Kiyon stomped up the stone steps angrily to where Ando and Starlet stood, Candal scuffling mouse-like behind him. "Ridiculous! What is it supposed to mean!"
"Err, you can always read the note, Sir," Candal volunteered timidly.
"I know that!" the red-haired strategist shouted, "That's what I'm going to do right now!" He leaned over the side slightly and squinted, reading aloud, "To Kiyon de Silverburg. For all his efforts. From three devoted followers." He stood silently, still looking down at the strange thing. Starlet wondered what he was thinking about.
"That ingrate Mitsu Riyahd, the ever treacherous Sanada Morin, and my untalented, disobedient son, Mio!" He turned quickly, his coat swirling, "Burn the wretched thing!"
General Ando made a sign to one of his lieutenants standing nearby, who quickly produced flint and a torch. Once the torch was lit, the dark-eyed man tossed the torch onto the canvas of the unusual obstacle. It burst into flame instantly. The dark-eyed lieutenant backed away from the fiery mass to stand beside the general. "I wonder what made it catch so quickly..." Ando mused.
Suddenly there was a loud crackling. Starlet ducked down and covered her ears. Underneath the cloth, the wooden structure had been covered with fireworks and some sort of powder that made the flames turn greenish-blue and send off lots of sparks. Rainbow-colored lights were going off everywhere. Ando and Lieutenant Rye retreated down the stairs off the wall. Candal was so shocked at first he also lost his balance and fell. Even Kiyon's eyes were the size of saucers.
"What's happening?"
"Are we under attack?" Came the cries of the assembled soldiers, barely able to see what was going on above them.
Over the loud bursts of firecrackers, Kiyon de Silverburg shook his fist in the direction of Jao-Nyang and yelled his vengeance on the three strategists who might not defeat him in battle, but had managed to wound his pride.
Murasaki Fuji no Shita ni Kuni
"The Country Under the Purple Wisteria"
Chapter 79- Messages in Flame
Falina could see the flaming tower, bursting with colorful lights. But for the chaos that surrounded it, it struck her as something that one might encounter at a noisy summer festival. The turan's army would probably make their move during this confusion if they were aware of it. All attention was drawn to the front gates of the city and so the back walls were likely to be lightly guarded.
It was only a matter of time before the revolutionaries appeared over the hill. She was sure of it. The tower of flames was exactly the awkward sort of way they would start a battle. Kiisan would be there, leading them forward with Sassha and Han Li standing at his side. Hai-Yong would have his heavy axe over his shoulder and a grim smile on his face. Sanada would be running back and forth, shouting at everyone to make sure they understood their orders precisely. It had been a while since she had last seen them. She hoped they were still all in good shape. She knew that there had been battles that she had not taken part in to push the Imperials back this far.
"Where are you?" she wondered aloud, standing on tiptoe and scanning the horizon for any sign of the rebels' approach.
Mio saw the signs from a second-story window in Serafina's inn. He had been partially dozing, watching ducks float along on the cold river below. The lights in the sky shook him suddenly into awareness. He ran to grab the bag with his own flares in it to send a reply. Snatching it off the bed, he dashed outside, searching for a good place to set them off. He did not have time to waste. Anyplace would have to do. The small strategist ran down to the riverbank and pulled out the correct signal and his flint. He struck the flint nervously, his hands shaking as he tried to hurry. The sparks were on target. The orange light shot up into the sky, high enough, he hoped, that Sanada would see his response. He had seen and they would come.
"Sir Kichitsu! Sir Mekkachi!" Mio called as he ran back up towards the tavern, "Sir Lucien! Miss Haneh! Sir Jirobane!" He was running out of breath and his cries became weaker, "Captain Zajan! Captain Mibari! Ayu! Tywin! The battle-! The battle's begun! We have to go!"
Kichitsu pulled on his gloves and adjusted his helmet, "Hold there, Mio! We hear you fine!" The young strategist stopped yelling and leaned on the counter, trying to catch his breath.
Mekkachi came down the stairs, carrying Mir piggyback, "I'm all set to go, Sir Silverberg."
Mir giggled, "Is the battle going to be a big one?"
"A right big one, Kiddo!" Ayu chuckled, "You know all about the big, bad, emperor, right?"
"Yessir!" she replied.
"Well," Ayu grinned, tying his bandana tighter around his head, "We're going to give him a spanking and send him off to bed without any supper!"
Tywin sighed. Mir laughed. Mio was too winded to make a reply.
"That's something I'd prefer not to witness," Lucien remarked, rushing down the stairs with his long spear over his shoulder. Haneh followed him more slowly, her hand on the dirk ready at her side.
"Everyone!" Mio smiled, "It's time!"
After that, Ayu's bandits and Mibari's crew of pirates proceeded to cheer so loudly, that all of Mio's following instructions were drowned out in the noise.
Sanada sat unhappily in a chair back in Jao-Nyang while the majority of the rebel army marched towards Rupanda. She had been feeling funny for a few days now and it made her regret sending Mio away with Lucien. Her strategic side told her that Mio was obviously the best choice to send because of his knowledge of signal flares, but another part of her made her feels sorry. If Mio were with her now, he would have something kind to say to distract her. He would be concerned. He might say something like, "Don't worry, Lady Sanada, I'll stay here with you until you feel better. Someone else can manage the battle."
Yes, that was exactly the sort of thing he would say. Mio had learned a lot in the time that she had known him. She was impressed with that. It had taken her much longer to learn the finer points of strategy that he seemed to be finally mastering. She would still always have certain strengths over him, but they were not strengths of intelligence, they were just personality differences. "Perhaps," she smiled to herself, "It's partially because he had a better teacher than she had studied with." Kiyon would hate that thought: that the son he had felt was useless as a strategist could become accomplished when taught his own techniques by another.
She had a feeling that she knew now what Mio had wanted to ask her before Haneh dragged him off to the east. ...And if he would finally get that chance to ask that she would say, "Yes."
Of course, knowing what she did now, that she had not been aware of before, the situation was a little changed, but she did not think it would make a difference to Mio. He was kind and accepting.
It made her think. "The sooner I head off to the battle, the sooner I'll run into Mio again," Sanada said to herself. She stood up slowly and went to look for Jeiku and Kanna who had remained behind with her.
Kiisan rode at the head of the column. But unlike every other battle, he was alone. Sasshalai rode with his father, Han Li had disappeared without a word, and Sanada had stayed behind. She had promised to, "Catch up later," but who knew when later would be. Everyone was quiet. The situation felt so serious. It was serious he reminded himself. If it weren't, that would be ridiculous. They were a fairly even match for the Imperial Army. It was not numbers, but skill and tactics that would win this battle.
He glanced over his shoulder at the soldiers following him. They believed in the cause. They believed that justice would prevail. They trusted him. Could he even trust himself? Did he believe in himself? Kiisan knew that he believed in the cause, if nothing else. When he considered it more deeply, he knew that he did believe in something else. It was those who had followed him here. There were so many of them, and they were brave.
He could see Carlos, with eyes shining with hope. Mai Mai was tagging along behind Sonoa. General Sasaki was gripping the hilt of his sword in anticipation. These were the ones who would win the revolution.
Hiiragi and Takauka had cast the sticks and stones once more. They had read tealeaves and fortune cards. They had gazed in the water and watched the messages in the smoke.
The rebels were near.