Chronicles of Tarc 545-6: Student and Professor

By Jiryü Räsen

Prince Rei, Regent of Suiran, has set out on the progress around the region to convince the lords to help him defend his country and people from the Lord of Tarc. Ore needs to learn how to become a clan head of Tarc before they reach the end of the progress and Mizi and Ilena are the newest royalty of Ryokudo, so they go with more than one goal

• Language: English
• Publisher: J. Kassebaum
• Release date: Aug 23, 2022
• ISBN: 9781949359138

Book preview

Table of Contents

Ch. 90 Beginning the Royal Progress

Ch. 91 To Be a Child of Father

Ch. 92 Protecting What’s Important

Ch. 93 Getting to Kouzanshi

Ch. 94 Kouzanshi University

Ch. 95 Meeting Julie

Ch. 96 A Family Evening

Ch. 97 Kouzanshi House of the Queen of Night

Ch. 98 Final Day in Kouzanshi

Ch. 99 The Southern Progress

Ch. 100 Completing the Progress

Ch. 101 Out in the Middle of Nowhere

Ch. 102 Preparing the Children for War

SHIOTSU’S SONG: Little Cat

A1. Ryokudo Calendar

A2. People and Places

PIC

CHRONICLES OF TARC

545–6

STUDENT AND PROFESSOR

Jiryü Räsen

4

TH

E

DITION

E

XPANDED

AND

R

EVISED

P

UBLISHED

BY

J. K

ASSEBAUM

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or events or localities is entirely coincidental.

August 23, 2022 4th Edition Expanded and Revised

Second Printing January 10, 2024

Paperback ISBN 978-1-949359-12-1

eBook ISBN 978-1-949359-13-8

© Jiryü Räsen. All rights reserved.

Published by J. Kassebaum, Indianapolis.

Cover background ©Sumners Graphics via Canva.com.

Jiryü Räsen asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work. All rights reserved in all media. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author and/or the publisher.

CONTENTS

Ch. 90 Beginning the Royal Progress

Ch. 91 To Be a Child of Father

Ch. 92 Protecting What’s Important

Ch. 93 Getting to Kouzanshi

Ch. 94 Kouzanshi University

Ch. 95 Meeting Julie

Ch. 96 A Family Evening

Ch. 97 Kouzanshi House of the Queen of Night

Ch. 98 Final Day in Kouzanshi

Ch. 99 The Southern Progress

Ch. 100 Completing the Progress

Ch. 101 Out in the Middle of Nowhere

Ch. 102 Preparing the Children for War

SHIOTSU’S SONG: Little Cat

A1. Ryokudo Calendar

A2. People and Places

CHAPTER 90 Beginning the Royal Progress

Having already discussed that the Tarc peoples are thinking of coming to war with us, we’re now faced with needing to inform the court and people of Suiran. What are your recommendations, Minister Rotius, so that we inform them with proper urgency but don’t cause panic? If Regent Rei Touka could rally the ministers, they’d rally the rest of the court. At least, that was the goal.

The ministers would bear the responsibility of holding Ryokudo’s north Region of Suiran together while he was away at the front of the war for the length of the campaign. Of course, convincing the ministers that they should take that responsibility was in no way guaranteed.

In order to make that a little more likely to happen, he’d met with Nijou castle garrison General Garen in Director of Intelligence Ilena Polov Touka’s office earlier to formulate their own plan of how to position the ministers where Rei wanted them. Marquis Rotius, the Minister of the Interior, was the main point person Rei was going to use, being of calm and sound mind, if not always willing to see things the way the young Prince wished he would.

Rotius shifted and cleared his throat. Well, the court and the people should be informed of course. How can they be prepared to protect their homes and families if they’re surprised by war at their doorstep? However, it’s a difficult concept to process, particularly since we’ve been at peace with Tarc for over five generations. How can war with them even be thought of in today’s time? Indeed, even I’m still having troubles believing it’s imminent.

That was the summary of what nearly all of Rei’s ministers had been presenting to him since he and Ilena had told them about the subversive actions of Tarc in Suiran for the first time five days ago. He’d waited this long to call the full court meeting in order for the ministers to get used to the idea, to do their own research (if they’d bother), and for it to look like Ilena and he were doing more of their own investigations.

Garen had been invited this time as he’d be needed to soothe the court that he’d most certainly be keeping them protected while Rei was working with his other military leaders on the front, and to be the face in this meeting of the Region’s military might. Rei was having to move carefully to win the ministers over. The threat from Tarc was real. They’d already lost four of the north–central holdings, all of them west of the castle, by what had appeared on the surface to be internal insurrections of the nobles.

The difficulties Rei specifically had to overcome in this were that he’d been Regent for less than a year, was nineteen, and he’d never personally faced war before. His Director of Intelligence was still mostly unknown by the court and ministers. Rei knew her capabilities, since she’d worked closely with him to salvage as much as possible of those north–central holdings, and was the one who knew about Tarc to begin with, having spent the last seventeen years working to block the Lord of Tarc’s movements as best she could on her own.

They had yet to see if it helped or hurt that she’d just been announced by King Sasou as their sister (long lost cousin), and Second Princess of Ryokudo. The fact Ilena was only twenty–four wasn’t looked on terribly favorably, but worse was that she was a female in a high position. Rei found that point of view irritating at best and wasn’t about to change his mind to have some random male in that position that had no of idea what they were doing.

They’d managed to get most of the ministers to calm down by putting Ilena’s husband and Consort Ore next to her as Assistant Director. He wasn’t here, though. He was already beginning the security check for the Royal progress around Suiran that they had to squeeze into the middle of all the other things they were doing.

