Chapter 16 - Imperial Grounds

Hours ago, just outside the town of Hiyuriveh.

"Do I really have to travel this far north before you come out here and meet me?" Kyoden Miramoto exclaimed with a smile as he watched the approach of a man wearing a plain pink kimono with gold trimmings. He watched the approaching group as he sat alone on a light brown tanti horse. He just passed the town of Hiyuriveh that was almost on his rear just past his peripheral—the wind blew lightly on his face from the front, the imposing volcanoes of the Flaming Heads can be seen on his left while the twin suns inched slowly to their noontime peak on his right. Although a lighthearted smile was on his face, it was merely a mask to conceal a lingering pain brought by the memory that played in his mind and weighed down on his heart at that very moment. The last time he was in the town of Hiyuriveh, he was with Kyoden Shoira. She wanted to buy a single 'White Recluse;' a rare breed of petunia that grew only on the scorched clayish soil around the town. It had small yet extremely fragrant flowers. The people in Hiyuriveh have mastered the cultivation of the White Recluse, and their town has prospered because of it. People of other towns, cities, and kingdoms travel all the way to Hiyuriveh just to buy the White Recluse. Because of the demand, the White Recluse was not cheap and very few could afford more than one flower. Some travelers were content to go to Hiyuriveh and simply smell the sweetly fragrant flowers with the woman that they love. Its scent always filled the streets of the town although it is always strongest in the late afternoon when the warm air from the west is met by the cold ocean air from the east. Some assume that the White Recluse grows on Hiyuriveh because it was at the perfect center of these two opposing air currents. Some save money for years to buy one flower for their beloved on the day of their wedding.

That day was very special for Shoira. She wanted to bring the White Recluse to the grave of her dead mother at midnight because it was her mother's birthday the next day. When they arrived at Hiyuriveh, Miramoto surprised her with an entire bouquet of White Recluse. She was so happy that a painter who was staying in town to paint unharvested White Recluse and the fields where they grow saw her beautiful smile and asked if he could paint her. Miramoto did not grant permission because it could be a security risk for the kingdom. A resident of the town later explained to the painter who the two were and why it would be a security risk to paint Shoira. She was disappointed that her husband did not allow her to be painted by anyone.

Miramoto remembered the visage of happiness, surprise, and disappointment go across his wife's face in the span of a few minutes. He recalled the event as if it happened mere hours ago and he was still in the middle of contemplating what went wrong in that seemingly perfect moment. Shoira would die less than a winter from that day, and in Miramoto's mind, everything in his life started to go downhill from then on.

"A thousand apologies Master Miramoto!" Seoming Soyun replied as he approached Miramoto. He was escorted by eight imperial cavalry guards while another twelve were on standby a few meters from them. "The Imperial Magistrates wouldn't allow me to leave the Imperial Palace unless I am escorted by twenty heavy imperial cavalries. I think it's overkill, but their caution is justified as I am sure you understand," he continued. He looked feminine overall because of the thick layer of white face powder that covered his face and the ebony black ink that highlighted his eyebrows. He looked more like a stage actor than the Imperial Treasurer.

"The Imperial Magistrates do have a valid reason," Miramoto replied with a slight bow. He waited until four of the heavy imperial cavalries were on both of his sides before he urged his horse to move forward at the same pace as the horses of the imperial cavalry guards. His horse looked like a juvenile horse compared to the large, heavily muscled horses of the imperial cavalry, but he rode with pride, nonetheless. He was the Dragon Grandmaster of the proudest kingdom in the Old Orient, and he was the youngest ever to achieve that title.

Soyun slowly and skillfully maneuvered his horse to Miramoto's side while moving forward at the same time. Miramoto watched him with mild amazement and amusement. For a moment, to Miramoto, Soyun did not look like the fragile Imperial Treasurer that Miramoto has known for years. Miramoto decided that Soyun couldn't travel anywhere inside or outside the imperial territory without a full retinue of imperial cavalry, he must've learned some of their equestrian tricks over the years. He dismissed his brief amazement with this thought and focused on the upcoming meeting.

The group traveled slowly until they reached the Imperial Road. The leader of the imperial cavalry that escorted the two gave the signal to increase their speed of travel and everyone immediately spurred their horses on to a faster speed but took care to move at the same speed as the rest of the members in the group. Dirt, rock, and sand flew in the air in their wake, and soon, the huge gates to the imperial lands were within sight.

They traveled nonstop within the lands of the empire until they reached the palace. The twin suns have passed their peak and a warm breeze was blowing from the west. "Master Miramoto! Master Soyun!" the captain commander announced as they entered the outer grounds of the Imperial Palace. Several imperial guards approached the two and assisted them in getting off their horses. "The Imperial Meeting Hall has been prepared and waiting for the two of you, Masters," the captain commander said in a commanding yet respectful tone.

"Thank you, Captain Commander Mayuri," Miramoto said with a respectful smile and a bow.

"It's Captain Commander Yuhann, Master Miramoto. Captain Commander Mayuri is my mother, and she has retired from active service," Yuhann replied as she removed her helmet to show Miramoto who was under the captain commander's armor and banner. Yuhann knew that she sounded very much like her mother when she was at the same age and Miramoto was not the first who thought that she was her mother.

"My apologies Captain Commander Yuhann. I didn't know that your mother has already retired, and the two of you sound exactly the same!" