Copyright

Copyright © 2022 by Jorden Darrett

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

ISBN 9798986565606

Cover Art by Giaphox

Typography by Gabriel Akinrinmade

Twelve Blades In Contempt

Book One of the Epic of Egaisha

Jorden Darrett

Red Leaf Press

Dedication

This book is dedicated to each and every person who cheered and supported me along the way, and most of all to my dog, Roxie. The greatest German Shepherd, Blue Heeler, Collie, ambigous mutt that ever lived.

Also By Jorden Darrett

Twelve Blades in Contempt

A Reign of Heavenly Fire (October 29th, 2022)

Contents

1. Silencing

2. Escape

3. Clan

4. Plea

5. Honor

6. Omens

7. Rise

8. Ploy

9. Trust

10. Freedom

11. Divergence

12. Conviction

13. Hope

14. Words

15. Den

16. Hounds

17. Penetrate

18. Alliance

19. Fight

20. Chase

21. Doom

22. Ambush

23. Legends

24. Lord and Lady

25. Decision

26. Return

27. Confrontation

Epilogue

Acknowledgments

Other Works

Silencing

Takasa Aiya gripped the Silencing Daggers, one under the chin in her left hand and the other still poised at her side. Each was a foot of honed silver embedded within a chiseled blue hilt slick with sweat and rain. She huffed. It had been three storms since anyone had been silenced with either blade, but tonight was not like most nights. Tonight she would wield them as she had in the past, strike down her enemies, and feed the earth with their blood.

"I can’t strike them all, not before my damn time limit is up," she said. In preparation for tonight’s killing, she was failing.

Takasa Koji stood cross-armed to her side in the training grounds. Beads of evening skywater dripped down his face and robes, illuminated by shielded lanterns dangling from stone posts throughout the courtyard. The air was cool, with an ominous breeze. Eight fish-headed wood totems, each ten feet high, gazed down at them in a circle. About two feet in diameter, they each stood equally spaced from each other, bearing slash marks in chaotic patterns. She could see judgment in her brother’s watchful eyes as Koji spoke those dreaded words for the dozenth time.

“Try again.”

She wanted to stop, to say it was pointless, that she’d been hacking and cutting for almost an hour with no progress. That Shozhu would come for their departure any moment now. But by now she had subjected herself to it, even if reluctantly. She was not one to give up, however humiliating.

She wiped long strands of black hair from her face, sleeve adjusting to reveal the River tattoo on the side of her wrist. Three parallel flowing lines. Coming here had been a last minute decision on Koji’s part, with no time to prepare. Thus the two wore bright blue robes with billowed sleeves, custom of the Takasa household, ruling nobles of River province.

The courtyard sprawled around them, walled in by pink leafed rausta trees and the looming Takasa estate. Their deity’s altar, a wide stream, burbled softly through the yard. Crickets chirped, and there was a damp-earthy scent, bending around gardens, wood benches, fountains.

Aiya closed her eyes and altered her mind.

When she opened them, a deep blue like the ocean had pooled over the usual dark brown of her irises, while her pupils made black islands.

With sudden energy, she burst from the ground and landed against the side of the pole in front of her, crouching on its surface. She pulled her dagger across it, then pushed off to one across from her.

Landing with a smack against wet wood, her dagger sliced here too, cutting deep into the totem before gliding off its slick surface. Not a moment later she was gone, already landed to mark her third. As steel cut into the target, there bubbled that familiar sensation, an instant of uneasiness and fear coupled with a break in her focus.

Then, she saw it.

Aiya failed to shake the numbness from her body in time, pushing off the totem at only half her normal strength. She flew halfway across the training ring and toppled to the ground, hands clawing for grass as she rolled to a stop. She was glad for the cushioned fall provided by the soft field. Her strength, speed and durability faded.

A light drizzle fell from the dark sky, freshly coating her with dampness. The light blue silk robes adorning her were grass-stained and torn, likely beyond repair, but at this point she didn’t care. She could be bothered by nothing except for the frustration of her repeated failure. Her gaze moved to the towering totems. From this angle they appeared like predators who had finally succeeded in tiring out a rather tenacious prey.

Koji appeared before her offering his hand. He was two years her senior, twenty and towering a full head above her when standing at her side. He kept his expression neutral and chose his next words carefully, steeling himself against the urge to reprimand her. But Aiya perceived the concern showing in his eyes as dark as the rolling clouds. When it came to training, specifically Aiya’s training, he was solicitous.

His offered hand remained. “Is that all?”

Aiya took it and got to her feet. Save the purling stream, the central courtyard felt quiet now. There was not even the soft rustling of leaves in the backdrop. Even the chilled air held still in anticipation, awaiting what fateful turn of events that would come.

“Try again,” Koji told her.

“It’s no use, I can’t align myself for long enough without—”

“Stop grumbling and get your ass back up there.”

His tone was stern but his eyes were sincere. He hated seeing her beat down like this.

“Easy for you to say,” she muttered. For him, maintaining alignment with the River deity was child’s play. She ought to have attained his adeptness years ago. She was a late bloomer, she mused, but that would have been putting it lightly. His anxiety for her own safety tonight was understandable, but that made it no less a burden on herself. Her face went hot with shame. Koji hadn’t been too hard on her up to now but she was sure his patience was thinning. After all, soon their lives might depend on their abilities.

Resigned, Aiya stood, arms hanging at her sides with eyes closed, her breaths becoming deep and rhythmic.

She concentrated on her deity.

Her proximity to the “river” made it easy. There in the background, the gurgling stream existed as an altar to the deity, the imitation of a river. It was no longer a necessary aid for her mediation, although it made slipping into this state of mind much easier, like the coalescence of water, leaving absent the mental strain of separating her mind from tangible reality.

Tension released from her muscles and her mind softened, allowing her thoughts to flow freely before they settled on the one and only other thing in existence. The river engulfed her consciousness, not a mere thought of the physical land feature but of all its spiritual and metaphysical meaning which she had spent years pondering and studying. The river was strength, a natural substance molded into a force possessing its greatest potential. It freed itself from the natural prisons of water, the great mountains and the unyielding earth below them, and carved its path to the sea. It was speed and it was hungry power, drowning any land creature who dared overstep its boundaries.

But above all it was life. Through the river, civilizations arose and fell. It was clean drinking water, bathing water, a travel route and irrigation for crops. It was far more than gleaned the eyes at first glance, a deity whose glory lay incomprehensible. Incomprehensible, to a disorienting degree, was how it felt as Aiya gazed across the infinite well of power it offered, and could only fathom a small part of it. Above her flared spiritual orbs of light as numerous as the stars.

She sunk deeper into the trance until she could hear every lap and current of the river, as if she was leaning over it with an ear above its surface, or as if she had become the surface. As all other senses dissipated and she was left floating, watching large waves of water run in her mind, she and the river having finally become one. The deity was as much a part of her as she was a part of it. She directed that sacred power inwards and felt a surge of energy and strength. Before even realizing she had opened her eyes, she was flying through the air, propelled by superhuman legs.

She landed on a totem, slashed it and swung herself to the next, curving the blade upwards as it slid off the wood. It was a sort of check mark pattern they always used. That made it more difficult as it took a bit longer to hit all the totems. She had chosen this strategy years ago for herself, without instruction from her master, Shozhu, before it caught on with her siblings. She would not give herself the easy way out, no matter the exhaustion and frustration. This she had sworn to herself. She hated failure, but she hated cheating herself far worse.

And she was determined to get her ten marks this time.

She leaped from pole to pole, furiously slashing then moving onto a different target. At this speed, landing with any sort of balance was impossible, so upon reaching the small surface she immediately pushed off to avoid falling. A haze of water and splinters sprayed with each mark.

There was her sixth. A tie for her personal best.

She kept her mind with the flow of the river, running forcefully, hindered by nothing. She wouldn’t think of what was coming. That was the only way to prevent it.

I’ve got this. It won’t happen this time, she thought. She was a blur, like the swift glide of a hornet stinging victim after victim. Seven. Eight. Raw power filled inward. She would accomplish her goal this time. And then she would do more. Her personal goal was fifteen marks. After all, she had trained for two years with her deity now. She could do at least that much. Ten marks came first. She still had yet to reach ten.

Nine.

Her alignment with the deity wavered. An all too familiar fear bubbled up in its place, and despite her best efforts her concentration faltered for just a second.

A span of time just long enough for that malformed thing to bleed into her vision.

Her eyes widened, and she saw it. That gross, decaying body, like a corpse dissolving at the bottom of a river. The sickly green-black color of peeling skin, the deformed jaw revealing rotting gums, devoid of any teeth. Its sunken features were always curled into a smile, ghastly and malicious, a wide taunting grin that possessed Aiya’s dreams as a child. Why she couldn’t force it away like the others, Aiya didn’t know. She only knew that it was there in front of her, arms spread out to catch her mid-flight, bobbing as if submerged under water. Her peripheral sunk into blackness and it became the only thing she could see. A wisp of breath barely escaped her lips as her stomach went plummeting down her abdomen. It was there, really there in front of her, because she could smell its putrid odor, hear its ragged breaths, feel the tendrils of cold seeping from the tears in its skin. Blood turned to ice and left her body rigid.

It’s not real!

The thing never lost its effect on her. Lucidity came slowly gnawing at the fear that had briefly froze her in place. She had overcome this terror countless times. She wouldn’t let it continue to paralyze her. She cleared her mind, squeezing her eyes shut. It’s just an image, Aiya, conjured by a brain that can’t possibly comprehend the power of the river! She opened them again. She would not look at the thing itself, much less its eyes. They were pure hatred.

She focused on the dark nothingness at the corners, bringing her thoughts back to the river. The river was all that mattered, all that really existed, and in it her fears did not exist. In it was complete power, peace and tranquility.

Slowly, the blackness began to fade.

It was already too late.

She didn’t make it in time. As the figure vanished, a totem pole materialized in its place and caught her forehead. Hard. Her head smacked off of it and her body tumbled to the ground. She sat up feeling her forehead, groaning in pain. It had already started to swell. She knew she was being pathetic. All that determination had only led to another failure.

Koji appeared at her side. “It happened again?”

Aiya said coldly, “What do you think? I’ve been at this for an hour! We’ve been at this for years! I still can’t get myself under control.”

“You’re near a breakthrough, I can feel it.” Koji replied. “You’re bound to figure it out eventually.”

She scoffed. “Empress’ soul. For all the admiration Shozhu gives you, you sure are naive. I’m just not as good as you.”

“Wrong. You’re surprisingly good for the short amount of time you have access to the power. You just need to extend your alignment longer.”

“Well, shit, Koji, thanks for telling me something I didn’t know.”

She immediately regretted the harshness of her tone yet her rumbling frustration couldn’t be stopped. Not frustration, anger. It was her anger stewed from long years of disappointment. Koji insisted they train as much as possible in their last hour before they slipped through the Hebi Lord’s defenses, and massacred the traitorous clan. He knew she’d always had trouble staying aligned while exerting herself for more than thirty seconds, on a good day.

To keep alignment with a deity, which was the spiritual harmony for maintaining access to its power, the deity’s servant, its Ginju, had to overcome their own mind. Also known as their “lower selves”, as some put it. Once thought to be an interfering evil spirit, it was considered the mind’s natural defense against the effect one’s deity had on them. The mind, being unable to comprehend the deities, would dredge up some horrifying illusion in response. As to exactly why, no one knew. Most Ginju of the classical times, during the Hoju era and earlier, theorized that the mind comprehended the deities as an invasive threat. Something sinister and vastly powerful, too frightening to behold, like the evil gods of some Tarshan religions.

But the deities weren’t gods, as gods didn’t exist. At least not in the way most thought of them. The deities made up the remnants of beings of the natural world. Great and mysterious, reserves of power attainable if one took the time to seek them out through meditation. Of course this was a secret reserved for only a select few of noble blood.

Suffice to say, all the River Ginju had overcome their mind’s shortcomings within the first few years. She, with hours of training and meditation everyday, still couldn’t hold onto the power for more than a half minute span. She was beyond clueless what was wrong with her.

“You need to remain calm, Aiya. Getting worked up only-”

“Hinders my growth, I know Koji. Did you notice that repeatedly following your advice has gotten me nowhere?”

“It works when you take it as a whole and not in pieces,” he said, sternness creeping into his voice. “You get angry every time you slip. Frustration like that interferes with your progress.”

“Why don’t you just admit that I’m not where I need to be, that I’m disappointing? Everyone else does, I could handle it coming from you.”

“They don’t know what they’re talking about.” The words came out sharper than he expected, cutting away the next retort forming in Aiya’s mind. He let his shoulders relax and took a moment to gather himself. “Don’t talk like that. You know I don’t see you like the others do. I…You and me, Aiya, we’re family for real. I won’t pull statements like that out of my ass for you if I don’t mean them. You’re…, I’m sorry for making us come out here tonight. I thought it might make a difference, but…damn, looks like our time’s up.”

It wasn’t just the two of them anymore. She spun around to face an approaching Takasa Shozhu, his oversized noble robes trailing down the stone steps leading into the training circle. He was a heavy, pudgy man. He appeared strong, assured, possessing an upright posture and sagely beard combed to his chest. There was, however, a slight limp to his step, some injury sustained in battle, likely caused by the deity’s weakening effect on his body over the long years.

“I trust the two of you to be ready?” came his gruff voice, almost a growl. Everything from the man’s mouth sounded growling and hostile to Aiya.

“Master Shozhu!”

They hurried to bow.

“We are clear and confident about tonight’s task, I hope.”

“Of course, master,” said Aiya. Their time was up. Their mission tonight was simple but twofold: confront a noble traitor and kill him, as well as any hindrances, and to burn down the estate after the fact.

The River High Lord was understandably crossed. Imperial tax collectors from Rain came to bleed River dry, year by year. Commoners, naturally, carried the tax burden, namely those in the fishing trade as River’s largest industry. However, the past year presented a record low yield of fish, not helped by filthy mobs of protesting Kotonese fishermen. Suffice to say, profits were inadequate.

Lord Arusuke would have nobles pay the difference. Lord Hebi Owa, a military land governor, vocalized his disdain for raised taxes. Considering his wealth and Jodai forces were nearly equal to half the Council of Judges together, Lord Arusuke decided the man had breathed long enough.

“Remember,” Shozhu demanded, face serious, “You are to simply go in, massacre, set the entire place ablaze, and get out. Leave no one alive and nothing unburned. Return as soon as possible, and be sure to bring the weasel’s head back with you.”

It was a nasty duty, where the adults would be silenced and the children left to be broiled on the inside. It was, however, necessary. Every province held three Ginju; unsuspecting nobles by day, powerful, supernatural forces like Wailstorms by night. Sweeping and indiscriminating, creeping through households and over borders, keeping lower nobles in check while invisible in the background. Their use in politics and times of civil war was a gift given by the Empress to those she ordained to oversee her territory. A ferocious art taught to select children of ruling noble families, blessed by the Empress as newborns.

What specific abilities they possessed were unknown. Few ever knew them personally, but all Erru knew of them. They knew the stories of well-guarded lords of the past, considered invulnerable one night and unrecognizable or headless the next, done in by what could only be Ginju, heard but seen only by their acts. They were thought of as beastly, Erru exaggerated to monstrous effect.

“Understood,” the two Ginju replied in unison.

Tonight the rumors would prove true. There would be a monstrous display of might, and, come morning, they’d have another dead lord for the history books.

Escape

The two teen girls raced past the rice fields, having escaped the town of Kun and leaving it in the dust behind them. There was nothing and no one around them; even while running in the breeze the night felt still and open. Kun was a sleepy town of old farmers and family artisans, a town of people who slept early and woke earlier. Now the two girls ran freely, existing as if they alone were the only souls awake within a half-day's walking distance.

Tara, bounding at nearly six feet at seventeen years of age, maintained a good distance ahead of the other girl. Yohari trailed her down the dusty road that ran parallel to the terraced fields. She was six inches shorter but fast as a scurrying rabbit. How could they not have snuck out here for the night to escape the redundancy of their lives? The night was still young in their eyes.

Her braided red hair bobbing, Tara rounded a bend where the road steepened and the town of Kun receded from her view as the Hebi estate came into it. In the rice fields, pale moonlight glinted off the waterlogged bays. The petrichor was still strong in the air, the ground still soggy. Not much was visible in these windswept black plains. Tara liked it that way. Just her and Yohari.

It was in these fields they spent their entire lives working. Their hometown was supported by the rice trade, and owned by the Hebi clan. Her father loved and feared the clan, never short of praise for how ‘considerate’ Lord Owa could be. It wasn’t the work, but the boredom that numbed Tara’s mind. Sow and harvest all year, reap their portion, and repeat.

Yohari was from a family of equal devotion. They worked on opposite fields, and planting had been particularly rough the past few months. The two seldom had any time for each other throughout their days, leaving them only the nights. Tara soaked in the musky air on her cheeks, feeling more alive than she’d been in days. She’d been scheming to get Yohari out here for the longest, for time spent with just the two of them. Time where she could smell Yohari’s short black hair that cupped her ears, grip her waist closely and brush her mouth against her lips, appreciating everything about her with nothing in the way. This was her chance.

Tara’s lover slammed into her from behind and they both tumbled to the ground, chuckling.

“Your long legs don’t mean you can outrun me,” Yohari said. She always spoke in a bubbling tone, excited and full of young energy.

“Haven’t I been outrunning you my whole life?” Tara said in reply, brushing Yohari’s hair aside from her face. She could smell her from this distance, and appreciate the silhouette of her face. “Because of my father I’ve kept a distance between us. I really haven’t allowed us to bond.”

“Don’t be coy, you’ve come onto me more times than I have you.” Yohari’s smile gleamed brighter than the moon. She adjusted a bit of Tara’s robe to the side and Tara beamed like hot embers.

“Is that so?”

Yohari leaned in closer. “Yes. You know what else?”

Tara’s heart sprung. She and Yohari were finally alone, with no one to interrupt. All day long, she’d anticipated this moment. The two of them stared into the other’s eyes, knowing nothing would interfere. Yohari leaned in so that their noses were almost touching.

There was a rustle, then splashing sounds. Someone behind them.

“Who’s that?” Yohari asked, alarmed.

Tara propped her elbows on the dirt path and flipped around to see two black figures sprinting through the waterlogged fields. Her heart sank in sudden terror as the figures made their way past them.

The black shapes burst forth, moving towards the Hebi estate at inhuman speeds. By the spirits….

Wind like a hurricane blasted against their faces. They squeezed their eyes shut and screamed.

“What was that?” Tara said, keeping her crazed voice hushed as her hand flew over her mouth.

“Spirits?” asked Yohari.

Whatever they were, they were heading straight for the Hebi estate.

Aiya and Koji approached Lord Owa’s home. At this speed, the rice fields around and under them were a blur. Two stagnant bodies, likely commoners, flew by. Little did they know.

Their tight black clothing covered them from head to toes while rendering them agile and mostly invisible. Only a cut-out across their face left their eyes uncovered. The breeze aided in masking the sound of their movement, rustling the grass. Hiding from the commoners was not a concern, however, and so Aiya focused her gaze on the Hebi estate ahead. In there slept the man who owned these fields and the town of Kun across from it. It was much smaller than the River capital of Kawanura, where the Takasa estate resided, and about half an hour out by horse. They were faster than horses.

They were nobility, all who swore under the same empire, yet all enemies the same. They’d seen nights like this on the horizon, awaiting them, since their years training to be Ginju. It was to be their sole purpose, their destiny. Aiya quietly wished Ira was here with them, as perhaps the greatest of the three Ginju. They were the children blessed by the Empress, chosen as weapons. As a result, their clan despised them, envious of their abilities. Like their mother and father, their unblessed siblings were destined for politics, and to perhaps murder each other when the time came for a new clan heir.

The thought of them slaughtering themselves in a contest to be named next High Lord was sickening.

The ranks of the nobility were like a large web entangled in the wilderness. It was bewildering in its complexity, and brutal in its competitiveness. That was why Aiya wasn’t bothered in the least by having their blood on her hands.

Her first Silencing was four years ago. Lord Arusuke, her father, was entertaining a rival lord over dinner, a veil to discuss private matters. His rival was the head of the Hyuki clan, a man who sat on the council of judges which was composed of high ranking noble families directly under the Takasa family. Arusuke had discovered him conspiring against the Takasa household with a few other mid-ranking lords, which meant military land governors. One of them had been a rat, and he was rewarded handsomely for it.

Aiya and Koji crept behind the private dining room door. Ira was well into his sickness by then, absent and being cared for in bed by Kisane. There was a slapping of feet behind them accompanied by short titters. The two of them spun in alarm to the sight of Asaya waddling towards them.

Aiya’s entire frame froze.

“Hey!” she exclaimed in hushed tones, bringing a stiff finger to her lips. Koji moved, grabbing her quickly and placing his hand over her mouth to silence her.

“It’s okay, shenshen,” he said, turning her around. “We’ll play later. Go all the way upstairs, back to Kisane.” It didn’t take more to convince her, and she tottered back the way she came. Lucky for them she was smart for a three year-old.

Aiya watched her go, eyes wide, then faced the door again. She could no longer concentrate on the conversation inside, the voices from behind the door sounding muddy. The fact that a child had nearly walked in on a murder had given Aiya a disturbing amount of clarity of their situation. Her heart felt like it had blown up three times its size and was now pounding against her chest, ready to burst. She looked down and noticed the dagger shaking in her palm. Suddenly, she wasn’t sure if she could do this. She’d trained her entire life, seemingly for this moment. Now her first test stood before her. Would she stand and uphold the Takasa clan name as household of the River? Or fold under pressure and cowardice?

There was the signal: Two loud claps, followed by a hacking cough. Her legs felt like lead, but one look at Koji was all she needed. He’d already leaped forward through the door without a moment’s delay. Despite herself, she followed. The noble lord stumbled out of his seat, uttering unintelligible phrases of surprise as he spat out his half chewed meal onto the floor. He had quick wits, making way for his escape, but Koji was already advancing to block his path towards the opposite wall doors. The man had known seconds before their interruption that this was a trap. Their father had let it out, knowing his doom here was inevitable.

Aiya lunged at him, Silencing Dagger held forward like the tongue of a viper, and she could see in his eyes preparation for its fatal bite.

It was over before it had really gotten started. The lord doubled over, letting out gargled cries of pain as his blood streamed down his stomach, legs, and onto the floor. The room was suddenly filled with a stench of blood and shit, and Aiya didn’t see herself eating here again for quite some time, if ever.

The lord looked up at her in confusion, fury, and behind them both despair. As if this were treason beyond sanity. It was not believable on a face like his.

“Your conspirators ratted you out, Ren-shen. It’s what happens when you go messing with the natural order of things. Now calmly join the storm.” Arusuke walked over to them. He stood a few feet away with his arms crossed, his expression stern, looking down on the man dying at Aiya’s feet, whose blood had begun losing its warmth, like a starving orphan caught in a Wailstorm. It was the same expression he always gave his Ginju children. Arusuke was forever stuck in a state of disappointment and agitation, almost ashamed of them. He was bitter they wielded power he could never behold, a crime unforgivable in his egotistical vision of the world. “Join the storm.”

“But, I…” The lord trembled as he spoke, with barely the strength to muster a sentence. Aiya looked down on him and felt a sort of kinship, particularly, because they shared the same fate; to exist under the heel of this prideful man, and to die if he deemed necessary.

There was a slight pity in her stomach. He was no different than the other nobility, just in a worse predicament. He’d have done the same in their father’s position. It was a dog eat dog world, and clearly the strongest deserved life.

Still, she’d never been disrespected by him or other clans. None would openly disrespect a Takasa, even without knowing her true place in the clan. But he’d stepped out of line and would have her dead if the opportunity came. Her heart still pounded with fury while her senses remained heightened like she’d never experienced. Indeed, it was as if years of frustration were finally being let out of her, tears welling in her eyes.…

I’m sorry.

She raised her dagger to put out his misery.

“Let him die.” Arusuke gripped her hand closed in the air. It was a weak grip, though he was surely using all his strength. How easy it would be to break free, for him to be next.

But there was Ira. Bedridden, she couldn’t imagine the horror on his face finding their dead father once he got better. Koji and Kisane would hardly approve either. She got hold of herself. Despite his actions, Lord Arusuke was family. Even if her family didn’t treat her as such, they were bound together in a way that could not be so easily broken. She wouldn’t give herself over to impulse.

Arusuke lowered her hand and released her, Koji coming over on one knee and bowing. Aiya assumed the same position.

“That was good work. Quick work,” said their father, “so remember this day, because there will be more like it to come. Clean this swine from my floor, the Hyuki clan will want him to recognize him whole.”

The entire province would recognize Owa’s murder as that which only the swift justice a Ginju could bring about. Reaching the bottom of the terrace directly under the estate, they climbed. Whatever burn Aiya should have felt in her legs was instead a nervous excitement. At the top, Hebi castle came into view.

It was a slim white walled keep on elevated terrain, accompanied by a few dozen trees. It lacked the fortification of a proper keep, and a guard on duty was busy taking a piss off to the side of a tree. His back was turned. The only other guard rested still as a rock at the base of the stair entrance, an angry red torch flickering beside him. She saw Koji’s eyes scanning the darkness for extra guards, in case anyone had heard or spotted them. Her eyes moved with his. There was only the whisper of wind, and her own stale breath trapped by black cloth.

Aiya breathed in, let go of her thoughts and let them flow down the desired path. A rush like adrenaline shot through her. She jumped onto a low tree branch, landing more loudly than she wanted. Fleeting uses of her power like this were easy but often less graceful.

“Hu…what’s that?” the pissing guard exclaimed, as if coming out of a trance.

Aiya was still, hand around the chiseled blue hilt of her sword, a Riverblade. She gripped the four feet of folded steel lying dormant in its sheath. Koji would take them out swiftly as she scaled the top floors of the castle looking for a way in, while he went through the main entrance.

“Hey! You heard that, Bafi?” the same guard shouted.

“I thought I did,” the other replied, apparently wide awake. “But then I remembered it’s always around this time your good for shit-all cousin stumbles across these parts in his nightly drinking habits.”

“Come now, Bafi, there’s something in the trees! Or someone.”

The other guard just made a noise like grumbling and silence followed. There was the sound of impact, feet scuffing against dirt. Her head swiveled, but even she couldn’t spot Koji.

“There, surely I’m not hallucinating, Bafi!” the guard shouted, this time half-hysterical. “Footsteps. I know you heard it too!”

“Who’s there?” the guard named Bafi called out. He held out his torch. “A servant? Kishi? Goten? Shout if you’re there! Let us know it’s just you!”

Instead, Aiya disappeared up the tree as Koji took care of the now alert men. She heard their shouts as she flew through the branches and came to the treetop. The world looked shrunken below, and the castle rooftop was still high above. The castle stood three stories, each floor separated by an extended roof on the outside. The curved, overhanging roofs were guarded by small statues of divine spirits, or Kiru, posted at each of their four corners. Such beautiful structures owed their existence to the early years of empirical rule, said to have been knowledge imparted by the Empress herself. The first construction of a castle was seen nearly two hundred years ago during the Haijin era, and upheld by Kozuku, the first Jodai warlord of the empire. The first castle, situated between three highways, later evolved into the city of Sanaba that was now the capital of Egaisha and home to the Empress. Not long after, more castles built into a variety of landscapes were popping up across the continent, surrounded by storehouses, towers, enclosures and living quarters for lords, retainers and their garrison.

Aiya let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. The distance from where she held firm to the thinning trunk and the castle rooftop had to be at least forty feet, and the fall surely longer. She couldn’t imagine making impact with anything other than a thud loud enough to be heard by at least half the patrolling bodies below. At least she’d make a proper entrance.

Heavens damn it, she thought. She breathed in, out, and jumped. Her body flew up through moist air in an arc, giving her an expansive view of the grounds below. Even for her, seeing it from this height was dizzying. She saw torches beginning to flood the premises, Koji having garnered the entire household’s attention. Aiya reached the top roof of the keep and smacked against it, rolling then skidding to a halt. She lied motionless, listening. Shouts from below. Cries of agony and anger. She peeked over the ledge.

Empress’ soul, that’s a lot of manpower, Aiya thought. What looked like twenty to thirty Jodai had come running out of the keep, swords ready and bows bared. Koji spared none.

She took off to the other side of the building, stopping as soon as she felt her alignment falter, settling her mind back in place. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she tore her eyes away from the moon above and focused on meditating.

She imagined they heard in the night what they thought to be some vengeful spirit come to terrorize them. It was common for Erru to blame spirits for things, even for Ginju. Especially after dark. They’d terrified her as a child, like so many children. She and her Ginju siblings in particular had never grown out of that fear. Spirits, or at least the idea of spirits, as she’d never actually seen one, had an insidious quality about them that seemed too familiar.

Creeping down the wall opposite from where they came, she dropped to the third floor roof and made her way to a window. Aiya found herself wishing she could simply slip through the walls and be invisible like the local spirits of legend, but there was no need.

There were three glassless windows on each floor, cut into each of the four castle walls, half as wide as doorways and covered by blinds made of thin, overlapping strips of wood. A surveying of one of the rooms revealed a mostly empty space other than a couple of floor mattresses. Her eyes darted around her before she moved on to the next window.

Two figures sat in this one, illuminated by a dimly lit oil lamp. One of them spoke every once in a while, muttering something about the commotion outside. Scrolls piled up on a desk in the middle, some fallen onto the floor. Local administrators no doubt. They sat unmoving, still. Too still. She sensed and smelled the fear that enwreathed them, even out in the night. Aiya burst through one of the windows, wood clattering everywhere.

The two men inside cursed and drew their swords. Aiya didn’t give them time to use them. She lunged and, with quick jabs to their necks, took both their lives. The men fell, leaving their seat-cushions lifeless. Her hands were suddenly wet, but she didn’t slow. She bolted out the doors and down the narrow hallway which led to a staircase. She guessed the two men before were told to stay put and keep calm, while Hebi Owa himself fled downstairs towards the backdoor. Or perhaps…

She came face to face with two Jodai guards running up the stairs. They boasted deep blue lamellar armor, their blades thin and deadly steel. Jodai warriors, these were the men who made up the military forces of each province. They had a reputation of fearlessness and brutality. Each came from a place of noble birth, mostly second-class clans. Common Erru were, in most cases, forbidden from carrying weapons, being relegated to the position of farmers, fishermen, merchants or artisans; These were noble men who’d trained their entire lives for combat.

She raised her own sword.

The guard in front received first honors, his sword swinging in a wide arc, flying straight for her neck. She sidestepped, opening up his sides. He shrieked as she grabbed his own neck and sent him hurling into the other. They crashed down the stairs, armor not doing them much good. She was on the second floor now, another hallway, this time wider, with sliding doors barring each room.

Three more guards stood, weapons bared, while four smaller bodies, Lord Owa’s children she assumed, made for their escape down the final staircase behind them. Watching the children’s backs as they disappeared, she caught a sudden whiff of burning wood and smoke. Suddenly her posture wasn’t so sure, her stance in a perpetual state of uncertainty.

She steeled herself, drawing more from the river. There was that creeping fear again. Darkness evaded her vision and her alignment almost slipped.

Noticing her faltering, the guards engaged.

The hairs on the back of her neck bristled. There was a presence approaching from behind her, and she jerked sideways, barely managing to dodge a stab for her heart. The Jodai man who would have had her life stumbled forth and nearly fell, clumsily rounding on her again with surprising speed for his age. There was fire in his eyes.

He managed to drag his blade across her bicep. Splitting pain. Cursing, she resisted the urge to protect the wound. Instead, she stepped back and altered her mind. He came for the kill.

Her foot connected with his jaw, sending him back into a wall. She spun on the other guards who were on her, slicing limbs, torsos, faces. It was a fight as unfair as could be, like a warrior striking down a frail mob of elderly cripples. Cutting them down, she dashed to the bottom floor.

The sight before her was grisly. The rest of the guards were dead, corpses littering the red-stained floor like ragdolls. Koji had trapped the Hebi clan lord, along with his four children. His wife, Hutani, was nowhere to be found. Strange. The flames had already begun their work, licking at the walls and creating a thick haze of smoke throughout the large floor. The heat rapidly became sweltering.

Lord Owa was left helpless with his children. He gripped the shoulders of the oldest, Shinhou, from behind. At fifteen, he’d spent a number of parties and public events in Aiya’s vicinity. She’d conversed with him, spoken as equals with his mother and father. This was the part that she never got used to. Aiya was in a perpetual state of inner conflict. She valued her relationships with those nobility that she considered amicable. They were human like her, which meant there was a loving side and a dark side to them too. She wasn’t ruthless like her father, yet she was.

They dared not move, no sound except for the heavy breathing and whimpering of the three younger children. The oldest son trembled, eyes hard, welcoming whatever came next. Lord Owa simply smiled, a crazed smile that spread a little too wide.

“What’s the meaning of this?” Owa asked, hand hovering at his hip.

Koji spoke firmly, though his voice wavered slightly. “You threatened the Takasa clan.”

“Surely you were aware it would come to this eventually,” Aiya said, swallowing any last bit of hesitation. “A friend turned foe always gets his just desserts.”

Owa pulled out a glinting dagger. His grin wasn’t one of mirth, but of deep anger, a rabid dog forced on its last leg. His eyebrows furled as he held it in front of his son’s face, pointing it back and forth between Koji and her. “Bastards, who do you think you are?”

“The Takasa clan,” Koji answered. “Servants of the Empress come to take your life and destroy your legacy. None stand in the way of the Takasa.”

Owa watched him for a long moment, his dagger stuck pointed at her brother. Finally, he said, “I see that bastard Arusuke truly is unable to give up his place, to the point of having his own children as his dogs.”

Koji started, rushing to stop the lord. Aiya instinctively jumped back, eyes flying wide. An alarmed cry lodged itself in her windpipe as Hebi Owa cut his own throat.

Clan

Takasa Shozhu was the last clan member of his generation, save Arusuke, his brother. The man’s ungraciously long life was not at all a blessing, but a curse. He still got urges to spit at his brother’s feet when he showed deference.

The unblessed of his siblings had fought for the title of heir barely out of their teen years, when their father was on the cusp of passing. Arusuke, perhaps the most cut-throat of any of them, had triumphed naturally. The two other Ginju of his generation had now perished nearly fifteen years ago. Naturally. One had to accept that the increased strain they put on their bodies would lead to declining health. Particularly the health of the heart, though he supposed that none of them had stabbed each other through the heart while growing up together could be considered a miracle.

The castle room in which he waited patiently was barren and lit by a single candle, its shadowy silhouette prancing across the floor. In the air, there was incense freshly burned, bringing him back to his days as a youth. The world had been a better place back then, simpler. The youth had been stronger. More resilient. Any youth he knew today would not have survived in his era. Least of all Aru’s brat, Kitani.

None of the youth back then had been complacent. One had to be hungry. That hunger he carried with him for decades still ate at him from the inside. There was an appetite in him that could never be satiated, and most days it hurt.

The sliding screen across from where he sat rattled. They’d arrived.

“You may enter,” Shozhu said.

The two young rodents he called his students stepped in and bowed. Aiya held a beige sack, dropping it to the ground, eyes forward. “For his lordship, an enemy delivered, for the Takasa clan, and for the River.”

“Well done,” Shozhu said, stroking at his long beard. “I trust your own eyesight to be better than mine.”

He grabbed the sack and began to unwrap it. Not as wet as he expected it to be. They’d taken time to let the blood deplete after chopping away his neck. He removed the head. That disgusting face, cold, pale and dead. Owa had finally gotten his turn of chaos, silenced. Satisfied, Shozhu pushed it back into the sack. “Survivors?”

Aiya kept her eyes forward. “None.”

There was darkened cloth around her arm.

Shozhu nodded. Aiya and Koji released themselves from their position, sitting on their heels a few feet away from him. There was something to be said of the smell of death, of spilled blood, so strong it seeped into his nostrils through the smoky incense.

“Well done. Your father will be pleased when he wakes in the morning. That cleared, his lordship had an unexpected surprise for us this morning. An hour past noon, there will be a public meeting held in the square. We’re to attend as the Takasa clan on the grounds of diplomatic relations with Forgery. I wish I’d foreseen the short notice, but I myself was just told this morning. Apparently Lord Arusuke and Forgery have been engaged in secret discussions until now.”

Surprise marked their faces, which quickly morphed into suspicion. Aiya spoke up. “Master, if I recall, Forgery has been involved in civil conflict for the past two years now.”

“You’d be right to suspect the meeting will cover terms of agreement for requested aid,” Shozhu replied. He set the sack to the side. “But we shall see soon enough. Owa’s demise is likely to send more shockwaves through the nobility than previous assassinations. Like always, other families, especially second-class clans, will be wary of us. Act as if nothing has changed. We want a healthy fear for our name, not the impression of merciless tyrants.”

“Understood,” Koji replied, “we’ll go get Ira ready.”

Koji stepped in front of the screen to Irashida’s room, Aiya standing behind him. The two were freshly bathed standing on the cool floor, rectangular mats of tightly woven fibers fitted into an interlocking pattern. The walls were white rice paper. The large main living space ceiling stretched ten feet high, with translucent folding screens leading into another room across from them. Simple artwork graced many of the screens, from paintings of sunsets to cool colored meadows. A staircase at the floor’s end led down to the castle’s first story, ceramic flower vases placed at its base.