Minister Rotius, Ilena said calmly, any information that can be presented to understand the full threat of Tarc is essential. Were you able to ascertain anything in your own research of the issue?

Ah, eh, well, what little I was able to hear was that there weren’t any forces amassing on the border, or any such thing, he looked at Ilena nervously. To call her a liar at this point was very impolitic. However, that could mean that they just haven’t arrived at the border. ...Which would be a very good thing of course, as we aren’t yet prepared as a Region to meet them. That would certainly panic the people, to be told they were already at our border and on the march.

Indeed it would, Rei agreed. That’s why I would like to help everyone understand that we’re already well aware that they’re coming and we’re deep into preparations to prevent them from crossing the border. The wing I sleep in every night was built in the time of the Tarc–Suiran wars and still bears the scars of those one hundred years. I’d very much not like to see such times come upon us again.

I’ve inspected that building, Ilena said. In the final throes of a siege, I will hope you’ll retreat to it, my liege. It will be the only place you’ll have any hope of survival. The history of the building had only been discovered by them recently, and they used it now as part of their push on the ministers.

Rei visibly shuddered. I will hope we never have to come to that, Princess Ilena. That’s why I’ve made my proposal. I think it would greatly help to maintain the calm within our Region, and presents the least possible harm to all of our citizens — soldier, lord, and vassal alike.

But, Regent Rei, for you to enter into Tarc yourself...it’s very risky, is it not? To potentially offer the heir of Ryokudo up to be killed in battle? ...It doesn’t seem very wise, the Minister of the Treasury, Count Hulmer, protested.

Hulmer had voiced the argument of those against the war. It seemed to be the financial ministry’s job to keep funding for all of the other projects going, rather than have to divert funds to the war effort. Thus, he was going to have to be the one most convinced that war was coming.

I’m not the only heir, Rei said soothingly. King Sasou and Queen Aryana are still in the prime of their years and will produce an heir very soon, I’m sure. However, now that Princess Ilena is happily returned to us, she also is an acceptable candidate for Regent of Suiran, particularly because she’s been working to protect Suiran for many years already as Director of Intelligence.

It was Garen’s turn. He cleared his throat and leaned forward. When Regent Rei goes into Tarc with his forces, we’ll protect Princess Ilena in a secure and secret location until he returns. That way, if he should fall, there will still be someone to inherit the Regency. Because the information from her Department is critical to the success of the plan Regent Rei has decided upon, we’ll place her where she can still disseminate that information to the military who are standing to protect the border. If anything of import to the military action needs to be forwarded to His Highness, we’ll see to it that he hears of it.

Well, a nasal voice that was the bane of these meetings finally spoke up, that’s all well and good, but what if that’s her plan to begin with, to send Regent Rei into a fictional war so that she can claim his assassination was merely the result of a war action and then be instated as Regent herself? That was a doubt also held by others surely, but Count Eadsley was bold and unafraid of Ilena. He did have cause to be. He was impeccable in his work and neither she nor Rei could find fault in his loyalty to Suiran.

Ilena’s information had helped Rei clean the court at the same time as he’d told them of Earl Shicchi’s treason that had been part of the Lord of Tarc’s early subversive movements against Suiran. Count Eadsley was still not satisfied with Ilena, although he never crossed the border to direct words of treason. Apparently Eadsley had a bone to pick with this junior woman from out of nowhere toppling his predecessor and the other ministers that had been removed as traitorous.

Certainly it could be seen that way, Count Eadsley, Ilena said smoothly. Even I would question it, particularly since we’ve just learned recently that my Consort is the only remaining heir to the last King of Waldstaat. However that’s new knowledge to us. They’d determined in their earlier meeting that she should be open about that knowledge, lest it be discovered by their opponents and used as a weapon against them. It might still, but at least she could say she hadn’t kept it secret.

Ilena leaned back in her chair and steepled her fingers. Musingly, she went into a bit of a storytelling mode. "I’d been wondering why Ryokudo would have consented to a marriage of a Princess of Selicia to a Shicchi in our Great–Grandfather’s time, when the family had shown a lack of wise judgment in our time in forming an alliance with Tarc. Lord Ore fled from the House long before said agreement was reached, and did his utmost best to clear the Shicchi name by killing his traitor brother himself, as is right for any noble House. We discovered in our research that he and I are second cousins through that marriage with Selicia.

However, a Princess of another country wouldn’t have married into just any House in Ryokudo so we continued to follow the lines further back and discovered that the House of Shicchi was the noble house of the King of Waldstaat that formed the treaty agreement with the King of Ryokudo making Waldstaat the vassal state Suiran. He apparently did it in exchange for protection from the Tarc horsemen who’d come at them for seven years of thaw and summer time, relenting only in the depths of winter. In the end, the King, his family, and the few retainers that survived behind the wall that still stands around the old Regent’s wing, had to either bow their heads to Ryokudo or die in that small building.

Truly, Rei took it up, "I have no wish for the men of Tarc to once again bring Suiran to the brink of utter destruction. They’ve had the same generations we’ve had of peace to increase their numbers again, even as we have. I doubt they have forgotten their battle skills, nor that if they come to prevent us from being able to plant and harvest, and then leave when the winter snows are sufficient to keep us in siege, we’ll starve in only a few short years.

