CHAPTER 38 Measuring the Swords

Kiki and Mitsuhide arrived the day after the announcement court, just as the lunch was ending. Obi and Ilena had gone to it with Shirayuki, having come from the dance lesson, and they were welcomed with hugs and great smiles. They were allowed the time to eat, though it was difficult for them to with all the questions they were being asked. Ilena finally had Shirayuki tell them the stories of the tea and the luncheon with Zen to distract the questions long enough for the pair to finish eating. That led nicely into Shirayuki and Zen telling the story of the dinner just after Mitsuhide and Kiki finished eating. Obi picked up the story of the later assassination attempts and Ilena calmly gave a brief summary of the reason for them, as she had told to Zen.

Mitsuhide and Kiki were fairly shaken to finally understand exactly why they had been recalled. They looked to Ilena and thanked her for protecting Shirayuki and Zen. Then they turned to Sam and Leon, were properly introduced, and thanked them also. Shirayuki took that opportunity to introduce to them her new third and fourth guards. She had selected the two young lords that she had planned on asking to help her prior to this time. Ilena had vetted them and approved them, then Zen had tested them and also approved. Brian, son of a court viscount was slightly heavy, but when he moved it was with grace and his eyes were always testing everything he saw. Mitsuhide liked what he saw in Brian. Kirk was the third son of a landed baron from the far west near Lyrias. His eyes sparkled and he had a ready smile, but he was well mannered, so Kiki approved.

Obi looked to Mitsuhide when the introductions were completed and asked him and Miss Kiki to please provide his own form of testing to all of the new guards. Mitsuhide and Kiki understood him to mean that they still all needed testing by the sword to see if they were sufficient in the eyes of the two head aides. Zen wanted to watch, but he had work to do, so he sent them away, keeping Dane, Tairn, and Aiden in the office with him. The others went to the list field and the soldiers were treated to an impromptu show of the challenge of sparing with the two best fighters in the castle, if not all of Clarines.

Shirayuki and Ilena watched from the stands, Obi, Henry, and Marcus with them. Obi sat up on the top of the chairs, crouched as he would if on the banister of the balcony of the Rose office. He was in the row above Shirayuki and Ilena who were sitting properly, though Shirayuki was excited and sitting forward to watch such a thing for the first time, except for the time she had been able to watch the two eldest aides spar against each other. That time, the bout had lasted for nearly an hour and a half before Mitsuhide yielded to Kiki to apologize for his behavior.

Obi had asked that Mitsuhide specifically test Petroi, and Kiki to test Thayne. He was very interested in seeing what the results would be, but he had suggested Petroi's bout be last as he expected it to be the most exciting. All four of Shirayuki's needed testing so they began with them. Mitsuhide took Sam on first, running him through all of the basics at Sam's pace, learning his form and arm. Then slowly he began to pressure him until the point at which Sam's neck was mere hair's breadths from Mitsuhide's practice sword. He yielded and Mitsuhide allowed him to leave the list, following him off.

Kiki then took Leon. Standing coolly and relaxed, her sword in her left hand, she looked at him until he seemed ready, then she immediately attacked with quick, hard strokes. Leon, a bit surprised at the difference in fighting styles, nearly lost his head at the very beginning. He was fast enough to get his sword in to defend himself, though, and then had to keep up the defending until Kiki's sword smacked him in his right arm. She paused and backed up, but didn't let him yield. When he was ready, she began again, but this time at a slightly slower pace and she made him put all of his forms to good use until her sword too was at his neck. She accepted his yield at that point and they removed from the list. She said something to Mitsuhide. He looked up at Obi and the others, thinking, then his voice sounded in their ears. Obi bring one of yours and let us see what he can do.

Obi sat up straight in surprise that they would want to see Henry and Marcus tested also. "Ah...," he looked at the Twins. "Well, we have been needing to do it." He looked them over, then picked Henry, and the two of them headed to the wall and jumped down from the stands, landing exactly the same - in a crouch that made the earth eat the force of the landing. Now Ilena was excited. She hadn't seen Obi fight yet other than the times she had tested him. She sat up, her eyes glittering. Marcus grinned at her. The soldiers who were watching the sword bouts watched with interest as Obi and Henry entered the list. Some of them had seen Obi's tests of Petroi and Thayne, and a number of them had fought by his side in the fight against Earl College when he had fought with his sword, but the majority of them had not seen him fight hand to hand yet.

Obi also approached the testing in the way Mitsuhide had, beginning with running Henry through the basic blocks. Then he motioned for Henry to throw the attacks. Henry started slow at first, also testing Obi's methods, then he began to increase the speed and type of attacks and combinations. This kind of test was more for him to show what he could do, and he chose to do it in this manner. The soldiers were beginning to mutter at Obi's perceived weakness because he chose to only block, with only occasional counterattacks when he suddenly took Henry down. They couldn't perceive how he'd done it and they were suddenly silent in surprise. Obi held his hand out to Henry. "Fair enough," he said to the panting man. The watching soldiers, used to fighting themselves, noted that Obi was not anywhere nearly as weary as Henry and revised their opinions. "Go replace Marcus." Henry nodded and trotted off the list to catch his breath then trade places with Marcus next to his mistress in the stands.

Obi stayed at the list while Mitsuhide took another turn and tested Brian. This time, he didn't take much time to test the basics. He wanted to test strength, which looked like Brian's specialty, and then to see if he had sufficient speed to balance it. He did, which surprised Mitsuhide the first time and the tip of Brian's sword flashed frighteningly close to his nose in an attack that Mitsuhide had barely moved fast enough to dodge. Mitsuhide smiled grimly and focused seriously. The fight was a good one and Brian managed to hold his own for some time.

