"Ryuu, leave us."
Ryuu stood up without a word and slipped out the back door. Suzume remained kneeling on the ground as the emperor walked down the steps from his high place and came to stand in front of her.
"You do not need to keep your eyes averted when we are alone," he said, in the voice of not a ruler but a father.
Suzume stood up and meeting her father's eyes, accepting the challenge of facing him as an equal.
"You have every reason to hate me. All your life I have shown only my cold and unfeeling side. But I did it to keep you safe."
Suzume suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. He'd ignored her up until now because he had no need of her until he realized what power she had. "I am sure you love all your children." She bowed her head to him, in an almost mocking way.
"I am sorry. I have done you and your mother wrong."
Just the mention of her mother brought back all the bad memories, the lifetime lived as second-rate, second best. She could not think of anything to say that was not embittered and instead she kept her mouth shut.
The emperor searched her face. "You do look so much like your mother."
Suzume couldn't stand to look at him and turned her head away. It was as much an insult as she could manage.
"I loved her, but circumstances made it that we were kept apart."
"I understand," she said. Love in the White Palace didn't exist. Perhaps it didn't exist at all. It was a pretty lie that people told to justify their selfish behavior. The allusion of love only made you miserable. Without meaning to, her own thoughts drifted to Kaito and she shoved the memories down.
"I would do anything to make up for the wrongs I've done you."
"Then let my friends go," she said without thinking, gazing into the emperor's eyes and daring him to deny her request. Because once he did, it would confirm everything she believed, that he did not really love her. That she was just a pawn in his game. She braced herself for his rejection.
"If that will please you, then I will grant you this request."
Suzume blinked a few times before she processed his words.
"What? Are you sure? But they're yokai."
The emperor smiled. "If you believe them to be trustworthy, then I am willing to put my faith in your judgment." He bowed his head slightly toward Suzume.
Her head was swimming. She didn't even have the awareness to thank him.
The emperor placed his hands on her shoulders. "All I ask for in return is you take on this mission. Protect our people."
Of course there was a price to pay, but she couldn't pass up this chance to help the others escape.
"As you wish." She bowed her head to the emperor.
The emperor smiled as he dropped his hands to his side. "I will let Ryuu fill you in on the details of your mission. Please bear in mind, you can tell no one of what you are about to do."
She bowed her head to indicate she understood. The emperor returned to his dais and then with a wave of his hand, Suzume was excused. She kept her gait steady as she headed for the door, but once she was past the guards she almost sprinted on her way back to her room. She'd done it, she'd set them free.
When she returned to her room, she found Ryuu standing in the entryway, facing the garden beyond open doors. All of her excitement drained out of her as she looked to her staff on the other side of the room. And Ryuu between the two of them.
He turned to face her. "I'm not here to fight you."
"Says the man who’s trying to kidnap me. What did you have to tell the emperor to get me out of the palace?"
"I only told him the truth."
She crossed her arms over her chest but her eyes kept straying to her staff. "I'm sure."
"I will not force you to leave. But you have to know the longer you stay here the more dangerous it becomes for you."
She scoffed. "You're really scaring me."
"You should be. This isn't courtier games. You think of yourself as a spy, but I see right through you. I know you're trying to get to the temple records. But there are some things better left in the past." There was a dark shadow in his gaze, one that terrified Suzume more than she'd like to admit.
"What are you doing here? Are you trying to scare me?"
He shook his head. "I made a promise to protect you. And I'm doing what I said I would do."
It took all of her power not to let her shock show on her face. Perhaps he was working with Hisato, maybe not. But she was more certain than ever he was connected to everything that had happened to her.
"Who did you make that promise to?"
A small smile crossed his lips as he stalked over toward her.
Suzume backed away, hands held up in front of her. "If you try and touch me, I will burn you." Her hands sparked faintly.
He leaned in to whisper in her ear. "There are ears everywhere here. We will talk soon though."
He pulled away from her and in a loud clear voice said. "I shall meet you in the morning, come prepared. It's going to be a long journey."
He headed for the door, and as soon as he did her maid reappeared. Then her maid was a spy, but who did she report to? She shook her head. Ryuu was starting to get into her head. She had to keep her guard up before it was too late.
21
Ryuu arrived at first morning light to escort her out of the palace. Suzume and the court at large were told she was going on a journey to the country estate of the emperor. It was a popular destination for relaxation, complete with hot springs or so she'd been told. Suzume had never been there before, and a part of her wished she was going there instead on this mysterious mission the emperor was sending her on. Ryuu was stiff and formal, nothing in his face gave away a hint of his subversion.
Ever since their last encounter Suzume had been wondering if her maid was listening in on her. So when she had offered to join Suzume on her trip, she had been adamant about not bringing her along. Ryuu was going to be supplying her replacement.
They entered the main courtyard, where servants were lined up prepared to see them off. A gilded palanquin prepared to whisk Suzume away. Her eyes didn't linger long on it, but on the people standing beside it. She had almost not recognized Rin with ebony hair and no fox ears, and in a maid's uniform. But when she saw Suzume she raised her head from a bow to give her a mischievous smile.
