As Kisho and Kiyoshi tried to leave the brothel, two throwing knives came flying at them. Quick thinking the twins managed to dodge the knives and see the culprit. A shrouded assassin stood in the street waiting for them. Under the wide brim of his hat, his face hidden in shadow, the night managed to show his sinister smile, and his hands holding a knife between each finger.
“I’ve been paid good money to kill you two. Tonight the Master’s plans will be the end of you, and your friend. I suspect they’ve taken care of her already… some Dragon…”
The assassin was mocking them, and with a flash moved quickly to attack them both. Not only were his knives dangerous because he was fast and precise, but the twins quickly realized the knives were coated with a paralysis poison.
“You can’t escape! The only way you’re leaving here, is as a corpse!” He had thrown all his knives, so he moved in with a sword to attack them both head on.
Back at the Hanzai estate, Mizu’s men dropped Asil’s unconscious body into the back of a cart and climbed to the front to take the cart off property and into the forest. They kept glancing behind them to Asil’s bound and unconscious figure.
“You think she’s really out? She could be fooling us.”
“This bitch wouldn’t have let us bring her this far if that was the case. Let’s just get this over with.”
The forest path was rough terrain to cross, but they made it to the edge of a river, where the current was strong and fast. It led to rapids that led down the mountains and into the valley. They brought their horses to a halt and climbed down from the cart to grab Asil out of the back. The river was loud enough to cover the noises they made pulling Asil out and dropping her at the edge. They made sure the binds on her wrists and ankles were tight, and the one bandit took a knife out of his belt sheath and with his other hand smacked Asils face. She didn’t flinch, proving further she was truly out. He grinned darkly and looked up at his pal. “For the Hanzai.” His partner nodded his head, repeating the mantra, and the first plunged his knife into Asil’s side. Then they picked her up at the feet and hands and tossed her out towards the center of the river and watched her body tumble downstream….
[b Cenreo Capital, Tem. The imperial palace]
Tem is a bustling city in the center of Cenreo. It is the home of the Imperial Palace, the Temple of Ska’kem, Cenreo’s beast diety, and a hub for merchants traveling the continent. It is also the home of royal guard Lt. Shen Danshu. A decorated war hero, and the young Duke of Tem. Shen was a desired bachelor, and current rumors purported he was in talks to wed the Crown Empress Lyanna. That was of course just gossip. Today he was at the royal palace for a very different reason. He was about to begin his transition from soldier to Duke. His father had recently passed, but more than that his little sister had become a young woman, and with it a special rare gift. She was no Seshi, but something more coveted : and Oracle.
At 13 years old, Sachi stood with the dignified grace of a grown woman, and was destined to be an incredible beauty. She was known far and wide as the apple of her brother’s eye, for he loved no other more than his sweet little sister. It was Sachi who had requested this meeting with the crown Empress, and her first lieutenant. Lyanna was seated in an elegant chair, her long pink hair was pulled back into a high bun, fixed with a jeweled hair pin and wearing robes of pastel hues. Shen and Sachi were undeniably siblings. They both possessed brilliant blue slanted eyes, and pitch black hair.
“Princess Lyanna, I wanted to come directly to you with this information. For reasons I do not wish to discuss, I did not want to share this with your superior.” Sachi of course meant Empress Tamika. Lyanna still had two more years before her 21st birthday when she’d be able to ascend the throne as the rightful blood ruler, so until then her step-mother ruled in her stead with the guidance of The Firm. A collection of elders and politicians who represented the other city states of Cenreo. Sachi was wise to avoid them, they were all corrupt, and Lyanna needed any and all advantages over her stepmother to keep her position.
“What is it, Lady Sachi?” Lyanna asked kindly. Shen stood silently at the door, observing them both, and guarding the door from any unwanted guests.
“I… I finally had my first bleeding last year as you know. What I have kept silent about out of fear, I now know I must share with you. I trust you Princess, and you have my loyalty.” Sachi bowed out of respect to Lyanna, who shared a look with Shen from across the room. He knew about Sachi’s powers, but had also ket them quiet. “Anyway, my lady, I have seen visions… visions of the Great mother.” Lyanna tensed, her jaw slackening at Sachi’s confession. She believed the young girl. Sachi was a good girl with a pure heart, innocent and true, she was not the type to lie about something as important as finding The Great Mother.
Lyanna was suddenly on her feet and standing before Sachi, hands on her slim shoulders.
“You… you’re an Oracle…” it was made as more of a statement than a question. Sachi gave a demure nod of her head, as if disappointed with herself, but Lyanna was elated. “Did you see where she could be found?” Lyanna asked, but Sachi could only shake her head.
“I only saw images. It’s a village in the valley, but I do not know which one. She travels and does not stay in one place long. I saw the clothes of a Miko, so I have surmised she is a traveling priestess, and she is close to a river.”
“Shen!” Lyanna waved a hand towards Sachi’s brother and he stepped forward.
“Yes princess? “
“Take Seshi Dogan with you to the valley villages. Check them all along the river to see if any of them have had a Miko visit them. Find her. She must be brought to the Capital. She’s the only one who will be able to remove my step-mother from power, and settle the tensions we’ve been having with Kikomourt. Without her we are defenseless against the other three kingdoms. Without her we don’t have magic.”
Shen knew all of this, of course. He would follow Lyanna’s orders without question, he just wished his sister wouldn’t look so put out by her confessions and their inevitable consequences. She had been looking forward to her brother returning home, with being done in the military, now he had to leave her again.
“Sachi can stay here in the palace with me.”
“Thank you princess, but I would rather return back home to Danshu. Mother has not been well since father’s passing. If I have any more visions, I will return immediately and report them to you.” Sachi gave another respectful bow and Lyanna was reluctant to tell her to stay. Instead the Princess’ gaze turned to Shen.
“Go now, do not waste a moment, and tell no one but Dogan about your mission,” Lyanna instructed. Shen gave his own salute and bow, before he took his sister’s hand and led her away from Lyanna’s parlor.
“I wish you did not have to go, but you have too. I saw you with the Miko. She’ll be important to you, though I don’t know how or why…” Shen smiled warmly down at her and hugged her tightly.
“I’ll be back soon. Take care of mother for me.”
“Yes, brother.”
He had bid his sister farewell, and they had been the last words he share with his sister before leaving the capital…