October, 2013 AD

General Yukimura walked slowly through the halls of Shirasagi, a contemplative hand upon his pointed, slightly scruffy chin. He knew he ought to be grinning like a madman, eagerly rushing to inform the Queen that her long-lost son had been secured at last, and that her two elder step-children were escorting him home. Yet he was greatly bothered by the circumstances of the prince's return, even beyond the fact that Corrin was allegedly involved in the deaths of several Hoshidan soldiers.

"Good evening, General," Princess Kamui called from farther down the hall.

Yukimura looked up from the floor and compelled himself to smile. "Likewise, milady. Say, may I have a moment of your time?"

She stopped and nodded, taking a moment to throw her long hair back over her shoulder. "Of course."

"I've been informed that milord Corrin is in your older siblings' custody."

"What? Truly?" She tried to shake off her blank stare and attempted to make a declaration of joy, but the words caught in her throat. 'I don't know if Hoshido could ever be his home.' She'd said that mere days ago, and now...

"I shared your surprise, milady," he assured her. "They're about halfway from the Bottomless Canyon by now. Kaze is to meet them in the town of Kamiki, just one day out from the Great Wall."

"Kaze's going beyond the wall?" Kamui questioned. A brief look of clear concern crossed her features, and she quickly steeled herself.

"Only so far as Kamiki. He knows as well as you and I that he isn't ready to risk a fight, whether against bandits, Faceless, or Nohrians." He flashed her another halfhearted smile. "And in any case, you only just got done saving his life."

She smiled, forcing a soft chuckle that more closely resembled a gasp. "So, is Mother aware of this yet?"

"I was on my way to tell Her Majesty. But, ah... Never mind. Would you care to join me?" He started off again down the hall, giving her a moment to keep up.

"Of course," she replied. "But what was it you were about to say? Please."

"Well..." He sighed. "According to the report, Corrin...killed Captain Omozu."

"What?!" Kamui grabbed Yukimura's shoulder, stopping him in his tracks. "You're sure of this?"

"I've little doubt, milady." He coughed. "He approached the Bottomless Canyon with a small personal guard—from what I've heard, a rather ragtag group. They assaulted the Hoshidan force and laid a brief siege to the Central Border Fortress. Prince Ryoma incapacitated him after he..." He paused awkwardly. The report had gone into some additional detail about Omozu and Corrin's struggle. "Er, anyway. The Nohrian royal family, aside from King Garon, arrived to aid him, but then things became...odd, as it were."

Kamui felt sick. Omozu was a pleasant man, and a brave warrior. He had no wife or children, but his aging mother was going to be crushed. 'Saizo was going to relieve him,' she thought. "Odd how?" she asked aloud, unsure if she really wanted to know any more.

"Corrin was placed onto a horse by an old Nohrian knight, but he fell off over the Canyon and actually fell in."

"Yet he lives," Kamui interjected. 'It could have been Saizo. It could have been...oh, gods...'

"Indeed. He was, apparently—and this is all in the report—he was rescued by some kind of small, wingless dragon." He waited a moment to see if she had anything to add. "The dragon tried to fly him back to Nohr, but was injured and dropped him onto the bridge. By that time, Lord Ryoma and Lady Hinoka's soldiers were in much better position than the Nohrians, and Prince Xander called a full retreat."

"Gods..." She took a slow breath. "So what will you tell Mother?"

"I don't know," he admitted. "Her Majesty deserves to know that her son is returning, but he has inexcusably spilled Hoshidan blood." He realized that his tone was becoming inappropriately heated. "Er, forgive me, milady, that was hardly within my right to say."

"It's no fault of yours, Yukimura." She crossed her arms. "This is dire. He killed...others as well?"

"The report accuses him of personally killing one samurai, and of directly involving himself in the deaths of several other soldiers."

"Gods..." she murmured again.

"Additionally," he continued, feeling sorry for the princess and even more so for the yet-unaware queen, "he has been deceived by the Nohrians into thinking that he is the son of Garon and his late Queen Arete."

She stared at him blankly. "I...wow." She couldn't help but be a tad annoyed at herself for behaving like a slow child, but every word out of the general's mouth was harder to believe than the last. Hoshidan intelligence had concluded nearly seventeen years earlier that King Garon's "secret child," spoken of frequently in Nohrian rumors, was in fact the missing Prince of Hoshido, and Azura had confirmed as much when she was questioned by Mikoto a few months after her arrival in Shirasagi. Yet even Kaze and Rinkah's report hadn't yielded such a revelation as this. Corrin truly thought that he was Garon's child by blood, and Azura's brother, no less. The absurdity almost made Kamui laugh. "Is there...anything else to add?"

"Well..." Yukimura sighed. "Yes, I'm afraid so. But it isn't from the report; not directly, at least. It's just something about the circumstance that bothers me."

"I think I know what you mean," the princess replied. "Why the hell would Garon want Corrin to attack the border without an army behind him? From the sound of it, the royal family wasn't even supposed to assist him. A prince launching a personal invasion might as well be a formal declaration of war, but this seems like something else entirely."

"Corrin claims that one of his bodyguards initiated the attack, and that he'd had no intention of fighting anyone. I won't speak for milord, but I've no doubt whatsoever that Garon must have known your brother would end up fighting." He had one last suspicion to address, but he felt it was radical enough that he ought to see if Kamui would reach the same conclusion.

"Perhaps..." she mused, evidently just as hesitant to express her own skepticism. "What if King Garon wanted Corrin to be captured?"

He nodded, hardly relieved by her agreement. "Yes, I think that's exactly right. But to what end, I admit I've not the slightest idea. Any thoughts, Princess?"

"Azura's brother..." she mumbled, eyeing the tile floor.

"Pardon?"

She looked up at him and shook her head. "Sorry. I'm wondering why Garon would treat Corrin as if he were truly that demon's son. Surely, he could have developed a more convincing story." Her eyes went wide.

"Milady?" Yukimura inquired, his brow raised in intrigue.

"This will be his excuse to declare war," she stated darkly. "By his twisted, asinine logic, Hoshido has now captured two of his children."

The general felt pinpricks run up his neck. "By the gods, you're right." He held his forehead in his palm. "Oh, what will we tell Her Majesty?"

"Well," she began hesitantly, folding her arms loosely, "we don't...necessarily need to tell her that he killed anyone. Agh, but that'd be awfully disrespectful to their families. Omozu's mother—"

"No, I think you're right," Yukimura insisted. "In fact, if his mother knew that his killer was to—er, and perhaps I'm making a bit of an assumption—that Prince Corrin is to be pardoned..." Kamui nodded, prompting him to continue. "...then she may become far more distressed than, say, if we simply reported that he died in combat with Nohrians. It would be for her sake as well as Queen Mikoto's."

The princess hummed. "Damn. It doesn't feel right, but that seems to be the only logical option." She shifted her feet. "And of Garon's plot, perhaps we ought to keep to ourselves. It's still just a hunch, after all, even if it's a hunch we both share."

Yukimura let out something resembling a groan, attempting to mask it with a cough. "That's akin to withholding intelligence."

"It's not intelligence, it's a hunch," Kamui argued. "We'll tell Ryoma and Hinoka when they return. If one of them wishes to present our theory to Mother, then by all means she'll find out. Until then, we should leave the other generals to their own conclusions. Oh, and I suppose we'll count Takumi among them."

"Agh, I suppose." He adjusted his glasses. "Thank you for your counsel, milady."

"Of course." She smiled at him. "Now then, let's tell Mother the good news!"

He could easily tell she was putting on a facade, but he figured he was worse for wear. The mere thought of not telling his queen everything was causing him nausea. "Perhaps you should do most of the talking, Princess."

She chuckled—again, just to prove she could—and started again toward the throne room. "That might be best."

()

"Oh, gods be praised!" Mikoto declared in elation. Her eyes were practically glowing as she lifted her cerulean skirts and stepped quickly down the five steps from the grand throne to the floor, her shoes gliding over the red velvet carpet. Her black hair was styled such that two even measures ran down from the sides of her face to midway about her chest, and the rest was funneled through the center of the flat, spiked golden piece on the back of her polished circlet. She had allowed it to grow to waist-length, and it now cascaded behind her and flapped against her back with each hurried step. Her bangs were swept aside to the left, revealing an intricate loop in the circlet that spanned half her forehead.

She threw her arms around Kamui, who wholeheartedly returned the embrace. "Your brother, my darling little son is finally coming home!" She sniffled, and a tear fell onto her daughter's shoulder. "And what luck, that he should be returned by his older brother and sister!"

The huge chamber was pleasantly lit by the windows that comprised much of the left and right-hand walls. Additionally, a trio of enormous crystalline chandeliers, each housing dozens of magically lit candles in their hollow centers, cast dapples of flickering white light across the room. The throne's backdrop, a symmetrical tangle of gold resembling organic vines within a semi-circle shaped like the rising sun, caught the light in a marvelous fashion that seemed to indicate divinity in its owner. The guards had been dismissed, and the windows closed to preserve the secrecy of the report from Ryoma.

"I can hardly believe it myself, Mother," the princess replied with a tone of calm enthusiasm. "It's fortuitous beyond what I thought possible." She kicked herself for using such formal language, but her mother was quite nearly hysterical and had little chance of noticing.

The queen held her daughter at arm's length and dabbed at her face with her sleeve. "Ah, but I'm getting ahead of myself," she admitted, the corners of her mouth dropping just slightly. "My son wasn't injured, was he? How did he come into our custody?"

