The Twelve Kingdoms: The Shore in Twilight

the shrill voice of the Registrar. "Kill her!"
    "Don't kill her. Even if she is a rebel or insurgent, we'll need to question her."
    Toshin nodded and set off in pursuit of the woman. Clinging to the beast's back, with one final burst of effort, she attempted to reach the highest level of the plaza.
    Blocking her way was a large door. On the other side of the door, already above the Sea of Clouds, were the inner rooms of the Imperial residence. There another platoon soldiers stood at the ready. But whether or not they had become aware of the tumult--
    No, thought Toshin. If they opened the gate without being fully appraised of what was going on, the woman would try to slip through to the inner palace.
    In the very moment these concerns occurred to him, the side gate budged. Perched on the beast's back, the woman made a beeline for the side gate and barreled through to the inner palace.
    Cries of dismay arose around him. Calls of shock and censure from above him. These sounds ringing in his ears, Toshin bolted up the steps and reached the side gate. At the same time, the beast's scream hit Toshin like a fist to the solar plexus. The soldiers on the other side of the gate must have finished them off.
    Feeling like he'd swallowed a bucket of lead, Toshin stumbled through the side gate. Inside was the Roshin, the vestibule leading to the inner quarters of the Imperial residence. Partitioning the spacious balcony was a high barrier wall, beyond which soared the edifices of the Seishin, the Empress's personal domain.
    These areas of the palace were off-limits to most of the high officials of the Kingdom, not to mention Toshin and his fellow soldiers.
    The beast had collapsed on the cobblestone path leading to the Seishin. Many barbed grappling hooks had been flung across its body to restrain it.
    "No! Don't kill it!" came Gaishi's voice.
    The soldiers surrounded the beast looked around in surprise. As Toshin came adjacent the encircling cordon of soldiers, one was thrusting the tip of his lance against her neck. He yanked it out at once. The woman's body convulsed. Angry epithets arose from the cordon of soldiers.
    The shrill, foul-tempered voice of the Registrar rang out from the gate. "Kill her!" he screamed.
    Commands to kill and not to kill--the woman and her beast still attempting to flee--the cordon of agitated soldiers pressing in on them--in the height of the panic and confusion, a clear voice rang out.
    "What is all this commotion about!?"
    Toshin breathed a sigh of relief. The figure approaching the cordon was a big man holding a big sword in one hand. The Daiboku of the Ministry of Summer. He was attached to the security detail charged with the protection of the Empress and the other court nobles. Among them, the Daiboku specifically shadowed the Empress in the course of her daily routines and served as her personal bodyguard.
    In terms of actual social class, he never rose above that of a lower-ranked baron. But this Daiboku had the special trust of the Empress. When out of the public eye, he never strayed far from her side and took command of her junior retainers.
    Even now the Daiboku was accompanied by three retainers.
    "A rebel!" the Registrar called out.
    "A visitor!" Gaishi rejoined.
    The Daiboku blinked and looked for himself. "Rebel or visitor, which one is it?"
    "Not a visitor!" came that screeching voice. The Registrar again. "She feigned being a visitor to invade the palace!" The Registrar went on at length about the circumstances that had brought about the current state of affairs.
    In the midst of the narrative the Daiboku held up his hand, indicating that he'd heard enough. "It'll be faster if I ask her directly."
    With that the Daiboku strode toward her. Toshin threaded his way between the bewildered soldiers and stole to the woman's side. He retrieved the lance that had fallen from her grasp and took the opportunity to examine her more closely.
    Not a lie. And not a staged performance.
    Blood indeed stained her torn, filthy clothing in its grotesque patterns. And as before, the fresh blood had taken on the color of iron as it clotted and dried. The remnants of the leather armor barely hung on her body and her right arm lying against the stones was bound tightly with a cord. Beneath her torn sleeves her forearm was withered and black. Necrosis must already be setting in.
    She wasn't human. If she hadn't been a wizard she'd be dead by now.
    "He'll do all right by you," Toshin whispered. Sprawled on