Yumemi was awake long before Ryuely tapped on her door the next morning. The purple woman's elegance made her gasp, amazed all over again. Her dress was like a cloud of pastels.

Ryuely tilted her head with a smile. "You look very nice yourself."

Yumemi blushed. "Ah, I tried my best." She'd gotten a maid to help her with her hair; it was as silky and well behaved as two sets of hands could make it, and an iridescent ribbon threaded from the top of her braid to the loose ends at the bottom. Her dress was simple but elegant, an understated creamy white, with matching sandals.

"That's good." Ryuely nodded her approval. "Appearances are very important around these people."

Yumemi blushed again. "And how," she murmured under her breath, remembering Munto's warning the night before. Somehow she'd assumed that that kind of gossip lost its power after grade school. Apparently not. The existence of tabloids should have told her that.

"Are you ready, then?"

Yumemi forced a smile. "As ready as I'll ever be."

"Excellent. Follow me."

Munto was waiting for them in the war chambers, Rui shadowing him with the studied ease of a lifetime of practice. If the Magical King had been out to seduce a girl, Yumemi mused, his target would've been in real danger. He was stunningly handsome in his gold and white clothes, though his shock of red hair and the intensity with which he moved hinted at the wildness under that civilized veneer.

He softened when he saw her, his eyes moving in an appreciative once-over.

"You look wonderful," he said, and it was a personal comment, not an evaluation of how she would look to the Elders.

The words gave her strength. She smiled her thanks and took his offered arm, ready to follow him into the heart of the lion's den.

X X X

Citizens lined both sides of the road, packed several layers deep both on and above the ground. They jostled between each other's sides and peered over shoulders, all trying to get a better view of the small procession making its way to the amphitheater. Their encouraging shouts made the sky ring.

"King Munto! Master Rui!"

"Do your best!"

"We're behind you!"

"Daughter of Destiny!"

Yumemi missed a step. Munto's arm held her up.

"We're counting on you!"

She took in the hopeful faces all around, trusting Munto to keep her on the road.

And it struck her that in all her life, before she'd met Munto, she'd never thought or hoped or dreamed that she would do anything remotely important.

"Do your best!"

She smiled then, and it was not a nervous smile, but a smile from the heart.

"I will," she called, waving back at the sea of people. All of them, counting on her and the lean man beside her. "I promise."

X X X

There were no gates to the amphitheater. Anyone could walk in or out. Munto, Ryuely'd told her, had insisted on an open session. The Elders, predictably, had complained.

"It does make it easier for them to fling public accusations, but at the same time they'll have to watch what they say."

That had been Rui's assessment. Yumemi wasn't sure if that made her job harder or easier. But one thing was clear: Munto didn't want the proceedings hidden from his people. From them, he had nothing to hide.

Well, nor did she. She took a deep breath as they passed under the entrance and out into the great open space that was the center of the amphitheater.

Oh, heavens. Thousands of people, like the hordes that descended on sports stadiums at home, seething like ants over the tiers of seats and the spoke-like walkways. Except for instead of concentrating on a sports match, they were all magnetized by her.

A sense of unreality crept in, as though her consciousness were floating away to hover just over her body. It was like standing on the edge. It was like living in the sky. It was so much more massive in scale than a silly school play that she almost couldn't take it in.

Looking. At. Her.

In front of that enormous cloud, Munto removed his cloak and draped it around her shoulders. She started to protest, but Ryuely gestured for her to accept it.

"It means you're under his protection."

Oh.

Munto slipped his right hand over his left elbow to press her fingers. The warm touch brought her to earth again. She sucked in a breath and tightened her grip on his arm, both as a signal that she was all right and as a precaution against tripping and falling on her face.

Watch me, Suzume. I'll outdo you in front of a whole country.

Munto steered her towards a round dais in the center of the amphitheater. As they mounted the steps, she saw that it was already occupied by several older men and their retinues, plus multiple delegates sporting clothing that signaled several countries of origin.

And apparently, they had floating chairs.

She missed a step. Munto held her up.

You might have mentioned that.

He shrugged. I forgot.

She wasn't sure if she heard the words or imagined them.

Munto took his place at the section of the dais nearest the palace, Yumemi beside him. Rui hovered nearby like a napping shark, and Ryuely stood beside the general, watching everyone. A little boy named Toche attended her.

"We would open the talks now," an Elder began almost before they were settled.

"We begin when I say we begin," Munto retorted.

That, Yumemi perceived, was why the Magical Kingdom's procession hadn't set out earlier, despite several peremptory-sounding messages from the Elders; Munto wanted to make the point that he was not at their beck and call. By refusing to open negotiations on their demand, he likewise maintained control of the proceedings.

