"She can't still be in Norema," the guard hissed, rubbing his chin although the memory of the hilt's blow was all that remained. "She has to have gotten out somehow."
"But how?" His younger companion snarled as he tossed his dice on the floor. "We've been watching that gate like nobody's business."
"Well, she sure doesn't live here." The older guard crossed his arms as the other man glanced up hopefully. "No. I'm not playing."
"We should've alerted the rashei," the younger man muttered, his face ugly. "It's your fault that she got away."
"The rashei isn't in charge, anyway. Not for the moment."
"Huh?" The man glanced up from where he was collecting his dice annoyedly.
The older guard's eyes were nearly closed. "Didn't you hear about the fallout at the tavern last night? Valoren Yazawa is in town."
His companion started. "But he's been at the old capital for months…"
"Not anymore." The guard straightened.
"Well, maybe we should tell him about the girl, then," his companion offered.
"I guess." The guard shifted uneasily. "We'll probably get into trouble for not having alerted the garrison sooner."
The younger soldier scowled.
"You're right," he conceded. "Well, then?"
The older man's eyes narrowed into slits.
"I'd rather we kept it quiet. But the way that girl fought…"
He shook his head.
"I don't like it. I don't like it at all."
"Why not?" his companion wondered aloud. "She caught us by surprise. That's all. It's not like she's a–"
He broke off, his eyes wide.
"Wait, what if she's the rakhai?"
The older man caught his breath.
"I…"
"Then we know what she looks like." His younger companion stood up. "And we can hunt her."
The older guard's mouth dropped open.
"You…"
"Come on. Don't pretend you don't want revenge." The younger man grinned, his hand fingering the hilt of his sword. "We're off duty tomorrow. We can visit the forest then."
"Do it yourself," the guard scoffed. "If you feel like dying."
The younger man bit his lip. "Dying, khur!"
His older friend shook his head. "Possibly slowly."
"Huh."
The younger guard sat down on the floor of the guardhouse again.
But the thoughtful light didn't disappear from his eyes as he traced the floorboards thoughtfully with the blade of his knife.
~~~
"There's no such thing as the rakhai," Roka insisted, leaning forward earnestly. "I was in the forest two days ago with my sister. Nothing."
Suddenly he laughed. "She hasn't given up yet, though. She still wants to see the ghost."
Taro bit his lip. "We should still be back in Norema by nightfall, anyway. It won't hurt us to come back early."
"True, true." Nishida shrugged. "We'll take a good catch of rabbits and then make our way back to the village. Simple." He grinned. "It'll be fun."
Taro smiled weakly. "The day after tomorrow, then?"
"Right," Roka nodded.
"And you'll have a sword by then?" Nishida watched Taro's face.
He hesitated for a moment. "Swords are expensive, you know."
"Oh, khur. You're the blacksmith's son!" Roka was laughing again.
"Fair," Taro muttered.
He stood up, brushing the courtyard dirt from his leggings.
"I've got to go walk Sakue home. I'll see you both tomorrow. Or the day after."
"Seriously, Taro!" Roka shouted after him. "Why can't…"
The words died away in Taro's ears as he walked on resolutely, his boots hitting the brick road somewhat harder than usual.
Sakue was waiting for him. Happy to see him, too.
"Nene left without me again!" she complained as soon as her brother was within hearing distance.
Taro managed to smile the anger out of her eyes. "Well, that's why I'm here, no?"
"Can you carry me?" she pleaded, her eyes sparkling.
Taro groaned.
"I guess," he muttered, reaching down to swing her to his shoulders.
He grunted as her legs swung around his neck. She was only seven, but he was pretty sure she was half as heavy as he was–if not heavier.
"You're so strong," she crooned, touching his masked cheek lightly.
"Don't touch my hair," he warned.
He blinked as a man stepped into his path.
Valoren Yazawa?
Taro caught his breath as the valoren smiled beneath his mask.
"Ah, Taro Zayasu, no?" The valoren's smile widened as Taro nodded slowly. "I wasn't expecting to see you here. Is that your sister?" the man went on. "She…doesn't look it."
Taro hoped the flush in his face was hidden entirely by the mask he was suddenly very glad of.
"She's my sister…adopted," he added as the valoren's eyes narrowed.
"I see," Yazawa mused.
Taro wondered vaguely what the man saw.
"I'd like you to exercise my horse, Taro," Yazawa went on. "This afternoon. Will that be possible?"
Taro's eyes widened.
"Your…your horse?" he gasped.
If Yazawa had been smiling, he was grinning now. "My horse."
