The Twelve Kingdoms: A Thousand Leagues of Wind

mercenaries. They bribed provincial officials and demanded that the authorities enforce the law. But depending on what was being transported, there weren't any guarantee that their own bodyguards wouldn't turn on them. In fact, it was hardly uncommon.
    Strongmen with the slightest confidence in their abilities gathered from the outlying districts to find work. The competition led to bloodshed over and over.
    Shoukei sighed, dismounted from the horse, and walked through the gate.

    "So you're finally back. You're late."
    Kantai was addressing a number of men when she entered the main hall. When he saw her, he waved the men off. The men got up and left to a separate wing.
    "One other shipment didn't arrive," said Shoukei, and forthrightly informed him about what had transpired. She handed Kantai the money she'd gotten from Suzu via Rou.
    "That's unfortunate. Did Rou say anything more about his move to Houkaku?"
    "There was a girl--" Shoukei knit her brows. Kantai had asked her to inquire into the subject, and she had been told something about it.
    "What?"
    "Apparently there was a girl checking out Rou's place in Hokui."
    "That's all?"
    "About the same time he was meeting with the people in Takuhou. A little while later, the same girl visited them in Takuhou. After that, Rou was warned that it'd be a good idea if they moved."
    She related the account as she'd heard it. She leaned forward. "So, what kind of man is this Rou?"
    "A good man with a good heart. In short, he's an associate of Saibou."
    "And what about Saibou? He's the one who hired you?"
    "Not the case here. He's somebody who helped me out in the past. Let's leave it at that."
    "Saibou helped you out? Or one of his superiors?"
    Kantai eyes opened a bit wider and he smiled thinly. He motioned for her to get a chair and sit down next to him. "What do you mean, 'or one of his superiors?'"
    "That's the sense I got about him. It seemed to me that Saibou- sama was working for somebody, too."
    That was the impression she'd gotten from a word here and there. Somebody had asked Saibou to deliver the message to Kantai. Saibou had no faith in the Empress, but the man who sent him did.
    Kantai answered with another wry smile. "I see, a woman's intuition."
    "Of course. And?"
    "This is the case. Except that nobody's been hired by anybody. Saibou- sama owes the man a debt, and I owe them both. We all agreed that something must be done about Wa Province. To be sure, I get financing through Saibou- sama , but only because the war funds have been entrusted to him."
    "Meaning that Saibou's superior is the person in charge? Enho, perhaps?"
    Kantai smiled softly. "I don't know Enho, either. Beyond that, don't ask because I won't tell."
    "Ah," said Shoukei, closing her mouth on the subject.
    "There are men who live apart from society and teach the Way. Through their words, they attempt to keep the kingdom on the path of righteousness. I think Enho is one such person. I couldn't say for certain, though. There are those who try to keep the kingdom true through their actions. Those who arm themselves, as I do, resolved to support like-minded individuals through intermediaries like Rou. In this kingdom, there are many who lament what Kei has become. Not just us."
    "Well . . . yes."
    "The same way we have Gahou in our sights, in Takuhou there are people targeting Shoukou. Yes, I see. So there are some men with backbone still living in Takuhou."
    "I met the girl from Takuhou. She took the winter weapons back with her."
    Kantai furrowed his brows. "If they're amassing winter weapons, then they must be getting ready to strike."
    "I think so," said Shoukei, dropping her voice. She had to wonder if Suzu was okay.
    "Rou is one of Saibou's old acquaintances. No, better to call him an old classmate of our superior. They both attended the Evergreen Seminary in the western province of Baku."
    "A seminary? Is that like an academy?"
    A great deal of self-study was required in order to gain admittance to university. To supplement that self-study, students often asked learned men to tutor them, and learned men would in turn open private tutoring schools, or juku.
    "The Evergreen Seminary was a kind of private academy that teaches not worldly knowledge, but the Way. Rou is a graduate of the Evergreen Seminary. Because it wasn't an academic juku, anybody could attend. Graduates of the seminary would not necessarily become public servants. But if the kingdom strays from the Way, these paladins will turn