In the dozens of times Lory had been in Sebastian's room, he'd never noticed anything odd. The space was small, neat, and scarce on personal effects. Most spies didn't like keeping clues about their families in plain view, a possible weakness enemies could exploit if found.
Lory combed the space with new eyes, noting the hidden latches behind books, secret drawers set in tables. Nothing unusual about those. Lory had personally watched him install several. Shadow didn't seem to be of the same mind. He slinked in like he always did, quickly assessing the area and rifling through documents. He was methodical yet quick, placing everything exactly the way it had been before. A routine not needed in this instance. This room's owner would never return to see it disturbed.
He fished the stone from his pocket, turning it over as he inspected the runes. They were Ashurian, that was sure. He thought it might be a script used by an ancient kingdom in the far northeast. Any other day Lory would have immediately retreated to the library to decipher what he could, but he didn't have that luxury. They were on a time crunch and his gut told him to check this out before returning to the trial.
That was… if it was still going.
It was time versus practicality. Safety when they need haste. When dealing with a traitor as shrewd and powerful as Sebastian, Lory should calculate each step before taking it. Too bad he didn't have that luxury.
Gradually, Lory sent a tendril of arcane magic into the stone.
The stone lapped up the magic, a string of the runes lighting up halfway along the perimeter. It hadn't been enough to activate all of them. It needed more magic.
"Sir," said Shadow. "Is that wise?"
"Definitely not," said Lory. "Stand back just in case."
Shadow listened, though his face screamed disapproval.
Lory readied himself, extra spells prepped as he sent more magic, the light encircling the center until…
Nothing happened.
Lory stared at it, flipping it over to see if it had changed. Nope. It just shone, fully supplied with the magic needed to keep it alight.
"That's odd," said Lory, holding it up to a nearby lantern and squinting at it. "It didn't send out any message. No trigger. The magic is completely self-contained. How is this supposed to—"
Then he saw it.
Through the cut-out center of the stone, everything shone a different color. The world was tinted in cool blues, almost translucent in appearance.
"What is this?" Lory pressed the stone to his eye, closing the other so that only this blue saturated world was visible.
Beside the blue tint, nothing was different. Lory marched around the room, swiveling his head left and right while also ignoring the quiet indigent 'humph's' from Shadow. It was only his first day on the job. He'd get used to Lory eventually.
Lory rounded the side of a bookcase.
"What the…"
Something was there. A hollowed out portion the exact size of the stone in his hand.
Lory lowered the stone, pressing his other hand against the wood. He felt no dent. The surface was smooth to his touch, no magic residue present. Or at least, none he could tell.
"I wonder…" said Lory, raising the rock to his eye again. "What will happen if I place this here."
Placing a finger to mark the spot on the case, Lory removed the rock from his eye and placed it where the hollowed-out section had appeared. With a satisfying click, the stone slid right into place.
Blue light bathed the bookcase. Sheets of parchment and items disappeared as new things took their place.
It was unusually cluttered for Sebastian, suggesting the man didn't take time to sort through it. Heaps of scrolls and ledgers filled most of the space, other items crammed between the spaces. Amulets, a potted plant he recognized, cases of storage jewels, and a relaywell nearly buried in cloth.
Shadow was waving a hand over the bookcase, staring at a device in his hands.
"Should be clear, sir," said Shadow. "No traps."
"Let's take a look," said Lory, immediately shoving the cloth off the relaywell.
"What are we looking for?"
"Anything."
Lory would know once he saw it.
A quick scan of the relaywell showed that it did not record meetings. It seemed joined to others though. Probably infused with a reversal arcane circle that hid its presence. Best to get rid of it in case the Djinn had another hooked up to it.
Lory reached for the ledgers, staying away from the amulets. Their aura didn't have the same awful feel as relics did, but Lory was not placing bare skin on those. Not without further testing.
He shifted through the papers that appeared the most recently disturbed, raising his brow at some of the information he saw. Copies of personal letters. Names of spies on both sides. Meeting times, orders, layouts of the palace defenses. It was a perfect jumble of evidence damning Sebastian in every way.
