AUTHOR'S NOTES: This story might go from twice a week to about every 4 days, although I won't 'officially' declare that. I might just need to fight for my muse a bit harder. Whatever the case, here's chapter 12. It kicks off the events of the game's 3rd chapter, although soon it will diverge from the story much more than it has been so far. Without spoiling too much, I can already promise that there's going to be a lot that happens in Hoshido when the twins meet, and before dear Mikoto kicks the bucket. But enough of that. Here's the chapter, only a few minutes late all in all.
Happy Reading!

CHAPTER 12: The Hoshidan Ploy

Sing with me a song of Conflicts and Schemes...

It took a few days for Kaze and Rinkah (particularly the latter) to recover, but the search party was able to return back home after they were in good enough health. Rinkah insisted that she was fine despite still having a slight limp in her step, and she was so adamantly stubborn about it that even Hinoka gave up arguing. Still, the flame princess didn't cause any commotion during their return, and so as far as the others (and her) were concerned, she was well again.

Mikoto and Ryoma were pleased and relieved to see that everyone they had sent out was alive and well, and that Kaze and Rinkah had been successfully recovered. Roku was a little distance away from most of the women, although one side of his lip curled slightly upward when he saw that Zenzi was okay.

"Big brother!" Hinoka seemed a little jumpy from what was perceived as excitement, "Kaze and Rinkah are home from Nohr—alive and well."

"Normally I would say that is wonderful news," he nodded, certainly pleased about their return, but his expression showed some suspicion. "But it piques my curiosity. People do not normally escape from Nohr without bloodshed—and they are not exactly merciful to those of higher rank. How did they survive?"

"A princess released them," Hinoka explained, "and they're pretty certain it's Kamui."
Corrin, who was present but had remained silent thus far, widened his eyes, and his pointed ears twitched noticeably.
"My sister is alive?" he seemed a little shocked at the revelation. "And in Nohr?"
"That's all I was able to get out of Rinkah and Kaze;" Hinoka explained.

"Where are they now?" Corrin seemed almost frantic for a moment. "Zenzi?" he cocked his head towards one of his retainers.

"Th-they're resting." Zenzi stuttered, "Rinkah is still in serious condition."
"I need to talk to them," Corrin insisted. Hinoka shrugged half a shoulder.
"They should be fine, Zenzi," she explained, "I'd suggest Kaze though. Rinkah might kill anyone who tries waking her up at this point."

Zenzi took Corrin to where Kaze and Rinkah were resting, and the sounds of the latter's snores filled the air. Kaze sat up when Corrin approached him though.
"I am pleased to announce my return, milord," he greeted Corrin, "how may I help you?"
"You were in Nohr, yes?" Corrin began, "and they say you saw my sister."

"A woman who called herself Kamui was sent out by King Garon to fight us. She resembles you even down to her eyes and the color of her hair." Kaze began explaining, "she nearly killed us—and was commanded by King Garon to do so, in fact… but she refused."
"Why?" Corrin tilted his head. "What compelled a Nohrian to save you two?"

"I am unsure of her motives," Kaze shook his head, "but I was also not really in any position to ask her of them. Perhaps Nohr is not as poison to her mind as we suspected."
"I don't trust them," Corrin frowned, "but I trust you that you're telling the truth."
"I've hardly any reason to lie to you, Lord Corrin," Kaze reassured him, "but more importantly, my brother and I may have come up with a plan to help lure her out of Nohr."
"I do not want violence," Corrin shook his head, "especially not against my twin sister."

"Ideally, it would end with minimal or no violence at all," Kaze clarified, "although you would have to talk to Saizo about it. Moreover, Princess Hinoka is discussing it with Prince Ryoma and Lady Mikoto before we can even try something this bold."

Kaze continued to explain the logistics of Saizo's scheme, clarifying that it would be an attempt to lure Nohr out. Hoshido had faced losses at the hands of Prince Xander and Princess Camilla on two different occasions when Garon had sent them both out on individual missions where they and their retainers skirted the border to harass Hoshidan guards without getting too deep into the country. Now it was Kamui's turn to join the tradition.

"It's risky though," Corrin concluded once he had heard the explanation. "Do you think Ryoma is the kind of person that would let it go through?"

"We're not mounting an attack; just a defense," Kaze explained, "King Garon is going to send Princess Kamui our way no matter what we do in response, and so if we can get them to send her where we want her, it would benefit her and us at the same time."

Corrin nodded, content with that answer. He thanked Kaze for the time and returned to find Hinoka and Ryoma discussing the pros and cons of the idea. Saizo backed Hinoka on the argument, while Mikoto's retainer Yukimura stood with Ryoma to weigh the cons of this advance.

"I take full responsibility for the maneuver and those involved," Saizo clarified, "and while I have few concerns over obtaining this Nohrian Princess myself, I understand that she is vitally important both to my liege and his family and so will do everythign in my power to return her to you and slay all who oppose us."

"I will support your movement, Saizo," Ryoma declared, "But know that she must be brought back alive. Ideally we seek as little violence as possible. We should not give Nohr further ammunition against us."

"Of course, Lord Ryoma," Saizo nodded in agreement, "You should know by now that I work swiftly and efficiently, and unlike Nohrians, I do not treat lives as disposable resources. Rinkah and I will minimize casualties to the best of our abilities and we will bring your sister home."