The Lord of Tarc has already greatly weakened our central border through his alliance with Pakyo Shicchi, and the reports from Earl Durand are still in accord as they were five days, and even many months ago. The Lord of Tarc has agents in the northeast of Suiran working to create the same dissent and subversive actions there as he did in the center. We can’t afford to wait until he’s won even one baron or viscount to his cause, lest we see the same damage. If those lands fall, we’ll be entirely unable to prevent his warriors from flowing over the border and laying siege to the castle.

Ilena kept the pressure going. My agents are working closely with Earl Durand to ferret out any spies or signs of insurgency, in the hopes that we can delay or prevent such subversive actions as that which destroyed my family in Selicia. I’ve seen the Lord of Tarc’s tactics with my own eyes and the certainty with which they canker a nation and its people. She dropped her hands into her lap and looked sad. "Even though my family was destroyed at the hands of the current king of Selicia, I can’t lay all the blame at his feet. He was blinded by the crafty words of the Lord of Tarc and now wears the chains and burden of his lack of wisdom at the time.

Only now, seventeen years later, has Selicia reached the point that they are healed enough to begin to look outside themselves. Even still, they must walk carefully as the Lord of Tarc’s spies and operatives are still found in their borders and push King Sandras to bow to his whims. Ilena waved her hand in slight emphasis. If we take the canker out at the source, even Selicia would finally be free to fully heal and return to being a center of art and trade. That would certainly benefit Suiran and Ryokudo as we’re the closest nation of discernment and taste to trade with.

While the internal strife of Selicia was certainly unfortunate, how are we to know that the Lord of Tarc was a participant in that insurgency? argued Eadsley.

Rei lay his first high–ranking counter down. Because King Sandras has openly admitted it to me and offered to aid me in the war against the Lord of Tarc so that he may be free of the fetters that keep his country in internal strife.

Eadsley froze and all of the ministers sat upright, stiff with shock. All of the ministers knew an envoy had come from Selicia, a thing unheard of for all those seventeen years since they’d murdered the late Second Princess of Ryokudo, Ilena’s mother, along with all the royal house of Polov, save Ilena herself. There was no cause for Rei to lie about what he’d come for.

Rei continued with a warning. However, that shouldn’t become public knowledge as of yet, since if the Lord of Tarc hears of it he’ll make it impossible for King Sandras to assist us. Ilena had allowed it to come out openly in this forum. She wanted to know who would be traitor. That line would be followed wherever it was whispered outside the castle and prevented from entering either Tarc or Selicia, then followed back to the source.

Ilena lay the second counter down. I’ve sent my evidence to the King’s Minister of Intelligence, requesting that he confirm what I’ve learned and presented to you in our previous meeting. Lord Barret has sent his reply to me. His agents in Tarc are in agreement. Within one to three years, the Lord of Tarc will march on Suiran.

Rei lay the third down. I’ve communicated with King Sasou. He’s promised reinforcements and is even now beginning to move in our behalf. He looked at Garen.

Garen wrapped it up. In one month, two thousand soldiers from Ryokudo will arrive at the northeast border to assist the soldiers and men of Suiran in holding that boundary firm while Regent Rei enters Tarc to settle the matter peacefully. The remainder of the assistance from the King will wait in war games on the Ryokudo–Suiran border until Regent Rei has had the opportunity to try his plan first. If it’s unsuccessful, King Sasou will send those larger number of forces north immediately to see to it that Suiran and Ryokudo are not invaded by Tarc again.

Rei’s final follow up was brief. If I return unsuccessful in settling the men of Tarc to peace again, we’ll march against them ourselves before they’re ready so that next year we may plant and not starve.

The room sat in silence for a moment, the ministers absorbing the news. Certainly preventing war upon our own lands is preferable, Regent Rei, Rotius said, "and acting preemptively is often beneficial when a threat is confirmed. Surely, if you enter Tarc the first time to sue for peace between the countries, while protecting the border and the people, that could only be considered a well–reasoned, and logical move.

If the men of Tarc are unwilling to listen to reason and won’t be appeased, then protecting Suiran — and Ryokudo — must certainly be considered necessary. I’d hope it wouldn’t be necessary to invade Tarc ourselves, however. Perhaps we can wait and see what the outcome of the negotiations are, and then revisit based on their responses.

I’m certainly willing to revisit plans as new information is available, Minister Rotius, Rei said, knowing this was coming. "If we’re fortunate, we’ll have at least the entire winter to discuss what we’ll do if I’m unable to win peace through negotiation. I hope that you, and the other ministers, will help me during that time to come up with a solution that all of Suiran can be assured will lead to peace with a minimum cost.

"I certainly hope that this would be all we’d need to be concerned about at this time. However, I don’t want to leave to chance the fate of Suiran, and certainly not the northeast section of it which includes this castle. Thus I’ve asked the King for reinforcements.

I’ll also ask each of the lords not already in the danger zones to provide a minimal amount of assistance to see that our border can hold firm in the event the Tarc should decide they hate my proposal enough they’d chase us out of the country at sword–point. Surely they may chase us out, but we have the right to hold our own border sovereign, don’t you agree? He looked at Hulmer this time.

Ah...I’d think that we could afford a properly minimal amount of war support to prevent any potential threat, agreed Hulmer finally. It would certainly be better to afford that level of support than to have to support a full–on war in another year or so, was the unspoken agreement of most of the people present.

Eadsley wasn’t quite ready to give up. You said you’d protect Princess Ilena in secret, but Princess Mizi is also heir if Regent Rei should fall. Will you leave her defenseless?

