Falina walked along the ridge, the wind blowing her pink scarf like a banner. There seemed to be some stirring in the capital city. Guards were dashing along the top of the wall towards the southern side of the city. Something was certainly attracting their attention. She strained her eyes to see what they were looking at, but she could not see. She kept walking.
Murasaki Fuji no Shita ni Kuni
"The Country Under the Purple Wisteria"
Chapter 78- Move Out!
Kira heard the sounds of battle and they drew her out of the house like a moth to a flame. She did not hear her mother calling after her not to go outside. The thrill of a battle at the capital was all consuming.
"Hey! Hey!" she stopped one soldier in the street, "What's happening? Are the rebels here?"
"Those traitors left something weird out in front of the main gates! We have to investigate it!" the armor-clad man replied quickly before hurrying off down the way.
The young girl stood quietly in the street as people swarmed past in both directions, some trying to avoid the chaos and others seeking to put it to an end. For a while she did not make a move either way, considering what to do, but eventually her curiosity got the better of her, and Kira scurried to the gates to get as close as possible to whatever unusual object had gathered so much attention.
No one would let her on the wall, but from the street she could still see a little bit. Whatever it was, it was tall and wooden, but draped in white cloth. From what the soldiers would tell her, it appeared that some of the revolutionaries had wheeled it there during the night, frightening the sentries out of their wits, and then they had just left. It seemed to make absolutely no sense. Which meant her uncle had to be involved in it somehow.
Starlet and Candal glared down at the tall wooden thing that the rebels had left them. A large tag was attached to it, visible only if you were looking down from the walls. It read, "To Kiyon de Silverburg. For all his efforts. From three devoted followers."
"It's an outrage," Candal muttered, "It came from those disgusting traitor-strategists I suppose. They do everything in bad taste."
"What's it supposed to be?" his female companion asked, "I don't get it."
Kiyon's student shook his head, "Isn't it obvious? It's supposed to look like a..." he paused and squinted, "Err...I don't know. You might be right. Anyway, it just proves that those rebels can't build either!"
Starlet resisted the urge to laugh at the fledgling strategist, not wanting to cause possible trouble with Kiyon for insulting his underling.
"I will go report this at once!" Candal shouted indignantly, pushing his way through General Ando's troops, who crowded along the wall-top to take a better look.
The dark-haired woman snickered as Candal tripped on the stairs. It was safe. He was too far away to hear her.
"What shall we do with it, sir?" a lieutenant asked General Ando.
The general stroked his beard thoughtfully for a moment, regarding the wooden structure with little interest. He shrugged, "Let's wait to hear what Lord Kiyon has to say about it."
Jao-Nyang was in an uproar. Mitsu and Sanada had not set their schedules together as precisely as usual. The older strategist had not wanted to wait on his scheme of personal vengeance against Kiyon. It was not that Sanada disapproved of her colleague's plan. Actually, she was all for it. It just seemed to her that it would be a perfect way to start off the offensive against Rupanda, and she was not finished with her preparations for attacking the city. Datsa and Machiu had designed a superb-looking catapult, but they still had to build the device. The walls remained a huge obstacle in the assault on the capital.
But Mitsu, in his impatience to make something happen, had asked his crew to take it out there anyway. Natchi was proud of his creation, as awkward as it was. He and his crew had put the entire thing together in only two days, and it was enormous. He could not wait to see what happened when the Imperials tried to take care of the ridiculous obstacle.
Sanada, Jeiku, and Kanna rushed to the roof of the fortress to set off the appropriate flares as a signal to Mio. "I'm no good at this!" Sanada fumed, fumbling with the flint. Jeiku took the flare from her and lit it himself. It burst with a resounding "boom," causing all three to flinch.
"I feel sick," the strategist groaned, covering her ears with her hands, as Kanna readied the second signal.
"I think the battle will be okay," Kanna reassured her, "After all, you did make lots of preparations for this and Lord Silverberg was supposed to set to go at any moment..."
