The girl had stopped by once more that morning. Since she had not seemed to have visited again for any special reason Sasshalai decided that he would bring a request to her. For someone who seemed to have covered so many miles with ease he did not think it would be too much of a burden.
"I can tell that you want to say something to me," she teased.
He blinked hard and regarded her once more; "Yes...you can see that because of the way I was looking at you. What it is...Can you do something for me?"
"Like what?" She clasped her hands behind her back and gazed intently on him.
Sasshalai gestured vaguely to the west, "Bring them here."
"That would be simple enough," she giggled.
The chestnut-haired boy bowed deeply, "Thank you very much."
"It's nothing at all, Sassha. Okay then, I'll be going. Bye-bye!"
His mismatched eyes searched back and forth among the tents for any sign of the blond girl walking away, but there was none. "There is obviously magic at work here," he told himself resolutely, "Good or bad...it's something powerful."
Murasaki Fuji no Shita ni Kuni
"The Country Under the Purple Wisteria"
Chapter 55- Shuffling to Succeed and the Court Magician
Looking down at the rebel camp through his telescope Kiyon de Silverburg could barely believe his eyes. The size of the encampment seemed to have nearly doubled overnight. Where so many people could have come from in such a short amount of time bothered him. Only magic could bring so many rebels so far in so small a time. There had been reports of powerful magic when Serif City was attacked, and at Windfall Hill he himself had been rather unnerved by someone who was obviously a very skilled telepath. He was not quite sure what to make of it.
The red-haired strategist left his perch in the fortress' tower and stomped down into the office of the one person he would least like to be seen asking for guidance- the court magician.
Emperor Leo Maximillian's court magician knew this and as Kiyon entered he began to laugh. The strategist was enraged by this action, but he kept himself looking composed.
"Lord Kiyon, what in the world has brought you forth to visit this humble person?" Liyuin asked in his soft voice.
To Kiyon, the way the words left his lips seemed as if he were thoroughly enjoying being as cruel as possible. "As much as I hate it, I need to consult you on something. Runes and magic and all of that is your specialty."
"Yes, and tactically unsound plans are yours," the blue-eyed man broke in.
The strategist longed to grab the magician and shake him. He resisted the temptation, "To someone so amateur in strategy it might appear that way, however, my specialty is not what I am here to discuss. Let me get right to the point Liyuin. I want to know who is providing such efficient magical backup for those rebels. I think there's probably more than one of them, if that helps. Whoever is causing us all that trouble needs to be eliminated...fast."
Liyuin drummed his fingers on the table, "I live but to serve, my lord," he drolled mockingly, "I've read your reports. And don't think that all of my information comes from you. If you do, you're flattering yourself, Lord Kiyon. I have informants of my own."
"Lieutenant Kanna comes to mind," Kiyon spat back.
"I see you're just as observant as they say you are," Liyuin continued, unfazed, "You should put that into practice more often when you come to speak with me. I might be somewhat more impressed with your talents if you did," the magician smirked.
"Get on with it, Liyuin!" the red-haired man roared, gradually loosing his grip on his slipping patience.
"Don't be concerned for me, Lord Kiyon, I'll spend a couple minutes on it. Certainly as much time as you spend on those so-called "tactics" of yours-"
That was more than Kiyon could take. He leapt out of this chair onto the slender, black-robed man, knocking him over, chair and all.
The noise attracted the attention of the man in charge of Jao-Nyang. Kotsu cautiously approached the room. "Excuse me," he announced himself as he looked in. Kiyon and Liyuin both stopped instantly. Kiyon had his fist raised above the face of the magician, who already had one black eye. Liyuin had grabbed Kiyon by the front of his coat and had his hand back in preparation to slap the strategist.
Kotsu eyed the two carefully before stepping out of the room. "I'll get help trying to track down that rebel spy elsewhere." He hurried down the spiral staircase of the tower, muttering to himself, "Where did the prince go? ...And without saying a word, either..."
"Oh, Kiisan!" Sanada grinned expectantly, "I just remembered! You received some letters while you were back up north!" She thrust the two envelopes into his hands. "Read them immediately! I resisted the pressure to open them, although for all I know, there could be valuable tactical information contained in them!"
Han Li suppressed a laugh, "And after you read them, I think she wants to know what they say."
"That's a black mark on you, Mr. Han Li," Sanada scowled.
"I'm not upset in the least," was his calm retort.
Kiisan barely heard their words. He was entirely concentrated on the letter from Chief Priest Hirano. One line was running over and over in his mind, "I want you to be my successor."
"Why are you trembling?" Carlos asked.
"The Chief Priest...he wants me to follow him..." Kiisan murmured.
"He what?!" Han Li exclaimed.
"Congratulations! Kiisan, this is the greatest honor!" Carlos applauded him; "He picked you over anybody else! He must be really impressed with you!"
"That's some spectacular responsibility in your future," Sanada laughed.
"I...hope I can do it..." Kiisan mumbled, blushing at embarrassment from all the praise.
"This world!" Han Li growled, stomping out of the tent.
"What's wrong with him?" Tej wondered aloud.
"I think he's just a bit irked to be loosing his Kiisan," Sanada suggested.
"...You don't know about him, Lady Sanada," Mio explained, "I think it reminds him of an old friend. He's just getting worked up about it."
"If you say so," the umber-haired strategist shrugged.
"I...I'll open the other letter now," Kiisan alerted his companions. He broke the seal and unfolded the letter, reading the elegant writing to himself, "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."
The signature was bold and unmistakable: Emperor Leo Maximillian.
The letter fluttered out of his hands, onto the ground like a one-winged butterfly.
"As Jeiku thought..." Sanada cringed.
"What a critical error...it's far too dangerous..." Mio whispered.
"Can we fight that?" Tej asked fearfully.
"I don't want to be afraid..." Carlos sighed, "Kiisan...do you think this is what Han Li had been speculating about?"
Kiisan did not say a word.