Yukimura cleared his throat and began to give the explanation he'd prepared. "He was engaged with Omozu's squadron at the Bottomless Canyon, in an attack started by one of King Garon's lapdogs. I am terribly sorry to report..." He winced, seeing the smile fade from Her Majesty's face. "Omozu lost his life to a Nohrian soldier, milady."

Mikoto's hands fell away from Kamui's shoulders and clasped loosely over her abdomen. "Oh," she choked out after a moment. "That is dreadful news, indeed." She bowed her head and closed her eyes, her companions doing the same as she offered a silent prayer for the fallen ninja.

Kamui silently counted twenty seconds, the typical length of her mother's unplanned prayers, before raising her head to see Mikoto slowly do the same. Yukimura opened his eyes a few seconds later.

The general adjusted his glasses, annoyed when they ended up sitting in a worse spot than before. "He would be proud to know that his sacrifice returned our lost prince to us, milady."

"Yes..." Mikoto whispered, dropping the word as if she had more to say. She bit her lower lip.

Kamui recognized the gesture, as it was something she had inherited from her mother. The habit only showed itself when they were contemplating a dire situation. "Mother?"

"I can't feel him."

Yukimura blinked. "His spirit, milady?"

"Yes. Something isn't right... If not for the discussion of his death, he should at least be here for his mother. Yet, I feel nothing."

Kamui noticed she was biting her own lip now. Her mother's connection to the realm of spirits was stronger than any other divine attendant in Hoshido. She knew well how they behaved in the days after their death, even when the subject wasn't a family friend, as Omozu had been.

"Even familiar spirits have their peculiarities, Mother," the princess assured. "I'm sure that wherever he is, he's at peace."

"Yes, you must be right," Mikoto said quietly. She didn't sound convinced in the slightest. "So, then. Corrin is unharmed, I hope?"

Kamui's thoughts were still on Omozu. If her mother said his spirit should be here, then it definitely should be. Compounded with the fact that Mikoto's prophetic visions had been progressively hazier over the past several years, this revelation had confusing and, if she was being honest with herself, somewhat frightening implications.

She mustered up a decent smile. "Nothing Ryoma's medical team couldn't fix. He'll be in peak condition when he meets Kaze in Kamiki."

The queen's face lit up once more, even if the weight of her many worries didn't quite vanish from her visage. "It puts my heart at ease to hear that," she said genuinely. "And seeing Kaze again will surely help ease Corrin into realizing that Hoshido is his true home."

"Mm-hmm," Kamui managed to hum, accompanied by a slight nod. She fought the urge to grit her teeth, and reminded herself that Corrin and Kaze were not at odds in reality as they were in her mind.

"Have you anything else to report, Yukimura?" Mikoto queried.

"Some very odd occurrences," he answered. "Princess Kamui might do a better job explaining than I could."

As they had discussed in the hallway, Kamui recounted the report's claims that the Nohrian royal family was present at the Canyon with Corrin, and had engaged Omozu's and Ryoma's soldiers. She noted the shocked surprise in her mother's eyes when she said Corrin had fallen into the canyon, and the bewilderment that replaced it at the mention of the small blue dragon that had rescued him. And, as planned, Kamui left out two key details: the murders Corrin had committed, and the fact that he thought he was Garon and Arete's son.

"Goodness," Mikoto murmured. "To think that we almost lost him again..." She shook her head and grinned. "Oh, but there's no use for such thoughts. I must find the chance to meet this dragon at some point!" She tittered at her own comment, and her companions felt obliged to try to chuckle with her.

"It's seems that Ryoma and Hinoka may need time to get through to him," Kamui confessed. "But he'll have come around by the time he arrives. Say, when is Sakura supposed to return from the Flame Tribe?"

"Just four more days," her mother answered. "How long did Ryoma's message take to reach you, Yukimura?"

"Two days, milady."

The queen clapped her hands once. "Excellent!" she declared merrily. "They should arrive in three, then; and Sakura can meet him the day after!"

As delighted as Kamui was to see her mother so ecstatic, she was fully prepared for the momentary rejoicing to come crashing down once more. Her mother's beaming grin fell suddenly into a sad half-smile. "We'll need to postpone planning the homecoming party," she sighed. "Kamui, will you accompany me to Omozu's mother's residence?"

"Of course, Mother." Kamui threaded her hand into her mother's and gave it a comforting squeeze. "Yukimura, please begin preparations for a memorial ceremony. Something quiet and modest, away from the bustle of the marketplace."

"Yes, milady." The general bowed politely and left the throne room. A few moments later, the queen and her daughter followed his path at a slow, thoughtful pace.

()

As he lay on the mat in his wagon, Corrin marveled at the Hoshidan tunic he wore. When he first dressed himself after waking up in captivity, he'd been far too nervous about his meeting with High Prince Ryoma to notice just how comfortable the soft, breathable ensemble was. After sleeping off his nerves that first night and convincing himself that the soldiers in the caravan wouldn't try to lynch him, he hadn't had much to occupy his mind with. So the realization that the dark blue kimono was easily the nicest piece of clothing he'd ever worn impressed him more than he figured it had any right to. The wooden sandals were a different story.