Blows rang hard and the crack of the swords meeting and parting faster than the eye could almost comprehend echoed throughout the parade ground. At the same time as Mitsuhide's sword touched Brian's head, Brian's sword cracked and the top half fell severed from the lower half. Mitsuhide's swing combined with Brian's power in his block had finally broken the wooden sword and Mitsuhide's swing had gone through it to end the match. Mitsuhide grinned at Brian and held out his hand. Brian grinned back, his eyes happy with his performance and with the thrill of the fight, and gripped Mitsuhide's hand. "I had always hoped to one day cross swords with you, Mister Mitsuhide. Thank you for the match."

"My pleasure," Mitsuhide answered back and they left the list together.

Shirayuki looked at Ilena, her eyes wide. "Brian is good, isn't he?"

Ilena and Henry grinned at her. "Yes, Princess Shirayuki, he is," Ilena agreed. "You've chosen well with that one."

"Well, it wasn't for that, but I'm glad," Shirayuki said turning back to watch as Kiki and Kirk entered the list.

Kirk swung his sword in his right hand a few times and his expression had gone from relaxed to the serious pride of a fighter who felt comfortable with their own strengths. "Miss Kiki, do you fight with your right hand ever?" She shook her head silently. Kirk nodded and tossed his sword into his left hand and limbered it up as well. Kiki lifted one eyebrow, in what for her was extreme expressiveness. She was wondering if she was going to have to put this one in his place or if he was really as good as he believed he was. Most fighters didn't have the opportunity to face a left-handed fighter, so it was one of her advantages, but she was also under the same disadvantage. She approached him cautiously at first until she found the pattern. It took less than a minute and a half, so she was pleased enough with that.

Like Mitsuhide, she focused down into the match after that. She did notice when Kirk went to fighting with his right hand - she had to speed up and increase the amount of footwork she was doing - but her focus didn't leave the sword itself. In the end, he too had a sword pointed at his adam's apple and had to yield. She straightened up and looked dispassionately into his eyes. He calmly smiled at her. "Thank you, Miss Kiki," he bowed slightly. "It has been a fine thing to lose to you today."

Kiki nodded at him. Then after a pause asked, "Shall we practice lefts together?"

Kirk raised his eyebrow in surprise, then grinned his usual ready smile. "I would like that."

Kiki nodded and they walked off the list, Kirk a bit more happy than usual. Mitsuhide put his arm around Kiki's shoulder. "It looks like Shirayuki will do okay," he said. Kiki looked up at him and nodded, her face still as serious as ever, but he recognized the satisfaction in her eyes. He turned and gave a thumbs up to Shirayuki. Shirayuki clapped her hands once and held them in front of her heart, sighing in relief. Her guards also were relieved to be passed.

Obi looked at Marcus. Marcus swallowed and nodded. He'd only ever been put on the ground by Obi, but he'd watched closely as Henry had been tested. "You will let me get in at least one attack, won't you?" he asked as they walked into the list.

Obi grinned at him. 'It wouldn't be a test if I didn't. I want to know what you can do, after all."

Marcus nodded and got into position. Even though he and Henry sparred together all the time, their methods weren't quite the same. He and Henry actually fought pairs and their methods meshed to be seamless against their opponents. He didn't bother letting Obi test the basics. He attacked first and kept going. Being the faster of the pair, and alone, he didn't have to hold his speed down. Obi blocked the first set of attacks, then grinned and upped the stakes, attacking back and turning it into a full match. In the end, he was kneeling on Marcus, his hand on his chest, the other having just come from a blow to the throat that had touched but been pulled to not do any damage. Marcus was tense for just a moment, then relaxed completely, his arms splayed to his sides. He lay there breathing for a while until Obi got off of him and extended his hand. Marcus took it and stood leaning his hands on his knees.

"That was fun," Obi said to him.

Marcus nodded, still not quite able to speak. When he could stand upright, he said to Obi, "Thanks for not killing me in the first minute. I really have been wanting to show you what I can do."

Obi nodded as they stepped off the list. "Glad to." He looked at Petroi and Thayne, then at Mitsuhide and Kiki. "Petroi fights in the Selician style," he told them, "and he knows this kind as well," he gestured to himself and the list, meaning the match he had just had. "If you want to see that, too, then we may need to rearrange the matches from here. You may want to see him fight before you step in the list with him, but that would be three close matches for him." Meaning that Petroi wouldn't have time to properly rest between them.

Mitsuhide looked at Kiki, then at Petroi, considering. "Let's have you do a short bout. Pick one of Shirayuki's that will let us see what you can do sufficiently, but don't wear yourself out."

Petroi nodded and picked out a practice sword. He tossed it to Brian and picked out a second for himself. As they walked out to the field, Petroi said in his quiet accented voice, "Use less strength and focus on your speed. That way I can conserve my strength for the test match. I'll go slow since you haven't seen it yet either. In Selicia we use a practice where the match is a slow dance so that the forms become perfected before the speed is added. If you will follow my lead, we will do the dance first, then a brief bout with speed."

Brian nodded, intrigued and got into his stance. Everyone was watching with great interest, Ilena included, her eyes sparking and her hand twitched. She rose and said, Will you let me do the dance?

Petroi looked up at her in surprise. If I do that, then Brian won't be prepared for the speed.

Petroi, I can't sit still.

Petroi looked at Obi, helpless. He had no idea what to do and couldn't say no to her. Obi looked at Petroi questioningly. "Can she actually do it? The dance instructor said this morning she can't do twists and twirls yet."

Petroi shook his head. "There are turning movements, but they are slow. She technically can do it, but you must decide if she may."

Obi shifted, then looked at Thayne. "Did you do it that way with Thayne before?"

