The moon had risen already. From the privacy of the inner courtyard, Hotohori could see the jewelled glint of his own constellation in the clear sky, along with those of the other warriors. Was it his own imagination, or had Tamahome grown a little darker since the last time he had stood here? How could Tamahome dare to hurt Miaka like that? Was there no one who could be trusted? He should have searched the palace himself, Emperor or not. Or was it only from him that Miaka wished to remain unseen? Perhaps once betrayed she had turned her back on him too. He had thought he could make her love him once; it was a fool's notion. He ought never to have kissed her at Ligé San. That was a mistake. Yet how could he not have done? He would have to have been a man of stone to have her fall into his arms like that and do nothing. Not when he could almost taste her sadness. Not when he had been longing for her since the moment he set eyes on her.

She must be found soon. He could not rest until he knew where she was. And he could not let them see just how sick he felt. The throbbing in his head was incessant now; anything stronger than starlight brought on excruciating pains. It was getting so hard to concentrate. Hotohori wondered with a grim smile how he had occupied his mind before Miaka. Where was she? If she was not in the palace precinct then she must have gone beyond. Why had no one thought of this before? In the state she was in, it was unthinkable. Clearly, he was surrounded by incompetents. He rang a bell. The shrill sound jarred every bone in his body.

"Saddle our horse."

"At this hour, Your Majesty?" The manservant's voice wavered.

"At any hour your Emperor chooses."

More interminable bowing. "I trust Your Majesty does not ride alone. Your advisors may question the wisdom…"

There must have been something about the way he drew in breath that served to silence the quibbling retainer.

"Your Majesty's every wish is as the wish of heaven itself." Was this amount of grovelling strictly necessary? "I shall inform the royal stables." The servant retreated backward along the colonnade, so as not to turn his back on the Imperial presence. As he went, Hotohori was not entirely sure he had not muttered something else under his breath. Something about Celestial Warriors?

He should have called the servant back. Impudence in the presence of the Emperor was, after all, a capital offence. But his mind could not rest for long on any other subject. He touched the stain in the palm of his hand left by her blood.

"Miaka…"