He sat up when he heard two curt knocks on the door of the carriage, followed by Kagero's voice calling, "Prince Corrin, I'm entering."

"Okay," he called back, rising to his feet as the door opened and the ninja climbed in. She had let her hair down for the first time since the Canyon, and the blades had been removed from her armor, though she still wore it.

"We've reached the village of Kamiki," she informed him. "Come with me."

Corrin nodded and stepped past her through the doorway. Even now, she refused to take her eyes off of him, lest he fail miserably to escape. A thought occurred to him. "Does Kaze know what happened at the Canyon?"

"Yes. Lord Ryoma instructed that Kaze be told everything, so that he had a chance to mull over the unpleasantness of recent events before meeting with you."

The calm manner in which she delivered such statements made Corrin feel sick to his stomach. To her, it was a simple, undeniable fact that he was a warmonger and murderer of innocent Hoshidans; and even worse, part of him solemnly agreed.

"That's good," he said.

A quick look around confirmed that the caravan was parked on the outskirts of a small town, which looked like it would be home to about three hundred people. A smooth stone wall about three meters tall and rectangular in shape surrounded the village, and was topped by single-person watch-posts every fifteen meters. The quaint houses and shops were made from cobblestone, and most featured sharply slanted roofs like that of the fortress at the Bottomless Canyon. Dirt roads had been paved throughout the hamlet. Along the southern wall, expansive fields of rice and vegetables stretched halfway to the horizon, and the north side had an equivalent space in which oxen and other livestock grazed freely on abundant green grass. Nowhere did Corrin see the rocky, infertile soil of Nohr, and the cheerful faces of the townsfolk were a stark contrast to the pains of starvation that weighed down Nohrian peasants.

"Well," Corrin remarked. "It seems the Hoshidan country is as bountiful and pleasant as I've been taught."

"Indeed," Kagero replied flatly. "That is why King Garon is so eager..." She stopped herself.

Corrin turned around and glared at her. "If you're going to say demeaning things about my father, I'd rather you do it to my face."

"It is not my place." She looked like she wanted to say more, but held her tongue.

Corrin resisted the urge to groan. "Is Prince Ryoma coming with us?" he asked, the frustration obvious in his voice.

"My lord is already meeting with Kaze in the town hall. Follow the road."

"Hmph."

They walked silently into Kamiki, drawing the gazes of many of its people. Corrin knew they must have been wondering about the identity of the white-haired stranger traveling with Hoshidan royalty, his hands unbound but his back watched closely by an armed guard. His captors would have them all believe that he was one of them, a thought that caused his jaw to tighten and his hands to clench into fists.

"Is something wrong?" A carefully measured aggression seeped into Kagero's voice, almost more mocking than threatening.

Corrin knew that the ninja had every right to hate him, but he was at his wit's end with her. She was a master of controlling her tone and body language, managing to convey her absolute loathing of him without so much as one overt insult. It was enough to drive a man mad, yet he couldn't reasonably retaliate. Instead, he simply didn't respond, though he still felt it was a victory for her.

Shortly, they arrived at a long, symmetrical building with one floor, the main entrance marked by wide double doors. Corrin glanced at his escort.

"Lord Ryoma and Kaze are inside," she said. "Enter."

'Once more, where a simple nod would have sufficed, she has to open her condescending gods-damned mouth.'

Nevertheless, the Nohrian prince did as he was bid and opened the door on the right. He had half a mind to slam it shut behind him, but thought better of it and allowed Kagero to follow him inside.

A guard with a katana hung from his waist waved them over. "His Highness is in the conference room, second door on the left."

Kagero offered the man a polite thank-you, and they continued to the room where the High Prince awaited. Two more armed guards stood at attention on either side of the door. Deciding he didn't want to hear another word from Kagero, Corrin turned the doorknob and pushed his way inside without looking at her for approval.

Ryoma, Hinoka, and Kaze stood just beyond the door, dressed casually and conversing in front of a large, circular conference table. No guards had accompanied them inside, but to Corrin's displeasure, Kagero let herself in before shutting the door. All eyes in the room turned to the newcomers.

"Ah, Lord Corrin!" Kaze welcomed, putting his arms against his sides and bowing deeply in the Hoshidan fashion. "I'm Kaze, if you don't remember. I'm thankful for the opportunity to speak with you again."

That wasn't what the Nohrian had expected to hear, given that the last time he'd seen Kaze, he'd almost killed him. "Er, myself as well," he fumbled. "You're recovering well, I hope?"

Kaze raised his head and relaxed. "I was beaten and burned in Krakenburg's dungeons, but they didn't do anything to me that can't heal."

The green-haired ninja's warm tone was seriously throwing Corrin off. "Erm, that's good."

