Sanada gestured vaguely to the map spread on the long table as Mio scribbled a list of the female strategist's most effective tactics from the battle earlier that week into his notebook. Sanada was too focused on the map to notice the lack of attention to what she said. "I will stay here in Dunan with Sita. We will lead the offensive against the occupied southern regions. Kiisan, I hope you will be able to go home and see how things have proceeded at the citadel since we left...Write to me from there and we will decide our next action at that time."
Kiisan nodded sleepily. Louis Abdul shrugged unhappily. Because of the wound he had received in the recent battle he was being sent back to the citadel instead of working more in Dunan as he had wished. Sanada, against the captain's wishes, wrote a letter to his wife where she requested that "Mrs. Louis Abdul" (because Louis Abdul would not tell her his wife's name) come to the citadel to take care of her injured husband. The captain was still seething, but in too much pain to fight back. Mio smiled at his friend affectionately, "You're angry now, but I now that you'll feel so much better when you see her."
Murasaki Fuji no Shita ni Kuni
"The Country Under the Purple Wisteria"
Chapter 41- Fall Into Pieces
"Oww...oww..." Louis Abdul groaned as the stretcher he sat on bounced up and down, "Did I tell you how much I hate traveling like this yet?" he asked Hai-Yong.
The red-haired man's face twisted into an awkward smile, "Yeah, you've told me many, many times." He adjusted the dozing Mitsu, who he was carrying on his back, a little to the left. The weakened strategist opened an eye sleepily, but quickly closed it and fell back into a fevered sleep. Kiisan glanced around at his battered comrades. Besides Louis Abdul's injury and Mitsu's illness, minor wounds were scattered throughout the rest of the company. Kiisan did not regret his decision to make Falina stay behind. She was as energetic as ever and in perfect health. She scurried alongside Hai-Yong, keeping up a lively conversation with him about food.
"It's no use asking me what food I like, Miss Falina- I like to eat anything!" the older man laughed.
"But you must have a favorite food, Mr. Hai-Yong!" Falina insisted.
"Don't you like those almond biscuits?" Carlos asked him kindly.
"Yeah, that's right. I do...Well, Miss Falina, I guess that's my favorite food," the red-haired man smiled.
"Okay! I'll remember that!" she giggled in reply.
"What about me?" Kiisan teased.
"Oh! You like cherry pie!" Falina scolded him; "I've always known that! Of course you would with all the cherries we grew around our village!"
He felt his face grow hot and turn crimson. Something about Falina's remark cut him. The young priest knew that she meant no harm, but he could barely restrain the sick feeling in the pit of his stomach.
Han Li put a tanned hand lightly on his younger friend's shoulder. "Do you feel all right? You look a bit pale."
Kiisan shook himself, driving the odd sensation away. "...just a passing feeling. I'm okay."
"I am not Sasshalai, but I can tell your mind is troubled. Please- burden this old fool in your stead."
"You don't sound quite like yourself today. Tell me what's wrong with you first and then I'll explain," Kiisan responded with concern.
The mysterious rebel twisted his face into an expression of deep thought the light in his eyes clouding over for a moment before blowing away like smoke in the wind. "You cannot listen for just a short time for it is a long story."
"I'll hear it all out," the young man reassured his friend.
"Then I shall begin. ...The sovereign of the Kingdom of Wind was a tall, dark-haired man. Blessed by the spirits and praised by men he had beaten the odds to establish his kingdom. In the beginning there had been two. A thin man with caramel-colored hair had started it all. When he died in battle, just before the end, it had passed to his odd-eyed lieutenant. The Slalain Citadel was their headquarters and after the warring faded it became the flourishing center of the kingdom."
"The Kingdom of Wind? Was that a real place?" Mitsu murmured sleepily.
"Shh- let Mr. Han tell his story," Falina instructed the strategist.
Han Li flushed somewhat when he realized Kiisan was not the only one listening to his story, but he quickly decided that now that he had begun there was nothing to be done about it and continued, "The king's hand was marked by a True Rune just like his friend's had been. And although the country had been named for this man's rune, its symbol remained that of the first. Shao Jun had popularized the so-called "Holy Circle" by becoming a convert to this religion of yours over four hundred years ago. It really sparked many people to turn to the church for the first time and he was buried with full honors by the High Priest in Crystal Valley after his death in battle. The king regretted that his friend had not been able to rule the land he had worked so hard to save and unify, constantly holding Shao Jun's memory in his heart and mind. ...When the Aronian Kingdom first solidified in the south it coexisted with the Kingdom of Wind and the other small nations and states of the time, but as time passed it gained imperialistic aspirations and after about a decade its border met that of the Kingdom of Wind."
He took a deep breath and looked up at the sky with wistful eyes, before picking up the threads of his story at his friends' urging.
"The king led the Kingdom of Wind against Emperor Jean Rushiaen of Aronian Kingdom in a fierce struggle. In the end the Aronian's numbers won out against the determination of the people of the Wind Kingdom and they were conquered. The king did not have the spirit of Shao Jun. He fled into hiding and disappeared into obscurity."
"Where was the Kingdom of Wind?" Mitsu inquired, having thoroughly awoken.
"It consisted of the states of Onwya, Serif, Medina, Kesten, Kuwan, and Sanjan," Han Li answered wearily.
"That's not tiny," Hai-Yong commented, "And it's pretty nice farm land."
"...It's sad that they lost to the Aronians..." Falina murmured, hanging her head.
"Who exactly were the Aronians of those days...? I mean, are we Aronians?" Yuki asked.
"You are from the Kingdom of Wind...Han Li?" Mio asked again, "...Were you the...?"
"I'll finish up," the dusty man said with a touch of remorse, "Han Li was the name of the leader of the Kingdom of Wind. That was the name I took when I joined Shao Jun to bring peace to the land, over four hundred years ago. Before then I lived under the rule of the Wizard Matataki and traveled the continent with my people... Shao Jun had bright eyes and a wild spirit... people were attracted to him like they are to sunlight...they not only love it, but it's also something they need. And later when my kingdom was crushed I became a revolutionary again. I have been gnawing at the roots of the Aronian Empire ever since at the side of whoever will stand against them, whether the odds favor them or not. ...And you see...I finally think it might happen. My kingdom will receive its reparations from someone who reminds me so much of Shao Jun. Kiisan, I am constantly afraid that you will fall like he did, the final goal within your reach... That is what is wrong with me."
The revolutionaries inched upward along the steep path in silence, pondering what Han Li had said.
*********
The bullet wound had proved to be serious. Kiyon tossed and turned on the field hospital's tiny cot. He had never been injured so badly before. Removing the bullet had been a painful and tedious task. The bearded strategist had never seen anything like it. He fingered the tiny piece of metal feverishly. Whatever strange weapon the rebels had acquired it was vicious. He had only seen one. And he knew, from firsthand experience, that was a fortunate thing. ...One of the four generals had defected to the rebel side. Both Keiichi T'Rumour and Cuaran Raecliff had been killed. General Ando's troops would be the Golden Capital's last great defense. A good strategy would be necessary to dismantle the rebellion at this stage and he was too tired to think. If he could not pull himself together quickly the rest of the Dunan Lake States could be lost in the blink of an eye. There was nothing else for it. Kiyon de Silverburg would have to calm his mind for a while and rest, hoping to heal swiftly.