Chapter Song Suggestion - "The Enemy Will Not Pass by Cephei"
Kyou was horrified by the chaos that greeted them, as if a herd of cattle had trampled through the town. Buildings collapsed from left to right, engulfed in fiery flames of fury. People screamed and ran in all directions, while anxious mothers fled holding onto their crying children. His blood boiled at the sight of casualties strew across the streets. Death and destruction.
If this was Akio's stand on people's lives, treating them like insignificant pawns, then Kyou was further determined to safeguard his throne. Ironically, he could never allow a man more heartless than he to rule over the Kingdom. That much was clear.
As they rode towards the imperial palace, pain and wrath clenched his heart. His beautiful home was on fire. Entering the courtyard, he leaped off his horse and turned to the Commander. "Rei, safeguard the innocent and round up all the staff. Put out the flames. Quickly!"
"Leave it to me," Rei complied and steered his horse into the opposite direction.
Heading straight for the burning section of the palace, Kyou ran into Captain Shamon's unit embroiled in a fight. He counted at least half a dozen assassins versus three royal guards. One was heavily wounded, yet he was bravely fighting back. His attention was diverted when Captain Shamon crashed through splintered doors — blood-soaked and defeated.
Kyou couldn't tell if the blood was his own or the enemy's. A dark figure emerged from the burning shadows, wielding a gleaming sword. He stepped on Shamon's back and raised his weapon — his intent obvious. Without hesitation, Kyou dove forward to save the Captain's life, steel clashing against steel.
Fisting his left hand, he threw a surprise punch into the man's face and gutted him where he stood. Kneeling beside the Captain, he asked, "Captain, are you alright?"
"Y-your Majesty," Shamon struggled to sit up, his internal organs shifting in silent protest at the abuse. "You made…it…,"
Dark brows drew close at the Captain's deteriorating speech. "What happened?"
Shamon's throat bobbed, his eyes barely able to stay open. "They spiked…our food and d-d-dri-nks, some kind…o-of drug. Can't fight. It. Attacked us…w-when…,"
A shot of panic raced through him when the Captain lost consciousness. "Captain! Shamon!"
"Your Majesty, it's no use! He has been drugged!" One of the Captain's man cried, still engaged in a fight.
Frustrated, Kyou dragged Shamon to a safe spot and eradicated the rest of the assassins with frightening calm, like they were insects to be squashed. The Captain's unit were appalled yet grateful for their Emperor's aid.
"What is your name?" Kyou questioned the solider who had spoken to him.
"Ito, Your Majesty. I am Vice-Captain of the Royal Guard."
Kyou blinked, hiding his surprise. This young man was probably Inka's age and yet he was already holding an influential position. "What happened here? Start from the beginning."
"We were preparing for our evening patrol when we were attacked. By the time we realized it, the standing guards were all unconscious and these masked men had us cornered." Ito frowned. "I believe we were betrayed by an insider. Every detail was too well planned. They must have laced the food with a slow-reacting drug." He then gestured to his subordinates. "Coincidentally, we just returned from the outskirts at dawn, so we retired until the afternoon. It explains why we are unaffected." He glanced down at the Captain. "Captain Shamon wasn't as lucky."
"Are you all that's left of the royal infantry?"
Ito lowered his head in disappointment. "Yes, Your Majesty."
This was worse than Kyou had anticipated. With Captain Shamon out of commission, only five of them were left to protect the palace. And until this mayhem was contained, he couldn't gauge the extent of damage inflicted. They needed to act fast. "I need one of you to send a hawk carrier to the King of Donggu. The rest shall follow me."
"I will do it." The tallest soldier volunteered. "I'm the fastest runner in the unit."
"Very well," Kyou nodded. "Inform the King that Beihai requests for a backup unit to be dispatched immediately."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" The guard saluted and took off.
"The rest of you search the palace for wounded individuals. That is our priority. If you encounter the enemy, eliminate them on sight."
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Back at Donggu Palace…
The Chief of Guard burst into the main hall, crying at the top of his lungs. "Your Majesty, we are under attack!"
Annoyed, Shuhei looked up from the scroll he was reading. "Who dares to attack the King of Donggu?"