"I should thank you for stalling my execution," Kaze continued.

Corrin scratched the back of his neck. "Uh, you really shouldn't. I was hesitant, yes, but had my brother not stepped in..."

"Had you not hesitated, Prince Leo wouldn't have had the chance, milord."

"I..." Corrin shook his head. "Look, I know why you're acting like this, and it's not worth it. I'm no Hoshidan, and you won't convince me otherwise. So please, don't try to make me feel welcome. Kagero gets the idea," he added, unable to help himself.

Kaze's gentle smile remained. "I thought you might say as much, milord, and I hope I can change your mind."

"But first," Ryoma interjected, "please have a seat."

Corrin sighed. "If you insist, Your Highness." He took the nearest seat, with Kaze just to his right and Ryoma beyond him. Hinoka and Kagero sat to his left.

"Now," Ryoma began. "As I've said, Kaze was with us in Cheve when our father was killed. He knows better than I do what happened that night."

"So you've said," Corrin muttered. "Well, Kaze, carry on."

"Certainly." Kaze cleared his throat. He put his hands together on the table, and the feeling in the air quickly turned dour. "I entered the city with milords and His Majesty, King Sumeragi. Of course, like milords, I was a child. I was only really there as a guest because my late father had been a close friend to the King. And because of the Kohga-Mokushu Conflict, no trained ninja could be spared. This wasn't seen as a problem because the negotiations were supposed to be peaceful."

Corrin listened with little interest to the ninja's words. He leaned back in his chair with his arms loosely folded and his head tilted a tad to one side.

"Kohga's daimyo chose to remain with his people, but the other kings and chieftains had all arrived before us: late Daimyo Hayabusa of Mokushu; Archduke Izana of Izumo; Chiefs Fuga, Nagi, and Kilma of the Wind, Fire, and Ice Tribes; King Alexander of Nestra; and the Governor of Cheve, Richard II of house Stoneroot. And, obviously, King Garon."

"Could we, please, speed up the history lesson?" Corrin insisted. "I know well the kingdoms and their leaders."

"Apologies, milord. As we made our way through the streets, I noticed an exchange between a Nohrian soldier and a Chevois knight. They were too far away for me to hear anything, and to the untrained eye it looked like a harmless exchange, but I knew I sensed some hostility in the way each man stood." Kaze's face twitched, and he coughed again. His skill at concealing his emotions didn't quite rival Kagero's, and it was clear that recounting the events in Cheve pained him greatly. "I saw similar exchanges across the city, but I was so sure that I was imagining things; that the feeling in my gut was merely the jittery nervousness of a child in a strange land. I...was wrong."

Behind Corrin, Hinoka grunted as if she wanted to say something. Perhaps she wished to offer a word of comfort for her troubled friend, but thought better of it and choked it back. With a start, Corrin realized that that simple, meaningless sound was the most convincing thing he'd heard to the Hoshidans' case. He knew from her tactless exasperation in their first meeting that Hinoka was either rather emotional, or a skilled actress; and she certainly hadn't had time to rehearse a reaction to Kaze's story. Despite this, the possibility that she was merely a skilled improviser still seemed much more likely than the idea that her absurd claims about him might be true.

Kaze continued after a momentary pause. "The Nohrian soldiers were relieving Chevois security. The whole thing was just a setup. Negotiations began on the topic of Kohga and Mokushu, and not thirty minutes later, an explosion occurred somewhere outside. Garon accused Daimyo Hayabusa of plotting to assassinate the other rulers, and in response, Mokushujin guards began attacking everyone else in the room." He noted Corrin's eyes narrow slightly. "I know, it seems ridiculous. But those guards, and some of the other Mokushujin, were actually working for the current daimyo, Kotaro. How much do you know about him?"

"He's a warrior," Corrin stated with a hint of curiosity. He was somewhat intrigued as to how Mokushu could possibly be dragged into all this. "He wishes to expand his territory, and issues challenges to those he deems unworthy to rule."

"Umm," Kaze mumbled. "To...some extent, I suppose. He's hardly an honorable man. At best, he's an upstart. He used the territorial dispute with Kohga to gain power, and made a deal with King Garon that would give him control of Mokushu. Of course, you know that Daimyo Hayabusa died in Cheve; but those who were present, including the tribes, have long maintained that he was killed either by Nohr or by his own ninja."

Corrin shrugged. "Okay, fine. Hayabusa might have been set up. When am I somehow Sumeragi's child?"

"Step-child," Ryoma corrected. Corrin looked at him quizzically. "Your mother, Queen Mikoto, is my father's second wife, and my step-mother. You were born before their union."

Hinoka was quick to interject. "But you're no less my brother than Ryoma is," she asserted in her scratchy voice, placing a hand on Corrin's shoulder. He brushed it off roughly and immediately, but she was undeterred. "And, in any case, your lack of a blood relation to us has no meaning in the grand scheme of things."