Petroi looked just a little relieved, seeing where Obi was going. "Yes, he is a passable partner at it now, and I don't expect Mistress Ilena has done it in some time."

"A different list field?"

Petroi shook his head. "It can be done here as well."

Ilena was already on her way down. Henry had to grab her and prevent her from leaping over the wall and force her to walk down the stairs, laughing at her on the way. Shirayuki tagged along to the edge of the wall. Her other three saw her move and went to join her up in the stands to keep watch over her and see the matches from there. The watching soldiers hadn't heard the initial request so were looking at the changes curiously. They did all know Ilena and they wondered why she would be entering the list field.

"Oi! You should have called me out earlier!" Obi and the group looked up into the stands. General Garen was standing there with his arms folded.

Obi grinned at him, though he couldn't really see it. Sorry, but you've come for the best part at least.

General Garen walked down to stand near Shirayuki and watched as Ilena made her stately way to the list across the field. She handed her cane to Kiki, then walked over to the sword rack and picked out one short enough for her reach. She swung it a few times after making sure there wasn't anyone close to her. They were slow swings from one side of her to the other and she closed her eyes until she was swaying in time to the swings. She brought the sword in front of her, point up, then opened her eyes.

She turned to look at Petroi and smiled a bright smile. He gave her a soft smile in return. "Shall we dance then, Mistress?" he said.

Ilena stepped into the list and Thayne followed her, watching her just a little worried, though he knew the dance was slow enough. Ilena and Petroi stood on the same side, as if for a pairs match, distanced just enough to not swing their swords into each other, but close enough to defend each other. Brian and Thayne took their places in front of them. "Thayne," Ilena said quietly, "when they go into speed, we will also, but I will be modifying the moves. Watch for it. You may as well be getting my measure now as later." Thayne raised an eyebrow and glanced at Obi. Obi grinned back and Thayne nodded.

Petroi and Ilena raised their swords until they were pointed upright like Ilena had just ended her warm up. Thayne got into position. Brian looked at him and copied his stance, then focused on Petroi, knowing he was going to have to watch closely his own opponent to learn his part. Moving together Ilena and Petroi bowed to their opponents gracefully putting their non-sword hands behind them, the same leg also extending behind them. Then the tips of the swords came down and swung to the right in a graceful arc, then came straight across from directly out to the right to the center front as the left hands and legs also returned to center at their bodies and their two opponents swords met them with a firm *clack*! The watchers were surprised at the force in the ending, and Brian almost lost his sword for not having held it firmly enough. He readjusted his grip and his expectations, his face going even slightly grim.

Thayne also had a very serious expression on his face. Ilena's blow had been only very slightly less firm than Petroi's usually were. They were already on to the next move, the swords of the Selician's moving on to the left now to arc up, then the wrists turned into a back handed blow, but the arms remained for a front handed blow and the watching veterans were surprised at the motion, for it was not a known one in Celicia. Then the swords came down suddenly as the left arms moved back, up and over the shoulder with the hand and wrist graceful, to add to the force of the swing and the clack of the swords meeting was even louder. The swing continued on down and around and now the feet moved, the left moving forward as the right hand brought the sword forward in a thrust. Ilena's movement was shortened just a little as she couldn't extend her weight too far forward over that leg yet, but the move was still graceful and Thayne met it correctly, judging it by where her foot landed.

The swords went left and down in front of the leg just extended. The left hands came over and crossed over the right hands and the swords raised in a raised block to the left as the right leg was gracefully brought around to be extended to the front. Obi, Marcus, and Henry all tensed unconsciously. It was a balanced move on the left leg and Ilena hadn't shown them she could do that yet. They were expecting her to fall, but she didn't, holding the balance. Obi understood then it was because the movement had been slow enough for her to shift her weight correctly and in time. Then the block became an overhand blow as the weight was shifted to the right foot and the strong *clack* sounded again.

The dance continued, graceful and slow, every movement calculated to bring the greatest force into the blow. There was one turning where the sword swung around the dancer and the feet were slid, one at a time around in an arc on the ground, the toes pointed. Those blows were no less firm, and Ilena had an expression of complete focused delight on her face that all saw in that turning. They finally reached a point where their swords were raised to the sky again, their posture straight, the off hand's palm resting lightly against the sword pommel parallel to the sword and fingers pointing up. Thayne readjusted his grip on his sword and prepared his stance again. Brian hurried to follow. When they were ready, Ilena and Petroi began.

All of the same forms began again, but this time, with great speed. *Clack-clack-clack* the first three moves were already done, but on the thrust Ilena did not step forward more than a foot's step. Other moves were also modified including the sweeping circle, though she definitely looked disappointed about it. At the end of the speed round, instead of the swords ending up, they ended up at the necks of their opponents, though Thayne had managed to get his sword up to block Ilena. Sadly it was just at the edge of her sword and not touching it. She had taken his head first. She came to the present and looked at Thayne, then smiled at him. Brian had not anticipated the final differing blow and had lost his head as well. Together Petroi and Ilena raised their swords to the starting point again and bowed to their respective opponent. Thayne and Brian bowed back.

Ilena put her sword's tip down and leaned on it slightly. "Thank you, Thayne," she said to him and Petroi thanked Brian. Then she turned to Petroi. Softly she said, "Thank you, Petroi. It has been so long that I have been dancing it alone. It was a joy to do it again with you."

Petroi bowed to her, holding it long and only she could see the tears in his eyes. She held out her hand to him and he rose and took it, raising it to his lips and kissing it. Finally he was able to say, "It was my delight, Pr...Mistress Ilena. You have remembered it very well."

Ilena smiled at him. "It is my favorite dance still, the sword dance."