She realized the guards standing beside the palanquin door were Noaki and Tsuki. Suzume struggled to keep her face composed as she bowed her head, dipping into the palanquin.
Tsuki closed the door to the palanquin and grinned at her as he did so. "Good job," he said.
Suzume pressed a finger to her lips to indicate he should be silent. She wasn't sure if Ryuu was aware of the replacements or not. And she did not want it to complicate their freedom if that were the case.
Once Suzume was situated, Ryuu shouted, "Move out."
The palanquin was raised up and moved jerkily at first before falling into a steady cadence. Suzume kept the curtains drawn as they left the palace, fearing she would be too tempted to talk to her friends before it was safe to do so. It was early yet and with the days of terrible sleep and the rocking motion, Suzume found herself lulled to sleep.
She woke when they came to a sudden halt. She stretched and pushed the curtain back. Ryuu's back was to her, speaking with the soldiers who had escorted them this far. Suddenly, Tsuki's face filled the window as he crouched down beside her window.
"Have you gotten heavier since I was sealed? Because my back is killing me." He rolled his shoulder as if to work out a kink in his neck.
Suzume swiped at him playfully through the open window. She was too relieved to see them free and whole to really be mad.
"It's not too late to put you back in the stone," she said.
He chuckled, and for a moment, Akira's face came to the surface. "Thank you for freeing us."
Suzume smiled back at her, puffing her chest up with pride. She had been rather clever to trick the emperor into freeing them.
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"It was nothing really."
Just then Ryuu approached and Tsuki leaped back up to his feet.
"You'll need to get out now, my lady," Ryuu said.
The door was opened and Ryuu held out his hand to help her stand, but Suzume snubbed his offer and climbed out on her own.
It appeared they'd come to some sort of port. There were several ships moored up against a pier. And a small city around them. People of all classes hurrying by, none even bothering to glance at the woman and the fancy palanquin.
"Where are we?" she asked.
"A port town not far from the palace. From here, we take the river to the coast."
Seeing the ships on the river made her stomach turn. She hadn't forgotten her last disastrous ride in a ship.
"You'll need to change. Your maid as well." Ryuu shoved a bundle of clothes toward Rin, who took them without comment.
"When are you going to tell me what's going on?" Suzume asked, hands on her hips.
Ryuu ignored her question in favor of going to speak with the men who were loitering about. She recognized a few from her training session at the temple. She wouldn't be surprised if they were all warrior priests. This wasn't the ideal situation; all of these people were Ryuu's men.
Rin nodded toward the palanquin where they both squeezed inside to change. The space was hardly big enough for the both of them and they had to take turns changing out of their clothes or one of them would put an elbow in the other one’s eyes or stomach.
As Suzume struggled to free herself from the layers of kimono, Rin came behind her to help. Her hands moved with assurance and were rather gentle.
"Is Hikaru..." she left the question dangling, perhaps fearing the worst.
Suzume kept her voice low just in case someone was listening. "He's alive but is still a prisoner of sorts. He's serving at the temple, but he's forbidden from leaving."
Rin gave an audible sigh of relief.
"We'll get him out," Suzume promised.
The kitsune put her hands on both of Suzume's shoulders and squeezed. "You helped us get out. I believe you can save Hikaru."
The weight of her belief fell heavy on Suzume. She'd never had anyone believe in her before, but lately it seemed everyone was putting all their hopes on her. She shook her head. Better to not think too much about what that meant.
When they were finished changing, they both stepped out. They wore matching clothes—plain back hoari and hakama. The clothes were a tight fit, but not so much that it would be unseemly. The group was gathered at the edge of the pier, talking with what appeared to be a boat’s captain and goods were being put onto the ship.
Ryuu saw them exit and came to greet them. "How do we know this thing is safe?" Suzume asked as she eyed the dingy.
"Are you afraid of a little ship?"
She lifted her chin in a haughty glance. "Of course not. Perhaps if you told me more about what your plans are and what it is they're carrying onto the boat." She nodded her head toward the barrels and boxes being transported onto the ship.
Ryuu watched the soldiers carrying the items on board. "Gifts for the governor of the southern town we are visiting."
Suzume rose a brow in question. "Is this a mission or a political envoy?"
"Both." He smiled faintly, but she wasn't going to fall for his bait.
"You and your 'maid' will have to pretend to be commoners as to not pose too many questions as we travel. At least until we arrive at our destination."
Suzume eyed him. Rin was staring at him as if she had questions for him as well. Perhaps they had talked before Suzume had joined the group. She would need to ask the kitsune about it when they were alone again. He gestured for them to go ahead onto the ship. Suzume eyed the boat dubiously, but she didn't want to lose face in front of Ryuu and marched onto the boat.
There was a single gangplank leading from the dock onto the boat, which wobbled unpleasantly as she crossed. And the moment she got onto the boat it swayed in a way that evoked memories of her near drowning. A boat passed by on its way out into open waters and the boat swayed even more. In a panic, she grabbed the sides, screwing her eyes shut and preparing for the whole thing to tip over.
