The rat stroked his whiskers. "Well, not so impressive. It's a loaner."
Shoukei looked at him. With a mount so impressive, in spite of his being a hanjuu, of being a child--for that's what she thought he was--that's why he was being treated like a man.
The waiter said, "But the sky is plenty dangerous as well."
Realizing the statement had been directed at her, Shoukei quickly nodded. "Yes, I… . "
"Perhaps you had best go on to Kei."
"To Kei?"
"Warships still manage the journey from Kei to Tai to rescue refugees."
"Really?"
"People from Kei bring in refugees to cultivate new land. In exchange, they're registered on the census and are given a plot of land. When I was traveling to Tai, ships from Kei periodically left Tai with refugees. There aren't so many opportunities as before but I still think they're doing it, so getting a ride with them is probably the best way."
"You think so?" Shoukei just managed to check her delight. Go to Tai. Wait for a ship and return to Kei. Get registered on the census and head for Gyouten. It'd be easy. "That's good advice. Thank you."
She meant it from the bottom of her heart.
From Tai to Kei. Satisfied that there was light now at the end of the tunnel, Shoukei returned to her bedroom and went to sleep. With a brazier to warm the room, she slept warmly and comfortably beneath the embroidered futons.
She was awakened in the middle of the night by a knock at the door.
"Who is it?" she said, frowning. That rat no doubt had something he wanted her to do.
"Excuse me." It was the young man who had served them dinner.
Shoukei sluggishly got out of bed, put on a robe and went to the door. "What's this about?"
"Something I remembered about Tai."
Shoukei unlocked the door. She was debating whether or not to open the door when it was abruptly jerked open. Shoukei recoiled, cowering. Standing in the living room was the young man and a number of soldiers wearing blue armor.
"What?" Her heart pounded in her chest. She somehow managed to ignore her racing pulse.
"Let's see your passport."
The blood drained from her face. "What are you talking about? At this time of night! We can take care of it tomorrow."
Her throat was dry, making it difficult to raise her voice in protest. The soldiers pressed into the room and surrounded her.
"Where's your passport?"
Her knees began to shake. "Truth is… I lost it."
"Your name?"
"Gyokuyou. Son Gyokuyou."
With an expressionless face, the soldier looked at her and then at his colleague. "You've got a kitsuryou, huh. Where'd you get it?"
"I… I don't recall."
They regarded with great suspicion. She bit her lip. She had said the first thing that came to mind and it was a lousy lie, if she said so herself.
"Search her things."
"Stop it! You can't just do whatever you please!"
As she raised her voice, Shoukei felt that this was the end. She had finally made it to Ryuu, and the Royal Kyou had reached out her hand after her and taken her into her clutches. Her gaze flitted about the room. She had to get away, but soldiers held her by both shoulders. Even if there were means of escape, there was no way to run.
The soldiers went to the bedstand and pulled out a small satchel secured with a leather belt. They opened it, and from amidst the clothes pulled out the delicate fineries.
One of the soldiers was holding a piece of paper, and checked each item off against a list. "A decorated belt, a gold buckle with the emblem of a phoenix dragon. Phoenix bird earrings. A string of jade pearls. They're here." He turned to Shoukei. "You're missing two sets of earrings and a hairpin. Where are they?"
Shoukei couldn't answer. She was trembling too violently to speak. She'd be arrested, she would answer for her crimes and be judged. Finally, it dawned on her. Why hadn't any of this occurred to her until soldiers were walking all over her?
The penalty for theft… Shoukei searched her memory and goosebumps came out on her skin. Crucifixion. You were tied down to the road and nails driven into your body until you died.
"Hey, what's going on?"
The door to the room opposite opened and the rat stuck his head out. He rubbed his sleepy eyes. Shoukei jabbed her finger at him. "I don't know anything about it! He gave it to me!"
"What?" The rat cast a stunned look at the soldiers.
"Passport?"
"It's in my room."
"Name?"
"Chou Sei."
The soldier checked his travel documents and folded them back up with a disinterested expression. He jerked his chin toward the door.
"Let's go. The both of you."
Part VIII
8-1
"I don't recall giving you anything."
Shoukei sat, bound in cords, in a jail in Ryuu. The jail was so cold that frost was forming on the walls. The rat had been arrested along with her.
"I'd appreciate it if you could tell me what's going on."
Shoukei didn't answer. She didn't have a good answer. Accused of a frightening crime, she had abruptly blamed another person. That's all it came down to.
"What's your name?"
"Shoukei."
The guilt weighed so heavily on her mind, she tossed off the answer without thinking.
"Shoukei… that wouldn't be the name of the princess royal of Hou?"
Shoukei unconsciously nodded.
"Her full name is Son Shou, her azana is Shoukei."
"I… . "
How was it that a hanjuu from En would know such things? The imperial family's name was not widely circulated. The surnames of such high status individuals were not loosely bandied about.
"Rumors had it that you'd died, and rumors that you lived."
"Who are you?"
The rat stroked his whiskers. "My name is Rakushun. An ordinary student."
"Ordinary students ride suugu pegasi?"
"Like I said, it's a loaner. Are you being pursued because you're the princess royal?"
Shoukei didn't reply. She remembered what had happened to her the last time she'd confessed who she was. "If there's something on your mind, go ahead and ask me."
"I think you have more to worry about than me."
Shoukei flashed a crooked smile. "You know why I'm in jail? Because when you screw up, you get crucified."
Rakushun tugged on his whiskers. "Crucifixion? I guess that is what they do in Hou, the only kingdom that executes a criminal for the crime of theft. In fact, Hou has already repealed that law."
"Really?"
"It seems that the Royal Hou was quite the disciplinarian. Theft was a capital offense. Stealing gold or specie from the royal family merited death by the flogging. In the case of gems and jewelry, crucifixion. Stealing food got your head placed upon a pike. Have I got that right? But only in Hou. Normally, it's a hundred lashes. In Ryuu, it depends on the crime. A hundred strokes with the cane and ninety days of hard labor, I believe."
Shoukei looked at the rat in surprise. He was conversant in the laws of other kingdoms. This knowledge was the province of government officials. And, in fact, there were few even among those charged with enforcement of the laws that were well-versed in the penal codes of other kingdoms.
She explained this and asked again, "You're really an ordinary person?"
"An ordinary student. Any school student from En should know as much."
"Secondary school?"
"No, university."
Shoukei again looked at him with wide eyes. In Hou, there was one secondary school per province. The one national university admitted no more than a hundred students, so becoming a university students was no small feat. Upon graduation, you would become a civil servant or a high public official. Many dreamed of being accepted, but there were those who would take the entrance exam every year of their life and never pass.