The Half-Light Read online

  The Half-Light

  Katori Chronicles Book 1

  A. D. Lombardo

  I dedicate this book to my son Connor and all the parents and children who spend countless hours reading stories and sparking memories.

  Acknowledgments

  Writing a book was more exhilarating than I ever imagined. From one idea sprouts another. One lesson I learned, never go to sleep mulling an idea. Night fairies whisk them away never to be recalled come morning.

  I especially want to thank my awesome son, Connor. What started as a simple story, I told him as a toddler developed into a full-blown book series after a restless night’s sleep. None of this would have been possible without the delight on his face when he read the first few pages in our grocery store parking lot. His writing contribution brought Rayna’s character to life and kept her from becoming just a girl at the beach, effectively altering Kai’s future and the story entirely. Beyond his insightful instruction, Connor spent hours reading and rereading every draft.

  Encouragement came without limits from my supportive husband, Richard. Most days, I spent every waking hour, I was not at work—writing. When I felt frustrated or doubtful, he stood beside me and told me not to give up. He was essential to this book getting done. Thank you so much, my dear husband.

  Special thanks to my two editors—Edwina, you helped me realize I don’t need to color everything. Keith, you pushed me to punch up the story, reveal more and not resolved every fight within two paragraphs. Together you both taught me not to fear the delete key.

  I would be remised if I did not thank my little sister, Rachel, for some early suspense advice, Ingrid for constant encouragement and downloading a very rough draft, and Karen for early proofreading and at times daily moral support.

  One very important honorable mention, I must thank my dog, Buddy. While he will never read this, he spent hours downstairs beside my desk, ensuring I was not alone into the wee hours. His loyalty gave real strength in the creation of Smoke.

  Finally, to all those who have been a part of my getting here: every friend, coworker, and relative who listened to me talk about my story over and over again, often braving the question: How is the book coming? Thank you.

  The Half-Light

  The Katori Chronicles Book 1

  A. D. Lombardo

  This work is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used factiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2019 A. D. Lombardo

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or otherwise, without express written permission of the author or publisher—except for the use of brief quotations for a book review.

  Published by Angela Lombardo

  ISBN 978-1-7333376-1-8

  Cover design by Rob

  First Edition 2019

  www.ADLombardo.com

  Contents

  Chapter 1 Bonding

  Chapter 2 Drew

  Chapter 3 Routine

  Chapter 4 Bad Dreams

  Chapter 5 Betrothed

  Chapter 6 Green Eyes

  Chapter 7 Gianfranca’s Secret

  Chapter 8 Landon’s Anger

  Chapter 9 Half-Light

  Chapter 10 Spellbinding

  Chapter 11 Trapped

  Chapter 12 Duplicity Born

  Chapter 13 Real Proof

  Chapter 14 Bonds Are Forever

  Chapter 15 Entitlement

  Chapter 16 Thade Forest Burdens

  Chapter 17 Who’s That Girl?

  Chapter 18 Winter Storm

  Chapter 19 Wicker Basket

  Chapter 20 The Gift of Time

  Chapter 21 Testing Limits

  Chapter 22 Moon Blindness

  Chapter 23 Cheese Pie

  Chapter 24 Kodama

  Chapter 25 Hamrin Bound

  Chapter 26 Three Wolf Night

  Chapter 27 Men or Monsters

  Chapter 28 Childhood’s End

  Chapter 29 Town Hope

  Chapter 30 Homecoming

  Chapter 31 Future Predictions

  Chapter 1

  Bonding

  Three days after Prince Kai’s thirteen birthday, he found himself face-to-face with a Nebean black wolf pup. A spring chill whipped through the air of the Diu palace courtyard. Kai watched the pup hop and roll in the grass before him. Its feet were massive—in fact, everything about him was bigger than even the largest of dogs.