Corrin stared at her with his mouth hanging open. "How the hell do you reckon that?!" he demanded. "You might have told me sooner!"

"Because you're still our brother!" the princess insisted.

"Blood bonds," Ryoma added, "have no bearing on the value of truth." Corrin gave him a harsh look, utterly unconvinced that there was any truth to the Hoshidans' claims. "Please allow Kaze to finish, and when you realize the veracity of his words, then you may decide what you think of your step-siblings."

"So why not tell me this sooner?" Corrin demanded.

"I foolishly assumed you would know Queen Ikona's children from Queen Mikoto's," Ryoma explained. "We also never expected to meet you at the Canyon, so we had little time to piece together a proper explanation; and furthermore, the barrage of information caused you to be uncooperative. I apologize for letting such an important detail simply slip my mind."

"Guess I'm sorry for being uncooperative."

The High Prince appeared unfazed by the comment. "I never lied to you, Corrin—I never told you we shared a father. I only told you that Mikoto is your mother, and as Hinoka said, I truly do consider you as much my sibling as I do her. And, in any case, you do have a blood sibling in Hoshido." Ryoma expected that bringing up Kamui now would have little impact on his step-brother, but it seemed no worse a time than any other.

"Ha! Do I, now?" Corrin mocked. "And of course that detail just happened to slip your mind as well."

"I do not expect you to believe me."

"Really."

Ryoma sighed. At the least, he was glad Hinoka held her tongue. "In any case, it's something you needed to know."

"Of course." Corrin palmed his forehead. "Kaze, please finish this story so I can return to my wagon."

The ninja nodded. "As you wish, milord. After the fighting started, we fled into the streets. The Mokushujin attacked everyone indiscriminately, and most of our soldiers fought back against them alongside the tribesmen. There wasn't a single Chevois knight to be seen near the capitol, because they were engaged with the Nohrian forces." He awaited a response from Corrin, but the younger man didn't emote at all. "All reports confirm that Nohrians were fighting Chevois across the city. Were you ever told this during your studies?"

"I was told that Mokushujin attempted to assassinate the other leaders, and that once the fighting started, Nohr wound up against everyone but Nestra."

"Nothing more?"

"In the confusion, Father couldn't know for certain if Nohrians had acted as aggressors to soldiers of the other nations. But his orders were to secure an escape route for him, to the northwest."

"Well, our accounts differ greatly here. King Garon went east."

"No, he—!" Corrin snarled. He feigned a cough. "...he didn't."

"I'm sorry, milord, but I am only describing what I saw with my own eyes. A detachment of mounted Nohrian knights cut off our escape and killed Sumeragi's horse. The King was forced to make his last stand in the streets."

"How did you escape?" Corrin challenged.

"On horses, and when they died, on our hands and knees."

"Where in hell's name was I?"

Kaze grimaced. "His Majesty handed you to a samurai on horseback. His name was Kazahana, and he barely lasted a few seconds before a volley of arrows rained down on him. He clutched you as tightly as he could, even as he died."

There was a tear in the man's violet eye, but Corrin knew his sorrow mustn't be genuine. 'A ninja,' he assured himself, 'wouldn't become so emotional over an almost twenty-year-old tragedy.'

"His Majesty was stuck in the middle of a wide road, surrounded by enemies. Someone said "Fire," and another torrent of arrows swept through the air. Ryoma and I were both pushed off our horses by their masters; his savior lived, while mine was mortally wounded and urged me to go on without him. I was nearly blinded by my tears. There was so much screaming, buildings were burning..." He coughed again. "We slipped into an alley too narrow for horses. I couldn't help but stop and look back, and I saw King Garon approaching Sumeragi with that accursed golden axe, Bolvërk, raised high. His Majesty was like a... pincushion. So many arrows found their mark in him, yet he clung still to life. And...gods..." Kaze's gaze fell to the floor, and he held his head in his hands. "He wasn't looking at Garon. He was looking at you, Corrin. You were bawling, but you were crawling out of Kazahana's grasp. You were alive. Sumeragi said, 'Please.' And then..." He dabbed at a tear running down his cheek. "Oh, damn it all," he muttered. "Then the axe fell. And he was gone."

Corrin sat stoic, but a chill ran down his spine at the finality of those words. Obviously, none of it was true, but...

'And he was gone. Just like that.'

Ryoma spoke up to finish the tale. "The uninjured man we were with—his name was Noviri—wrenched Kaze away from the street and practically seethed at us, telling us to run as fast as we could away from Garon. I've never seen a man look so angry and desperate all at once. He guided us out of the city, where we were evacuated by sky knights. Our convoy had left as soon as news of battle had come, but we caught up to them and hurried on to the Bottomless Canyon with Izumo and the eastern tribes." He heaved a sigh, the latter part coming out strained with the threat of sobs following. "I can't begin to describe the pain I felt when I realized I had lost not just my father, but my step-brother as well."

