"Who's the kid?" Aratsu asked, jerking his head at Taiki.

"A friend."

"A special friend?"

"Depends on what kind of special you mean. He's very important to me, obviously."

"Is he gonna be okay? Poor thing looks fragile as hell."

"He's fine." Risai hoped her voice sounded firmer to the brothers' ears than to her own. "He just needs some rest. He's had a hard few days." Hard few years was more like it, but she didn't need to go into that now.

Aratsu scratched his head, looking uncomfortably at the slumbering figure in his bed. "Begging your pardon, my lady, but we never thought to see you again. You said you were leaving Tai."

"I did leave Tai," she pointed out.

"Yes, but you're back."

"Is that a problem?"

"No," he said hastily, after a warning glance from his brother. "Of course not! It's only that…I'm not sure how much help we're going to be to you. Getting out of Tai, sure. We're near the water, and we could hide your trail for a while. But within Tai itself…"

"Within Tai itself what?" Risai snapped. She was tired, the stump of her arm ached, and she'd been watching her manners around Emperors and gods for weeks.

"What are you going to be able to accomplish?" Aratsu finished plaintively.

It was the question she'd asked herself, the question the Queen Mother of the West had asked, and unfortunately, the question to which she had no answer. She'd known what she was coming back to. Asen had seized control of every branch of the government, the people were dying or enslaved, the land withered, and the few that remained loyal were probably either dead or in hiding. She spared a quick prayer for Kaei's safety, as she did at least twice a day.

Anything is better than going back.

"We have to get to Bun province," she said at last, making up her mind. "That's where our most likely lead came from."

"Lead? What kind of lead?" Kazuzhi asked eagerly.

Risai started to tell him about the bloody belt that had wound up in the shipment to Han, then stopped. He and Aratsu were good people, she'd swear to it. She'd sworn the same about a lot of good people who had betrayed her and her king in the last few years. "That's not important right now. Do you know of a way for us to get there?"

"Can't you fly on your tenba?"

"He's exhausted. They don't like to carry two, not for long periods like that. It'll be a while before he's up to another journey like that."

Aratsu shook his head slowly. "Then your best bet is probably one of the caravans. The King is still allowing some trade car—"

"Not the King." Risai's voice flashed like steel, slicing through the man's sentence.

He flinched at her tone. "Y-yes, I'm sorry, I don't know what I was thinking. Of course not the King, not the real King. The Imposter, I meant. He still lets some trade caravans travel the Southern and Western roads. Not often, and not large, but they still go."

"Carrying?"

"Gems, mostly. Taxes."

"What does he need gems for? Are other kingdoms willing to trade with him? I know En and Kei and Han aren't."

She cursed her loose tongue as she saw the look of intrigued surprise pass between the two brothers. It had been so good to be among friends, even new ones, in an environment that wasn't immediately hostile. It had dulled her wits, she saw now. There was no one she could trust, except Taiki. The brothers certainly didn't need to know that she was speaking with exalted personages in at least three other Kingdoms. If they turned traitor—or worse, were tortured into betraying her—things could get out of hand very quickly.

A small part of her wondered whether that was a good thing. An Emperor wasn't allowed to attack another Kingdom, no matter what. If Asen discovered that Kei had been aiding the fight against him, he might be foolish enough to take Tai's Royal Army into Kei. Tentei might strike him down.

But then again, Asen was no king. He'd broken all the laws that had to be obeyed by every King, and Tentei had seen fit to leave him on his borrowed throne. Gods, Risai thought bitterly. Only around when they want you, not the other way around.

"These caravans," she mused aloud. "Do they hire on for passengers?"

"Of course. But…"

"What?"

"You'll be noticed," his brother chimed in. "Passengers are questioned closely, especially if they get anywhere near the capital. The—the Imposter says there's no reason for anyone to be traveling. You'd have to produce a pretty compelling reason."

Frustration welled up inside her. She hadn't come this far only to be thwarted again. For a moment she was tempted to risk Hien's health and have him fly to Bun province.

As if he sensed her thoughts, Hien raised his head, his wings readjusting themselves. They were quivering, and he hadn't stopped sweating yet. They could possibly risk traveling on land, but with all the youma around, even Gouran would have difficulty keeping them safe.

There was also the possibility that she would die. Gouran had to prioritize Taiki's safety over every other consideration, and Risai would lay down her life for her Taiho without a second's hesitation. If that happened, which wasn't unlikely, she wanted Taiki to be around other people.

"Do they ever need guards?"

"Of course, Lady. But…"

"Not me, of course. Obviously I won't be much good." The admission stabbed at her pride, but she had to be practical, for the sake of all Tai.

She smiled wanly. "I don't suppose you know any unscrupulous caravan drivers?"

"I know a few caravan drivers. One and the same, as far as I've ever seen."

Risai ran a finger over the pouch in her pocket, the one she knew was a smaller cousin of the one Taiki wore. It wasn't the way she wanted to move about, but they had to keep moving.

Anything was better than going back.