  The pup’s mother hovered near the young prince, her blue eyes fixed on Kai. Kai gulped at her intimidating height. Haygan, the new stablemaster, stood firmly beside her, his feet set wider than his broad shoulders. With him was Kendra, the children’s governess. “Haygan, are you sure?” she asked.

  “There’s only one way to find out,” Haygan responded. “Let him try.”

  The prince tilted his head. “Why can’t I give him a name?” Kai inquired.

  “Do you want a pet or a companion?” Haygan countered.

  Confused by the question, Kai asked, “What’s the difference?”

  “Freedom. Pets are tame, dependent creatures. Companions, however, are bonded to you. There’s mutual respect between you.” Haygan looked to the enormous Nebean wolf-mother. “Shiva is not my pet, she is her own master. We are equals. My people, the Katori, believe a shared relationship is stronger.”

  “My mother was from Katori.” Kai smiled. “Maybe you knew her, her name was Mariana.”

  Kendra knelt in the grass. “We both knew your mother, Kai. You can do this,” she assured him.

  Haygan’s expression remained serious. “Focus, Prince Kai. Focus on the wolf. Find the connection between you. Sense his nature with your own. The point starts in your soul and reaches for his. Introduce yourself, but not with words. Use your mind. All you must do is ask and listen.”

  Kai let his hand stroke the pup’s fur. The wolf settled in the grass. Kai thought about what Haygan had just told him. He wanted a shared connection. They were the same—they both wanted freedom. Emotion surged into Kai’s heart when he thought of his mother. Since her death, he cherished any connection to her past and the traditions of her homeland.

  Caught up in the moment, Kai felt a spark ignite his heart. A flood of energy flowed through his mind. Power tingled down his spine. The hair on his arms stood on end. They stared at each other. Mentally he reached out to the wolf—I am Kai. Would you be my companion? He offered himself to the pup and thought of how they would spend their lives together.

  The wolf’s eyes conveyed a sense of wisdom. Strength and loyalty echoed in his ears. Kai continued to listen. Visions of them older flashed through his mind. A campfire crackled, smoke from the fire floated into the sky, and he heard—SMOKE.

  Astounded, he looked to Haygan. “Smoke, his name is Smoke,” he announced proudly.

  “You heard something?” Kendra whispered, surprised.

  “It can’t be possible…” Haygan knit his brow and stroked his chin. “He’s a Half-Light.”

  Confused by their comments, Kai looked to them both. Had he done something wrong? He only did what they asked. Even now, he could still feel a tiny thread between him and the wolf. A spiritual tether linked them together.

  Haygan knelt next to Kai. “Don’t get me wrong, Kai. This is wonderful. We are just a little surprised you did it so easily. You’ve been blessed by Alenga with a gift. And we will help you develop your ability, but this is very dangerous. From one Katori to another, we must keep this a secret. If anyone found out, you would be taken away from your family. Your power puts everyone at risk; you, your family, other Katori
, even Smoke. Horrible people could take you, use you as a weapon or tool to trick others.”

  Kendra placed her hand on Kai’s shoulder. “I see the concern in your eyes. We are proud of you, of course, but we cannot stress enough the danger of others learning about any of your gifts. You are thirteen now, and any other gifts you may have will begin to manifest as you get older—potentially very soon. Being only half Katori, we were unsure you’d demonstrate any power.”

  Kai turned to Haygan. The new stablemaster had only been in Diu a few weeks, but he came highly recommend. “Is this why you came to Diu? To test me?”

  Haygan looked at Kendra and nodded. “Yes.”

  “It’s complicated, Kai,” she added. “You are Mariana’s son, and I, for one, wanted to meet you. But now, given your bonding with Smoke, it is important we teach you how to control your gifts.”

  “Imagine someone wanted to attack Diu fortress.” Haygan gestured to the security guard and his canine patrolling in the distance. “With your ability, they could force you to turn the Mryken guard dogs against Diu. Consider the devastation those dogs could do. Two of those dogs are capable of killing a bear. While they are not as large as Shiva, they are formidable beasts. The devastation to the people would be catastrophic.”