This entire house, surrounded by lavish gardens was home for just one family who ruled the River. Past the gardens surrounding the estate were the streets of Kawanura, capital of River province. A hub of economic activity, full of merchants and artisans. Firetaming and puppet shows were popular attractions, drawing in thousands of nobility and commoners alike from the surrounding countryside each month. The Takasa Household was situated at its center, a reminder to the common Erru of noble wealth and prestige. More importantly, it reminded the lower nobility who really held power.

The sun had begun to rise, warming the house with its rays. Koji adjusted his robe’s billowed sleeves then refastened the silk belt around his waist. The light blue silk, sown with inconspicuous wavy patterns, was soft enough that it was barely felt throughout the day.

He slid open the door. “Oversleeping again? I thought we ordered this sloth out weeks ago.”

Irashida sat up from his bed, his mouth curving into a smirk. He had a beaming, affectionate smile, one that complimented the soft curvature of his narrow face. It was that same honest smile that pulled all the way to his eyes and touched his dark hairs. Ira was strong like the elk, affable like a deer, and passionate like the doe.

“It would seem his infliction of laziness has spread,” Aiya said, briskly walking over to him.

“Don’t go on acting like you’re my mother again,” Ira said as she placed a hand over his forehead. “Glad to see you two unharmed. How was…last night?”

“Well enough, for us. Not so well for the Hebi.” Koji answered.

Only two servants currently occupied the austere room, burning incense. Koji observed them, so peaceful as they contemplated the smoke rise and billow, restoring the house with its aromas. He noticed from time to time how their lives were so nice, so unfairly easy, in contrast to the lives of nobility. Only having to carry out servant’s duties to earn food and a roof to eat it under. Safe from the political strain placed on higher noble backs, and the constant social warfare between the lower noble houses vying for prestige. They knew their place in the world.

Their privilege to work into securing positions of personal servitude for their children, the peace of mind they must have, never considered a mere weapon from birth to house the power of a deity, these things likely never crossed their minds.

“You’ve returned. Thank the Empress,” a voice from behind them called out. Kisane appeared outside the room and bowed.

“You look beautiful, Kisane,” Aiya said. They embraced each other, the house servant bowing again as a show of thanks, then embracing Koji. Kisane was short and thin, a middle-aged woman whose hair always smelled sweet like roses and rausta leaf. She’d been more of a mother to them than their real mother ever was. Yet the characteristic cheery expression was absent from her face.

“Everything alright?”

“Asaya missed you two when I told her you were going on a trip. I just put her back to sleep. She said she dreamt the three of you being attacked by a hound on the road, protecting our family.”

Aiya looked concerned. Kisane’s adopted child of seven had finally hit the age where one understood that the worst fear was not knowing what tomorrow would bring about. “Empress’ soul, she’s growing fast.”

“She sleeps now, my lady.” She looked to Ira. “Ira has been in my care, and he’s fast coming back up.”

“Even the sun comes out to sing its praises,” Ira said, throwing off his blanket and sliding on his feet.

Koji eyed Ira, a certain longing in him. His sickness kept him bedridden usually two weeks out of a month. He’d randomly become dizzy, weak and confused, forced to be cared for while he recovered. The physicians knew nothing of his condition nor its origin. “Well,” Koji said, “Just in time, because it looks like you won’t have to miss out this time. We’ve all been summoned by father. An urgent meeting with an heir of Forgery province.”

Plea

Bustling bodies filled the streets of Kawanura. The nobility boasted robes of heavy silk, emblazoned by family crests. Commoners meandered around them, content with their duller, cheaper attire. Though only specks of clouds drifted above, a considerable number of the people held up their raincatchers, not chancing the prospect of a full day without skywater. Aromas of noodles, fresh produce, and cider swirled through Aiya’s nostrils, and the hypnotic rhythm of violins in the background was so melodic at times she felt as if she had begun floating. There were gobi fish in the stand right next to them too, its stench a fraction of that in the coastal towns and port cities of River, but a stench nonetheless.

It was a warm start for winter, Third Day on the second week of Yin.

Aiya, Ira, Shozhu and Koji followed the rest of the Takasa family, Lord Arusuke, his wife, and three other children, having somehow lagged behind and gotten sidetracked along the way.

“How many clans do you think will dedicate soldiers to this Forgery heir’s cause if father agrees to an alliance with him?”

“You really think we’ll hand over manpower to them, Aiya? I’d say he’s come at the worst possible time. I mean, what’s in it for us?” Koji asked.

“Forgery is already the largest weapon producer in the empire,” Ira said. “The only thing we can offer is manpower. Not to mention they are a more central province, a deeper relationship with them can only be a good thing.”

Shozhu waved for them, sauntering on with his slight limp. The pudgy man had been distracted by a street musician, stopping to drop a few coin bits in his basket. The musician nodded once, eyes still lowered as his fingers worked furiously upon his flute. “Let’s press on, young ferrets. His lordship is already at the meeting grounds.”

Aiya dodged a serious-looking noble man, whose cloud-patterned navy blue robes seemed a size too small. He did a double take after noticing who she was, and stopped to profusely apologize.

“My lady, forgive my indifference! I failed to notice you, my lords.”

“A small thing, Lord Ona,” Aiya said, putting on a smile. “You may be on your way.” They briskly went their separate ways, the man complaining to the merchant as they walked away.

No one recognized the five of them as Ginju, because no one knew who, or even what, the Ginju were. To everyone else, they were men just short of monsters, hidden or perhaps locked deep away in the High Lord’s dungeons, waiting to be unleashed and cause havoc. But here they walked, free as doves, enjoying the festive atmosphere the meeting had brought upon the city. The announcement this morning had also been a shock to the cityfolk, and the streets were shortly after flooded with three times the traffic as usual.

She ignored the burning ache in her bicep.

Children laughed, adults droned or chattered in excitement, and Aiya couldn’t help but be intoxicated by the thrill. The Takasa clan had sent two large waves through River society on very short notice. Aiya noticed a number of Kotonese people among the throng. Her eyes darted from one to another with slight aversion. Unlike most Erru who were tawny, they were a terra-cotta skinned people whose features appeared scrunched together on the upper half of their faces. Each man or woman avoided eye contact, avoiding being noticed in any way, the lank of their limbs kept rigid at their sides. They didn’t look sad, or scared, but observant in what was just ahead of them.

Kotonese represented a significant portion of southern fishermen, close to one half. They’d occupied Egaisha a long time, perhaps the most stagnant group of any of the Erru people on the continent. Despite their majority population in some towns of the south, the sight of one was enough to evoke feelings of revulsion. Even the common Erru thought of them as low, an unmotivated and mischievous race. The mental image conjured up by the mere mention of the Kotonese was a base person simple in their ways, groveling, wretched, undignified. A scowl skipped across her face before diverting her gaze.

A pair of Ushin in dirty white burlap robes strode together, wearing wide brimmed straw hats atop their heads. Ushin warriors, commonly known as the poor man’s Jodai, made their living as mercenary soldiers for hire against bandits and thugs. They might police the streets of a countryside, or save city shop owners being robbed, or act as escorts to a caravan traveling through dangerous roads. Unlike Jodai, they were of low birth and far from military grade.

They went through shops, long-ribboned women spinning to the hum of stringed instruments. Crowds gathered around firetaming performers. They joined the crowd standing outside a caravan, waiting for the beginning of a story.

“Before River, we were a people of Tetsuo. Before Tetsuo, we were only men, whose main pastime was strife, as much as it is today. Before men, there was only the Empress,” the storymaster cast his voice, settling like a blanket over the audience. His hands moved in hugely exaggerated gestures. “The Erru have always been a squabbling people. Hundreds of years before even the earliest era of the empire, we fought against one another among innumerable tribes. It was a far more treacherous time back then. Spirits and monsters roamed from place to place, and much of the land suffered an endless torrent of freezing rain.

“Times became unbearable as war became necessity. Across this same land of mist and rain, starvation, plague, and despair took the lives of many. However, there would come a savior. A woman in robes of white whose bronze skin radiated like the rising sun. The woman was said to be the daughter of the Shinti, an immortal, who walked the earth, watching over each creature, all the same. Being part man, she felt responsible for her half-kin. She witnessed the carnage throughout the lands, as tribes turned on tribes, father on son and mother on daughter. Thousands of men lay torn to pieces in the valley of Zakura, where demons feasted on them from First to Seventh Day.

“The woman in white was not to interfere with the Shinti’s creation, but finally her desire for order got the better of her. The greatest warlord of the time, a man named Kozuku of the Uchiname tribe, came to the woman to request her aid in exchange for his eternal servitude.

“‘None under the heavens can ever be eternal in body apart from me,’ the woman answered. ‘But in name, your honorable words today will make you so.’

“Thus she became his head, and he her vassal. She banished the monsters and spirits from the physical realm to the spirit realm, where most hide today, lurking with resentment and fear. She and Kozuku took to conquering all his enemies, until they stood united under one banner. Thus the immortal woman became the Empress, sovereign over all peoples.

“Many would submit in fear at the first sight of her, but there were those who would stop at nothing to protect their hold on power. Many tribes of the north came together as her armies rampaged across their borders. Her Sovereign was not bothered by this, and demanded her troops stand aside so that she could conquer these northern Erru all by herself. Ten times ten thousand men with spears and swords and clubs stood before her. But there was no intimidation in any part of her.

“With a simple gesture, she conjured up storms of lightning and mists and wind. These were no ordinary storms, but storms of spells, causing those inside to shrivel into frozen husks of themselves. They screamed, cried out, and more quickly than any other army had before, died. It was a gruesome sight to behold, and one that was never forgotten. That is why, to this day, the Empress causes Wailstorms, and the frostsickle they inflict. They are a mere display of her power, the wails the last cries of her enemies brought to justice by the storms.”

His tale had drawn the audience into a sort of trance, so that Aiya didn’t even notice Shozhu before he had to pull them onwards. Off in the distance were the meeting grounds, an expansive circle of cobbled stone surrounded by wooden fencing. Inside the fence, there were already a number of noble families gathered around a central tower. Commoners congregated outside it.

The crowd parted, making way for the late-arriving nobility. When they made it into the inner circle of the meeting grounds, Aiya watched her family standing on the stage beneath the tower. Below them, lower River clans stared reverently.

Lord Arusuke perked up as a Jodai guard approached him from the opposite side of the circle. Arusuke wore the same light blue Takasa robes, except for a white gobi fish patch on his chest. Lady Uaya wore a similar patch. Together they represented two halves of the patterns of chaos and harmony.

The two made the perfect duo, both in their forties, Arusuke tall with an ever present distinguished look on his face. Uaya sat contently, pretty with red lipstick and an alluring smile. When one got to know them, however, one discovered Arusuke’s strong face took on an irritable and self-centered quality, and Uaya’s smile was a simple facade to hide a personality as fiery as a viper. Aiya seldom spoke with their daughters, Yuuki and Ari, the unblessed of his daughters. Even at fourteen and twelve they were crass and simple-minded. Kitani, eldest unblessed son, was a year older than Ari, a selfish brat that reminded Aiya of a yellow-back monkey, with his long limbs and knobish build.

The Jodai whispered something into Arusuke’s ear. His deep blue lamellar armor glinted in the sunlight. The man was the servant of Arusuke, as were all other Jodai in River, noble men of every level trained in the sword since the age of two. The title of general granted authority closest to that of the High Lord himself.

Aiya had always seen Jodai as tall, straight-backed warriors with an appetite for ruthlessness. Though she hadn’t ever been in the midst of battle, her interactions with them proved true. They were among the most honorable and dignified men in person, but when facing opposition they fought like ravenous wolves and stole the heads of their enemies as trophies. She’d seen the aftermath of their craft and it was never a nice ending for those who’d stood in their path.

Arusuke held up a hand and the crowd hushed.

“Hold on,” Shozhu demanded. They were at the front facing the stage, stopping so as not to disrupt the ceremony. They’d watch from afar, keeping their ears open for any dissenting noble opinions. Not far from them, the crowd was making way for three Forgery caravans. The caravans came not twenty feet from the crowd as guardsmen hopped around to escort the passengers out.

Aiya picked up harsh whispering behind her: “I can’t take this. When will we receive our own caravans to parade around the city?”

Aiya turned to see a wispy haired, solemn faced old man violently nudging a younger looking one. “Lord Takasa protects us, watch your tongue and mind your blessing!”

The young man noticed Aiya and reluctantly piped down. She turned her attention back to the caravan, noting the bold red painted wood complimenting matching red wheels. The doors were opened, and out stepped an orange robed man with hair so long it fell past his shoulders. He had a determined expression to him, clean shaven with strong features. He was also surprisingly…young. Young and unexpectedly handsome.

The Forgery heir walked on stage, men from the other two caravans stepping out to follow suit. He waited for the rest of them, presumably trusted subjects and counselors of his, to stand behind him. He was a spectacle opposite to the Takasa family, facing the crowd with those closest behind him. He opened his mouth to speak with a rich, deep voice that suggested he’d spent more years on the earth than at first glance.

“My name is Lord Yomenuura Sen, heir and soon-to-be highest lord of Forgery province. And you, colleagues of the River, are an honor to stand before. Underestimate not my gratefulness for the opportunity.”

He turned from the crowd to Arusuke. The short speech had seemed slightly rehearsed. Still the crowd watched in anticipation. Lord Sen was led into the tower first. Soon, Arusuke and his family followed in silence, the buzz returning to the crowd.

“Let’s go,” Shozhu said, stepping forward. The doors remained open and as they walked through, a chill ran down Aiya’s spine. The events of the day’s unfolding had finally begun to weigh on her, as the conversation in this room could very well alter the course of River. The inside was modest, nothing but the polished floor and ashwood walls, filled with a foreboding quiet. Jodai guards stood off to the sides.

She recognized the goateed man sitting next to her father as general Yun, whom she had limited interaction with. Unlike his soldiers, he wore a robe with swords tucked at each side. His gray hair was pulled back, just long enough to form a ponytail.

Aiya waited for one of the lords to speak. Koji fidgeted as she resisted the urge to sniff. The young Forgery lord cleared his throat.

“We thank River for this welcoming occasion. Lord Arusuke has been gracious to us, and we wish to make the most of our meeting today. Your time today shall not be in vain.” He bowed as he said this. His next words were spoken with more conviction. “As you understand, the relationship between me and my family has been less than ideal as of late. The conflict concerning my sister has continued for too long. Through our own persistence, we’ve managed to hold back her advances. However our resources have been dwindling, and not all who fight under my banner remain faithful. Therefore, I come today as lord of Forgery to humbly and formally request an alliance between River and Forgery.”

He looked up with hard eyes boring straight into Arusuke. “I understand River has experienced dwindling relations with Agriculture, especially as of late. With the joining of our forces, my last living rival would be pincered between us, overpowered and forced to give up her conquest for the throne. We would be forever in your debt.”

Moments passed before Lord Arusuke’s answer. “Interesting. You speak more of your own province’s interests than ascertaining mine. Who’s to say you’ll keep your word if we do lend you aid?”

Quite direct of you, Aiya thought.

“Your lord, with respect, such an act would not only be foolish, but selfish.”

“Yes,” Arusuke mused, “and possibly advantageous. You’re young, thinking yourself honorable, yet only concerned with your own gains during negotiations. Not just inconsiderate but inexperienced. I expected a speech of more character. Something revealing intelligence.”

Sen twitched at this. Some of the men around him moved uncomfortably.

“Lord Arusuke, perhaps I was not clear enough about your own benefit from this. I understand we do not come from a place of close companionship, and your own misgivings are of a more personal nature. Yet we serve the same Empress, and are both served by our respective people. We possess resources you lack. The conquest for Tarshan grows more heated by the day. You are the second closest in proximity to it. You may soon want a cheap way of getting them. We could supply you greatly in high quality steel, of course.”

Arusuke eyed the Forgery lord. “I suggest you think before you speak, boy. For what sensible purpose would we expend bodies in your own power struggle with no guarantee of a return on investment? We already have enough soldiers taxed out of us each year. I suppose next you’ll suggest we stoop as low as to draft commoners. This was supposed to be a negotiation, instead you offer a half-assed plea!”

“Pardon if I speak out of turn,” said a large white-haired man next to Sen, “but Lord Sen is fully accustomed to court politics, and his presence demands respect.”

Arusuke paid none of it. “He’s barely more than my eldest son. If he’s to be the next High Lord, the future of Forgery does not look bright.”

Aiya grinded her teeth in agitation. The situation was not progressing how she’d hoped. Were an agreement met, it would further cement the firm rule of Takasa, and that might mean less midnight excursions to murder insurgent clans.

Sen now looked angry. “I assure your lordship I’ve enough experience to not come to you as ignorant as you presume.”

The white-haired man grew bolder. “I refuse to listen while my lord is mocked and his accomplishments undermined!”

“Surely the boy can speak for himself,” Arusuke said, not caring for the offense being given, “I’m simply helping him understand his place: An innocent pup pretending to be one the wolves. He’s yet to even grow a wisp of chin hair.”

Sen glared at Arusuke, a dangerous look in his eyes. “Your careless threats might prove reckless and dangerous. I advise you show some of the respect you so readily expect for yourself.”

“Oh, the pup attempts to growl,” Arusuke said, challenging. “But will he actually bear his teeth?”

The man shot up from his sitting position. He was surprisingly bulky for a man his age, somewhere in his mid fifties. He was at least a head taller than every other person in the room, appearing like an ape. “Lord Sen will receive his due reverence! I won’t take anymore from this River scum! ”

“Down, Juso,” Sen said. The man hesitated. Finally, he sat with reluctance.

“I am greatly dismayed at our conversation so far, Lord Arusuke. It seems it was a mistake to have been so optimistic for this talk between us. For some foolish reason I assumed you’d be more reasonable.”

Arusuke chuckled. “What would a child understand about reason?”

Aiya was appalled by the malice in Arusuke’s words and actions. Even for him, she’d expected a more civilized performance in court politics. He had no intention of bringing this anywhere. He was purposefully antagonistic, knowing Sen needed him more than he needed Sen.

The man named Juso bounced to his feet again. “I’ll have no more of this!”

“You’ve no choice but to.” This time the words came from general Yun, who still sat coolly on the floor. “What Lord Arusuke says is true, whether or not you accept it. This was agreed to as a meeting between lords, not dogs, and any further interruption will force my own involvement.”

Juso took a step forward. “I hope you understand what you are suggesting could unwittingly cost you your life.” His hand went to his sword hilt. “An honorable duel with me is not likely to end well.”

Yun merely smiled. “Hmph. If that’s what it will take to silence your barking, then so be it.”

“Back, Juso!” Sen commanded, but he ignored him.

“I humbly apologize, my lord, but I must uphold your honor above all else.”

He unsheathed his blade. “I, general Juso of Forgery under Lord Sen, accept an honorable duel between me and the River Jodai scum before me.”

Aiya’s eyes darted from him to Yun. Such sudden escalation of the scene made it surreal.

General Yun stood, a whole two heads beneath Juso, unsheathing his own sword. His blade sung softly as it slid against the metal scabbard.

Honor

The two generals posed on opposite sides of the cleared room. Yun was much shorter than his opponent, though Aiya could see by the fit of his robes that he wasn’t exactly lacking in strength. Yun’s amused face only served to work up general Juso’s rage further. Juso held out his blade with a meaty hand over his right shoulder, the curved tip pointing downwards. Yun had his blade at his hips, his double-hand grip seeming more relaxed. It was a scene out of a painting, suspended warriors posed against the other, awaiting the perfect striking moment.

None of the bystanders dared to make a sound. During an honorable duel, only the clash of weapons and the men that held them spoke. Lord Sen and Arusuke stood far behind their respective fighters. They both watched closely, Sen’s apprehension visible. Aiya stood off to the side with the rest of the nobles and armored Jodai.

Juso's face twisted into disgust. “Your head will roll.” He charged.

Juso brought his sword down. Yun easily parried, only moving his arms in the process. The clash of blades rang through the air, startling Aiya despite herself. Yun grunted as he took the blow, almost thrown off balance. With his free hand, Juso formed a fist like a boulder and launched it at his opponent’s face.

Yun backstepped, evading the wide swing as Juso’s knuckles narrowly missed his nose. Juso kept to the offensive, giving chase. Yun met Juso’s blade again, throwing him off and scurrying around to Juso’s weak side. Juso kept pace, hacking at Yun while shuffling forward with each strike. He tried cutting Yun with a strike to his shoulder, exposed torso turned sideways to prevent an easy counter-attack by the River general, but Yun dodged it from below and retreated. He knew to use his height to his advantage.

Juso looked and fought like a maddened gorilla, relentless with his vicious attacks. Aiya imagined him snarling to reveal a pair of hidden fangs. Yun by contrast, was like a smaller but more agile monkey, intellectual and skilled beyond his years.

Juso eased back a bit, Yun having made it clear his tactics would not work.

Yun went for the other man’s torso, opting for a close range attack. Juso feigned an attack, then released a hand from his hilt and grabbed Yun, lunging at him. He inched to the side, avoiding Yun’s blade and catching the smaller man by the throat.

Time seemed to stop almost imperceptibly.

Juso raised his sword fiercely as Yun’s own weapon nearly flew from his fingers. Yun gripped it, then plunged it into Juso’s side. Aiya blinked and saw ribbons of blood soaking the white of his robes.

Juso grunted in pain, cursing Yun, and stumbled backwards. The Forgery general heaved, eyes wide with pain. He moved to retaliate, but Yun withdrew his blade and made him double over. Juso gave a pitiful groan of pain and took two shaky steps back, toppling over onto his side. His eyes squeezed shut as he gritted his teeth, bright blood staining them red.

The Forgery Jodai protested, hands fidgeting over their hilts, fighting the urge to draw their own weapons.

Both Lord Arusuke and Sen observed, betraying nothing. That was that. The Forgery general had been unable to bear the offense taken by his lord and gotten himself killed. Now Juso said nothing but laid gasping for air, unable to climb to his feet.

Yun breathed in and out. Then he charged. Sen turned, astonished.

“Wha—” was all Juso managed to get out before Yun was on him, sword poised above his neck, his other arm dedicated to pinning the dying man to the ground.

“Stop!” were the cries of Forgery. They did nothing. Juso let out a loud, gargled croak, Yun’s blade already working viciously. He kept at it until he pulled the head from the thoroughly dead body. He stood in triumph, holding Juso high like a trophy, blood dripping at his feet.

Omens

Silent awe grew in the meeting tower. Heavier and heavier, until there was a volcanic eruption of screams and the drawing of blades. Several Forgery Jodai in red armor stomped forward, cursing with bloodlust. River Jodai were quick to meet their demands, preparing to draw their own weapons and growling with equal contempt. Lord Arusuke’s lips turned up in a slight smile.

“Enough! Sheath your weapons at once! Your lord commands you!” Sen motioned orders to the guards on each side of him. Some of the Jodai were almost driven mad with rage. A couple stepped forward, shaking.

“I said stand down! This was an honorable duel and it will not devolve into a bloodbath. Listen to your orders!”

Aiya was amazed at their submission. Their weapons shook in their hands, then finally they unarmed themselves one by one. They stood their ground with crazed looks on their faces.

“There was nothing honorable about what was just done, my lord,” answered one of the men, but he backed off anyway without taking his eyes off Yun.

The Forgery men behind Sen cursed Yun and Arusuke, some falling to their knees, distraught. Sen stood himself now, hands balled into fists at his side. He spoke directly to Yun. “The general was already defeated, lying on the ground. What possessed you to end him so savagely and deny him a final moment with his lord?”

Yun still held the head high as blood ran down the white of his robes. His words were calm and cool. “If you mean to ask why I took his life, it was because he never asked for mercy, as any sane man would have done. The duel was to continue until his death, and so I rightfully brought it. Don’t worry about his head. This,” he said, lowering it, “should be kept as a souvenir, and as a reminder, to exemplify what happens to pricks who step in River’s household without paying the proper respect.” He tossed it at them and its roll left a trail of blood.

“River bastard, we should have your head!” a skinny, long haired Jodai shouted from the side. Another retrieved it while two others gathered the body, wrapping them in spare robes.

Arusuke smirked. “You’ve come to my lands without a proper proposal for our unification, and then you threaten my subject who only acted within the bounds of reason against your own general’s hostility. I suggest you all remove yourselves from my sight, if you wish to see another day.”

Sen stared at him for a long time. Aiya thought the young lord would lose control of himself and order an attack. Finally, he said, “You’ll come to regret this day, Lord Arusuke. Your callous words and actions will not be forgotten.”

“I look forward to the day your promise holds true,” was Arusuke’s response.

With that, Sen ordered his men to their feet while Forgery Jodai escorted them out. Their faces contorted with disgust all the way out the door, the animosity in their eyes so strong it might have crushed an opponent of less conviction. The doors parted and soon the room was empty of anyone other than those of the River. No sooner than they closed did the Jodai begin laughing and cheering amongst each other, and the tense atmosphere dissipated. The release of tension cracked a smile on Aiya’s face as she looked to her siblings.

“Well, that ended better than expected,” Shozhu said, adjusting his robe. His forehead glistened.

“I must admit I wasn’t fully prepared to see that,” Uaya declared. A tinge of distaste seemed to have touched her complexion.

The satisfaction on Arusuke’s face beamed brighter than anyone else. His children seemed disturbed by what they had seen, sitting stiff and quiet as they took in the reactions around them. “You’ve done a good service today, Yun. I am well pleased.”

Yun kept his face straight and bowed, walking over to his men to change out his robes.

“We’ll take our leave then. Hold your heads high,” Arusuke commanded.

Outside the fresh air was rejuvenating, and Aiya felt lighter as they stood behind Arusuke on the stage.

Arusuke raised a fist in the air before the murmuring crowd. “Long live the River!” he bellowed, and the crowd exploded into cheers. A festive flute melody began in the background as the commoners and noble families were dismissed. Arusuke turned to Shozhu, well pleased with the day’s events. “Shozhu, my brother, I wish to see a smile on your face as well. I’ll be spending the rest of the day with my wife and children celebrating. I suggest you do the same with the rest of the pups.”

Pups. The days were far and few inbetween that he acknowledged them as his own offspring. Most Erru who knew them from the legends feared them, but for Arusuke it was the opposite. He held them in contempt.

“Thank you, Lord Arusuke. Events of late have greatly increased my confidence in River.”

“Forgive me, father, if I speak out of turn,” Koji said, assuming a bow, “but was it really wise to be so hostile towards another potential High Lord?”

Arusuke turned, unphased. “Nonsense. The young man had to be put in his place. He came to me in desperation with not a hair yet grown on his jewels and still barks when I point out the fact? His downfall is certain no matter which way you choose to look at it.” He left them, family close behind.

Now it was only the four of them left, making their way out of the cobblestone grounds.

Ira cursed angrily to himself. “Damned fool…”

“I can see why even under the Empress we have such a long history of fighting each other,” Koji said. “The Erru celebrate violence and pettiness as much as honor.”

Aiya shrugged. “At least we made a difference. The war in Forgery’s been keeping the Empress from sending troops to the shores of Tarshan. The sooner the fighting stops the better.”

Shozhu kept his pace, eyes forward. “It’s unlikely Sen would take one of his most valuable generals off the battlefield when they’re in such a tight knot right now. I suspect he was of middling caliber in terms of tactical strategy. Aiya is correct, regardless. Delays are not convenient to the Empress’ purpose. An empire is only as strong as its weakest link.” Shozhu stopped them. “You’re all free to spend the rest of the day how you please. I’ll be at the temple seeking the Oshidai for guidance.”

He changed directions and walked off without a word.

Aiya stretched out her arms wide and yawned. “Well, I’ve had plenty of surprises for one day. Time to see what else the heavens have in store.”

“That reminds me, there’s something I have to do,” Ira said, slipping away, leaving his two siblings to their own devices.

Alone, Shozhu traversed a random path through the throbbing crowds, headed nowhere in particular. Well, he had to appear that way.

Much had transpired in just the past twenty four hours, but the most important moment was yet to come. The sun was sliding into the horizon but the festival around him carried on. He caught a whiff of something sour, a dirty musk like unwashed bodies. Others around him were doing the same and glaring as a particularly wild Ushin warrior passed by, his burlap robe ripped in places and his skin full of grime. His hair was knotty and a mess, arranged into a tousled ponytail. His face, not entirely dissimilar to a weasel, scanned around as if looking for something, or someone.

His gaze landed on Shozhu just before they passed and he clapped his hands together and bowed in a gesture so quickly that Shozhu nearly stumbled back.

“My lord!” the man cried. “Your humble servant sees you are traveling in solitary among these ravenous crowds. If I may, might you accept the escort of your humble servant? Or perhaps you have a service at hand you wish to be performed?”

“Hmm,” Shozhu mused. “I’m making my way to the shrine. Your services are welcome, but keep ten paces ahead of me. You smell like roadkill.”

The Ushin man bowed and led him away. They walked for a minute before coming to a wheat bun stand, and Shozhu told the man to wait. He ordered two wheat buns because he’d grown hungry and eating usually distracted him from the pain in his leg. Chewing on the soft bread, they came across the Engo temple located on the far east side of the city. It was a massive building. Spread throughout the temple were rusted copper statues turned green, carved out into legendary spirits, known as the Kiru or earthly spirits. They set an uneasiness in his heart. To the furthest side was a multitude of statues carved from a single block of stone, ferocious men who seemed bred from beasts snarling menacingly in all directions. The Ginju, or at least, what most Erru thought of them. It was always strange walking amongst a crowd who believed him a monster. If only they knew those fearsome creatures were walking among them every day without their realization.

At the top of the temple’s steps was a statue of the Oshidai, the Engo monk figure sitting peacefully and holding his arms to his sides, hands on lap. Engo was the religion of enlightenment, its founder sitting there as the highest of all. The stark contrast to the bloodlusting statues below created an odd sense of beauty. It occurred to Shozhu that these entities were to him, save for the false image of the Ginju, a lot like he was to most others. He believed in the spirits, yet he had never seen one. Of course, it was likely because the spirits preferred keeping themselves hidden from the physical world. Compared to mankind, they were much more in the image of their creators while far less powerful. They were individualistic, and usually kept to themselves, some benevolent and willing to help the odd traveler on the road, while others might be malevolent and terrorize a house. The Erru prayed to them at times, but it was risky. One never knew if a spirit could be trusted.

In the beginning, the Shinti were the originators, the first of sentient life. There was only the earth, the animals and nature, and the Ten Great Spirits known as the Shinti. The Shinti were natural beings of the earth whose names and features were not remembered, but they lived in harmony with each other and with nature. After many eons of living among the life naturally abundant on earth, they desired something more honorable. The earthly spirits were created in their own image. After them, the humans, who were about the least honorable thing they could have come up with. Nevertheless, mankind would best Mother Nature, an animal more intelligent than any beast in the field, creature of the sea, or bird in the sky, yet also with the potential to be more numerous than the trees and seas of grass.

Only the Kiru could be in the presence of the Shinti, yet the Shinti gave preference to humans, the imbeciles. They showed mankind how to survive and thrive. They learned from living among them, that with free will, humans would depart from them. They were often violent, like the animals, despite the capacity to choose otherwise. This disturbed the Shinti, and from war and atrocities committed by the many broken tribes of men, rose the abomination called Carnage, the literal manifestation of human violence.

The Ten Great Spirits came together to destroy Carnage and by consequence render mankind unable to commit violence, but they could not overcome him. They died, their souls banished to the spirit world. Their daughter, who became the Empress, taught men the ways of the spirit world. There were ten domains of this world to draw power from. The rivers, the mountains, the forests, the stone, the rain, the paths, agriculture, forgery, high noon, and twilight. Each one was an essential aspect of civilized humanity, in which each province was named after. When the empire expanded, a new domain would be granted by the Empress.

He came to a bridge leading out into a forest area abutting the city, which led to the local shrine. There were many shrines placed out in the forests. The heavens and the spirits were said to be more accessible in these ‘cities of nature’, and he, of course, was praying to the Oshidai. Or at least, that was his story.

The Ushin led him through the thin brush and path made by many wandering feet, music fading through rustling leaves. Shozhu was up the path about fifty feet in. The shrine was placed in a massive clearing, four archways combined to make an open cube like structure, with a life sized statue of the Oshidai in the center.

“Here,” Shozhu said, and the Ushin stopped in his tracks.

The man turned around. “That’ll be all my lord?”

Shozhu fished a small bag of coins from the insides of his robes. Thirty pennies, enough to keep him fed and clothed for the next six months. The Ushin man took it, with a pointed measure of control, and went on gracefully to distract anyone coming too close.

“Three doves, one feather. Fallen sun, gray weather,” said Shozhu almost to himself, but just loud enough for anyone nearby to hear. There was a rustle as a man came from behind a tree and through the bushes. An Agriculture province messenger, the man named Yosuke.

He wore a striped robe of green and gray, and an eyepatch, his youthful face serious as usual. “Smart thinking, hiring a common thug.”

“The task is complete,” Shozhu said. “Now for you to do your part.”

He began to hand the Agriculture nobleman a paper he pulled from the same pocket the money pouch had been. “Guard this with your life.”

“What is it?”

“A message. One too sensitive to possibly be intercepted. I’d rather deliver it myself. You’ve remained under cover?”

Yosuke nodded and tied the rolled parchment onto his upper arm, then rolled his sleeve back down over it. “I hope to see you-”

He abruptly stopped. Shozhu immediately scanned the area around them. There was rustling in the branches and a note of scuffed footsteps.

“I heard voices,” Yosuke said, turning to face the direction of the sound.

Whoever was coming would have no reason to be suspicious, but still the idea they might have been heard kept them frozen in place.

Out came Irashida, alone.

“What the hell were you doing?” Shozhu demanded, shocked.

“Taking a stroll through the woods. Why so alarmed?” There was a clear indication on his face, a slight diversion in the eyes and shift of the lips. It said that he knew he’d been doing something Shozhu shouldn't know about, though he did his best to hide it.

“This is a private fellowship,” Yosuke said. “We hired an Ushin warrior to keep the premises clear, but I’m guessing you had already been over there.”

“Taking my usual scenic roundabout to this lovely shrine,” Irashida said, changing his path to go around them. “But I know where I’m not wanted, I’ll take my leave. Apologies.”

With that he made his way out the direction Shozhu had come in. His watch did not leave Irashida until the boy disappeared behind the trees. When Shozhu finally turned away, his heart had not yet ceased thumping in his chest.

Rise

The months of Yin and Won passed by in relative quickness. The weather only became marginally cooler while the River clans continued erring on the side of caution with the Takasa. There were no longer disgruntled murmurs proliferating the high social circles, and each clan scraped together their due taxes and nothing more. Aiya found herself enjoying more time with Irashida, Kisane and Asaya. Koji spent long hours playing games of Perish with Ira as Aiya read books of classic tales to Asaya. Kisane brought them tea from time to time, much to the jealousy of Kitani.

This was her true family. With them, her guard was always down. The three Ginju kept to themselves as much as possible. When she did interact with the others, it was usually protecting Kisane from Kitani’s harassment, who often singled her out and berated her over the most minute things. Aiya had more shouting matches with him than she cared for, though she suspected he was enjoying them more than he let on. Lord Arusuke and Lady Uaya hushed them over preparations for the Year-End’s gathering, as they entered into Fenn. It was in this final month of the year that they began celebrating their harvests up until the start of the new year, usually marked by ever more frequent Wailstorms. It was this wave of storms the Erru considered to be the arrival of a new period, a violent tempest to signify caution for the new year, that they be grateful for the occurrences of the past and wise in the future. This year the celebration was to be held at the meeting grounds of Kawanura, where a party was hosted every Third Night by a different noble family for the sake of inclusion.

Aiya closed an artbook of different landscapes accompanied by poems. “Asaya needs cooler tea, Kisane. It’s too hot.”

They were in the gardens, the weather too perfect to be spent indoors.

Kisane’s face turned sideways. “Right away my lady.”

Aiya surveyed her for a second. “Is everything alright?”

“Oh yes. Of course. I’m glad I get to see the two of you growing up.” Kisane gathered up one of the cups. “Thank you for everything.”

Aiya smiled as Kisane left the room. She cared for Kisane and Asaya more than anything. Kisane was like her true mother growing up. Even so, she was always subservient, though she seemed more distant than usual.

Aiya got up and walked Asaya to the door. “Go and find Kotaru now,” she said. Asaya ran off.

As if on cue, Ira stepped in to take her place. He held a book and a small River flag in one hand.

“Since tonight we’ll be figuring out where to host the next few gatherings,” Ira said, “we can use this opportunity to see which houses are really loyal to us, and which ones are planning on using lord Owa’s death as a way to stir a rebellion.”

“Empress’ soul, it feels like it’s been forever since we’ve been in this situation,” Aiya said, taking the flag. “It’s the same game of cat and mouse. I guess the saying is true that real friends don’t exist among the nobility.”

“We should keep our guard up at all times,” Ira said, “there’s no telling when someone will backstab us.”

Aiya laughed. “And who in their right mind would dare try something like that right now?”

“I’m just saying it could be anyone,” Ira said. “Besides, gatherings among the nobility are always the optimal time to make a big move.”

“I think you just have something against us and fine wine,” Aiya responded.

Ira’s expression tightened, his head turned away for a moment. “I may have just been on edge lately, worried too much.”

“It’s okay, Ira” Aiya said, waving the flag in his face. “So help me pick out my dress instead?”