When it didn't happen, she opened her eyes to see the sailors and warriors watching her with mockery in their eyes.
"If you need someone to hold onto, I'm here," Tsuki teased, coming to stand beside her.
"I can burn you. Maybe that will make me feel better."
He chuckled in response.
As the rest of the packages were loaded onto the boat, Suzume did her best to seem unaffected, keeping her head turned away and her posture upright, while inside she was screaming. She hated boats. She'd sworn she'd never get on one again. Why had she agreed to this damn mission? Oh, that's right, because she had wanted to free her friends.
The boat pushed off from the pier and it knocked against the dock several times, making terrifying thumping noises before they were into open water. Suzume clung onto the side, prepared for sea spray and rocking waves. But once they were in the current of the river, they glided forward gently, so slowly it was difficult to tell they were moving at all. It took a few minutes before Suzume felt confident enough to open her eyes and peer over the side. Water lapped against the side but the sound was more soothing than terrifying. Noaki, perhaps sensing her unease, came to stand silently at her side. At least someone was on her side.
"River boats are much smoother sailing," Noaki said, knowing without words her deep fear of boats.
She gave him a faint smile of thanks.
The boat was much too small to have private conversations with her friends, though she could see there were questions in their eyes. And Rin kept watching Ryuu, who stood at the front of the ship. Probably wondering what he'd done with her husband. She had questions for them too, namely how had they agreed to masquerade as part of the emperor's army. Suzume entertained herself by watching the countryside drift by. They slid by farms and farmers tilling in ankle-deep water as they harvested rice, backs bent.
They stopped to watch them go. Not with suspicion but smiling and waving. The sailors called out to friends, asking after their families. Suzume leaned over the edge of the boat. She'd been all over the countryside now, but she'd never taken the time to appreciate the quiet beauty of it.
Tsuki leaned over the side of the boat but when he spoke in a hushed voice it was Akira. "That man, the one who freed us, he's the same one who sealed us isn't he?" she asked.
She couldn't take over control of the body she shared with her brother, not with so many people around. Suzume glanced over her shoulder toward Ryuu before nodding her head. "He is."
"First chance we get, we should escape," Akira said.
"But what about Hikaru?" Suzume said, voicing the concern before even Rin could.
Akira shrugged.
Rin who was nearby, scowled at Akira. "I am not leaving him behind," she said in a hiss.
Akira did not even bother to glance in Rin's direction. "That man is not human."
"I figured as much," Suzume replied, fighting the urge to look at Ryuu. It would only draw attention to them.
"He's not yokai either."
"What is he?" Suzume asked.
"A hanyou, a half yokai," she said.
Suzume did jerk her head backward to look at him this time. And when she did, Ryuu met her gaze as if he had known they were talking about him. Maybe he'd overheard their conversation.
She turned to the water again.
"We should talk more later," Suzume said.
Akira nodded her head, understanding without words that now was not a safe time to talk.
Someone at the front of the ship shouted and Suzume was knocked to the ground by Noaki, just as a shard of ice pierced through the sail of the ship and impaled onto the ground where Suzume had just been standing. A moment after that, a wave rose up rolling over the ship, drenching them all.
She struggled to lift up her head and see who w
as attacking. The clouds overhead had turned a dark, stormy gray where it had been a bright, sunny day before. The once calm river was rocking with enormous waves which were spilling over the sides of the ship.
"What was that?" Suzume shouted, but her voice was overpowered by the howl of the wind.
Lightning flashed in the sky, and Suzume caught a brief glimpse of a serpentine body flying through the sky. It couldn't be. Kaito?
"Everyone to your stations," Ryuu shouted, his voice barely a thread over the crash of the storm. Waves continued to wash over the ship’s sides. "We've found the dragon who attacked the village."
22
The priests scattered to do as ordered while Suzume struggled to keep her feet beneath the rocking of the ship. Panic gripped her in that moment, not only as old fears of drowning surfaced, but as the horrible realization struck her. If she couldn't stop this, the priests might kill Kaito. Clinging to the side of the ship, Suzume dragged herself toward the front of the boat where Ryuu was shouting orders.
"You have to stop." She had to shout because the wind was howling so fiercely that she could barely hear herself speak.
"Stand down. We've got this," Ryuu said, not hearing what she had said.
Suzume tilted her head toward the sky, and she saw another flash of the serpentine body, blue scales flashing against the gray sky. How could she get a message to Kaito in time?
The priests were lining up, preparing to shoot holy arrows at Kaito. There was no use trying to convince them to stop. Suzume knew she had only one choice. The fire came hot and quick to her hands. The crackle of energy drew forth her power with ease. She went to the front of the ship, and concentrating all her power in her hands, she created a ball of flame. She took aim and shot the fire toward the dragon. Her aim, never very good, sailed past the dragon and fell in a large arc before it burst apart on the other side of the shore.
The dragon reeled away from her shot, which hadn't come close enough to actually strike him. At least it had gotten his attention. It's me! Run away before it's too late. She waved her arms up and down, trying to catch his attention.
The Dragon Saga Box Set Page 88