Count Eadsley, if I were to leave my wife defenseless here in the castle, then that would leave all of you in the same position, would it not? Rei said, a small hard smile on his face. Several of the more timid lords paled. "As my mother did for my father, she’ll remain here in my stead to see to the proper running of the Region during the brief time I anticipate being gone.

"General Garen and the entire castle garrison will also remain here at the castle to see to the defense of it. If it should be necessary for King Sasou to send his larger forces into Suiran, I’ve ordered that a sufficient portion will come here to the castle to see to its defenses specifically.

Having the three of us who are capable of holding the Regency in three distinct locations will ensure that at least one of us will still be alive in the end, although I don’t anticipate any one of us being harmed. It’s merely a precaution, like the forces at the border.

Eadsley opened his mouth, paused, then closed it again. Rei looked back to Rotius and asked his initial question again. This time the ministers fell in line and put together a proper plan to present the upcoming actions of the Regent and the war that was pending to the full court of lords.

-o-o-o-

Ilena sighed and ran her hand over her straight black hair as she walked beside Rei. She pulled on her simple braid that swung behind her gently today, falling down past her knees. She was wearing her Department uniform of pale gold shirt, brown jacket, and matching brown pants with boots. Her sword and knife in their royal white sheaths swung at her side, matching the sword at Rei’s side.

Well, that actually went a lot better than I thought it would, she said. "I’d like to tweak Count Eadsley’s nose for trying to make my part in the entire thing minimal in front of the whole court.

I’d turn the Lord of Tarc on just him for three months if I could direct his attention that way, but he isn’t concerned with court lords so much, thinking them merely advisors. Such persons aren’t useful in his own tent, after all, so why would they be in courts and other countries? She tugged on the end of her long braid, twisting it around her fist.

I thought he subverted them in Selicia, though? Rei asked. He was dressed in his usual summer uniform of pale gold with bright blue piping that matched his pale gold hair and brilliant blue eyes. He’d have a new suit when they got back from the progress and war. He was almost grown out of the current one, being at the tag end of yet another growth spurt. He was hoping it was his last one. The tailors had of necessity focused on his formal for his wedding announcement just past, so the new summer suit was currently being worked on.

Ilena shook her head slightly. "No, he didn’t. He subverted the people of the cities. King Sandras subverted the court. He was one of the landed lords that understood the value of the court lords. Once the Lord of Tarc had won him over, he spent more time at court than he should have until he’d won enough of the court that the assassination attempts were daily.

I suppose that’s why most of the children and women weren’t allowed to wander even in the castle. Maybe because my mother was from Ryokudo, they thought we weren’t worth bothering with, although I like to think it was because Petroi was too fierce to be approached. Ilena grinned at Rei, knowing her own joke since her childhood guard had been little more than a child himself at the time.

Well...maybe he was, Rei grinned back gently.

Yup, Ilena said happily.

...Could it have been because the Lord of Tarc had already ordered him you weren’t to be touched so he could have you to himself? Garen asked from the other side of Rei. He was in the white uniform of the soldiers of Ryokudo — the slightly more formal version since he’d been in front of the court with them.

Ilena was quiet. She finally answered quietly, I’d prefer to not think that thought, General Garen. I’ll let you think it for me, if it’s all the same to you.

Garen glanced at Rei. Rei looked at him, feeling a little sad, then put his hand on his adopted sister’s head. Well, I’ve ordered the same thing, you know, Rei said to the air in front of him. It isn’t a bad order, really, not when it keeps you alive. He looked at Ilena.

Ilena looked over at him, her face sober. She searched his face and his eyes, set her lips together tightly, and nodded. Rei removed his hand from her head and she looked forward again and sighed. Sometimes...being a Princess is more burdensome that just being Ilena.

Ilena gets more burdensome than the Princess? Rei asked, teasingly.

Yes. Ilena has to deal with the business, the House, the Family, the husband, the servants who won’t do as they are told and scold instead.... She clasped her hands behind her back and looked over to Garen. Shh...don’t tell Master Rei, but sometimes I look forward to just being the Duchess of Tarc. At least then I’ll get to spend all my days just lying on my back in the grass.

I thought you said you didn’t want to move there? Rei protested, not really wanting her that far away for that long.

Well...maybe I’ll change my mind and let Mistress Mizi be the Director of Intelligence instead. She’s certainly capable of it, Ilena shrugged.

I won’t do it, Rei protested again. That would be too much of a waste. Both of his own wife’s capabilities and Ilena’s, actually.

Well...I’ll tell Sasou you said that, then, Ilena said looking away from them.

Ilena! scolded Rei, as she’d just worked her way around to not being called up to rule over Tarc.

Ilena turned back to him. You’re actually fun to tease, Master Rei. Thank you for letting me. Her smile twinkled in her tawny eyes.

Rei sighed, wishing older siblings didn’t love to tease quite so much, then smiled at her. If it’s made you feel better...?

Ilena smiled in answer.

-o-o-o-

They had lunch together in the Rose office with Mizi, First Princess of Ryokudo and Rei’s nineteen–year–old wife. Leah, Ilena’s secretary and her nurse from childhood, came after lunch for the training of her and Ilena to follow after Rei as his personal aides for the Royal progress they’d be leaving on the next morning.

Ilena’s participation in that training was interrupted by a message sent by her castle information network, termed the local Family. They informed Ilena a Mister Balar had arrived at the gate saying she’d summoned him. Ilena excused herself and left to collect Balar.

She took him back to the Rose office first. He’d come dressed as well as he could, given that clothing his size was hard to come by. The two of them got looks all the way to the office. Even the two guards on the door seemed a bit nervous to see a man slightly taller than and nearly as wide as the doors to the office approach them.