"Oh, it's not that," Sanada explained, "I'm not nervous. I just feel sick again...I'm getting down off this roof... Do you two think you can handle the signals from here on?"
"Certainly, M'lady," Jeiku nodded, "You already marked them all for us. If any developments come up, just send someone up to alert us."
"I will," the strategist replied, before heading back down into the fortress to supervise the movements of the troops into battle.
Kiisan rushed to fasten his armor as he ran down the stairs. The call to arms had come suddenly, while he was still wrapped up in his struggles with the power he held. Junsuke had shaken him sternly, awaking him from the visions, "Kiisan! Get down here! We're launching the first attack on Rupanda!"
He nearly tripped and fell down the stairs, but the rebel leader continued forward, pushing past Natchi's crew and gaining even greater speed as he attempted to avoid Mai Mai, who seemed to think he was playing with her.
"Big Brother!" Sasshalai smiled, as Kiisan passed him, "I'm coming too!" Kiisan did not stop, but slowed his pace somewhat, allowing the boy to catch up. In the courtyard they met Jonathon and Matataki, doing a decent job of getting the troops in order.
"Hello, Sir," the prince bowed elegantly, "All armed and ready to move out. What are your orders?"
"Atera has gone on ahead," the wizard added, "She will see that the gates are opened."
Louis Abdul laughed, standing at the head of his regiment, "It's been a long time from the days that I was giving you orders in Serif's army, Kiisan!"
Kiisan looked around anxiously. He did not see Mitsu or Sanada standing by to give him any suggestions about how to begin this. It was in his hands. He glanced down at Sasshalai, who showed no sign of being aware of the worry building up within him, although he knew Sassha could sense it.
The young priest spread his arms and stepped onto a wooden box to get a better look at those who had followed him here, "Thank you for everything! Thank you for coming here! Thank you for putting your lives on the line for this! Thank you for working to rid the lands of our oppressors! I cannot promise you anything, although I wish to promise you everything!"
He swallowed hard. He could beads of sweat collecting on his forehead, although the day was cold. They were all looking intently at him.
"Father Kiisan!" a man's voice called.
Some of the soldiers parted to make way for a man garbed in the elaborate robes of a bishop. He raced up to the platform, waving a white package over his head. He was followed by a Lirwani woman carrying a large woven basket.
When he had reached the gates of Jao-Nyang, Tijo had discarded his traveling cloak so that Astel and the other guards would see his robes and recognize him as an ally. He stepped onto the platform, slightly out of breath. He held the package out to Kiisan, "For you...from Hirano..."
Kiisan took the package timidly and unwrapped it. Sasshalai and Jonathon inched over to see what it held as well.
It was a scarf, mostly white, but with an embroidered border on two sides of bands of orange, purple, and yellow. Kiisan gazed at it curiously. He was not entirely sure what sort of gift this was. Actually, he was not even clear on what he should do with it. It seemed a bit large to be a handkerchief.
Tijo caught onto the younger cleric's confusion quickly, "It's a traditional scarf from Kesten. The chief priest wears them when he's not conducting any ceremonies or taking care of official business. Let me help you with it."
Kiisan hopped down off the crate and lowered his head slightly, allowing the leader of Sanjan to tie the scarf over his hair in the proper fashion. It took only a few seconds. "Err, how do I look?" he asked those around him cautiously, resulting in much laughter from all rebels within hearing distance.
"It's nice," Jonathon grinned. Louis Abdul could not speak through his guffaws.
"It suits you," Nanako said appraisingly.
Tijo covered his eyes with a hand and shook his head, "I'll have to get used to it, I expect..."
Matataki appeared sad, but gave no remark on his opinion. "Don't forget to finish your speech," Sasshalai reminded his friend.
"Ah, that's right!" Kiisan exclaimed, clambering back up onto the crate, "We don't want to reach Rupanda before they've enjoyed Mitsu's little fireworks show, but we do want to be ready! It's time to make our first move! Forward! To Rupanda!"