The Twelve Kingdoms: A Thousand Leagues of Wind

kidding." Very few people could order a city gate reopened after it was closed. "It must have been Shoukou."
    "He's the only one who could pull off something like that, don't you think? Just like the people around the Royal Kei could engineer the downfall of the Marquis without breaking a sweat."
    Shoukei looked into Suzu's eyes. Her big eyes suddenly brimmed over. Shoukei watched her silently.
    "The Royal Kei . . . she's a good person?"
    "I have to think so. The way you asked, do you not like her?"
    Suzu shook her head. "It'd be such a relief is she were."
    "Suzu?"
    "I wanted to see her. I thought for certain she must be a good person. I met Seishuu on the ship from Sai. He was in a really bad state, and I was worried sick about him. I told him we'd go to Gyouten together . . . . "
    Suzu spoke his name in such a grief-stricken voice it made her heart ache.
    "But he was killed by Shoukou. Anybody who'd let a beast like that run free, who'd protect him, wouldn't have done anything for Seishuu if I had taken him to Gyouten. So what did I bring him to Takuhou for? Just to die?"
    "Suzu--" Shoukei said, taking hold of her hand.
    "He was such an unfortunate kid."
    "Yes, he was."
    "If we had gotten to Gyouten, the Royal Kei would have helped him."
    "Of course."
    Shoukei stroked the back of the sobbing Suzu. She wept like a child. It was enough to break her heart.
    I only wish you could understand.
    That was all she desired to say to the Empress in Gyouten. Shoukei didn't know whether or not the Royal Kei could have healed Seishuu. She wished--
    I only wish you could understand how all the hopes of the people rest upon your shoulders.

Part XVI
    houkei picked up the reins of the horse. "Are you going straight back to Takuhou?" she asked Suzu, who was holding the reins of her sansui.
    "Yes," said Suzu.
    "I hope we meet again."
    Suzu answered with a nod.
    Where do you live-- Shoukei almost asked, but swallowed her words. They'd talked about so much. She had the feeling they'd talked about things that would bring a scowl even to Kantai's face. Nonetheless, she and Suzu knew the limits of what they could say to each other.
    "It was really nice being able to meet you," said Suzu, looking on the verge of tears.
    Shoukei nodded firmly. "We'll definitely see each other again, after everything settles down."
    "Yeah."
    With that, they averted their eyes and mounted up. "Later," they said to each other, and separated on the main highway to the east and to the west.

    A day's ride brought Shoukei to Meikaku. She wrapped her shawl loosely around her head as she approached the gates. Though the search for the stone-throwing girl had been called off for the time being, she couldn't be too cautious. The guardsman gave her a once-over, but paid her no particular attention.
    In Meikaku, or rather, in the cities of Hokkaku and Toukaku that had grown out of Meikaku, the criminal element was prevalent, and even if very few of them went around throwing stones at officials, the authorities couldn't go on chasing Shoukei forever.
    The merchant caravans found themselves thrown into this cauldron of refugees and the teeming poor. It was hard to believe they didn't find it completely disorienting. With nothing to eat, and with no other recourses, starving people would attack wagons hauling grain shipments and were arrested by the police. That they weren't dragged off to the main square could be considered a salvation of sorts, but nobody knew where they were held.
    According to the mercenaries, even when highwaymen were arrested, they could win release by greasing a few palms with their share of the loot.
    The poor and downtrodden joined gangs that teamed up to attack the caravans, knowing that if they were arrested they wouldn't be punished. Even if their hard-won proceeds were confiscated, and they were lucky enough not to get arrested, at least the pressing hunger would be alleviated. And even when the caravans hired bodyguards, they surely couldn't protect every piece of cargo. Looting and plunder that began in poverty was bound to repeat itself over and over.
    A training ground for thievery, that's what Kantai said. Every time he caught one of these self-made highwaymen, the stolen merchandise went to the Provincial Guard. It was never returned to its rightful owner. That was how Wa Province enriched itself.
    Traders were aware of this, but had no choice but to go through Meikaku. Smaller merchants formed their own syndicates and hired