Obi walked out on the list. "Then will you teach it to me also?" he asked, his eyes on his wife.

Ilena nodded, "I will do the sword dance with you, but Petroi is the better teacher. I get lost in the dance and cannot come out of it enough to speak it."

Obi looked at Petroi and he bowed slightly. "I would be happy to teach it to you, Master Obi." Obi looked at him in the eye, then nodded. He turned to his wife, held out his elbow for her to take and he walked her to the edge of the list where Thayne and Brian had already gone to. Petroi followed the couple off the list, his eyes deep and unreadable. He stopped just inside the list and rested the point of his sword on the ground, both hands on the pommel. He looked at Mitsuhide and waited patiently for his words.

Mitsuhide considered him, then looked at Thayne. "How much did that take from you?" He asked.

Thayne shrugged. "More than I thought, less than Petroi."

"I think while I have in my head what you've just done, we'll go next." Petroi nodded and returned to the center of the list and waited calmly for Mitsuhide to join him.

The surrounding soldiers were very quiet, and many eyes were glancing at Ilena. She hadn't cleaned them out from a position of weakness. She also understood the sword and it gave them pause. General Garen, seeing it from his vantage point, had seen it all through the dance, and his smile was tight and his eyes narrow. He would see to it that she came and practiced here regularly. In that way she would win their trust. Now he was just as impatient as Obi and a certain dance instructor to see her regain her full capabilities.

Mitsuhide and Petroi were evenly matched in capability and speed. Mitsuhide was slightly higher on strength as Petroi's build was lighter. In the end Petroi yielded, though Mitsuhide said it was properly a draw. Petroi asked that he be allowed to end it so that he would properly be able to face Obi in the hand-to-hand match and Mitsuhide agreed, not wanting to take away from that test either, and having satisfied himself already. It had definitely been different to fight the different style. Things would start one way and he would think of its ending and it would not be so and he would have to change his thinking last minute. He thanked Petroi as they walked off the list, and the thanks was returned.

Kiki stepped in for her last bout. Thayne took a breath and stepped in with her. Two ladies in one day was a bit much for a young lord who'd been taught that the sword was to protect them, never to be pointed at them. He'd managed to face Ilena because he could think of it as a dance. He could only face Kiki the way most of her opponents faced her - as thinking of her as a man. She actually preferred that, but she didn't tell Thayne. It helped her when they couldn't after all. She faced him, then attacked quickly again, as she had Leon, testing his reflexes. She'd already seen his strength against Ilena. That meant that she made the bout rather short. That was okay with Thayne who was able to leave the list relieved he hadn't messed up in any major way. He already knew he was only passable compared to this group of insanely good fighters.

Obi started. It was his turn again, and he'd forgotten. He leaned over and kissed Ilena, then released her hand from his elbow, leaving her to rest on her cane that Kiki had handed over when she had left the list. He walked to the center of the list field, asking the watchers to please take several steps back. Everyone moved. He turned towards Petroi and raised his eyes to the slightly older man's. They matched deep for deep, dark for dark. Petroi walked onto the list his movements smooth and becoming more feline as he went. Obi went down into a splayed crouch, the fingertips of his left hand on the ground, the right hand out to his side, the right leg also. By the time Petroi was within distance, he was in a matched crouch, seemingly to have just flowed into it from his feline walk.

There was a brief pause as they entered full fighting mode, then they began. With lightning moves they came together, then violently retreated. Blows seemed to not be pulled and they could be heard from some distance away. The competitors were themselves very silent. After the noisy stick battles, this was eerie. It was a different kind of fighting from Obi's others. Those he had stood upright and faced the attacks directly. Here they both fought close to the ground, sometimes suddenly rising up only to fall apart again, as if water was boiling, then swirling in the pot as they circled each other, looking for an advantage.

Eventually the watchers could see that Petroi's style was still different from Obi's, even in hand-to-hand. But this was Obi's third time against Petroi. He knew what to do now, and they were evenly matched. He was wanting to break through, to get to Petroi when there was a sudden thump and command, Stop! Obi froze, but did not take his eyes off of Petroi. Petroi had also frozen and his eyes were a little wide.

Petroi backed down first, bringing all of his splayed limbs gracefully back around to himself as if performing a move in the sword dance and he turned the move into a graceful stand. Obi, watching him, carefully mimicked that closure of the pose, though in a different way, first pulling back to a four-point cat stance, then rising to standing as Petroi did, matching his height. His eyes never left Petroi. Petroi bowed to Obi, then went into a relaxed parade stance. Obi relaxed slightly, but was still aware of him. Suddenly he was thumped in the head. He blinked and looked around. Ilena was standing in front of, and just to his right so she wasn't between him and his prey. Her cane was still lifted in her hand ready to hit him again if it was necessary.

Obi lifted his hand for his defense, but he remained silent. Her eyes had caught his. They were as deep and dark as his and Petroi's had been, but with more life for they also glittered with anger. When he reacted to her anger, she made an expression of displeasure, then turned away from him. He was dragged along in her wake, Petroi also following her off the list. She led them to a far corner of the parade ground and proceeded to give them both a thorough scolding.

Shirayuki looked up at General Garen, a somewhat horrified look on her face. "General, what was that?"

He looked at her kindly, knowing she wasn't used to the world of fighting. "They were serious. It wasn't just a test match. Miss Ilena stopped them just before they were about to do serious damage to each other in their attempt to prove dominance." He looked back at the field and the men being scolded. "Do you know what Miss Ilena's relationship is to Petroi, Miss Shirayuki?"

"Ah...not really. I know that he is her favorite, and he fought with Obi before, though they've been getting along well lately, since he's been following Obi."