This is Mister Balar. He’s a construction manager and is here at the request of Regent Rei. I’ll accompany him here in the castle today, but you may expect to see his face regularly for most of a year. The guards weren’t very reassured by Ilena’s introduction. Here, at this door, he and his crew will come and go while we’re gone on the progress. Regent Rei has requisitioned his company to remove the wall between the Rose office and the Iris office to expand the Rose office.

Ilena looked both guards in the eyes. They’re mine, Mister Balar and his crew. If you suspect evil intent, put them in the prison and I’ll deal with them when I return. They won’t do anything, though. They’re all loyal to the crown and the Regent. I won’t have less anywhere near Master Rei, as you already know.

Now the guards were looking slightly nervous because she was standing in front of them. She was already infamous in the castle with just the few actions she’d been participant to in the nearly four months she’d been officially recognized as the Director of Intelligence. (She’d been director far longer than that, though.) Please announce us.

They were announced and admitted. Ilena’s guards followed them in. Marcus could barely hide his smile to see the smaller of the two causing as much consternation as the larger. Once they were through the doors, he let the smile out. Rei raised an eyebrow...but it could have been because of Balar’s size rather than Ilena’s slightly–more–wild fourth personal knight’s inability to maintain a court face.

Master Rei, this is the manager of Falcon Construction Studio, Mister Balar, Ilena introduced the large man following her into the room. It was hard to say if he was a mastiff following a child or a giant following a pixie. Ilena was tall for a woman but Balar seemed to fill up the room all on his own.

Mister Balar, Rei welcomed him, outwardly calm as always.

Balar bowed. Regent. Thank you for trusting us with your renovation and building needs. I understand that a wall in this room needs to come out?

Yes. It’s that one behind you, Rei said gesturing slightly with his head. His desk was set so he could see the double doors into the room and the glass doors framed with blue curtains that opened onto the balcony. Both sets of doors were guarded by two guards each.

Balar turned and looked at the indicated wall. Hmm.... You’ll be needing the shelving space replaced?

Yes.

Do you want the entire wall removed or just a wide doorway’s worth? Balar was rubbing his chin as he looked all around the wall space.

The room had been painted when Rei had moved in to calm the walls to a white that reflected natural sunlight well. He’d finally been talked into an upper border of blue roses, highlighted in gold, so the castle artists didn’t feel quite so put out about a sterile working environment for the Regent.

I think most to all of the wall, please, Rei answered.

So, I could leave pillars to either side, just to make sure it will stay standing, then? Balar was moving to look closer at the ceiling, particularly on the exterior side of the wall.

That would be acceptable, yes, Rei answered, watching him walk. Balar moved with a lot more grace than his size belied, but several stacks on the desks he passed were in some danger of being toppled and were rescued by the aides at those desks before their workload doubled.

Balar pulled on the bookshelf and it wobbled slightly. He pulled out a handful of books and tapped on the back of the shelf. We can probably reuse the shelves. They seem to be free–standing and just attached to the wall. He set the books back on the shelf. May I see the other side of the wall? He looked questioningly at Ilena, then at Rei.

Rei nodded. Ilena led the way. When Balar left, most of the people sitting in the room breathed again, not quite having been aware they’d been holding their breath in order to feel like they weren’t being squashed by his presence.

The same wall in the Iris room didn’t have shelving, only a table and a few chairs on it. Ilena watched as Balar closely inspected the wall, tapping on it here and there. When he was satisfied, he looked around the rest of the room. Do you think he’ll want another set or two of windows?

"Expand the balcony and put in another set of double doors with windows between, but not so many the exterior wall’s strength is compromised. If you need that wall for shelving, that would be fine, to have some for that also.

We also don’t need this room colder. If it makes sense to put a new fireplace in the center exterior wall, instead of windows, do that, with the double doors on either side. Two balconies would be okay, if Ore can jump from one to the other.

Wouldn’t that make the office less secure, Mistress Ilena? Henry, her almost–tame third knight asked. I mean, any assassin could then go from one balcony to the other.

We’ll keep the assassins out. Ore needs to be able to access the office, Ilena said, and a second way for him to get to Master Rei is better than only one, when he’s going to want to protect Master Rei.

Ore, and half of Ilena’s network including her, were from the underworld of nightwalkers — thus why they were often called wild. Ore had kept to his habits of traveling by roof–top, even after Rei had claimed him to protect Mizi while they were still only interested in each other. The balcony doors were used nearly as frequently as the main doors to the office.

That sounded very contradictory, Mistress Ilena, complained Henry.

Mmm..., I’ll let him show you when we get back, Ilena said, rubbing his brown hair briefly in an absent gesture of calming, making him step back a little since he wasn’t fond of it. Marcus pouted since he did like it, but Henry worried more so got more head pets than he did. Henry only rolled his eyes at his partner.

Ilena continued with the thought she’d been thinking before Henry interrupted her. Mister Balar, the Rose office staff will still be working while you’re working on this wall. Is there a way to protect them and the things you aren’t changing, or would it be better for them to use the Lotus office?

Ah...probably the other office, if it’s large enough. We’ll create a lot of dust and it will get over everything, even if we use cloths to prevent the worst of it, Balar answered.

Okay. I’ll let them know. Are you ready? Ilena asked. There was so much to be doing before the next day she was quite distracted and hard to get to stay still for long.

Let me look at the exterior wall a bit more, he requested.

