Ch. 13

House Balitang, Rajmuat, Kypriang, Copper Isles

The afternoon was half over when the rest of them came home. Footmen and maids waited for them beside the guard at the locked gate. They took charge of the worst hurt, carrying or assisting them in walking to the infirmary. All were bruised, scraped and bloody. One maid shrieked to see Lady Nuretin disheveled, carrying the large, bloody spear she had grabbed to help in the fight. Nuretin sank onto the front hall bench, and taking out a handkerchief, began cleaning the spear she held.

Chenaol had followed them from the gate. She grinned at Nuretin and nodded at the spear. "If you want me to take that, my lady, I'll clean it properly."

Nuretin looked at the spear, and then at Chenaol. The old woman trembled from top to toe, but her voice was firm and clear as she replied, "I thank you, but I will clean it myself. I suspect I may need it again. My father said a good blade should be seen to by the one who uses it."

Chenaol scratched her head for a minute, and then offered, "Would my lady like to see our armaments, and choose something more to her taste?"

"I would." Nuretin replied stoutly. "This is a bit heavier than I can manage easily." As the two women walked to the back of the house, Nuretin added, "And since we are to be comrades in this battle, we had best do away with this 'my lady' nonsense."

Dove was seated on the front of the steps, her arms wrapped around her knees. When Hinata looked at her, she said, "Next time I want a saddle."

Ulasim and the rest of his group, who had been catching their breaths until now, knelt as one and bowed their heads to her. Hinata and Neji, as well as the remaining prophesied ones, who had come out to assist those returning, also bowed, though they remained on their feet.

Lady Dove stood and walked over to them. "Stand up, all of you, please. I never want to see any of you on your knees ever again, for anyone."

Hinata replied as everyone obeyed, "I'm glad that we made it back. Now we're home and safe."

"Safe for the moment, anyway." Shikamaru said, sighing. The riot in Rittevon square had not diminished once Dove had gone. If anything, it had intensified, spreading north and east through Middle Town. The household had lost three men-at arms, killed in the fight. Five more were seriously hurt. Junai had dislocated her shoulder.

"If you'll excuse me, I need more information." he told the others, and headed for his office. Passing a door that opened onto the pool courtyard, he saw the great black-and-gold Kudarung stallion Sequiro there, along with a beautiful lavender-and-silver Kudarung mare. The mare's delicate proportions were a vivid contrast to Sequiro's powerful ones. She stepped delicately into the pool, drinking sedately there. A handful of miniature Kudarung cropped the grass with enthusiasm. So much for secrecy. Shikamaru thought tiredly, and walked on.

Once he reached the office, he quickly took notes on the happenings of the day so far, and jotted down what Inkblot reported the other darkings saying. "Information is good?" asked Inkblot. "Information is good." replied Shikamaru.

Once he had finished taking notes, he moved to the meeting room. He could barely fit in, there were so many seated in chairs and on the floor. He managed to wriggle his way to his favorite spot on the wall counter. Sitting there, he had a good view of everyone's faces. Nawat leaned against the wall by the now-closed door. Guchol and Atisa supplied Shikamaru with paper, a slate to write on, and a pencil.

He murmured his thanks, nodded to Ulasim and the other senior conspirators, then looked at his fellow ninja. Placing the slate with paper on his knees, he said, "All right, since I'm sure you've all got a lot to say, let's at least be organized about it. Who's got word about Downwind District and the Honeypot?"

Once they had emptied their budgets of news, he released them to go learn more. He noted that Chenaol and Quedanga came and went, pursuing their own duties. Lady Dove arrived at some point, as did Lady Nuretin and Duke Nomru. The last three stayed, as did Ulasim, while still more messengers arrived. Dove even took over the note-taking briefly so that Shikamaru could ease his writing hand and eat something.

He took a short walk to unwind and visited the Kudarung, who looked him over seriously, and then acknowledged him by nibbling on his sleeve briefly. Wiping flying-horse-spit from his arm he looked up at the sky. Was it his imagination or was the large, multicolored star which represented Kyprioth the Trickster now brighter?

When he returned to the meeting-room, he reviewed the notes for what he had missed, and then began jotting things down again. Finally Ulasim called for lamps. Shikamaru hadn't even noticed that it was growing dark. Knocked from his concentration, he looked up and around. Nuretin had come, as had Baron Engan, Ferdy Tomang, and Lord Obemaek. Nawat returned soon after lamps were lit. As Shikamaru stretched his neck to ease a cramp, Imgehai Qeshi arrived, her black priestess' robes disordered, her hood shoved back.

"The fighting has reached the end of Market Town." she told them, panting. That was where her temple was located. Lee offered her his chair as Hinata poured her a cup of fruit juice. She accepted both gratefully.

Shikamaru looked at Ulasim. "There's been no dwindling of the riot since we got back," he told him wearily. "It's spread. And Rubinyan has sent two hundred of the Rittevon Guard and four descades of Rittevon's Lancers out. Their orders are to beat the fighting back to the lower edges of Middle Town, but they're stalled at Rittevon Square. The Honeypot is burning again."

"Who knew they had anything left to burn?" quipped Kiba before Neji silenced him with a glare.

"The King's Watch is trying to contain another riot in Downwind. With a little help from people who know what they're doing, their lines can be broken there. If you're in the mood. Personally, I'm exhausted." Shikamaru fell back onto the counter, stretching out as if to sleep there. "That particular riot is spreading to Dockmarket and up to Flowergarden. That's the state of affairs in Rajmuat at this time." He looked at Ulasim out of the corner of his eye. "What are your orders, general?"

Ulasim sat, his eyes going from one conspirator's face to another's, ending on Dove's. For a very long, still moment the big Raka said and did nothing. At last he made a face. "I think it is plain to all of us that the war has begun ahead of schedule." he said dryly. "Any child knows it is better to swim with the tide than against it. We attack in force at dawn."

Messengers left the house with orders for the fighter groups hidden all over the city. Members of the Luarin Conspiracy sent their loved ones, with some guards from their own households, to the Balitang home. Lord Obemaek told Shikamaru that if worst came to worst; the families could leave Rajmuat from the house closest to the docks. Shikamaru thought it was sweet, though unrealistic. If Crown troops showed up in the Windward District at all, it would be because the rebels had been beaten, and no ship would be able to sail.