"We have identified them as unknown assassins, Your Majesty. The first line of defense has fallen and the town is being destroyed. If they burn any more rope bridges, not only will we be isolated, but the damage will also financially ruin Donggu."
"Alert the General and Commander at once!" Shuhei ordered, unable to believe this was happening. Had Akio lost his mind? "Stall the intruders. I will greet them myself."
"B-but Your Majesty! It's too dangerous!"
"Are you questioning your King?" He directed his anger at the simpering chief. "I am the King of Donggu. I will not sit here while my men sacrifice their lives for this nation."
"Pardon my insolence, Your Majesty but it's imperative that you are protected at all costs."
"Get out of my way!" Shuhei barked, shoving the chief aside. "I've had it with being protected. A real King fights his enemy like a man!"
Helpless, the chief quickly went to alert the General and Commander who immediately readied their units and set out to wipe out the enemy.
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Startled by the commotion in the courtyard, Inka and Lupa rushed out of the hall to see what was happening. The same feeling of dread niggled at her as liveried soldiers marched by, their aura thick and intense. For them to assemble this late at night could only mean one thing — bloodshed.
"Are we under attack, igido?" Lupa asked anxiously, though he was no stranger to war. Their parents had often left the tribe to participate in neighboring battles.
"I don't know Lupa but, something doesn't feel right."
"Inka!" Her cousins called out, rounding a bend in a flurry of panic. "The town is under attack. We have to warn the King!"
"Where did you see them?"
"In the tavern areas." They answered in unison.
Her eldest cousin, Sihu stepped forward anxiously. "I saw one of them clearly. He or she was wearing an oni mask. You know what that means."
"Oni?" Inka's brows scrambled as she searched her memory. The assassins who attacked them didn't wear devil masks but, could they be from the same clan? There was only one clan who wore the oni masks. She bolted.
"Where are you going?" Lupa cried.
"I'm going to find Shuhei! Stay with Sihu!"
Hurrying to the main hall, Inka heard Kuriko's alarmed voice from the garden. "Inka, where are rushing off to?"
"Get Ryuu! We are under attack!" She yelled without stopping. Throwing open the doors of the main hall, she called out, "Shuhei, I need to speak with you." There was no one in sight. "Damn it, where is he?"
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Shuhei secured his sword and mounted his trusted steed, about to depart when he heard a soft susurration of wings. Twisting his head, he saw the brown hawk perched upon the stable window with a missive tied to its leg.
"Bring it over," he instructed the stable master. As he read the note, a soft curse left his lips. Thrusting the paper to the old man, he said. "Find a silver haired woman called Inka and show her this message. Inform her that she is to ride to Beihai, posthaste."
"As you command, Your Majesty."
So, the stable master set out to search for the silver-haired woman, bumping into her on one of the rope bridges. "Excuse me, my lady!" he called out, extending the note. "This is for you. His Majesty instructs for you to leave for Beihai immediately."
Reading the message with growing restlessness, she asked. "Where is His Majesty?"
"The King has gone to battle," the stable master answered. "I will ready the horse for your departure."
"Wait." She stopped him. "I need one dozen horses."
He looked startled by the request. "A dozen?"
"I won't be of any help to the Emperor alone," she explained, folding the note. "I will meet you at the stable. Thank you, sir."
The stable master watched the young lady run off, wondering who she was for the King to send her as the Emperor's aid.
Inka returned to the guest hall generously provided for her tribespeople, her eyes searching for someone. Lupa approached her with a pinched face. "Where did you go?"
"I'll explain later," she placated, then gripped his shoulders. "Where are the elders?"
"They are out in the back."
She found the older women chit-chatting outside, enjoying the cool night air while whittling and knitting. "Nana! I need your help!" she shouted, startling everyone.
"What's wrong, child?" Sihu's mother came forward. "You look a fright."
Standing in front of the women she grew up with, and those who had seen her mature into the young woman she became, Inka set aside her pride and bowed her head. "Please, I beg you. I need your assistance to protect the Kingdom and the man I love. It might be selfish of me to ask but, I can't do this alone. Please, will you lend me your power?"
Flames crackled and popped. A deafening silence ensued.
Nana hobbled forward and nudged Inka's chin up. "Child, you need not beg us. You are the Princess of Ashina, the future of our tribe. All you ever need to do is ask."