The Twelve Kingdoms: A Thousand Leagues of Wind

Keikei!"
    Before Enho reached Keikei, the men rushed at him and grabbed his arms. Enho shook himself free, knelt and picked up Keikei's body. With remarkable strength, he clasped Keikei against his chest, cast her a glance that spoke volumes, and headed toward the courtyard.
    "Enho . . . run . . . . "
    A man blocked his way. With Keikei still in his arms, Enho turned and ran in the direction of the study, the men in pursuit.
    Why? Why is this happening?
    Keikei.
    Rangyoku planted her hands and got to her feet. Swaying, she turned toward the doorway.
    Enho.
    She heard the sounds of running, the pounding of footsteps from deep within the rike. She dug her fingernails into the walls and staggered down the corridor, gripping the handrail. Should she rush outside to get help? She hesitated, then continued on down the hallway, clinging to the railing.
    Keikei.
    She ran with a lurching jog, ignoring the burning pain in her back. She came to the walk between the guest room and the study and found Keikei and Enho lying there on the floor.
    "Enho!"
    "Rangyoku, get away from here!"
    "But!" She looked down at her brother crumpled on the floor. The small pool of blood was growing. Keikei didn't move, not for her cries, not for her tears.
    This can't be happening.
    "Rangyoku!"
    She came back to her senses. The men rushed at them, weapons in hand. Instinctively, she turned and ran sluggishly down the corridor. A blade struck her in the back, the impact driving her to her knees. She rolled to the floor, picked herself up, ran on. The weapons slashed at her feet, slammed against the back of her neck. She stumbled into the closest doorway.
    Safe haven.
    It was the guest room. Her eyes fell on the door to the bedroom. She reached out and crawled toward it.
    The lock.
    As Rangyoku opened the door and plunged inside, she felt another sharp shock of pain in her back. Ah, she sighed. Something warm flowed down from the back of her neck and across her chest. She grabbed hold of a shelf and collapsed, unable to support herself. A small box tumbled off the shelf and fell open next to her.
    It's Youshi's, she thought listlessly. What a strange girl. Now there'll be nobody at the rike at all. Enho will be lonely.
    "Enho!"
    She'd left him behind. What would become of him now?
    What did we ever do to them?
    The sight of her brother lying in a pool of blood pained her far more than her own blood gathering around her. He was still so small. Such a good kid. The only person left in her family. When their parents had died, they had joined hands and gone on living together.
    What a sad kingdom this was. Being born in Kei was such a pitiful fate. Kei had killed their parents, had tried to banish her, and in the end even pursued them to this orphanage, where at last they had made a peaceful life for themselves. Kei was in such chaos that hoodlums and thieves had a free rein.
    Youshi, Rangyoku thought, unconsciously tightening her grip on the small square of cloth in the palm of her hand. Strike down Keikei's killers. Show them no mercy.
    There was a hard object in the cloth. Dazed, she stared at her hand and saw gold glimmering between her fingers.
    What's this?
    A golden seal with an engraved face.
    What's it doing here?
    Heavy footsteps approached. Rangyoku tightened her grip around it, to hide it from the assassins. A second, a third sharp pain pierced her back.
    The Imperial Seal of the Royal Kei.
    Tears welled up in her eyes.
    Help us, Youshi. Please. The way you saved us from the Kyuuki.
    Save us, and save the people of Kei.

Chapter 55
    " Y ou may leave."
    Keiki spoke softly to his shirei. The two youma wordlessly vanished. Kokei and Hokui were visible not too far off in the distance. As usual, they had alighted in a forest a safe remove from the highway.
    Keiki's lord stood next to him, sullen and silent. What kind of person is the Marquis of Baku? she had asked.
    Something happened in Takuhou. He did not know what she'd heard there, but when she came to where he was waiting outside the city, that was the question she'd posed to him. Keiki hadn't entered the city. The smell of death was too overwhelming.
    Youko had returned in something of a rage. He hadn't inquired of the shirei who'd accompanied her as to the specifics of the situation. He had no idea why Her Highness asked such a question with such vehemence, and she wouldn't reveal her real intentions.
    "Your Highness has been fully informed, has she not?"
    "I haven't. That's why I