Ysul made sure that everyone who entered House Balitang first had to submit to truthspells he wielded. Those who failed the test of loyalty were imprisoned rather than killed. It was time to start changing their old policies, Ulasim had said. If people who were not on their side were spared when possible, it might create goodwill after the fighting was done.

Shikamaru moved constantly, making sure that the preparations ran smoothly. He checked on every member of the conspiracy and rebellion personally. The last person he sought out was Dove. The pretty young woman sat on the edge of the courtyard pool, the little Kudarung tucked and slumbering all around her, Sequiro and his mare dozing nearby on the grass. Though there were no lit torches nearby, Shikamaru could see Lady Dove's face clearly. It was mutinous.

"If you've come to say I serve best by staying here…" she warned the lazy ninja as he approached. "'Stay safe,' they say, while people are dying in my name. What kind of queen sits around eating guava while her people are in danger?"

Shikamaru snorted. "A creative one." he said, sitting beside her. "It's important that you stay safe. Without you, we have nothing to secure any kind of victory at all with. But there's safe and then there's safe, you know what I mean?" Dove stared at him, frowning. He sighed. "True, it would do the fighters good to see you, but not if it will bring you within arrow-shot." He stood and bowed to her. "So you know, it's been a pleasure working with you, even for so short a time."

He left the garden, thinking, if she takes the hint, Ulasim-san will kill me, though he'll have to dethrone Imajane and Rubinyan first. I can live with that.

The other ninjas and the recruits, most of whom had never met them, assembled in the meeting room. Shikamaru took the time to change back into his ninja outfit and chuunin vest; they were the best combat gear he had. The other ninjas had also gotten back into their normal clothes, and had collected their ninja packs and weapons and gear. For the first time since they had joined the rebellion, they were ninja again.

"We've been taking orders from a boy who's younger than us all?" cried one recruit who had met only the older spy who'd recruited him.

Junai and Eyun fixed him with a stony gaze. "He is one of the prophesied." Eyun said with a voice like ice.

"I have a daughter his age!" protested a woman who loaded grain at Dockmarket as she gathered information for Eyun.

Shikamaru had been expecting this. "I am ancient in treachery." he said, bored. "If you're going to whine, stay and baby-sit the real children here."

"Topabaw still rots by the harbor," added Vitorcine, the first double-agent he'd recruited. "I haven't had to betray my masters since he got him dead."

After that there was no more discussion. They all checked each other's weapons and clothing. Chenaol arrived as they were doing the final count. The cook was also dressed to fight, a cutlass belted at her waist. In one hand she carried a heavy axe. Light slid along its curved, sharp edge. "Let's go my dears." she told them. "We have to cross the city by dawn."

Getting to Flowergarden, the district west of Downwind, took them triple the time it would have taken if conditions had been normal. Royal patrols that numbered twenty or thirty grim-faced men roamed the streets. They did not submit to the rain of garbage and stones that fell down from the buildings, but killed anyone foolish enough to be caught outside. Any fighter who shot at people who threw things went down the next minute with an arrow in his throat, courtesy of Nawat. The dark, woman-loving man was as good an archer as he was a fletcher, and he didn't need to stop moving to hit his targets.

After his group's fifth plea to stop and help those attacked by soldiers, Shikamaru called for a quick halt and gathered them close. "We cannot stop and fight every fight along the way." he told them firmly, keeping anger and nerves out of his face and voice. They had to see him calm and in control; these people had never seen anyone but their recruiters, they still didn't trust his abilities. "If you want to drop out and die pointlessly, do so now, and don't argue about it. The rest of us have a mission, a vital one. We can't avoid distractions, no matter how many old ladies dump pots of crap on the soldiers' heads. Either leave or shut up."

After that, they kept silent. Shikamaru wasn't sure if it was his words or the glares from Naruto and those who had known him before tonight. Either way, no one left the group. They moved on through the night, through alleys, tunnels, and sometimes stairs and over rooftops, any course that would keep them clear of the patrols and the pockets of fighting scattered throughout the city. North and across Dockmarket, Market Town, and then Middle Town they followed Chenaol, who seemed to know exactly when to hide and when to advance.

As they crossed the city, Inkblot whispered in Shikamaru's ear. "Ulasim, Lee, and fighters met Crown troops on southern side of town. Soldiers come from Great Fortress. Hesitant and inclined to run." As the survivors of the poison and explosions at the Docks Garrisons, they lacked the spirit of the other men who had come to fight on the Crown's behalf. "Ulasim say he think these soldiers fight too many Raka the night of explosion and breakout. They remember there should be more of them, and many not very strong now."

Ulasim's deputy, Fesgao, had run into a group of a hundred men-at arms from families loyal to the Crown. His darking reported that they were outnumbered but fighting well.

Ysul and a large group of Raka mages, dressed like priests of the Black God, blasted their way up Rittevon's Lance, straight into the fighting in the Square. Kiba and Akamaru had gone with them.

Nomru, Neji, and his fighters cut across the city at an angle, through Middle Town and Swan District, attacking guards at checkpoints and any household troops foolish enough to get in their way. They gave the same treatment to anyone on the edges of the riots who did not get out of their way when ordered to.

Everyone had plenty of light. The Honeypot was ablaze, its fires spreading into Downwind. Isolated fires burned in Dockmarket, Market Town, and Middle Town. Shikamaru and his group heard the roar of the riot and the shrieks of the injured. Over it all rose the eerie trill of feeding Stormwings. Lit from below, they looked like monsters from the realms of chaos.

Higher and higher his group climbed, through a maze of cottage gardens where people grew vegetables for the city's markets. At last they crested a ridge, halting where a dirt road ended in a small shrine to Gunapi Sunrose. They drank from their water bottles, and each member of the group tossed a small token into the well, either a flower, or a pretty stone, or a coin. Even Naruto and Shikamaru tossed flowers in. It didn't hurt to be polite to other people's gods.

Nawat left briefly, and returned with a large group of warriors, led by a hard-faced Raka woman and a thin, whipcord-lean man who looked as if he might be related to Nawat. He had the same nose, floppy black hair, and eye for women. Also like Nawat, he carried a strung bow and a large quiver stuffed with Griffin- and Stormwing-fletched arrows. Without making a sound, their companions drew up around Shikamaru's group. There were nearly two hundred of them, all wearing clothes that showed signs of hard use, under mismatched and battered armor. All carried bows and quivers of armor-piercing arrows. Just as all carried swords, from the sailor's heavy cutlass to longswords in nicked sheaths. Like the other groups of fighters they had seen, this one was composed of both men and women.

