Emperor Leo Maximillian knew he had no time to waste if he wished to limit damage to the southernmost states around Toran Lake. Out of all the lands of Aronia, this was the region that mattered most to him. As he touched his brush to the page to compose his ultimatum, Leo Maximillian knew that he had a tough decision to make.

"Father Kiisan of the state of Serif,

These are my only words to you, leader of a fairly decent revolt: disband your army and enter into my service immediately or face the wrath of the Beast Rune. I say this on my honor, I will not hesitate."

He signed the ultimatum with bold, regal letters and gave it to a less-favored advisor, Xiu Kio, to be delivered at risk of his life directly to the rebel camp on the Omasas Plains.

Xiu Kio was less than pleased. After leaving the emperor's audience hall he stormed out of the palace, long, black cape streaming behind him. He scowled as he brushed past some guards at the gates who wanted to know where he was going in such haste.

"If I'm going to be forced into this, I might as well make the best of it," he thought bleakly. As he neared the stables he whistled, and his horse trotted out to greet him. A balding, mustached man dressed in the robes of a scholar scuttled after the black horse with a bundle of carrots in his hand.

"Where are you going now? Don't you want these any more?" he asked the horse.

Xiu Kio repressed a smile, "Kinold, it's nice that you try so hard, but Shade doesn't like people like you very much."

Kinold dejectedly put the bundle of carrots down on the fence, "You mean that the only one that horse like is you!"

With a leather-gloved hand against Shade's side, Xiu Kio turned and nodded, "Yes, I suppose that's true."

Murasaki Fuji no Shita ni Kuni

"The Country Under the Purple Wisteria"

Chapter 47- Acorn Homecomings

"I ever so much as set foot in those mountains again I will- oh, I don't know what I'll do, but it will be unpleasant!" Mio squeaked; looking back at the range that still loomed ominously over them.

Louis Abdul laughed and gave his friend a playful shove, "Ah, Mio, I think I left something at Nolan and Yuzumi's house! Why don't you go back and get it for me?"

"Captain Louis Abdul- go get it yourself!" Mio responded indignantly.

"It's sure been a long time since I spent time on the northern highroads," Nolan observed, scanning the area, "It looks like quite a distance to get anywhere from here."

"I'm glad that Lady Sanada wasn't with us..." Mio continued, "She would've murdered those guards for not still having our horses with them."

"We can stop by in Suomi to pick them up though," Yuki added, "I don't think it would be a wasted stop, it's an interesting city and it's not far out of our way."

The small group resumed their burdens with an air of resignation and set off down the road that led underneath the apple trees.

**********

The apples that had ornamented their way before were gone, but the leaves of the trees were steadfastly clinging to the branches in an array of warm autumn shades. Han Li looked up at the trees quietly as they took a break for lunch in the grove. He was rather unhappy that they had not run into Kiisan on their way into Naco, and wondered if the dejected young man had set off in another direction. He closed his eyes in a sort of defeat and leaned back against the sturdy trunk of the tree. At the sound of approaching horses he promptly opened his eyes again, narrowing them in cautious study of the road ahead.

"Allow me," Sowari said, giving Han Li a nod. He quickly vanished into a tree and was gone, reappearing a few minutes later in the branches, and dropping lightly to the ground.

"Did you see anything?" the True Rune bearer asked.

"I believe our escort is approaching. The leaders of Essan and Kaimei are headed straight our way, with a smiles on their faces," Sowari reported.

"Do you think they're here to join?" Louis Abdul mused with a laugh.

Mitsu shivered and coughed, "I wouldn't mind a lift to your headquarters at the citadel."

"You mean my back's not good enough for you?" Hai-Yong teased.

"It's just fine until you start to get tired," Mitsu explained, "Then I'm afraid you're going to drop me."

Just as Sowari had said, General Sedge Rie Sasaki and Bishop San-Feng Li materialized amidst the trees moments later. The bishop raised a hand in greeting, calling out; "Hail rebels! We've arrived to aid you!"

Carlos and Yuki waved enthusiastically to the approaching men and their entourage. Drawing nearer, San-Feng Li and Sedge Sasaki dismounted. "You're certainly not all that's left!" the military man laughed, "I've heard all about what you've all been doing in the south. You may call me General Sasaki! Certainly pleased to meet you all!" He shook Louis Abdul's hand, but Han Li withheld his own, never too keen on customs that included touching people you barely knew.

The bishop bowed with a flourish and immediately turned his attention to Carlos. "My friend in the church, what is your name?"

"Carlos, Your Excellency."

"Carlos, hmm? So, have you left Father Kiisan in the south? I was rather hoping to become acquainted with him."

Carlos glanced at Louis Abdul and Mio nervously, wondering if it would be acceptable to say he was not sure of Kiisan's location, but the captain and strategist were both occupied. "Umm, well, Kiisan is on his way here...he just got a little side-tracked..."

The bishop nodded approvingly, "Yes, I see. Thank you for that information Father Carlos."

As the young priest was about to respond to the words of Kaimei's ruler, Mitsu began coughing violently and San-Feng rushed to his side. He touched Mitsu's forehead with the back of his hand and frowned, "He has a very high fever." Carefully, Bishop San-Feng lifted Mitsu and carried him toward his companion, "Sedge, we have to go now! This man needs immediate medical attention!"

The leaders of Essan and Kaimei looked at each other very seriously for a moment and then turned towards the horses. "I'll hurry ahead with this man...what's his name?" the sandy-haired bishop asked anxiously.

"Mitsu," Mio responded quickly.

"MitsuAnd the rest of you can follow with General Sasaki."

*********

Kiisan's weary mind was somewhat aroused by the fact that Anamaria and Ignatius had known another path down through the mountains. It was not as wide as the path he and his fellow rebels had taken, but it followed a much more direct route.

He pulled Ignatius' jacket closer, feeling the soft fabric against his face. Just like every previous night with the two travelers, Ignatius cooked something over a campfire while Anamaria alternately scolded her comrade and read aloud to him out of a book in a language Kiisan could not understand. Occasionally Anamaria would grow bold and question Kiisan about some small matter of the revolution, but generally they left him alone.

He was shaken from his reverie by Ignatius' honest face smiling at him, a bowl of soup in his outstretched hand. Kiisan took the soup gratefully, managing to return to return the friendly smile.

"Ignatius! What is this?!" shrieked Anamaria in exasperation, holding an acorn in her spoon.

The blond man leaned down to examine the nut and commented simply, "It's an acorn, Lady Anamaria."

"Why is there an acorn in this soup?" she asked with a sigh.

Ignatius looked up at the gnarled tree that spread its branches overhead. By the light of the moon he could something hanging among the leaves. "I suppose it's because we're beneath an oak tree..."