"Mmm…," General Garen considered, but had nothing else to say on the matter. Ilena was setting Obi in a place, and then Petroi. Then she began to stalk back to the list. Obi followed just behind her to her right, and Petroi behind Obi just to his left with enough distance between them she could whip them with her cane before they reached the other. They already looked whipped enough from her words, though, by Garen's eyes. When they reached the others at the list, both properly apologized, then turned to face Shirayuki and bowed in apology to her also.

Shirayuki sighed, putting her chin in her hand. "It's hard for Ilena to keep those two tamed, though Petroi is better at it than Obi. I've actually seen that coming for some time. I'm sure the dance pushed Obi past his capacity. He is so jealous for her."

The General looked down at her in surprise. "You can tell?"

Shirayuki looked up at him. "I've had Obi following me for a long time. There are a lot of things I don't see, it is true, but I have learned him very well. She has been very good for him, and I am proud of his progress, but sometimes she lets it go too long without realizing it. For all that she is Mother, she is also somewhat cold and distant, like the other Wisteria…" She stopped suddenly, remembering she wasn't supposed to say it. She managed to keep her hand in her lap, but she looked away, not willing to look at the surprised look in General Garen's eyes. Very softly she said, "Forget I have said it, all of you, or wrath will descend upon us. I'm sorry to have not guarded my tongue properly."

There was quiet for a moment, then Leon said, "Well, Mistress Shirayuki, Sam and I already knew of it, and Brian and Kirk would have learned by now if Miss Ilena hadn't been on probation this last week until yesterday."

Shirayuki turned back and looked up into the General's eyes. "Hmm...you are one of the Children…. You should also know it, because of the importance of your station and the knowledge of what is being protected. Has Zen already said it to you?"

Garen shook his head and Shirayuki considered, then nodded. "He may not, lest he bring the wrath of the King on him, so we've said it for him to each other so that we may support him in this thing. Thus I will say it to you, under full oath of secrecy, and also you my guards must also keep it strictly secret. Ilena is the missing princess, the daughter of the Queen Mother's younger sister who married the third son of the previous king of Selicia. Zen has decided that he wants her by his side and is working to make it so with her, and our, assistance. She will be announced when our marriage is announced, then all will know, but until then breathe no word of it. Obi will have your head if you do, for he is set as her protector."

After watching the battles, there were four who would keep quiet just for that last comment. General Garen bowed slightly. "Thank you for telling me, Miss Shirayuki. It helps me understand."

Shirayuki looked at him soberly. "Yes, it does. I needed that understanding also, for Zen loves her. She is too much a Wisteria. One understands her much better for understanding that one thing."

Garen looked back at Ilena and the others on the field who were beginning to leave it to come towards them. He nodded. "I think I see it then. Regent Zen has set Obi to be her protector, but Petroi's protected her longer and isn't ready to give that up to him." He looked back at Shirayuki. "I will do my part to protect them also." Shirayuki inclined her head at him, looking into his eyes soberly just a moment longer, then she stood and set aside the topic from her face and walked with the four men down to the parade ground to meet with with her friends, a smile on her face, her first time ever to have to wear the court game face that did not give away what her heart felt. She hoped she was doing it right. Ilena could see through anything.

-o-o-o-

Zen instated Ilena back to Director of Intelligence at a small audience the next day, it being the soonest he could do it according to his own word. Any longer was not necessary now that the messenger had been sent to the Lord of Tarc, and he needed his Director of Intelligence in her place. It made the lords she had berated nervous, but afterwards she was pleasant when she chanced to talk to them. If she ever thought they were out of line, she only had to look at them significantly and they gulped and straightened their path.

Zen held Ilena and Shirayuki back when the audience with the lords was completed. He had them come and stand on the dias with him, Shirayuki on his right, Ilena on his left. Shirayuki was dressed in one of her fine dresses she used when acting in her formal position of Assistant and Adjunct to the Regent. Ilena had come in the skirt version of the Department uniform, as this was a more formal meeting for her. She was very glad for their dress when Zen nodded and the door opened to admit the Queen Mother to the room, followed by her guards and two female aides. The guards stay near the door and the aides followed halfway to the throne.

When the Queen Mother reached her place in front of the throne, Ilena with Shirayuki following her exactly, curtseyed to her. Queen Haruto, as icily beautiful as ever, bent her head to her youngest son and the Regent.

"Thank you for coming, Mother," Zen said calmly but with the power behind him he had been working with since the day after the dinner with Shirayuki. "I would like to introduce to you my fiancée, Lady Shirayuki of Tanbarun." He indicated Shirayuki on his right. She bowed her head to the Queen Mother graciously, keeping a pleasant expression on her face. "She will be announced in nine days time as my wife and First Princess of Clarines." Queen Haruto looked at Shirayuki with interest. She had surely heard of her, even though she hadn't met the young woman yet. The Queen Mother turned back to her son without comment, waiting to hear his other words.

"I would also like to introduce to you my cousin, Princess Thailena Wisteria Polov." Zen indicated Ilena on his left and she inclined her head to the Queen Mother. Her face was also neutrally pleasant, but her eyes sparkled with a smile. Queen Haruto's pupils contracted as she stared at the niece she perhaps thought she would never see again and one hand clenched. "Ilena will be announced at that time as well as Second Princess of Clarines, and her Consort with her. Izana will be here at the castle in six days. Plan on attending." The Queen Mother looked at him as if he was crazy.

"I don't have the opportunity to test her?" she objected.

"You may do so now, if you wish," Zen said to her calmly.

Haruto blinked. To suddenly be placed in this situation, her son had gained a strength that allowed him to stand before her calmly. She smiled a smooth smile. "And has gaining the support of two women made my youngest son suddenly that much stronger?"