He spied a thin ledger stuffed behind the potted plant. It was a belltop, a plant that if ingested, interfered with certain signals in the body. They kept stores of it in the clinic for medicinal purposes. A handy medicine as it was generally nontoxic even in heavy doses with little to no risk of an allergic reaction. Once purged from the system it was gone, the patient in no way worse for ingesting it.
Probably used it to drug people he questioned or kidnapped, thought Lory. The leaves were clipped, obvious signs the plant was being used regularly. It had a growing stone and everything.
Lory nudged it aside to grab the ledger behind it. As he did so, it revealed another potted plant. This one was small. A fern with red stems that bled into black leaves. Shade maker. What a random plant to have. Most farmers hated the plant as it grew everywhere, and its decaying leaves were a natural herbicide.
What was he using this for? Was he poisoning the plants in the pharmacy? It wasn't being used the crops, as they'd had someone check for contamination…
Except he had sent Sebastian as head investigator to check out the crops.
Lori groaned. At least that solved that mystery.
Grumbling, he opened the ledger still in his hands, not sure what he'd find. What he saw made his heart stop.
It contained detailed patient records of each of the champions. Did that mean…?
"Sir?"
Shadow interrupted Lory's epiphany, holding several sheets of parchment. "They were grouped together," he said, indicating the shelf. "You'll want to see this."
Lory pocketed the ledger, tugging the sheets from Shadows hand.
If he'd been surprised before, it was nothing to what these contained. His mouth fell open as he scanned the documents, praying that what he read to be both false and true.
"We need to show this to the king," said Lory, stuffing the papers into his robes. He grabbed the rock from the wood prompting all the evidence to dissolved back into its normal tidy bookshelf. He prayed this wasn't a onetime key or anything. There was sure to be mountains more of information they could use from here, but he couldn't risk anyone coming to check on Sebastian and destroying it before they returned. Nor did they have time to stash it away.
"Do you think it's possible?" said Shadow, hurrying after Lory. "What he theorized?"
"If what he found in his research is true, then yes, it's very possible," said Lory, nearly sprinting down the hall. To think that deception even in those small details had ended up derailing them so drastically. "She was the last one with Rosa. She watched her die in her arms. That's why we couldn't find the ashes! The demi-god already found a new vessel."
The problem was the Accursed. They had discovered this first. They had a head start… and Kyoko was leagues away from any reliable help. At least the Accursed had only pegged her location when they found Cain's...
Which meant they had a three days lead.
And probably an army of dark monsters, several Accursed and the Dark Djinn himself heading straight for her.
Lory took a left causing Shadow to quicken his step to send Lory a confused look.
"I know, the courtroom isn't this way," said Lory, impatiently. "We're making a short stop before we return."
There were several ways the trial could have gotten worse; The Accursed could have attacked, Cain could have died in his cell, or the people could have pushed through the guards and kill Kyoko with their own hands. Each of these were terrifying options that her brain had cooked up during her walk here to the trial. But Sho turning up had not even occurred to her, and yet it easily shoved aside all her fears as a different emotion took control. Furry.
What in the thrice damned name of Vaith was Sho doing here? How had the idiot wondered into the middle of something so far above his own despicable existence? He had no respect for her, no brain, and no skills besides yodeling like a sick ostrich. Her anger ran hot as all her stress exploded out toward one of the few people in the world she had no tolerance for. Her childhood friend.
As he took to the stage she imagined bursting from her chains to slam her knee into his sternum… or maybe lower...
He smiled at the crowd, obviously enjoying all the attention. Then his eyes found hers. The sneer on his face was all it took to unleash her wrath.
"Sho," she growled. "How do you have this habit to show up at the most inopportune moments? You're like an annoying fly that won't buzz off. Like phlegm I thought I hacked out weeks ago. You're—"
A hand covered Kyoko's mouth. It muffled the slew of profanities she threw at him.
Curiously, Sho did not fire anything back at her. His gaze swept over her whole body, taking in the binding and her dirty appearance. The sneer faded as something else replaced it. Something even worse than arrogance; Pity.
He was the last person she wanted to look at her like that. She wanted his fear, his apology, his begrudging respect as she ground his pride into the dirt with her heel. It all burned hot within her as she remembered the same look on his face that fateful date he'd betrayed her. When she'd found out his true thoughts about her.
Except this time, he wasn't just going to steal her discovery. He was going to get her killed.
