"This is the second night we've done this," the impatient doctor said. "When is it you said the lady last walked?"
Sakura's maid-in-waiting bit a lip as she counted the days. "It happened the last time my lord went out, as if when half of her goes, it is the half that seals her peace. Last time," she recalled, "she took a piece of paper, wrote on it, read what she wrote, sealed it away, and went back to sleep."
The doctor raised his eyebrows. "How curious. Did she say anything?"
The maid hushed him. "She's coming!"
He resumed his post just outside Sakura's door. He breathed in sharply when the queen came out, clothed only in a nightgown and holding a miniature torchére. In all senses, she seemed to be awake.
"Why does she have a light?" the doctor whispered.
"The queen demands one by her continuously."
"Her eyes are open," the doctor noted as he dug through his bag for a pencil and something to write on.
"But she can't see, I assure you."
They watched Sakura rub one hand over the other, twisting them around and around. "Yes, here's a spot." She wringed harder. "Out, damn spot! Out, I say! Don't worry milord." She imagined conversation with Seto. "No one will know what we did, so wash it off. Who would've thought the old man had so much blood in him?"
The doctor opened his mouth to speak, but the maid put her hand over his lips.
"I wonder where Joey's wife is," Sakura continued, almost casually. "Will this spot never come off?"
The doctor pulled the hand off. "Gentle lady, you shouldn't be hearing this," he hissed to the maid.
Sakura held the butt of her hand to smell it. "The stench of blood is still here!" she cried. "All the perfume in the world couldn't hide it!"
"Her heart is troubled," the doctor said, intrigued.
"I wouldn't have such a heart in me for the dignity of my whole body," the maid said contemptuously.
"I've heard of cases like these – the sleepwalkers died in their beds," the doctor murmured.
"Wash your hands, Seto – and change into your nightgown," Sakura muttered. "And don't look like that. Yuugi's dead and he'll stay that way."
She took an invisible hand and focused on a point that would've been Seto's face if he were there. "Come to bed," she said. "Someone's knocking and we have to look like we were sleeping." She left holding her hand out behind her as if leading Seto.
The doctor stepped out from against the wall. "And she'll go to bed now?" he whispered.
When the maid nodded, he dared to speak louder. "This is new – confessing secrets in one's sleep. I'm afraid I can't do anything – she needs help from God." He packed up his things. "I can only put her under suicide watch, that's all." He stood to leave. "Good night, my lady," he said. "You've given me much to think about."
"Good night, doctor," the maid said and checked on Sakura a last time before leaving.
There would be battle on the moors of Scotland.
There had scarcely been half a year of peace. This time, the front would rush from the heart of Scotland, from Birnam Wood. Messengers ran back and forth between commanders and soldiers while the men organized.
A recovered Tristan, Inogashira, and two other thanes, William and Ushio, shared a drink before they left to join Bakura, Siward, and Joey at the Wood. "Does anyone know about Noah?" Ushio asked.
"He's not here," Tristan said. "I've got a list of everyone here and he's not it. Siward's kid and a lot of other greenhorns are here, though."
"What's Kaiba doing?" William asked.
"He's fortifying his castle," Ushio said contemptuously.
"It's a pity – his army has no love for him," Inogashira said.
William saddled up his horse. "Who can blame him for starting, then? It seems no one likes him very much."
"Well, let's get rid of him, then," Ushio said as he mounted as well. Inogashira and Tristan followed suit.
Tristan spurred his horse. "Let's go!"
Each thane left to command the soldiers they'd assembled. The army was only half strength, but it was already impressive.
Seto stood alone at the balcony that overlooked all of his Dunsinane territory. He growled at the attendants standing behind him: "Don't bring me any more reports. I have nothing to fear until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane. And until there is a man not born of woman, I cannot be defeated. Dare to tell me I'm not invincible!"
He heard light steps and whirled to find a shaking servant. "What is it now, you fool? I love that goose-look you've got," he taunted. "Where can I get one?"
"There are t-ten thousand – "
"Geese, dunce?" Seto said.
"S-soldiers, sir," the servant stuttered.
He slapped the boy, causing him to yell and reddening his face where he had been hit. "That should put some color in your face – your cheeks were counselors to fear." He crossed his arms. "What soldiers were they?"
"The English," he whispered softly.
Seto picked him up by the lapels and hissed into his face: "I can't hear you."
"The English!" the servant said.
He smiled and threw the boy away from him. "Leave my sight!"
The servant scrambled away.
He turned away. "Mokuba!" Seto called. I'm restless, he admitted as he paced, but at least I'm in control. I have no friends but I have this kingdom and no one can take it away from me! "Mokuba!"