"We go in first," Chenaol told Nawat's group, her voice soft. "Then you. We'll be out doing our work for awhile before we call you in. Duan here will signal Nawat. Then you must come through and attack anything in uniform."

"Try not to kill any more than you can help." Shikamaru said, as their eyes turned to him. "Particularly among the servants. It's time to start trying to live together. Tie them up or lock them in somewhere, if you can."

"What about the Grey Palace?" asked Lokak. "There are no tunnels there, how will we take the place?"

"Leave the Palace to us." Shikamaru told him. "We haven't come so far for nothing." He frowned, and Naruto looked at him anxiously. They had wanted to tell the Raka to capture Rubinyan and Imajane, not kill them. It would be nice if the new queen could show the neighboring countries that she had given them a fair trial. Looking at the grim-faced Raka, he realized that it would be better to hold his tongue. It was stupid to give an order if he knew it wouldn't be obeyed. He sighed at how troublesome this was. "Just don't take trophies from those you slay. I swear they won't look as good as you think."

A wave of soft chuckles passed through the group. Naruto and Shikamaru didn't laugh, however.

"Let us begin." said Jimarn. "Or do we wait until we die of old age?"

"No one wants to live forever," added Yoyox.

Shikamaru had already seen the suspiciously sturdy-looking vine that twined around one of the shrine's pillars. Chenaol beckoned to one of the bigger fighters to help her. They hauled together on the ropy vine, teeth clenched; sweat soon gleaming on their faces. Two of Shikamaru's pack went to help. Slowly the square of the doorway became visible in the ground. A handful of Nawat's people circled it, using blades to cut away the bush and grass roots that had woven themselves into the door's cover in the years since this exit had been used. With a last, long rip, the grassy hood pulled free. Those hauling on it dragged it back to rest against the shrine, and then tied ropes around the ring in the door below. It too had settled into the ground and was reluctant to leave its bed. Growling, the warriors pulled it up.

"The one at the Palace didn't give as much trouble." commented Naruto, watching.

"We made sure of that. We've had to use the Palace entrance as a hiding place. There used to be other exits," said Chenaol, panting. "But this one is isolated; it's hard to get at. And there's no way to keep people from coming up on you here without warning."

The door was up. Someone struck a flint to light the torches they had brought. Naruto looked down the steps that led into the ground. "Dude, it's nasty down there." He said.

Nawat looked at Shikamaru and shrugged, as if to say, 'what can you do?' Shikamaru just shook his head and kicked Naruto in the butt. He fell down the stairs, yelping all the way. "Dammit Shikamaru, I'll get you for that!" he yelled back up as he stood and tried to get centuries-old-slime off of his clothes.

"So troublesome. You could at least be quieter." Shikamaru commented mildly, completely undisturbed by his friend's anger.

As the rest of the warriors went into the tunnel, carrying swords and torches, Shikamaru spoke to Inkblot. "Any news from Trick or Feather?" He, Chenaol, and Nawat followed the last of the soldier into the tunnel, ignoring their grumbling about the 'accommodations.'

"Nomru at Rittevon Square." The darking said as the rebels passed along the tunnel. "Catch soldiers between him and Ulasim. Fesgao fight done. They near edge of Flowergarden. Fesgao say Fonfalas wait for signal to attack Grain Gate." Shikamaru nodded to himself. The Grain Gate and the Gate of Carts were the side entrances to the Palace, where supply wagons brought in ordinary goods for those who lived there. Ulasim and Nomru meant to attack the Gate of Victory once they combined forces.

It seemed like hours before they reached the other end of the tunnel (which Naruto was happy to say over and over) where it opened into the Pavilion of Delightful Pleasures. They hesitated there. Nawat called one of his people forward. She was a perky young Luarin woman, with a head full of red curls, bright blue eyes, and a whip-weal which divided her face in half horizontally. As she climbed the stairs to the outside, the silvery fire of Luarin magic streamed from her hands to wiggle through cracks in the wood.

As she nodded to Nawat—there were friends outside—Inkblot whispered into Shikamaru's ear. "Dove flies."

Shikamaru smirked. He wished he could see it, Dove soaring through the clouds on the back of the great black-and-gold stallion, as its wings caught the air, carrying her over the battles in the streets. It was a calculated risk. A well-placed arrow might ruin everything. But if Shikamaru were out there, fighting for the freedom of his native land, the sight would inspire him like nothing else.

Inkblot added mournfully, "Hina fly, Lace and Magnolia too. Not me."

"I'll make it up to you sometime." Shikamaru replied as he exited the tunnel. Naruto was right, it was nasty, he thought. Looking up into Vereyu's face, he blinked. Looking past her, he saw that the sun had risen, and beautiful puffy clouds drifted, golden, across the sky. "Lovely day, don't you think?" he said. "Makes you wish you could take breakfast out here and watch the clouds… maybe I can have lunch in the water pavilions later."

"Only Duan could joke at a time like this." Vereyu's face was grim and set, but she looked glad to meet him.

"If not now, when?" asked Naruto. "And what makes you think he's joking? Knowing Shikamaru, he's serious. He's a real lazy-ass cloud-watcher."

"Tch. So troublesome." Shikamaru said, smirking because Naruto knew him so well.

Nawat politely ignored this exchange and looked at Shikamaru, who turned to look at him. "When will we know to set this lot loose?" He stroked his darking neck-band, having discovered its relaxing purr.

"Trust me, you'll know." Shikamaru turned to Vereyu. "I hear Her Majesty has company." The Palace darkings had been announcing the arrival of loyal, panicked Luarin nobles since the riots began the night before.

"All the rotten eggs together in one basket." Vereyu said, and spat on the ground.

It would take an extraordinary degree of hate to serve here, day in and day out, in the hope that sometime you would be able to tell your masters exactly what you thought of them. Shikamaru thought, with a greatly increased degree of respect. He would tell Dove's future spymaster to make good use of Vereyu. Bringing peace to the Isles would be a long, hard job once the capital was won. Vereyu would be good for the distance.

