The Twelve Kingdoms: The Shore in Twilight

captains
    "Ei Province is hot. Baku Province has better weather."
    "Are you from Baku Province, Sergeant?" Toshin asked.
    Gaishi nodded. "Born and raised. I was in the Baku Provincial Guard before the present Empress was enthroned."
    "Wow," said Toshin. He was keenly aware of the unique distinction accorded the soldiers from Baku Province. In fact, the head of the guard of the Forbidden Gate, General of the Army of the Left, had been chosen from the leadership of the Baku Provincial Guard.
    "So do you know General Sei--?" Toshin started to say.
    A black silhouette suddenly flew through the grey curtain hanging over the edge of the ledge. Toshin barely had time to yelp as it shot out of the heavy mist and collided with the rock wall next to the Forbidden Gate. With smothered cries, it pawed at the rock face as it slid down to the ledge.
    "What the hell!" came Gaishi's tense voice.
    The beast sprawled onto the terrace, its wings beating two, three times, as if convulsing. It keened pitifully and collapsed. A solitary human figure tumbled off its back.
    Gaishi readied his lance. Toshin followed suit as they ran to where the two of them were lying. Only the Empress, the Saiho, and those to whom the Empress had given special permission could pass through the Forbidden Gate. The pegasus that had fallen at their feet wasn't one of them.
    The gate leading to the heart of the palace was not the kind of place that people simply took it upon themselves to approach without consent, their circumstances notwithstanding.
    Just like Toshin, his fellow soldiers rushing to the side of the beast were hot under the collar and ready for battle. Toshin felt a rock of anxiety growing in the pit of his stomach as he ran. A phalanx of soldiers shot out from the barracks on either side of Forbidden Gate, erecting a wall of lances around the beast and its rider.
    Toshin finally got a good look at them and his eyes opened wide.
    The beast resembled an enormous dog with a silver-white body and black head. The soot-stained down covering its coat was blotted here and there with dark red spots. The black fur of its head was sheered clean or torn away in spots. The dirty white feathers of its stubby wings and its black flight feathers were shredded and missing.
    Lying on its side, it weakly beat at the ground with its wings, but hardly with enough force to call it the flapping of wings. Next to it, sheltered by its wing, lay a human figure in a distressed state hardly different than that of her mount: wounded, filthy, exhausted.
    Bewildered, Toshin sought out Gaishi. Standing at the vanguard, his lance at the ready, Gaishi faced the beast and its rider with startled eyes. A buzz of confusion ran through the throng. Gaishi raised his hand to check the forward motion of the soldiers around him. He put down his lance and knelt next to the rider.
    "Are you all right?"
    Hearing his voice, the rider raised her head. That was when Toshin finally realized the rider was a woman. She was tall, possessed of a rugged constitution, and was wearing leather armor. Or rather, what was left of her armor. It was not all filth and discoloration, but like the beast, was riddled with slashes and missing pieces.
    "Can you understand me? How did you come to be here?"
    The woman moaned and attempted to sit up. As she made the effort, Toshin realized that her arms were lacerated with deep wounds. Gaishi hesitantly retrieved his lance.
    "Don't move. I'm sorry, but don't make a move. This is the Forbidden Gate. People of unknown origin are not allowed anywhere near here."
    The woman looked up at Gaishi as if trying to divine his intentions. She answered with a small nod. Gaishi removed the sword from around her waist and handed it to Toshin behind him. He again set down his lance.
    With a groan the woman tried to raise herself up. This time she was not impeded. "Forgive me for causing such a commotion," she murmured, her chest rising and falling with each breath. She managed to kneel. "My name is Ryuu. I hold the rank of general in the Kingdom of Tai."
    "The Kingdom of Tai?" Gaishi echoed, his eyes wide.
    A supplicatory look in her eyes, the woman prostrated herself at his feet. "I know I speak with great offense and ask far more than I deserve, but there are words I must humbly share with the Empress of the Eastern Kingdom of Kei!"

Chapter 2
    A Registrar of the Imperial Court was called at once to the side entrance of the Forbidden Gate. The Registrar filled an official