She suppressed an urge to rub her temples. There was no doubt that he was good at the game, but all the jockeying and unspoken rules were giving her a headache.

Yumemi heard the click of boots from the opposite end of the dais. Leica and Gus appeared, orbited by Irita.

An Elder rocked in his chair. "This is no place for children!"

Munto silenced him with a look. "I invite who I please."

Leica ignored the exchange. "I am here at your request, King Munto."

"As am I," Gus echoed.

Munto nodded to the trio. "Then let us begin."

Two Elder opened their mouths, but Rui beat them to it.

"The Magical King presents the Daughter of Destiny, the Lady Yumemi, whom he brought from the world of death," he cried in his surprisingly strong, clear voice. "Let all who see bear witness that his vision saved our sky."

Every sandal scrape and rustle of clothing echoed from the dais to the farthest reaches of the amphitheater, so exquisite were its acoustics. Rui's voice rang like a cymbal.

There were murmurs of disbelief from the delegates.

"She's just a child!"

"How can such power belong to one so small?"

"Her ears -- her ears are --"

Yumemi held herself still with an effort, but she felt herself blushing. She'd deliberately left her ears bare as indisputable evidence of her underworld origin. Now, she wondered if that had been such a good idea.

The Elders, she noticed, weren't murmuring in disbelief. Their reaction sounded more like grumbles.

"She's a pawn for his game."

"A trinket to warm --"

"Why should Munto have seen her?"

"You will address our ruler as King Munto," Rui said sharply.

"We demand that this child be handed over to the protection of the Heads."

Yumemi stiffened. Munto raised his right hand lazily, and the table before that Elder's group turned to smoking ash.

Silence descended, broken by a few appreciative claps from the outer seats. She almost smiled. The Magical citizens didn't seem any more open to the idea of giving her up than their king was.

Rui took it upon himself to formalize Munto's answer. "The Lady Yumemi will remain under the protection of King Munto and his citizens."

"Protection?"

The dark voice seemed to roll over the dais. "What protection? She's doing what he forces her to."

A very tall, thin man emerged from within the cluster of Elders. It wasn't clear whether he'd been there all the time or had just arrived, but his presence made Yumemi's hair stand on end.

Munto wasn't thrilled to see him either. There were rumors that Gunther had undergone full-body replacement and was in fact an Akuto ghost, but Munto didn't believe it. The man was too fixated on the usual interests of flesh and blood. Like controlling the source of Akuto.

"The Lady Yumemi --" Rui broke off and dropped into his normal voice. "Yumemi? Where are you?"

Green eyes peeped cautiously from behind the Magical King. Her hands were clutching the back of his vest. With an effort, Munto kept his expression neutral.

"See?" Gunther raised a long, accusing finger. "She's scared to death of him!"

"You're the one who frightens me," Yumemi murmured.

She'd forgotten that her unstudied answer would carry to every ear in the building. Laughter rippled through the crowd. Even the delegates hid smiles; apparently, Yumemi wasn't the only one who found the Commander intimidating.

Gunther harrumphed. "You're here because Munto made you to come."

"That's not true." Yumemi shot out in front of Munto, her fear forgotten. "I came with King Munto of my own free will."

"He threatened you."

"Don't be ridiculous." Her voice was heated. "I had to beg him to bring me."

"Why on earth would you choose to help a criminal?"

Her finger jabbed at him in turn. She forgot that the world was watching. This was between her and Gunther. "You're the criminal!"

"You little fool." Gunther smiled shrewdly, sensing a weakness in her defense. "You're only saying that because you're in love with him."

Yumemi froze. She'd been expecting accusations of a more, well, carnal nature. Behind her, she sensed Munto stiffen. Guess he didn't see that coming either.

Yumemi cocked her head, then swept her fingers through the air as though brushing the Commander's assertion aside. There was a low, circular table running through the inner part of the dais, excepting the section Munto had so recently put to other uses; she stepped up onto it, feeling the need for some extra height.

"If you mean that I'm helping Munto only because I care about him, you've got it backwards." She planted her feet a little farther apart and swept the crowd with her eyes. Her fists were clenched, but her voice was even. She raised it now.

Let the whole world hear what she thought of the Magical King.

"It's true that Munto is an important person to me. But that's not why I'm here." She raised her chin. "Munto told me the truth from the very beginning, even when I didn't want to hear it. He didn't force me or try to bribe me. Before I did anything for him, he protected me."

