The Twelve Kingdoms: A Thousand Leagues of Wind

found other things to occupy their attention. A single man came up to her and pulled out a chair at a nearby table.
    "Have a seat. You got lost?"
    "Looks like it."
    Youko sat down in the chair. She felt a sensation creeping up her spine, Jouyuu manifesting himself. Jouyuu was one of Keiki's shirei. He dwelt inside her, and now he was tensing up. Sensing danger, he was preparing himself and warning her. In fact, though the men at the tables around her had all looked away, she knew they were all focused on her presence.
    "Hey, you." The man planted his hand on the table and leaned over her. The thin ring wrapped around his thick, gnarled fingers left a strange impression on her.
    "You a girl?"
    Youko looked up at him. "And if I am?"
    The man laughed. "Ballsy, you are."
    "I'll take that as a compliment. This your place?" The man nodded. Youko looked into his eyes and smiled. "Have we met before? In Hokui?"
    "No," the man grunted. "Not that I recall."
    From the expression on his face, Youko couldn't tell if he really didn't remember her or if he was only pretending he didn't.
    "You gotta be kidding, you come to see me?"
    "Just had a feeling we'd met before."
    Youko didn't pursue the matter further. Everything about the place was fishy, the man, the tavern. She was going to have Keiki check out exactly who they were.
    "Well, I do recall asking about getting something to eat."
    The big man exclaimed in amazement under his breath. He looked down at her with something approaching admiration. "Well, ain't you the plucky one. You got money?"
    "Are you telling me this is a pricey place?"
    "Pretty damned pricey."
    "Well, then," said Youko, standing up. "Perhaps I did come to the wrong place. So, what's the best way to get back to the main street?"
    The man took a step forward. "Who are you?"
    "A traveler."
    "You expect me to believe that? You got way more guts than fits your frame."
    The men around her came to their feet. With flinty eyes they sidled toward her. Youko grasped the hilt of the sword inside the overcoat.
    "What you come here asking questions for?"
    "I needed directions."
    "You take me for a fool?"
    They had her on all sides. Six burly men. Youko took a firmer hold on the sword when an unexpected voice called out.
    "Everybody, hold your horses!"
    Youko stole a glance in the direction of the cry. The men as well turned toward the back of the tavern. When the big man turned, a gap opened up in the wall. She saw a boy there, maybe fourteen or fifteen. He appeared awfully small amidst all those big men.
    He walked up to them, grabbed the big man by the arm. "Let her go." He said to Youko. "You may leave now."
    "Hey." The big man tried to free himself. The kid wrapped his arm around his in an imploring manner. He also wore a ring on his finger. Youko committed it to memory.
    "Sorry if they seem a little intimidating. They don't have much experience being around girls."
    "Oh."
    Continuing to tug on the big man's arm, he pressed his cheek against the man's upper arm and smiled. "Please don't take any offense."
    Youko nodded. She turned on her heels. The cordon of men reluctantly broke apart. She pushed through them to the door, briefly glancing back over her shoulder at the young man. Then she straightened her head and marched out of the tavern.

    "What you let her go for, Sekki?"
    The big man watched the girl leave and then turned his attention to the boy hanging off his arm. The boy took a breath and let it out. He disentangled his arm and laughed. "I didn't do it for her sake. I did it for yours, big brother."
    "You saying a little thing like her could have taken us?"
    "That was no ordinary courage." Sekki glanced at the door the girl had just left through. "That was a very dangerous girl."
    "What?"
    "When she put her overcoat down on the chair, it made far too heavy a sound." Sekki narrowed his eyes. "Considering the length, I'd say it was a sword. A long sword."
    Every eye in the place turned toward the door.

    Youko walked down the forlorn streets feeling distinctly dissatisfied.
    Something is going on.
    That big guy was definitely the man she had seen in Hokui. Furthermore, the men hanging around inside that tavern were a hard bunch, and they gave off a mean vibe. Hardly the typical clientele. And then that kid. Youko drew her brows together.
    She drew close to the main thoroughfare. She raised her head. From the intersection ahead of her came a scream. Not of one or two people, but the cries of many. And the sound