The common grounds were already bustling. Festivities were set up around the entire city, and commoners were forbidden from the meeting grounds for the rest of the night. The indoors of the tower were more decorated this time, flags of light blue, deep blue and white strung around the ceiling. Men and women danced together in extravagant gowns, colorful and slim like the peacock.

They all split up upon entering. Two men suddenly began shouting outside the doors, sounding rather drunk. Shozhu promptly excused himself from the room. Why he’d taken that matter upon to handle himself they knew not.

Either way, they had another mission, this time with minimal killing and roasting. Koji made conversation with the Ganha family. They were polite as usual, their newborn daughter having just turned one wrapped in her mother’s arms. Koji had been a friend of their son Giba since their younger years, an aspiring artist who shared Koji’s love for books. They gave nothing away.

“Remember that time we got wasted during that Wailstorm?” Giba asked, well under the influence by the time Koji had arrived. “Hino was there and she wanted to leave and go out dancing in the storm. You tried stopping her, but as soon as she opened the door she fell over and was passed out after just three steps!” He let out a chortle. Koji smiled, amused by the memory, but moved the conversation along. He had more important things on his mind for tonight.

“Have you seen the Hoda clan anytime tonight?”

“No idea, haven’t been around them since they lost their hold on textile mills. The group of swine just got their turn of chaos if you ask me.”

“And your family took how many of their shares?”

Giba smacked his lips into a satisfied smile. “Thirty-two in all.”

“A good margin,” Koji mused. “Should add about fifty thousand empirical notes to your household.”

“So you’ve done your research. Fifty-two thousand three hundred to be exact.”

“I’d say that would be a surplus to what you made last year.” Koji kept his friendly smile and demeanor.

Giba looked down and sipped his drink. “I’d say it’s enough to not be too worn out by the tax increase, if that’s what you are getting at.”

Koji took his turn to look at his cup, then around the ballroom. “I don’t mean to be a bully, Giba. I like you and your family a lot. My father doesn’t mean to force too much on you either, but the Empress gets her cut and we have to find it one way or another.”

Giba placed a hand on his shoulder. “Koji, shenshen, you don’t need to explain these things to me of all people. I understand, it’s a dog eat dog world. I’d be your first informant if another clan was planning a revolt.”

Leave it to Giba to tell it like it was. He was one of the few people Koji knew personally willing to speak so brazenly. It was in his careless nature.

“Of course, Hino would be out of the picture.”

Koji followed Giba’s sight to see Ohmai Hino walking across the room in an elegant purple dress, hair tied back into graceful knots. Her face lit up as Koji noticed her. She made her way over to them. Giba patted Koji on the back. “I’ll leave you to it.”

Hino stopped just short of Koji, her eyes glued to his. Ornaments of red ruby graced her ears. She was stunningly beautiful.

“You look…gorgeous,” Koji said.

She smiled wider and brushed a strand of hair from her face. “Thank you, I would say the same for you.”

“That I look gorgeous?” Koji asked.

“Yes.” Hino grinned mischievously. “I suppose ‘handsome’ would be more appropriate.”

“Or striking,” Koji added. “Heads turn wherever I go, it must be something about me.”

“It’s your confidence, Koji. So…”

“So?”

“My poetry. What did you think?”

Koji felt like slapping his palm against his face. Hino was an artist, a poet ever since he could remember, whose work was admired among many of the nobility. Despite being busy, he’d meant to read it sometime this month. Hino’s family were second-class nobility, scribes who bound and sold books.

“I’m sorry, I never got around to it. You probably want to stab me now, but hear me out. How about you read it to me tomorrow at midnight, right outside our estate?”

Hino’s eyes narrowed. “Did you run this by your mother first?”

Koji wanted to jump off a roof on the inside. Because of the status of the Ohmai, Lady Uaya did not approve of Koji’s affection for Hino. In fact, it was because of her that he’d never even courted her, despite their years of companionship. They’d only shared a single kiss, three years ago, before pulling himself away.

Koji only smiled. “Didn’t need to. As they say, nothing good happens after sunset.”

Aiya saw none of the other clans as threats. They moved around like schools of fish in the water. Back and forth, seemingly with purpose until they abruptly switched direction again. Still, she kept Ira’s advice and stayed mostly clear of the wine, renowned and imported directly from Rain province.

She utilized her more solid relationships first, chatting with members of the council of judges and other influential nobles. Aiya noticed it wouldn’t be a night of drunk partying without at least a couple men hitting on her. She entertained Sibachi, whom she was genuinely interested in, while politely declining Chiba, who shyly made his advances every twenty minutes.

If only these people knew who she really was, who she and her siblings were, maybe they’d try to appeal to them, raise the three Ginju up as the new heads of the Takasa household to rule over the River.

“And then I said,” Chiba laughed nervously, “if you don’t want to be mistaken for a doormat, get off the floor!”

Aiya turned her head in confusion before realizing he was referencing some joke he’d made during their last interaction. Ira showed up by her side as Chiba excused himself, hanging his head.

“Any potential disruptors?” she asked him.

“Looks like we might go into the new year with some relative peace.”

They both toasted their glasses and drank.

“That's the first glass I’ve cleared tonight,” Aiya said, grinning.

“Just one? Ha, you must be quite fun at parties, then.”

“I’m taking your advice. You know, if they really wanted to kill us the best way would be an underhanded tactic like an arrow, or poison.”

“Underhanded tactics would be the only way.” He offered a smile. “To think, we're almost like the Shinti compared to them, and yet we can be taken out by the same illnesses as the unblessed. The heavens surely mock us.”

“Stop it, Ira.” Aiya said it louder than she intended to and drew looks from a couple directions. “Don’t talk about yourself like that. You’re going to be fine. The physicians told us you just need to rebalance your energies–”

“I understand that, Aiya. I truly do. I don’t mean to be pessimistic, all I’m saying is that I’m the prime example for why we can never fully let our guard down.”

“Listen, save it for later, okay? We’re here to celebrate too. You can mope later.”

They heard a man yelling at an impressive volume from outside the tower, considering the noisy chatter and sway of the violin. At first they thought it might be some argument, which would probably end in an honor duel. Then there were more shouts outside.

“What was that?” Ira said.

Everyone in the room slowly came to a standstill, listening. For every moment the shouting dragged on, the realization that became dreadfully more clear. This was no sound of celebration or a fight, but of mass hysteria. Soon the shouts were melding with screams, and with every second they went on, Aiya’s heart seemed to beat harder against her chest

“What the hell is going on out there?” someone asked a guard approaching the door.

Before he could get a hand on the frame, it flew open and a messenger came nearly tumbling inside, kneeling.

“My lords and ladies, I bear emergency news! Fighting between Jodai forces has erupted outside! We are under attack by both River and Agriculture soldiers!”

Ploy

No reply came from anyone for the moments following the messenger’s words. There was no longer music, nor laughter. There was nothing but the exchanging of looks on shocked faces, and quiet dread.

Then came the reactions, confused and growing more hysterical by the moment. It was as if a song was playing up into a crescendo, and with every higher pitch the tension became more surreal to Aiya. She gauged Ira for a reaction, but he remained as speechless as her. She tried mouthing words but her mind seemed to have gone blank, stripped bare.

“Repeat yourself!” Lord Arusuke’s voice boomed from the front of the room. “I’m not sure we heard you correctly! What did you say?”

“My lord, River and Agriculture forces have begun attacking the city and have already made their way towards the Takasa estate. The River forces seem to be those of the Hebi clan, the Suno clan, the Ganha clan, the Hine clan, and the Ohmai clan. Takasa and Hoda forces are currently engaged with them and Agriculture troops, but they are not far from where we currently stand.”

Arusuke said nothing for a minute. It seemed to drag on forever. “Impossible. That makes no sense.”

The messenger simply looked him in the eyes. It was a look that said everything.

The guard at the door stepped up to the kneeling messenger so that he stood right above him. “I’d say it makes perfect sense.” Before the messenger reacted, the guard snatched his sword from his hilt and sliced the man’s neck.

Aiya inhaled sharply. The man fell over, his head half severed from his neck. They could hear him gargling, choking on his own blood.

The crowd took that as permission to run away from the guard, and any other Jodai in the room. Some said nothing while others stood back and made threats.

“Sano!” Arusuke shouted. “What’s the meaning behind this? Explain yourself!”

Sano took a step towards the High Lord. Arusuke’s usual strong presence seemed somehow to have diminished. “This entire night was a ploy, my lord. Everything was a ploy. Over the past few months we have conspired against you, me and over a dozen other clans. Your own soldiers. Since the end of the summer harvest, in fact. It was bound to happen eventually, you just couldn’t see it. Right now we have five thousand troops seizing the city. I’m assuming around a thousand soldiers oppose us right now, including six hundred of your own Jodai. Most of your troops remain loyal. They are good men, and they will die here, tonight. You will have to die too, I’m afraid. We’ve judged you unfit to lead. The rest of the nobility and their troops will be spared as soon as they pledge allegiance to the new River lord, to Lord Hebi Owa.”

Arusuke was almost at a loss for words, and it dawned on Aiya that this was the first time she had ever seen him this way. Arusuke stepped forward enraged, fists to his sides. “Lord Owa is dead! His entire family is dead! Where’s your fucking honor, swine?”

“Right where it’s always been,” Sano answered. “Your authority, unfortunately for you, has been vanquished forever.”

The room’s Jodai began making their way towards him and his wife. Lady Uaya twisted back, possessed by terror. Arusuke stood his ground, but even in his rage the crowd could see loss in his eyes. Loss and devastation.

“Find the children!” Sano shouted to the other Jodai. “Everyone must witness this!”

Ari and Yuuki screamed, while the rest shuffled about as if they didn’t know how to react. Sano turned to Aiya’s direction, and suddenly jerked towards her, pushing past the panicking crowd. Aiya was frozen in place, yet ready to kill him at the first sign that he meant to take her life. He reached her and tried grabbing her arm. Aiya stepped back and slapped his hand away, but Ira stopped her.

“Go with it!” he hissed.

Aiya looked towards him, repulsed and perplexed, but let the man take her arm anyway. They, along with Koji, were roughly escorted to the front of the room with the rest of their kin. Kitani kicked and cursed the Jodai, earning him a hard smack to the back of the head that sent him crashing into the rest of the family members. Uaya rushed to catch him.

Up front, the Takasa clan were suddenly standing in a different light. Years of power and prestige were gone. Crying, shaking, cornered, They were not the powerful Takasa family anymore; They were a group of scared, vulnerable, and despicable Erru.

Sano stepped behind Arusuke and addressed the crowd. “These nobles have been detrimental to River society since the day they came into power. For forty long years we have been under their heel, as they made us writhe, wretched below their feet. They oppressed us, and now they will have their turn of chaos.”

Aiya knew what was coming. She saw the jerk of Sano’s arm, the flick of his wrist. She heard the conviction, the passion behind the man’s words, words that had surely echoed in his mind for many years prior to this moment. With reluctance, she moved to stop him, but it was too late. Sano’s blade had already plunged deep into her father’s chest.

It was just one of many deaths she’d witnessed in her life. A death which, in reality, was no different than the others. Then why did this hit so hard? It was like her mind was exploding into shock, the savage sight yanking, sucking her in to behold every gruesome detail of her father writhing at his former soldier’s feet. He was clawing at the sword inside of him, attempting to curse, then he wheezed until he no longer drew breath. Her father of eighteen years was gone.

Children and adults alike, everywhere, screamed. Kitani broke loose of his captor’s grip, ran, and fell on his father. He hugged him and cried, before being violently torn away again. Uaya covered her mouth, and could do nothing but utter high pitched screams as Sano grabbed Arusuke’s hair and pulled up his head.

“Why didn’t you stop them?” Uaya accused, full of horror. Aiya turned and saw her mother’s eyes nailed on her.

“Take the rest of the family to the Kawanura dungeons where they will await judgment.” Sano began sawing as gasps and stunned curses lit the room. Aiya wanted to puke, feeling her stomach doing somersaults. Ari did.

Jodai flanked them on all sides. Aiya was turned away, seeing Lord Arusuke’s head being strung up right outside this building. She saw her family being led outside to the dungeons, spending anywhere from days to weeks locked away in the dank dungeons. She saw Owa, leering Owa, coming finally to release them from their torment, bringing their death on stage before all the nobility. Still, Ayay remained focused on what was in front of her as they were led away. The traitors had taken her father’s head, and that marked the end of an era. The end of the Takasa rule.

The doors swung open and the soldiers forced the seven of them out into a single file line. A Jodai man kicked at Kitani’s feet to keep him in place. The men pushed them forward, making them trudge along to the sounds of battle in the background. Aiya’s heart pounded uncomfortably. She wanted to look back, to watch as they got further from the building, but forced her attention on Ira in front of her. Kitani, Yuuki and Ari sobbed uncontrollably, ignored by their captors. She could see in the distance a few places where fires had been started. The street they currently walked down was deserted.

Uaya continued repeating her accusations against the three of her children. Koji was speechless, though Ira betrayed nothing.

We just let our father die, she thought.

“Shackle them,” a Jodai man said. “We don’t need to take any chances.”

A couple hundred feet away, they turned around a corner where they could no longer see the common grounds except for the protruding top of its tower. The trek was sending Yuuki into convulsing shivers, and Ari was too distressed to comfort her, Uaya too distracted by her own mumbling. The guards gathered a small bunch of iron chains.

“It’s okay, Yuuki. It’s okay. We’ll-we are going to be alright,” Aiya said, turning to face her.

“Stay in line!” one of the guards to her left shouted, wrenching her back.

Aiya glared at him, feeling close to murder. She looked ahead of her at Ira. This time he didn’t stop her. “Now!” he shouted.

The guards tensed, hands going to their hilts. That one moment of hesitation from them was all the Ginju had needed. Calmly, all senses sunk into the river. She had access. She felt the immense aura she could now grab hold of anytime, flowing and ebbing above her intuned soul.

She backhanded the guard next to her, her knuckles crashing against his skull. He spun backwards and landed on his back, silent. The others stopped to look at their fallen friend, while the other two Ginju took their turn. Koji grabbed one and dealt a deadly blow to the head, then threw him at another guard. Ira cracked two spines before stealing a sword and slicing down the rest of the Jodai approaching him.

The men wisened up quickly to the danger they faced and began to retreat. Aiya leapt across Kitani, who stood in awe, delivering a kick to the chest that shattered the man’s rib cage. He flew backwards ten feet, blood sputtering from his mouth. She made quick work of the last two guards with no hesitation. Before long, twelve bodies lay sprawled on the stone ground.

“Why the fuck did we wait so long to do that?” Aiya shouted at Ira, almost hysterical.

Ira didn’t respond. Instead, he turned to their younger siblings and mother. “The streets look mostly deserted, it seems as if they want it that way. Come morning, everything will have changed overnight. Go hide in one of the commoner homes, we’re going back to the house to save Shozhu.” He began walking away, leaving them speechless at his brevity.

“Ira!” Aiya said, but he continued walking past her towards the direction of the Takasa estate.

“MONSTERS!”

The desperate cry from their mother stopped Ira cold in his path. She’d finally broken from her spell of shock. “You let them kill him. Your own father, my husband! Your lord! You’ve let them disgrace us and steal our land!” There was such venom in her voice that Aiya was taken aback. It was the most emotion their mother had shown, and far angrier than she had ever been.

Koji stepped forward. “Mother, wh-”

“Heavens damn it, shut the fuck up! Shut the fuck up! You’re not my child, swine! I’m not your mother, you little son of a bitch! Don’t ever call me that again!”

Ira was now between them, Uaya having removed her blade from her bosom. His voice was stern. “Listen, Uaya. Your time is limited, and you’ll likely be found sooner than later. So if I were you I’d take your children and try to escape the province while you still can. Your reign is over.”

With that, he took off towards the estate. Aiya and Koji followed, not giving her another second. Her gown was less than optimal for it, but offered enough flexibility that it wasn’t an issue. She called after them, but she was ignored. In the distance, Aiya heard thunder and noticed that the night was starless. It might rain soon.

That was fine. Their family had finally been reduced to just the three of them, as it had always been.

“Ira,” Koji shouted. They kept pace right behind him. “I’m going to ask you this once. Under heaven’s witness, what in the hell is going on, and why did we allow father to die?”

Ira took his time answering. Finally, he said, “We’re free now. We’re no longer bound to the hell of living double lives, disgraced by our own family. Thanks to our true nature, we can start over, with a new family. We won’t be killed or outcast like the rest of them.”

“So why are we saving Shozhu then?” Aiya felt an irritating pang of guilt for asking. Though he had not treated them any better, they owed to him the fact they had their abilities in the first place. On that alone, she knew his life should be spared.

“It’s not just Shozhu,” Ira replied. “Kisane and Asaya too. We don’t know what they are going to do with them. We need to hurry!”

At the mention of Asaya and Kisane, Aiya perked up. Her heart resumed its crazed rhythm and she almost threw up at the thought of finding them on the ground like Arusuke, impaled through the chest. They were almost there, and saw a huge number of both River and Agriculture troops lined outside the garden premises. Surprisingly, most kept about ten feet away from the garden, and the household had not been set ablaze. Hebi crest flags had, however, been placed all around. It seemed only one family would now be permitted to enter the former Takasa grounds.

“How is Owa still alive?” Koji asked. “This doesn’t make any sense! Aiya and I saw him kill himself, right in front of us! We burned his estate to the ground!”

“Follow me,” Ira said, struggling not to keep balance. All this running was surely taking a toll on his sick body. “We’ll sneak in through the back.”

Contrary to their expectations, they didn’t find guards swarming in the back. The Hebi lord was very confident that his plans would not be interrupted. If he was alive, was it possible he had some magic to counter even that of Ginju?

The training grounds were in front of them, vacant and still as if nothing had changed. To the side stood only two Jodai at the top of the back porch steps. They sported shamrock-green armor, erect and alert. Agriculture Jodai.

Koji raised his sword stolen from one of the guards before. “Now or never.” He stood up quickly, making the bushes rustle.

“Hold on,” said one of the guards, “I heard some scuffling, what was that?” The other guard shuffled about before drawing his sword. Aiya and Ira stood too.

“I heard—”

Whatever he heard, he didn’t get a chance to finish. Koji’s black form darted above him. He jumped and followed it with his torch. Koji had landed behind him, so that the guard hadn’t even gotten a good look.

The guard spun, catching him. “What the fuck? S-sound t—!” the other man yelped, backing up, eyes wide.

They didn’t get a chance for that either. Koji drew his sword across his neck and the man slumped to the ground. The other tried defending himself, to no avail. Koji rounded on him and brought down his hilt, slamming the butt of his weapon into the side of his skull.

Aiya and Ira were right behind him, grabbing the weapons from the fallen men. “Think that undead bastard Owa is on the other side?” Koji said.

“Only one way to find out,” said Ira.

“How are you feeling?” Aiya asked, eyes lingering on Ira.

“I’m managing, but now isn’t the time to get soft. We’re too far down the road now. Let’s finish this.”

They burst inside.

Oil lamps beamed in the background behind the nearest walls. The air, for one reason or another, felt a little more oppressive. Light flooded out. The main room of the first floor was a split chamber, a large entrance room divided into half, with the second room behind another sliding door.

Jodai stood, shamrock green armor clinking among the beautiful decorations of the room. It was like something out of a stage play during festivals, except Aiya and her siblings were in it.

They rushed in, the guards growling in confusion. There were seven of them, more heavily armored than the last, but they went down just as easy. One standing a foot above everyone else held a mace, the ball half the size of his head. He raised it, then brought it down on Koji with skull crushing force. His attack never landed. As the weapon came down in an arc, Koji sprung off the floor and kicked it, smashing the ball backwards into the Jodai’s forehead. He thudded on the floor, and it was safe to say he was done for the night.

Five swords were headed for the three of them, the sixth guard running to gather reinforcements. He’d been quick to choose that path, and Aiya couldn’t say she blamed him. The others had chosen certain death.

“W-what the hell are you?” A guard asked, mouth trembling as he crossed blades with Aiya. They pressed their swords against one another, pushing to test the might of the other. Aiya did not test, she was only allowing him to live.

“What did you do with the servants, swine?” Aiya demanded.

“Damn you,” he said through gritted teeth. He almost flinched as Aiya brought a hand up, grabbing her opponent’s blade. He watched in horror as she flung it to the side, pulled back her sword hand, and buried her own weapon where his neck met his shoulder. He grunted, blood cascading from the wound. Just like all the men before she had killed, childlike and helpless.

By the time she looked up from his lifeless gaze, the rest of the guards were finished and Koji had already caught up with the one who had ran for enforcements. He hadn’t even made it to the door, slouched as he clutched at his stomach on the floor where he’d been stabbed.

“I don’t think they’ve killed any of the servants yet,” Ira said, “but I think someone is behind that door, waiting for us. They’ve just used the others for bait.”

Aiya glowered. Were they aware of who they were baiting? “You’re saying they’re intentionally inviting three enraged Ginju to a sparring match?”

Ira pressed his ear against the door and listened…nothing. Aiya hoped to the heavens he was right about the servants being used as hostages. She was tempted to tell them to split up to find Asaya and Kisane, but something in her told her this was where she needed to be, that even before they went through this door they were unsafe. Ira stepped back, and, taking a breath, swung the sliding doors open.

The room was pitch dark, sheets having been placed over the walls to block any moonlight. The faint glow of the lamps in the first chamber only illuminated a portion of the room. At the back was a dim figure sitting in silence. He looked straight at them, a man with a beard matching Master Shozhu in girth but not length, his gray hair tied into a bun. Whoever he was, he clearly was not Owa.

Aiya raised her sword, the faint silhouettes of her brothers beside her. “Who the hell do you think you are?,” Aiya demanded, pointing her sword, “sitting in our goddamn house?”

The man said nothing. Aiya stepped a few feet forward, ready to repeat herself when she heard shuffling to her side. Before her eyes adjusted to the dark, something like the force of a thousand tons slammed into the side of her face. She saw a flash of white as she flew across the floor, almost into the other wall.

“Wa-what the fuck?” she sat up, spitting. She tasted blood in her mouth. Her brothers rushed forward, Ira tackling the body that stood where she’d been seconds ago. As they struggled to the floor, brazier’s flared to the sides, four on each side of the room, illuminating the room completely. Aiya saw they had more company than expected.

Besides the boy Ira wrestled with, another young man stood on the far wall from Aiya, blade at the ready. Behind Aiya was a female, towering above her, two short swords drawn. Koji jumped to save her. “Watch out!” he screamed.

The female swung her swords down at Aiya. She rolled out the way, withdrawing her blade and forcing it into the woman’s chest. She tried to dodge, but Aiya was too fast and the woman had put too much dedication into the attack. Aiya’s blade punctured with enough force to have pierced through her back, yet it only sunk a third of the way. The girl grunted and crumpled as Aiya pulled the blade free. Koji kept his sword trained on her as Aiya turned on her feet to face the other opposing male figure.

He was dressed in similar black clothing they had worn the night they’d brought destruction on the Hebi estate, and Aiya saw he couldn’t be any older than they. His features were hidden but his eyes, with their dark intensity, furled in the rage of youth. An Agriculture man, here to spill innocent blood, with the audacity to look at her as if his anger was righteous. Aiya’s chest thumped with fury.

The man sitting chuckled, and Aiya looked down at him, then back at the boy before her, careful not to get distracted.

“Seems you’ve been expecting us, old man,” Ira said roughly. He’d gotten out of his scuffle and stood facing his opponent.

The old man showed teeth. “Surely you didn’t think I’d let you interfere without consequence.”

“And you are?” Koji demanded in the background.

His smile remained for a long minute. Finally, he answered. “Lord Tabeni Tsugo, High Lord of the Tabeni family, ruling clan of Agriculture province. I, and most others, have come to an understanding that Hebi Owa is the rightful ruler of River, and you Ginju are the only ones standing in the way. Did you think we’d allow that?”

“Of course not.” Aiya grinned bitterly, wiped sweat from her face, and lunged.

Her opponent didn’t miss a beat. He engaged her attack midway, the point of his sword aimed straight for her left eye. Aiya’s blade, face down, made for his leg.

Their steel rang, and the force of the collision shook Aiya’s bones. She grunted. How the hell was this man so strong, with enough speed to follow even her movements?

Eyes locked, she saw deep in his expression was a look of defiance, somewhere in the green of his irises, so intense it sent chills down her spine. Whatever his past, he was ready to protect, and kill, for his lord. Struggling, Aiya realized she’d never faced an opponent with such ability who wasn’t one of her siblings. It became abruptly clear to her who she was crossing swords with, why that smiling man named Tabeni Tsugo oozed confidence in the face of death. There had not been much resistance to their entrance because Owa had been expecting them with the perfect counter. Freaks of their own.

We finally meet face to face, Aiya thought, Ginju of River and Agriculture. Let’s see whose deity is more worthy tonight.

She threw her left elbow at the man’s face with all her strength. He could follow her movements, but she was faster by far, and he barely managed to catch it with one hand. The force of it set them both off balance. Aiya disengaged her blade from his and went to cut him across the chest. He fell to the side, spun and pounced back with a roundhouse kick that would have bruised and bloodied her jaw. She fell to the side of his leg and grabbed it to throw him off balance. He toppled, and she proceeded to gut him then pulled her blade free.

Surprised by how easily he’d fell, she turned to the others. Ira and Koji fought one opponent each who were keeping up better than Aiya’s own, though they still struggled against the River’s speed. Blood stains formed all over, drawn from the hideous wounds the Agriculture Ginju received.

Aiya held her breath. Koji was engaged in a sort of arm wrestling match against the same female Aiya had stabbed through the chest earlier.

“F-fuck you! Why won’t you die?” Koji managed through gritted teeth.

What? Someone was behind Aiya. By the time she saw him it was too late. His crushing grip got the back of her neck and she felt the tip of his sword beginning to sink into the small of her back. She let out a small cry, grateful when he didn’t go further. “H-how are y—”

“Any last words, River bitch?” he growled, not sounding like he intended to let her finish if she did.

Aiya’s mouth had become clammy all of a sudden. She strained her head to get a look at the spot she’d skewered just moments before. His grip wouldn’t allow it. “You don’t get to look at your killer before you join the storm. Your last breaths will be spent watching your fellow River scum succumb to your same fate.”

Dropping her blade, she brought her hands up and grabbed his wrist from behind her, flipping over him, throwing him off balance. Before he could react, she landed a fist in his cheek, knocking him back a few feet. She ran, picking up her sword and lunging for him. “Join the fucking storm!”

He scrambled to his feet but she proved too fast. She lacerated him in two criss crossing strikes from chest to ribs. Stringy droplets of blood flew from him with each swipe, and she finished with a punch to his throat with her free hand. He tumbled across the floor, almost into Ira, who had cut his opponent across the arm in what would have resulted in the loss of a limb for a normal opponent. The opposing Ginju took it and went for Ira’s neck.

If it wasn’t for his height, Ira would have suffered a hole through the apple in his neck. He leaned back, kicking the Agriculture Ginju back into the wall.

Aiya flinched with awed horror as her opponent slowly rose to his feet, rips along his clothes. Ira pounced in front of her aid and grabbed him, ramming his sword through his chest. They both fell to the floor and Ira pinned him down, stabbing him repeatedly. The Agriculture boy winced from the pain but didn’t make a sound. His friend came bounding after him, yelling for Ira to cease his mutilation. Ira leapt off the boy and slammed a fist into the other man. He took it this time and returned one of his own. Ira caught it with his jaw and growled. “What the hell are you?”

“Same as you, but stronger,” the Ginju replied.

The one Ira had stabbed, eyes still on Aiya, stood and removed his shirt. The boy’s bare skin was now visible, and Aiya saw the horrifying lacerations she had given him across his torso. Somehow, the wounds were stitching themselves back together, blood barely seeping out of them.

“Impossible…” Aiya said absently. Was it the power of their deity? It was the obvious explanation. Still, how could such a thing exist?

“It’s been an interesting night, hasn’t it?” the Agriculture lord said, clearing his throat. He’d nearly been forgotten. “Agriculture is not just about growth, but rebirth. Now, I should ask you all to refrain from killing each other.”

Aiya squinted at him, sitting calmly where he was, not afraid in the least of the beings fighting before him. Looking back at her opponent, she was impressed by how well he had fought her, and how he had had the chance to kill her when she was caught off guard. The River surged within her, and gave her the urge to finish things, though the fighting had ceased.

“Your deity is impressive,” Koji said through a smile, “and I’ll admit, we were caught off guard. However, it’s nothing compared to the power of the river.”

He lurched forth at his opponent swinging his sword in one powerful downwards motion. The target, alarmed, allowed herself to be cut down the torso as his blade split skin. She held Koji’s hands down and slammed a fist into his nose. “Back off, insolent bastard!” she screamed.

Koji fell back and nearly fell over, but was quick to rebalance himself. “Who’s the bastard here?” he asked, raising his sword again and preparing to charge, wobbling.

“Enough!” called Ira, murderously. “We’re no longer fighting, Koji!”

Aiya’s opponent spoke up. “Stand down, we’re not going to harm you.”

Koji remained prepared. “Yet you still stand here, desecrating my house like swine fresh out of mud.” His nose indeed gave reason for righteous anger, blood trickling from it, Koji’s voice coming out nasally.

“I anticipated you coming tonight,” said Tsugo, speaking quickly and trying to divert their attention back to him. “I had to see your power for myself, so forgive me for trespassing. And the violence.”

“You should have brought more guards,” Koji said through his bloody nose. “And Ginju. You’re no safer now than if you were all alone.”

Tsugo scratched his beard as shadows from the braziers danced across his body. “I admire the tenacity. That will be useful for you in the near future. But now that our business is done here, we must be quick to take it elsewhere.”

Aiya started. “Elsewhere? We’re here to kill you. What in your right mind makes you believe you’ll be leaving here with your head still attached?”

“He understands we’d not let you do such a thing,” the boy in front of Aiya spat. “And he understands that, from our fight just now, the Ginju of the River are inferior.”

“Relax now, Totane. River Ginju, I sincerely ask for your forgiveness for the events of tonight, but there was no other choice. Thanks to your loving brother Irashida, who would do anything for you, you are free from the shackles of the Takasa clan. Lord Owa will reign, but he will of course want you by his side, the power of Ginju transferred to him. We’ll retreat now into Agriculture province, and you will come back with a vengeance to prevent this night from ever happening again.”

Trust

A long silence followed, so deep and true that Aiya forgot they were all in the middle of a relatively important death battle. “Agriculture province?” she asked, perplexed. “Are you mad?”

“I say he’s bluffing to stall time,” Koji said, returning his gaze to the opponent before him. The long cut down the front of her body had already begun healing, though visibly much slower than the other injuries she’d received, and she grimaced in pain. “We should finish what we started and not get distracted by this old man’s words.”

“All that would result in would be the three of you joining the storm,” said Koji’s opponent, holding her sword out to her side.

Aiya held her own weapon up and pointed it to the one called Totane. She knew his abilities now, and she was sure she could take him down with much less effort.

“I sincerely ask that you hold.” Tsugo’s voice was firm. “What I speak of is a serious matter. We must leave now. I am impressed with your abilities tonight and it would be a shame to put them to waste.”

“He’s gone crazy with fear,” Koji said. “Don’t worry old man, we haven’t come—”

The female Ginju stepped forward. “Talk to our father with anything less than utmost respect again, and it’ll be your last words. Mind you, I’m not too keen on stopping this fight either. We don’t yet trust you.”

“The feeling’s mutual,” Aiya countered, gaze steady on Totane.

“For the Empress’ sake, put your weapons down!” Tsugo demanded. “That goes for you first, Risako. This discussion can’t happen with our blades pointed at each other’s throats.”

“Then it can’t happen at all,” said Koji, who took three steps towards Risako, his blade aimed directly for her.

Risako scowled, staring at Koji. She put her blade away in disgust. Koji didn't take his eyes or his weapon off her for a second.

“Please, River Ginju, relax. I only had my offspring here to stop you from taking my own life, and as reassurance that you’ll sit and listen to what I have to tell you.”

Aiya thought for a second. They’d actually ran into Ginju from another province, exchanging words and blows. This had to be the first time during the Shikkin era that Ginju had fought each other. Possibly in the history of the empire. The man called Tsugo likely wouldn’t risk his most important assets for nothing. Even outside his Ginju, with his current manpower he’d easily overcome the three of them. Even three Ginju couldn’t defeat three thousand men. Aiya considered him for a long moment. “How does us sitting down and making fools of ourselves with you change our current situation?”

“You’ll live a little longer, for one,” he replied. “Put away your arms and I’ll explain everything. It’s fruitless to try when you’re on guard like that.”

Aiya looked to Koji, then to Ira. Hesitating, they threw down their swords. Aiya felt like she’d grown heavier, almost as if her feet had sunk into the ground, and she refused to take her eyes off of any one of them.

“I assure you we mean no further harm. My children understand what pressing matters we must discuss and know not to attack.”

“Yeah, whatever you say, old man,” Koji said, “just explain to us what you want before we change our minds.” The boy next to Ira shot Koji a look of hatred that might have evolved into a murderous rage had Tsugo’s words not rang true.

Tsugo looked relieved. “I’ll be as brief as possible. Like River, Agriculture province values its independence. We’ve grown exhausted from the constant fighting for expansion, losing trained soldiers from birth, such as the ones you slew outside this room. Taxation, unending involvement in imperial court politics. Every single Agriculture citizen desires to exist as a people of our own, independent from the empire. For that, we need to plan, to take action, and Irashida here is the one that has brought that into fruition.”

Aiya’s head snapped towards Irashida with a look of bewilderment. Ira watched Koji, then returned Aiya’s gaze, dead in the eyes. “I’m sorry for not telling you. It’s shocking, I know, but we all do what we must to get what we need done. No more questions for now, let’s leave while Owa is still occupied. I promise I’ll answer everything later.”

“Is this a fucking joke?” Koji asked, shaking his head with a thousand other questions and demands.

“By the grace of heaven and the Empress’ sovereign soul, we will explain everything once we are in a position to do so.” Ira began walking back the way they came, “but right now we must go. Through the back door and into a discreet carriage?”

The last question was for Tsugo.

“Quietly, and retrieve your weapons too. For insurance purposes.”

Freedom

The carriage was outside the gardens to the left. Tsugo explained he was to exit through the front door and reveal their dead bodies to Owa, but they had distractions set in place. There were no soldiers in sight. Their surroundings almost appeared otherworldly, even with the skywater that lightly fell.

They all slipped into the carriage without a word, and no sooner did it take off. Curtains covered their view of the outside, giving the somewhat spacious box a confined feel. They were not stopped once on the way out of the estate. Apparently whatever distractions had been set in place had proven effective.

The first five minutes or so passed by in uncomfortable silence, until the driver confirmed they were outside Owa’s radius.

“Now that we’re in the clear,” Tsugo said, “allow me to explain.”

Aiya took one look at Ira. Trust me, his face said. She would at least listen.

“You need to understand this was all a front. One with tangible consequences, but a front nonetheless. Lord Owa is to be put in Arusuke’s place for something bigger. Let’s go back to when this all started, when your brother Irashida eavesdropped on me and my subordinates. Three months ago, we joined your father and Lord Shozhu in a meeting. We understood that civil conflict in River was escalating, and being a historical supporter of the Takasa bloodline, we came to offer assistance. The meeting did not go as planned, so Shozhu approached a vassal very close to me away from everyone else. After some chatter, he revealed he wanted his brother, your father, gone from his position as High Lord. He promised to reimburse us tenfold if we helped him. So they made a deal, my vassal promising to bring this information to me. What I wasn’t expecting was for Irashida to have been eavesdropping on their conversation all along. He later approached me with what he had seen, threatening me. When I told him my goals, he relaxed and offered himself along with the two of you. In retrospect, I couldn’t have had better luck.

“Irashida revealed to us the details of River politics your father wouldn’t delve into. He informed us that Hebi Owa was the second best fit to rule and would eventually take his chances at it. So we came up with the idea of finding a lookalike in Agriculture province, someone close enough in appearance to Owa to be mistaken for him in the dim of the night. Then we went to Owa himself about it. The real lord and the fake were switched out the night you went to kill him. A few nights after his death, Owa went quietly to various nobles all across River province, saying he could not be slain and that he would end Arusuke’s rule. Needless to say, much of the nobility were quite easily swayed by this to join his cause.

“The reason your brother could not tell you any of this is because I needed to see what the River Ginju were truly made of. I needed to know you could take it, chiefly when it came to fighting my own Ginju.”

“So you knew father’s death would happen and were waiting for it,” Aiya said to Ira. It was beginning to make sense.

“Sorry I couldn’t tell you,” Ira replied, “Not sorry about father.”

“None of us are,” said Koji. “Things could have ended a lot bloodier though.”

“What about Asaya and Kisane?” Aiya asked, heart suddenly racing. Were they still in the house now? She couldn’t imagine Owa showing mercy to any of the Takasa family after what they’d done to him.

“The servants will be just fine,” Tsugo answered calmly. “For the record, his children escaped the fire through a trapdoor hidden in the floorboards the second you left, so the grudge Owa holds was at least somewhat mitigated by that fact. As Koji said, things could have ended far worse, but we took all necessary risks. I ordered Owa not to kill any servants, unless he wants to be seen publicly just as ruthless as the late Arusuke. As for Shozhu, he will also be put on trial for treason, ironically as the only one not guilty of such a thing.