Kuresaki strolled a foot ahead of Sho, not really looking at him as he faced the audience.
"Sho," said Kuresaki. "You know this young lady, correct?" He motioned to Kyoko who was still struggling against the man blocking her mouth.
"I do," said Sho, not looking at her anymore. "We grew up together before she ran away from home and became the prince's whore—excuse me, concubine," he clarified with a sneer.
"She was one of the prince's concubines?" said Kuresaki, the news obviously not a surprise based on his calm tone. He'd planned this conversation. This reveal. And the people were eating it up. The thousands of auras swayed like heat waves above their heads, the fear and excitement palpable. Everyone seemed frenzied, especially Kuresaki. His face didn't show it except in the upturned eyebrows that tugged further on his forehead.
Sho folded his arms, raising his nose at Kuresaki. "Yeah, and she was tricked into it as well. The idiot has always had bad taste in men. The prince was a dark man. I only met him twice, but both times he threatened to harm me. Not a man to be trusted. I mean, we've all heard the rumors. He might have even been an Accursed, I wouldn't be surprised if that's how he died."
Goosebumps were running up Kyoko's body. This was not good. She had hoped to keep that all secret. It just made things more complicated than they needed to be. She saw Hiroaki on the other side of the lawn, mouth open as he listened to Sho. Dang it man, this was not the time to be swept up in Sho's speed!
"So you're saying," said Kuresaki. "Is that this woman is easily fooled?"
"Damn straight she is," said Sho. He waved a hand at the slumped Cain, a visible shiver running up him. "I'm really not surprised she got caught by another man. She's pretty helpless when it comes to these things. She's—"
Kyoko bit the gloved hand so hard the guard cried out and removed it. The second it left her mouth, she roared in anger.
"Enough with your bullshit!" she yelled. "Go back home and play with your instruments you piece of sh—"
A different hand stopped her mouth, this one not withdrawing despite how hard she bit into it. He had probably protected it with magic.
"Just shut up Kyoko and don't make this worse for yourself," said Sho, the pity increasing as it deformed his face. And what, was that concern on his expression? Neither suited him.
"No, it's fine," said Kuresaki, waving to the guard. "What do you have to say for yourself, concubine to the prince?"
Dimly Kyoko was aware she should keep her temper in check. That Kuresaki's compliance to let her speak was probably in his best interest, not hers. But she was too angry to care.
They hadn't asked her to say anything in her defense. Not for a second. She could imagine the warmth of Rosa inside of her, the small soul depending on her to save the kingdom. She could not go down here, and she certainly was not going to let Sho mess this all up.
The man removed his hand from her mouth. She straightened as best she could on her knees, the rocks imprinting themselves into her skin.
"My only title is as a physician," she stated. "A title and training I received under the direct supervision of Lory Takarada. I am no longer a concubine to the prince."
Sho snorted. "Yeah, because Kuon died," said Sho. "The whole family can't be trusted. It's a good thing you got out, but I can't believe you let yourself be fooled by another man. You really are helpless."
"Kuon did not fool me," she spat. "It only took one occasion for me to learn that lesson, Thief."
The pity left, showing the frustration and sneer she was used to. Despite the situation, she felt a vindictive pleasure at being able to get under his skin. To make him just a fraction as angry as she was.
"Stop being an idiot," said Sho. He turned to Kuresaki, waving a dismissive hand. "She doesn't know what she's talking about. Probably delirious or charmed. Who knows what that Accursed has done to her."
"I'm not hoodwinked," she said. "Don't turn your back on me Sho. Hey! I'm talking to you."
Sho met her glare with his own, their heat sizzling.
"You can't trample on me anymore," said Kyoko, and she felt a life times' worth of feelings spilling from her. This was about her and Sho. About this man's inability to let go of an old image of her. She wanted him to know how wrong he was. "My life now has nothing to do with you. I've learned, grown and met people who've shown me more care in a single gesture than you showed me during our entire childhood. I'm not a helpless simpering fool with nothing but love on her mind, so don't come in here assuming you know me. I've outgrown you, Sho, so get out of my life."
Fury grew in his expression with each word until he was sparking with his own electric rage.