Ilena bowed slightly. "Aunt Haruto, you yourself know that the strength of the woman who stands at the side of the ruler is essential to his own strength. That Cousin Zen has also decided to rely on my strengths, I am grateful for his trust."

Haruto stared at Ilena and her heart wavered. Softly she said, "I had forgotten that you were always a strong opponent." Ilena merely looked at her calmly. Haruto pursed her lips. "And what has Izana said about this?"

Zen lifted his head from his hand, where he had been resting it. "I have sent for him and told him my intentions. He has been merely waiting for my invitation."

Haruto raised an eyebrow. "He was willing to be obedient?"

Zen's eyes hardened. "He opened the door to my house and invited evil to enter. Cousin Ilena is even now still having to clean up the damage that was done. You already know of this. He could not refuse."

Haruto bowed slightly, her eyes downcast. "And so you will not allow me to refuse either?"

"No, I will not. You also did not lift your hand to prevent it. Thus you have already given your approval."

Haruto looked back up at him in faint surprise, then said, "Very well. I will be present." She bowed to him and left the audience room, picking up her personnel as she went.

When the door was closed, Shirayuki sighed in relief. Zen and Ilena looked at her. She looked back at them in surprise, then looked chagrined. "Right. To you two that's normal. She is to me more frightening than King Izana." Then she looked confused. "But, why did she not want to test me?" They grinned at her.

"Because she was watching all of your other tests. You've already passed her tests," Zen told her. Shirayuki looked confused still.

"Princess Shirayuki," Ilena said, "you know I have operatives here in the castle who tell me all things I need or desire to know. It is the same with Queen Haruto."

Shirayuki thought on that, then nodded. "So her people were among those who watched the testing, and from the reports they brought back, she has decided to not fight the marriage?"

Zen nodded. "That's correct." He turned to Ilena. "Your testing was very brief."

"It was merely a confirmation to her that I will support you. She already knew as well, as you yourself said. My uncle in her employ has been most strict in his assessment of me for some time. Her willingness to let him come and testify at the Lord's Court was already her approval."

Zen looked at her, then nodded. "I had not considered that, but I understand it now."

"Ah, Zen," Shirayuki interrupted to ask a question.

"Yes, Shirayuki?" He looked at her.

"Is it okay that you introduced Ilena to the Queen Mother in the audience hall with others present?"

Zen smiled to her kindly. "It is. I've already told Izana that I will no longer keep it secret, though it won't be any more known or acknowledged as you are until the official announcement."

"In other words," Ilena interjected, "Master Zen has now put the news officially on the rumor mill, and with a strong beginning." She smiled at them.

Zen grinned back, then rose from his seat and tucked Shirayuki's hand in his elbow. He reached out his other hand to Ilena and she took it. He squeezed it, then released it and led them out of the audience hall. Ilena stayed just to his left, just behind him, his second pillar and his second flower.

-o-o-o-

Happy Anniversary. They were words Izana couldn't say. It wasn't his way to be emotional about much of anything. Acting emotional meant irrationality was entering his carefully crafted world. His board was vast, encompassing many hundreds, if not thousands of persons and activities, some completely unrelated, some so intertwined that if he lost his vision, many things would unravel and the world, or at least the country, would fall in a horrible collapse. It helped that he could place things on other people's boards, those board being extension of his. Then he could just observe what happened, monitoring to make sure a piece he needed didn't fall.

Most people had small to medium sized boards and were easy to see and manipulate. Izana's was the largest - as King it should be so. His mother, Queen Haruto's board had been large also, but it had been shrinking steadily as she'd turned her responsibilities over to her sons. Zen's had increased in size when he'd been placed in the position of Regent and he'd taken over those responsibilities from their mother. The board not his own that Izana enjoyed thinking about, and that he'd been made to worry about most in the recent months, was Ilena's board.

Her board was nearly as vast as his, and it excited him. It covered three countries, where his covered one. She didn't run the economy, the governmental policies, the movement of peoples, and all of the other many tasks a king had to do at his scale, but she did pieces of all of it on her own scale. He'd been able to leave many things on her board and not worry about them over the years, just monitor them. She moved much as he did: letting things take place, adding pieces as she went, small movements that later would amount to big things.

He'd gone to sleep one night mulling on her board when he'd sat suddenly up in bed, his heart beating hard. He'd finally understood the big thing down the road she was working for. It was a frightening prospect for a king to realize his country was in danger from an outside source. Not only had he finally seen the threat he'd been feeling whispering around the edges of his board, but he'd seen how far she'd already come to protect Clarines from that threat. He had immediately, upon rising that next morning, sent out pieces from his board, placing them where she would need them when her bolder moves began to be made. Then he'd watched over her board very carefully. The particular defensive stance she'd decided to take was essential to him. He was already too late to act on it.

As soon as she recognized his support, she'd turned and looked him in the face and told him what price he would have to pay for her to keep playing her board for him. He'd sat stunned, holding that letter. That had clinched it for him. She was his cousin for sure. Only another Wisteria knew how to play the boards, and to that scale. He'd relaxed just ever so carefully and told her he'd watch and wait, but he wasn't opposed to it. It had energized her and her board exploded into activity, things moving almost faster than he could follow for a while. Then she had paused and let him take a look. She had tripled her personnel and set them up ready to act. She had increased her provision and stocks until they couldn't be held, but there was no waste, and the pipelines to create more were in place. She had finalized her position as the source of information for all of Wilant with an entire army of devoted persons behind her, an impressive feat in itself.

