As Kaidan settled down for the night, worrying the handkerchief in his hands, he pondered.
The Warlord King was a long fantasy series, a sort of 'Lord of the Rings' meets samurai anime meets dnd campaign.
The characters were great, once the author figured out where they were going, the world building was pretty good, the plot line interesting.
What had drawn him in was the deep friendship between Kaidan Takasuki and Takeru Shinosuki, or Shino as everyone called him.
Kaidan met Shino after running away from the monastery after his only friends had died of an illness, he had picked Shino's pocket and Shino had seen something in him that inspired Shino to offer his help.
Kaidan was ten, Shino fourteen, so Kaidan had become a paige.
They had become the best of friends, even becoming knights together, then Kaidan had betrayed Shino, leading him into a demonic ambush.
Kaidan was the half demon son. His father a knight of Doushi descent, much like Shino, Hikaru Takasuki. He died when Kaidan was five.
His mother a demon spy, Kalia, who left when he was a baby. She had left behind a knife for him, hidden with his father's possessions.
Shino would end up in the gladiator rings before staging a rebellion, leading the other captives to freedom.
Kaidan ended up working with the demon Lord leading an invasion of the human realm.
They both rose to command and fought against each other more than once.
Once such fight causing the loss of Shino's arm, though he latter earned himself an arm of magic and silver metal.
Shino rose to kingship, with Kaidan doing the same, he remembered the ending, Kaidan and Shino engaging in a final, decisive duel, and ending up killing each other.
The epilogue showing their sons, as they had both multiple spouses and lovers, well set to continue their fathers fight with each other.
Oh, he had hated that ending! He loved Shino, wanting him to triumph and be happy.
And the sons all set to war into eternity? A terrible cycle.
He wanted better, for Kaidan who he had seen himself in, for Shino who was all he had wanted growing up. . .
He did not want to be this traitorous demon who betrayed his dearest friend.
He had never really understood Kaidan, not after the betrayal, Shino had been his best friend, supportive and kind, there for him when he needed it, so why?
He fell asleep with plot points and characters dancing in his head.
Kita! Was it the same Kita that becomes Shino's lover after he returns from the gladiator rings?
And Marco, who becomes a rival squire to Kaidan and later is slayed in the betrayal?
Though the rule of cool that was so prevalent in the first three novels might be fun if it is still in affect.
He was groggy the next morning, handkerchief held tight.
First, visit his friends.
The healers room smelled of sickness and herbs, children pale and listless on. cots, wet washcloths on burning foreheads.
His friends lay barely aware, feverish and ill.
"Hey, I think I have a way, to make you all better," he whispered over Miles, tears bright in his eyes at the lack of response, "I'll be back."
He rushed from the room, unable to linger, tears running hotly down his cheeks.
He skipped breakfast, slipping out of the monestary and making for town.
Lord Chrost was that squire Alec's father, known for being stern and harsh. He favored Shino as the son of his fallen friend, perhaps that would help. . .
The guards did not stop him, barely even giving him a glance, of course, pickpockets are common enough and he wasn't attacking the town.
It was a straight stretch down the main road to the fortress, which looked European with Japanese decorations, ah , Doushi decorations.
The guards here did stop him, "halt, your business?"
Keith held up the handkerchief, "Takeru Shinosuki said I was to come here?"
"Did he now," the guard said doubtfully, "let's see then," he looks at the handkerchief and then tells his companion, "let Shino know about this."
Kaidan settled down to wait, the guard glaring at him with suspicion.
The minutes stretch on awkwardly.
The guard returned, shaking his head, and Kaidan felt his heart drop.
"Little liar, get out if here, brat!"
Kaidan dodged as the guard made to smack him away, backing away with tears in his eyes.
He made his way down towards the town square, defeated.
Someone yanked the handkerchief out of his hand and he spun around.
"Now why would he give this to you?"
Alec?