"Any parting words of cheer?" asked Nawat, looking at the handsome woman appreciatively.

"Get stuffed." she said, grinning. "And send any wounded back here, to the Pavilion of Delightful Pleasures."

Shikamaru smiled back, and then turned to Naruto. "Go. And be careful. If you think anyone suspects you, get out of there. Our mission depends on you surviving."

"Not a problem! I am totally up for this!" Naruto grinned in an almost insane manner. He performed the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu, followed immediately by his Harem no Jutsu, with great variety and Palace servant's wear. None of them looked the same as the forms he'd used before though, since one or two of the previous victims of this tactic might be on guard duty.

Everyone in the area except Shikamaru looked shocked, some were even appalled. After all, this was the first time any of them had seen a Jutsu, let alone this one. Shikamaru just shrugged. "He's the Fox." he said by way of explanation.

Nawat blinked, and then whistled silently in appreciation. Naruto had chosen these forms with an eye for good looks, lighter skin, and noticeable colors. However, none of them was so noticeable as to be unbelievable, all of them were realistic.

Vereyu and her companions had set a number of shallow open baskets on the ground. Most were loaded with fruit, bread, and rolls stuffed with slices of meat. Two baskets were full of water flasks, and had handles on each side so that they could be carried by two people.

"We did our best with breakfast in the mess hall," Vereyu told him. We took your advice; we didn't poison everything, so they may not suspect the food." Jelly had told Bean what to do earlier, on their way through the city. "Uh, which one of you is the real one?"

"I am." The leader, a black-haired woman whose face looked suspiciously like Anko's, was Naruto in his female guise. "I'll see you soon. Come on, girls!"

Naruto and his Sexy Kage Bunshins soon reached the stair to the watch posts on the Luarin Wall and began to climb. Once they reached the top of the wall, Naruto fluttered her eyelashes at the tough-looking sergeant who waited for them beside the steps. "Something to wet your throat, Captain?" he asked, thrusting the basket at him with one hip. Men always liked it when a girl promoted them. The sergeant grinned and took his time selecting a star fruit. The Sexy Kage Bunshins passed food or water to the men who watched the Green Belt through the crenels at the top of the wall. "Tell me, Captain, should we be afraid for our lives?" Naruto-as-a-woman-who-looks-suspiciously-like-Anko inquired, her eyes lingering on his face. "I've heard these Raka are no better than animals." He swelled with importance, never questioning why a girl like this would appear so interested in a blue-chinned fellow with heavily tattooed arms.

"Just rabble, girlie," he told 'her.' "Rioting, burning their own homes. Half crazy with snake fever, if you ask me. His Majesty will come down hard on 'em. They'll never get the city fixed in time for the coronation." He tried to snag 'her' around the waist.

Nimbly, Naruto stepped just out of reach. "I've work to do sir!" he said, and stuck his nose in the air. Apparently relenting, he added, "Maybe when I come around again." The man guffawed as Naruto left, ambling down the walkway. You won't be laughing the next time I come around. Naruto thought with satisfaction.

Slowly they worked their way around the broad stretch of wall, distributing their offerings, until they reached the gate of victory. Here Naruto met a surprise. One hundred and fifty Lancers to help defend the Palace. Behind them stood three companies, or three hundred men, of the Rittevon Guard, drooping with heat and boredom. They were obviously waiting for orders. Naruto asked Jelly to pass the information along to all of the other darkings, especially those who were with the ninja or the other leaders.

Nomru, Ulasim, Ysul and Fesgao would have to deal with those fighters. They were to meet on the open green lands around the Palace.

Once Jelly finished, Naruto and his Sexy Kage Bunshins completed their circuit of the wall, giggling or laughing as they flirted with the soldiers. Naruto sent one of them to Shikamaru and Vereyu. They had taken up the task of hastily, but quietly, blocking all of the exits in the wall which were not going to be attacked. They had used stone and mortar, and the results were solid, if sloppy. The Kage Bunshin reported that everything was ready on his end, and to have Nawat prepare. To the 'women' who followed him he hand-signaled retreat, get off the wall. They disappeared discretely, vanishing into smoke where no one could see.

Naruto himself returned to the sergeant who had been so complimentary earlier. He hadn't gotten anything poisoned, by the look of it. Naruto handed him a flask of water, which he took absently. "Y'know, I'm starting to think there's more to this than a herd of ragged beggars crazy with the summer sun." He handed 'her' his spyglass as he drank.

Naruto took the opportunity to look out at the green. From the jungle in the distance emerged the Fonfalas, Dove's shadowy Raka relatives the Temaidas, Ulasim, Fesgao, Ysul, and Nomru. With them were Neji, Lee, Kiba and Akamaru, as well as armored Raka and Luarin warriors.

The sergeant put down his flask and surveyed the men around him. "Where's Hessken? Mayce? Rufert?"

"Privy, sir," called another man. "Something off with breakfast. I'm not feeling so well myself."

"Breakfast, or…" The sergeant looked at Naruto, the picture of innocence with 'her' empty basket. He started sweating heavily.

"Let me help you, Sergeant," Naruto said, hooking his legs out from under him. The sleep potion was working, and his eyes were shut before he hit the ground.

"Help me!" Naruto shrieked. "His eyes rolled up and he just fell!" He knelt by the man as others came running. Two of the soldiers sprouted arrows, and fell to the ground inside. Naruto charged off, shedding his disguise as more arrows flew, and Nawat's group swarmed for the stairs.

There was a roar from the field outside, and the rebels propped doors and gates across the moat, to stay out of reach of the vicious finned creatures in it. Naruto scrambled over the edge of the wall and ran down the side, sliding the last few feet in his haste. He ran headlong for the upcoming battle, drawing a kunai as he did so.

"Gate of Victory opens," Inkblot informed Shikamaru as he trotted down the path to Sevmire's headquarters. The new spymaster had taken over his predecessor's office quickly, but the nervous man was as ineffective as he was cruel. "Rubinyan come with soldiers. Leads Guards and Lancers out to fight Ulasim, Fesgao, Nomru."

"I love it when warriors get noble," Shikamaru replied as he yanked open the doors to the spymaster's building. "They get themselves killed with almost no effort from us. It's a great time-saver." Here was the corridor where the spymasters hung their victims of recent tortures to frighten people who they 'recruited'. Sadly, each pair of shackles held a captive. In one bloodied, broken-armed wreck Shikamaru recognized a cook from Dockmarket whose noodles were not unlike ramen. Naruto had gone to visit her every time he managed to sneak away from the kitchens at House Balitang.