“It’s a lot to ask, but now the three of you have to put all this behind you. From here on we must have a very narrow focus. You three are to help with the most important task of Agriculture in decades, perhaps ever. We need your help in saving Lord Sen, heir of Forgery.”

“Lord Sen?” Koji asked. “The lordling father rejected two months ago?”

“Yes, the one who lost his general to you. He has been in a desperate battle of inheritance for his province for six months now. His sister has killed all the other siblings and he is the last left, admittedly putting up a hell of a fight. If we aid them, we will position ourselves for an arms deal and they will pay us handsomely. There is a good chance of them being the victors with our help, considering he’s kept up the fight this long.”

“So you're recruiting us for your own political gain,” Aiya mused. “Charming.”

“I’m afraid not. The three of you are actually being recruited for a much grander cause. This is the beginning of a revolution, a war to take down the empire from the inside.”

In what felt like minutes later, the words still didn’t register. “Do what?”

“A revolution, to take down the empire,” Risako repeated, slowly this time.

Aiya started. “Take down the empire? As in take down the Empress? Am I hearing you right?”

“You are,” Tsugo said.

“She's immortal,” said Koji. “All powerful. She might as well be one of the Shinti compared to us. The last ones that tried going against her caused the Wailstorms, according to legend.”

“The roots of Agriculture go much deeper than you may think. For far too long, The Empress has unjustly conquered and ruled over the Erru people. But we are not hers to command. Anyone can agree that this isn’t right, at least not preferable. This plan has been a long time coming, and thanks to Irashida, the path has opened.”

Aiya considered Ira. “How did you know you could trust them?”

Ira took a long look at her. “It was better than us suffering in the Takasa household for the rest of our lives, watching our siblings kill each other when they got older. Being humiliated and unwelcomed in our own house. All that time I was sick, I felt like a burden and felt this was the only way to help. To secure a better life for the two of you. I know we are better off than most. We eat well, never going hungry. We are protected and feared on the outside, but in our own home our clan rejected us. I couldn’t bear watching you two be disgraced. So I took a chance. I had faith.”

Aiya considered him for a long moment, unsure of what to say. There was a warm blossoming within her, a tenderness that spread through her insides. “You’re no burden, Ira,” Koji said, looking as if he were about to stand up but thought better of it. “And don’t let us ever hear you say that again!”

Ira looked away.

“Be that as it may,” Tsugo continued, “Through him we were able to secure you three, now having six Ginju in total. We’ll need as much power as we can get, and Forgery is our best option with that.”

“So are we your captives now then?” Aiya asked.

“No. You are free to do as you please, but rest assured we will show you why you will come to support our cause and trust us.”

“Right, except you’ll have to kill us now that we know of your secret plans.”

Tsugo laughed. “The days where Ginju paid their loyalty towards the Empress are long over! That’s one issue of many with empirical expansion, because as more provinces are established further from the throne, the more impractical it becomes for their Ginju to be her spies and the more isolated they feel from her. You’ve no idea what the Empress even looks like. Have you ever been to the capital city, Sanaba?”

They shook their heads.

“Once as infants,” Aiya added, “when we received our blessings.”

“I rest my case. I only ask that you simply come along for the ride, let us show you our province and you can make up your mind there. You’re free to come back and clean up this mess anytime you want, and to forever miss out on the opportunity of true honor and freedom.”

Divergence

Aiya’s slumber would last the entire way into the next province over. The distance from Kawanura to Agriculture was mere hours by carriage, and so by the time she awoke they were already within its borders. She was surprised to see it was just her inside. Outside was the familiar noise of droning chatter. Nervously, she sat up and pulled the curtains back from the carriage.

Sunlight flooded inside and Aiya squinted her eyes. When they adjusted, she saw commotion around her, bodies, buildings and food stands. It was First Day morning. She realized they were in some Agriculture city. Risako, the female Ginju, came to stand below her outside of the carriage. Her long hair was pulled behind her, giving full effect to the impatience on her face.

“Finally up.”

Aiya looked around. “How long have I been asleep?”

“Six hours. Your siblings woke up an hour before you. We took them to a bathing house nearby. Don’t worry, we all needed one.”

She opened the door and extended her hand to help her out of the carriage. Aiya knew the terrain beneath her was only dirt, but still she felt as if she were stepping onto strange land. “I assume we’ve got the best beds to sleep in too?”

Risako smirked. “Don’t get too comfortable, we won’t be here long in Shujukin, and Agriculture isn’t big on hedonism either.”

Aiya was led to a bathhouse building. Once they entered the steamy bathroom, she turned back to Risako. “My robes?”

“We put some new clothes over on the bench right there. Meet me outside when you’re finished. Take as long as you need, but know that we leave for Forgery tomorrow morning.”

The steam bath hit Aiya differently. She ignored the other bathers, most of whom bathed out in the open, trying to relax against the warm stone wall of the pool. As soon as she did, all the thoughts and worries from before she had been taken away from this world by sleep had come flooding back. The horrors of the night before, what would become of their future. Had they really been having a conversation about destroying the empire from the inside? It was crazy, and had she not been so disoriented she would have called them out for being crazy as well.

She got out to dry herself, then put on the clothes that had been left for her. It was a distinct pair of green robes, shiny silk, with criss-crossing line patterns stitched on the outside. Agriculture robes. It didn’t feel right to put them on, but she figured she didn’t have a choice. Reluctantly, she slipped into them and made her way back to the outside world.

As soon as she stepped out, a man stopped her. He was balding with black ponytail at the back of his head, four men traveling behind him. The man walked upright, with his head slightly upturned, and though he was her height his eyes almost pointed downwards at her. “I believe you did not pay your due respects to the Tabeni family when you went into that establishment, miss.”

Aiya looked at him, questioning. “What are you talking about?”

“You heard me, or are you deaf? You didn’t pay your respects! So now you will have to come with me, I’m afraid.”

His hand went to his sword. The men behind him looked serious.

Aiya hesitated. Had they been in River she would have immediately cut the man down for threatening her like this, so brazenly. But she was a guest in a foreign land now, and she wasn’t exactly sure what rules she had broken. Heat rose in her face as she looked around for possible clues from pedestrians, but she was only met with stares.

“That’s enough, Tobirune,” said a voice to the side. They looked over to see Totane approaching from within the crowd. Aiya felt intense relief flood through her as her muscles relaxed.

“Totane! What’s the meaning of this?” Aiya asked.

“Apologies, Aiya. This is one of my uncles. Tobirune loves to mess with people. He won’t be doing it again.”

“Had to welcome you the right way,” Tobirune said, winking. “And wisen you up, considering that what I’ve heard is you haven’t been around much outside your own province. Always remember to keep your head up and eyes open, and more importantly, to be knowledgeable of local customs.” He nodded to her.

Aiya turned to Totane. “Where is everyone?”

“Going through the same thing you are,” he replied. “We’re showing them what makes Agriculture so different. Follow me.”

Tobirune bowed as she and Totane left. She was more glad than she wanted to admit. Her nerves from the day before were still on edge.

Totane led her down the streets which in some aspects were remarkably similar to that of the River’s. He explained that this was the capital city of Agriculture. Organized, greenery and the thousand lives one got a glimpse of walking down its paths. But she noticed different things too. The architecture was more simple, there were less elegant and grand buildings. There were more white painted buildings, and the people’s dress was a little less varied. The streets felt less crowded, likely because the way pedestrians moved through them was more organized in a sense. They passed by food stands smelling of yama noodles and baked goods. They had yet to cross a fish stand.

“You won’t find as many street performers here,” Totane told her as they turned onto another street. The buildings here were tight and there were less people populating the area. At the end she could see the road led to a building which bordered the edge of this part of the city. “Our populace is always occupied with more important things. Our economy revolves around upwards mobility for all, for the one sole purpose of eventual independence. You are only as strong as your weakest link.”

The phrase had gnawed at Aiya more times than she could count. “So I’ve heard.”

“What do you think of nobility sacrificing a portion of their wealth for the common good?”

“How does that help with rebellion?” Aiya eyed him curiously. Even saying the word rebellion sounded strange coming from her mouth.

“For the reasons I just discussed. The weakest link breaks the entire chain. The empire is flimsily held together by nobility closest to the Empress. They represent the neck. The Jodai armies the Empress sends out for conquest, and the ones she takes from us, as well as the taxes placed onto us, that’s the arms. The Empress of course, is the head, and also the legs, which her empire stands on. It’s long been said that eventually the empire is doomed to fail. Here we are.”

They reached the outside of the building, and Totane moved to open the door. They walked through and into a sparse room that smelled of cherry bush incense. Torches in the corners warmed the room, and a single man sat criss cross by a shrine, praying.

“This is a shrine house,” Totane said in barely a whisper. He quietly made his way to the spiraling staircase that led up to the top of the building. Aiya could feel the reverence here. There were no shrine houses of this size in River, but most people she knew preferred for them to be in the woods or on the edge of the sea, submerged in nature.

They climbed in silence until they reached the top. She was not expecting to see Koji and Ira standing along the wall, watching something outside.

“Koji! Ira!” She nearly sprinted over to them. They turned and embraced her in a hug. “How long have you been up here?”

“Just a few minutes, We got done eating not too long ago.”

At the mention of food, Aiya’s stomach stirred. “What were you looking at?” She went over to the fence, past Risako and the other Ginju boy from last night. He introduced himself as Johori. He was the same height as Risako with a similar structure, fresh-faced with a slim and sharp nose, though he kept his hair cropped above his ears like Totane. Looking out in the open, she nearly gasped in awe. The shrine building oversaw a massive stretch of rocky plains. In front of them were thousands of troops lined up and ready to march. Behind them, closer to the building were men sparring and training.

“That’s the army we’ll be taking with us shortly,” Totane said, stepping up to her, “and below us are the training grounds. Commoners and nobles alike spar everyday.”

“Both common and noble?” Koji asked.

“From the way you talk it sounds like the distinction doesn’t exist here,” Aiya noted.

“It definitely does,” Risako explained. “Commoners know their place, we just can’t afford to waste such potential manpower, not with goals like ours.”

“Our goal is to have fifty percent of the population prepared for combat at any time,” Totane said. He gestured around the room. “Here lies the origin of Agriculture.”

Aiya hadn’t noticed all the crusty paintings on the wall before. They were massive, detailed, and looked ancient.

“These were painted here when this building was first erected, fifty years ago. They tell the story of the fall and rise of Agriculture. Let’s start from the beginning.” He pointed to the first painting, an image of a kingdom in prosperity. People of all sizes and attire stood around a large palace of gold. They were surrounded by crops of the deepest green, rain falling on top of them from gray clouds.

“This was the beginning, before the Agriculture province even existed. Back when we called ourselves Ogasawa, the kingdom of prosperity. Our people traded with nearby nations, and even with the empire. We were wary of the empire, because we knew they would come for us one day. And so they did.”

He moved onto the next painting. It was the opposite, one of destruction. “The Empress offered to allow us to join the empire willingly, otherwise we’d join by force.”

The same palace was shown crumbling, broken and smeared with red. Those surrounding it cried out to the sky. “Like any worthy Erru, we chose the path of war. She brought an army like we had never seen, over twenty thousand troops. Soldiers from Rain province and the capital city. Soldiers from all the other provinces too. Heh, we fought anyway. Luckily her efforts were split between us and what is now Stone province, so we were able to put up a better fight in the beginning than first expected.”

The next painting showed an important-looking man being cut down by some large monster. Red paint for blood spilled everywhere on the floor and splashed onto both figures. “Our king was killed by none other than our own kind. Ginju, like us, sent from the Empress herself to stop the ‘rebellion’, as they called it.”

Ginju being used to kill political opponents was a common tactic, from the state level to even the Empress. The next art piece was different, two groups of people staring each other down. On both sides were two bearded men, with shorter men and women behind them, and children at the back. The background depicted buildings up in flames.

“After his death, the political environment was thrown into disarray. The economy of course suffered after that, and so did our people. The realization that we had lost began to slowly weigh ever more on our stubborn backs. Still, we fought the Empress, and each other, faction after faction trying to gain control where the king once sat. In the one-hundredth second year of Empirical Reign, Agriculture’s two most powerful and influential clans came together, with a revelation that would change the course of our future. The first realized the power vacuum they all fought so desperately for could easily be won through the aid of the empire, which would come through surrendering. The second recognized the same, but also refused to give up on independence.

“This was the Tabeni clan, of which we’re a part of. We recognized the only way to truly defeat the empire was from the inside. Thus the Kensei clan and we agreed to come together under one banner and rule within the empire. We surrendered and the casualties stopped in the short period of peace that followed, though unbeknownst to many, this was only the beginning.”

Aiya thought the story seemed a little far-fetched. She doubted two families of nobles had managed to work together for over a century for the purpose of taking down the power that put them in their place. She stepped forward and followed his gestures which now pointed out the second to last painting.

This one showed seven tall male figures. The tallest was in the middle, one of the bearded men from the previous painting. On the ground beneath them, they gazed at a litter of dead bodies, a pool of blood leaking onto the floor.

“The story doesn’t end how you think it would.” Totane stared up at the last painting, a grand castle burning, with men and women of various colored robes standing around it with their fists held high. Finally, he turned to them. “We betrayed the Kensei, slaughtering their entire clan and then covering it up to make it seem like an accident to the public. It was shortly after this we were able to take the first step toward our ultimate goal, and so we formed the Republic.”

Republic. Where had she heard that word before?

“That’s the word for the Tarshan governing system, isn’t it?” asked Koji. “Since they don’t have an empress overseas.”

“Exactly. It’s a form of government in which sovereignty rests with the people, in which the highest power is representative of the people. The Empress cannot represent all Erru people, they are best represented by the nobles of each province. We saw this way back then, and so we killed our ‘allies’ who certainly were not willing to turn their backs on the empire. Then we recruited seven other noble clans. To this day they help coordinate the underground rebellion, just below the Tabeni in rank. Every person in Agriculture is aware of this story, men, women and children. What we fight for is freedom, something we cannot, will not, live without.

Our purpose for the last hundred years has been to eventually bring about the empire’s downfall. We conspire to unite all the peripheral provinces, eventually to attack the center of Egaisha. Getting the central provinces on our side is likely out of reach. They and the Empress have been in bed together for far too long. From there we gain independence for each province, each becoming its own nation. You’re lucky, you and Forgery get to be first in line.”

Aiya eyed him, watching the blaze in his eyes as he spoke. This was life and death, an entire province willing to give up everything for independence. Most nobles she knew couldn’t see past their own small sphere of influence. She wasn’t sure how plausible his plan actually was, but it was beginning to dawn on her that she had been forced down a narrow path that would lead them to destruction. No, she hadn’t been forced. She’d allowed their father to die, chosen for him to be killed when she could have stopped it. Now there was no going back, because the path behind her was completely burned.

She felt it verged on lunacy, but something about the conviction in Totane’s voice opened a sort of window into understanding, to see that the Empress could, in fact, be overthrown. That they should put aside their petty squabbling and fight beside each other for what their lives revolved around. “It’s insane. How do you plan on bringing this about? I mean, where do we come in?”

Totane took a step towards her. “Everything starts with you. Ira informed us that your father Arusuke would be too difficult to convert with his pride. He had to be a leader, apparently. Taking him out killed two birds with a single stone. Lord Owa will be much more likely to cooperate, and we should also now have the cooperation of River’s Ginju, should you choose to comply. Similar measures were taken way back then at our foundation. After slaughtering the Kensei, we recruited seven trusted clans to lead the beginnings of our revolution.

“Over the years we have been bolstering our forces, then we begin securing ties with Sen once his own kin began hunting him in their reach for power. Now with the High Lord of River slain, the needed tension to kickstart this rebellion is set. An age of autonomy is approaching. Whether you want to be dead or alive to experience it, that lies in your own hands.”

He didn’t take one glance away from her as he spoke. Aiya couldn’t help but feel moved by his words, and in the silence of the room, it was only the two of them. Something like a barrier inside her broke open.

“If that’s what it takes for freedom, me and my siblings are all for it.”

Totane’s gaze remained, searching her for truth. When he saw her resolve was steel, he walked up until they were a foot apart. Close enough to smell his breath.

“There’s only one way forward here. If you would have said no, I would have told you you could stay here in the safety of our borders, free to take action only when the Empress comes riding for you while you cower behind our burning fortresses. That is, if it comes to that, which we don’t intend. Regardless, we leave tomorrow morning with that army posted out there. Once you’re marching with us, it’s march on or die until the very end.”

“In River, we hold certain principles. We don’t go back on our word.”Totane sighed. “Hmph, it’s settled then. I’m glad you made the right choice.” He turned to the others. “I suppose dinner is in store now?”

“I’ve a question though,” Koji said. “We haven’t been introduced to Lord Tsugo’s wife or your other siblings yet. I feel like at this point we’ve been welcomed into the family.”

“Mother is attending the gardens,” Johori answered. “As for offspring, we’re all he has.”

“Only three?” Ira asked. Most clans had at least five or six, and if not, they made up for it with illegitimate children, shameful as it was.

Johori moved to answer when suddenly Ira erupted into a fit of hacking coughs. They all turned to see Ira had fallen to his knees, shaking. He wriggled on the floor, hands moving about random and wild. His eyes had gone wide, his mouth drooping.

“Ira!” Aiya and Koji ran to him.

They grabbed his body, tried to stop him from moving. “Ira, what’s wrong? Calm down!”

It was no use. They patted his face, unable to elicit a response. Without warning, Ira entered into a massive fit of spasms, flailing his arms and causing his two siblings to back away. His body continued this, refusing to be pinned down, until he went limp. When it was finally over, Aiya gaped in horror at the small trickle of blood that ran from his mouth.

Conviction

Ira lay in bed as the dim morning light seeped into the castle room. His chest heaved up and down as Aiya ran her fingers through his hair, grateful for the only indication that he was not dead. Koji sat on his other side watching, waiting for him to wake at any moment.

They both knew he wouldn’t.

This had happened once before. Earlier in life, when they were Kitani’s age, meditating out in a random field not far from some noble estate. They were down in the Southeast of River province. They were on their way to visit Stone province for the first time and stopped next to a town called Kobachi. One second they were all in a peaceful trance, the next they had thought Ira was dying. He had come close, according to the physicians.

They heard the door slide open behind them. Neither bothered turning to look.

Tsugo appeared by the front of the bed. A moment of silence passed. “He’s still breathing, that’s good.”

Aiya was unable to tear her eyes away from Ira’s face. She should’ve known this would happen after he pushed himself for so long. They’d come all this way, and she’d barely given a thought to his health. She had been too concerned with what was in front of them, and now she didn’t know how to go on with him here, bedridden.

Tsugo spoke again. “I am deeply sorry about your friend. I recall him informing us of his health issues, and I wish I had taken it more into my consideration. That being said, I wish you could have more time to be at his side. It’s the crack of dawn, and we depart soon…you’ve been at his side all night, I pray you’ve not been beating yourself up over this. It’s not your fault. Can you go on?”

Koji looked up. “Yes, we’ll still be going. It was Ira who set this all up in the first place, wasn’t it? We’d be damned if we abandoned you after coming this far.”

Tsugo nodded. “Meet me at the front gates in ten minutes.” He took his leave, closing the door behind him.

“So what happens now?” Aiya asked, moving her head up for the first time.

Koji kept his eyes steady with hers. “We march, as Totane said. As Ira would want. We fight. Then we come back for Ira and fight even harder. This is just the beginning. We can’t give up yet.”

Aiya nodded, then leaned forward to kiss Ira’s forehead. It was warm. She stood. This was the last memory she would have of them together before riding into Forgery. She’d remember him as a fighter too, strong and unconquerable. When they got back, he’d be back on his feet again, ready for the next phase of this insane revolution. “Let’s march then,” she said.

Tsugo wasn’t at the garden gates, but Tobirune was. He greeted them much less enthusiastically than his first encounter with Aiya, then led them down the same path Totane had the previous day. They passed the tower and entered into the field where the Jodai were gathered. Ten thousand troops lined up outside in ten rigid lines. The sight was as amazing as it was the first time she had seen it. Jodai soldiers stretched out as far as the eye could see. There were carriages for carrying food, tents, supplies and of course for those along for the ride: musicians, medics, prostitutes, and noble men and women.

“You’ll be marching at the front,” Tobirune said. “I’ll walk you down and explain the different battle formations and tactics so you’ll have at least some understanding before you get there, where you’ll see it with your own eyes. Have you ever been in a large scale battle before?”

“No,” Koji answered, “but we studied them extensively over the years, along with economics and logistics.”

“Of course, stupid me. I would expect no less out of the upbringing of a Ginju. I’ve seen war though, been in it too. I’ve no doubt in the sturdiness of your character, but believe me, it’s not something you can study or prepare yourself for. It’s not something I’m willing to experience again just yet.”

“You’re not coming?” Aiya asked, striding just behind him. They could smell the musk on the soldiers now, walking in between the long rows. None that Aiya could see broke their statue-like position, waiting for the marching to begin.

Tobirune laughed. “Heavens, no! If you saw how large my plate was for domestic tasks, you’d walk quicker. Working from behind the scenes is what I do best. If I were as strong as you though, I probably wouldn’t be so wary of charging into battle.”

Tsugo finally made his appearance at the front of the lines, gathered with the Agriculture Ginju and important looking men. Likely generals and other leading commanders. Tobirune ushered them beside the Ginju, and the sight of the men from the front was just as breathtaking. No one spoke, and all eyes went to Tsugo.

Tsugo stepped forward, his feet scuffing the ground. The attention paid to him gave the High Lord an unmatched air of dignity. He was peerless. His head moved one way then the other, then he repeated the sweeping gaze. With one deep breath, he bellowed, “WE MARCH!”

The soldiers roared on cue, so suddenly and loud it was like thunder. Aiya’s hands nearly flew to her ears. None of those beside Tsugo joined in with the yelling. It went on for minutes, a last attempt to mentally brace themselves for what was coming. Once they were done, Tsugo turned and the others followed, hopping into their carriages.

This is it. It dawned on Aiya that this was actually happening, that they were really on their way to join a civil war, likely the first of many, and which could be their last. She was really here, right now climbing into the carriage with her siblings, in another province, about to take sides in a battle they had no business in. Their father was dead, their other immediate family might as well have been, and Ira…

Ira had really led them into this crazy plan to fight against the Empress herself, and against an empire centuries old. But if this was what he wanted, she would go with it.

“For Ira,” she whispered, and no one turned whether they had heard her or not.

The march was to last two days. After the first they would be in Forgery, but it would take another to reach their final destination. In the meantime, Tsugo explained the plan in detail.

“First, we’ll be assisting Lady Ueko, Sen’s mother, while looking for an opening to turn on the ‘official’ Forgery army. They’ll have fought seven days by the time we arrive,” he explained with shallow breaths. His eyes were watery and low from clear exhaustion.

“Official army?” Aiya asked. “I thought we considered Sen the true inheritor, that’s why we’re aiding him right?”

“We are aiding him in an indirect way. Or rather, a roundabout way. There are two reasons we cannot outright attack. One, we must prepare for the young lord’s ascension to the throne. If his future subjects are to be partners in our rebellion as well, we’ll have to get them in good standing with us first. On the battlefront, I’ll be making an additional proposal with his mother beyond our weapons trade agreement.”

“Additional proposal?” Totane’s eyebrows furrowed briefly at the statement.

“One I can’t disclose just yet, I’m afraid. It must be a surprise to everyone in the room when they hear it. Convincing the mother to solidify this deal in the midst of other high families who will surely be present is a top priority. That way, once we reveal we were with Sen all along, it will be harder to protest any pacts we make with Sen that his mother, and they by association, have already agreed to.”

“So you’ve been forming a double pincer,” Koji said. “Maneuvering behind both parties. It’s cunning.”

“Always stay one step ahead of your opponent,” Risako said, leaning back in her seat. “Rule number one of war and rebellion.”

“So it’s his mother leading the opposing army?” Aiya asked.

“There are rumors that behind the scenes she’s manipulated her gullible daughter into slaying all her siblings. Her daughter would be high lady in the end, but Lady Ueko would be in actual control from the background, making her daughter more of a figurehead. Makes sense that a wife born outside the family would naturally use whatever means to control it, courtesy of her husband’s death. Which leads into the second reason that we cannot outright come out on Sen’s side, which you no doubt are aware of but perhaps forgot to consider. In Errunese tradition, a province only follows a strong inheritor. This is especially true in Forgery.

“Outside help is permitted, but if it appears that he would not have stood a chance in hell of surviving without it, he will lose respect regardless of the outcome. Additionally, he must kill his siblings himself to inherit the throne, or that would undoubtedly be another reason rival clans could try to seize the throne.”

Johori sighed. “In other words, leave it to our Errunese pride and honor to make things as hard as possible.”

Aiya had to stop herself from shaking her head in confusion. “So how the hell are we supposed to bring Sen out of this alive if we’re attacking the very army defending him first?”

“So far he’s held the advantage, having gathered more nobles to his aid than his family knew about, dragging this battle of inheritance out for months. We clearly have a very intelligent lordling and warlord on our side. If worse comes to worse, we will turn on our supposed allies the minute things look over for Sen. The main objective is for him to kill his final remaining sibling. Also, Ginju are rarely involved in open battles, but in case Lady Ueko gets fed up and sets one of her hounds on Sen, we’ve got five of our own to stop her.”

The rest of the day was spent idly contemplating this conversation. Aiya realized that their rescue plan was a lot less concrete than she previously imagined. This fact left her anxious, and she more than a few times longed for somewhere to pace so she could rummage through her thoughts. Koji offered encouragement which did the minimum to calm her.

Fortunately, the monotonous journey passed by quicker than expected. As the sun dipped below the horizon, they began to set up camp. Temperatures began to dip uncomfortably. They passed the Forgery borders, screened by a small group of armed Forgery messengers. The men left to inform their superiors. In two days they’d be at the battlefield, at Hijimata hill.

Camp was set up with lightning speed, and this was the first wonder of war Aiya experienced: How quick and efficient a large group of men could be. Soldiers were straightening tents while those in higher ranks handed out rations. Some went out to forage for food in the plains. She figured they’d try to catch whatever rodents they could find.

The musicians had finally got into their instruments and were working up a tune as soldiers laughed and danced and cheered.

The five Ginju sat around their own little fire in the makeshift noble quarters, eating quietly. “I’m going for a walk,” Aiya said, standing. Koji, Totane, Risako and Johori all looked up at her from their bread and soup.

“Don’t be too long,” Koji said gently, “we were going to play a game of Maton soon.”

The green robes on her certainly made her stand out as she passed the soldiers, and many hushed or glanced her way as she walked by, resuming their chatter as soon she passed. One particularly young Jodai hurried to bow as she approached. An older man next to him laughed, brandishing his sword.

Aiya took interest in the weapon. It was engraved with words. “What’s the meaning of that?”

The old man explained. “It’s the names of my two grandaughters, Asara and Arasa. They’re twins, my lady.”

Aiya remembered Tsugo mentioning Johori and Risako were twins. She always found it interesting. “How old are they?” she asked.

“They’ll be four come Toma, my lady. All the coin in the world couldn’t come between me and them, not that I have much anyway.”

Aiya smiled. “What’s your name, soldier?”

“Korui, your ladyship.”

“You are an honorable man, Korui.”

She continued walking, unsure exactly where she was going. For some reason she wanted to see the troops, to be in the midst of those that would be fighting. She circled back around until she came to the noble quarters again from the opposite end. A bunch of tents were lined up in an orderly fashion. Turning the bend of one line of tents, she came across the sight of a man pushing a woman against a carriage wall.

“Where are you going?” the soldier asked, not releasing his hands from her collarbone. “There’s no reason to leave yet!”

His words were slurred and he lacked the proper footing. The woman slapped his arm away with surprising force and pushed him back, making him stumble. “Listen, you entitled prick. I’ve been at work since we set up camp and I’m tired now. I’m finished until we get to the Hijimata hills. If you have an issue with that, there are others who can service you, like your Jodai friends for instance!”

The man growled. “That’s a whole day of waiting. I need something to get my mind buzzed now. You expect me to wait till then?”

“Yes, now move aside.”

She attempted to walk away but the man grabbed her again. They wrestled while she demanded he let go, the soldier demanding she calm down.

“I should have you hanging by your ballsack,” Aiya said, stepping in close. If they were in River province, he’d undoubtedly be worm food by now. Forcing oneself on prostitutes was a high crime. “But instead you’ll get off with a warning. Now begone.”

The man stopped briefly to assess her. He grinned, eyes low. “Are you suggesting you’ll use force if I don’t?”

Aiya’s blood began to boil. She imagined cutting him in two, here and now, his body soaking in a pool of his own blood. Killing might be a bad idea though, and she didn’t want to be involved with an outcome that serious in a foreign army she was just recently accepted into.

More men began to wander over, seeing what the commotion was about. The man looked about and quickly released the woman, who gracefully managed to regain her balance. She turned and slapped him with all the strength she had. Rage set in on his face.

Aiya barked, “You defy your orders? You’re not even a lieutenant!”

The man looked from her to the woman, bowed, then hurried off. Aiya approached the woman. “I’m so sorry about that, were you hurt?”

She returned a slightly disgusted look. “Don’t ask me that, and don’t assume I need help either. I’ve been in plenty of worse situations, so I know how to defend myself. You have to know in this profession.”

The woman stalked off, leaving Aiya in a perplexed state, and an even weirder position. She knew she had done the right thing, but somehow she felt she had overstepped her boundaries. The soldiers remained standing, so she shooed them away. “Carry on about your business!”

The men dispersed. Unsure how to feel, Aiya continued making her way back to their campfire. She turned a corner and nearly smashed into Totane, who was briskly walking around the tents.

She skidded to a halt. “Oh shit, sorry-”

“You need to come with me.” The expression on Totane’s face was dead serious. “It’s urgent. And dangerous.”

Hope

What was so urgent and dangerous turned out to be a game of Perish. Two soldiers, a youthful man with a beard and his partner whose hair trailed down to his shoulders, stood opposite from each other at a table. The game, popular in taverns across Egaisha, was simple. You drew from a deck of cards hoping it was higher than your opponent’s. If it was, you took a shot of fiery liquor. The first person to pass out lost. The young bearded Jodai was so drunk his eyes seemed almost shut and he looked constantly on the verge of toppling over. The other swayed in laughter. Totane watched them, amused.

Aiya was confused, to say the least. “This is what you called me for?”

“Of course, what did you expect?”

“I don’t expect you to be surprised when I slap that stupid grin off your fucking face. I guess, it’s definitely urgent if you plan on saving that man from drinking himself to death, but there’s no danger.”

“There’s danger for him. Did you know this game used to go by the name Fires of Hope, before we became part of the empire?”

“Interesting,” Aiya replied. “Let’s hope their hangovers won’t impede them tomorrow.”

The flaps to the tent opened as an armored man entered, lamellar plate clinking. He wore his hair in a small bun on the top of his head, his right arm missing. His helm, a winged dome, indicated that he was a commanding officer. He noticed the game and the two of them watching. Aiya shifted uncomfortably, and saw that he must have assumed it was the two men causing it.

He turned to them quickly. “That’s enough drinking for now. Most of your comrades are sleeping, I think it’s time we do the same.”

The men tried reasoning with him, giggling like children. The commander demanded they get out, and they stumbled away.

“My name is Lieutenant Gaku Hedi. Apologies for any inconvenience.” He bowed, glancing up at Totane, then Aiya.

“It’s. Fine. Thank you, lieutenant,” she said.

The man nodded and took his leave.

She followed him close the tent behind him awkwardly. She turned to Totane, who sighed heavily. “Look what you’ve done. You’ve got us into a quiet carriage all to ourselves.”

“I don’t want the quiet any more than you do,” she replied. “It’s been a pretty boring trip until tonight.”

“Agreed.” A moment of silence passed. “On a scale of five, how nervous are you?”

“About tomorrow?”

“About tomorrow’s battle.”

“I’ll be ready for anything, don’t worry.”

“It wasn’t a test, Aiya, it’s okay. I’m at a six in case you were curious.”

The commotion outside had died down, and the quiet set in for the night. Aiya saw Totane’s nose was actually rather large, but it fit his imposing yet friendly face. His irises were not the green of the night they had fought, but instead a familiar black. She asked him, “Are you nervous about fighting Forgery Ginju?”

“Of course I am. We’ve no idea what we’ll be up against. But more importantly, I’m nervous about the quality of our plan. I think about us failing, of Sen dying. Then I think of things continuing as they are. The Empress continuing on with her tyranny. And that makes me far more nervous.”

Aiya wanted to ask what was so bad about being included in the empire that they needed to revolt and risk burning down the whole continent, but she concluded there would be better time for such a question in the future. Hopefully.

“I don’t mean to belittle you,” he continued, “I understand you’re just as much the warrior I am. I want to let you know that despite our passion, letting your concerns be known is still important. Courage isn’t about never feeling fear, it’s pushing past it to act on your values.”

“Were you nervous when you had to fight us?” Aiya asked.

Totane’s smile returned. “I knew what the outcome would be in the end.”

“And how is that?”

“Faith. Having faith in yourself is the most powerful trait you can possess.”

“Because if you don’t,” she replied, “no one else will.”

He nodded.

She walked and sat down at the table the men had been at, pondering for a moment. “What’s it like? Your deity I mean. Agriculture sounds like kind of a strange deity when you think about it.”

“No stranger than the River I would imagine.” He sat down with her, sliding up his sleeve to reveal a black shoulder tattoo. Three undulating streaks that got thinner the higher they went, converging and joining the inside of a circle. “We received this when we were six year olds. We had to dedicate our entire lives to our deity, so I understand sacrifice more than most.”

Aiya showed her own tattoo on her wrist. “I feel that. This was pretty painful for a seven year old. But how is it when you meditate? When you become one with Agriculture, or whatever it is you do, what does that look like?”

He paused. “I suppose with the River it would be equally as hard to describe, but it’s something you have to experience. It took me ten years to feel like I could fully understand Agriculture as a deity. Hell, even now, I discover new things every day. What we as a civilization run on is growth, and for that we require sustenance. We require gradual change. Most importantly we need community. Agriculture embodies all of that. It is a method of survival, but it is more than that. Words can’t really do it justice.”

There was a certain deep knowledge of his subject that Aiya related to completely. Agriculture, she thought, it’s as beautiful as the river. Instant shame rushed in her head. She wasn’t sure if such a thought could be considered blasphemy.

Totane stood. “It’s about time we sleep. We’ll make it to our destination before the end of the day and we’re going to need it.”

“You’re right, I was thinking the same.”

Totane smiled. “Goodnight.” He left the tent, leaving Aiya to think of how similar they might be after all.

The next morning they were up before the sun had snuck halfway over the horizon. The night’s chill had yet to depart them but the sun was promising its warmth. Whatever hangovers the men had from the night before had to be dealt with as tents were packed up and belongings hastily gathered. Tsugo explained to them they’d be riding by horseback today so that they’d be ready to join headquarters upon arrival. Better than sitting in a cramped carriage all day, Aiya thought, groggily hoisting herself onto her mount’s back.

She was proven wrong when the first of lower back pains showed up an hour into their journey, and a man who went by General Yko had to correct her and Koji’s posture. He was a strong burly man, with little hair and a prominent mustache. The land became more and more arid as they marched and the day became warmer. They were informed that they would be heading straight into battle and thus would not be passing through any cities, though they would certainly pass by a few.

Conversation was sparse, and Aiya found herself off to the side at one point thinking about nothing in particular, trying to keep her creeping anxiety at bay.

“Your brother seems excited to take on our enemy.”

Aiya turned to see Johori on his horse trotting beside her. He really did look a lot like Risako the more she got to know his face, though he appeared a bit more sheepish.

She gave him a confused look. “Did he say that?”

“He said he’ll be glad to prove his dominance over any other Ginju the way he did us.” Johori grinned as he said it, and Aiya realized that he was being hyperbolic. She forced a smile.

“I’d have to agree with him then.”

“Our involvement won’t likely be needed though, you know. After all, it’d be a terrible decision to risk our most valuable assets so early on.”

Aiya shrugged. “I figured we were the keys to victory. We’ll have to intervene at some point.”

“It’s our hope that we won’t. There’s no telling what could happen, and we’re not exactly replaceable.”

“Well, I think we all understand that. Why are you saying this, are you afraid?”

Johori laughed, though she questioned whether it was genuine. “I’m just informing you, letting you know not to get too cocky or eager to jump in. Even against Jodai, in sufficient numbers and tactics they could easily pose a threat.”

“We’ll just have to be prepared for whatever comes,” Aiya replied, and she couldn’t tell if he was testing her or not, but she was growing tired of it. It may have been arrogant, but the Jodai were not on her mind as a threat, and now she found herself thinking more of another possible surprise encounter with Ginju.

She was surprised to find she was actually not overly nervous about that scenario. After their encounter at the Takasa estate, she had even greater confidence in her own abilities. She was even more surprised to find her eager anticipation for another such encounter. It was an opportunity, in fact, to gain more respect, to put her abilities to the test. A Ginju opponent was undoubtedly dangerous, for deities held terrifying power. But that makes my power terrifying too.

Camp was set up that night just as quickly, albeit enjoyed more cautiously. The morning that followed on Seventh Day, they entered into Forgery province. The border patrolling Jodai merely bowed in their direction.

