The Twelve Kingdoms: The Shore in Twilight

ball. "I'm, um, just doing my job as your bodyguard."
    Youko smiled. "In that case, let's head back. I've been running around in circles all day. All that paperwork won't take care of itself. Suzu, sorry, but could you stay and look after Risai?"
    "No problem," Suzu said with a wave of her hand. "I'll take care of everything."
    Youko smiled and returned with Shoukei and Koshou to the promenade. By now, the arbor had collected two more silhouettes. Youko stopped and demanded, "And would it do any good asking what you two are doing here as well?"
    The two odd-sized silhouettes exchanged glances. "Naw," said Enho. "Just taking in the beautiful Moon. That's all." He looked at Koukan.
    "I was looking for Your Highness. I was getting a bit frazzled, so I asked the Taishi to accompany me."
    "But of course," said Youko, surveying the four of them. "You have nothing to worry about. Risai just told me herself that I was not to be dispatching soldiers to Tai. Even knowing that, there really was no other way to ask for help. I have pledged to do whatever I can, as long as it does not exceed the limits of what is possible. Risai says that is something she can live with."
    Enho and Koukan nodded, clearly relieved.
    "Which is why I wish to ask the Taishi and Chousai to explore everything they can think off--within the limitations placed upon us by Heaven--that might done for the good of Tai. Make it a priority, and report back to me as soon as possible."

    The next day, the officials involved with the matter held a high-level conference. They worked straight through the night until morning, but failed to come up with a definitive solution of any sort.
    "Taking Your Highness's example as a precedent would suggest escorting the Royal Tai to Kei. This becomes the premise for taking any further action." Koukan spoke in the same cool and collected manner as he always did, though he did look a little haggard. "However, it does not appear that the Royal Tai has escaped from Tai. If he was able to leave Tai, he would likely seek sanctuary elsewhere, and news of such efforts would reach our ears. Lacking such evidence, we must conclude that he remains within the borders of Tai."
    "There's no way of making sure?" asked Youko. She glanced at the assembled officials gathered in the Sekisui-dai.
    "The Phoenix is the fastest way to make such inquiries among the other kingdoms," said Shouryuu, the Royal En. "But there's no way of knowing for certain whether the Royal Tai will formally ask for asylum. If he seeks shelter among his retainers, former colleagues, and acquaintances who escaped Tai, our inquiries are not likely to reveal that fact."
    Koukan nodded. "If he sought sanctuary, I think it would be in En. En is the closest of the great kingdoms and its shores face Tai across the Kyokai. Furthermore, the Royal Tai and Royal En have a cordial relationship and have exchanged diplomats. If he seeks asylum in any kingdom, it will be En."
    "I see."
    "One thing the ministers can agree upon is unlikelihood of the Royal Tai seeking refuge among former acquaintances in other kingdoms. The Royal Tai is a man of the sword. Furthermore, six years have passed since the last change of government. We cannot believe that a general of such repute would be so afraid of Asen that he would hide himself away for six long years. Neither would he content himself to sup from another's plate, even that of a dear friend."
    "No, he wouldn't. And if he did seek refuge among old acquaintances, he would surely feel compelled to spread the word around so that the people of Tai could gather to him."
    "That he would. The logical conclusion is that the Royal Tai is still in Tai. However, seeing that Risai-dono is unaware of his location, the possibility remains that he may have been captured, or he is biding his time, waiting for the opportunity to strike back. The odds of the former are high. In any case, in order to extend asylum to the Royal Tai, it would first be necessary to travel to Tai and search him out. And that would likely encroach upon the Divine Decrees."
    After a few moments of thought, Youko said, "If a search was the only thing involved, we wouldn't need an army. Say that I--or somebody appointed by me--entered Tai, accompanied by the bare minimum number of soldiers. If it was a personal visit, how would it be different from the trips Keiki has made there previously? It's natural for me to travel with an armed guard, and discovering that the Royal Tai was