Running to Sevmire's office for the keys, Shikamaru halted when Vitorcine emerged from it. She held a bloody knife in one hand and a key ring in another. Behind her the office had started to flicker with orange lights. She had lit it on fire.

"At least you took the keys before you lit him up." Shikamaru said, taking them. He singled out the one which opened the shackles and started on the victim closest to the office fire.

"Why do you think I went in there?" asked Vitorcine.

"Catch them as we take them down," Shikamaru ordered. "You know," he said conversationally, "He wasn't worth killing."

"He wasn't worth leaving alive either, Duan." Vitorcine pointed out.

"You have a point." He shrugged. "Let's get them outside. I'm sure they'd be happy for the sunlight, and we don't want them getting all crispy in here."

Vitorcine nodded and started escorting people out of the building. Shikamaru freed the last captive and started helping them outside as well. Those victims who could still walk moved under their own power, and helped those who couldn't.

"See if you can get them all to the Pavilion of Delightful Pleasures. And good job." Shikamaru said before he ran off. "Inkblot?"

"Nawat friends put wedges under barracks of sleeping soldiers. Ulasim attacks Rubinyan from left, Fesgao and Nomru from right. Ysul, Ochobu, other Raka mages have magic hidden in air and ground. Crown mages not see magic. Ground eat mages, Air push mages under horses' hooves. Dove say more Royal Soldiers come protect Gate of Carts from Fonfalas and Temaidas."

Shikamaru looked up. Overhead circled Sequiro, a double saddle on his back. Hinata and Lady Dove rode there, Hinata protecting the Lady from any stray missiles which came their way. Outside the walls, he heard a deep-throated roar as men and women cheered their chosen Queen's appearance. With Dove looking on, they plowed forward without letup, battling their way towards the Gate of Victory.

"Uh-oh." said Inkblot.

"What oh?"

"Soldiers on horses ride up from city. Trick sees them. Soldiers and archers. Archers climb to walls near Gate of the Sun."

Shikamaru swore. The nobles who had taken refuge with Imajane had left men in the guest barracks, and apparently they'd not eaten from the main store of poisoned food, so they were healthy. "Tell Nawat about the archers. Tell Fesgao, Lee, and Neji that an attack is coming up behind Ulasim. Tell no one else."

A squad of soldiers came towards Shikamaru at a trot. Nawat and his archers fired off a round at them, and then leapt from the trees, bows set aside, and swords drawn.

"Stop." Shikamaru said, loud enough to be heard over the battle-noise, but not so loud as to be yelling. When they did not immediately obey, he performed a quick Kage Mane no Jutsu. He couldn't hold this many for long, but a few second should be all he'd need. "Wouldn't it be nice to be able to trust the person on the throne?" he asked the enemies. "To not have to live every day wondering if your family is safe, or if your master is rotting by the harbor?" He released his allies to conserve energy, since they seemed to be listening, at least. Nawat's people waited. "Do you really want to die for the Rittevons?" he asked the guardsmen more quietly. He released them to find out their answer.

Three soldiers raised weapons and fell, shot by Nawat's suspicious archers. The rest hesitated. Then one of them, a sergeant by his insignia, set down his sword and dagger. When he straightened, one of his own men tried to attack him. Two other Luarin soldiers grabbed the attacker and wrestled him to the ground. He lay there, killed quietly by one of his fellows. They in turn dropped their weapons. The rest followed suit.

A handsome woman with crow feathers in her hair and Nawat's laughing eyes shrugged and took a coil of thin rope from her belt. "My brother said if they surrendered, bind them and move on." She said this, and then grinned at the surrendering soldiers. "If I meet you again in battle, I won't be so nice."

Shikamaru moved on. "Inkblot?"

"Fesgao fight soldiers who attack Ulasim from behind. Nomru leads his people forward against Rubinyan's. Mages fight each other. Ochobu saying many bad words to them." The sharp-tongued woman was a great mage, and Ulasim's mother. On and on it came, a flood of information. Shikamaru finally had to stop helping his group, Nawat's, and Vereyu's clean out pockets of resistance in the greater Palace. He hid in a corner of the Robing Pavilion and sorted out who needed to know what piece of information. Inkblot pooled in his lap, allowing images to form inside his inky depths. Now Shikamaru could see what the darkings saw when he asked Inkblot to focus on each of them. Lace and Magnolia gave him a view of the entire battle that raged all around the Luarin wall. He pointed out breaks in the lines of enemy soldiers where Nomru, Fesgao, Ochobu, Ulasim, and their respective ninja could swamp them. He also pointed out when an attack came from the rear.

As he watched, Kiba and Akamaru performed their Jujin Bunshin no Jutsu, tearing through the enemy's ranks with their Gatsuugas, terrifying everyone who crossed the 'Wild One's' path.

Naruto had gone to help Fesgao's group, which lacked an assigned ninja. Whenever the 'Fox' was attacked, he'd scatter a dozen Kage Bunshins and disappear, letting the enemy fight the replicas, which puffed into smoke when 'fatally wounded'. If they weren't overwhelmed by the clones, Naruto would slip in and finish them off. The 'Fox' inundated the enemies with trickery and sheer numbers.

Neji had activated his byakugan and was using his Hakke Rokujyuu Yonshou to disarm and defeat anyone nearby. He focused mainly on protecting Duke Nomru, as the man's support of Lady Dove's ascension to the throne would prove vital later.

Hinata's Shugohakke Rokujyuu Yonshou was partially blocked by her sitting position and Sequiro's body, but she still managed to block any and all attacks aimed their way.

As for Lee, well, he did the work of a small army all by himself. Even though he still wore his weights, he was moving so fast that only the other ninja could track him accurately.

Dove told Shikamaru that fifty of Nawat's people had cleared and opened the Gate of Carts and the Grain Gate, allowing the Fonfalas and the Temaidas inside. Magnolia showed him Nawat and another band of his people, picking more defenders from the walls of the gray Palace with arrows. Nawat's darking showed the front of the Palace. The gates were shut and barred. It was finally serving its purpose as a last stronghold for the Luarin Crown.

