The Twelve Kingdoms: A Thousand Leagues of Wind

twenty men who can still wield a sword, we'll consider ourselves lucky. It's not our intent to take out Shoukou merely for our own self-righteous satisfaction, and then run away as fast as we can."
    "It isn't?"
    Sekki countered with an ironic smile. "That's what criminals do, Suzu."
    "Ah--"
    "If we assassinate Shoukou and go on the lam, the people of Takuhou will be thrown into the maelstrom. Shoukou's colleagues within the prefectural castle walls will surely not let the matter rest short of coming after us. This is our opportunity to execute a most meritorious deed. But Shoukou and his underlings who have been living the good life along with him are all birds of a feather. They will surely put the people of Takuhou on the rack and root out the wrong-doers. That's why our object is not to strike at Shoukou and then quietly fade away."
    "But if you don't--"
    "Those underlings of his will be made to understand who we are and why we did what we did. While contending with those seeking retribution against us, we will attempt to flee to a neighboring province."
    "Won't a thousand be too few to accomplish that?"
    "Laughably so. Three battalions of five-hundred provincial soldiers each are stationed in Takuhou, along with a thousand prefectural guards and five hundred praetorians."
    "That many--"
    "Not only that, but our opponents will be trained in warfare, while there are few among us who can wield a sword with any skill. On top of that, as time passes, troops will no doubt be sent from Meikaku. After a few days, if only provincial troops end up garrisoned in the vicinity, I'd estimate three thousand. It's even possible that all four divisions of the provincial guard will end up on our doorstep."
    "You can't possibly--"
    "If the people of Takuhou do not act in concert and resist them on our behalf, we will all die."
    "This is insanity! To what end?"
    "To raise the banner of revolt. Killing Shoukou is not the goal. His death is not the end of our cause. After that, the people of Takuhou must show their mettle."
    "But--"
    "There is no other course. If you cannot condone Shoukou and others of his ilk, then raise the banner of revolt, and let the ministers and all the higher-ups know that we will not stand for their kind any longer."
    Suzu pursed her lips. "You're right."
    "You are free to leave."
    Suzu shook her head. "No. I'm staying right here."

Chapter 62
    Y ouko paced the streets of Takuhou. Her best lead was the trail left by Suzu's sansui. But it was not a well-known species of pegasus, and after beating the pavement and asking around, neither she nor the people she questioned were any wiser as to the nature and fate of the creature in question.
    Although she'd asked Hankyo to look for the sansui, he was not likely to ferret out the creature in a city of this size in such a short space of time.
    Koshou, Sekki, Suzu. All she had were those three names. No more clues than these? She asked Koshou's neighbors about his whereabouts, but nobody would answer her questions. Clearly, most if not all of them were hiding the truth from her.
    She talked to many people, asking about Koshou, and couldn't but become aware of the despondent expressions on their faces. A child had died in this city, and its citizens had watched the carriage drive away, pretending that nothing had happened. She saw that same mind set everywhere she went. What are you looking for him for? she was asked over and over. Even when she explained about the attack on the rike, she was told, "Well, that's too bad," and with those words of consolation, they crossed the street to get away from her.
    No consciences were stirred, and no one showed the slightest inclination in helping her. Far from it, the only attention she received was from those warning her to lay off.
    What has happened to this city? she thought, passing through the gate of an inn. "Excuse me," she said, and proceeded to ask if anybody there knew a man named Koshou, or if Suzu or Sekki had stayed here before. It stood to reason that a fellow innkeeper might know. Having moved, though, Koshou could be lodging anywhere. But she had no good grounds on which to proceed. She was equally aware of the possibility that he might have simply left town.
    "Don't know," the innkeeper bluntly replied.
    "Is that so? Thanks, anyway."
    She stepped outside and lingered for a while in front of the establishment. While she'd been talking with the innkeeper, Hankyo had surreptitiously checked inside for any