Chapter 37: Cracked Shells, And Broken Oaths

Chapter 37: Cracked Shells, And Broken Oaths

Sakura

Assassins in our streets, no less. What has the Empire come to? Yu said. I was sitting on a bench one of the medical staff had procured, having my ear looked at while Rayce was having one of his legs examined. Apparently, one of the archers arrows had knocked him prone, where he scraped his shins pretty badly in the last few moments of the fighting. The arrow was unable to penetrate his thick chie infused robes, or his skin.

We have to be careful, my lady. The medical official said. This was the citys chief medical cultivator. Not our familys personal one, who no doubt would spend the next night and day fussing over us once we returned to the familial palace. Assassins often dip their weapons in poison, in an effort to make up for their weakness of character and lack of strength.

That sounds like someone whos pushing the political line a bit too hard. But Im not going to complain.

Yes, of course. Ambassador Koja is still recovering from the mana and chie blocking the smoke they used. Yu stared off towards where the fighting had taken place, and where our familys personal guard was examining the scene closely. Im just glad neither of you children inhaled the substance.

I got a face full of the stuff, but it didnt seem to bother me, mother. Rayce said between wincing at the dabs of the nurses alcohol infused cloth on his shredded shins. They were already healing on their own. The healers were just ensuring no infection set in.

You did? She stared at him for a moment before turning to me. Were you also exposed to the smoke, Sakura?

Only a little. By the time it reached the rooftops where I was, it was mostly gone.

Yus eyes narrowed in thought at my words. Before she could speak again, a meteor wreathed in fire streaked through the sky and landed a few feet from where we were. Wind buffeted us, and the sound of cracking stone was audible under my fathers feet as he landed.

Are the children alright? Ren asked as he walked up to us. His aura roiled, barely contained. But the expression on his face was a type of calm I had never seen before. His aura, what little leaked off him, had a deadly, menacing feel to it that made my skin crawl.

Yu embarrassed him for a moment. When she pulled away, she looked into his eyes. They are safe. The doctors are checking them now out of an abundance of caution. Nothing more.

And the ambassador?

He is recovering well enough. I had him taken to our palace, where the court surgeons can see to him personally. She hesitated for a moment, as if uncertain she wanted to share some piece of news, or perhaps uncertain as to the truth of the information she had. The assassins were low-level cultivators. The highest one among them was barely into the Steel stage, as far as we can tell. But, they were highly skilled, and well trained.

Ren nodded, as if confirming information he had already known. Which indicates this was either a personal grudge from a rival Baron in his home in the Northern Kingdom that spilled over into our domain, or . . .

Or whoever hired them wanted it to look that way, Yu said, and her expression turned grim. Darling, they were using Ruodain censors.

Weakness censors? Hard to come by, but assassins could certainly trade in them easily enough. And its not like the leader of whatever sect these people came from couldnt create some form of the things. Has the affect already subsided on the children or . . .?

No Ren. The children were largely untouched by the smokes effects. Rayce says he felt sluggish near the end of the fighting, but that he could still easily match speeds with the assassins who were Iron level.

Perhaps his celestial companion helped keep his chie lines clear? Rens expression had shifted, the conversation had changed. He now looked concerned about what he was hearing, more than just for our safety.

Yu shook her head lightly. Sakura inhaled the smoke as well, a weakened form of it at any rate, and it had no effect on her. You know what this means.

An imperial suppression team. He whispered the words, and I only caught them by chance. I was sitting close enough to hear them. This . . . this changes everything. To attack so openly? Is there no other option? Perhaps this was a team trained in secret by a rouge member of the clan? Or some Count sold the secrets to a northern sect? Anything but this

Calm yourself, my husband. All is not lost. But we must be wise about our next steps. If the imperial clan is responsible, and this is not some rouge element at work, they will not have struck at Koja or their other opponents without coordination. This tactic only works when surprise is on their side. Yus expression matched Rens as they turned to face me and Rayce. Healers, leave us, please. We must speak with our children alone.

The two doctors bowed and left. Leaving only the four of us and Gamera together in the street, and several guards patrolling the rooftops and streets around us.

In the coming days, things are going to change. We have done all we can to prevent the coming calamity that faces the Empire, but it does not seem we have been successful. Ren crouched down to our level, and Yu joined him a moment later. Whatever happens, know we love you.

We love you dearly, children. Yu pulled us all into a hug that allowed Ren to talk to us without the risk of someone reading our lips. Gamera lowered his own head down into the circle from a birds eye view. It was odd to see his face hovering there. Danger has come to our doorstep. We are unlikely to avoid getting caught up in it.

What will you do? I asked. Which side will you support?

Ren and Yu smiled at one another and then back at us. We have already sent for orders from King Togra. Once we have hsi word on what the southern kingdom will do, we will act. Until then, we stall. Weve been trying our best to keep the ambassadors away from one another. But perhaps that wasnt the best choice? Ren asked, looking to me and Yu for advice.

