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The story opens, comparing a phrase that seems to indicate that what’s reflected within Pandona’s city walls is reflected in the world itself; where beauty and ugliness can stand side by side; but that which is beautiful is not always good.
A peasant asks for coin and a well-to-do soldier not only slaps him away, but draws his weapon to end the peasant’s life – only to have his hand be struck by a shuriken. Gazing to the roof, they see Nightwind. First, a fellow member of the Amita K’un tells Nightwind that she’s behaving as Delia would – and Delia “died” when Nightwind was born. The two continue on their quest, heading for House Eichon.
The story explains that six nights ago, House Eichon’s assassins, the Bloodguard boldly raided House Dracus and murdered the Overlord’s Chief Advisor, Bharat – yet did not take the life of the Overlord, though they could have easily done so. Nightwind’s sensei, Master Sun, had sent Nightwind and First to discover why the Overlord had been spared and why the target of the Bloodguard had been the Chief Advisor, Bharat. The two reach a well, that First reveals a spy had revealed this secret entrance long ago – but those who came to know if it were … dispatched. The two quietly make their way down and begin slinking through the darkness, creeping every closer to House Eichon. They reach a passage where a dead Amita K’un member lies slumped against the wall. First explains that their name was Voritomo – and during the initial attack – that they’d sacrificed themselves to cover the rest of the Amita K’un. Nightwind asks about Ashikaga – and First explains that Ashikaga is to the Bloodguard what Master Sun is to the Amita K’un.
The scene shifts to House Dracus, where the Overlord is speaking to Master Sun. During the discussion, the Overlord’s son, Marat comes up – and it is dismissed that he is undoubtedly visiting the Harlot’s Quarters, but the Overlord snaps and says that his son was very close to Bharat, and he’s taken the brazen murder with great difficulty. The Overlord then asks Master Sun about Nightwind – and if she’s ready to face Ashikaga, the Wolf Walker of Eichon; and Master Sun assures the Overlord that she is ready.
Back to First and Nightwind; once they get inside House Eichon; First tells her that he must now leave her – and she is to complete the rest on her own, using the training and skills she’s learned to uncover clues. She proceeds using her stealth, and spots a servant girl, about her same build and uses a stone to stun her and quickly take her clothes and hide her away. She then takes on the role of the servant, which comes easy to her, when she recalls her life as Delia.
The scene shifts again to Ashikaga, practicing as one of the Bloodguard arrive to assure him that all the points of House Eichon are sealed and protected and that House Dracus would never be foolish enough to send a battalion in retribution for the murder of Bharat. Ashikaga growls and explains that they would not send many – they would send four, or even two – to sneak in and do what needs to be done. And at that moment – Ashikaga pauses – and looks around and says, “The Amita K’un are here.”
The scene shifts to Nightwind still in the servant’s clothing – when she is grabbed by a woman calling her Yukio. The woman explains that they’re famished – and as Nightwind is pulled into the room – she is surprised to see Mara, the son of the Overlord of House Dracus – in bed with a woman. Nightwind recalls that Marat had found a reason to be excused before the Bloodguard attacked and murdered Bharat. He seems to have been the spy for House Eichon, as he pushes the woman away and explains he has not time to spend it with “empty headed wenches” and that he has business with her father to attend to. Nightwind leaves as the woman weeps – and changes back into her Amita K’un attire and heads for the Lord of House Eichon’s chamber – where she finds First also hidden in the rafters, listening as Mara tells the Lord that his father suffers deeply after the loss of Bharat – and that if Mara’s brother, Kalkin, is killed – his father with crumble, Mara will take the throne and be an ally to House Eichon.
When Ashikaga enters to tell the Lord of House Eichon that the Amita K’un are here, Mara disbelieves it until Ashikaga throws several daggers into the rafters, revealing First and Nightwind – and then commands his Bloodguard to take care of them. Mara realizes the danger of either First or Nightwind escaping alive and telling his father of his betrayal. Nightwind and First know they must separate in order to escape. Nightwind makes her way back to the woman Mara had been intimate with – and the woman tells Nightwind she’s surprised that females can be trained as Amita K’un – and that she too would like to be trained – but Nightwind has no time for that. She returns to the servant girl she had knocked out and stolen the identity of, Yukio – but finds something strange – and that’s when she hears Ashikaga’s voice as he says he had cut off the servant’s head knowing that Nightwind would return to free her of her bonds – or at least check on her. Nightwind and Ashikaga seem evenly matched – until Nightwind is able to cut Ashikaga. Ashikaga grows furious and cuts Nightwind in return, just as Ashikaga’s Bloodguard arrive; but First arrives as well, to lend a hand, killing the other Bloodguard who arrived and allows Nightwind to escape with him!
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