Then she had turned and looked at him and told him where she was going to stand. That had surprised and saddened him, but emotions had to be set aside. He would let her go - after all she wasn't wrong. Her network was all in the north and he was certain that she'd done that on purpose. She would be there still, helping him with balancing the boards. She'd already seen enough of his board that she knew what he was already going to do, and had set herself up to support it. She'd waited for him to do his part, and he had done it. When he placed Zen in Wilant, his part was done, save for the support so her pieces wouldn't fall, and more importantly, so she wouldn't fall.

That was where the worry was coming from. She was still moving pieces around as he expected she would, but she herself kept spinning. It was dizzying to watch her. He was content, therefore, to just watch her board and let Zen worry about the spin. In that thing, he was glad she wanted to be on Zen's board. If she were on his, she would have already made him lose track of many of his other threads. Zen, on the other hand, had a very clean board. He kept it simple, preferring to watch other people's boards and wait until a piece could be snatched up and placed exactly where he wanted it on his board. They almost always stayed obediently where he wanted them, and if they moved it was with purpose and at the exact timing he needed.

It was actually fun to watch that also, if a bit boring. When a new piece would pop up on it, Izana would always go check it out personally, because he wanted to know if it would really stick to the board. They almost always did - except Ilena who spun. What Zen had done was to put that spinning piece into a box on his board, the very box she wanted for herself to begin with. Izana found that very amusing. It was a thing worthy of her, that she had anticipated it long before, but that Zen would have seen it instinctively and immediately used it was a testament to his natural abilities, which Izana kept forgetting to his chagrin. He moved so slowly it was easy to forget, but ever since Zen had placed Ilena on his board, his pieces had been moved by her hand, and with rapid placement.

Zen had let it happen, wanting to see what she did and seemingly not opposed to the moves, but Izana had been surprised. He wondered if it was because Zen had not known how to move them. When he'd received the invitation from Zen, he knew Zen was ready to master the new layout of his board. He was sure Zen thought he'd take the credit, but he really hadn't done very much to make it happen, except make him mad enough to finally stand and face him with strength. Izana knew Ilena's board. He needed Zen to understand it also. Soon Ilena was going to open her board to the two brothers and they would need to move in perfect synchronicity at the correct time. If the three didn't mesh at the right time, they'd miss the opportunity to protect the country together.

What was intriguing him right now was that Ilena had her hand hovering over his own board. He was trying to figure it out - why would she want to move that particular piece and put it in that particular place? He had most of it worked out, but there was a tantalizing piece he didn't know yet. He loved worrying at those the most because they had the most satisfying results, opening to him the most interesting vistas and unusual insights. Except that he needed to be focused on the reality in front of him right now, if he was going to get to know the answers when he arrived. That part was more of a chore for him, and he often preferred to avoid his own personal chores in favor of moving pieces. Though...he could hear the scolding he was going to get already. If he didn't do it, he wasn't obediently moving an important piece to its place for her, his spinning and cunning cousin. He knew enough of how she worked by now to know that if it wasn't in place in time, it might be too late. He sighed and looked up.

His lady wife, Queen Haki, was sitting across from him in the royal carriage. They had started out early this morning from Castle Wistal for Castle Wilant. It was their first trip together out of the castle in a while. "How long has it been, Haki, since we left the castle?" he really didn't know. Time passed so different for him than for anyone else.

"Two years," she said dispassionately.

"Ah, so long is it? It feels like it's only been that long since you came to the castle."

Haki turned her head away and looked out the window of the carriage. Izana sighed to himself. She wasn't going to help him, and was probably mad as well. "Well, I'm sure that a trip with a husband who can't remember important things like anniversaries is not so fun an adventure as it could be with one who can." He was looking away from her, the other direction, his legs crossed and his chin supported by his hand, elbow on his knee. Her head turned back to his slightly. He'd surprised her, in saying that he actually had remembered. He looked at her out of the corner of his eye. "I've been properly scolded, and not just by Lord Barret this time."

Haki gave a delicate snort. "And who do I have to thank, then?"

He looked away from her again. "My cousin." Haki stared at him now. All the world knew he didn't have a cousin. "We are going to go and greet her on this visit."

"Her?" Of course she would pick up on that detail, given her current state of mind about her husband.

Izana nodded. "I've been watching her for a while now, but Zen finally just picked her up. He's going to announce her, too, when he announces Shirayuki."

Haki blinked. She hadn't been told this detail, but Izana wanted her to get used to it before they got there. "You didn't tell me you had a cousin." She was pouting slightly.

"I wasn't sure until Zen confirmed it about a month ago. I couldn't ever go to find out myself." He was sad about that. He really had wanted to, but it was better he hadn't all the way around.

Haki actually looked sad for him. He sighed and sat back, folding his arms. "I haven't seen her since I was nine, about two years before the coup in Selicia that took her family." He looked out the window, remembering the hug again, and her laughter. He hadn't minded getting into trouble if it meant he could see that smile. He wondered if she still smiled at all. Her life had been very hard since then. Barret said she did, though. "Mother wouldn't let us talk about it at all, so most people don't know about her. Not even Zen did."

"Zen didn't?" Haki was still surprised.

Ilena shook his head. "When she was here, it was for his birth celebration. He saw her, but he was only an infant, so he doesn't remember it. I hear he cares for her though."

"That's good," Haki wrinkled her brow, then looked up at him directly. "And you? Do you care for her?"

Izana looked her back in the eye. "Yes, I do." He waited to see what she would do. He could see her heartbeat in her perfect neck where it was bare with the neckline of her travelling dress just low enough to show it and her breath caught slightly.

She finally looked out the window, then said just a little sullenly, "It must be nice to have more family."

Izana tilted his head. "I'm glad she survived the coup, but as I say, I haven't seen her since then, when we were children. She's been Zen's since she resurfaced." He paused, looking out the window again. "Well, she's been his since his birth celebration, but he hasn't known that."