Ochobu's darking reported that the old woman seemed ill. Her heart burst as she flung one last spell, killing five enemy mages with the last of her strength. Keening its grief, the darking moved on to the next mage in the chain. Ysul's darking said that the mute mage was looking for a project of his own, having directed all of his cohorts to fight the enemy mages one-on-one. Behind Rubinyan and his troops loomed the Gate of Victory, shut tight, and locked with heavy timbers, written over with spells of protection. "Ysul up to something." His darking said, looking around for threats. No one came near the mage; as if they sensed the power he was drawing, they left him in a rare open space. Suddenly, the dense, bespelled wood of the Gate of Victory burst into white, devouring flames.

Immediately Shikamaru told Inkblot to inform Trick, Lee's darking. Another darking broke in, showing its views of the battle. Ulasim, wielding a longsword, had cut his way through the last of Rubinyan's defenders. Shikamaru and Inkblot watched as Rubinyan closed with Ulasim, hacking at him from horseback. Ulasim's darking leapt from his neck to batten onto the cinch strap of Rubinyan's saddle. For some moments all Shikamaru could see was Ulasim's straining legs. Then the saddle slid. Down came Rubinyan, twisting to land on his back. In lunged Ulasim, his blade passing through an opening in Rubinyan's armor. Rubinyan, grimacing, rolled and thrust his sword through Ulasim. For a moment the two men stared at one another.

Then Ulasim looked up. Dove swooped in on Sequiro, venturing close to the enemy archers in her desire to save him.

"Look!" Ulasim bellowed, pointing up to her. His voice rang over the clash of weapons and the shrieks of warriors and Stormwings. "Look at her! There! See our future? See how we can be great?" He swayed and fell as his darking keened. Beneath him lay Rubinyan, already dead.

Shikamaru didn't even notice the tears streaming down his face as he told all of the darkings of the Raka general's last battle, and of his demise. Fesgao and Naruto didn't even hesitate. They and their men plowed through the warriors, crying for them to follow, in their Queen's name. As the Raka, howling, surged forward, the Gate of Victory collapsed. Ysul had burned its cross-spar to cinders, and Lee had forcibly destroyed the rest. Behind it the Raka Gate was still smoldering, weakened, as Ysul used up the last of his power on it.

Kiba and Akamaru punched a hole through the remains of the enemy's defense, and used Gatsuuga to gnaw at the Raka Gate. It crumbled to splinters at the assault.

Ysul dropped to his knees. When the Raka Gate fell to pieces, he lay down. Two rebels ran to pick him up. His darking told Shikamaru that he was all right, just worn out. Shikamaru sighed with relief. They couldn't afford to lose another leader.

From Dove's position he saw that the fighting had slowed in many places close to where Ulasim now lay. Seeing that Rubinyan was dead, a dozen or more Luarin warriors raised their hands in surrender. The other Crown troops, mauled by Nomru, Fesgao, and the ninjas, had borne enough. They turned and ran through the destroyed gates. Nawat's warriors, the Fonfalas and Temaidas, Lee, and Kiba and Akamaru met them there. Caught between two enemy forces, the Luarin soldiers surrendered.

Shikamaru wiped his eyes briskly. They weren't done yet. As he made the weary trudge from the Robing Pavilion back to the Wall, Chenaol caught up to him, her weapons and her person streaked with blood. Nawat met them there, sweaty and disheveled, but still handsome. The Fonfalas and Temaidas stripped the weapons from the soldiers and herded them against the wall to be held under guard.

At last Fesgao strode through the Gate, Nomru and Neji behind him, the mages of the Chain following with the troops. Fesgao was covered in shallow cuts, as were all of the leaders and ninja. Even Shikamaru had picked up a few, though he didn't remember how or where. Fesgao looked them over and nodded, as if they'd just met in the marketplace. They all turned to face the Palace, weapons at the ready.

Just then, a raucous shriek heralded the arrival of a Stormwing. Rikash Moonsword pulled out of his stoop to hover in front of them. The smell would have made them retch, if they hadn't been too tired to notice it. The lord of the Stormwings looked at the leaders of the rebels and said simply. "I give you my word; no Stormwing will touch Ulasim or the old woman." As the rebels stared in astonishment, he flew off, calling back over his shoulder. "For what it's worth, you've earned my respect this day!" He screeched to the other Stormwings, who descended en masse upon the recent battlefield.

At last they all stood before the granite walls of the grey Palace. Shikamaru looked at their heights and blinked. There was no guard in view. For a moment Fesgao waited, unsure of what happened now.

"Inkblot?" asked Shikamaru, "What do the Palace darkings say?"

"Surprise." The little blot raised one tentacle and pointed at the top of the wall.

"We need to make a ram or something…" Fesgao said wearily. Nomru nodded. Shikamaru put a hand on each man's arm. When they looked at him, eyes red from the dust, he pointed to the wall. Taybur Sibigat stood there at parade rest, hands clasped behind his back. He looked down at them and nodded; his face expressionless.

Slowly the gate to the Palace swung open. Soldiers in the black clothes and copper mail of the King's Guard, all of whom looked the worse for heavy fighting, lined the flagstone road that led to the residence. There were dead men all around them. It had been four of the Guard who had opened the gate.

"Those troops still loyal to the Rittevons are locked up. So too are those noble families and servants who remained loyal." Taybur's voice and face were as expressionless as if he were reading a market list. "I surrender the Palace to your leader. Imajane is being held."

"Does he lie?" Fesgao asked without taking his eyes from Taybur.

"No. He's telling the truth." Shikamaru replied.

A long shadow fell over them. Everyone looked up, and then backed away to clear a space as Dove's mount slowly descended. At last the Kudarung stallion stood on solid ground, his sides streaked with sweat. Neji and Nawat moved forward, Nawat to help Dove from the saddle, Neji to assist Hinata.

From the corner of his eye Shikamaru registered a wave of motion. He looked around. First those of Raka blood went down on one knee. Slowly the Luarin troops, even stubborn Duke Nomru, followed suit. At last only the Ninja remained standing, though they too bent their heads to her.

Dove saw them and grinned, her face lighting up. "Comrades, I see you remembered my request."

They raised their heads, smirking just a bit.

The rattle of chain mail drew their eyes to the men of the King's Guard on the flagstone road. They too knelt and bowed their heads. Taybur, who had descended from the walkway overhead, knelt at the center of the open gate.