Hinoka sniffled and wiped her face with the sleeve of her kimono. Corrin wanted to scoff at her, to insult her for a lackluster performance, to demand that his captors stop spewing lies and take him to see Azura, but he couldn't. To his disgust, he found that he was starting to believe some of what he was being told. There was too much emotion, too many details he'd been missing in the accounts he'd read of the Cheve Incident. The origin of the fighting, the deaths of Sumeragi and Hayabusa, and another hunch he was developing in his mind. This new idea pained him to even consider because it made far too much sense, but required everything else the Hoshidans had said to be true.

"Tell me, Kaze," Corrin requested. "Did you feel that this incident was, in any way, your fault?"

"With all my heart," he replied. "Ever since, I've blamed myself for Sumeragi's death, and for your kidnapping."

"And when you kidnapped my sister, you were looking..." Corrin hesitated, hanging on every word. "...for me?"

"I was, milord."

"It's why you got captured in Windmire, too," Corrin stated. "It was your first opportunity to return, and you wanted to find out where I was."

"All true, milord."

Hinoka stifled a gasp. "So...do you finally believe us, Brother?" She smiled tentatively, her tears not slowing as she transitioned from sadness to relief.

Corrin took a deep breath. He looked at his feet, then went over the rest of his body with his eyes. He was struck once more by how soft the kimono was, how pleasing the color, how it felt just perfect on him. He thought of the economic crisis in Nohr, and how much Garon had to gain by instigating war. He thought of the tears in his captors' eyes, the emotion in their breaking voices. He thought...

He thought they might be right. But he knew that they were wrong.

"No," he said. A silent moment passed. "No, I don't believe you." He looked into Ryoma's eyes, mustering as much anger as he could. "Not a word." He pushed away from the table and rose to his feet. "Now take me to see my sister."

"Cor—" Hinoka squeaked pathetically, halted by Kagero's gentle hand on her shoulder. The princess muffled herself with her hand and began to sob.

Ryoma shook his head. "So be it," he sighed defeatedly. "Azura lives in Castle Shirasagi, as close a friend to our family as if she were one of us herself. As you wish, we will speed you to her side."

Corrin nodded. "Thank you, Your Highness," he said. "As much as this business has infuriated me, I must thank you for your almost absurdly pleasant treatment of me all this time."

"I could not have slept soundly if you felt otherwise." Ryoma gestured for Kagero to rise. "You may return to your carriage, if you like."

"I would." The Nohrian bowed briefly. "Milady," he added, addressing the hysterical princess. He walked casually out of the room, with his ninja shadow following close behind.

"I can't fucking take this," Hinoka lamented when her step-brother's footfalls no longer echoed through the building. "We finally get him back and all he wants is to return to that nightmare!"

"I'm sorry, milady," Kaze offered.

Ryoma shook his head. "Nonsense, Kaze. You spoke the truth. There is nothing else you could have done." He looked to his sister. "I was wrong to think that any Hoshidan could cleanse Corrin of this brainwashing."

"No shit," she spat.

He winced. "Nevertheless, I still believe wholeheartedly that Azura will convince him of the truth. He cannot possibly trust her word less than he does Garon's."

Hinoka stood from her chair. "I'm not so sure anymore," she admitted.

"I must ask you, Sister, to have patience just a little while longer."

She groaned and made her way out the door. Her heated face became pure red when she realized the attentive guards were still there, and she hurried away down the hall.

Kaze and Ryoma followed her path, dismissing the guards on their way out of the conference room.

"Should I have shown less emotion, milord?" the ninja asked.

"I don't think that made the difference," Ryoma answered. "He's in outright denial. Only someone he trusts completely can sway him."

"Will he trust Azura completely?"

Ryoma hummed. "I'm afraid I don't have an answer."

They exited the town hall and turned onto the road. The town was still bustling in the afternoon light, its streets and shops filled with upbeat villagers.

"I think he will," Kaze said.

"Hmph," Ryoma chuckled. "We shall see."

()

"Lord Xander," Laslow called, knocking on the door to the Crown Prince's carriage. "May I have a moment, milord?" He heard his master's footsteps nearing the door.

"Of course," Xander said. The doorknob turned and the wood moved, leaving the prince in its place. "Is this to be a private conversation?"

The moonlight shone off the myrmidon's silver hair. "It is, milord. May I enter?"

Xander stepped back from the doorway. "You may." Once Laslow was inside, he shut the door and attached the latch just above the doorknob. "What manner of conversation will this be?"

Laslow's trademark grin was plainly unsteadied by nervousness. "A suggestion, if I may, of some...perhaps significant consequence."

The prince folded his arms. "Well, you certainly have my attention, Laslow. I think I'd like to hear your suggestion."

