Legend of the Tengu Prince: Available on Smashwords! March 4, 2012

Legend of the Tengu Prince available and on sale now at Smashwords.com. Deadline ends April 30th.   
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/54992

Here is a coupon for 50% off the list price. The code for the coupon is UE64Z

(All related articles below are either book excerpts from the novel, Legend of the Tengu Prince or articles that are on this blog or similar blogs by LediaR.)

Here is a sample from the book:

Part One

TENGU

Prologue

 Fists clenched at his side, Magatsu stood behind a tightly packed copse of Cryptomeria spruce that towered over his head. The sharp evergreen scent tingled at his nose as a cool spring breeze blew past.

In the clearing beyond, a group of monstrous bird-like creatures gathered. Long, bulbous noses thrust from bright-red human-like faces, while black feathers covered most of their torso. Folded wings tucked at their sides. They stood upright on claw-like feet.

The bird men gathered around another like them who perched on a throne carved from wood inlaid with precious gemstones: red, green, blue and amber. A crown of Sakai leaves encircled the “king’s” moss green hair.

A twig snapped and Magatsu turned his scowl toward a tanuki whose dark eyes glittered out from a smallish face. Its narrow snout sniffed the air. Pointed ears peaked above dense, earth brown and black fur that covered a round sausage-shaped body on short, stout legs. The raccoon dog’s fluffy tail swished nervously against a tree trunk.

Magatsu sneered and raised one finger toward the pint-sized canine. The next instant a barb shot from his finger’s tip toward one shining, black eye. The tanuki fell instantly to the ground writhing in agony.

Drawing in a breath, Magatsu sniffed with satisfaction, crossing his arms against his chest. He could not tolerate nosey creatures. It did not matter what their reasons for spying. They should learn to keep their wet noses out of his business.

When he turned back to the festivities, King Sojobo walked toward him, his hand held up in greeting, a smile on the other’s face. Magatsu wanted to hurl himself toward his younger brother then tear him limb-from-limb. Since he had no power to bring this about, he spun away in the opposite direction. Leaves rustled beneath his feet as he strode toward and between a wall of trees that lead into the deepest part of the forest.

He refused to stand around waiting for his younger brother to gloat.

A moment later, he glanced over his shoulder to see the king standing just beyond the clearing. Torch light glowed around Sojobo, making it seem as if the sun had fallen into the forest behind him.

The second rush of hatred started as a spasm in the pit of Magatsu’s stomach and worked its way up to scotch his brain. The burning sensation translated to his legs and began to run, his body tense, his fists ready to crush any that dared stand in his path. Before the trees grew too thick for him to do so, he unfurled his newly formed wings. Lifting into the open sky, he flew.

One day he would return and have his revenge when Sojobo least suspected it. In fact, they would all pay for what they did tonight. An image of rotting bodies in a pile with hot flames burning the dead flesh away to the bone the only thing that made this present moment bearable. A slaughter beyond imagining and he would make sure it happened at just the right moment.

Enjoy!

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Tengu: Mountain Goblin (Japanese Mythology) January 9, 2011

Image via Wikipedia

You find yourself beneath the grandfather Cryptomeria, the giant evergreens that cover the sloping sides of Mount Kurama. It is spring, when the dawn goddess’ dance lures Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun, back from winter exile. You have chosen this time to make a pilgrimage to the mountain of the tengu king.

Through the dense overgrowth, shifting light stirs the morning mist. You close your eyes to better hear the voice of the forest sharp and crisp. Pop! Snap! The crack of high branches echoes against the whirring wing-beats of a crane in flight.

You open your eyes to see its elegant neck extended as the magnificent white bird rises above the canopy into a graceful glide. Its quavering voice is a haunting trumpet.

Near the lower branch, from where the sleek bird took flight, a raven perches. Its ebony feathers glisten like emeralds, as if jewels shine beneath the dark pinions.

“Did you frighten the crane?” You smile, pretending the sassy bird can understand your words.

Head cocked to one side, the bird waits, as one shrewd eye seems to watch your every move. The next instant, the brute flies at you face.

The tip end of one black wing flicks your nose sending a shock wave of surprise roiling down your spine to quake in the pit of your stomach, while the raven’s sharp beak snaps close to your ear. Then in a swooping motion, it flies away only to double back, diving, and then grabbing onto the slope of your shoulder. The unruly fowl digs its claws into you for an unsteady perch.

The peppery scent of pine needles fills the air as you wait with expectation, for the sharp talons to pierce your flesh. They never do. Still, you stare in wonder because the almond eyes of the raven, too close for comfort beside your own, are not what you would expect. They are human-like.