Dove looked down at him. "Imajane?" she asked, her voice steady.

"In her rooms," Taybur replied. "Your majesty."

Hinata spotted a flutter of pink high on the side of the residence, on a balcony that overlooked its small garden. "Th-there's a balcony outside her chambers…" she said, her voice quavering at what the deposed queen was about to do.

"I know." replied Taybur.

Hinata deactivated her byakugan as she buried her face in Neji's shoulder, refusing to look. Neji also deactivated his byakugan, but watched as the small bit of pink plummeted from the balcony rail.

"Well," said Shikamaru, "at least you won't have to pay to house and try her."

Fesgao pointed at the sky, where the multicolored star which represented the Trickster, Kyprioth, sparked and gleamed with victory.

"So how soon are you leaving?"

Shikamaru turned his head to see Her Majesty Dovasaraiyu Balitang, Queen of the Copper Isles. The lazy ninja was currently lying on the roof of the Palace, watching the clouds drift by overhead. He replied with a shrug. "Soon. I don't know when exactly, but it'll probably be as soon as you appoint a new spymaster."

"That's the main problem, isn't it? I can't find one. There just isn't anyone in the Isles who can hold a candle to you as a spymaster. Duke Nomru has taken charge as my war advisor, Fesgao is my Commander-in-Chief, Taybur is the Captain of the Guard, and Ysul is the head mage; even Chenaol found a place as my head cook. We've managed to fill every position but yours. We've even gotten the ownership of the lands cleared up. All that's left is my coronation, and the appointing of a new spymaster."

"You've already decided to keep Vitorcine and Vereyu on as assistant spymasters then? Why not pick one of them?"

"They don't have it in them, and you know it. They're good with the legwork, but the planning, the scheming, all of the real trouble, they can't do it. You know that."

Shikamaru sighed and looked back up at the clouds. "You know, I never wanted to be a spymaster. I never even really wanted to be a great ninja. All I wanted was to be mediocre. Play shogi and go. Find a wife that wasn't gorgeous, but wasn't ugly either, have two kids, a boy and a girl. Retire when the girl got married and the boy got his own job and house. Die before my wife, peacefully, in my sleep. That's all I wanted. But somehow I got tangled up in all this 'saving the worlds' business."

"Looks like we've got something in common then. I didn't really want to be Queen, but it's what I was born for. What I really want is to marry Nawat. Have two children, a boy and a girl. Raise and care for the Kudarung. But now…" she smiled. "I can do all that, but I have to be queen first and foremost."

"Wait. You want to marry Nawat?"

"Yes. I thought a good spymaster was supposed to know everything?"

"Wasn't looking."

"Oh." She paused, and then continued happily. "He finally asked me, right after we won the victory. I said yes."

"People will talk."

"People always talk. And I'd rather have them exclaim over my marriage than over my affair."

Shikamaru snorted. "True."

"…so."

"So?"

"Who are you going to appoint to take your place?"

"…I'll think about it, and tell you at your coronation."

"Alright. By the way, do you know what Lee and Fandarel are working on? I asked but they just said they would tell me when they finished."

"I have an idea."

"What is it?"

"…It's too troublesome to tell you. Maybe when they finish."

"Oh, you!" Dove left Shikamaru to his cloud-watching.

Hinata and the seamstresses finished the last bit of work on the outfit. Carefully hanging it on a form, they put it in a wardrobe where it wouldn't be seen or damaged.

"Hinata?" Dove walked in to speak to the shy kunoichi.

"Yes, Dove-dono?"

"Do you know what Lee and Fandarel are working on? They won't tell me."

"I-I think so, but Fandarel-san said it was a surprise… and n-not to tell you… I-I promised him I wouldn't…" Hinata obviously didn't want to hold back, but felt obliged to.

"Oh, okay, I won't force you to tell me. Thank you anyway."

"N-no problem, Dove-dono…"

"Hinata?

"Y-yes?"

"Thank you. For everything. You were a wonderful ladies-maid, and a wonderful friend."

"Oh! Oh, thank you, Dove-dono. Th-that means a lot to me…" Hinata blushed shyly.

"I know. That's why I said it. You deserve to know how good you are." Dove left the room.

"Yoooooosh! That's how you do that! Make it that way!" Naruto was in the kitchen, talking to Chenaol.

Dove walked in, smiling politely to the servants who bowed as she passed. She walked up to Naruto, who turned to face her, stepping, seemingly by accident, so that he blocked her view of what was going on.

"Hiya, Lady Dove-sama! D'ya want me?"

"Yes, actually, can I talk to you outside?"

"Sure!"

They walked out of the crowded kitchen, into the open air. Dove turned to face the blonde ninja once they were out of earshot of the kitchen. "Naruto, do you know what Lee and Fandarel are working on? No one seems to want to tell me!"

"Huh? Nah, not really. Is Fuzzy-eyebrows working on something important?"

"That's what I wanted to know. But when I asked, he said that he would tell me when they finished it." Dove seemed frustrated.

"Well, if Fuzzy-eyebrows says he can't tell you yet, I believe him. He wouldn't say somethin' like that unless he meant it, so, I guess he can't tell you yet." Naruto seemed pretty casual about it.

Dove sighed. This was getting nowhere. "Well thank you anyway. I guess I could ask the others, but they'd probably say the same thing, wouldn't they?

"Yeah, probably."

"Sigh… well, I'm off. By the way, whatever you and Chenaol were making smelled good."

Kiba and Akamaru trotted through the Palace grounds. Kiba's arms, and Akamaru's mouth, were full of slim, straight branches of wood. They'd had to explore deep into the jungles of Kypriang to find it, but the wood was the best possible for the purpose. They arrived at their destination and gave the wood to Neji, who waited there for them. He took it and set it carefully in a pile by the small table.

"Thank you, Kiba, Akamaru." He said. "You found exactly the right thing."

"Heh, no problem. We're the best at finding things, right Akamaru?" Kiba grinned down at the little dog.

"Bark!"

As they left, Neji took out the things he'd need, and began work on his own project.

Dove woke up on the morning of her coronation well-rested.

"Dove-dono." Hinata stood by the end of the bed, shyly gesturing for her to follow her.

"I'm up. What do you need?"