"I'd…I'd be happy to, valoren!" Taro choked as his sister squealed and kicked him in the chest.
Suddenly the valoren glanced sharply at the boy.
"Why do you know–" He broke off. "Right. You were in the tavern last evening."
"You're a valoren?" Sakue chortled. "Are you as strong as Taro?"
Taro smacked her leg lightly. "I'm sorry for my sister, sir," he muttered as she slapped him back–on the cheek.
The valoren laughed quietly. "That's alright, I suppose. Everyone will know soon enough."
He glanced up at the girl herself. "Doesn't mean you can talk about it, though."
"I wanna ride your horse then, too," Sakue insisted.
"Oh khur," Taro snapped as he removed her from his shoulders and set her back on the road.
Her jaw dropped.
"You said it again!"
Sakue took off on a run towards their distant home. Taro sighed, brushing his hair back into submission.
He swallowed hard as he realized Yazawa was still looking at him.
"Quite the child," Yazawa laughed.
"Don't worry," Taro assured him. "She's not going anywhere near your horse."
The valoren nodded.
"Well, thank you for exercising it. I'll be busy this afternoon."
He was smiling again as he turned away.
"I'll see you later, Taro."
Confused, Taro watched him go. Then he slowly started to follow Sakue home.
Why was the valoren interested in him?
~~~
Arai Junzo had been waiting a while now for Taro to enter the stables.
But he hadn't expected the boy to leave again immediately–atop the valoren's black steed.
Confused, Arai's eyes trailed after the boy until he disappeared into the chaos of streets that was Norema.
"Huh," he muttered–and jumped as a hand tapped his shoulder.
"Valoren Yazawa!"
"Arai Junzo." The valoren's eyes seemed slightly more friendly than usual. "So you like my horse, too, eh?"
"Your steed is quite beautiful, yes." Arai willed his heartbeat to slow back to normal.
Yazawa led the way towards the fortress. "I'd like to have a talk with you, Arai."
"Of course." Arai stepped after him. His feet seemed to drag more than usual.
"Have you met Taro Zayasu yet?" Yazawa inquired as they made their way through the door and headed towards the circular staircase that led to Yazawa's room in the turret.
"Taro Zayasu?" Arai paused for a moment. "I think so, yes."
"Hm," Yazawa murmured. He opened the door, stepping in and closing it again after Arai had followed him. "Sit down, please."
Arai did.
"Do you know why you, Shiro, and Yumoto were sent here?"
Arai nodded slowly.
"I know enough," he decided. "I think. I'm just a metai, after all."
He froze as Yazawa's face tensed.
"Or that's the rank you choose to maintain," Yazawa parried. "You've been trained, haven't you."
Arai forced a shrug. "Karunic training isn't always accepted in Hosharan initiation."
"True," Yazawa conceded. "Well. What do you think of Taro Zayasu?"
Arai blinked.
"I mean… As a warrior? He's got talent. As an apprentice? He talks too much–"
"I don't care about training." Yazawa's eyes narrowed. "What do you think of him as…"
Silence carried the import before his words did.
"...a decoy?"
Arai caught his breath.
"A decoy?"
"Yes." Yazawa sat down opposite the metai. "He's adopted, you know."
Arai's brow furrowed.
"A decoy for what, exactly?"
"Don't pretend to be stupid," Yazawa snapped. "You know. The long-lost heir of Karun."
Arai's mouth dropped open. His mask followed the movement.
"A…decoy," Arai stuttered. "But the King wants–"
"The King wants the rumors extinguished," Yazawa cut in. "No legitimate heir–if one even exists–would be able to rise above the ignominy of a previous public execution."
Arai's hands were shaking.
"Valoren Yazawa…"
His voice halted to a stop.
"Yes?" The valoren eyed him keenly.
"I'm… I'm Karunic," Arai whispered. "Please don't ask me to take part in politics."
"You are a Hosharan soldier, are you not?" Yazawa countered.
"Yes, but–"
"Then you do what Hoshara demands," Yazawa finished for him.
Their eyes locked. Arai twisted his hands together in his lap.
"What do you want, then?" he asked finally.
Yazawa stood up again and walked over to the window.
"It's simple," he said some moments later. "Tomorrow I want you to confirm that Taro Zayasu was adopted ten years ago and that no one knows what family he initially belonged to." He set one hand on the windowsill. "And then, the day after tomorrow, you ride to court with a message from me to the King."
Arai forced himself to take a deep breath.
"Is that all?" he questioned.
The valoren turned to look at him. He was smiling.
"That is all."