The Twelve Kingdoms: A Thousand Leagues of Wind

who shed its tail."
    "A fair description."
    "Fortunately, Shisui happens to be close by. I was curious to see for myself what this Shoukou was like. I'd also like to check out the capital of Wa Province."
    "You shouldn't be taking unnecessary risks."
    "I don't. I'll be careful."
    Keiki gave Youko a sideways glance. "Really? I can smell blood on you."
    "Eh?" Youko sniffed at her sleeves.
    "It is blood, is it not? Though I do not wish to imply that Your Highness was the cause of it."
    "Oh, that's right. I came across an accident. It happened a few days ago. Can you still smell it?"
    "It strikes me as the blood of an innocent, spilled without a curse, so it is not acrid. I do worry for your well being."
    Accursed blood. Youko smiled darkly to herself. Keiki used that description often when she was battling the pretender. No matter how much magnanimity you displayed, when you killed someone or ordered their death, the malice and bitterness in the blood hung like a fog around her. Kirin could not abide blood, and the scent of such accursed blood pained them.
    "Don't worry about it."
    Keiki--and all kirin--ate nothing tinged with blood. They weren't forced to reject it out of hand, but even foods fried or sauteed in suet would harm their bodies. According to Rokuta, kirin of En, that was why kirin swept away to Yamato never lived long. The shortened lifespan of a kirin without a king was approximately thirty years. A kirin in Yamato could last maybe a third that long.
    Such were the kind of creatures that kirin were.
    "Really. I can take care of myself."
    "I earnestly pray that you will."
    "So, how are things going in Gyouten?" Youko asked, with a bit of forced cheerfulness.
    Keiki responded with a dour expression. He said, "Without Your Highness there . . . " and sighed.
    As usual, the warring ministers had divided the court into two factions. Although Seikyou, the previous Chousai, had lost de facto authority, and Taisai, leader of the opposition, had died, things had pretty much stayed the same. Left with no real authority of consequence to toss around, Keiki's sense was that they had less interest in governance than in fighting petty turf battles.
    The things some people were saying as if true: fearing regicide, the empress fled to Yamato. She had sought refuge in En. She had hidden herself deeply within the palace compound. Others went so far as to say she had been kidnapped by Marquis Koukan of Baku Province. What they all had in common was the criticism that she had abandoned the throne and grave doubts that she would ever return to it.
    As Keiki explained all this, Youko took a breath and let it out. "I see."
    "And there are those who claim that because things were not going the way you desired at the palace, you grew frustrated and appealed to the Royal En and will henceforth staff the court with bureaucrats from En."
    "What?" said Youko. She bit her lip and then cynically laughed. "But, of course. Without the help of the Royal En, they think I couldn't have done a thing by myself."
    It was true, though. And it vexed her, having to depend on others like this.
    "I consider it all nonsense. But perhaps you have entertained such thoughts?"
    Youko felt a shiver go through her. "Why ask me a question like that?" Her green eyes darkened. "Is this something you have your own doubts about?"
    Feeling the weight of her displeasure, Keiki unconsciously averted his gaze. He who could stare down a youma could not look his lord in the eye.
    "At least you have to believe in me."
    "Forgive me."
    "Look, no one has less faith in me than myself. More than anybody else, I doubt my qualifications to be empress. There have been rulers who let these doubts and suspicions overcome them and fell from the Way. That is why, if nobody else in this world believes me, you have to."
    "Yes," he said, bowing.
    Youko opened the scroll in her hand. "Do you have to return right away?"
    "A quick return would be problematic. I have supposedly traveled to En."
    Youko grinned. "Of course. So, would you like to take a trip to Takuhou?"
    "Takuhou in Shisui Prefecture, I take it."
    Youko nodded. "The capital of Wa Province, what is it, again?"
    "You mean, Meikaku?"
    "Yeah. I'm thinking of going to Meikaku, and stopping by Takuhou on the way. I'd like to see what things are like in Wa Province. You can be my tour guide."
    "Yes, but . . . . " Keiki hesitated.
    Once again her eyes darkened. "I'd like you to see it, too, Keiki. I want you to see the Kei you