Ilena motioned to Marcus to stay. She went back to the Rose office with Henry and informed Aiden and Brianna they’d need to move to the Lotus office beginning the next day, and why, then returned to retrieve the two men. Those two were the only staff of the Rose office that would be left by the next day, although they did have the staff in the Rosebud office across the hall to help them. It would be a difficult three months for them, most likely, but it was the best that could be done.

-o-o-o-

The visit to the new Regent’s wing site was next. Mizi had asked Rei to please build a modern building for their family and staff. The ancient one was far too odd in construction and too small, really. There was another Regent’s wing that was currently the Dowager Queen Mother Kata’s wing, holding her and all her staff. Rei wasn’t willing to ask her to just summarily leave it, and Ilena had agreed to pay for the new wing to be built.

The estimated outer boundaries of the building had already been marked with stakes and twine. Ilena pointed to two trees. We want those two trees to stay, inside the inner courtyard. The rest of the plants will be moved by the gardeners while you’re digging the foundations. ...As you can see, they’ve already begun. There were holes in the ground close by where the marking string was.

Balar had his hand to his chin again and was walking around the circumference of the marked area, pacing and muttering the count as he went. When he reached Ilena again, he nodded at his count, then looked up as if judging the height of the building already in his mind. Alright. I know how many to hire. Is there a place I can see out over the wall that would approximate this location?

Ilena led him to the next building to the north and up to a second floor that had a balcony facing the north. Ilena had asked him to include a secret passage from the wing to outside the castle. Balar studied the rolling hills and placement of the woods to the northeast of the castle and muttered some more calculations.

When he indicated he was done, Ilena led them back out again. Balar stood near the building site, and looked around at the buildings in the area. Does it need to look exactly like the rest of them? he asked.

No. It should be pleasing and not jarring in comparison, and as I said, not ostentatious, but it can look different. The style’s already different, after all. Mizi had come up with the general layout of the new wing and the rest of them had made suggested modifications.

Ilena in particular was a stickler for Royal security, and fire security. Having watched her Selician family murdered before her eyes and the castle put to flame, she was particularly concerned about such things, although she swept it under the rug of being the Director of Intelligence.

True, true. Balar looked around a little longer, then looked at Ilena. Alright, I’m ready for the last place.

Ilena led Balar to the opposite side of the castle compound and through the inner wall that surrounded the old Regent’s wing. Balar’s mouth had already opened in astonishment when he saw the building and realized it was what they were headed for. It didn’t close. When they were standing outside it, but inside the wall that surrounded it, he finally said, Really, Missus Ilena? This is a residential building? Being used today? Just how old is it?

It was built by the father of the last King of Waldstaat, to defend against the horsemen of Tarc mostly, although also against Ryokudo and Brulac, Ilena answered him. It’s a design that works very well against assassins as well, so I think there may have been internal strife going on, too.

The second story stuck out on either side over the first story and had another story above it, although that was empty and not accessible. The walls were sheer as well with no purchase on the smooth mountain–grey stone.

Yeah, Balar said in complete agreement. If we have to get up there to knock out the third story, I’m not sure we can.

Go up through the roof inside, Ilena said very practically. It’s the one thing I wish I could go explore. Everyone says there’s empty space up there, and there may be, but I think there’s also the fireplace flues. They also dug a tunnel from the storeroom on the main floor just before the treaty was signed. It was the only way to get the message of treaty to the King of Ryokudo.

Hmm...may need to shore that corner up, then.

Maybe. That’s why the stonemaster’s coming. He’ll let you know.

Okay, Balar nodded. He walked around to see the side of the building better. Those the glass you want saved?

Ilena followed him. Yes, she said. The second story on one side had a span of a curious sort of window along that length.

It looks like paint, Balar said. The colors were bright and somewhat fantastic.

Yes, but it’s glass. You can tell from the inside, she reassured him.

Well, shall we go inside? Balar said gamely.

No. You may go inside. The once was enough for me. Marcus will go with you, otherwise the guards on the inside won’t let you in. I’ll stand at the door and tell the first set of guards to let you in.

Balar looked at her knowingly and gave a nod. Everyone who worked for her knew that she’d been punished severely as a child by being locked into a very small space with little food or water for months on end. Her claustrophobia wasn’t held against her. The four walked to the door and Henry opened it. Balar and Marcus walked through the door, but Ilena stayed just outside of it.

Wheeooo, Balar whistled. You were right about ostentatious entry. He was scanning back and forth slowly around the entry room with the wide stairs that tapered up to the landing at the second floor. Do you want rooms added in again?

No. No point when they’re going to be moving out in a few months. They have enough rooms up and down currently, Ilena answered.

Well, we’ll ignore this part then, Balar said, but if you want the windows from this end, it might be tricky.

You’ll have to see to the measurements of the tower, Mister Balar. They’d requested a circular tower in the new Regent’s wing as a third story above the rest of it. She wanted to be able to see out of it at all sides, so had suggested these windows be reused there.

Ah, yes. ...Well, I’ll take care of it, he said. He slowly wandered the room, pacing and muttering again. Marcus followed him into the lower hallway, which was unguarded. When they were gone, Ilena looked up at the two guards on the upper hallway door and explained to them similarly as she had to the two on the Rose office door. They nodded. Rei had told them to expect the construction manager.

That task done, Ilena moved away from the door. Henry, stay there in case he wants to talk to me again.

Yes, Mistress Ilena, Henry said, but he didn’t take his eyes off of her. She moved to be about halfway between the wall and the building, and stood staring at the sky, her back to the building. Suddenly, she said, Henry, I’m going to explore the exterior of the building in more detail. I’ll come around soon. It isn’t that big.