"It, ah, regards milord Corrin." Xander's mouth tightened, but he made no effort to silence his retainer. "Since Hoshido now possesses both Corrin and milady Azura, it seems—to me at least—that His Excellency is out of bargaining chips, so to speak. That, ah..." Laslow tried to ignore his neck itching with sweat. "If I have the authority to say such."

Xander shrugged. "I invited you to provide a suggestion. I would expect you to do so, and justify it well. Proceed, please."

Laslow nodded and cleared his throat. "As you wish. So, since she's in a better spot now, I think Mikoto will try to call a peace treaty. One last meeting to return Lady Azura and absolve the world of our current conflict. Provided she does, my suggestion is one for you—milord willing, of course—to pass on to His Excellency." He paused again, despite Xander's assurance that he wouldn't interrupt. Making suggestions to the Crown Prince was something Laslow was no stranger to, but making suggestions to King Garon was often a dangerous undertaking. "If at all possible, Mikoto would rather meet in person. After holding proxy negotiations for so many years, such a gesture would be seen by all as a guarantee of lasting peace; or, at least, that seems to align with her outspoken political philosophies."

"You mean for Father to personally meet with Queen Mikoto, and exchange a declaration of peace for Azura?"

Laslow swallowed, but maintained his smile and nodded. "Exactly that, milord."

"No."

The myrmidon's grin disappeared at once. "Milord—"

Xander raised a hand to silence him. "I have already considered this option, Laslow. Father will never accept such terms."

"But the princess!" Laslow sputtered clumsily.

"I know, Laslow. But Nohr cannot hope to survive without food, and the only fertile lands available are those claimed by Hoshido."

"Milord—"

"Please, let me finish."

Laslow coughed. "Erm, yes, milord."

The prince sighed. "Do not be mistaken: even now, Father is furious that Azura is held captive in Hoshido. But he knows that she has not been treated harshly by the crown. He will not sacrifice his people—his entire nation—for what is sure to be only a momentary peace, even if it would bring about her return as well."

Laslow took a few seconds to be certain he understood his liege's words. "It's war, then," he murmured. "No two ways about it."

"I'm afraid so," Xander replied solemnly.

Laslow leaned one arm against the wall and held his head. "Milord... Gods, pardon my saying so, but you must realize this will spell disaster for hundreds of thousands of people. Maybe millions. The entire continent would be devastated."

"Yes." Xander took a shaky breath. "But Nohr and its hundreds of thousands might survive. The only alternative is starvation."

"I would excuse myself, milord." Laslow was quite done with this conversation. His gut felt thoroughly sick, and his head light.

"You may," Xander said.

With no further comment, the retainer made his way out the door. The moment it clicked shut behind him, he started briskly toward his own wagon.

"Where you going, Twinkle Toes?" a male voice called after him.

"My wagon, Niles," Laslow said.

The archer wore a simple commoner's outfit consisting of a white and brown shirt, striped black pants, long brown boots, and a blue hood. His right eye socket was covered by a black eyepatch with a striking golden X across it. His messy white hair tumbled down his neck and stopped at the base.

"Why the rush?" Niles asked.

Laslow hesitated a moment. "I've had an...uncomfortable conversation with Prince Xander." To his displeasure, Leo's retainer matched his pace.

"What, he try to come on to ya?"

"Wha—?!" Laslow exclaimed. His face flushed. "I'm really not in the mood for your teasing, Niles."

"But I'm right, aren't I?"

"Of course not!"

Niles smirked. "I know that, you ditz. And slow down, for gods' sakes!" He put a palm on Laslow's chest, forcing him to slow his steps. "Jeez, man. You gonna tell me what's got you so riled up?"

Laslow brushed him off roughly, but continued at a reduced pace. "I want to tell the other retainers what I've learned."

"Ding ding! That would be me." Niles put a finger to his chin, pretending to be deep in thought. "Hmm, unless you're on your way to see my good pal Odin and his redhead lady friend. They're not in your wagon, 'cause they're in his bed."

"Please," Laslow pleaded. "For one gods-damned second, can you shut your lecherous mouth?"

"What? It's the truth. And by the way, I'd appreciate it if you told them not to do it in my room. The stench of sex makes me antsy."

"Will you—!" Laslow coughed and lowered his voice to a hard whisper. "—shut the hell up?!"

That got Niles to crack up. "Oh my gods, your face!" He patted Laslow roughly on the back. "You are red as a goddamn tomato, buddy."

"Go away!"

Niles threw up his hands, still cackling wildly. "Alright, alright! I'm gone! Hoo, boy." He turned his back and waved. "Don't have too much fun! Oh!" He turned around. "And I still wanna know what it is you're talking about!"

"Odin will tell you," Laslow said dismissively. He reached his wagon and knocked twice, but Arthur evidently was elsewhere. It was just as well; he didn't really want to speak with Lady Elise's eccentric retainer at the moment. Seeing as the hour was late, and his friends were apparently...occupied, he decided to get some sleep and inform them of Xander's plans in the morning.