"Protect?" Gunther snorted. "He dragged you into a war."

"You brought war home to me." She wheeled on Gunther, pointing accusingly. "You would have dropped this island on my land. When that didn't work, you tried to rip up my city and me with it. You killed people, and all of you -- " her gaze raked the Elders -- "supported him!" Her voice broke, remembering, disbelief struggling with grief.

"We did what was necessary," an Elder harrumphed. "The best for the most."

"And you always will." She nodded, in control of herself again. "You'll lie, steal and murder to get your way. That's why I won't go with you. If you want my help, ask Munto. I work for him."

She stepped off the table as the delegates started arguing and the crowd erupted into cheers. "Can we go, King Munto?" she asked, her voice small again.

"Call me Munto," he grumbled. He offered an arm, which she took.

"Where are you going?" an Elder cried. "The meeting isn't over yet!"

Munto raised a hand, and the Elder flinched.

"I have nothing more to say to you."

Munto led his charge out of the amphitheater. Rui looked after them approvingly, his ears taking in the discord around him and filing it away for his future report.

"I think she upset them," Ryuely observed dryly.

Rui smirked. "She may look like a child, but she spoke like a queen."

X X X

She held out until they got inside the palace. Then reaction set in and her legs gave out. She would have sat down right there if Munto hadn't scooped her up.

"I don't know if that's a good idea," she wavered, "after all your talk about being careful." She squirmed. "Besides, it's just nerves. Put me down."

Munto assessed her dubiously, then let her test her balance. She almost fell.

"I don't think so." He picked her up again and headed for the sunroom.

"I can walk!"

"You don't want me to hold you."

"That's not it," she stammered.

"It's what Gunther said."

Gunther had said plenty, but they both knew what he meant. She turned crimson.

He cocked his head. "Is it true?"

"If you don't put me down, I'll hit you."

He laughed, and suddenly the walls tilted crazily around them. She squealed as the light blurred like television static and then rearranged itself into the breakfast sunroom.

"Hanabi! Anita!" he called, depositing Yumemi in her usual chair. "Some food for the lady."

Two maids appeared, nodded, and vanished.

"Warn me next time!" She was still dizzy. She'd seen the Magical beings port many times now, but this was the first time she'd been along for the ride.

Munto handed her a napkin. "They'll bring something good."

"Is that your cure for everything? Distract me with food?"

"Don't be like that. I'll split it with you."

She was too shocked to argue.

X X X

Her surprise was nothing to Rui's. The general bounced in with a huge bundle of rolls under one arm, caught sight of his king helping himself to a serving of the same food steaming in front of Yumemi, and dropped his reports all over the floor.

"Well?" Munto inquired blandly. "How did it go?"

"Munto. You -- you're --"

"Report, Rui."

"Sir!" Rui scraped himself together. "The Elders are still arguing amongst themselves and protesting that the source of Akuto should go with them, but it's mostly hot air. Everyone heard what Yumemi said, and the delegates seem to think that their best bet is supporting you."

"Very good. And Rui?"

"Hm?"

"Pick up that mess."

Rui's lip twitched. "Right away."

X X X

Ryuely returned soon after with Toche in tow, and Gus dropped by briefly with Irita and Leica. Yumemi wondered how the Endan general had found her way to the sunroom. A maid, probably.

"The lady spoke well," Leica remarked, inclining her head to Yumemi.

Yumemi blushed. She felt more like she'd just lost her temper. "I had no idea what I was getting into."

"That might have been best. Studied answers carry less truth."

Munto smirked. Yumemi ducked her head and blushed harder.

"What will the Elders do now?" she stammered, as much to change the subject as out of a need to know.

"Nothing, probably." Gus was looking out the windows at the amphitheater. She wondered how much he could make out from here. "They'll be watching for a while now, waiting to see if Munto can restore the Akuto flow as he promised."

"Oh. That's right," Yumemi murmured. Amid all the excitement, she'd forgotten about that. "We have to make it permanent."

"It may be difficult for you," Ryuely observed.

Yumemi laughed shakily. "Worse than facing the Commander?"

"You showed him, all right!" Irita bounced by and smacked her on the shoulder, making her drop her pastry. "He's spooky. I don't like him."

"Still, you should speak of him with respect," Toche murmured. He wasn't sure what to make of Irita's offhand attitude.

"Respect, schmect! Spooky is spooky."

"No kidding." Yumemi rubbed her arms as though chilled.

"Tomorrow." It was Munto who spoke.

"Hmm?" Everyone in the room turned, but it was Yumemi he looking at.

"We'll stabilize the flow tomorrow."