Haki looked at him from out of the corner of her eyes. "Jealous, Izana? I didn't know you were capable of that."

"She is very capable. It is hard to accept she doesn't want to play on my board." That was what hurt the most. He had been willing to play with her when she had come to visit - a thing he had never done before or since, but she wouldn't come play with him. Except to play on the boards. That was probably why he enjoyed that part so much.

Haki was looking at him again. "You do really care for her."

"I said it, didn't I?" he answered her mildly. Haki looked down at her hands. Izana leaned forward and took her hands in his. Her eyes widened but she continued to look at their clasped hands. She looked like trapped prey, and probably felt like it. He didn't touch anyone very often, including her, and he felt sorry for her. He held it until she looked up at him. "Haki, she has scolded me for not being a proper husband to the person I chose to be my strength. I am sorry."

Haki's eyes filled with tears and she angrily turned her head away, closing her eyes. He didn't let go. Her hands clenched in his and she tensed in rejection of his apology. He deserved it so he didn't complain. "Haki, it really does feel to me like it has only been two years. Do you understand that to me time passes so differently?"

Haki's shoulders relaxed ever so slightly and she nodded and sighed. "I do know it. ...But that doesn't make it easier to accept."

"No, I suppose not," he released her gently, then leaned back again, putting his elbow up on the rail along the inside of the carriage and his fingers to his chin. "What have you been doing to keep yourself busy?"

She looked up at him suspiciously, but he really did want to know. "Well, I've been working on a few charitable projects, and keeping the ladies of the castle calm for the most part, though that has gotten tedious. They all think you must be the perfect husband after all, and I can't say otherwise since I have to protect your reputation for you." She said the last bitterly.

"Why have you done it, even until now?" he asked her. He could see her tense. He always asked such testing questions, trying to see what people's motivations were. He wanted to know hers and she knew it.

She spent the time to consider the correct answer and he waited. "I've almost forgotten," she finally admitted. "Mostly because I thought you were a good king, and worthy of being protected in that position." She looked down again and was brutally honest. "I've been fighting to not believe the words of the lords who want to undermine you, but it's getting hard. When you won't call for me or come to my bed for months on end, I lose sight of you and what I mean to you. You've become so distant to me, their constant words are closer."

Izana didn't move, but he felt it. This was why Ilena was warning him, and even why Lord Barret was angry with him. He was about to lose one of his most important pieces for ignoring her too long. She didn't even understand how important she was to him and his board because he had been too lost in his own time. He sighed. "Thank you, Haki." He looked away from her as she looked at him opened mouthed. She closed her mouth, impatient with him. He closed his eyes in preparation for the storm.

"Is that thanks for continuing to support you anyway? Or for something else altogether? And how is thanks supposed to help me fight them when I'm near the end of my own strength?"

If there was one thing Izana had learned it was to not let the emotions of others wind up too much, even if he did like to tease them. He reached over and interrupted her right there, pulling her to his side of the carriage and into his arms. She struggled against him for a moment, still angry. He held her with both arms. "Hush. I'll tell you," he told her. She stopped struggling, but she was still tensed against him. "It's thanks for continuing to support me anyway. It means very much to me. It's thanks for telling me about it so that I can understand how to help you. I can't know how to support you if you don't tell me what you need." Haki was now tensed in surprise and was looking at him with big eyes. "It's thanks for thinking kindly of me as king, even though I am a terrible husband. I wouldn't mind if you wanted to help me to learn that better." She relaxed in complete disbelief that such a sentence should come out of his mouth, but he was letting her see his eyes. He was being honest. Then he blinked and ducked. "Of course, even with lessons, it will be a hard thing, I think."

"I should think so, too!" she answered. She twisted and he loosened his grip to let her turn towards him. "Izana...why?" she was genuinely puzzled.

He took her hand in his lightly, finding it a strange thing to hold the hand of another person, and one so delicate at that. "Because the Queen is the second most important person in the kingdom to the King. The King cannot stand if the Queen will not support him. I have been negligent in not supporting you properly so that I can be supported properly. Lord Barret has been most angry because of this and has scolded me frequently on it."

"If you understand it, then why haven't you done it?" her frustration was justifiable.

Izana sighed. "Lord Barret says that, too." He looked away from her, trying to find the words to express it properly. "I am afraid." That calmed her immediately. She listened. Nothing frightened this king. "When my father died and left the kingdom to my mother, she wasn't strong enough for it. I helped as best I could and learned very quickly so that I could take as much of the burden as possible, but even still I was too long in learning, too late to help her not break under the burden. Even now she is still broken. I don't want to have a broken queen." He sighed. "I understand that it would be better to strengthen you so you don't break, but I cannot approach you. I don't know how to do it properly, so I'm afraid to do it at all for fear I shall do it wrong."

Haki sighed and put her free hand to her temple. "You know, if you had told this to me from the beginning…."

"Well, I only understood it recently," he defended himself slightly.

Haki raised an eyebrow. "Since your cousin scolded you?"

Izana admitted it with a nod. Haki sighed and looked away, but she kept her hand in his, pressing his fingers lightly. He looked down at their hands in mild surprise and squeezed her hand back, gently. She reacted, but didn't look back at him. "I've often thought of what I wish you would do for me, but never was there the opportunity to ask it of you. And when there might have been you were distracted."

He tugged lightly on her hand. "I'm here now, with no distractions...for at least three days, I think." She turned and looked back at him a smile almost appearing. "I think that for you might be enough? For me it is more like a very few hours, but I'm giving them to you as your anniversary present, if you would like to spend them in this way?"

Now she did smile, a watery one. "If you will listen to what I have to say, then I would like that very much."

"I am here. I will listen," he promised.