  “I would never help them,” Kai insisted. “I would never hurt anyone here in Diu.”

  “You wouldn’t have a choice. They would leverage your feelings for someone else to force you,” Haygan countered. “Even if you trust the person you tell, it is not their burden to carry. They will not understand the risk and could accidentally tell another.”

  It was difficult enough to process his bonding, but now he had to grapple with the risk behind his gift. While Kai wanted to be excited, he was confused by the dangerous secret. “I would have never thought about it like that. I understand the risk. Can all Katori do this?” Kai asked.

  Haygan pulled Kai to his feet. “Not every Katori can bond with animals, and even if they can, only a select few can communicate outside of their direct bonds. The more you practice with Smoke, the more attuned you will become. Only time will tell if you can interact with other creatures. Wild animals, when attacking, are the most difficult to reason with.”

  Kendra smoothed the front of her apron. “We can talk about this later. Let’s get you inside. I must check on your little brothers.”

  The stablemaster motioned to Smoke. “Bonds are forever, Your Highness. Smoke is not a dog; he is a wolf. Respect him and his wild nature. You must promise to work on your bond. We are both proud of you.”

  The weight of their fear pressed on prince Kai’s chest. Respectfully Kai nodded, “I will practice every day. And I will keep the Katori secrets,” he promised.

  ◆◆◆

  Spring and summer were over in the blink of an eye. Kai sat cross-legged on the floor, and his wolf faced him. No longer a pup, Smoke’s stature loomed over the young prince. Committed to strengthening their bond, they had practiced every morning since spring. Kai listened. Smoke sat. But since their very first day, he’d heard nothing. Desperate to hear the wolf speak once more, Kai pushed his thoughts—nothing happened. What am I doing wrong?

  No matter how hard he tried, the result was the same. Had he imagined the words, the feelings? No, they were real. No matter how impossible the idea, he’d felt the connection and heard his wolf. Training Smoke to come when called, to sit and stay on command was the easy part. Hearing his wolf was proving to be more difficult.

  Even the Mryken became his test subjects. He visited the kennels and attempted to force his will on the royal guard dogs. No luck with them either. Frustrated, he laid back on the floor of his room. Smoke’s bark brought Kai upright to see Landon Maxwell blocking the door.

  “Poor little prince,” the older boy mocked as he stuck his head in the room. “No friends but your little mutt.”

  “I have friends,” Kai protested. “Get out of my room, Landon.”

  “Or what?” Landon challenged.

  Before Kai could respond, Amelia Maxwell entered. “Cousin Landon, leave Kai alone,” she insisted. “Kai, some of us are going outside to the courtyard, do you want to come?” she asked as she petted Smoke.

  Hanging out with everyone was never Kai’s preference. All too often, the afternoon became a competition. The older boys showing off or picking on the younger children. But the alternative was being alone, and he didn’t like that either. Kai reluctantly followed Amelia outside. Diamond Run was often the game of choice, only he hated being hit with the ball when it was his turn. He never ran fast enough or dodged at the right moment. Today would be no exception. The boys would play, and the girls would cheer.

  Tolan and Landon were the eldest. They made up the rules and dictated everything. Tolan was the son of Admiral Roark Raebun, stationed at Diu’s Fort Pohaku, and Landon Maxwell was the nephew of Regent Lucas Maxwell from the country of Milnos, but both of his parents were deceased. Both were bullies as far as Kai was concerned.

  When Kai reached the courtyard, Tolan bounced a round ball made of leather strips sewn together and stuffed with cotton and seeds. Tolan’s gaze followed Amelia. “Everyone in for a game of Diamond Run?”

  The rules of the game were simple: kick the ball, run, tag all three points in the yard, and cross back over the home line to safety—all before you were struck by the ball. They played every kid for themselves, one point each if you cleared the line.