All of Forgery was aware of their presence. They marched parallel to a city wall, spotting soldiers lined outside as their march brought them close. When they were nearly across from it, they recognized it was the local city lord saluting to them outside his gates next to his troops. The sight filled Aiya with a confusing mix of warmth and honor and strange guilt. Little did they know their army was like a hound disguised as a sheep.

Or maybe they know, and these are Sen’s cities? No, according to Tsugo and the generals, Sen only controlled the northeastern regions of Forgery. These were their victims.

The day progressed torturously slow, until the late afternoon set in. Tsugo informed Aiya and Koji that they were getting close, their destination only a few hours away. Any doubts they possessed evaporated upon crossing their first dead bodies.

As the sun lowered itself, the entire mood of their army grew solemn, suddenly serious in the face of bodies littered across the ground. Every few hundred feet their nostrils were assaulted with the stench of decay right before they crossed scattered corpses, swarmed by buzzing flies. Some held expressions of horror illuminated by the setting red sun, others expressionless as if in a slumber, lying in a bed of their own blood. Some were missing heads. In the distance they heard shouting, though whether they were so close to the battlefield or it was an illusion, none would say. The air was eerily still against the backdrop of marching.

Before long, the shouting was unmistakable. Despite her best efforts at meditation, Aiya’s heart beat against her chest in dire protest. Koji gave a long look in her direction, one meant for comfort. She was furthest from it now. Soon they were climbing the hill in which they knew a battle raged on the other side. The battle of Hijimata hill. The atmosphere was almost suffocating at this point, like a blood-soaked animal hide draped over them and weighing them to the ground. They crested the hill and came face to face with the most horrific assault of the senses Aiya had ever experienced.

Thousands of soldiers collided in a wave of death. Gore and tragedy everywhere, and Aiya couldn’t tell who was who. The clang of armor and metal rang, so intense she suddenly felt a pang of pity for the men about to be thrown inside of it. It was a sea of chaos and violence, terror and fury, where life was snuffed out from one second to the next like candle flames.

Above it all was HQ, three large tents with the largest in the center of the crest of the hill. The soldiers from here viewed the plains in front of them with dutiful expressions, shouting out orders here and there to the surrounding guard. In the distance, where the terrain became slightly greener, were Sen’s headquarters in one large tent resting on a twin hill.

Tsugo shouted, “All troops, this is our time! Proceed, men of honor, men of faith! Men of courage, men of brawn, and men who bring death with haste!” The men roared, and did just that.

Aiya could do nothing but sit by on her horse as the thousands of feet stampeding beside her went down the hill into the tumult. It was like storm winds passing, and as dust blew into her face, she was forced to cover herself.

When it was over Koji grabbed her arm and held it down. They locked eyes for a moment. He motioned forward, where Tsugo led the rest of them to Lady Ueko’s headquarters. The battle raged on, sparked a new fury by the new arrivals. The Agriculture men going down the hill were an unstoppable force and it made her fear for Sen’s life.

“How’s Sen supposed to get out of this?” she said aloud. The battle appeared at a deadlock before, but now he was massively outmatched.

“Let’s just follow Tsugo’s footsteps,” Koji answered.

At headquarters there was a raised seat like a throne near the edge of the hill, in front of the main tent. In it, a girl no older than Aiya sat with an angry expression. A woman in her mid forties stood beside her, watching intently, a scourge of wrinkles consuming her face. The girl in the seat was seething about something, and every once in a while the woman would say something to her in response. Twenty or so Jodai guards surrounded them.

“You’ve arrived just in time,” Lady Ueko said, not bothering to turn her head. Tsugo was merely feet away from her. He unmounted his horse and gave her a quick, courteous bow.

“You notified us you were being pressed back into a stalemate. We’ve joined this battle near the day’s end. My troops are to pincer Lord Sen’s forces so that we will be at an even greater advantage come tomorrow.”

“Do not,” growled the girl on the seat beside the, attracting the gaze of everyone, “do not ever refer to that scum as Lord Sen again. He is no Lord!”

“Calm yourself, Hasa,” Ueko said in a voice smooth as butter. “Lord Tsugo only meant to be polite. Your brother won’t be too happy now.”

Aiya shifted uncomfortably. The newly arrived troops attacked Sen’s army from both ends, collapsing their formations. The flood of green armor and dark orange armor pressed the enemy in on itself. Aiya’s heart sank. She looked to the others, unable to read the level of concern on their faces.

No one said anything, and they were forced to watch as the battle raged. It seemed to last forever, and Aiya wanted to run into the fray herself. Eventually the sun set too deep, and twilight had taken over. It was nearly dusk.

Just as she thought she couldn’t take anymore, the fighting slowed, and both armies began parting down the middle. Aiya squinted her eyes. A man on horseback was making his way down the line. He waved a large red flag to the side.

“Heavens dammit, does he plan to do this every night?” one of the Forgery Jodai hissed.

“What is that?” Totane asked.

“A call for an honor duel,” Ueko answered, face contorted. “He’s demanding a one on one match to the death.”

Words

“Little bastard.” The same Jodai man stepped forward. He was a brawny man, distinguished and looking wise beyond his years, with a horned helmet. “We’ve gone through the same routine the past three days. He’s already taken out General Monoo and two lieutenants.”

“We won’t lose another,” said a much younger soldier next to him, brandishing a spear.

Honor duels were somewhat common in warfare, usually between two high ranking commanders towards the end of an important battle. It was a direct challenge, a test of courage and might. Though it was sometimes denied, this was seen as an act of cowardice that could tarnish a reputation. Generally, if the commander with the upper hand initiated, it was an act of mock mercy, giving their opponent a final chance to prove themselves. If the losing commander initiated, it was to buy time.

In a battle between clan members, honor duels are one thing they can’t deny.

“No, no, no!” Hasa screamed. She bolted from her chair, falling to the ground, spittle flying from her mouth in tiny flecks. “He cannot be allowed! He won’t again, he won’t! I said no! Bastard! Insolence! Behead him and go on!” She gritted her teeth and panted like an ox.

“Calm yourself, Hasa!” Ueko hissed. She forced her daughter back into her seat, rougher than Aiya would have expected. She realized that Hasa was, in fact, insane. Clearly this was the reason Ueko was able to take advantage of her. The entire situation was becoming more dire by the minute. “Things will end differently this time. Lieutenant Toru, were you making an offer with that weapon drawn?”

The man with the drawn sword answered, “Yes. If you will, my Lady, allow me to avenge the death of my fallen general, Monoo.”

“It’s brave of you, what you’re doing,” said the wise general, “but Sen is clearly not one to be underestimated. Blind anger won’t win you this duel.”

“Respectfully, General Honji, I don’t intend to win on any pretense of rage. You all know as well as I the extent of my combat prowess. You believe I am second to only General Monoo within his army, but I would argue I was his equal. And I’ve watched enough of the boy these past few days to get an idea of his weaknesses.”

Toru stepped forward to Ueko.

She sighed. “Fetch him a mount, quickly.”

The Jodai behind her moved to do just that. Not a minute later, he was mounted and slipping on his helmet. Parts of him resembled the man from the Oshidai’s fable of bravery who stood against the Sun Dragon.

“Toru.” Honji stepped beside him.

“I’ll settle this once and for all,” the young man answered, and then he was galloping down into the field.

“He’s being considered for the next title of general,” Honji said, seemingly to himself. “He’s sure to obtain it after this.”

Aiya wondered just how good his chances were but remained silent. All eyes remained on the field watching Toru passing through the ranks of men. The fighting had ceased completely. In this moment Toru was like a king, charging into the ferocious jaws of a monster. Sen couldn’t be that dangerous, could he? The young lord certainly didn’t have the mightiest stature.

Toru stopped short twenty feet of Sen and raised his polearm, a commander’s weapon of choice. Sen threw down the flag and raised his sword, a bold choice. They stared each other down, rooted in place.

Finally lowering their weapons, the two men charged each other. Toru prepared a long jab from the left, but Sen had already knocked him from his steed with a powerful left blow. Toru tumbled off his horse and across the ground. He was on his feet before Sen’s horse had even a chance to pivot back. He’d been stabbed but it apparently hadn’t gone too deep.

Sen came off his own mount and assumed a defensive position. Toru hesitated at this, and Aiya squinted to see whatever expression he was showing. Toru took the bait and charged Sen, this time with more caution. He went for a wide upwards slash that would connect while maintaining distance between the two fighters. Sen ducked around it before Toru could react, shifting into his personal space.

Before Toru could bring up his knee into Sen’s stomach, he had a sword going through his own. He doubled over, Sen withdrawing his weapon, spinning, and taking the lieutenant’s head in one clean stroke.

The men around them erupted into a fury, but none dared move to stop him. Sen gathered up the head and held it high above his own, his soldiers cheering. After a few seconds he got back on his stallion and retreated.

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, the rest of his men were retreating with him, while Ueko’s troops gathered up Toru’s headless body.

“Empress’ soul,” Koji whispered. Aiya could hardly believe what she had witnessed. In two minutes, Sen had done in a commander who’d just been appraised as general. It was as if the fight had been over before it had even begun.

Hasa was almost on a rampage. “FUCK! We’ll have your head! We’ll have your head! Getting out of this won’t happen! You’ll only hold out for so long, before the entire continent….”

Ueko, this time letting her daughter be, stormed off into the tent, composed yet livid. General Honji cursed and flounced towards the left tent behind them. Tsugo and the present Ginju looked at each other, unsure of what to do.

“Help the rest of our men set up camp next to Lady Hasa’s troops,” Tsugo finally said, then he was following Lady Ueko into the main tent.

Shuffling between relief and disbelief in their minds, they followed orders.

Tabeni Risako would have liked to think she was keeping her promise to herself. She denied her decision to break it and see Lieutenant Hedi from the moment they arrived on the battlefield. She couldn’t deny it any longer.

Ueoko and Tsugo’s soldiers set up camp together, though the men spoke little to one another. Rations were passed around under the moonlit sky, mostly clear of clouds to reveal innumerable stars. She knew Jodai did not particularly get along with soldiers of other provinces, but of course some interaction could not be avoided. It was how life went in general. No matter what cause one laid claim to, comradery was always linked to a secondary motivation, something of a more personal nature that excluded others.

Risako’s motive was her broken promise to herself. She approached the dark bulky formy on the left edge of the hill in which headquarters was based. Gaku Hedi turned at the sound of her footsteps. Only his basic features could be made out, because neither of them carried a lantern. His shamrock-green armor appeared black. This meeting was secret.

The absence of his right arm was still evident. Risako smiled, and Hedi returned a faint one of his own. “We told each other this wouldn’t happen again.”

“Promised, in fact. We’re terribly dishonest people,” Risako answered, and she wrapped her arms around him in an embrace. He wrapped his left across her back. The armor he still wore was cold, but his breath as he spoke into her ear warmed her entire body.

“Terribly dishonest. Unfitting for our rank. We should just leave, resign from our positions in shame.”

Risako leaned back. “You’re the one with the formal rank. I’m just a noble woman who plays her part from the background.”

“Please. You’re in every meeting and public hearing in Agriculture. People know you and your position as Ginju. You’ll probably be a general one day.”

“If that happens, you’ll be my right hand man.”

“Or left,” he said with a grin.

Risako rolled her eyes. “It feels wrong, what we’re doing. As an army, I mean. We’re helping fight the one person we’re meant to keep alive, and we don’t know exactly how long this will go on. In the meantime we’re sacrificing our own troops for a double cause.”

“You’re right,” Hedi answered. “It feels wrong. But it is also a noble cause. We’re just paying the cost for it. Our people understand that, which is why they’re fighting their hardest while prepared to follow new orders at the drop of a feather. Be careful not to dishonor those who’ve already sacrificed themselves. We can’t afford to be finicky.”

Risako admired the strength in his voice, how quickly he was always able to address her concerns. He was a man who knew his purpose, indestructible in his resolve. “I had a terrible thought on the way over here,” she said finally.

“What was so terrible?”

“Make me a new promise. One you can’t break this time. Promise you won’t offer yourself to fight Sen. Nor will you allow yourself to be offered.”

“What on earth would make me do that?”

“You wouldn’t offer yourself for no reason. But Lady Ueko is clearly sick of losing her own high ranking officers to Sen. She might demand Tsugo tribute one of his own commanders instead. I know you’d take it if you thought it was the best move, or if you were taking someone’s place.”

Hedi didn’t respond for a few moments. “In that case, Tsugo could easily decline. There’s no reason for us to take those kinds of losses, especially in a battle for inheritance. You think I’d needlessly endanger myself like that in front of you?”

“No…I just want to be able to hold you at the end of this.”

“I understand. I promise we’ll make it out of this together. And now you have to promise me to stop worrying about my fate. We’re revolutionists, we can’t afford to worry about things as fickle as life and death. We just need to trust in ourselves, to look forward and fight.”

The tear that rolled down Risako’s cheek as he spoke couldn’t be held back. She stepped back from him, admiring his sturdy frame as he gazed into her own watery eyes, grateful for the fact that she was the one person he wanted to see during times like these. They gave each other strength.

“Promise me you’ll put everything we’re fighting for before me, Risako.”

She nodded. “Of course, I promise. I live for the Republic, and for the Republic I will also die.”

She’d die for Hedi too. She just wasn’t sure which would come first.

“You wanted a private word?”

Tsugo did, and despite years as the High Lord of a province, his mind before this particular negotiation would stop at nothing to sabotage his calm demeanor. This was the first real step, politically speaking, of the cause he had spent his entire life fighting for. All those years leading, scheming, sacrificing.

Lady Ueko stood down the hillside opposite to the battlefield. Tsugo traversed the rough, steep slope, halting at a rocky patch. They each clasped flickering lanterns at their sides.

Agriculture politics were stressful, but relatively easy. Most were on the same accord. Nobles were like the mind and bones of the body, strategizing and keeping everything in frame. Commoners were like the skin and muscle which allowed them to take action, to have resistance. Professions, trades and establishments were all united for one cause.

He would have to preface tonight’s meeting in a way that would leave her open-minded for future alliances. She’d be dead in the end,but if she was not cooperative while she lived, it would complicate things much further. The back of Tsugo’s throat felt as dry as the ground on which they stood. He spoke.

“I understand the frustration you’re having with your daughter. My wife was born ordinary, but slowly grew insane about a decade ago. She went senile. It was in her clan’s blood, unfortunately. I know, as you are likely aware, the rumors of you manipulating your daughter. I presume them to be true, so let’s not insult each other’s intelligence. I won’t pretend as if I feel the pain of accepting her state, because I don’t pretend you feel that pain, as I did with my beloved. I, however, can relate to the frustration that never ceases to eat at your very soul.”

He paused, then continued.

“That is why I gave you time to yourself after today’s earlier events. I understand that leaders, people truly meant to rule like us, don't like to do so behind a veil, and the delicate nature of your daughter’s mind will someday leave you the same as her.”

“You make a wonderful speech.” Ueko frowned, arms crossed in the cold breeze. “But I’m having trouble discerning the true nature of our discourse.”

“I simply wanted to talk. Between two supreme commanders, we should have at least some rapport.”

She watched him closely. She gave away very little in her posture, in the cadence of her voice. Tsugo’s youth had been spent by his father’s side on more diplomatic conferences than he could remember, which had been during the latter days of River province’s civil strife. Agriculture had taken sides to fill in the power vacuum with the clans deepest in their pockets. His father had gone to painstaking efforts to ensure he and his brothers and sisters were prepared to take his mantle. His father would have them sit still and listen to long meetings. Tsugo sat through the most of them, because he was the chosen inheritor. He’d been shocked to learn that hereditary wars took place in other provinces and that siblings resorted to killing each other, should an agreement on their province’s heir not be reached. When he met the River lord, Lord Arusuke’s father, he thought the man at first glance to be docile. Upon listening to him speak, he realized all noble lords were extremely confident, and with that confidence also came a certain amount of ruthlessness. They’d been hardened, as he understood it. Hardened, like how their father had tried to put them through rigorous physical training and studying. They’d been made to train with the sword from an early age. They’d learned the art of negotiation and human interaction. Negotiating with the late Takasa lord had been easy.

Dealing with Shozhu had been a matter of betrayal. It had been easy.

“I understand Agriculture has had no battles of inheritance in over a century, though you love involving yourself in such conflicts outside of your borders. Chiefly when River was a dogland. I haven’t quite been able to determine why exactly you took interest in this one, and why you wanted a weapons deal in the first place. Are you losing your authority over your people?”

“You know our reputation as vultures who capitalize on foreign clan affairs. What you do not know is to what end we feast. I assure you we have not lied dormant these past forty years.”

“Likewise, we were not twiddling our thumbs waiting for someone to come offering to save the day. I am always prepared, and I have many allies.”

Tsugo stepped closer, and the breeze which chilled their skin picked up, as if to ward off his upcoming statement. “But we came, and for good reason. It may sound mad what I am going to tell you, but you will hear me correctly. I want your daughter to join hands with my son, Totane. This union will tie Agriculture and Forgery together as one, with the intention that we will one day rule all the empire, bringing down the Empress and taking the throne for ourselves.”

He’d said it, and Ueko for the first time was visibly taken aback. What he had revealed to his children before regarding it had been true. If she agreed to it, and had her subjects do the same, they would be less likely to revolt once Sen came into power. However, he couldn’t deny, it was also insurance, in case this entire plan failed. In case Sen was slain in the end, so that they’d maintain at least some momentum down their current trajectory.

Ueko searched for the right words. Unable to, she resorted to the most obvious. “Are you mad?”

“I need you to agree to this, and to have your allies under you do the same. The empire is slowly cracking, we can all see. Provinces grow restless. Each one is tired of contributing our soldiers to the war effort against Tarshan, which has been stalled because of the conflict here. Each province has voiced their discontent with the tax increase while dealing with their own internal affairs. It seems the far north is reaching levels of conflict not seen since they were adopted by the empire, which the Empress herself has been forced to attend to while you stall her efforts of expansion. This is an opportunity not to be missed. Your daughter’s hand to my son will also allow you to position yourself as the authoritative figure of your household. You can assume the title of high lady until our offspring inherit our provinces.”

He waited for her response.

“I-have no words for this. You are certainly a master at surprises, Lord Tsugo.”

Before he could say another word, she was already making her way back towards their tent.

Den

The main tent was a tiger’s den of gathering officials. Aiya and Koji stood opposite from one another around a large circular table of hardwood. The table displayed a map, with figures and pieces that represented the armies. Totane stood next to Johori, Risako across from them beside the man identified as Gaku Hedi earlier. The rest of the Forgery and Agricultural generals stood between them all. Lord Tsugo was in the center to Aiya’s left, and opposite to him was Lady Ueko.

The tent held sleeping mats and other smaller tables of various instruments on top of them, perhaps for smaller scale strategizing. It was a solemn atmosphere, and now that everyone had a chance to cool off, the planning for tomorrow would begin.

All in all, there were fourteen of them cramped together under the canvas, the space full of musk and sweat. Including their two head commanders, Aiya, and the other Ginju, there was General Honji, General Masuo, General Fun, and Lieutenant Dasuke. They stood for Forgery. General Yko, General Mune, and Lieutenant Hedi were with Agriculture. Hasa was noticeably absent.

There was an unwelcoming intensity to the small area they occupied. She was surprised to find herself as nervous as she was, hesitant to utter even a sound.

“Let us understand one thing.” Ueko’s gaze passed by everyone in the room. She had a cadence that commanded respect, one Aiya could only hope to master. When she spoke, others listened. “We’ve brought forth our best efforts in bringing down Sen’s army. Masuo’s division on the right has managed to push back Goon’s lines. However, Fun’s lines have suffered too many heavy casualties over the past seven days, an unfortunate effect of losing Lieutenant Mushi on the first day. Because of this, Honji has had to send one thousand of his four thousand five hundred troops from the center to Fun’s left army, creating an overall stalemate.”

Ueko’s hand moved on the map to show the positions of each player on the board. The more important the player, the bigger the piece. The two generals positioned to the left and right had smaller pieces than Honji’s main army in the center.

“We began this war six months ago with ten thousand soldiers, Sen also managing to recruit ten thousand soldiers. He’s gathered a lot more support than I thought possible, directly under my nose. This represents about half of the available troops within Forgery province. The other lords are on standby, awaiting the outcome on this hill. Regardless, we arrived at Hijimata hill with seventy-five hundred troops, having lost a quarter of our ranks over the course of this conflict. Sen came with eight thousand, slightly outnumbering us. Over the course of this battle we’ve taken a total of sixteen hundred casualties, while Sen has managed to keep his down to seven hundred.

“Thanks to the arrival of Agriculture, we now possess a massive numerical advantage over Sen’s army. We estimate Agriculture casualties to be just fifty for the first day you arrived. At nearly sixteen thousand troops, we more than double the number of Sen’s troops. In fact, had you not arrived as the sun began setting, you almost certainly would have concluded this damned battle by the day’s end.

“Nevertheless, tomorrow will be the end for him. This battlefield is his final frontier, the border between those who side with him and those who side with the true heir. The entire region west of here is my daughter’s domain. While Sen has managed with his impressive number of recruits well, the eastern regions of Forgery are not nearly as well fortified as the west. Historically, there was never much need. If he falls or retreats here, the rest of the region will easily go down in just a matter of time, not to mention he will have lost the majority of his troops. This fact will hurt his reputation among his supporters and those who watch our conflict from afar, and they will come to our aid, because we will be seen as the clear winners. We won’t give Sen a chance to pull the same stunt on the eighth day of battle.”

Watching her, Ueko’s persona resembled that of Aiya’s parents, especially her mother. There was the same determination to be heard, respected, feared. The same alluring smile. But somehow these qualities in her appeared more…malicious.

Damn, how foolish of us was it to kill Juso? Aiya thought. Perhaps Sen would have an even larger upper hand had the man not been slain two months ago.

“Apologies for our blunder,” Fun said, clasping a hand over a fist in front of him while bowing. The man’s voice was deeper than expected. He wore a gold helm that differentiated their Forgery soldiers from Sen’s. “Lieutenant Mushi’s units were unrivaled in offensive strategy, and as we know, offense is my biggest weakness.”

“You’re forgiven, General Fun. What’s done is done. Warfare is about being prepared for these things, about being ten steps ahead. What proposals do Agriculture’s generals have for tomorrow’s battle?”

Mune went first. “My division specializes in feints. If General Fun’s army is struggling, then the enemy will fall to our deception even quicker. Allow my fourth company to be posted on Fun’s front lines tomorrow, and we will draw at least half of Sen’s right wing to their doom.”

Masuo spoke up, a man with a small nose and particularly square face. “An excellent strategy, except I doubt a feint on the left wing is the best option right now. Sen has opted for a completely defensive strategy this entire battle and only managed to inflict damage to our left because of Fun’s aggressive tactics.”

“I suggest then we go into an all out attack,” said Yko. “No matter his strategy, in a match this uneven, he will fold. Even if he manages to hold off, Lieutenant Hedi’s unit can go around his backdoor for an attack he won’t see coming.”

“What of Forgery Ginju?” Totane asked, turning the heads of everyone in the tent. He’d addressed Aiya’s question for her. “I suppose they are to stay out of sibling warfare just as it is in Agriculture tradition? Or has Sen managed to recruit them as well?”

Ueko eyed him for a minute, not answering. Finally, she said, “Yes, they will not be utilized in this particular battle, Lord Totane. No matter how dire the circumstances. We have certain ways of doing things in Forgery, of acting with honor, just as we have allowed our commanders to be slain in Sen’s honor duels. So we will not resort to easily overpowering him with the likes of Ginju, just as you have chosen not to offer your own Ginju when you could render this excursion quick and painless.”

“We figured if ten thousand troops weren’t enough for the likes of one boy, nothing could be,” Tsugo said. “But before we continue with forming our strategy, I think a more important prospect should be mentioned. That which concerns the joining of our two forces. Agriculture has long stood idle after many decades of aiding other high families in securing their rule. Because of this, you may not be shocked to see us here standing before you. But do not be mistaken. We do not offer you our aid out of the goodness of our hearts. Like you, we feed on power and authority, for wealth and material gain. This is all but for one purpose.

“It is abrupt, but I sincerely ask that my request be deeply considered. I would propose that my first born son, Tabeni Totane, be joined together with your daughter, Yomenuura Hasa. I ask for her hand in marriage. This would prelude the merging of our two provinces together to become the most powerful in Egaisha. Think of it as the first permanent coalition.”

The air became heavy and dead. They exchanged looks, and Aiya could hardly believe the words that had just escaped Tsugo’s mouth. Her eyes went to Totane, who stood flustered. He regarded his father, unblinking. Whatever replies the others could have made were lost. This was the ‘proposal’ Tsugo had suggested at the onset of their journey?

Ueko glared at him as if she had been slapped in the face. “Right now, Lord Tsugo, is not the time to be making proposals such as that. Focus on ending this battle as quickly as possible, and that alone. Am I clear? We can discuss-”

“My apologies,” Tsugo interrupted, an interruption that should have earned him a dagger in the face. “My polite etiquette seems to have created a misunderstanding. I was not asking. It was, actually, a demand. We will come to an agreement before the break of dawn tomorrow, or I will be forced to withdraw every last one of my Agriculture troops before the battle begins.”

Ueko almost fell backwards. Heat boiled the insides of Aiya’s ears as she shifted in discomfort. Her eyes darted from one officer to another, to Risako, Johori, Koji, Totane. The commotion heard from the men outside the tent suddenly seemed inviting, and somehow she was no longer cold.

“Understand me, Lord Tsugo,” Ueko hissed, harboring every bit of composure to keep herself from shouting. “Understand me when I say this! Forgery values a friend, hates a foe, but a viper, one who whispers that he is a sheep in order to get his way, he will never gain respect among us!”

Tsugo appeared unmoved. “My Lady Ueko. We’re all vipers in war, we just don’t realize that it’s simply being crafty. Believe me, I have the utmost respect for you, and wish for your triumph. I also have a province whose needs I value far more. My original statement still stands.”

General Honji slammed a fist onto the table, rattling the pieces. “Enough of this fuckery! Your head should be on the chopping block right now for such disrespect!”

“Careful with your words,” Mune warned. “We don’t take kindly to threats towards Lord Tsugo.”

Aiya had seen this exact scene play out before, and it would likely end worse if it happened again. Before any swords could be drawn, the commotion outside became a violent ruckus. Each person in the room swiveled towards the tent flap. Men were crying out in alarm.

“What under the heavens is going on out there?” Yko said.

“What a timely distraction.” Masuo forced his attention back to the men around him. “I really hope this isn’t another one of your ploys of persuasion, because if it is-”

“Now you insult us,” Hedi declared. “We provide aid on our terms alone. Don’t assume we’d ever resort to sabotage in the event we don’t get our way.”

Honji moved to the front of the tent as the noise grew louder and more chaotic. And closer. “We’ll see just what-”

The man parted the flaps open with two large burly hands, and no sooner had he done so did a sword become lodged in his left eye, traversing its way out the back of his head. Honji toppled to the ground, a look of shock forever stuck on his face.

Hounds

It was a suicide mission.

Hidesada Nanbu and his peers had taken it earnestly. They would die for Lord Sen on the battlefield, and they’d be grateful for it. They’d manage to secure for themselves seven heads in battle, so it was a shame they wouldn’t live to be rewarded for it. Their families would be proud. Damn it all, they’d make them proud in death too.

Nanbu wore a golden helm, allowing him to blend in with the enemy. He’d pried it off a reeking head he’d severed himself, placing it on his own head. It had been at the onset of dusk. Having come from the left wing division with the others, he’d come to the front lines of the center army and hid behind a wall of soldiers while switching helmets. Then came the hard part. The men around him pretended to be alarmed and swung at him. An enemy soldier!

They ejected him from their ranks as the battle came to a close and he’d barely escaped with his life. Or so their enemies thought. Even in pretend fighting, they’d given him a blow to the elbow pretty good. The numbness still hadn’t subsided.

His friends had, miraculously, pulled off the same stunt. Most of all he was glad for Mouri, who he’d come to love like a brother. They’d come from the same squadron, fighting by the other’s side for years. Kagami, who he’d grown up in the same city with, though the two had never gotten close. Shoda, Junko, Kori, Orin, men he’d not known prior to their assignment. But regardless of their past, he might as well consider them his brothers, because these were the men he’d die with.

Now they sat in the back of the enemy’s camp closest to HQ, every soldier around them completely oblivious to the fact they didn’t belong here. The sudden influx of Agriculture soldiers surely made that possible. Men and the occasional prostitute passed by the seven of them huddled around a fire, tending to their meager portion of broth with a little less vigor than the occasion deemed appropriate. Many danced to the sound of music. The sight made Nanbu hot, so he kept his eyes low.

Deception like this in battle was rare, and usually ended with failure before it even started. Fuck it, failure wasn’t something they could afford right now. The arrival of Agriculture forces had been the last thing they’d been expecting. A lot of the troops had almost given up hope. He hated himself for it, but better to die here around the joviality while making a difference than to mope back in Sen’s camp.

“It’s now or never,” Mouri said, tearing half his bread loaf off with his teeth, discarding the rest. “Let’s not be pussies about this.”

“We know,”said Junko. “Sure is a lot more difficult to think straight when you have this kind of pressure on you though, isn’t it?” He eyed the people around him nervously in a fidgety motion.

“The more you think about it, the worse your anxiety will be,” Kagami said. He finished his soup, looking like a prince with his dark hair tied in a short ponytail, even with all the dirt and grime on his face. The exemplary noble, appearance wise.

Nanbu locked eyes on Junko. “And the more you look around like that, the more attention we draw to ourselves, and the even shorter amount of time we have.”

Mouri stood, cracking his knuckles. Balding and muscular, he had a friendly, almost boyish face, but to assume he had anything against violence was a terrible judgment to make. He did violence well, and that was why he’d volunteered for this part of the assignment. He’d always been quick to act, and violence was the one thing he was good at. “Let’s get on with it then, shenshen. Who gets to be the lucky mark tonight?”

He looked straight at Nanbu as he said it. Nanbu scanned the area until their prowl fell on an important looking man headed towards their direction, likely a squadron or unit leader. He’d pass them and wouldn’t expect to be ambushed at all. It would make for the best distraction, but also make it that much more likely they’d be chased down.

Nanbu nodded to the official. “See that man approaching us from behind? Junko, you fucking baboon, don’t be so obvious! That man has to be the leader of a squadron or something, I’d bet it on the Empress herself. He’s your best option.”

“Say less.” Mouri sat back down, waiting for the man to get closer.

Nanbu let him go, heart pounding heavier and heavier in his chest. The man seemed to be walking more slowly. It seemed as if he’d never arrive. He came to a halt, and Nanbu feared he might be changing his route. It was only brief, however, and then he was almost upon them.

“Kori, Shoda, Junko and Orin, have my back. Kagami, Nanbu. Run.”

The official came right up behind Mouri, still focused ahead of him with a glowering face. Suddenly, with amazing speed, Mouri spun on him, sending a fist like a boulder into his face and knocking him to the side with a satisfying crack.

The man fell, grunting loudly as he hit the ground. All attention within a radius of at least fifty feet turned towards the commotion as Nanbu and Kagami jumped back.

“Four corners!” Mouri commanded, and the men around him backed up to create a small square perimeter around him.

“What the fuck?” Nanbu shouted, parroting similar exclamations of alarm around him.

When the soldiers realized it was an officer who’d been injured, they all cried out in anger. Then they began rushing them.

That was their cue to run. Nanbu and Kagami took off behind them, racing up the hill towards headquarters. Kagami raced behind him, and they refrained from withdrawing their swords in case they hadn’t yet garnered any suspicion. Unlikely. Nanbu laughed to himself.

“I hope you’re ready for this!” Kagami said, almost neck and neck with him. He glanced back to see the swarm of men joining the fighting.

“No idea exactly how we’ll pull this off, but I’m ready!”

At the top of the hill, they met what they expected. Elite guards were swarming around the tent. They looked confused at first, but were quick to regard the approaching men suspiciously.

“Halt! What’s your business?”

“What’s the deal?” Kagami asked. “We just want a word with our commanders. Those Agriculture bastards sure made a rude entrance!”

The guards did not care to entertain any of it. They took two steps forward and warned them to stop or be cut down.

Shit, Nanbu thought, unsheathing his weapon. This was it. Thirty men outside the main tent. That’s an impenetrable wall if I’ve ever seen one. “Split up!”

The men took sharp turns to the left and right. The guards followed only with their eyes, standing their ground. Nanbu rushed in to slice at the first guard. The guard parried, but lost his footing and Nanbu managed to take him down. That was pure luck. He wasn’t so lucky with the next fellow, who sawed through his left arm nice and smoothly. Nanbu cried out, letting all his rage and emotions carry him. Using the few seconds the man’s sword was buried into his arm, he cut him down too. He heard Kagami let out a gurgling shout, but he would not look over. Every ounce and fiber of his being was focused on this one task. He wouldn’t fail.

Mouri! His mind cried out. All he could think about was honoring his friend's death. The man who’d fought alongside him as children against bullies in the noble court. They’d trudged through hard times together as they became men, and their families depended on the outcome of this war. That was why it was no question that they’d support Sen when the young lord had offered them aid and glory in fighting for him. Mouri’s family had hit hard times with debts owed on their land to the Yomenuura family. Sen had offered to forgive them. Nanbu’s own gambling houses had been in decline as well.

What Sen had done for them, they’d repay. Who was the rightful heir and who wasn’t, that didn’t matter to them. What mattered was that Sen was victorious in the end. Agriculture had made that difficult. Hell, from his own mouth Lord Sen had told them slaying a general was their only shot at seeing the next day to the end. Nanbu couldn’t fail.

Something hard knocked against his head and he blacked out for maybe seconds. He fell, and when he awoke he saw stars. The world spun, but before he could recover an intense agony like he had never experienced exploded in his abdomen. He’d been stabbed. His stomach bubbled with pain like molten lava, and his muscles gave out. He looked ahead of him, the tent mere paces away. He’d never make it now. I’ve failed. The darkness enveloped him.

Mouri crested the hill to see his fallen friend, impaled by a spear through his gut. This didn’t stop him. He’d soon have plenty of time with Nanbu in the afterlife anyway. Ahead of him, inside of the central tent, that was for him. The others had managed to keep him alive with their four corners formation as they made for the hill. He should have died with them, but when the attacking soldiers stood back to allow another officer the privilege of killing him, they’d given Mouri just enough time to escape. It had been narrow, evidenced by the long gash on his leg which, if these guards didn’t take him, his wound surely would.

They shouted for him to halt. He ignored them. They were coalescing in the center now, trying to form a wall. He’d just have to force his way through before the gaps closed for good. Ten guards stood between him and his prey. Ten men was the number it took to match his strength, and he’d not gained that reputation without merit.

He prepared a wide swing and let it crash against them, bursting through their ranks. A spear entered his left arm. No worries, wouldn’t be needed. A sword sliced at his abdomen, but he kept forward. His speed and size made him unstoppable, and just in time he closed the gap, the guards screaming behind him.

“Haaa!” He cried. Nothing could stop him now. Nothing and no one. Whoever was closest to him when he entered the tent would be the first to die. Then he’d take down as many as he could after that. For Lord Sen and his men.

For Nanbu.

The tent flaps parted just in time. An gray haired officer with a muscular body stood there, oblivious to his fate. This was the center army’s main general. Mouri didn’t care to remember his name at this point. He raised up his weapon behind him before thrusting it into the man’s left eye. It went in, breaking bones. His expression of shock was visible for only seconds before he toppled over, and Mouri knew the feeling of victory at last.

Penetrate

Inside the tent, everyone staggered back from the horrific sight in unison. The sword was deeply lodged in the general's face, and he was actually dead.

Dasuke rushed towards his fallen body.

“No….Honji-shen!”

The guardsmen came rushing in from the other end, and in moments the room was in total chaos.

Ueko and Tsugo were as taken aback as everyone else, rooted to where they stood, their voices stolen from them.

“Who did this? How did this happen?” Dasuke looked up to the guards in rage. “How the fuck was this allowed to happen?”

Before they could respond, he leaped up outside the tent and began yelling at the other men. “HOW THE FUCK WAS THIS ALLOWED TO HAPPEN?”

One moment general Honji had been a strong veteran of war standing before them, and now he lay in a pool of his own blood.

Aiya was numb to everything, the scenes before her playing out as if she were a floating spectator. Everyone in her periphery was invisible, and only the bludgeoned face of Honji remained.

Suddenly everyone was rushing towards the dead general too, and Aiya was torn out of the sickening trance. She followed, and outside Dasuke and a few other men stood over the dead body of a rather large and muscular man. Dasuke didn’t know who to take out his anger on, and threw insults all around. About twenty feet away, two other men lay dead at the top of the hill.

Johori moved in front of Tsugo as Masuo’s blade flew in his direction from its scabbard.

“If you think to get out of this alive, don’t be mistaken. We will kill you and every one of your soldiers down to the last man!”

“Move that blade one inch closer and your life will be forfeit,” said Johori.

Fun moved in between them. “Stand down, Masuo. Look closer, these three men are clearly from Sen's camp.”

Coming out of his rage, Masuo saw the burnt-orange armor they wore indicative of Forgery. Golden helms lay scattered near the heads of each of the men.

“The helms were stolen and used to sneak into our own ranks undercover. An unruly tactic as old as war itself. Somehow they managed to pull it off.”

A guardsman fell to his knees before them. “We apologize for our egregious blunder! We will take our lives right here if we must!”