Henry frowned, not liking her going off on her own, but he nodded. Call me if you need me, he said, then followed her to the edge of that end of the building and watched her as she slowly walked down the long side underneath the overhang, kicking at the ground, then looking up at the overhang above her.

When she’d satisfied herself on that side of the building and turned the corner, he waited until her sounds became faint, then moved to the opposite side on his side of the building. As Henry passed the main door, Balar called out on his way to the stairs, She said no kitchen, right?

Yes, that’s correct, Henry answered him.

Tell her it’d be fairly easy to put a sink in there, and the fireplace is just covered over with plaster.

I’ll tell her, Henry said and watched as Balar and Marcus headed up the stairs. He walked down the other half of the short side and waited for Ilena to show up at the other long side, then did tell her. She nodded, but didn’t answer.

She repeated the same inspection coming up that side of the building as he watched her. He supposed her keeping herself busy was better than standing in the courtyard thinking about things that weren’t helpful to think about.

The ground’s a bit soft where I’d think the tunnel is, Ilena said when she made it up to him, ...but I’d have to dig to see if firewood was kept in the space under the eaves. There is a fireplace flue on that end in the kitchen, but I don’t know how they kept the lower rooms warm. There are no fireplace flues on the exterior anywhere else.

She’d moved them back towards the door, and now she stood with her arms folded and her brow furrowed in concentration. I’m worried that it won’t work to renovate it. If we can’t keep it warm through the winter, we’ll have to figure out how to move them all to other places in the castle. It may not be easy.

Well, Mister Balar’s still looking, isn’t he? Henry pointed out.

Yes, that’s true. Henry, I need a hug.

Henry took Ilena in a gentle hold from behind and put his chin on the top of her head. Those he could do, and did to keep her from running away when she shouldn’t, or when she asked, like now.

This one was likely more because she was missing Ore, rather than feeling unsettled by the building that she’d foolishly explored in detail earlier that week. It also had a few very odd and small rooms that had triggered a rather bad attack of claustrophobia — and thus why she wasn’t looking at it nor going in this time.

Hey, when did you get so tall? Ilena asked him, not so short herself, having the Selician lithe height to go along with the country’s lightly darker skin tones, tawny eyes, and straight black hair, completely different from the Touka pale gold hair and brilliant blue eyes.

Henry smiled. You’ve been on your back for months. I was already taller than you, almost, back in Kouzanshi. That had been a year before she’d gone through all the things to get to where she was now.

And you’ve been eating lots since then, is it? she teased him lightly.

Well, yes. We get fed well here, after all, he agreed mildly.

That’s true, Ilena said. Three steady daily meals for her long–time guards was a new thing since they’d come here from being nightwalkers. They were her best informants in both of the networks she ran.

Oi! We’re done, Marcus’s voice came to them, letting them know from inside the building using the local whispered code she’d taught her network of regular law–abiding folks they called the Family.

Henry took his chin off Ilena’s head and stood straighter, but stayed holding her. She hadn’t told him he could let go yet. When Marcus and Balar reached them, Ilena finally shifted her shoulders and Henry let go.

Ilena immediately began walking away from the building until they were outside the surrounding wall. She took a breath, shuddered, and turned to look at Balar, subtly shifting to stand closer to him. The fireplace flue is outside also, in the kitchen, but nowhere else, she told him.

Balar nodded thoughtfully. We’re going to have to scrape walls to see if we can find where the fireplaces were from the inside. I expect in the end we’ll have to go up through the ceilings, then we might be able to find if there were flues.

Mister Balar...is it possible that they lit fires outside the building under the overhang to warm the wall for the lower level and the floors for the upper level? They are made of rock, and it looks to me like the base of the overhang might be darker.

Well...hmmm...that sounds even more dangerous than having the cooking fireplace in the dining room...shall I go look?

Yes, please. I do agree with you, that it seems dangerous. Take Henry this time.

When Henry and Balar came back around the building from the exterior inspection, Marcus was holding Ilena this time. She was hiding her face on his shoulder and he was petting her head slowly.

Mister Henry, Balar said quietly, catching sight of them and pausing his forward motion so he could speak privately, going in there...how far did she go?

Henry was quiet for a moment. He’d been the one to go in with her on her exploration of the building. "She wanted to know if the servant’s bathrooms still had the windows. I held her hand and was anchor, but she went in far enough to feel the wall and see they were plastered over.

We had to call for Master Ore to catch her. He led her through doorways since, although today she’s done well. He’s gone on ahead as of this morning, so we’re filling in.

Balar shook his head. Crazy to even try going that far, for her. Well, we’ll get a move on and get her out of here, then. Henry nodded his thanks.

As they walked away from the old Regent’s Wing, discussing what Balar had seen and thought might be going on inside and out, Ilena moved ever closer to him until she was right next to him. He calmly let her do it, putting out a protective aura, until they looked like a great mother hen and a chick walking together.

When they reached the castle gate again, Balar put his hand on her shoulder gently and gave her a kind look. "Don’t go back there again, Missus Ilena. I’ll handle it right. If it can be made livable, I’ll do it. If not, I’ll let you know as soon as possible so you and the Regent can work out a different solution.

And..., he paused, looking at her closely, I think I’d like to change the design slightly on the room layout of the new one. There’s ways to make them seem more open than what you’ve got drawn. Would that be okay?

Yes, Mister Balar. Thank you for taking care of me, Ilena smiled up at him. ...For taking care of all of us.