A little boy came running and nearly ran into Seto. "What is it, Seto?"
"Is there any more news?" he asked. He did not reprimand Mokuba for addressing him by his first name. Mokuba was his favorite – almost a son, really.
"No, Seto."
"I'll fight till from my bones flesh be hacked," Seto muttered.
"Get me my armor," he ordered.
"But Seto, you don't need it yet."
"Get it anyway," he said. "How's Sakura?" he asked the doctor.
"She's not physically sick," the doctor disputed. "She's got some illness of the mind."
Seto advanced on him. "Isn't there anything you can do? Don't you have some antidote to clear her mind, some kind of herb to clean her heart?"
"She has to take care of that herself," the doctor said.
Seto picked him up just as easily as he had the servant. "Tell that to the dogs – I won't have it." He dropped the man and held out his arms to allow his attendants to equip him. "Try this, then, doctor: Cast the water of my land and purge it of disease," he said mockingly. "Tell me what remedy would scour the English. Do you hear them?"
"Yes, milord," the doctor answered.
"And yet I will not be afraid of death and bane till Birnam Forest come to Dunsinane," Seto repeated.
The doctor left him at the balcony. They're coming here? He thought. Were I from Dunsinane away and clear, profit again should hardly draw me here.
Bakura was astonished by the number of men Tristan and Daemon had managed to assemble, either directly or indirectly through other thanes. "Combined with the men Siward brought from England, we'll far outnumber Kaiba's men," he murmured.
"Dat's da point," Joey said. "We wanna win, don't we?"
"But it's not their fault," Bakura said, referring to Seto's army. "I'm not sure they want to fight us – he's just ordering them to."
"That's what you do with an army: order them around," Tristan said.
"We can't crush them – we have to show them compassion," Bakura whispered. "We need to hide our numbers…"
Loudly, he said to a soldier, "Spread the word that everyone is to bear a bough from this forest before him."
Despite the strange request, the soldier bowed, saddled up and left to do so. Another replaced him, pulled Siward outside, and whispered into his ear.
The Englishman straightened up. "I've word that Kaiba intends to stick this out – he won't fight the siege."
Bakura nodded. "That's his best bet. From what I've been told, given the opportunity, both nobles and commoners would rebel against him. Like I said, the only soldiers he has are mercenaries."
Joey mounted his horse. "Let's get goin'! We're not gonna get anythin' done just hangin' here!"
"He's right," Siward agreed as he joined Joey. "Thoughts speculative their unsure hopes relate, but certain issue strokes must arbitrate." He held up a sword. "We advance for war."
The doctor knocked on Sakura's door. "Milady, are you there? I have something that will … make you at ease."
The door opened slowly, revealing haggard, ill-kept queen. "I heard you and Seto talking," she said. "You said you had no cure."
The doctor somewhat nodded, someone shook his head as he held up a vial. "I placed you under suicide watch, but you've only gotten worse. This is a way to end it all."
"Is it poison?" she asked as she took it.
"It's a little bitter," the doctor said in a kind of answer as she uncorked the glass. "You might want to – "
Sakura put the vial to her lips and tilted her head back. She leaned backwards a bit too far over the rail and let go.
He had Mokuba at his side on the balcony. "We should hang banners and put welcome mats at the door," the king said. "We'll withstand everything they've got."
He heard several high-pitched wailing noises, but did not turn around. "What was that?" he asked.
"It sounded like women crying, Seto," Mokuba said. "I'll go check."
"Mmm," Seto said in acknowledgement. I'd almost forgotten what fear was like, he thought. I was new to this game once. Now nothing can shake me.
Mokuba reentered. "What was that cry?" Seto asked.
The boy remained at a respectful distance. "The queen, my lord, is dead."
Seto was stupefied. He stood alone, and pushed Mokuba away and he approached. "Sakura?" he whispered. "You couldn't wait until after? We would have had time – together! – then.
"Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death."
He clenched his fist with closed eyes and continued with strained voice:
"Out out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing."
Seto heard footsteps behind him that were not Mokuba's. "What do you want?" he hissed.
Mokuba pushed the messenger back. "Let me tell him," he whispered.
"It looks like Birnam Forest is approaching us," he relayed skeptically.
Seto whirled on a heel. "You lie!"
The messenger stepped forward. "I'll endure your wrath, if it's not as I say," he said. "But look for yourself before you act."
The king stalked out of the balcony, Mokuba close behind him. "I swear, if you're lying, I'll hang you myself."
Seto assumed the messenger's post with a gasp. The witches – they cheated me! "Mokuba! Ready the horses! There's nothing left! Let's go!"