Corrin seemed pleased with what he was hearing, although he was still not entirely sure what Saizo and Rinkah were planning and how they intended to execute it. Ryoma seemed convinced, however, and Hinoka's smile indicated that she had gotten her way.

Saizo turned to Corrin when he noticed the boy in the room.

"We have our strategy ready to commence, Lord Corrin." he assured him, "Kagero and I will situate a small garrison in the old Daishan Fortress near the border. Rinkah's job is to retrieve your sister."

"Wonderful," Corrin was more of a tactician and less of a fighter, and he saw this plan as something viable, "I await your return."

=Castle Krakenburg, around the same time…=

Kamui learned quickly to fearfully respect Garon, especially after he warned her of a punishment but then did not say what it was. It left her with a sense of dread that not even Camilla could resolve, even if she knew her siblings would cover for her.

Of the four, Elise was the most persistent, following Kamui all the way to the throne room after Garon summed Kamui to finally lay down the verdict.

"Alright Kamui," she assured her older sister, "let's go in there together. I'll help as much as possible. Father might be kinda scary sometimes, but he has to forgive you, right?"

"I'd hope so," Kamui shook her head, "I mean, I'm his child right?"
"Exactly!" Elise jumped up and down, "Father's not mean enough to kill his own kid!"
"I certainly hope you're right, Elise." Kamui smiled, "thanks…"
"Alrighty... " Elise approached the door, "deep breaths, big sis! Here we go!" she pushed the doors to Garon's Throne Room open.

"Father!" she called out, with minimal regards to what Garon might be doing, "we have something we need to talk to you about!"

However, after Elise had spoken, Garon was heard laughing, though it was cut short upon Elise calling out.
"Who enters?" he demanded, his eyes scanning the room until he saw Elise and Kamui.
"Oh! We didn't know you were busy, Father! We apologize if this is not a good time!"

Garon seemed contemplative for a moment before grunting.
"Think little of it; but do not disrupt me again." he warned. "What is it?"
"We're here to apologize for the other day, right Kamui?" Elise piped up.
"Aye," Kamui added, "I wanted to apologize, Father, for my softheartedness the other day."

"You disobeyed a direct order from me, Kamui." Garon looked the child right in the eyes, his menacing, authoritative stare actually striking fear into Kamui's normally rather stout heart, "under normal circumstances you would not be alive."

"I understand," Kamui began, "although I can expla-"
"Silence!" Garon barked, "However… as you are my child, Kamui, I will grant you some leeway this once. I have something for you to do for me…"

"Is this my coming of age ritual?" Kamui had heard whispered rumours of this floating around the castle, particularly from her older siblings' retainers. Laslow and Peri were discussing it with Zul and Varrick, whispering about how the middle child would soon likely get sent to the border. Originally Kamui had suspected it was a punishment, although one of Camilla's retained had cleared it up for her.

"Indeed," Garon nodded, "this mission is rather simple, and should you complete it, I will pardon your crime in full."

"Tell me what I need to do then, Father." Kamui request.

"There is a fortress the Hoshidans refer to as Daishan, perched in the Bottomless Canyon on the fringes near our borders." Garon began, "it is abandoned and ripe for the taking provided the building is not too derelict. Your job will be to investigate the area and verify if the area is clear of Hoshidans and if the buildings are still serviceable. It is merely a scouting mission—travel there and inspect the premises, and if you don't become careless or behave foolishly, there should be no conflict or battle required."

"Yes, Father." Kamui nodded, only for Garon to look her right in the eyes again.
"Do you understand?" Garon's brows furrowed, "I will not tolerate being disappointed in you twice, little princess."

Kamui's eye twitched slightly. Hearing Xander's affectionate nickname for her come out of lips like Garon's didn't feel right; almost as if he was violating the phrase.
"I understand father," she sighed, "and should I fail I will have earned the execution. I will not fail you again—the mission will be done."

"Good," Garon frowned, although that was one of his signs of approval when it looked the way it did now, "Make the necessary preparations. I will alert your retainers, but aside from them you are to go on this mission alone—so plan accordingly. You leave in two days' time."

Kamui returned to her room after the conversation, musing about what to do and how to prepare. She was alone for a while, although after several hours of brooding in her room, a walk around the castle led her right into the Arozza, Camilla's white-haired retainer. The woman intrigued Kamui because she seemed to feel just as foreign to Nohr as Kamui felt.

"I heard the king's verdict," Arozza seemed almost apologetic.
"I'll be okay," Kamui reassured her with a half-smile. "I'm tougher than I look. Thank your liege and my sister for that one."
"I believe it;" Arozza admitted, "I'm just a little envious that I can't come along."
"Why? You down for potential battling too or something?"

"Not so much that… rather, I want to peek into Hoshido again. I lost friends there."
"They… who got them?" Kamui tilted her head.
"I'm not sure; they might still be alive." Arozza shrugged, "their names are Roku and Zenzi though, if you run into soldiers there and somehow get their names."
"Hopefully there's no conflict at all;" Kamui shook her head, "I don't mind a bit of fighting, but I feel like pissing off Hoshido would be like throwing a rock at a bee nest."
"I know," Arozza sighed, "it's more just wishful thinking anyways. Still…"

"Fair enough…" Kamui nodded. She continued walking, heading for the practice courtyard. Perhaps the demonic sword that Garon had given her could be of some use if she learned to more effectively wield it...