The Twelve Kingdoms: The Shore in Twilight

the Imperial edicts are taken for granted, they would in a flash lose all the gravity attached to them. Weary of the hard toil, if your inclination to pull your fingers from the dikes spreads far and wide, you will be ones who ultimately suffer. If the tax protesters in Tetsui go unchallenged, that burden will simply pass to the other citizens of the county. If you can grasp this principle, then should not the treasury be opened?"
    Some returned to their town and villages. Some spoke of their will to return to Tetsui. At first the people were gripped by suspicions. But once their discerned the willingness of Gyousou's soldiers to stay their hands, they gave more thought to his intentions.
    The siege went on for forty days. The Imperial Army repeatedly threatened to force their way into the county palace and retreated. Their shields remained white, unblemished by a single drop of blood. As the people of Tetsui tested the limits of the "liberating" Imperial troops, this was communicated to Kouki, and the will of the King continued to be assessed.
    A mutual compromise became inevitable. Gyousou's soldiers would not be deemed "victorious," but neither would their campaign be called a failure. On the one hand, the besieged citizens of Tetsui had to face the impossibility of keeping the treasury closed. On the other, the King had to face the reality that his own Palace Guard were in an unwinnable draw.
    Finally, on the forty-first day of the siege, the palace gates were opened. But not as the result of conquest on the field of battle.
    Gyousou passed through the mountains as the first snows of winter fell. He returned to Kouki and there gave an accounting of his "defeat." His soldiers had taken ten thousand blows and returned not a one. However, the treasury had been liberated because the people had chosen the right path and opened it themselves. The people of Tetsui has preserved the Divine Will.
    As a result, the taxes were collected and this "defeat" was set aside, the ends having been said to justify the means.
    Subsequently, the expression "A Tetsui Shield" circulated through the northern districts of Tai, also known as the "White Wool Shield." It was used as a sign of good faith, as in: "If you wish us to take you seriously, show us a Tetsui Shield."

    Gyousou and Tetsui were bound by the bonds of good faith. When Tetsui was pulled into the vortex of war, Gyousou could not turn a blind eye. Together with Sougen and twenty-thousand soldiers under their command, they set out for Bun Province.
    Risai wrapped her arms around Taiki's shoulders as they watched them leave.
    "Gyousou- sama is going to come back safely, right?" The young kirin looked up at her, worry etched on his face.
    Risai nodded with confidence. "Everything's going to be all right, Taiho."
    My assurances have all been turned into lies, she knew when she thought about it later. The chaos had from the first been carefully planned to drag Tetsui into the middle of the conflict. And that couldn't have resulted from the violent lashing mere rebels. The rebels had been organized and given direction and guided from the darkness. The person standing in the darkness had anticipated that Gyousou could not leave Tetsui to its own devices.
    The second time around, Gyousou had not returned to Kouki.

Chapter 10
    R isai?"
    A questioning voice brought her back to her senses. The Royal Kei was looking at her, concern etched on her face. What should I tell her? Searching for the words, she found herself descending deep into her own memories.
    "Are you not feeling well? If so--"
    Risai shook her head. "I beg your pardon. It's just that I've had a lot on my mind."
    I understand, Youko said with a nod of her head.
    "You inquired as to what has been happening in Tai. In short, there was a coup d'etat. His Highness was drawn out of the capital to a rebellion in one of the provinces and disappeared."
    In a simple and forthright fashion, Risai outlined the nature of the conflict.
    "Even I am unaware of the specific details. I have subsequently learned that he managed to make it to the outskirts of Tetsui and set up camp there. They were attacked. At the height of the battle, he vanished from sight. And not a word has been forthcoming about him since."
    "Nothing more? Not a single word?"
    "There is likely more to know. I haven't been able to meet with people who were in Bun Province at the time and who have more precise information about the incident. I don't know if others have