“Leave that for later and on your feet!” Ueko shouted at them, causing them to stumble back up. “We’ve got a war to win first. Sen is going to die regardless.”

Ueko was holding Honji’s head with one hand, kneeled beside him and looking over his corpse. Slowly, she began stroking his scalp. The others did nothing, no one daring to speak.

“Leave us,” Ueko said, not looking up. Aiya studied the others and then turned to Koji, who was equally as perplexed.

“Leave us be until morning!” Ueko hurled her burning hot stare at everyone before her eyes landed on Tsugo.

Tsugo nodded and turned away. Shortly after, the rest of them started to do the same.

On the way back to camp not a word was uttered. Between the Ginju, no one knew what to say or how to say it, and it seemed equally a problem among the Jodai, both Agriculture and Forgery.

Aiya entered her own tent and laid down on the mat. She thought about how this was good for Sen, even if it only left Ueko one general short. Then, she found herself scared to fall asleep alone. No, she was being silly. She was a Ginju, the most fearsome of all. And yet, tonight her own mortality was forced right in her face. She couldn’t defend herself while sleeping, nor from any surprise attacks.

What was more was Tsugo’s demands of marriage. That had been almost equally unexpected. There was more to this battle, to this war and to their cause behind it that she didn’t understand. She felt like a child once again in the noble courts.

Some hours later, she fell asleep.

Koji caught a strikingly pretty woman watching them from afar, catching his eye. They locked eyes for the span of a few seconds before she briskly walked away. Koji followed her. When she didn’t stop he called, “Hey, you. Halt!”

She turned to glower at him.

What’s her issue? Could I be intruding? Koji thought.

“My name is Kefa, and my services are finished for today. And I don’t see how it can still be stiff after seeing that.” She pointed to headquarters.

“I saw you staring at me, so I thought something was up.”

“Something up?” the woman raised an eyebrow. “I was just curious like everyone else. Why did you feel the need to chase after me?”

“You’re the prostitute who was assaulted the other night. I heard about the incident and some people pointed you out earlier today.”

“Are you asking if I’m alright? I’m genuinely amazed that two nobles have so much care for a lowly person such as myself.”

They looked at each other for a few seconds before Koji diverted his gaze elsewhere.

“So you were looking for service. I’m generally not a fan of potential clients who beat around the bush, but it beats being assaulted any day. Find me in the morning before dawn and I’ll be all washed up, and at your service.”

She said the last part with particular grace then turned to go.

“No, I was going to ask…why do you still do it?” Koji asked. “Your profession, I mean. I don’t mean to press, and I know it’s only a means to get by. I mean, nobody exactly chooses everything they do, sometimes you’re forced to do things. Still, haven’t you ever wanted something more normal among common folk? A home, a husband, children?”

“Normal does not mean good. There’s nothing moral about bringing children into a world like this. No, I’ve come a long way from where I was and I don’t for one second want to go back and live a more ‘common’ life. My reasons are my own.”

She seemed to be about to turn again, then said, “Don’t assume I’m at all a good person though. No matter their status, nobody in this world is who you think they are. Even your own mother.”

“My mother definitely isn’t great. I had the privilege of understanding that from a young age.”

“At least you know the truth about her,” Kefa answered as she departed. “And hopefully yourself.”

Alliance

Dawn couldn’t have come sooner for Ueko’s camp. For Sen, the night would have been welcomed indefinitely. Before the sun had even peered over the horizon, Ueko’s men were already packing their tents in a fury. A certain bloodthirst hung in the air, and the Jodai were ravenous, ready for slaughter.

The formations were set by the time dawn was halfway over, and Sen’s soldiers did not move with the intimidation their enemies expected. General Fun made his way to the front of the central division’s lines. The plan was to execute a full force frontal assault and have units from either side cut through the left and right division, taking Sen from behind while applying pressure on all sides. The loss of Honji had affected their troops’ morale, but it had also served to strengthen them with anger. Whatever Sen had hoped to accomplish with the move had backfired, they thought.

Tension rose between the two waiting armies until the two forces charged at the commands of their generals. Thousands of men came rushing at each other, intent on murder. Spears flew, swords clashed, and the previously tranquil land transformed into a breeding ground for flying spit, blood and death. With that, the second day of battle began.

Aiya and the rest of the Ginju observed the battle play out from the hill above. They all had switched into the burnt-orange armor of Forgery. Next to them were Tsugo and the same guardsmen, who had gone stiff. Ueko was in the same spot as yesterday, next to her daughter. No one said much. The death of Honji was still fresh on everyone’s minds.

Ueko had remained in her sitting position, tending to Honji for most of the night. The other Forgery generals had not taken his death any better, and Aiya hoped the exhaustion would get to them before Sen could be taken down. It felt bizarre that Honji’s death was a good thing for them, but none of Agriculture commented on it.

“How much longer must we suffer this nonsense?” Hasa asked, more to herself than anyone in particular.

Ueko didn’t answer as Hasa pounded her fist on the seat. Aiya shifted uncomfortably.

“Just…die already! Useless! Fucking surrender, swine. Die like Yahida and Hasu, scum!”

The battle beneath was unfolding as expected. In the beginning, their opponents were like hens for the slaughter. Soon, however, they noticed something strange. Sen’s forces were gradually being pushed back, but their Ueko’s men were not making much progress. Then, it turned out, Sen was not being pushed back, but instead pushed into themselves. As they were pushed more and more, they became tighter and the charging men made less and less progress.

“This could be it,” Johori said, stepping forward in alarm. There was a deep urgency in voice that made Aiya even more nervous. “His lines are collapsing in on themselves.”

“No,” Aiya replied, watching closer. It was half a plea, half an observation. “They’re not collapsing. They’re not even moving anymore….”

“It’s a defensive formation,” said Tsugo.

Sen’s army was compressed in on themselves, and had arranged their ranks in a criss-cross pattern formation. For every man with a forward facing shield, the one behind him stood with his shield facing to one side, and the Jodai behind him would have his facing forward. It went like this through the entire army, and suddenly the entire hilltop realized this was part of Sen’s strategy.

The advance they had been making came to an abrupt halt. Now Sen’s forces were holding their ground. Every once in a while they would briefly push the enemy out and then fall back in line where they were before. The wall they formed around their entire ranks was impenetrable.

“How did they set that up so fast?” said Risako.

“He must have had this planned from the start. He knew with our arrival his time was limited. Now he’s just trying to stall. It’s still simply a matter of time before he falls.” Tsugo turned to Ueko, whose concentrated silence gave Aiya’s silent pleas at least some measure of hope. “Of course, I haven’t forgotten, or retracted, my original stipulations, my Lady.”

Ueko faced him, the first time she’d moved the entire day. “You are a testing man, Lord Tsugo.”

She turned to Hasa, who, unblinking, zoned in on the battle below like a hawk.

“Hasa, dear, how badly do you want this foolishness to be finished with already?”

Hasa, without turning, said, “I want it over, mother. We all do. Sen is a disruption to the entirety of Forgery right now. He dares challenge me as heir.”

“Indeed, for that he must suffer. What would you be willing to do to make that happen?”

Hasa looked at her. “Anything, mother.”

Ueko stepped back and gave Tsugo an expectant look.

“I am humbled by your presence, Hasa,” Tsugo said, giving a bow. “My province and I are in full support of your efforts against your brother, and we greatly cherish a union between your province and ours. Therefore I would ask for your hand to be placed in the hands of my son in marriage. The bond you two would share would be the progenitor of an alliance between Forgery and Agriculture, and becoming one, we would stand as the strongest province in all Egaisha.”

Time ceased as Hasa mused over his words. “You’re proposing a marriage between your eldest son and I? How does that get rid of Sen?”

Hasa’s sudden ability to articulate took Aiya off guard. Her entire demeanor had transformed from the frothing creature she had been before. Now she stared with eyes that had complete reason in them.

“It is simply repayment for our aid with you in this battle. Not only will it guarantee continued good relations between our provinces, but it positions both of us for even more power in the future.”

Hasa watched him for a minute. “This is certainly unexpected. I assume you really desire my mother’s consent.”

“You are the true ruler of Forgery, Lady Hasa. I by no means want to rush your decision, but I simply had to bring it up before Sen fell.”

“Why didn’t you bring this up earlier? It sounds like you are trying to rush me, and force my answer too. We have no business with Agriculture in the future. Our weapons deal will be enough.”

“Now, Hasa, consider the advantage. Your marriage will benefit you.” Ueko stepped in between the two.

“I assure you, my lady, I only want what’s best for both of us. I want us to come together willingly, to strengthen each other.”

Hasa turned back to battle. “If I must. What. The. Fuck. Is that?” Hasa was back up again screaming as their troops below made no progress.

Aiya shook her head. This formation Sen had thought of was actually stopping their advance. But for how long? The sun was still rising, which meant they had all day to hack away at it. Her underarms grew moist.

Watching the battle from above was exhausting. Ueko and Tsugo both continued to make calculations and battle plans in case they needed them while the Ginju were forced to just watch and listen, unable to offer true insight on the matter. Whenever Aiya felt she was beginning to understand the tactics of battle, Ueko and Tsugo made some comment that threw her off.

As the day progressed, Ueko and Tsugo’s forces made marginal progress towards penetrating the formation’s center where Sen stayed guarded. Clouds covered them overhead, shielding them from the sun. A few made solemn remarks about a possible Wailstorm.

“Placing himself in the middle of battle at the start was actually smart,” Risako said. “Had he stayed positioned at HQ, we definitely would have breached it by now and taken his head. We’ll have to take down at least half his soldiers to have a chance of getting him, and that formation is rock solid.”

Ueko and Hasa lost their minds. More than once Ueko had to stalk off as Hasa entered into another fit of screaming rage. Sen’s resilience was proving to be detrimental for his sister, and Aiya wondered if she’d be the cause of her own death. The rest of them were becoming more uncomfortable as her fits grew more animated and depraved. She spat, blew snot from her nose, threw things at the battlefield, then finally attempted to snatch a guardsman’s sword for herself before taking off with it. The Jodai caught her swiftly and Ueko had to restrain herself from strangling her.

The long day finally drew to a close early as the sky grew darker. They had maybe an hour and a half before they’d be forced to retreat in the darkness. Rain clouds covered the sky. The fighting grew more intense, though they’d only taken out a tenth of Sen’s troops. Sen’s forces had become far more sluggish compared to the start of the day, and Tsugo mused they’d only have one more day in them for this before they’d collapse from exhaustion.

Aiya started. She caught sight of the same red flag from the day before, and Sen was waving it. His troops didn’t budge as the fighting continued, but Sen waved his flag on.

“NOOOOO!” Hasa screamed, and the Jodai next to her grabbed her and covered her mouth, stopping her from hurting herself.

“This chickenshit performance must end,” Ueko said. She turned to Tsugo and searched him for a long while. “Lord Tsugo, I’ve accepted your request for my daughter’s hand, along with the other terms we came to agreement on before you came to our aid. Two of my finest generals and three of my lieutenants have fallen to Sen’s tactics. I have come to the conclusion that we have put too much on the line.”

“What are you trying to say?” Tsugo asked.

“All my best commanders are dead, save General Fun. I respectfully ask that you send one of your own officers to take down Sen and take his head.”

They all started. This was not expected at all. Not to mention that task was for Hasa. Surely Tsugo would refuse.

“Will you honor my request?”

Tsugo thought for a bit. Aiya held her breath.

“Totane, show your future wife what you are capable of.”

Fight

Tabeni Totane felt an overwhelming wave of nausea, anger and anxiety rush over him all at once.

Anger at the fact that Ueko had the audacity to suggest their own tribute, anxiety by pondering how he would have to handle this situation, and nausea at the thought of what would happen if it went wrong.

“Show her why Agriculture has thrived for as long as we have,” Tsugo said.

Totane’s eyes fell on Hasa awkwardly. She weighed him closely for the first time with great interest, which made Totane feel a rare sense of intimidation. Her eyes seemed to peer into, no, through his own. Finally he gained his senses and went to bow.

“My Lady, allow this to be my first honorary act in your name which may persuade your heart.” And let’s hope you die of a stray arrow first, he finished.

Hasa turned back to the battlefield. “Go,” she said.

Totane turned to Tsugo and nodded before giving brief glances to his siblings and the River Ginju. A guard pulled a horse forward for him.

“Do you really have this much faith in him?” Ueko asked suspiciously.

“My lady, why would I send my own son out to die?”

Totane felt ten pounds heavier settling onto the horse. Suddenly the battlefield ahead became more chaotic, more violent. It seemed closer than ever before. Totane felt his hand on his scabbard which, for the first time since coming here, was slick with sweat.

“Totane,” Johori called from his side. He looked over to his brother and sister and saw remarkably unconcerned faces. If they believed in him, he’d believe in himself.

Without a word, he nodded and raised the reins on his horse.

“Totane,” Aiya said.

He settled on her face too. Too much concern.

Don’t make me more nervous than I already am, he thought.

“Sen’s a dead man,” he said, with as much contempt as he could muster.

He reined the horse into a trot and brought himself closer to the battlefield. He was blasted with a rush of cold wind down the hill. It felt good as he sweat profusely and felt his insides warming up by the second. The men on the battlefield had ceased fighting and were watching him as if he were the Empress herself. Totane could make out Sen’s face more now. It was a determined, bold face. He saw his ally being forced to challenge him and accepted that challenge running towards him with open arms, dropping the flag to his feet. A soldier came and quickly retrieved it.

Totane kept his focus on Sen as he rode through the ranks until the two were but twenty paces apart. He came to a skittering halt while noticing Sen’s hand had yet to go to his weapon. Suddenly he felt slightly flustered. How was this supposed to work again? He couldn’t help but think he’d forgotten some essential element of this timeless tradition.

Sen didn’t shift focus for a moment. Gray clouds brooded above, foreboding thunder sounding in the background. Totane was sure this stare down was lasting longer than it had with Lieutenant Toru. Finally, his hand went to his sword.

“Agriculture’s aid will surely be appreciated by Forgery for generations to come,” he said.

Totane looked him up and down. It seems he’s being subtle, he thought. Sen understood the situation, throwing in a reminder of their alliance. Was Sen afraid he would hurt him?

Totane drew out his sword and held it up to his right side. Sen did the same.

“I don’t doubt it,” Totane replied, and the two charged.

Totane was as skilled as the best Jodai warrior without his Ginju abilities; with them, he’d make minced meat of Sen in seconds. No, this is perfect, he thought. He couldn’t kill Sen, but Sen could certainly kill him. It would surely blow his cover though if he intended to stay alive afterwards.

He realized the obvious option. He’d only injure Sen and force Hasa to do the honors. That was when they’d make their big betrayal and he would save Sen at the last second, creating an opening for him to slay his sister.

Totane swung back his weapon and prepared to cleave Sen in two from the neck up. Judging from the skill Sen had displayed in previous fights, he’d dodge it. The two men closed in on each other, and the clash of their swords rang loud in their ears. Totane’s sword was nearly knocked from his grip. He barely managed to hold on as he skidded to a halt and turned his horse around to face Sen again.

What in the hell is that power? He raised his weapon in front of him, amazed by his opponent’s blow. Sen had already recovered and was making for his second attack. He wasn’t a large man, slightly shorter than Totane himself, but he packed the strength of an ox.

Their horses rushed the other again. Now they were within arm’s reach. Totane jerked the reins to the right, creating a bit of distance at the last second. With his left hand he made for an upwards swing. It would slice Sen’s right side from hip to shoulder and leave him dead from blood loss in seconds. Sen mirrored his move and avoided the attack, then sharply turned back on Totane and came straight for him from his right side.

Totane was not prepared for this and barely had time to block Sen’s sweeping attack. He caught it with his own upturned blade, allowing them to slide off each other. Sen sliced clean air.

The collision left Totane alarmed and breathless. He’s incredibly fast!

The Forgery lord was easily in a class of his own, standing head and shoulders above almost all the opponents Totane had ever fought. Almost.

That made injuring him without relying on his deity’s power even harder. If he did decide to draw it, he’d rise too far above Sen in martial might, and any delicate blows he might use to simply break a bone or two would be far more difficult.

Totane changed tactics and aimed to carve through the meat of Sen’s leg. A familiar sensation of exploding pain in his abdomen staved off his otherwise perfectly timed strike. He jerked forward, his blade narrowly missing and swinging into empty air. The motion threw him off his horse and he slammed into the hard earth, tumbling but managing to keep hold of his weapon. Stars and flowing patterns swirled through his vision, flashing hot red.

He lurched back into an upwards sitting position, hoping to the heavens he wouldn’t be stampeded on. Sen remained from his horse, merely feet away. He wasn’t watching Totane or coming in for a finishing blow. Instead his head jerked around the surrounding men, who had resumed shouting in angry voices.

Still confused, his hand went to the searing pain in his stomach. He felt tender warmth and wetness. It came away bloody. Looking down, he saw the arrow that had burrowed straight through his stomach and felt overwhelming nausea.

It’s fine, he thought. Concentrate!

He silenced out the escalating noise around him, focusing solely on his throbbing belly. He did not focus on the pain, but acknowledged it. He was aware of his injury and that his life leaked out of him, but he was no longer in his own body, so to speak. He floated away further and further, until all he perceived was the life force within himself in its constant ‘change’. His organs, tissues, and bodily fluids in constant movement, at work within themselves, like farmers in a field. They gave, they took, the leaking contents of his stomach like spilling water against his ragged breath.

Agriculture, the art of cultivation, gave him life. It granted all life, sustained it. Totane, one with his deity, became like a god of Tarshani religions, with the power to bestow life and smite it out. Power surged through his limbs and his head. The muscles and organs torn by the arrow knitted themselves back to their natural form, and when he opened his eyes-turned-green, his vision was no longer blurry. He was no longer at the feet of his steed either, but on the back of another horse as the soldier who rode it in front of him made his way through the ranks of increasingly riotous men.

“Lord Totane, are you well? Can you hear me?” the Agriculture soldier asked. Totane did not recognize him and reasoned he was a foot soldier who had thought quickly and gathered the both of them on top of Totane’s horse, fleeing the scene. Totane sat behind him, unbothered by the bumpiness of the ride.

“Yes, I’ve healed myself.” He looked back to where he and Sen had been fighting, but the large circle of space was no longer there. Only chaos.

“Where’s Sen? Why has the fighting continued?”

“That arrow wasn’t some freak stray, it was aimed at you from one of Sen’s soldiers, my lord! Doing so, they broke the one rule of an honor duel, and now any soldier will take Lord Sen’s head! He’s gone to retreat, now that his formations have broken and we outnumber him so drastically!”

An eye for an eye, Totane thought, considering he’d just been sent to kill Sen by his own mother. “The Oshidai spoke of this, didn’t he? Sen’s getting his own turn of chaos.”

“Right now’s not the time for talk of religion, my lord. We’ve been forced to advance into the second stage of this war. Lord Tsugo would demand our speedy appearance at once.”

Chase

Johori watched his brother being carried back up the hill. The guards gathered around them as the Jodai soldier came into their circle. Totane appeared as he always had, a man of awe and inspiration, sitting on top of that horse. He jumped down, holding two halves of the arrow in his hands that had been shot through him.

Ueko all but lunged beside him.

“You shouldn’t be standing!”

Totane was slightly bent over, still clutching his abdomen which was smeared with blood. “I’ll live, it was just a graze. Sen’s signed his own death now, that’s all that matters.”

Johori had to admit he was a convincing actor. Watching his brother limp as if he was actually still wounded, he almost had as much concern for Totane as he did for Sen. But the roar of men on the battlefield had never been louder, and Sen was in immediate danger. No matter how many opponents he’d defeated before, no one could triumph against fifteen-thousand swords.

Johori, being Risako’s twin, had grown up seeing many of the things Totane did. Unlike Totane, Johori always had his doubts concerning the revolution. He’d contributed in his own ways, but deep within him, he only really cared for living, and ensuring his own people were safe and happy. He’d told Totane so, once after they saw the burned villages for the first time. He’d told him that all he saw in their future was their lands burning up. Revolution might not be their best path. It might result in tragedy. That was what he intended to say, but of course it came out unclear, because he was frightened. Frightened of being called a coward, and holding them back. Totane just took it as him being scared, hugging and reassuring him.

The zealotry of his brother and sister ran deep. He’d never told them his true feelings. Even if all he ever wanted was a wife and security, he still found himself here in this messed up situation.

“It seems Sen has begun to retreat, Ueko-shen,” a guard pointed out.

“Yes, we can’t allow that to happen,” she replied. “If he is able to slip through the pandemonium unscathed, send the Haaku and Reni units after him. We won’t allow him to revive himself in the eastern cities and drag this war out even longer.”

Except that was exactly what they wanted.

Tsugo tended to Totane, holding him steady and asking for the level of damage. Totane simply nodded, fake grimacing here and there. “You’ve done your part, Totane, and now you must be laid down!”

He took him over towards the tent, giving the rest of them a brief look that told them to follow. Johori looked at the others, saw that Risako had already begun moving, and followed his father to the tent. He hoped their explanation was convincing enough to Ueko. It had to be. Afterall, she still had no idea they were all Ginju.

They entered the tent. Once they all were in, Tsugo let go of Totane and turned around, facing Johori, Risako, Aiya, Koji and Totane. They all stood around Tsugo whose eyes passed over them briefly. There was an intense air of finality between them, a sense of foreboding that made Johori sweat. The last piece of this puzzle had to come together now.

“Now is time,” Tsugo said. “It’s looking bad for Sen. He’ll likely need saving. I’m sending you five and a small unit to go after Ueko’s troops to do so.”

Of course, escaping from fifteen-thousand swords with the aid of Ginju would be much easier, Johori thought.

“We’re going to attack Ueko’s units?” Aiya asked.

“You will, as soon as you are far enough away. You’ll take out all the troops and team with Sen on the way to his next stronghold. The rest of us will follow shortly after and turn on the Ueko at the next battlefield.”

It was all or nothing. Johori steeled himself for what was to come. There was no going back after this.

Aiya saddled herself on her horse, brushing at a raindrop which had fallen against her forehead. The first one today. It was four past noon, and the slight breeze had become considerably colder. The clouds above rolled in with menace now.

She looked down and saw the battlefield below like a raging current. The violence here by now had ceased to have the same effect on her as when they had first arrived. She was disgusted by the carnage only slightly, and instead observed intently for tactics. It was a shame that these men’s lives had little individual meaning; now they were more akin to pawns on a board of Maton.

“I’ll have him drawn and quartered! I’ll have him hanging by his toes until he begs to be put on the chopping block!” Hasa was screaming behind them. Tsugo had informed Ueko that his son refused to be put down and that he would get his revenge for his injury. He was sending out the four of his officers with their own unit down on the battlefield to help chase Sen. Totane insisted on going with them.

Ueko was more than obliged to allow them. She reassured her daughter that Sen’s time had come, and it was only a matter of time before his head would be at her feet.

Aiya realized now just how much she hated Hasa. She’d rather see her just drop dead. Hasa represented all the worst things about nobles.

“Are the units ready?” Totane asked.

Tsugo stood beside them at the edge of the hill. “They’re following the Haaku and Reni units now. You’re being handed the fastest horses in this army. Give chase, and don’t let Sen get away.”

His eyes were dark as he said this. The severity of the situation settled firmly onto Aiya’s shoulders as she looked far off into the distance. Nothing but a deep gray sky lay beyond it.

“Understood,” Totane said, and then they were off.

The rush of cold wind down the hill was exhilarating. Aiya was as nervous as she was excited, unsure whether the butterflies in her stomach would make her sick. They approached the center division, and with every gallop of the horse Aiya braced herself to bat the men down with her weapon. Over five thousand enemies were at Sen’s neck, about a hundred giving chase. This was a chance to see how much they could prove themselves. A chance for her to put her abilities to the test.

“You know, this day couldn’t have come sooner,” Koji yelled from behind. Totane led them with Aiya just trailing him.

“Agreed,” Risako shouted. “Everything here depends on our performance. Let’s not screw things up from here.”

As soon as she had finished speaking, they broke into the ranks ahead, the soldiers having parted for them. There was no use talking here with the level of noise, so they simply rode on and kept their attention ahead. At the end of their side of the battlefield, they caught sight of the tail end of one of Ueko’s units breaking through Sen’s army.

The men beside them were yelling for Sen not to get away. He’s broken free, and now he’s on the run. Heavens, please, let him escape.

It was drizzling. The rain would make running harder, but also their chase. They were closing in the gap between them and the chasing men ahead. Let us get ahead and catch up first!

The smell of bodies and blood was powerful, maybe overwhelming had they not been in such a dire situation. They were within the chase now, and Totane informed one of the men that they were sent from Tsugo and Lady Ueko to help give chase. The man informed him they were the Haaku unit, and Reni was a little further ahead.

Aiya dodged a spear aimed for her horse from the sides. They were on Sen’s side of the battlefield now, most of his men still keeping them at bay while their lord made his way to HQ.

They caught up to the Reni units who were all screaming for vengeance for their masters. Aiya couldn’t help but feel for them. She’d be wanting the same, but she stopped herself. She couldn’t continue to empathize for both sides like this.

They caught up to the front of the Reni unit. Ahead of them, nearly at the opposite hill, a retreating unit of fifty men surrounded Sen as he fled. Twenty Reni riders were attacking them from behind, and six men had just managed to break through.

“Those men can’t fight Sen alone!” Aiya shouted, alarmed.

“That’s officer Reni and his best guard. They’re bound to kill him!”

Aiya slapped her reins against her steed even harder, to no avail. They wouldn’t make it in time. She looked towards Totane, who was equally hopeless. A deep sense of loss filled her like a dark cloud over her mind. She wouldn’t accept his death, not this time.

Closing her eyes, she allowed herself to fall back off the horse. She let go of everything. The power of the River, it was with her. She landed perfectly on the ground, ignoring the cries of alarm, ignoring the men and horses stumbling over her. Aiya looked up, inhaling, then bolted forward. Soon she was caught up to Koji, Totane, then past them.

She ran right into Sen’s group of soldiers, knocking two men off their horses. Steel whizzed by, but none managed to land a hit on her. In front of her, Reni and his five men had caught up and were now attacking Sen himself.

The officer and two of his men cornered Sen, attacking him from three directions at once. One of Sen’s soldiers prepared to fend off the enemy on Sen’s left side, but the man turned and readied himself to cut the defender down.

Aiya burst forth, batted the man’s sword out of the way at the last second, and kicked his jaw in, launching him off the horse and cracking his bones against the hard earth.

The rest of them came to a skittering stop. None said a word. Commander Reni stared. “Y-you just…in the air-”

Aiya found herself equally dumbfounded.

“What is she?” one of Sen’s soldiers asked.

“What’s the meaning of this?” Reni demanded.

“Listen, I’ll only say this once.” Aiya raised her sword up at him. “Lord Sen is the rightful heir of Forgery. This army, his army, will surrender now.”

Reni considered her for a bit, turning to the others. “Are you Agriculture deserters? Paid from the outside?”

Risako’s horse stepped forward. “No, we’re doing this under the orders of Lord Tsugo himself. Surrender now. We won’t ask twice.”

The confusion in Reni’s face slowly left him. His features spread until they made out a satisfied grin on his face. “You listen. Even if all of us here were to turn on her grace Ueko right now, it doesn’t give Sen the win. We have more allies than just Agriculture.”

Just then there was a roar from Ueko’s HQ. All at once, they turned in horror to see a new army coming over the hill behind them. Large swathes of light purple armor ran down it with the raised banners of Rain province.

Doom

“You’re finished,” Reni said in triumph as the men piled over the hill.

Aiya felt her life nearly escape her. Legions of new troops, at least twenty thousand, stormed forth. The fighting had come to a standstill, gazes held captive on their encroaching fate.

This is it, Aiya thought. Our entire plan down the drain. We’re going to die.

As they got closer, Ueko’s troops resumed killing, cheering in victory. Sen’s troops had lost all their morale, going down like flies. Agriculture troops didn’t quite know what to do. Aiya looked at Sen who stared back. She saw no fear on his face, but his concern was still obvious.

“You played your cards at the wrong time,” Reni said, holding his sword out.

“You’re wrong there,” Koji said, “even an entire army is no match for the likes of ourselves.” He held his chest out as he said it, leaning into the fear all the myths of Ginju offered.

Reni eyed him. Finally, he said, “You’re not the only special ones in this battle.” He turned to his men, and shouted, “This is our victory! Hold these traitors off and die honorably! We’re all heroes here, forever to be remembered in Forgery history as the brave men of this war!”

Aiya was still rooted to the place she stood as Reni’s men shouted in response and charged their enemies.

“They can’t be fucking serious!” Aiya screamed as she dodged Reni’s horse, cutting him across his waist and spilling the man’s guts.

“They’re not stopping,” Koji said, “I’m pretty sure they’re fucking serious!”

“Fortunately they don’t know Agriculture is the enemy just yet!” Totane slew two guards at the neck aiming straight past him for Sen. “Lord Sen, this is your chance to retreat! We’ll hold them off long enough for you to escape.”

Sen remained for a few moments, and if Aiya didn’t know any better she’d say the lordling was flustered.

“GO!” Totane repeated.

Finally, he nodded and turned to leave. The opposing Forgery soldiers kept coming and Aiya’s attention slipped, giving them almost enough time to slide past her. She had the backs of two skulls bashed in before they could make it.

She looked back to see Sen in retreat along with his fifty men. It was just enough hope to calm her heart a little. In front of her, Agriculture troops had begun to get into it with Forgery. Rain was entering into battle, and coming fast, while more men came at her like boulders.

Rain was the Empress’ home province, where the capital resided. The Empress didn’t rule the province, only the capital city, but she might as well have, as Rain and Sanaba were near synonymous. Why were they here at Ueko’s side?

“Just when things couldn’t have gotten any worse,” Johori shouted.

Aiya occupied herself with cutting down any enemy soldier that stepped within a few paces of her while she worked the situation through. They’d planned for Sen to either kill his sister here, or escape and lure her out where they would make an opening for him to kill her someplace else. He’d retreated, but now they had an entirely new enemy on their hands.

Soon the Rain would turn on them too, as Ueko surely had figured out what was happening by now. Then it would be them and the remainder of Sen’s troops against her and twenty-thousand fresh men. They had to get to Tsugo before….

A man came from Aiya’s side, spear pulled back and pointed at her skull. Aiya cut through his elbow in a single stroke, slamming a fist into his face before his severed arm even hit the ground. It still gripped the spear. The man flew back into another soldier with such force that he was knocked a few paces backwards.

There was an avalanche of men coming towards them. Koji had advanced into the stampede and took out men left and right, too quick for them to react. The Agriculture Ginju would not be persuaded into backing down, even as blades gored them. For every man they killed, another took his place.

The rain came down harder now. It was a light pour, and lightning flashed.

Aiya found she didn’t need to realign herself so many times as she did last time. In fact, she hadn’t done it once yet, going on for five minutes. The dead body tried making its appearance but she had fought it off with surprisingly little effort, as if it were some childhood bully she’d finally outgrown. She felt a surge of adrenaline, a mixture of excitement and fear as the enemy continued their onslaught.

She noticed Agriculture soldiers falling next to her as Rain joined the mix. A Forgery soldier accused another of being a traitor, to which he responded that they were actually the real traitors. He was cut down for that.

“How long are we going to keep this up?” Koji asked.

“We should number around sixteen thousand or more with Sen’s troops!” Totane replied. “Against their twenty-five, we’ll last as long as we need. Just hold the line here so that no one advances. All our soldiers have already begun funneling the enemy to us, so we just need to play our part!”

Sixteen against twenty-five weren’t the best odds, but Totane’s confidence held hope. Aiya caught a dagger coming right under her chin from the corner of her eye and ducked at the last second. She jumped backwards, bringing her own weapon down on the man’s shoulder. She hadn’t aimed properly, her blade slamming down on the edge of his shoulder plate. She sliced off a chunk as he leapt backwards out of her reach.

She saw that he was a Jodai of Rain. Eyes a light purple. His hair was white blond and his facial features were pulled center and downwards that gave him the appearance of a vulture.

“You missed me,” the man said. Aiya could see he was not much older than her.

She scrunched her face. “You say it as if you are disappointed to live five seconds longer.”

Hoping to catch him off guard, she rushed him, sword positioned to stab him through the gut and out the back. To her surprise, he blocked her weapon with both daggers. She gritted her teeth and shook as he struggled against her own force. Her eyes slowly widened.

He’s a Rain Ginju! It’s the only way he’d be able to stand up to me!

Smiling as if he read the realization on her face, he pushed her back. She let him, then spun to the side as he lunged forward for the kill. As her body came back around to face him she brought her blade down to cut at the shoulder again. This time she followed his movements. He tilted the angle of his shoulder down, allowing the blade to slip off again. Their feet scraped against the muddying ground, both of them quickly resuming fighting positions.

There was a pang of something familiar inside her. A mix of shock, nervous energy, and excitement. Unlike fighting normal soldiers, Ginju posed a threat. Neither could be careless. This wasn’t training. This was one of the few times in their lives where a fight meant life or death.

This was a real chance to prove herself.

“It’s been over five seconds, why aren’t I dead?”

Aiya admired his taunts. “We are a cocky bunch, aren’t we? It's about time you were humbled.”

Then she was at his left side. He was caught off guard, alarmed by her speed. She circled him as he tried to follow. Changing course, she went straight for his back. She’d have him separated from the waist down.

He hadn’t been, and a backwards kick to the face made it obvious. Pain exploded in her cheek as she flew back almost ten paces. She managed to recover quickly. Ignoring the flourishing pain in her face was difficult. The boy rushed her, both daggers held at either side.

Doing the best to stabilize her spinning world, she met him head on. He brought one dagger back, keeping the other forward. She recognized the form instantly. A three-point attack. He’s created an illusion of an opening, hoping I’ll try to skewer him through the stomach from my right. He was smart, and a quick thinker.

Luckily she still had speed on her side.

As they closed in on each other, she raised a leg and sent the most powerful kick she could muster for his left shoulder. She squinted through watery-eyes as her foot made impact with his armor and he let out a grunt. She’d rearranged his form so that his body stumbled for balance, twirling him to the left.

Using her momentum to spin the other direction, her swordpoint was destined for the middle of his back. She leaned in with all her might, determined not to be thrown off.

Her weapon slipped right through his back without any resistance, her opponent skipping away without a sound. Her blade plunged into muddy soil.

What the fuck?

She looked up to see him fine, kicking mud off his boots and staring down at her angrily, like some especially tenacious prey.

“By the heavens,” Aiya said aloud. She’d been directly above him, seen the blade plunge into him. Yet it hadn’t made any sound connecting with his armor, his flesh. There wasn’t any blood, and now he stood in front of her unscathed.

Suddenly she realized all the fighting around them had stood back, and the men were observing their skirmish in awe. Two more Rain soldiers, one female, sat on horseback at the edge of the circle the men had formed around them.

“This must be what Reni meant by us not being the only special ones,” Risako said from Aiya’s side.

“He’s a Rain Ginju,” Koji said, “and from their self-important stances I’d bet those two on horseback are his kin.”

“You’d be right about that,” the white haired boy responded as the other two jumped down. The girl sported long black hair and the other boy was built heavier and more masculine, with a messy mop of hair that didn’t at all suit him. The two pulled twin daggers out that looked sharp enough to slice through steel.

“You’re outmatched,” Johori said, jumping down from his own horse and unsheathing his sword.

The white haired boy turned with a scornful smirk. “What of it?”

The girl lunged forward, daggers prepared to sting. Koji went to engage her, catching one dagger with a sword while Johori caught the other. Risako and Totane blocked the other male Ginju as he rushed towards Aiya. She was nearly caught as White Hair sent a dagger across her vision. She ducked, connecting her fist with his stomach. White Hair doubled over, Aiya wheeling around him and kicking him down on his stomach.

She saw Johori had dropped his weapon, grabbing hold of one of the girl’s wrists. Koji went in for the swing. Aiya rushed over to help finish her off. Koji’s sword traveled across the air and into her neck, then right back out. There was no spray of blood. Her head didn’t roll. Aiya blinked twice.The girl was suddenly free from Johori’s grip. She wasted no time, stabbing him through the neck. Aiya pulled back her sword as she came up on the girl and went for her leg.

The girl noticed and dodged just in time, barely escaping having her leg impaled. The blade tore through flesh on her outer thigh, this time drawing blood aplenty. Her dagger hilt smashed Aiya's forehead and sent her hard into Koji.

She collapsed with Koji into the ground. Her cheekbone pounded, and she hoped it wasn’t broken. She helped Koji to his feet, the Rain girl limping back so that she, Johori, and the pair of River Ginju formed a triangle. The flesh on Johori’s neck was sealing itself as he righted himself up, coughing up gobs of blood.

“They’re phasing through our attacks,” Aiya said.

“So this is the power of the Rain.” Koji held out his sword as White Hair appeared at their side, nose bloodied.

Across from them, Totane grunted as he was kicked backwards. The third Rain Ginju started. Risako came in, slamming the flat of her sword against his jaw. The boy screamed as there was an audible crack. As he fell, he rebounded and delivered a kick to her ribcage that sent her back.

“She can heal from that,” Koji said. “Not so sure about your partner.”

The girl smirked. “Serves him right. That was long past due.”

“Focus on our enemy, bitch,” White Hair snapped. He shifted to the right a bit.

