The Twelve Kingdoms: A Thousand Leagues of Wind

kitchen."
    "Understood. Thanks for everything."

    The house was about the same size as a rike. As private residences went, it was pretty big. The courtyard was surrounded by four halls, with the main gate in the southeast corner. Kantai seemed to be the landlord. He lived in the main wing, and as his guest, she was given the use of a room across the parlor from his room. Her room didn't have so much as a bed, but a divan instead.
    Twenty men who looked a lot like soldiers were camped out in three of the rooms surrounding the courtyard. There were maybe two or three women, and they were all quite striking.
    The next day, Shoukei found that she could at least walk, so she first decided to check out the kitchen instead of going to an inn. Even the pots on the stove had collected dust. The kitchen obviously had not been used in ages.
    "Amazing," she said to herself.
    "What is?" Kantai asked.
    Shoukei literally jumped. "You surprised me."
    "Sorry. How are you doing? Can you walk?"
    "It doesn't hurt that much. Does anybody actually use this kitchen?"
    Kantai smiled. "Most everybody here eats out. To tell the truth, I'd be happy just to be able to brew a cup of tea. But you can see the state things are in."
    "Well, then let's get to the point where we can brew a cup of tea."
    "Anything I can do to help?"
    She looked up at him and was about to say it'd probably be easier for her to do it by herself, when he smiled sheepishly. "Naw. I know I'd better stick to the cleaning up. I'm all thumbs when it comes to stuff like this."
    "You don't say. So, I take it you were brought up in nice digs."
    Men and women became independent at the age of twenty, and were at least capable of doing what they observed going on around them. Those who could not were betraying their reliance on servants, of being brought up in luxurious surroundings, of having somebody to watch over them.
    "Yeah, something like that."
    "Well, I'll wash the pots. You run the water."
    "That I shall do."
    His overly formal answer struck her as a bit odd. The two of them carried the assortment of pots outside, to the rear of the kitchen. There was a bucket next to the well. The dipper in the bucket suggested that whenever anybody wanted a drink they just came out here and helped themselves.
    "It really is every man for himself here."
    "They're not the type who give such matters a second thought."
    "When was the last time this bucket was cleaned? Unbelievable."
    "You think so?"
    "No matter. Are you a citizen of Kei, Kantai?"
    "Yes. And you?"
    "I was born in Hou."
    "So you've come a long way to end up here."
    Shoukei filled the bucket to overflowing. She washed her hands and smiled. "Yes, I did. I've come a long way. I never thought I'd ever end up in a kingdom where it didn't snow in the winter."
    "Huh," said Kantai, as he lowered the bucket into the well.
    "I didn't think there were any other kingdoms besides Hou that did something as cruel as crucifixion."
    "Yeah," said Kantai, hauling up the bucket. "But Wa Province is unique. The province lord doesn't bother enforcing the rule of law."
    "That's not true of all of Kei, is it?"
    "Well, I don't know about all of Kei. I suspect only Gahou could make such a mess of things as this."
    "Gahou? The Marquis of Wa?"
    "Yes. Two beasts rule in Wa. The province lord, Gahou, and the governor of Shisui Prefecture, Shoukou."
    "Shisui Prefecture. I was thinking of going there."
    "Why?"
    He asked with such doubtful expression that Shoukei shrugged her shoulders when she said, "If you go to Shisui, you'll get land and registered on the census. They're bringing in refugees from Tai. You don't know about that?"
    Kantai shook his head. "I don't. It's the first I've heard of it. I do see wagons carrying people passing through Meikaku, headed for Shisui."
    "You know, that's probably why. When I get to Shisui, I figure there will at least be a job waiting for me."
    "I'd stop thinking things like that, if I was you."
    "Why?"
    "I told you. Beasts prowl the land in Wa, and Shoukou leads the pack."
    "But he'd at least want to help the refugees--"
    "Shoukou isn't the kind of person who would ever help anybody. If you go there, I guarantee that you'll regret it."
    "You're sure?"
    A look of firm resolution came to his face. "The reason they're bringing people to Shisui is because they're losing people. There's only so much land. No matter how wealthy, a prefecture can't keep bringing in refugees. The only reason they can is because the people who