to its solid state.

  “The natural defenses are working so far,” I said, “but they won’t hold up to that kind of treatment for long, not in the state they’re in.”

  “Then we better move,” Xinya agreed. The young chieftess spun on her heels and raised her voice. “Chikara! You are strong, proud Oni. This sect is intent on destroying our home! Let’s show them just how foolish they are for trying!”

  Eclipse and Moon Rose leapt from their sheathes, and we mounted them, Xinya standing in front of me on the blade. With a cheer, our forces rushed the enemy. Satoro split off, urging Heixin higher to take the fight to the larger Moon Reavers.

  Elder Song was not difficult to find. As soon as the roar of the Chikara echoed over the square, a single man dressed in black and silver robes stepped from the Shattered Moon Sect’s ranks and waved a hand. Silver and gold light tore across the field, uprooting the grass and cobblestones in an attempt to cripple our army before it could take position.

  Lin swooped down, pulling a pulsing green seed seemingly out of nowhere with his newest technique, Soul Seed, and hurling it down before the blast. Nourished by the qi of his soul, a tree sprang from the earth, growing thick and strong in an instant. Elder Song’s technique slammed into the tree, slicing it in half. Though the tree fell to either side, it served its purpose.

  We met Elder Song halfway between the statue of the Star Fairy and the road that surrounded the square. As Xinya had predicted, two large Moon Reavers appeared at his side, glaring at us with hungering madness.

  “So, you must be the obstinate heretics who’ve been causing trouble in my absence,” he growled. “You look like children, even more so for bringing one to the battlefield.”

  I resisted the urge to laugh. To my eye, he looked human, or at least aged like one. Just because his hair was white and his beard was long didn’t make him an immortal.

  “What does that make you?” I wondered aloud. “Even children know that summoning Moon Reavers is suicidal.”

  “You dare question my master’s servants?!” Elder Song seethed. “These are heralds of the Darkened Moon’s will!”

  I rolled my eyes. “Trust me, even the Darkened Moon hates Moon Reavers.”

  “Yes, my disciples have told me how the spirit known as the Moon Moth claims to be descended from our master and thus claims to know his will,” he sneered. “However, the idea that someone as pathetic as you could be related to the Demon of Misfortune is preposterous and an insult to our sect! You cannot know his mind! It is far too great for your weak imagination to comprehend.”

  “And what makes you think that the Darkened Moon would want this city shrouded in darkness?” I growled, my patience waning. “This was his home, these were his people. He gave his humanity and his very life to protect this city and its occupants from harm. Yet you stand there and threaten everything he worked for!”

  Elder Song reached out and stroked the shoulder of one of his Moon Reaver pets. “Shows what you truly understand. Our master’s will is clear to the faithful. He will shroud the city in darkness, purge the vile light, and like him, we will rise stronger than before.”

  “Is that what the Void is whispering to you?” I asked. It wasn’t a great leap in logic. The Void impersonated Shi Reili for millennia in order to drive me to insanity. What’s to say it couldn’t impersonate me to those who believed me their savior?

  He shook his head. “I am no Void artist. I was not born with affinity for our master’s darkness. But, I hear his voice. In my seclusion, I spoke with him, and he taught me much.”

  That’s worrisome, I noted. But, all it really means is that he’s unwilling to listen to reason.

  “Talking was never going to work,” Lin whispered, “but, we tried. That’s all we can do.”

  “Would you like to know what my master said from his prison in the darkness?” Song Qiu asked, a mad grin forming on his lips that shared an uncanny resemblance to the Reavers on either side of him. “He said that heretics deserve no mercy.” He turned to the Reavers. “Destroy them, oh glorious heralds of misfortune! Destroy them in the name of your master!”