Aiya and Koji touched backs, saying nothing but understanding everything the other thought. So they can be damaged. And we certainly have better coordination than them.

They waited to see who would make the first move. The battlefield might as well have been a stage. Their audience held their breath. This was the scene of a lifetime, of three lifetimes. What they witnessed was history, a fantastical fight out of legend. Aiya breathed in and out. She would make sure they were not disappointed.

Agriculture made the first move. Totane and Risako rushed the muscle man from opposite angles, crouching low as he held his weapons high to cover his jaw. Taking advantage of her diverted attention, Johori rushed the girl. His wound was closed completely. He moved considerably slower than he had before, almost sluggish. The girl prepared for his oncoming strike while keeping her head on the swivel. Aiya and Koji kept their backs pressed and shuffled their feet so that they switched places. White Hair’s steel met Aiya’s, and he grimaced.

“You don’t phase through when our blades touch.” Aiya said, grinning. “That means only your body can phase, and only every so often.”

White Hair’s eyes flickered between her and his injured teammate. His mistake. As Koji pushed off her towards the girl, Aiya pushed further into her opponent. White Hair fell back. He splashed onto the ground, Aiya’s sword still pushing against his, one hand on the hilt and one gripping the other end. Slowly, it slid up his daggers, towards the edge of his blades where it would fall on his face.

“Best to drop your weapons,” she said, shaking. Her blade was halfway up his daggers. He was almost finished.

His eyes flicked to right behind her, then back to her. His face relaxed, his arms suddenly giving in. Her sword forced the daggers down as it made way for his neck. Surprised, Aiya gave the trajectory of the blade full control, welcoming her opponent's end. There was a splash as a third of her sword sunk deep into the mud below.

Muddy water splashed onto her face as she stared into the ground for precious seconds. She remained there, bent over with a palm pressed against the wet earth. Her other still gripped the hilt. White Hair wasn’t there. Her mind took its time to comprehend what she had just seen. Or rather what she hadn’t.

The only thing left was her bent over empty mud, with the image of his blade plunging into her neck. Alarmed, she pulled her blade from the ground and swung it backwards, striking empty air.

To her horror, he stood a few feet from the girl who was struggling against Koji’s blade, an inch away from her demise. White Hair’s blade was blood soaked, plunged into Johori’s stomach. Johori’s eyes bulged.

White Hair pulled his other dagger through the side of Johori’s neck, then rammed it a few times into his side. Johori grunted in pain, unable to move.

“Die,” White Hair told him, and kicked him back on the ground.

Ambush

The clamor around Aiya was silenced.

There was only the tumult of rain, and the swift jabs of White Hair’s daggers in and out of Johori’s arms, neck, face and torso. White Hair had him pinned down as he brutalized the body.

Aiya was jerked back to reality by the sound of Johori’s screams. She didn’t know when she moved, but she landed with her sword inches from White Hair’s spine, who realized her coming far too late. The only thing that saved him were his sister’s daggers, and her boot which buried itself right under Aiya’s ribcage.

The pain barely registered as she fell back. Before Aiya even got to her feet, Totane was grappling with the girl. Johori had managed to push White Hair off him by some miracle, and now Koji was barraging him with a fury of attacks.

Aiya scrambled to Johori, who had curled up, clutching his sides in agony. She fell to her knees in front of the boy moaning in pain, long, deep gashes spilling life from his body. The wounds were not closing.

Hooves behind her pounded. Her head whipped backwards to see Lieutenant Hedi on horseback with six men behind him approaching them fast. She noticed finally that the men around them had resumed fighting.

Hedi’s spear crossed the air as he came up on the female Ginju being handled by Totane. She freed herself from Totane’s grip and jumped back just in time, the spearhead nicking her shoulder.

Hedi skidded to a stop with his men behind. He overlooked Aiya kneeling over Johori.

He looked as if he was about to say something, but his eyes were glued on Johori’s trembling body. “My lord….”

Aiya looked at Johori, unsure of what to do.

“This ends now!” Hedi yelled. He had the Ginjus’ attention. “The five of you, follow Sen and protect him at all costs! We’ll handle the rest from here!”

Aiya immediately tracked the Rain Ginju, all of whom looked worse for wear. They seemed to be standing on their last leg. They also showed no signs of backing down.

Risako stepped back from her opponent, who was on his knee. “That’s crazy! This is a battle of Ginju, it has to be seen to the end!”

“These are Tsugo’s orders,” Hedi answered. “We can handle ourselves from here. These Rain scoundrels look like they paid an arm and a leg fighting you off. I say they’d be risking everything if they continue.”

White Hair scoffed. “You’ll die here.”

Hedi stared him down a long moment. “I think we both know your province would hate to see you as you are now, being that you aren’t exactly replaceable. Furthermore, I think even you don’t want to continue this.” He turned to Risako. “Sen must be protected by any means. A straight path from the other side of that hill will lead you to the city of Tsuisaka. It’s his most fortified zone in eastern Forgery. We’ll take out as many here as we can, and you’ll figure out the rest with Sen. He shouldn’t be too far ahead.”

Risako gaped at the man, a deep sadness in her eyes.

“Is he alright?” Totane called, still in fighting stance. The female Ginju took her attention from him, to Hedi, to Risako, then back to Totane. Totane searched Johori’s unmoving posture, wide eyed. “Johori, why aren’t you saying anything? Get up!”

Johori only murmured in response to Totane’s shaky voice. His wounds had healed marginally, but he was still lying in an expanding puddle of his own blood which had made its way to Aiya’s knees.

“Why isn’t he responding?” Totane demanded, louder, more aggressive this time.

“His wounds aren’t healing,” Aiya said, mustering all the volume she could. He lay in a fetal position, shivering like a wet dog on the street.

“Why aren’t they?” said Totane.

Risako landed beside Aiya, right above Johori’s head. “Johori, get it together! Get up so we can go after Sen!”

“I don’t think he’ll be moving again,” the Rain girl said.

Totane lunged at her, sword ready for contact with her ribs, stopping short of it and instead punching her lips. She fell to the ground, quickly righting herself before his sword came down on her again. This time she diverted him with her daggers. “At least he’ll die with some measure of honor.”

“Totane, enough!” Risako called. “Our job here is done! We need to get moving to Sen! Help me sit Johori up!”

Totane spat on the girl before backing off and rushing to his brother. Johori’s breaths were shallow now, rain water running down into his nose and open mouth. His eyelids were shut tight. They didn’t know if it was tears or raindrops in them as he tried muttering his last words.

Aiya almost didn’t catch sight of the dozen Forgery men charging them from Hedi’s left. They’d somehow broken through the ranks and were coming straight for their injured friend. Their faces were angry, wild in triumph. An especially courageous bunch.

“Shit!” Aiya exclaimed.

Totane met the frenzied attack head on, hacking down one man after another. He screamed, taking off an arm, fingers, severed kneecaps, separated a head from its body. The attackers tried to disperse but were unable to keep up with both his swift blade and his seething rage. Two at a time, they died.

“Why aren’t you healing yourself, Johori?” Totane shouted, catching a spear in the back. It barely broke skin, and in return the Jodai man wielding it had his skull broken.

Aiya twirled around, bashing two Rain soldiers across their helms with her sword. The men around them screamed to get the fallen Ginju. They saw this as their chance. They were mistaken.

Aiya saw White Hair go and gather his fallen brother, whose jaw had swollen to the size of an apple. They escaped into the advancing frenzy of soldiers. The girl slowly backed away into the flurry of men until she disappeared, alone.

Now it was only the four of them against any men that could get through. Aiya cursed, looking back to see Johori’s body which had gone limp. Risako, in the midst of taking off the top half of a man’s face, looked back too. She didn’t look at Johori, nor Aiya, but behind Aiya.

Suddenly Aiya realized what was happening around them. Agriculture troops in all directions began swarming them. The troops slayed whatever Rain and enemy Forgery soldiers were in the way, surrounding the Ginju and Hedi’s men, locking them into safety.

“Fyujin unit under General Yko’s command to the rescue!” their commander shouted. “We’re here for you to make a swift retreat!”

“What’s the status of Lord Tsugo?” Risako yelled.

“Lord Tsugo gathered twenty men around himself right after you all joined the battlefield. When Lady Ueko saw he’d betrayed her, a skirmish broke out and is now at a standstill. Both now await the outcome of this battle.”

Risako looked down.

“So if we go, Lord Tsugo will have lost,” Aiya concluded.

“We still have plenty of men to put up a fight here. If worse comes to worst, we will surrender and spare at least some of ourselves. We will give our lives to protect our Lord.”

Koji stood next to Aiya, placing a hand on her shoulder. “I think we’d better get going.”

They watched helpless as Totane stumbled forward and fell next to Johori. His armor was mostly broken, cracked and stained all over. A cut remained drawn across his cheek. He lifted Johori into his arms and hugged him, kneeling with his face in Johori’s shoulders.

The three of them didn’t interrupt. Aiya thought she heard Risako whimpering softly. Aiya was a hundred times heavier, barely able to keep her head lifted on the scene. With all the strength left in her, she looked to Koji. He offered nothing. The rain around them continued to fall.

A man behind them timidly brought horses forward. “Your rides, my lords.”

On the horses were packs with extra provisions. The soldiers around them kept the other soldiers at bay, while Aiya peered up at the Ueko’s hill. She could see clusters of men but could make out no features that would let her know where Tsugo was.

“Totane, I think we should go.” Risako's voice was shaky. She hugged him as he said it, but only for a few moments before getting stalking briskly towards the horses.

Totane was sobbing, his face contorted in anguish. He got to his feet, lifting Johori with him. “We’re taking him with us.”

Aiya felt a tear fall, saw it splash on her mudstained boots. They all got on their horses, Risako helping lift Johori onto Totane’s horse. They strapped his body sideways, Aiya settling in on her own steed. The battle raged on around her, but it felt as if their own battle was about to start all over.

Hedi exchanged a few words with Risako which Aiya couldn’t make out. In front of them the men cleared a path for them to ride. Hedi took his hand from Risako’s shoulder, then faced the rest of them.

“General Yko and four of his closest guard will accompany you! We will rendezvous again soon! Now go! We’ll make certain you’re not followed!”

General Yko led the way, and the nine of them were off, soldiers blocking the way of the enemy. A few arrows whizzed past them, and Aiya drew some power from her deity, just in case.

They escaped the warzone and were now traveling uphill, Aiya fighting with everything in her to not look back. Your mission isn’t complete yet, but it will be, Ira.

They crested the hill, stampeding past Sen’s abandoned headquarters, empty and silent like death. Soon they were traveling downhill, and in the dimming light Aiya could see nothing but distant plains, forests and dark gray skies.

Legends

The first cluster of trees was not far off from Hijimata Hill. The terrain in front of them was lower in elevation but still full of inclines that slowed their trot. The rain continued to fall, failing to wash the mud stains from their clothes and armor. General Yko still led in the front about twenty paces ahead, his guards posted in the back.

Aiya felt numb. She kept her horse at a steady pace beside Koji, Risako doing the same with Totane directly behind Yko. She was saying something to comfort him in his silence.

Aiya glanced at Koji, disoriented by the situation. Every step of the hooves below was becoming maddeningly uncomfortable.

“This is more than I imagined,” Koji said. “Especially this early on. First Ira….”

“I–can’t believe it’s come to this,” Aiya said. Her voice moved like a boulder in her throat.

“Feels like Kawamuura all over again.”

Aiya didn’t respond. The horizon slowly rose, sunlight filtered through clouds almost having completely dissipated. A forest covered the plains about a thousand paces from where they were now. A few minutes passed as they brought out lanterns from their packs. She looked back to the soldiers behind them and eyed them until one of them awkwardly trotted forward.

“Yes, my Lady?” the man asked. His helm was embellished with small dangling gold coins, and his ears were pierced with jade.

“I know you’re just a soldier, but any idea how large the nearest city is that Sen is going to?”

“From the information I received from Lord Yko, Tsuisaka is smaller than even most notable eastern cities. It won’t have the defenses you’d expect of a city a lordling rules.”

“Sen’s sure to have fortified it significantly since this war started though,” Koji mused.

“I would hope so, my lord.”

A horse blew snot. “That’s all I wanted, thank you, soldier,” Aiya said.

“Fuda, my lady.” He did a curt bow and turned his horse around to regroup with his comrades.

“I guess you should start learning names,” said Koji, “we are a part of Agriculture now.”

Aiya didn’t respond. Instead she looked into the sky, wishing her heavy clothes weren’t so drenched. The trek into the forest brought their group more huddled together. The thought of being ambushed by the Rain Ginju crossed Aiya’s mind, though she knew that was unlikely, if at all possible. Part of her wanted it to happen, to finish what they had started sooner rather than later.

General Yko informed them that their trek would not last longer than two or three hours. The trees shielded them somewhat, though the chill of the air hadn’t changed. Growing up so far south had its benefits.

Totane and Risako sauntered on their horses just in front of them. Aiya eyed both, sure to keep her horse from getting too close. Risako turned and looked Aiya in her eyes, which made Aiya fidget.

Risako averted her gaze, her posture softening. “This is the cost of revolution. Now both of us have suffered greatly for it. Always stand on guard, and don’t think for a fucking second that you’re invincible.”

Aiya and Koji said nothing.

Risako’s gaze went back over Johori’s limp form. “The amount of damage he received was too much and too quick for him to heal fast enough. As you know there’s a limit of power you can draw from your deity, too much and the mind reacts poorly. That probably explains why those Rain Ginju could only phase through our attacks every so often.”

Koji started. “Empress’ soul. So that cunt Ueko had a real reason for not sending Forgery Ginju against her son. She’d rather use someone else’s.”

Totane turned to him. “Swearing to the Empress only gives her more power in our own minds.”

They were all silent for the next twenty paces.

Aiya wondered if the Forgery Ginju were even on Ueko’s side. But they had to be, because they clearly weren’t with Sen. It seemed with every passing day their situation became more dire, and Aiya’s anxiety bounced back tenfold. She questioned whether she could look forward to fighting Ginju anymore. This was more than a simple contest of strength.

“A Wailstorm is on its way,” Yko said. “I can feel it in the air. It will slow down Ueko’s approach. In the meantime, there’s a concept I want to share with you two. A concept that is one of the pillars of the Republic’s beliefs. Do you know how many factions there are in Egaisha?”

Aiya and Koji looked at each other. “Factions?”

“Yes. How many factions do you think exist?”

Koji scratched his chin. “In terms of parties in conflict? Ten? The ten provinces?”

“Those are the first ten. But you must also take into account two others. The throne, or the Empress. Though she is the ruler, her rule is not as absolute as you think, otherwise the empire would not be facing the dilemmas it is right now. There have been those who have rebelled and disobeyed in the past.”

Which is supposedly how we got Wailstorms, Aiya thought.

“So what’s the final faction?” Koji asked.

“Think about it. There are the ten provinces that make up the empire, the Empress herself, and the ones who are the outsiders.”

“Tarshan?”

“They have yet to be absorbed into the empire. The twelfth blade is those who oppose the empire and everything it stands for. It is like a spectrum if you think about it. You have those who oppose the empire, us, versus the Empress herself, who embodies it. All the other factions are neutral, allowing things to happen around them however they may. Yet they still participate in our current society with contempt, because no one has what they truly desire. We use that contempt to sway them to our side, and the more factions we have on our side the better chance we have at victory. River, Agriculture, Forgery, Rain, the Empress, and so forth. The passive aggressive relationships between these factions are like Jodai encircling each other with blades pointed in every direction, eyes locked and seething with hatred and greed. The Republic makes the twelfth blade, held with just as much contempt as the others.”

“So Forgery is the first of those we’re bringing to our side,” Koji said, “but how will we get the rest? The states closer to the throne have existed in the empire for the longest, I doubt they dislike the current system very much.”

“A very true observation. We won’t be able to sway them all to our side, but our strategy doesn’t require it. We only n–hush.”

He didn’t need to tell them, as their attention had already been stripped from the conversation. Was it a noise they’d just heard? It was hard to tell. Aiya looked around, as did the others.

“Did you hear something?” Yko asked.

“Could have sworn I did,” Risako said.

Suddenly the air around them was frigid. The pitter-patter against sticks and leaves faded from their senses, their horses coming to a curious halt. There was a certain stillness that everything took on, as if frozen in time. In the background, there was a shuffling noise, like sweeping piles of leaves, though it faded in and out as if it were tickling the imagination. They listened, puzzled, unable to determine whether it actually existed or not.

An unexplainable yet familiar fear blossomed within Aiya. She turned to Koji, who, for the first time in a while, looked confounded with that same fear. They didn’t have to say it, their minds had both jumped to the same conclusion. Their worst fears as Ginju, straight from the stories. They’d all come to a stop, Risako and Totane looking just as frightened. They probably weren’t helping the soldiers watching them.

Without warning, as if materializing from nothing, there was a spirit, coming out from behind a tree in front of them. Aiya nearly lost her breath. Its features were a strange mixture. The torso, arms and legs were that of a man, naked and adorned with beads of various shapes and colors around its neck, while the head was that of an ox. The spirit was large, dizzyingly tall, its horn tips putting it at twenty feet, reaching into the branches of the trees. Its majestic form pulsated, fading in and out as it walked, going from a pale transparent green to a green deep and tangible, its footsteps sending winds whirling around them wherever they went. Aiya’s hair flew back in the breeze, the air around her even colder against her soaked body.

It was a moment straight out of legend. There was a nostalgic air around it, something that seemed very familiar. Aiya wanted to reach into the chasm of her memories and grab it, whatever it was that seemed on the verge of being pulled from its depths. Admiration, respect, wonder, and terror swirled within her. It did not give off a hostile aura as it lumbered across them, paying them no heed. Indeed, Aiya felt more mystified by its presence now than fear. It was rare one actually saw a spirit. More often than not stories of one were assumed to be the tall tales of those who received too little attention.

The spirit stopped and turned, its presence undeniable. Those still, unwavering eyes fell on them, subdued them in place. They seemed to bore into Aiya’s soul. She sank into those absorbing eyes. Pools of black, eyes that belonged to a more docile creature. Sacred. Divine. This encounter was primal, a relic of a great and distant past, eons forgotten, merged with the modern era. Aiya felt a powerful urge to fall to her knees in reverence, to keep herself from desecrating the scene with her unworthy gaze. She looked on.

Blight….

Aiya was more aware of the space within her own mind than she had ever been. It had been filled with something just then, just a wisp. That something, a thought perhaps, had not been her own. She had no idea where it had come from, checking to see if anyone else had heard. Koji made his horse take a few steps back, his teeth chattering.

The spirit seemed to cast a spell on them that was ineffective on the horses. The beasts were as calm as they’d ever been, peaceful in fact. Yko and Totane’s horses attempted to move towards the spirit and had to repeatedly be reined back.

You are a blight…on this earth. You taint the world.

The words were clear this time, and then she knew the spirit was speaking to her in her mind. Its words were raspy and sharp in her head, leaving no room for her own thoughts. She was frightened and confused again, but couldn’t pry her eyes from its gaze, which now seemed solely focused on her.

As if by some miracle, the creature finally turned its head, lifting a leg and taking one more step forwards. Winds like hurricanes whipped through their manes, hair and clothing. The horses turned their heads to watch, unperturbed by the icy gusts. The spirit became more faint, almost imperceptible once it was behind another tree, its back turned to them. Aiya released the tension in her muscles, relieved, and as it faded away, she wondered if a Ginju stood any chance against such a thing as that.

Lord and Lady

The forests went on for miles before clearing up, vanishing into more hilly plains. By now the rain had slowed to a light drizzle, leaving enough clarity for them to spot the small city lights in the distance about a mile away. The city was surrounded by walls but seemed only slightly larger than a big town in River.

Their horses were now exhausted and at a slowed pace. Aiya barely noticed, their last encounter still fresh on her mind. They’d all been shaken, and no one said much since the spirit passed. It was almost as if a spell of silence had been cast on them.

To Aiya it seemed they had just emerged out of a dream. Spirits were widely believed to exist by all, but that one would claim to have seen one up close and personal, that was rare and almost laughable. Spirits existed in the minds of the Erru more as a way of explaining the unexplainable, giving reason where there was none. It explained the bump in the night, the freak accident that the child survived, the sickness that ran through a family and thought to be a curse. It was the reason they were so frightening to actually witness, foremost to Ginju; they were truly unexplainable.

“It’s okay, girl, almost there,” one of the men behind them was saying to his horse.

Aiya kept her head on a swivel, making sure nothing and no one snuck up on them again from any direction. It was all grassland and trees for miles around, and they were growing ever blacker.

“You’re only going to make yourself more nervous doing that,” Koji said. “We’ll be fine, the city is right ahead of us.”

Aiya frowned. “Sounds like you’re saying that to comfort yourself more than anything.”

His face was crossed. “I’m saying it so you stop making everyone nervous with your constant fidgeting. That’s what we’re in a group for.”

She kept her furrowed brows on him but said nothing. The others continued their march in silence, until they were finally in front of the Tsuisaka city walls. The walls stood at no laughable height, rising thirty feet above ground. Outside were a few dozen men posted along its base. A few more patrolled the top of the wall. A slight tension stalled the air as they got closer, though the men likely knew their alliance.

A soldier demanded they halt at about a hundred paces away from the city. Yko stated his name and their reason for being there. The guards allowed them closer and began to open the huge doors of oak. The doors creaked loudly, and Aiya could feel the brittle bones of the city as they did so. Such a place like this was well fortified for its size and the short time frame Sen had to do so, but against a sizable army with skilled commanders, how long it would last in battle was questionable.

They stepped off of their horses, relief flooding through Aiya’s system. Risako helped Totane lift Johori’s body onto the ground. Totane kneeled next to him, holding him up by the back of his head. He stared for a long while and said nothing. Risako pointedly kept her back turned, head down.

“We’ll have to burn him,” the man said. “An unfortunate mandate during times of war, when we don’t have the luxury of immediate burial.”

Totane nodded, leaned down to kiss Johori’s forehead one last time, and stood. “He’s been dead for a few hours.”

The man nodded, and two of the watch soldiers came and gathered Johori up. Aiya felt her stomach churning and forced the entire scene out of her sight.

The man then led them in, past dozens of guards lined at the inner gates. In the cold dreariness it was a sort of eerie sight. The streets were completely empty, no sign of citizenry or life. It was quiet, almost as quiet as their trek over here, and the air was empty, devoid of any smells of food and bustling warmth.

The paths cut neatly through the austere network of buildings, indicating a city that had been grown artificially, as opposed to the natural flourishing from village roots over the decades. Everything here was more spread out so as to admire the clean open road. The man leading them took a single turn around an area of foliage before stopping outside a large house that rested at the city’s center.

No guards were posted outside its doors.

“Wait here,” the man told them. He walked up the steps and knocked three times, then went through the door anyway.

The clouds had run dry by now, though the nine of them were still wet and Aiya found herself sick of the cold. She did her best to control her shivers in front of the others. The man was gone for a couple of minutes, and with every passing second the group grew more and more irritated at being left in the frost.

“Heavens, I’ve had enough of this damned weather,” the man named Fuda hissed.

“Hush!” Yko barked right as the man returned. He held the door wide open, ushering them in.

“Inside, my lords.”

They shuffled up the steps. Inside, Aiya was caressed back to warmth as she took in the sight before her. A functional room, spacious, like everything in this place seemed to be. Small charcoal braziers in each corner. Eight men sat around in a circle, with dark faces. An extra brazier was being shared between the men. Sen, propped up on a pillow, was the center of attention.

They took the empty spots made for them, Aiya adjusting her blade as her ass hit the hardwood. Koji sat to her right, the rest of their party lined beside him. Their guards took their place in the back of the room. Settled in, the silence was deafening. She caught a whiff of distinct body odor on the man to her left. Finally, Sen cleared the air.

“This day has been challenging. Before I begin, I would like to say that I am humbled and deeply grateful for the assistance of Agriculture. Like you, I had no way of knowing my mother was conspiring with Rain, and without your aid my head would have been hanging as an ornament in my sister’s tent right now. Still, you bore the brunt of their attack. I understand one of your brother’s was lost to our opponents. It might not mean much, but for that I’m deeply sorry.”

Beside the crackling coals, their lips remained pursed.

“It is in the unspoken laws of the Erru people, to a great degree in Forgery, that in the event offspring fight for the throne, they must kill their siblings themselves. Because of this I’m not angry that you played your part in deceit, killing my men. I did the same. Nevertheless, the battle isn’t over. I was hoping I would not be forced here, but it’s come down to it. We’ve spent the better part of a year fortifying the east, at least those cities that fight with us, but it won’t matter much with Lady Ueko having the upperhand. First, I’d like to be enlightened on the events at the battlefield before you escaped here. What is the status of Lord Tsugo?”

“Still engaged with the enemy, Lord Sen, but our militia is always prepared for these situations. We’ll have him escape with his life, even if it costs us all of ours, just as your men did for you.” Yko bowed.

Sen nodded before continuing. “In the meantime, we must use every moment of opportunity to prepare for Ueko’s second attack, while she prepares for the oncoming storm. Hasa has gone too far, mental illness notwithstanding. I swear by the Empress, she’ll get her justice. Rest assured, her head will be an ornament at my feet soon enough, but not before first making her wish she was never born. She will suffer a thousand times more than all of you today, and you’ll hear it.”

Sen’s words forced Aiya to remember the kind of person Hasa was, and she didn’t blame him.

“Nevertheless, the citizens of this town have mostly been relocated to other areas, leaving the entire city functioning as barracks. We only number three-hundred strong. Sadly, that’s the remaining men I have left on my side. We’ll have to gather the rest from neighboring cities before the storm hits us.”

An old lord, whose hair had gone white with eyes that drooped low, sat a few seats away from Sen and croaked, “Well, I haven’t had the pleasure of being in a situation as desperate as this in over twenty years. I must say, in all my lifetime this has to be the one occasion where I’ve actually looked forward to a Wailstorm.”

“In my short life, this may also be the only time I’ve looked on a Wailstorm with gratitude. Lord Aneken, my Agriculture friends.” He gestured to the men around him, introducing each. “Your names?”

Yko introduced himself first, Aiya last.

“We’ll save further introduction for later. As I said, the plan is to gather soldiers from our neighboring lords. Or rather, we will recruit them. Might be the better word, considering they declined to partake in all this once before. And since we’re short on time, we won’t waste any we have left.”

“Commander Gheki is already posted with the men outside the east gates,” a scraggly haired, younger lord said in a bow.

The rest of the men began laying out the defensive positioning of the city, debating over their strategic advantages and disadvantages.

“Lord Jesu will not hand over any troops, dimwit, he might as well be skipped!”

“That spineless bastard won’t lift a finger against us, it’s Komei we should be concerned about.”

It was moving so fast Aiya had trouble focusing.

“Enough, we’ll get them to cooperate whether they’re feeling it or not,” Sen barked. “Now I’ll be needing a few extra horses.” He turned to Yko. “How much rest do you and your people require?”

“None, Lord Sen,” Yko answered. “We’re eager to do what is necessary to end this, sooner rather than later.”

Sen nodded. “Meeting adjourned.”

The men around them rose and left the room, the cold rushing in through the open doors. Yko and the five of them sat there for a moment, not making a word. Aiya was about to ask what was next, when Totane spoke up.

“That’s it. Just like that, we’re moving forward.”

“Totane–” Aiya said as Risako ran her hand over his shoulder.

“Times of war seldom respect your time to grieve, my lord” Sen said. “I’m sorry for your loss. I can’t understand the bond you had, but a few of my beloved ones were lost to me as well in all of this, so I do understand the pain. You three are welcome to rest in this room for the time being, until after the storm has passed.” His eyes landed on Aiya and Koji. “You two, on the other hand, will come with me.”

Aiya and Koji exchanged glances.

Yko pressed on. “Lord Sen, as I said before, we didn’t come all this way to rest. We’ve come to finish what we started, not sit here on our haunches.”

“I admire your sense of duty, but as we discussed earlier, everything is already in place. There’s not much else to do until after the storm hits, so for now, you wait. Besides, the two of you are all I require, my River lord and lady.”

Decision

By the time their small army had begun moving, the winds had picked up considerably, and the drop in temperature was ominous. Marching with three-hundred men was far easier than ten-thousand. She and Koji rode with Sen at the front, the soldiers behind them fresh as a new spring day. They hadn’t been involved in any of the fighting. Aiya hoped they wouldn’t have to before the storm hit.

Walking next to Sen somehow felt surreal. It seemed only yesterday he’d been on their own front door step, humiliated by her now dead father.

“Let this be a reminder that playing safe or going undecided in a conflict is never a good thing in the end,” Sen said, not bothering to look at them. “We must all choose sides, eventually.”

Aiya could see the cities lit in the distance, but from here it seemed they were moving at a snail’s pace. Fortunately their lanterns were closed, rendering the gusts a non-issue. Marching at night required far more awareness of their surroundings, even without the threat of being ambushed.

Despite limited visibility, Aiya took in the expansive darkness around them, and was made aware for the first time just how large the continent really was. “I see you remember our encounter in River.”

Sen nodded. “How could I forget? One of my closest commanders left the place in two.”

“The way I recall it, that was the unfortunate consequences of his own doing,” said Koji, then added, “My Lord.”

Aiya shot him a fearsome look, unsure of whether he saw, then said, “We’re deeply sorry for the loss of one of your commanders, Lord Sen. It was the poor decision of our father that led to that. He was not always one to give a hand easily, and sometimes he enjoyed the suffering of others.”

“Was? I assume he’s no longer with us.”

“Yes. It’s a long story.”

“Not one that affects our current alliance,” Koji said. “Forgive me if I came off on the wrong footing. All this traveling has had a bad effect on my temper. I got the impression that you thought we were to blame.”

“It’s no matter,” Sen responded. “Now listen. The two of you, Aiya and Koji, will be an integral part of this short expedition, my main points of persuasion. For that, consider us even.”

The Forgery lord didn’t explain how or why that was to be the case, though Aiya figured she could guess.

The first city took them in without impediments. This city was slightly larger than Tsuisaka, having also formed more naturally. The soldiers were left outside the gates and Sen, addressing his men’s concerns briefly, went in with Aiya and Koji alone. The three were led by a couple Jodai and the city lord’s brother, who repeatedly gave his ‘sincere’ apologies for any inconveniences during their travels. The residents stood on either side of the street, watching them pass by. They whispered amongst themselves, not daring to speak directly to Sen or his company. There were commoners and nobles, distinctly different just as in River, and Aiya was again reminded of the vastness of the world.

They arrived at a small shrine house surrounded by miniature gardens and entered, their guide closing the door behind them. The walls here were graced with incense, five soldiers posted alongside them. A table in the room’s center, and behind it, their host. The three outsiders situated themselves in their seats.

“Thank you for coming, Lord Sen. I’ve heard of the pressing matters with you.” Lord Jesu smoked a roll of fatabi leaf, the creases in his forehead swelling as his face lit up in a grin. He removed it from his mouth and ashed it on the table.

“Lord Jesu. How are you?”

“I could be better, but I can’t complain. I didn’t expect you’d show up again so soon.”

“Unfortunately, events have not unfolded as planned. I was forced to flee the battle at Hijimata hill.”

“Unfortunate indeed! I hope you understand how deeply crossed this leaves me. Your sister is the last I’d expect to take up the mantle as heir! So, what can I do to help?”

“All we ask for is nine tenths of your available infantry in the city.”

One of the guards in the room sneezed.

Jesu took a long puff of his roll, lighting the ember on the opposite end. He exhaled a plume of smoke into the air, coughing and setting the roll down. “Yes, well, I regret to inform you that concerning this war, there won’t be any involvement on my part. Just as I told you in our last meeting.”

“Surely we can come to an agreement.”

“Well, you see, with your current situation, you’ve already got the aid of Agriculture, so I find my aid is unnecessary.”

“Agriculture is fighting a losing battle as we speak. My sister has been bolstered by additional thousands of Rain forces. Once Ueko’s army arrives it will be too late if you don’t act now.”

“All the more reason to not get involved! What can my men do? You have to understand, I’m only looking out for my own city!”

Sen shut his eyes for a moment, gritting his teeth. “You’re being a coward. You know damn well you’ll be kissing Ueko’s feet for the rest of your life after this. Have you not a shred of self-respect?”

“That, along with a peculiar sense of self-preservation. Take them away.” Lord Jesu got up and hurried to leave as a guard came and grabbed Aiya’s arm, his other reaching for Koji.

Aiya spun from his grasp, got behind him and brought his face down onto the table. Hard.

Jesu stopped in his tracks. “What is this?”

Other guards stepped forward to handle them. Aiya and Koji took them out swiftly with kicks and jabs to their non-vitals. The door to the room opened again, Jesu’s brother standing behind it with three more guards, flustered. “In a shrine?”

“Your involvement is not a matter of choice, Lord Jesu,” Sen said. “I am prepared to do whatever is necessary to win this, and I don’t take kindly to those who get in my way. These two are Ginju from the land of River, the only insurance I had when I walked in here. So please believe me when I say I’ll have them kill as many of your men as needed, your precious pawns of protection, should you choose not to cooperate. Of course, I hope it does not come to that.”

Jesu snickered. “And why should I believe these two little runts can take out over twelve-hundred men at my beck and call?”

Aiya, pulling in power from the river, grabbed the edge of the heavy wood table. She lifted it from the ground with a single arm, her muscles straining as she moved it. Everyone jumped back as she flung it towards the door, almost hitting the guards. It cracked against the stone wall interior, the fatabi roll landing off to its side.

Jesu was against the wall, murmuring something as he examined them in fright. The guards twiddled cluelessly.

“I was prepared to make an example out of a few more men, but your quick thinking just saved us more time. And manpower,” Sen said to her.

Aiya blushed, running a hand along her lower back. She might have overdone it.

Sen turned back to Jesu. “So, what is your decision?”

They approached the next city boasting fifteen-hundred strong, or near it. When they arrived, its troops were already posted outside its gates. An army about half the size of their own. Aiya felt her palms sweaty, but the city lord rushed out to meet Sen before they’d even made it a hundred paces outside the gates. The man bowed and profusely offered words of praise, and Aiya was shocked to find that he was turning over his troops without putting up so much as an unkind word. Sen assured him he would be rewarded for his loyalty and sent him away. Eight-hundred men were organized into their army before moving on to the third and final city.

“That man was an ass kisser, known for kissing the asses of other lords,” Sen explained. “He maintains his riches that way. His estate is nothing but a relic of what it used to be, holding onto the last bit of remaining wealth his once-great family owns. Hence why he is so keen on pleasing me.”

He seemed to be forgetting that word traveled fast across cities within the same province, and that the man likely didn’t want any contentions with Sen’s bodyguards.

The last city wasn’t so far away, which Aiya silently gave thanks to the heavens for. Her lower back had never been so sore. Sen explained that the final lord was his old mentor, a man who’d been welcomed into their estate many times and had taken a personal liking to Sen. For the first time, perhaps since before the battle of Hijimata hill, Aiya felt a familiar tingling sensation in her stomach and chest. It was a feeling of hope.

“I wonder what ever happened to Shozhu,” Koji said to Aiya, and she gave him a confounded look.

“Why are you thinking about that of all things right now?”

“I dunno, it just popped into my head for some reason.”

“Well, I’m sure we’ll know eventually. Personally, I wouldn’t mind if we never saw or heard from the bastard again.”

The final lord, Lord Komei, also had his soldiers posted outside his city walls when they arrived. Something seemed a bit off about Sen as they approached. A dip in the shoulders, maybe? Curiously pursed lips that indicated his intense concentration on something. Aiya watched him closely once they had stopped, awaiting for Lord Komei’s arrival.

Komei’s men swaggered slowly on horseback towards them. Komei led them, a man with ample facial hair and the looks of a no-nonsense yet cocky personality type. His Forgery robes were longer than would be expected. “Lord Sen, you’ve arrived.”

“Master Komei.”

“Not the best day for you is it?”

“Let’s skip the small talk. You know why I’m here.”

“Yes, my beloved apprentice, always the serious type. I know why you’re here, what you’ve brought with you, and what you picked up along the way. And also how you got it.” His eyes brushed past Sen’s right, then over Aiya. The air had suddenly become more stiff, their proximity from one another seeming tighter, slightly dangerous. “River Ginju, huh? You’ve done well for yourself politically too. Unfortunately, well, you won’t want to hear this, but what worked on Jesu and Tanruu won’t work on me.”

Sen was quiet for a bit. His silence was near suffocating. “And why would that be?”

“Simply put, you're doomed. It was already a close match between you and your sister, and I must say I was shocked to hear Agriculture had got caught in the mix. I applaud you for that. But Ueko, she was always one step ahead of you. She recruited Rain. Not to mention, you’re really resorting to using Agriculture and River Ginju now? You should be ashamed.”

He turned to go. Aiya was shocked when Sen said nothing as his men from behind sat in equally stunned silence. These lords weren’t his close retainers, it was truly Sen by himself now, with no familial authority to fall back on. A few feet into his retreat, Komei turned. “Oh, and if you are planning on attacking, I trust you know that I will bring down this entire city fighting you if I must.”

Sen said nothing, and Aiya could see him twitching in his saddle as he stared coldly into Komei’s eyes.

“I serve Ueko, Sen, as I always have. You shouldn’t have forgotten.”

The lord retreated.

“So that’s it, we’re just gonna let him go?” Aiya demanded.

