Disclaimer: I don't own Seirei No Moribito.
"Is there something I can do for you?" Balsa hadn't moved her spear from her shoulder, but her shoulders were tense in the event that they attacked. The sun had risen high enough to light their faces clearly. All four of them bowed and she finally recognized who they were.
"The Second Empress has asked us to seek you out. Please accompany us to the palace." Balsa sighed and looked at her spear. It reminded her of how she had been summoned to the palace the previous time, and by the same people. That had been the night she took Chagum into her care.
"I should have taken care of this last night." She knew it would be pointless to ask the soldiers what the empress wanted, but she also knew that if she wanted to be able to stay near the palace without worry she would have to accept the empress' summon. She hoped that she may get to speak with Chagum.
"I will come." The men appeared relieved that she had agreed willingly, apparently they had not forgotten that she had easily defeated them the previous time. Once she was led into the palace, she realized that they had also not forgotten that she had threatened the empress. They attempted to make her leave her spear at the gate.
"I refuse. The Second Empress knows that I carry a spear." The men could not convince her to leave it and ended up sending a messenger to the empress for her permission, which she gave.
Several minutes later, Balsa found herself being led to an empty room. The door slid closed behind her back. Another few minutes passed and she saw another door on the opposite side of the room slide open. The Second Empress, Chagum's mother, walked in and Balsa bowed respectfully.
"I thank you for coming, Balsa. Rise." Balsa straightened her back and walked forward when the empress beckoned her. A moment later, Balsa knelt on a flat pillow in front of the empress. The empress looked over the woman in front of her, the woman that had taken the job of protecting and raising her son two years before.
"I have summoned you in place of my son, Crown Prince Chagum. I'm afraid the emperor has forbidden him to summon you." Balsa's eyes, which before had been curious and distrustful, closed slightly. Her eyes now showed her distrust, but were now close to menacing as well.
"Is Chagum well?" The empress sighed. The woman had not only taken in her son, but she clearly thought of him as a son as well.
"He is well, but a month past he . . ." The empress' eyes widened as Balsa suddenly started disappearing right before her eyes. Balsa's eyes widened as her hair began floating and she quickly grabbed her spear, which she had laid on the ground next to her. A moment later, the empress was the only one in the room. The empress gasped a moment later and ran from the room.
Tanda was lead down the side street for several minutes until they reached a house. The man leading whistled as they drew closer and the door opened. The six of them walked in and the men surrounding him bowed to a white-haired man sitting on the other side of the room.
"Shuga-san, I wasn't expecting to see you." Shuga, the white-haired man, smiled gently.
"I have need of your knowledge, Shaman apprentice. I have tried and failed to locate your master for the past month. I am worried about Prince Chagum. What these men have confided in me has also worried me." Tanda removed his pack and his shoes before kneeling on an available area of the floor.
"I have been worried too," Tanda sighed. "I wanted to speak with Mon to confirm my theory, but with all eight of you here this will be easier." Tanda's gaze swept the nine men in front of him as he continued, "I am guessing you experienced what I experienced." Jin met his gaze head-on, his face looked as determined as ever.
"So you were attacked by La Lunga?" Tanda nodded as his eyes, which usually induced tranquility in others, became more troubled.
"I think we might be pulled completely into Nayug tomorrow night. I've been trying to find Master Torogai, but she went to the Knot and I don't know where that is." Silence fell over the room.
"We need to inform His Highness of this. We will take precautions to ensure Prince Chagum's safety," Jin said. Tanda looked at Jin, vehement as always to protect Chagum.
"The only thing we will be able to do is stay close to the prince until we are sure what is going to happen," Tanda retorted calmly. Shuga nodded in agreement. He knew he would be of no use if Chagum were pulled into Nayug again. Mon stood and bowed to Shuga.
"I will go speak with His Highness now. I will come tomorrow and let you know what has been decided. If the spear wielder returns before tomorrow night I would like to speak with her."
"Balsa came back last night." Mon, halfway to turning, stopped and looked back.
"Did she tell you if . . ." Tanda nodded. Mon turned again and walked out the door. Jin and Yun followed. Tanda turned his head as Shuga spoke.
"What would cause Prince Chagum to cross over into Nayug again? There is no mention of this in the ancient tomb."
"I believe that there has never been a successful birth of the water spirit that didn't involve tearing the guardian apart though," Tanda grinned as Shuga's face took on a thoughtful expression. The master star diviner was very smart, but sometimes got so wrapped up in the resources that he had that he would forget to look elsewhere.
The gentle smiles that had lit both Tanda and Shuga's faces suddenly disappeared as Yun's long hair started floating. Shuga leapt to his feet as the six men left in the room disappeared before his eyes.
Author's Note: It took a little while to finish the second chapter, but here it is. Please read and review I'd like to know how y'all think I'm doing ;).
