The Twelve Kingdoms: Shadow of the Moon

out. The intensity of the pain was enough to make her physically sick.
    Writhing in agony, she grouped for the jewel and tore it free of the cord. She gritted her teeth and pressed the jewel hard against her hand. Groaning, her body twisted into a ball.
    The magic of the jewel saved her. The pain abated a bit. After a few minutes more, holding her breath, she could bear to sit up again. She applied the jewel to the wound, cautiously tried to move her fingers, but couldn't feel anything below the wrist. She continued to force her right hand around the jewel.
    Rocking back and forth, she hugged her hand against her body. She cracked open her eyes and looked up at the sky. The red-stained clouds were still there. She hadn't been unconscious that long.
    Who was that woman? Why did she do this to her? So many things were racing through her mind, but she was in no condition to think about anything. After searching around some more, she found the sword. She took hold of the hilt and hugged the sword and her right hand to her chest. For a while she stayed curled up that way.
    Not a long time had passed when she heard a voice say, "Oh . . . . "
    She looked in the direction of the voice. A small child was standing there. The girl looked over her shoulder and yelled, "Mom!"
    A woman hurried towards them at a small run.

    Youko's expression said that the child had not bothered her. Her mother seemed an honest type. Her appearance betrayed her low economic status. She carried a large pack on her back.
    Similar looks of concern rose to the faces of mother and child as they ran toward her. They jumped over the bodies of the dead beasts, grimacing with distaste.
    Youko couldn't move. She could only watch helplessly from where she lay. They'll help me, she thought, for only a moment, before more anxiety overcame her. This was one time when she really needed help. The worst of the pain had subsided, but had hardly disappeared. All her strength was exhausted. She doubted she could even get up a second time.
    So she felt more suspicion than relief. It was all too good to be true.
    "What's going on? Are you all right?"
    The girl touched Youko's face with her small hand. Her mother put her arms around her and helped her sit up. For some reason, Youko found the body-warm touch of the woman's clothing repulsive.
    "What in the world happened to you? You were attacked by these beasts? Are you badly injured?"
    As she spoke, the woman's attention was drawn to Youko's right hand. She let out a small cry. "What is this? Hold on."
    She searched in the sleeve of her kimono and extracted a strip of cloth the size of a hand towel. She used it to bind Youko's hand. The girl took the small pack off her own back, took out a bamboo container, and held it out to Youko.
    "Sir, you want some water?"
    Youko hesitated. She couldn't shake her sense of unease. The canteen had been in the girl's pack so it must be for the girl's own use. There shouldn't be any poison in it. And the canteen didn't look like it had been tampered with in the meantime.
    Having reassured herself, she nodded. The girl removed the stopper and with her two small hands held the canteen to Youko's lips. The lukewarm water flowed down her throat. In a stroke her breathing eased considerably.
    The mother said, "You're probably hungry."
    At the moment her stomach did not feel empty, but Youko knew she was starving so she nodded.
    "When's the last time you had anything to eat?"
    Youko couldn't be bothered to come up with a number so she remained silent.
    "Mom, there's some fried bread."
    "No, no, that'd be no good. It wouldn't stay down. What about something sweet?"
    "Sure."
    The child opened the mother's pack. Inside were a variety of jars of different sizes. With a stick she drew out the thick syrup. Youko had seen people carrying these kinds of containers before. They were probably syrup peddlers.
    "Here you go."
    Youko didn't hesitate this time. She took the stick with her left hand. The syrup melted sweetly in her mouth.
    "Are you traveling somewhere? What happened to you?"
    Youko didn't answer. She didn't want to tell the truth, and it would be too tiring to think up a lie.
    "I dare say, you seem well enough for being attacked by youma. Can you stand up? The sun will be setting soon. There's a village not far off, at the foot of the mountain. Can you walk that far?"
    Youko shook her head. She meant to say that she didn't wish to go to the village, but the woman took her to mean she