"The hell is wrong with you, this isn't about our past!" he shouted. "It's about here. Now. You're going to get killed."
But Kyoko was done. She'd said her bit and it had felt good to do so. For months she had carried that desire to shout at his face. To tell him just how little he meant to her now.
But with that relief came the realization he was right. She needed to concentrate on the now, and Sho had nothing to do with that. She needed to save them. She needed to save Cain. Her heart sped up as she pressed a chained hand to her chest.
"Sozen was an Accursed," said Kyoko loudly, projecting her voice toward the crowd. "And the evidence that Mage Hiroaki presented speaks for itself. Cain and I are not your enemy."
"Hey!" said Sho moving to get closer. "Stop. Did you not hear what I—" He was stopped by a restraining hand. Kuresaki's dark eyes were on her. If he was hesitating, then she was going to say her bit.
But as she opened her mouth, someone else spoke.
"You and your filthy husband are an enemy to the kingdom!"
In all honesty, Kyoko had forgotten about the Duke. Aizen Momose had stood up to join Kuresaki, sweating under the hot sun as he pointed an accusatory finger at her.
"This woman has no remorse for what she's done," he said. "She's as guilty as the monster she associates with."
"Cain is not a monster!" she shouted back, but her words were drowned out. Others in the audience had joined the shouting. Words hurled like daggers. Vile insults and threats that crept into her ears and made her insides wriggle with indignation.
"We're not evil!" she shouted at them, but her words were fainter than she liked. Her eyes darted between each face. Each aura of hate. They weren't listening. They would never listen to her. Not when she stood by an Accursed.
Kyoko's head dipped, hands shaking as she strove to gain control. To find stability within this turbulence of voices and auras. She couldn't show weakness. She had to be strong. She blinked away the frustration as she raised her head against the accusations, throat too clogged to speak.
Hiroaki was trying to calm the people. She could just hear his stuttering as he plead with the people to quiet down. Kuresaki wasn't helping. He didn't make any move to silence them or regain control. The furrows in his brow deepened as he stared into her defiant face.
I won't crack. She said silently. If you expect me to, then you're wrong.
Maybe that had been his goal. To have her ignite this fury against her and Cain.
We can't convince them.
Under the hail of noise and grim faces, she saw the inevitable truth. There was no way to win this with logic. Kyoko and Cain were Accursed. People of the Dark Djinn, and that alone was reprehensible.
I have to escape.
Nothing came to her mind. No plan or way to wriggle her way out of these chains. Even if she could, she'd never get past the dozens of guards around her. She'd never leave Cain behind anyway. This… this was probably it. No matter how her heart refused to accept it, her head knew it was over.
Someone was clapping.
Quiet compared to the din, Kyoko only noticed it because of its consistent rhythm and proximity. She craned her neck to see where it was coming from but couldn't see past Sho's ugly face. The idiot was currently speaking with Kuresaki in a low voice, looking annoyed. It looked like Kuresaki was trying to get him off the stage.
But then Kuresaki noticed the clapping as well. The shouting quieted down as people shouted at each other to shut up instead. Everyone watched as three people walked out into the center of the ring.
Hikaru? thought Kyoko, shocked. What was he doing here? Hadn't he been trapped with Cain… and is that Itsumi? What is going on?
Kuresaki seemed to be shocked as well. He turned to the newcomers, now completely ignoring Kyoko and Cain as he addressed them.
"You," said Kuresaki, his tone low and dangerous. "What are you doing here?"
With her guard distracted, Kyoko was able to shimmy to the right, nearly falling see who the other person was. When she heard their voice, she did fall over.
Kanae!
Kanae placed her hands on her hips, her palms tingling from clapping so loudly. Juvenile though the gesture was, it had managed to get everyone's attention. About time they noticed just how much of a sham this whole debacle was.
"Very good," said Kanae. "Nice show. Now, are you interested in actually conducting a trial based on facts and evidence, or are you going to shove your chauvinistic, fact-less based, ego boosting, opinion down the rest of our throats?"
Kanae had never seen the two men in the front, but it was easy to determine who they were. The well-muscled man with a dangerous aura had to be General Kuresaki, while the long-haired noble baking in this infernal sun had to be the brat's father. Aizen Momose. Speaking of the brat, she hung back behind Kanae, unable to meet either of the men's eyes.