The pungent scent grows in intensity making your nose itch. The next instant, the fiend lifts off into the air and settles on the ground a short distance from your feet.

A gathering mist shifts around the bird, settling like smoke from an incense bowl the priests use to call out their incantations. It reminds you of dregs left from a magician’s spell cast in the purple dawn.

In the raven’s place, there stands a man, or at first glance what seems to be a human man. A circlet of gold lies atop his black hair flecked with glistening emerald lights feathered across elfish-point ears.

His jeweled eyes sparkle with mischief as they watch you from above a beak-shaped nose that juts from the center of a scarlet-blush face and a smirk that pulls haughtily at the creature’s lips. Blue-black wings, crimson tipped, fold against his broad shoulders, where muscled arms hang crisscrossed against his chest. Powerful legs stretch from a human torso ending in bare feet where the nails of the creature’s toes curl under, more like claws than fingernails.

You gape in wordless wonder, for you stand in the presence of a tengu mountain goblin. Choose your next words and actions very carefully. Although the tengu like to make mischief rarely do they enjoy turn about as fair play…

Other interesting sites:

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: “Tengu“

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tengu

A to Z Photo Dictionary, Japanese Buddhist Statuary, Gods, Goddesses, Shinto Kami, Creatures and Demons: ‘Tengu, the Slayer of Vanity”

http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/tengu.shtml

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Risshakuji Temple (Yamadera, Japan) December 26, 2010

Image via Wikipedia

The sun sets behind Mount Hoju as you hurry through the forty temple buildings scattered in the midst of the old forest, across sheer cliffs over-looking the tiny village of Yamadera. Purple twilight filters through the canopy of grandfather Cryptomeria trees. In the near distance you hear the ringing of the evening bell that calls the monks to worship Amida Buddha, the blessed protector of humankind.

Halfway down the stone path, you enter Nio-mon gate. The carved stone tunnel serves as both the entrance to and exit from the sacred site. The last faint rays of sunset slant through the arched tunnel as the walls seem to press in like an invisible force. Your gaze shifts back and forth toward the rows of statues that line the tunnel. Beneath flickering torchlight they stand. Three images on each side, six in all carved identically.

Shoki!

The word hisses through your mind as flames of torchlight sputter eerily against the walls and the stone guardians of the spirit world. The statues’ eyes of limestone seem to follow your every movement. When you stop to look directly at the sculptures, you see only stillness, only carved rock.

You have heard the monks speak of the “Shoki, Demon-queller” who brandished swift swords of justice to bar the wicked from entering all holy places. At one time, Shoki lived on the earth as a human man, a physician of kindly, yet hideous countenance. Now Shoki returns from the spirit world when called upon to serve as avenger against evil.

Bristled beards sweeps the faces of the carved stone above six menacing grins. You hold your breath, half expecting the stone guardians to declare you unworthy, though you have done nothing to incur their wrath, so menacing are the statues of Shoki.

In the wavering light, it seems their feet break loose from the slabs of rock. You can feel their cold fingers clutch your throat. Throw you to the ground to grind your face into the dirt. Your ribs ache as if the sharp steel of all six flashing swords slice into you. You expect nothing more than to see your blood run red against the dirt and stone path.

But it is all a dream. The statues have not moved from their spot and you stand staring mouth agape at them, while you are altogether safe and sound.

As your feet clear the gate, a gasp of relief rushes from your lips. Though the passage has taken, but a few moments it seems like the long stretch of eternity.

The remaining stone steps down the mountain are a blur of motion beneath your swiftly moving feet. You run from the cliff’s edge down the side of the mountain, winding your way toward Mida-hora. The volcanic crag of sheer rock face, carved by human hands and years of wind and rain, juts like a finger toward Heaven. It is said that the crag serves as a boundary dividing this world from the next, its weathered countenance sweeping toward the lush valley below.

Long shadows of nightfall creep around you alongside ephemeral shapes that appear, gliding through the rock wall. The kami, spirits of the departed, waver around you dancing to the rhythmic drums of Obon—dance of the dead, that thrums on the air from Yamadera Village…

(this is a “personalized” excerpt from the novel: LEGEND OF THE CHERRY JEWEL, “Chapter Fifteen, Whirling Blades” where you slip inside Hinata Jin, the main character’s skin to see, feel and hear what he does.

For more information:

Great Photo! Yamadera (Risshakuji) Temple, Miyagi prefecture
http://www.theodora.com/wfb/photos/japan/japan_photos_77.html

Wikipedia, “Yama-dera‘”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yama-dera