The Twelve Kingdoms: A Thousand Leagues of Wind

them spoke up. "Pardon me, Empress, but I regret to inform Your Highness that soon after the pretender usurped the throne, my troops surrendered to her army. Given the opportunity to wipe away that disgrace, I followed General Sei here."
    "I see," said Youko, gazing down at the three bowed heads. Of course, Kantai was no ordinary person. He was here with his comrades-in-arms, who had once been his officers. And now that she thought about it, Kantai's mates had always showed him the greatest deference.
    "There is something I wish to ask you, first. Did you gather here in Wa Province on Koukan's orders?"
    "That is indeed the case."
    They had met once before at her coronation, but Youko couldn't remember his face. But based on the men he had gathered around himself, she could imagine what kind of a person the Marquis was.
    "Kantai, I wish you to express my appreciation to Koukan for all he has done. Tell your lord that if he can find it in his heart to serve this foolish empress, then I would indeed ask him to visit Gyouten as soon as possible."
    Kantai lifted his head and for a moment looked up at her face before bowing once more. "Upon my word, it shall be done!"
    Youko nodded and walked over to Koshou, who still seemed completely at sea. She patted him on the arm and pointed at the guard tower. "Why don't we open the gates? There's no need to keep them shut any longer."
    "Ah, right," said Koshou, with a big grin.
    As he hurried along behind her, she glanced over her shoulder and asked, "Is there anything you'd like, Koshou?"
    "Nothing comes to mind. Just seeing Shoukou brought to justice is enough for me."
    "Nothing at all?"
    Koshou smiled a bit sheepishly. "This here's all I've been thinking about." He stopped walking and Youko paused as well. "Am I going to be punished?"
    Youko sighed to herself. "Why would you think that?"
    "I made a pretty big mess of things around here."
    "Well, if I punished you, Koshou, then wouldn't I have to impose those same penalties on myself?"
    "Yeah, I guess so." Koshou grinned. "Oh, that's right!" he said, looking at her. "Now, I'm just asking you as a good mate, see, as a fellow soldier who ate out of the same pot with the rest of us. But there is a small favor I'd like to ask of you."
    "What's that?"
    "You being some sort of real important person and all, I was thinking maybe you'd know the right people who could make it happen. I was just wondering if you could arrange for Sekki to get into a good school in Ei Province--?"
    Watching this exchange, Suzu and Shoukei burst out laughing. Even Youko couldn't keep a straight face.
    "Eh? What'd I say?"
    The ramparts filled with warm laughter brighter than sunlight.

Chapter 79
    T he second regiment of the Palace Guard sent to Meikaku returned to Takuhou five days later.
    Youko had stayed behind to help put the ship of state aright in Takuhou. But she eventually got fed up with the people of the city prostrating themselves at her feet right and left and confined herself to the castle compound. There she could converse at ease with Suzu and Shoukei as they inventoried the weapons and prepared meals for the wounded. Koshou was the same old Koshou. Having fought the long battle alongside her from the beginning, Koshou's mates grew relaxed around her as well, and went back to calling her "Youshi" the same way they had before.
    Kantai and his lieutenants remained on a more formal basis with her, but that was no doubt because he was a general in the military and it was too late to teach that old dog new tricks.
    "The Imperial forces approach!" came the shout from one of the turrets.
    Youko climbed to the top of the castle wall in time to see a horse-drawn wagon entering Takuhou. She ran toward the main castle gate. The wagon stopped as soon as the driver recognized Youko. He climbed down and bowed deeply, then helped a small man off the wagon.
    "Enho."
    Enho turned his gaze from the soldier to Youko. "Well," he said, his face breaking into a smile, "I see you're doing well."
    "Are you all right?"
    Enho nodded, and his eyes darkened. "Rangyoku and Keikei?"
    The question was like a dagger in her chest. She buried her face in her hands. "Rangyoku, she--"
    A big hand thumped down on her shoulder. It was Koshou. He pointed at the middle gate. "Don't keep the old guy standing around chatting like this. Find a place to sit down."
    Youko nodded, and Enho's eyes narrowed a bit. "I believe we've met once before."
    "You were a great help to my little