No husband. It was wise. Those two and the little factions they have brought with them would have torn Gameras shell apart trying to kill each other. It was a wise deci -

Gah! Gamera let out a cry of pain and he fell to his knees, then to all fours. Aaagh! He screamed.

The healers saw what was happening from down the road and rushed towards us, but Yu and Ren were both there before any of us could so much as blink.

What is wrong? Ren asked. Where are you hurt?

I literally jumped on a giant bird and flew away, Captain Ragin. I would be a poor duchess if I grew offended that you couldnt read my mind. Yus voice was annoyed, but she spared the man her wrath with a slight smile and a bow.

Our lady is most generous.

About the time Yus foot started tapping impatiently against the stones, the gates swung open of their own accord. Half a heartbeat later, the butler was there again.

Duchess, if you and your entourage would please follow this humble servant, this one would be delighted to show you the way. This ones master is eager to speak with you as soon as possible. But he regrets the fact that his duties require him to remain where he is for some time yet.

What is he doing? Ragin demanded, and the butler demurred.

This one is sorry, Honorable Captain. But this ones master has bid him only to show the way, not divulge his private affairs. On the street, where all eyes and ears could hear.

Lead on. Before I break this place and search through the rubble. Yus words were clearly a threat, and the butler shivered as she spoke them. He turned, and we followed him into the embassy.

***

We walked through beautifully manicured gardens and lawns until we came to a large pair of double doors. The doors themselves opened as we approached, revealing the dark interior of the embassy palace.

This ones lord is in the south wing. Allow this servant to escort you. The butler didnt stop as he spoke, simply walking directly into the darkened entry way and lighting a brazier, filling the space with bright fire light.

We followed him inside, and I kept a tight grip on two of my knives. My nerves were on edge, and I could feel that Little King was beginning to stir on the far side of the cavern. I wont be there for him when he wakes up. What does that mean for our bond?

I put the concern aside for a moment and focused on the surrounding palace. It was largely dark inside, the hallways lit only by the occasional enchanted light stone or fire in an oil brazier.

We walked through long winding corridors, through a massive library that stretched up for multiple floors, and then through an indoor garden whose temperature was controlled like a greenhouse. The light and heat being trapped by thick panes of glass frosted and enchanted to retain both as much as was possible.

Finally, we came to an opening in this indoor jungle. The courtyard would normally be a perfect place for a garden party. Tea tables, and garden chairs were pushed aside however, and cups and sets of fine dining equipment were scattered on the ground haphazardly, as if the people who had done it were in a hurry to make room at the center of the red cobble stones.

There, a long table had been cleared away and a young man was tied to the table, while several powerful men and women, cultivators and magicians all, cast spells and used chie constructs in a desperate bid to save the young mans life.

Even so, I doubted they would be successful.

Nearly half the boys body was gone. Just missing, his intestines were literally sprawled out on the table open to the air, one leg and an arm on that same side were missing, half his face was just gone, revealing a half grinning skeleton underneath and his throat was singed down to the esophagus which had ruptured in so many places it looked like thinly cut swiss cheese.

He should have been dead. But instead his mouth was open in a silent scream, his back, what was left of it was arched painfully against the agony, and his one remaining eye darted back and forth from person to person. Desperate for relief that wasnt coming anytime soon. His remaining arm and leg were tied down to the table.

By the gods, what happened? Yu shouted, but no one responded. Their full and complete attention was on saving the young mans life. Stay here children. Captain, leave your man here to watch my son and daughter and join me. Well aid wherever we can.

What followed was half an hour of desperate spell casting. Being so close to that much mana and chie being used at such a consistently intense level gave me some insights into my own path. Not many, but it did allow both Rayce and myself to sit and meditate on them while cultivating some of the excess energy in the air.

I overheard the guard set to watch over us, conversing with the butler while I was cycling.

The poor boy jumped in front of an acid attack meant for the Count Ambassador. The butler said, answering the guards question.

He took the full brunt of it huh? What stage is he at? His core is fluctuating too much, cant get a read on it.

Count Yaldas nephew is at the Silver stage. The boy is brave, too brave for his own good, or so Ive said many times.

Silver huh? That must have been some acid they used. Was it assassins in all black? Low ranking cultivators?

The butler made a noise that indicated he was unsure. I wasnt there you see. But, some of the kitchen staff were, and they swear up and down to the Gods it was a single man wearing a Northern Kingdoms insignia.

How long ago?

Only ten minutes or so before you lot showed up.

That was enough information for me. This sounded like retaliation. Or perhaps, an attempt to look like retaliation. Either Ambassador Koja is going to have a lot of explaining to do, or someones trying to start a fight between their factions.

I meditated, cycled, and prayed silently to whatever Gods were listening that whatever was to come we could avoid the worst of it.