The Twelve Kingdoms: A Thousand Leagues of Wind

unless you are spoken to."

    The Empress was about to return to the Naiden when the man behind her opened his mouth to speak. Shushou looked over her shoulder at him.
    "What was that?"
    He said, a flustered look on his face. "The way you dealt with the princess royal . . . . "
    "Oh, nonsense," Shushou said flippantly. "Before you start feeling sorry for Shoukei, first feel sorry for the people of Hou who have so much cause to hate her. Really, you kirin do let your sense of compassion get the best of you, putting the cart before the horse and all."
    "But . . . . "
    Shushou laughed. She peered at face of Kyouki high above her. While most kirin had a willowy physiognomy, the kirin of Kyou was a big man.
    "I have made up my mind. Okay?"
    "Yes, but isn't it the Empress's duty to show compassion toward her subjects?"
    Shushou snorted. "When I became empress, becoming a great humanitarian wasn't part of the deal. Sorry. Besides, you are my servant, right?"
    "Yes, but . . . . "
    "Then don't nitpick so. I don't want to hear any more about this Shoukei business. Governing the kingdom is hard enough. I haven't got any sympathy for some little fool who fiddled while her kingdom burned and utterly lacks discernment when it comes to her father."
    Disheartened, the big man hung his head and continued to mope. "But that you would even consider recommending that the Marquis of Kei usurp the throne . . . . "
    "Didn't think to. Recommended. " Shushou plopped herself down in a chair. "So you're saying that because the Marquis of Kei killed the king, he shouldn't be the one to rule the country? Frankly, I wish the man would show a little backbone and just call himself king."
    "It is Heaven who crowns the king. It's that throne you are recommending be usurped. If that comes to pass, and because of it Hou is destroyed . . . . "
    Shushou rested her chin in her hands and sighed. "I really don't know what to do. Wave after wave of refugees from Hou."
    "You should think about the refugees first."
    Shushou poked her finger at Kyouki. "You are really such a dunce! Isn't there any room in that head of yours to consider anything other than pity? Hou is in chaos. And you're saying you don't want the Marquis to take charge and shore up the kingdom? Hou doesn't have a kirin, you know."
    Kyouki glanced anxiously around the room. "Empress--"
    "Don't worry, nobody's here. Of course I wasn't going to tell that to the envoy. I'm not stupid. There's no kirin on Mt. Hou. Who knows how long it will take for a new king to accede to the throne. If the people of Hou knew that, they would lose hope and the kingdom would collapse before our eyes."
    There was no kirin on Mt. Hou to choose the new king. Not even Shushou knew why not. The wizardesses of Mt. Hou were the servants of God and Mt. Hou was the inviolable sanctuary of all the kings of the Twelve Kingdoms, yet no further details of the incident had been forthcoming. Three years before, an anomaly had passed through Kyou in the direction of Hou. A shoku. It was possible that this shoku had originated in the Five Sacred Mountains. When inquiries were made as to whether this was the case, it was said that all the palaces on Mt. Hou remained shut. None were open in order to welcome a new kirin.
    When asked if Houki--word was, the kirin of Hou was a boy--was well and strong, not even a vague prevarication was heard in reply. Further investigation confirmed it. There was no kirin on Mt. Hou.
    Shushou let out a breath. "We've got no choice but to let the Marquis get on with it. He's got a good head on his shoulders. And we don't know when a kirin will show up in Hou and chose a new king. That's why I'm trying to spur things on. You got a problem with that?"
    "Empress--"
    Shushou swung her feet back and forth. One of her shoes flew off. She said, "Chuutatsu brought this all upon us. It's not only his fault, but the fault of all his blockhead retainers and hangers-on who let it happen. That's why I can't stand Shoukei. Even you should be able to understand that. Now, quit crying me a river and get me my shoe and put it back on for me."

Chapter 22
    " I t's freezing cold."
    Rangyoku's voice carried in the morning air.
    The Eastern Kingdom of Kei, the city of Kokei, prefecture of Hokui, Ei Province. Kokei was located to the northwest of the capital Gyouten, located in the center of Ei Province. The road east from Gyouten reached to the Kyokai. The road west ran to the Blue Sea. From ancient times, the thriving city