"Um… please, Dove-dono, follow me. I have a p-present for you…" The shy girl stood back as Dove got out of bed, then turned and left the room, waiting for Dove to follow.

When Dove reached the next room, she gasped. On a stand was a beautiful outfit in a style she'd never seen before. Although the under-gown was plain cloth-of-gold in the normal style, the over-gown was far different. It was a lovely, rich brown color, folded over at the front, almost like a bath-robe, though there was nothing casual about it. It had huge, sweeping, pocket-like sleeves and a broad, stiff sash with an elaborate knot at the back. The material of the over-robe was decorated with the copper vines and emerald leaves of the Balitang House mark. The sash was of copper cloth, with black-and-gold Kudarung rampant stitched on it. With it was a pair of Kyprin slipper-sandals of copper-trimmed brown cloth.

"Hinata! It's beautiful! What is it?"

"It's called a furisode, Dove-dono. Or, it's really a mix between a furisode and Raka and Luarin clothes… I… Your seamstresses and I… we designed and made it for your coronation…" Hinata was blushing furiously. "D-do you like it?"

"Do I like it? I love it! I'd be honored to wear something so lovely! This will probably start a new fashion in High Court dress." Dove sighed. "There's only one problem."

"What? What's wrong?" Hinata looked worried.

"I haven't the slightest idea how to wear it. You'll have to help me put it on."

Even Hinata laughed at that, and began helping the new Queen prepare.

As the guests arrived, they were greeted by Lady Nuretin Balitang, Baron Guyan Temaida, and Duke Vurquan Nomru, who entertained them while they waited for the ceremony to begin. The kings and queens of a dozen nations were there, as well as the young Carthaki Emperor, Kaddar. All of the noble houses of the Copper Isles were there, Raka and Luarin alike, and peasants in their best clothes flooded the vast garden where the coronation was to be held. The Prophesied Ones were there as well, wearing their normal ninja clothing. They stood to one side of the gazebo in which the Twice-Royal was to be crowned.

The babble of the crowd was hushed as Dovasaraiyu walked out. Wearing her hair loose and flowing in the traditional style of the Raka queens, wearing little jewelry in the Luarin manner, clothed in a coronation outfit the likes of which they had never seen, she was a breathtaking sight.

When she reached the center of the gazebo, she bowed her head slightly to her audience, and then beckoned to Fesgao, who stood nearby. He came forward, and knelt before her, as she officially bestowed upon him the title of Commander-in-Chief. She did the same for each of the other appointees. When she finished, she thanked them all for their sacrifices, and thanked the foreign dignitaries for their presence and support.

Then Shikamaru cleared his throat.

Having caught everyone's attention, he stepped forward and spoke. "Your Majesty, we will be leaving soon, to return to the place from which we came. But before we go, we all have gifts we would like to give you, as tokens of our respect for you as a Queen, and of our friendship, for whatever it's worth." He jerked his head for Neji, Kiba, and Akamaru to come forward. Neji was the one who spoke.

"Your Majesty, Kiba and Akamaru gathered the wood for these, from the depths of your own forests, and I made these with my own hands, using the skills taught to me by Nawat-san." He held out a quiver full of arrows. They were copper-headed, and double-fletched with a mix of Griffin flights and Kudarung flights. The heads were designed to be slightly broader than needle-heads, but thinner than normal. The wood was an incredibly light but strong material called Yanyan. The feathers crossed at right angles, dividing the butt end of each arrow into quarters. All in all, they were beautifully made, and perfectly suited for a Queen, whether in hunting or war. Once Dove accepted the arrows, Kiba and Neji bowed, and even Akamaru managed a little bow. They went back to their places, with Kiba grinning fit to burst.

Next came Naruto. He walked forward, grinning. "Uh, well, I'm not really good at being all fancy, but I told Chenaol-obaasan some really good food from our country, and she made it for lunch. I bet you'll like it! Especially the ramen! …yeah, ramen's so good!!" He had a dreamy look on his face, and had almost started drooling when Akamaru barked at him. He scratched the back of his head, laughing embarrassedly when he realized he'd started staring off into space. "Heheheh, hope you like the food!"

Next came Lee, holding a large object wrapped in a cloth so that they couldn't tell what it was. Standing in front of Dove, he spoke. "Fandarel-san and I worked on the mold for this for a very long time. I am by no means a great smith, I would not even consider myself a good smith, and without Fandarel-san this would have been an utmost failure. However, this is the fruit of our labors, and we made it with all our hearts. For you..." he unwrapped the cloth, and the crowd gasped. "...this is your crown, Your Majesty."

And a crown it was. Made from pure copper instead of gold, it was formed in the shape of a headband instead of a circlet. It had vines and flowers molded on it, and from the edges hung topaz droplets, also called Tricksters Stones, since they represented him. Kneeling on either side, facing the center, were two Kudarung, wings but half-opened. At the center was a jaguar, the symbol of the Queen of the Copper Island Goddesses, Gunapi Sunrose.

Hands shaking slightly, Dove took the crown as the whole region held its breath in hushed anticipation. Lee bowed and backed away. Dove turned to the multitude and raised the crown. There was a roar to equal any earthquake as she placed it on her head.

The next morning, The Queen of the Copper Isles rose late, still tired from the day before. Pulling on a robe, she walked into her study, looking for the tea Hinata always left on her desk. It was there, steaming slightly, and with it was a note. With trembling hands she picked it up and read Shikamaru's neat handwriting.

"Your Majesty. This morning we were awakened by Yuuko-san, who told us it was time to return. I have chosen a Luarin girl named Alaine Cooper to be your next spymaster. She came with the dignitaries, but she is well-versed in the spymaster's art. She was willing to take a blood oath to serve you all her days, and did so with myself, Taybur Sibigat-san, and Duke Nomru-sama as witnesses. She will serve you well. We all wish you the best of luck. Nara Shikamaru."

"PS: Hinata says that she taught Pembery to help you put on your furisode."

"PPS: Inkblot divided and gave the new baby darking to us to take along."

"PPPS: Yuuko-san says that it'll do as payment, so don't worry."

"PPPPS: Kiba says to marry Nawat quickly. You both deserve it."

The Queen of the Copper Isles sat quietly for a few minutes, as tears shimmered in her eyes. She was going to miss them. Then she sighed and stood, making plans for her day.