Emperor of the Fireflies Read online

torii gateway to a shrine (the boundary between the mortal world and the world of spirits)

  tsubaki mochi camellia rice cake

  wagashi traditional sweet served with tea

  yamabushi mountain holy man

  yōkai supernatural creature, ghost, or monster (not necessarily evil or ugly)

  yukata light, informal summer kimono, worn by both men and women

  Honorifics

  -chan affectionate term used toward children, girls, close friends, and family

  -kun address used when speaking to a younger boy or man

  -sama term of respect

  -sensei title and honorific, used for anyone expert in a certain field (i.e. medicine, teaching, etc.)

  Cast List

  Cipangu is the name that Marco Polo gave to the country we now recognize as Japan. However as much of Marco Polo’s writings is now thought to be speculative fiction, so Tide Dragons, which is set in Cipangu, should be read as an historical fantasy inspired by the myths and legends of Heian Japan.

  Clan of the Black Cranes (Black Crane – Kurozuro)

  Kaito/Kai, younger brother of the clan lord, 17

  Sakami, 17, a servant girl

  Shun, 21, her elder brother, an archer

  Hiroki, 31, another archer

  Mai and Mami, 17, kitchen girls and twins

  Kenta, 13, kitchen boy

  Clan of the Red Kites (Red Kite – Akatobi)

  Lord Toshiro (Akatobi no Toshiro)

  Naoki, his son and heir, 18

  Masao, 20, Lord Toshiro’s illegitimate son

  Okitane, Lord Toshiro’s senior retainer

  Raiko, 17, Okitane’s son and Naoki’s retainer

  Yūdai, master of martial arts

  Yūgiri Hisui, 21, a shaman healer

  Yosanosuke Hisui, his father

  Yoriaki, Kite Shadow Master

  Chikaaki, senior shinobi

  Kinkiyo, Master Swordsmith and Armorer

  Beniko, his daughter, Saburo’s widow

  Ren, her young son

  The Imperial Court

  Emperor Hotaru, 32

  Empress Ayaka, his first consort, 16

  Reika, her maid and bodyguard, 18

  Lady Ochiba, 21, chief lady-in-waiting

  Lady Miruko, 16 and Lady Hakase, 20, ladies-in-waiting

  Lady Saisho, 32

  Admiral Higekuro

  General Nakakuni

  Captain Yorisada

  Princess Omiya, Ayaka’s mother

  Lord Nagamoto, the Minister of the Right, Ayaka’s father

  Lord Kiyomori, the Minister of the Left, Leader of the Mori Clan

  Kobai, 13, the emperor’s page boy

  In Exile

  Suzaku, 34, the deposed emperor

  Princess Yasuko, his consort

  Prince Norihira, 5, their son and heir

  Princess Asagao of the Black Cranes

  Takeru, her elder son and Lord of the Black Cranes, 22

  General Tachibana, Princess Asagao’s right-hand man

  Isamu, 19, Takeru’s squire

  Susumu, 17, his younger brother

  Rikyu, 22, Black Crane archer and bodyguard

  The Tide Dragon Temple and Monastery

  Abbot Genko

  Seishi-sensei, Kaishin’s mentor and tutor, an elder healer monk

  Captain Garyo, leader of the warrior-monks

  Immortals

  Inari, the rice goddess

  Honou, Sakami’s fox-familiar

  Yukiko and Kane, Inari shrine guardians

  Lady Chinatsu – White Celestial Fox, guardian of the capital Inari shrine

  Lord Korechika – Black Celestial Fox, guardian, her partner

  Kurika, a fire kami

  Uguisu, White Nightingale, Hotaru’s shikigami

  Prince Shiohiru, the White Tide Dragon of Ebb

  Prince Shiomitsu, the Blue Tide Dragon of Flood

  Acknowledgments

  My thanks to:

  Colin Murray for all his editorial expertise

  Marcelle Natisin, for the amazing cover art and dragon chapter heading

  Sarah Feinerman, for the cover lettering

  John Richard Parker, my agent for many years

  Diana & Matt Horner, Chantal Chevalier and all at eBook Partnership

  My husband Michael

  Sarah Ash

  www.sarah-ash.com

  Moths to a Flame

  Songspinners

  The Lost Child

  The Tears of Artamon Trilogy

  1/ Lord of Snow and Shadows

  2/ Prisoner of the Iron Tower

  3/Children of the Serpent Gate

  Alchymist’s Legacy

  1/ Tracing the Shadow

  2/ Flight into Darkness

  Tide Dragons

  1/ The Flood Dragon’s Sacrifice

  2/ Emperor of the Fireflies