  Amelia was the only girl to ever play, and she never got hit. Nobody would dare hit her with the ball. She commanded a gentle respect that no boy would challenge. Plus, Tolan threatened anyone who considered it. Her blonde hair glistened in the sun as she stepped up to kick first.

  Tolan’s smile softened, and his usual fast pitch rolled even and slow across the grass. Everything Amelia did was graceful, even kicking a ball in a dress. The toe of her shoe struck the ball, and Kai watched it sail toward Landon, his arms outstretched and ready.

  Tolan yelled, “Don’t you dare catch that ball!”

  Landon batted the ball to the ground with a huff. “Why do we let her play if we can’t…”

  Tolan was in Landon’s face in an instant, his fiery red hair matched his temper. “We let her play because I said so. And she is the only girl brave enough to try.”

  Amelia skipped around the yard, happy as a clam. Tolan spun on his heels. His eyes followed her movements, and a smile curled the side of his mouth. She crossed the home line and curtsied, then found a place in the yard. Far enough away, she would not get hit by the next person kicking, but close enough that she could grab a grounded ball and toss it to a boy.

  When Kai’s turn came, he stood at the ready. Tolan’s notorious fastball barreled in his direction. Kai charged the ball. His kick was good, low along the ground. He ran around the yard, he tapped the first marker. Gideon, his cousin, scooped up the ball and fired at Kai. The shot was high, and Kai tapped the second marker. After touching the third, he rounded the yard and headed for home. Landon grabbed the ball and beaned Kai in the back.

  Landon whooped with pride. Kai gasped at the sting and stopped to catch his breath. Why do I play their stupid game?

  Next Tolan stepped up to kick, and Landon launched the ball. Tolan’s kick sailed the ball into the orchard, so hard that the force pinned it between two branches. One point for him.

  The game continued with Gideon catching Landon’s ball. And he got punched in the arm for the effort. The next boy got tagged out with a hit to the face by Landon. The next boy shot a line drive right back at Tolan, who dove to make a knee-scraping catch.

  Luckily Gideon managed to kick his ball into the orchard and sailed around the yard without challenge. Three kicks later, Amelia came up to the line. As always, Tolan offered an easy roll, and she trotted around the yard with delight, Tolan pleased to watch her go.

  It was Kai’s turn again. Scanning the positions of the other players, Kai prepared to kick. I need to try something different. Everyone always aims for
the orchard…

  Landon stood at the ready. Kai angled his body; he shot his kick as far from Landon as possible. Perfect placement sent it rolling toward the kennel fence. Landon raced for the ball. Kai ran. He looped around the yard. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Landon zero in on the ball. This would be close.

  Kai raced toward the home line. Everyone cheered. Kai’s heart pounded. Fifteen feet, ten feet, five…he was almost there. Smoke barked, and a warning rippled through Kai’s senses. He saw the ball sailing towards the back of his head. At the last moment, he ducked, and the ball whizzed by. His foot crossed the home line. Score one for Kai.

  “Cheater!” Landon yelled.

  “How?” Kai challenged. “You missed.”

  “Your wolf… I don’t know how but he… you…” Landon stumbled through his objection. His expression was as though he’d smelled something foul.

  Everyone stared. Landon glared at Kai. Kai held his breath on the outside, but his heart delighted with the connection he felt between him and Smoke. A thread linked them together.

  The game ended the way it always did, Tolan won. This time, four points to his favor.

  Chapter 2

  Drew

  Rain pelted the large arched windows of the palace library. Trapped inside, Kai yearned to escape the confines of Diu palace. Thick stone walls protected the fortress, and its upper and lower ward. The Diu stronghold sat atop a large rock and overlooked the city below, divided into three natural tiers—Hightown, Midtown, and Rimtown, all protected by the second set of walls.

  When the morning’s rain ended, Kai and Smoke climbed the palace walls to peer over the sprawling city below. The streets in Hightown Proper buzzed with people. Shopkeepers opened windows and doors to welcome the fresh air and patrons alike.