The last man Kanae knew instantly despite only ever seeing him once. Sho Fuwa. The man who had broken Kyoko's heart and stolen her work. What lizards pit had he been drug from?
Cain was there as well, huddle at the side like a mass of melting darkness. He really didn't look long for this world, especially considering Sho was here causing a fuss and he had yet to say anything. Was he even conscious?
Then there was the biggest idiot. The ex-concubine sprawled on the ground and staring at her like she was a fairy that had suddenly manifested. Even from a distance, the desperation and relief on Kyoko's expression was obvious. Not joy. No ridiculous shouts of 'Moko-san!' as she hurled herself toward Kanae. There was pain. Fear. And crystalline marks crawling their way down each shoulder.
The anger in Kanae's veins reignited.
"Itsumi, I thought I told you to stay at home," said Aizen, entering their space as he grabbed his daughter's hand. "I don't want you to see this. Especially when you thought she was your friend."
Itsumi shrugged her father away, taking a step closer to Hikaru and Kanae. The hand behind her back sought out support and discreetly latched itself onto Hikaru's shirt.
"I can't go home father," said Itsumi. "I'm the future Duchess of this province. Shouldn't I be present during this important trial?"
"Yes, but…" Aizen stopped, his fatherly instincts halted as he looked between Kanae and Hikaru. He only noticed their presence in the center of the trial. The man was slow on the uptake.
"How are you here?" he said. "Guards? Why did you let them pass?"
"That would be because of me."
Hiroaki came forward. His steps, though timid, were enough to force Aizen to back away. To redraw the line between sides as he left their circle. He retreated an extra step, the understanding finally coming. Fool. And this was their leader? No wonder the Accursed had taken control so easily.
Aizen rounded on Kuresaki, gesturing to Hikaru. "What is he doing here, I thought you said he was taken care of. What did you actually do?"
"Not enough, apparently."
Calm and collected on the outside, Kanae spotted the telling bulge of veins on the back of Kuresaki's wrists and the straining muscles on his forearms. He stared at each of the individually as if assessing who was the biggest worm he needed to squash first.
He should be watching his own back for Kanae's boot.
"Coronel Hikaru has come to testify in defense of Kyoko and Cain," said Kanae loudly. "As has the duke's daughter, Itsumi Momose."
Murmurs rose to a loud hum as the people gawked. This was big. Different than a single mage most people didn't know. This was their local hero. Their future leader. Both were prominent figures in their society. Both were beloved. The hope was that their previous opinions set in stone would be shaken, doubt allowing for cracks to form. Kanae doubted she could widen the cracks, but the point was to place them there. Give her time to do what she needed to be done.
"Is this true?" whispered the Duke, horrified as he stared at his daughter.
This was it. The moment to better herself – if only a little – in Kanae's eyes. The Duchess continued to cling with one hand to Hikaru's shirt, head high but mouth refusing to move. She looked petrified.
It was Hikaru who spoke first. Hikaru that spoke loudly and with pride.
"It is, sir," said Hikaru. "I met Lady Kyoko when she first entered the palace. I was one of her personal guards."
Itsumi's grip on Hikaru's shirt stiffened. Kanae watched her expression warily as Hikaru spoke a few words about Kyoko. The jealousy grew to a frustrated scowl with every word. She'd better not make Kanae regret taking her along.
"Stars," mumbled Hiroaki, only Kanae able to hear him. "At least this explains how you all know each other… but this is ridiculous. I mean, I can hardly believe your stories and I'm on your side."
He didn't know the half of it.
The good thing was that the people were eating it up. They stared at Hikaru as if he held all the answers. The ones that looked most convinced were the guards, surprisingly. Hikaru was dirty, tired, and obviously in need of a long bath, but the men didn't seem to care. Their confusion was obvious as they hung on every word. Interesting.
Hikaru's current stream of random facts about Kyoko was interrupted by Kuresaki.
"But you knew, Soldier," said Kuresaki. "You knew that Cain was an Accursed and you did not alert me. That is insubordination at the very least."
Hikaru nodded. "And I accepted the consequences, sir, as is evident by my appearance." He swept a hand down his dirty self, giving a soft smile. "And I'd do it again in a heartbeat if it meant keeping Lady Kyoko and Cain safe."