“Leave it,” Sen said, in a tone so stern she hushed at once. “There’s nothing we can do, we’ll have to make do with our current numbers. The storm is approaching faster than we predicted anyway.”

“Two-thousand troops, gone,” Koji said.

“No,” Sen said. “They were never ours to begin with. We still have decent numbers. Pray to the heavens for the best.”

Facing the wind this time made the journey even harder. A few men complained of the cold behind them, quickly silenced by the more hardened of their kind. The glimmering sense of hope Aiya had experienced earlier seemed to have wilted into a heavy black ooze that hung from her insides. She constantly fought to keep it from festering into despair. Morning fast approached, making the empty fields visible once again, and Sen said little until they were halfway back, Aiya waiting for him to burst out on a tirade.

“Don’t lose hope,” he said to them, and Aiya didn’t know how to respond at first.

“Seems a little hard. After you told us he was your mentor I expected that to be the easiest grab,” she finally said.

“Don’t expect things to come too easy either. Not in times like these. Anyway, it’s…complicated.”

“Yeah, we’ve learned nothing really happens as expected a lot as of late.”

Sen’s eyes fell on her feet, then rose to her face. “You said your father had passed earlier. Forgive me if it’s an intrusion, but is that the reason you’re here?”

“Summed up, you’d be correct,” she said. “Agriculture, and our brother, our third blessed sibling, are actually the ones who saved us and also forced us into all this. I assume you haven’t heard of recent developments in River because of the predicament you’re in.”

“So you’re not here by choice?”

“We are, but not for the reasons you’d expect. What Tsugo’s told you about his grand plan, how this empire is run, you’re just the start. Even after winning this, I don’t see how it will change the grand scheme of things. Hell, I’m not sure if I’d be sane to think it would. But, we still chose to come along for the ride.”

“You won’t know, Aiya. Just like we didn’t know who would win at Hijimata Hill, like how we didn’t know how many troops we could recruit before this Wailstorm, or how we’ll win this civil war. But we believed. You fight, whether you know everything or not. Something Lord Komei taught me, believe it or not.”

Aiya studied him, taking in his words and posture. He was a true man of principle. She saw him extend his arm, reach for a further part of his rein and tug on it. As he did this his long sleeve slid up his arm, revealing a strange sight. His skin was darker in some spots, malformed. She quickly recognized them as burn marks.

Sen looked at her, saw that she had noticed them. He said nothing and made no indication that he was bothered by it. Instead, he told her, “Don’t settle being complacent, especially if that complacency is an illusion.” He turned to Koji. “Same to you.”

As they approached Tsuisaka, the winds only got colder.

Return

Her first Wailstorm had been fourteen years ago. At least, that was the first storm Aiya could remember. At age eight, however, her memory of them was more clear. She was a timid little girl staring out the window at the tempest, facing it with wonder, and, inside, a small, healthy dose of fear.

Wrapped up in that fear and wonder was a peculiar feeling of amazement and insignificance, the sheer power of the gales pounding the Takasa castle frames, creating the illusion that they were under attack. The landscape outside had changed, shrouded in surging mists below a bright gray sky. So bright that it was almost white, and somehow more vivid than the cloudy congestion should have allowed.

Then there was the wailing, which was why they were called Wailstorms. Indoors or out, wherever one went, it sounded as if a woman was wailing. Long, deep cries of despair, perhaps over a lost child, taken by frostsickle. Yet the wails were muffled, blotted out by booming, thundering winds.

The storms were unnatural, a disturbance on nature itself, and as the cold seeped in, for the first time Aiya connected the stories of the Empress’ first wrath to the spectacle taking place before her. Wailstorms always brought cold, no matter if the sun had beat down on them with its heat the hours prior. The Empress must have been a cold person for her to have brought this about, recurring every so often. Was she angry right now? Did she spawn them on a whim? It seemed unnecessarily cruel.

Irashida and Koji stood far back from the window, huddled with Kisane. She and Irashida had gone out in one before, almost getting frostsickle. Their father reprimanded them heavily for it. Ira had gotten the worst of it, the apparitions and chills enough for him to put as much distance between himself and the storm as he could whenever they came around. He’d said the apparitions caused by frostsickle were like ghosts or the spirits of tall people. They were very tall, and large. They seemed to be there, but didn’t seem to be here. Like one part was his home and one was theirs.

Koji seemed to have the better sense not to get too involved with them in the first place. Aiya didn’t like them much either. She also didn’t think the Empress was fully responsible for them, though she couldn’t put into words why. They were Ginju, being taught the ways of the River through daily meditation. Though she was early in her training and had yet to even begin aligning herself, meditation had taught her to recognize those things that were larger than life. This storm was larger than any of them, beyond their understanding, even as Ginju. It was like the spirits of legend that struck fear in men’s hearts, except it was so much more gargantuan that it made even them seem inconsequential. Immortal Empress or not, Wailstorms seemed to be the only true thing that kept a watchful eye from corner to corner of Egaisha.

It was Second Day in the second week of Fenn. Aiya sat in the corner of the main building next to the charcoal brazier staring out the window into the mists. She appreciated the warmth while admiring the storm for its raw power, the foreboding eeriness of the drawn out wails. Both for what it was and what the passage of time that allowed its arrival meant. Generals and the rest of them chatted quietly in the background, but Aiya was eager to keep to herself in this small corner of hers. She hadn’t realized how tired she was, but the anxiety was keeping her up.

She didn’t notice Koji before he slid next to her. She didn’t avert her gaze for a while, content just to have him by her side, regardless of his musky odor. His presence, the crackling charcoal and the boisterous winds had an oddly calming effect. It was only right to soak it up while they had the chance.

Koji leaned in close, whispering. “Tell me why I have a bad feeling about Irashida.”

His face was droopy, tired yet restless, the most crazed he’d ever been. Other than when Ira collapsed in Agriculture, or any of the dozen of other episodes he’d had with his sickness. “Don’t say things like that Koji. You’re homesick.”

“Yeah, I suppose I am. You know, something in me wants to be out there right now, in the storm.”

“Really? Not you of all people.”

Koji shrugged. “Ever since we passed that thing in the forest. Remember back when we were younger, and I went out during that Wailstorm on a dare?”

“And you ran back in because you were scared of catching frostsickle?”

“Haha, smirk all you want, meathead. Catching what Ira had can hardly be called brave. But I remember it so clearly, the feeling of being this one small person, like an animal. Like a rabbit or something, trapped even though I was out in the open. I felt so small, so insubstantial.”

“Yeah, I get what you mean.”

“Ever since the forest, I can’t stop thinking about it. About our lives, our pasts and futures as Ginju. This freaking storm. I don’t know.” He placed a hand on her knee. “I’m sorry for snapping on you earlier. You were as freaked out as the rest of us.”

She leaned in and embraced him. It caught him off guard but she didn’t care. “This battle has been hard on you Koji. Let’s not think about the past or the future. Like Sen told us, we just have to know we’ll send that bitch Ueko’s head rolling. Like you told me, we march and we fight, as Ira would expect us to do. He’s never given up on himself. We’re fucking Ginju after all.”

Once the storm passed, Sen wasted no time. Scouts were sent out of the city to find the status of the opposing army and how close they were. Aiya had passed out from pure exhaustion during the storm and woke up two hours later. Koji was nowhere in sight. The sun finally showed itself again, the temperature having rised considerably to a mildly uncomfortable chill. Soldiers roamed the streets in orderly fashion, despite possessing an air of uncertainty.

Totane and Risako rested next to each other as Aiya awoke, though Totane had started to rise right as Aiya was leaving the conference room.

“Keep sleeping,” Aiya told him in the doorway. “You’ll need all the rest you can get.”

“Don’t coddle me, please,” Totane said with a grimace, stretching.

“They’re serving rations outside,” Aiya said.

“Thanks, I’ll be out once Risako is up.”

Aiya nodded and left. Rations were meager, a bowl of rice barely the size of her fist. After eating her share, she decided to walk around the city. It was so clean, so organized, Aiya couldn’t imagine it devolving into a warzone. The southern quarters had less soldiers on patrol, and after about ten minutes of walking through it, she realized there was nobody in these parts. The streets here were abandoned, or at least they saw no use for them at this time. Tsuisaka had no open markets after all.

Still, there was something off, and she felt like she needed to be here. The south city wall was about two hundred paces away, and she now stood in an area with sparse architecture, almost as if this part of the city had yet to see completion.

She walked aimlessly, getting close to a round building in particular when she spotted something. It seemed to be an arm sticking out from behind the corner of the building. Her eyes squinted as her stomach dropped. She inched her way over to inspect it, gasping in horror at the dead body laying behind the bend. It was a Jodai man laying face down. Aiya’s mind entertained the idea that he might be sleeping, but she’d come too far for that. Turning him over, she saw he was young, his face was undisturbed, as if resting, yet his neck was smeared in blood, carved from one end of his chin to the other. His armor was still glossy, meaning his death hadn’t been the result of some skirmish. The deep gash had not allowed him to scream, or live long.

She was about to go back and notify someone when she stopped. A presence in front of her. She didn’t look. Instead she rolled out the way in the nick of time as a dagger sunk into the dirt behind her. Facing forwards, she saw the three Rain Ginju from the day before. White Hair, his sister and brother. They stood only a few paces from their victim, not far from her. The other male Ginju bled through the patches on his jaw, which was still crooked as ever. Aiya took the chance of looking around her. No one.

“Shit, you caught us just in time. But you’re all alone,” the girl said, taking a step back. Her limp was gone, with effort.

“How did you get in here?” Aiya shouted, realizing she didn’t have her sword on her. A foolish mistake.

“I’m sure you know the answer to that,” White Hair said, a cocky grin spreading across his cheeks. “Not hard to figure out.”

“Seems you forgot something,” said the girl. She unsheathed both her daggers, White Hair holding up the one he still had. “Dekuri’s terrible aim may have just bought you a few more seconds to live.”

Aiya considered grabbing the dagger from behind her and running for aid. If she led them into the heart of the city, they’d wreak havoc and easily be able to take out soldiers until the other Ginju intervened. Then again, two of them could easily run over there anyway while she was engaged with one. She’d have to hold all three here for as long as possible, attract the attention of her comrades for aid. “Have you forgotten what happened to the three of you last time we fought?”

“A pitiful bluff,” the one named Dekuri said, taking a step forward. His brother took one with him, though he didn’t try to speak past his bandages. Dekuri smiled, clearly enjoying this interrogation. “That was when it was five against three, and now it’s just you.”

Her heart pounding, Aiya stalled. “Where are the Rain troops? You three can’t be here alone.”

“So what if we–” Dekuri started, and as he did Aiya watched the girl lifting her daggers and sliding them in front of her siblings’ throats. Before they could react, she ran them through their necks, drawing thick rivulets of blood. Wide-eyed, the two collapsed, making futile attempts at gasps for air.

Aiya’s arms shot halfway up then became stiff as if they’d forgotten what to do with themselves. She tried mouthing words but found none. The two writhed on the floor, looking up on their sister who looked down on them, no remorse in her.

Aiya stepped back from the scene as the girl kneeled down to them and cooed Shoba to sleep. When the girl looked up, Aiya turned and ran for the dagger. She grabbed it and spun around to face her opponent.

“Relax!” the girl told her. “I mean no harm.”

“W-what the fuck? What the fuck?”

“I know I’m your enemy,” said the girl. “Consider this my token of goodwill.”

“Why the fuck did you just kill them?”

“It’s personal,” she answered. “Long story short, I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time. I can’t have imagined a better opportunity. You and me, we tried…killing each other at Hijimata hill. Because of me you’re alive. Let’s call us even.”

Aiya tilted her head to the side in confusion. Comprehending this situation was like trying to run in time backwards. “You…are you asking me to let you live?”

“I only need you to protect me from the Rain for now, for the time being. Trust me, they’re just as much my enemies as they are yours. After this battle is over, I won’t bother you.”

Aiya stared her down for a moment longer, shook her head, and charged.

The girl backed up, then, when Aiya was on her, she ran right through her. Aiya turned and stuck out her dagger, hoping for it to sink into some part of her. The girl had kept running though, and was now fifteen paces away on the other side of Aiya.

“Stop!” she exclaimed. “I mean what I say! It sounds bizarre, but as crazy as it sounds I’m only asking that you trust me until this battle is over.”

“Shut up!” Aiya screamed. “You tried to fucking murder me earlier! You murdered my fucking friend, someone’s brother! Why the fuck should I let you live?”

“Because you need me,” the girl replied.

Aiya breathed heavily but didn’t respond.

“Like you said, we couldn’t have come alone. Well, we could have, but it would have been pointless. Hasa is coming as we speak, and she’s coming fast. You’ll want every bit of manpower you can muster.”

Aiya examined her, considering. She was disgusted just looking at her, then she realized the girl had a point. Then again, was it possible the Rain Ginju had even more tricks up their sleeves?

She turned to the bodies of the girl’s siblings. Along with the murdered Jodai man, it was a grisly sight. “Are they really dead?”

The girl started. “Y-yes?”

“Kick them!”

The girl inched forward, then back. “You want…proof?”

Aiya stalked over to the bodies herself, planting a foot in Shoba’s face. She lifted her leg again and came down hard. The feeling of her foot against his dead cheek was sickening. “That’s for earlier,” she said.

She spat on the bodies then turned back to the girl. “Walk in front of me.” She held up her dagger.

“Even if I were to turn on you, you’re faster.”

Aiya was standing a mere five paces from her now. “And you can phase through objects. I’ll stay this far from you until we get to everyone else. Walk.”

The girl did just that. They spent the next ten minutes or so in silence, Aiya’s nerves becoming more frayed by the second. She couldn’t believe she was doing this, and more times than she liked to remember, she considered simply killing the girl. Even holding Shoba’s dagger nearly sent her into a fit of revulsion. Aiya kept pace as they came into the populated area of the city. Patrolling Jodai noticed the spectacle and began asking questions. Guilty, Aiya denied comment and ordered them not to mind.

Sen was the first to spot them directly outside the conference room, mid-conversation with one of his subjects. He stopped, staring. Totane and Risako exited the building in unison. Seeing the pair of them, Totane made no hesitation before grabbing the nearest Jodai man’s sword and leaping for the girl.

“Wait, Totane-”

Aiya didn’t get a chance to finish. Totane was already throwing a flurry of swipes against the girl who was retreating into the crowds. Some ran out the way, aware these two opponents couldn’t be contained, while others stood their ground, petrified.

“Totane, wait a minute!” Aiya went to grab Totane, but he slammed his shoulder into her. Her lower jaw smashed into the upper half, and she saw red. Before she knew what was happening, she was pinning Totane down with Koji and four Jodai men. Totane tried wriggling free, cursing both them and the Rain girl.

The girl stood in front of the rations stand, its line now evacuated.

“Relax, Totane!” Aiya yelled. “You’ll get your chance with her, but first…just…calm down!”

Totane finally got hold of himself, ceasing his struggle. He buried his head into his arm, screaming. The Jodai men took the opportunity to back off, exhausted but relieved. Koji looked to Aiya.

“What the fuck is she doing here?”

“I’m as fucking clueless as you are, believe me.” Aiya hopped off of Totane as Risako ran to him. All she could do was watch as he slowly gained control of himself, and look at Aiya with disdain.

“I’m so sorry,” Aiya said. “I found her with the others-”

“Others? The Rain Ginju?”

“Yes. The other Rain Ginju, they killed a guard at the southern edge of the city. I stumbled on him and the three of them came from nowhere. I thought they were about to kill me, but she,” Aiya pointed to the girl, “she…slit their throats. She killed her comrades right in front of me. I tried to kill her, but apparently she wants to be on our side now.”

“Our side?” Risako looked from her to Aiya in disbelief. “Our side? Is this some sick joke?”

“His mother and sister are almost here,” the girl said, pointing to Sen. “If I wanted to cause you harm, I could have done it ten times over and retreated already. I’m trying to help.”

Risako, who carried her blade, drew it from her scabbard.

“Enough!” Sen exclaimed. All eyes went to him. Aiya wanted nothing to do with this situation anymore. “This Rain Ginju wants forgiveness. I find it hard to believe, but in this dire situation, I’m willing to listen. What is your name?”

The girl swallowed, then answered, “Renna.”

“Renna. And you say, how far are mother’s troops?”

Before she could respond, they heard shouting from the tops of the city wall. The guards were suddenly worked up, their voices sounding haunted. “Rain and Forgery troops sighted! Enemy troops in the distance! Forgive us if we’re mistaken, but…they seem to be accompanied by the Empress herself!”

Confrontation

Empress Isao Naji did not take kindly to roadblocks. That was all she considered this conflict, a block in the road. Tarshan was the real objective. Tarshan, with their wide ships, who had mastered sea warfare. Tarshan, whose tactics somehow proved superior to her own.. Sometimes she wanted to throw things at the wall and scream. Sometimes she did, and considered burning down an entire village in one of the outer provinces. Anything to calm her mind.

She was weary of these local lords and ladies impeding her advances, stalling them with their inconsequential concerns. They complained when she favored them, complained when she reprimanded them. The fact of the matter was that they did not know their place. It’d been generations since her empire had struggled to hold itself together like this, long before she was even born.

She hated these wretches, every single one of them. Someone would suffer for their insolence.

“They’re lining outside for us, Your Sovereign,” Shige told her. She saw them lining outside the city, formations and all. They were like ants.

The army around her, all of Ueko’s troops, got into position. They’d arrived a thousand paces outside the city, and the end of this circus had come. The Empress refused her palanquin. She’d meet the perpetrators of this long battle on her feet. She would humble them. Isao looked over Ueko’s opponents for a long while. “I assume the one at the front is the young Forgery Lord. Who are those five behind him? It seems they have a knife pointed at the back of Renna.”

“Those are the Ginju he hired, Your Sovereign,” Ueko answered. “Agriculture seems to have been given two more than I, Sovereign. Rain was able to take out one of them at Hijimata Hill, but it seems they’ve managed to return the favor twofold when we sent Rain Ginju to scout out the city.”

Isao smirked. Everytime someone made an ignorant comment like the one Ueko had just made, she smiled. Then glowered at the fact that two Ginju had been killed by the Ginju of yet another province involved in this war. The conflicts between provinces were growing more complicated, and now even Ginju were at each other’s throats.

Ueko believed in her immortality, trusting her beloved Empress would stop this prolonged skirmish with the snap of her fingers. She certainly would.

Isao took three deep breaths and calmed herself. No matter, this all would now come to an end. Ueko would be placed on the throne and expansion would continue. Her empire would never fail.

“Mother’s coming forward with Hasa.” Sen sat tall on his horse, the only one on horseback among the seven of them. The young Lord Gheki stood by his side. Risako, Totane, and Koji stood around Aiya, who held the same dagger behind the Rain girl’s back. Each now had a sheathed sword, bracing themselves.

Aiya didn’t know where Sen was looking. She didn’t see anyone but the woman trailing towards them in impossibly long robes. They were robes of purple silk, gleaming in the morning sunlight. The woman’s hair was long too, entwined in a beautiful style over her crown of amethyst. Her robe had large swirling patterns, discernible even from this distance, dancing in the sun’s beams. The Empress.

“Two-thousand men.” Gheki’s voice faltered. “They’ve brought less than we’d expect.”

“Tsugo gave them the hard time they deserved,” Totane answered.

Aiya’s knees were shaky.

Gheki shook his head. “These might be the Empress’ personal guard. Their armor is a slightly different hue. They’re Rain Jodai either way.”

The Empress didn’t stop, and neither did her army. Sen’s men raised their weapons in the most terrifying display of courage Aiya had ever witnessed. The Empress was actually here, and she wasn’t stopping. Just when Aiya thought they had only a few moments to live, the Empress stopped. She rested a mere ten feet from them while her army stood back another forty. Ueko and Hasa stood beside her. Aiya saw that she was beautiful, slender, and her aura repressing. The Empress did not appear especially strong in physique, yet at the same time her presence alone was overwhelming.

Was it her reputation alone? She quelled any reaction or response any of them might have. A conqueror, the one who brought subjugation. The woman out of dreams. As soon as she came to a halt, their heads turned to the clamor behind them, all who’d hurried to bow. “Your Sovereign!” the men shouted.

Aiya was suddenly sinking into the ground, unable to bear the weight of her own body.

Totane rushed to grab her shoulders and pulled her up. “STAND!”

She looked wide eyed around her. Every soldier behind them bowed. Renna was coming out of her own bow, looking to her and Totane.

The Empress raised an eyebrow that dried up Aiya’s throat like baked soil. The voice that came from her luscious lips was sweet as honey yet venomous as a viper.

“What’s wrong young ones? Are you feeling nervous?”

There was no response, the air around them suffocating. Aiya tried backing away, unable to stand her presence. Totane held her firm.

“We will…NEVER…bow to you!” Totane shook.

The Empress smiled.

“Neither will I,” Sen said. “I sacrificed much to be in the position I am in now, and I will sacrifice more. As has Agriculture and River, who are with me. And if I am forced to take you down with my mother, I will.”

The soldiers around them began muttering to themselves. “Fool, she calls the storms!”

“Forgive us, Sovereign!”

Aiya shook with the realization this was the true moment for her decision. The Empress herself stood before them, the immortal ruler of the land. Sorceress of Storms. Running to her feet now would save her and Koji’s life, if the Empress didn’t decide to kill them first. Would she honor Ira’s will, her promise to Totane and Agriculture? Sen’s honor? Would she abandon him now that the oven was hot? This was her final chance. She remembered the River, held firm, and stood.

Aiya realized there was no going back.

The Empress looked down to Renna.

“You stand with them too?”

Shaking, Renna slowly raised her dagger toward the Empress.

The Empress smiled. “That settles it. You will all die, and eastern Forgery will be severely punished. The families of every Jodai, commander, Ginju, and lord and lady in this region will feel my wrath. I will erase you from memory, destroy your bloodlines from the earth. Three times for speaking out of turn.”

“She causes the Wailstorm,” one of the soldiers said. “You’re doomed!

Ueko and Hasa were white enough to have seen spirits. The situation made Aiya almost want to throw up. She steeled herself, cementing her resolve. If this was the person that truly stood against her and her siblings, Aiya would see her as the final and ultimate challenge against her strength. She would become the impossible and kill this person, the Empress herself, if that’s what it took to overthrow her.

“This conflict lies between me and my sister. I challenge her to an honor duel to settle this once and for all.” Sen’s voice was unfaltering.

The smile on the Empress’ face got larger and finished with laughter. “I have the final say in this matter, silly pig. You’ll be flayed before you die, and your skin will become my carpet. Yes, Forgery has fallen far out of favor. But your worst blasphemy today is your lack of faith in me. In my power.”

The Empress called forth a man from the army behind her. The man was dressed in all white robes with a veil covering his face, clipped to show only his mouth. The hood of his robe was tight around the head, and the long veil was buttoned with gold beads to the sides of the hood hanging to his chin. Aiya’s heart raced. The man stopped before the Empress. Without turning, the Empress raised her arm behind her and held out an upraised palm.

“You are Ginju, powerful Erru indeed. But what you don't understand is that I am the one who created you.”

“Created us?” Sen said.

The Empress put a hand up to the small curvature of her mouth. She seemed to be holding in a laugh. “Haven’t you noticed why all the Ginju you’ve known come in sets of three? Your parents told you you were chosen, blessed by me. Their only offspring capable of wielding power while the others had to grow up and take care of political work. In reality you were chosen because you were the only ones capable of learning to be Ginju. I gave you the ability to see and contact your deities. For each province I gave access to a separate deity. The deities are the Shinti, whom I alone have full access to. Three children, of any current ruler, are chosen by their parents and blessed in each province, an impartation of my power.”

Her eyes fell on Koji in particular. Then to Aiya. Her knees almost gave out, but she stood. “I remember your father, Arusuke. Rest his soul. He was one of the proudest men I’d ever known. It made him a great ruler. However, he couldn’t bear to stand the thought of you two being more powerful than he. I know because he secretly despised the idea of bowing even to me. That’s why he chose for you to come from commoner blood. Your mothers were present for each one of you on the day of blessing. Wrapped in hoods and baggy clothing to hide their identity. Your father didn’t want to be disgraced himself, but for you…

“Poor child, don’t look so surprised. You were still given your deity. You still boast power few men and women ever comprehend. At the center of the deities is wrath however, wrath that mere mortals as yourselves dare to look at them, to take a glimpse of their glory. That’s why when you access enough of this glimpse, they can come into contact with you, and attempt to hurt you. This is why they become ugly. Your mind understands you are under a threat but doesn’t know quite why.

“But I have access to all of these deities, and I see them for what they truly are. And they have given me many servants. I’ll leave one with you as a reminder of my sovereignty.”

There was a loud pop from behind the Empress. Heads turned this way and that, and a few men yelped. Even Totane took a step back. Then they heard it again, and again. More popping sounds, until they realized it was coming from the man in white behind her, the Empress’ hand still upraised and spread out directly towards him. His body squirmed and convulsed as he let out increasing grunts of pain. He did not ask for it to stop.

Aiya gaped, seeing the man’s body had become bloated, almost ready to burst through his clothing. After what seemed an eternity, his body expanded into three times its size, then even larger. His new image was a mix of mismatched limbs, jagged bones, and red-green scales. A monstrous hand clawed at the earth, raking up tufts of grass and dirt, as the formless creature let out an ear-splitting screech. Finally, it began to take shape, drawing up to stand on its haunches.

Her stomach plummeted.

There was no mistaking the beast. Thick whiskers at the end of its snout. It’s lizard-like appearance, complimented by hundreds of tiny spikes along its head, its muscular frame, and the long, scaly tail.

The man had transformed into a dragon.

The Jodai men were backing away and yelling obscenities before it even roared. When it did, they lost all courage. Aiya had to clamp her hands to her ears, the sound rattling her skull.

It finished and looked on them, hungry. The Empress was already parading back to her army, who didn’t dare step any closer. Hasa and Ueko were ahead of her, shrieking.

“Retreat!” yelled a Jodai man. He didn’t have to tell them. The formations they’d made were ruined, half the soldiers trying to get back into the city.

“We will not retreat!” Sen commanded, gallying his horse. “Stand your ground! We are warriors, Jodai and Ginju alike! Nothing will take us down, so stand your ground, damn it!”

“Empress’ soul,” Aiya whispered.

The rest of the Ginju drew their swords as Aiya did the same. Renna turned for the first time, both daggers at the ready. “I’d guess you’re glad I’m still here now.”

Aiya couldn’t take her eyes off the creature. It was the straight out of legend, unmistakable. The dragon, with the cold and calculating eye of a reptile, was here before them. It existed.

And now it charged them. One daring glance back revealed only a third of their forces still in formation. Aiya braced herself, gritting her teeth. Her grip on her blade was ironclad.

“Get Sen to safety!” Totane screamed, then met the creature head on.

Totane prepared a stab but didn’t get a chance. The dragon was at least ten feet tall, and as wide as many men. One swipe from its claw nearly tore Totane in two. He managed to dodge at the last second, its nail digging across his chest and spraying his blood on the dirt. Totane tumbled into its hind legs.

The creature would have rounded on him but Risako was at its other side. She jabbed its elbow, and was smacked to the side in return. Pushing away black bubbling fear from her vision, Aiya joined them, dashing between its feet and bringing her blade point into its belly. The tip barely penetrated. She was knocked to the side and almost crushed before she knew what was happening.

She threw herself up to see Koji whacked by its tail with blazing speed. Koji cried out as he tumbled over the ground. Totane slashed its hind leg. Risako went for its groin.

Aiya sliced its neck, scraping away scales and getting showered in red. Its jaws came down on her. It might have taken her entire arm in its jaws had she not released her weapon, retreating twenty paces back.

So fast! She thought. Its tail whipped around in a frenzy, the only thing she’d ever seen move faster than her. It was far stronger.

Shouts of men.

Aiya stopped mid-stride, watching around her in awe as the Jodai soldiers charged the creature. The men roared in unison, their battle cries almost matching the dragon’s. The transformation in demeanor took Aiya aback. Swords and spears made for the creature, who reared its head and waited to kill.

Aiya joined them as the creature raked the life from the Jodai with its claws. It trampled one and mauled three, thrashing against the swarm. The men didn’t retreat. They continued to pile against it, hacking at its scales. They cursed and they died.

Renna zipped past Aiya and leapt at the creature. It turned in the nick of time. Renna brought two daggers back as the dragon knocked five men aside. It swiped as Renna came within reach. She should have been ripped in three, but she passed through its hand unscathed. She brought the daggers down on each eye, then raked them down before tearing them away. The creature shrieked, entering a blind rampage.

Aiya looked to a man next to her, realizing it was Fuda. He was locked in a perpetual motion of back and forth, grip firm on his sword, yet unable to charge the creature.

Aiya pried the sword from his hands and rushed forward. Had they a thousand men, they might stand a chance. With three hundred, if that, men would just continue to die. Fortunately, they didn’t have to rely on Jodai.

Aiya sprung. She soared twenty feet in the air, plummeting towards the creature. Behind them, the Empress’ army was marching away. She landed on its back, held onto a protruding spike, and buried her sword near its spine. The weapon sunk inches into it. She didn’t stop. Aiya held on more tightly than she ever had held on to anything before, bringing her weapon in and out as the creature flailed.

Her armor was soaked now in metallic-smelling blood. She buried her sword halfway into it before it broke. The creature's movements became more erratic, then slowed. It used its last remaining effort to topple over in an attempt to crush its assailant. Aiya pushed off, letting herself crash against the earth.

The dragon was crawling now, groaning through its slightly parted jaws. Totane, Koji and Risako stood back. The Jodai around them kept a distance of at least fifty paces. Dead or dying soldiers littered the ground around it.

The creature no longer moved. Its murderers gave no reaction at first.

Then a cheer erupted from the men, one that might rumble through the entire continent.

Aiya was still catching her breath as Renna rushed the dead creature, assaulting its face with her daggers. Aiya’s face turned as Koji went to her side.

“It’s finished! It’s alright, the thing’s dead!”

Renna finally pulled her daggers back, dropped them, and fell to her knees.

Aiya started. Looking back, the Empress’ army was off in the distance. She’d left them to deal with the creature, confident they’d meet their end. But Hasa and Ueko were nowhere in sight.

“Where’s Sen?” she blurted out.

The other Ginju looked towards her. Aiya surveyed the battlefield, noticing that Jodai were in action again, yelling for them to rush to the young lord’s aid. She spotted Yko galloping on horseback away from the city. Aiya ran towards him, cursing herself for getting distracted. She ran until she caught up. “Is Sen safe?”

Yko didn’t pry his eyes from ahead of him. “On the opposite side of this field, behind the city! Hasa went after him with a large group of men as soon as the Empress and her army left!”

“How many men did he have with him when he fell back?”

“About a dozen men! Hasa, probably thirty or so!”

Aiya sped up, rushing past the Jodai going to Sen’s rescue. She imagined Hasa’s men on Sen like dogs, and ran faster. Aiya squinted her eyes in exhaustion, her hand going to her chest. She rounded the city walls, unsure of how much longer she could go. She wasn’t as well rested as she thought. There was screaming. Her alignment was beginning to falter, but she made it to the other side before she released herself from the river deity. She stumbled into the middle of the chaos.

Hasa’s men outnumbered them two to one, but their enemies weren’t the ones screaming. Flames licked the soil and men around them. They flailed as they burned, the heat palpable even twenty paces away.

Standing in front of them, Sen blasted flames in every direction.

Aiya was taken aback and shook her head as if to clear it. The sight remained.

That couldn’t be Sen burning those men with flames that came from nowhere but his own body.

Sen, he’s a Ginju.

Hasa was fleeing on her horse in the distance. Aiya shot up and chased after her. Sen’s men were behind her but were making no progress. They looked back to see Aiya approaching, but she had already passed them. Hasa turned back, terror-stricken, and squealed when she spotted Aiya gaining on her.

Pushing through the strain on her body, Aiya came beside Hasa’s horse and lunged. She delivered a roundhouse kick to the animal’s snout, snapping its neck. Hasa flew hard into the field ahead of her as the creature crashed into the ground, lifeless.

Aiya fell to her knees, watching Hasa who was limp on the grass. She wondered if she was dead. Hasa lifted her head and moaned. She’d likely broken a few bones. Grimacing, Aiya trudged over to her. A breeze had picked up as Hasa began crawling forward, trembling in tears.

Aiya stood five paces in front of her now. Hasa growled.

“Baboon! Fucking swine! Get out the wayyy!”

Sen appeared behind her. Hasa noticed and turned her head back as far as it would go. “Bastard,” Hasa spat.

His face betrayed nothing.

Hasa began squirming in an attempt to move faster. Her voice cracking, she said, “I’m sorry, brother, I didn’t mean it. I’m sorry, so sorry. Please let me go.”

Sen walked casually over to his sister. He didn’t say a word. Reaching out to her, he held up a palm and spread out his fingers. Flaming tendrils leapt from his hand and danced across Hasa’s lower body.

Hasa screamed and writhed in agony. She was unable to stop the flames.

“Forgive me! FORGIVE ME!”

The pungent odor of burnt flesh filled Aiya’s nostrils and made her sick. Sen didn’t give into his sister’s pleas, only watching her suffer. Hasa wailed as Sen stood calm, almost as if in deep meditation. He basked in it.

Slowly, he moved the flames up her body. He seared her lower back, then upper back before finally moving onto her shoulders. Hasa lied there, barely managing a croak. Her face twitched. Sen took his sword from his sheath and raised it. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. Then he brought it down on her neck.

Like that, in one clean stroke, he had her head. He kneeled next to it for a long moment, head down. He was sweating, clear beads falling from his face onto the ground. Finally he grabbed it by the hair, held it high above his own, and screamed in victory.

Epilogue

Irashida lied in darkness. It had been that way for a long time. He woke confused, unsure of where he was. He raised his head slightly, squinting his eyes. His skull pounded. He turned from side to side. He couldn’t make out much in the room that he was in, save for a walking cane in the corner illuminated by pale moonlight.

He slowly wriggled his arms from under the sheets, stretching and taking in a deep breath. He remembered now he’d woken up here before. He must have passed out. It almost seemed like a dream, so long ago.

The door to his room slid open. The sudden brightness of two lanterns made Ira’s eyes water. He turned to see a man and woman enter. The man was portly, his long gray beard falling over his gray robes. He was bald on top, likely in his late forties. There was a smile plastered to his face. “There you are, lordling! Finally awake I see!”

“How are you feeling?” The woman asked. She was slender, twenty years Ira’s senior. Her thin red lips looked sweet, her robes a dark pink.

“I think…I think I remember. You two,” Ira answered. He had a hard time forming the words. His speech was slightly slurred, as if drunk on rice wine, and he had to speak slower to concentrate on getting the sounds right. He stretched one leg. He tried stretching the other. He realized he couldn’t.

The man saw him getting worked up and came to his side, placing a gentle hand over his shoulder. “Relax, Irashida. It’s alright. Calm down so we can explain.”

“Why can’t. I move myyy right leg? And, where’s Aiya and Koji?”

The woman sat down at the edge of the bed. “Irashida, do not fear. You had an episode that left you unconscious the past four days. Your siblings went on without you, but rest assured they will be returning. That said, you had a stroke.”

Ira looked dazed, unable to comprehend her words. He had to look down at his bedsheets to make sure his leg was even still there. “Stroke?”

“Unfortunately. You had a seizure, and apparently you have a history of illness. How often does this happen?”

“O-once before. Usually I just have smaller episodes where I’m, uh, lightheaded and too dizzy to move.”

“Then that may be the culprit. You suffered a massive stroke four days ago, in which you lost control of your right leg and some of your ability to speak. You displayed this two days ago, but you passed out again after a half hour. Your condition usually runs in a family.”

The man squeezed Ira’s shoulders. “You’ve been in good hands. With time and work, these things may return.”

Ira dropped his head into his palms. “Whaat, now?”

“In the meantime, there’s much to do. We have a job for you of course, an honorable duty that will give you something to do as you learn to get back to normal. Everyone has their place in Agriculture. We aren’t without our own many issues. Financial roadblocks, debts, and civil conflict are not below us. Of course, this won’t stop us, you’ll see. The revolution must go on.”

Acknowledgments

The saying is true. Writing (and more importantly, completing) your first book is a lot harder than writing your second, third, etc. Twelve Blades In Contempt is a product of many long days and nights of highs and lows, an accomplishment that would not have been possible without the contributions of my editor, Angela Traficante, whose insights into Japanese culture and progression-style fantasy greatly aided to the world and characterization throughout the novel. I also have to thank my other editor, James Eelbode, whose deep understanding of the writing craft developed my ideas further than I could imagine. My cover artist, Giaphox, and typographer, Gabriel Akinrinmade, are to thank for this book's incredible cover. Professional help goes a long way. My parents, my four grandparents, and my godparents all did their best to encourage my passion, but more importantly, they brought me up in this world to see it completed, and for that they should be thanked the most. Acknowledgments also go to all my beta readers who took the time to read and point out all the things amiss in this book's unfinished form. Without them I could not have made it this far. And finally, special thanks must go to Evan Winter, author of The Rage of Dragons. There mere fact of seeing a man like him write such great works and accomplish his dreams while doing it was such a huge inspiration to me. He is an honorable man.

Other Works

Don't miss book 2 in the Epic of Egaisha series, coming soon! Sign up for my newsletter for progress updates, special offers, exclusives, and more!

jordendarrett.com