My pleasure, he said and turned and walked out the gate. Ilena watched him go for a bit, then turned and walked back with the Twins to the Lower office of the Department of Intelligence, which was also her residential suite. Once there, she excused herself and took herself to her room for a nap.

Neither of the Twins was fooled by that and they followed her in after motioning to her friend and personal maid, Rio. Rio climbed up in the bed with Ilena and pet her head until she relaxed, then held her hand until she actually did fall asleep. They stayed there until Ilena began to have her nightmare. They didn’t let that go on any longer than it had to, but woke her instead.

Ilena curled up into a ball and cried while Rio held her. Leah brought her the tea used to help stabilize Ilena’s emotions. The tea had become a requirement since the surgery to repair the tendon in her left hip to let her walk again. The surgeon had been required to remove a damaged organ, the absence of which made her moods unstable. Once Ilena had the tea in her, Leah set her to her work to distract her again.

It should’ve been a relief that she was quietly obedient to Leah, but it wasn’t, not to the people who knew her best. Still she did slowly recover and by the time Mizi came to visit with her that afternoon, she was mostly normal.

-o-o-o-

Henry, do you think she’ll ever heal enough to not need the extra strengthening? Marcus asked as they fetched dinner for the Lower office from the cart brought to the wing by the kitchen staff.

Henry blinked and didn’t answer for a bit. I would hope so, he finally said softly. You know for now it’s for Master Ore’s training, and because Amber’s come, right?

Marcus sighed a bit. Well, I thought she’d not while Master Ore was away, but it seems a little worse? He set down the full plate and moved to pick up another empty one to fill.

Henry rolled his eyes as he set the serving spoon back into the bowl of hot vegetables. Well, she did just put herself back by going too far in trying to test Amber. Even if she didn’t know what it was like in there, she still should’ve been more aware of herself and just asked me to go check. He frowned.

Marcus knew it was more because Henry hadn’t known what it was like. Henry would’ve refused to let her go into that small space if he’d known beforehand. He patted Henry on the shoulder and picked up the serving spoon Henry had set down. As he dished the vegetables onto the plate he was holding he considered it a little more.

Amber’s uncomfortable, he finally said softly. You know me. I don’t mind it when Mistress Ilena needs us this much. We’ve always stood in that place for her before.

Henry gave a brief nod. Amber covers it up well, with a cheerful attitude, but it’s a lot different to walk behind Mother. He looked up at Marcus’ concerned frown. Are you worried that it won’t work?

Marcus paused, then slumped a little. Yeah. Ilena had searched out the best Agent in the castle that she could find to help Rio in the Lower office, and at the same time find someone who could become a potential wife for Marcus.

I like her cheerfulness, and she’s definitely pretty. She works hard in the office and knows how to do what needs to be done in the generals, if not the full specifics. But...if she can’t really accept Mistress Ilena for who she is then it’s going to be hard, isn’t it? Marcus looked up at Henry, his hazel eyes troubled. I think it might have been better to have used the methods she used before. Only those who can be Immediate Family really can handle how different she is.

Henry sighed. He put down the full plate with the others they were filling and stepped over to rest his hand on Marcus’ shoulder. "Give it time. The need to have someone here to help Grandfather while we’re all away had to be met. Rio’s not always patient, but I do think she’ll do her best to help Amber get over whatever her concerns are.

I wouldn’t worry about your relationship with her yet, either. This is the time to just watch and learn. Deciding can come later. No one’s said you have to marry, nor even by when. Just your own body, Henry grinned at Marcus.

Marcus gave a sour look at the last, then relaxed some and nodded. Yeah. There’s not a hurry, and there’s all three months for her to get used to at least parts of all the new things she’s been shoved into so suddenly.

Exactly, Henry said firmly as he picked up three plates, balancing one on his arm.

Marcus picked up the other two, now having three also to balance. They’d be scolded for not bringing them in multiple trips again, but they’d been doing this kind of thing for a long time now. It was made even easier because the door guard, Hue, opened the door for them so they didn’t have to.

Amber quickly arrived next to Marcus to take the most precarious plate from him. Henry was already dropping off his first plate to Ilena. The second and third of his would go to Leah and Rio, in that order. They were higher in the hierarchy of the Immediate Family. The other two Marcus was holding were for him and Henry.

Marcus walked to the low table in the middle of the room and set down Henry’s plate on one long side, then sat down in the couch on the same side, the next seat over. Amber looked between him and the other empty couch that Rio was headed for. Marcus pointedly looked at the seat opposite him. Amber’s face went to crestfallen and confused. She still did that even though they’d made it rather obvious from the beginning.

Marcus sighed to himself a little. He’d have to be open. They didn’t have time for her to understand on her own. Amber, he said gently, the partnerships are the most important to learn first. Partners support each other to the death, and the point is to make sure death doesn’t happen — ever. That makes Mother too sad. You and I will eventually spend time together, but that isn’t yet.

Amber’s eyes took on a not so happy look — almost angry even — but it was smoothed over. It wasn’t really a good sign, but there wasn’t much Marcus could do about it. Partners were taught by partners who did understand. Rio was the person who’d help Amber become one of the Immediate Family, or Amber would leave.

Marcus did hope that Amber could learn it. His loyalty to Ilena had more meaning to him than someone who would become his wife. He did hope that he could eventually have a wife that would honor Ilena as much as he did. Ore was lucky that Ilena loved the Regent and First Princess as much as he did. They were able to serve as very strong partners because of it. As much as Marcus did want to have someone to love for himself, he’d