Kanae had to admit, she was impressed. Kuresaki had tried to discredit Hikaru and the man he responded with honesty. She saw people smiling, warmed by his conviction. Hmm. So he was similar to Kyoko then. An idiot people couldn't help caring about.
"Enough of this!" shouted Kuresaki. "This doesn't matter because you are too late. A verdict has been reached. Kyoko and Cain have been found guilty of treason, sedition and the use of dark magic"
This statement was met with an explosion of voices. Everyone on stage started talking at once. Hikaru and Sho shouted at Kuresaki. Aizen shouted at his daughter. Itsumi snapped back. Nobles on the sidelines called for Cain's death. An officer exclaimed that the trial wasn't done yet. Opinions and outrage flew on all sides at this hasty and unfair ruling of a trial that was not yet completed.
This was why Kanae hated people. They seldom used their heads.
It took several minutes for Kuresaki to regain control, yelling for silence. His voice cut into the crowd, booming with a magic that overpowered them.
"That is my ruling," he yelled at them. "You three are too late. Our decision has been reached."
The man seemed to think digging his heels in the sand and throwing a fit would make them all crumple to his demands. He was wrong. He'd shown emotion, and the first person to get mad always lost.
The duke was muttering under his breath, subtly taking small steps away from Kuresaki. It looked like the general would lose friends if he wasn't careful. Sho had started yelling at Kuresaki again. This was too messy. Their attention needed to remain focused.
"I don't care," said Kanae, "I'm not here to testify in defense of Kyoko and Cain."
It took a few seconds, but eventually, every head turned in her direction. Good. It had caught their attention, though she didn't appreciate the fear and betrayal in some of their eyes. Or the muttered curses from Itsumi. All the little side arguments had cut off in favor of listening to her.
Kanae waved a hand in Hiroaki's direction. "I'm assuming you've heard all the evidence from Hiroaki about Sozen being an Accursed."
"We did," said Duke Momose quickly.
"Then I doubt I can use logic to convince you of anything. Anyone that dismisses evidence as hard and obvious as that is an idiot that can't be reasoned with."
Kanae ignored the reddening of Aizen's sunburnt face.
"Which means," said Kanae loudly to stem the inevitable protests. "Instead of their innocence, I'd like to propose a trade. Information for their release."
Shock met her words, as well as skepticism. They no doubt wondered just what Kanae could provide that would equate the life of an Accursed and his wife.
As they muttered, Kanae sent Hikaru a subtle wave of her hand. He caught the gesture, tugging Itsumi back along with Hiroaki.
"Don't worry," he said to the other two. "Let her handle this. We have our own preparations to make."
They melted back into the sides of the ring but not before Itsumi had sent Kanae a concerned look. The duchess still wasn't aware of the full plan, which was for the better. Kanae hadn't had time to listen to her whining. If this didn't work, then plan C would go into immediate effect and the duchess would not like what that entailed.
Someone had managed to tug Sho out of the ring. The center had been cleared of everyone except her and Kuresaki. The warrior in him must have sensed something dangerous as he finally regarded her with the amount of apprehension she deserved.
They regarded one another, one lion to another. She took stock of the bulged in his boots that indicated hidden weapons. The enchanted gems on his rings. It would be interesting to see which of them was the better fighter. She was confident in her spell casting, but this man had more experience. She'd taken him by surprise with her words. She'd need to surprise him with her attacks as well.
"And what could you have, Mercenary, that would tempt me to release them?" said Kuresaki.
Kanae raised her chin. He still underestimated her. That would be his undoing.
"Salvation from the Accursed," she said, "Plans for a device that can both cure and protect the people." She couldn't help a smile at the surprise on Kuresaki's face. She had him right where she wanted. "I can give you the lost plans for the inhibitors."
Thanks for reading!
I know, I know. I'm sick of the trials as well, but this is all important stuff that's going down! Though you can probably tell we're getting closer to the end of them. Also, yes, (most of) your questions will be answered by the end of this… provided you haven't been skimming.
Next chapter: In Two Weeks!
Thanks again for reading!
-Blushweaver
Lots of fun going down! Hope you liked it!
-Imouto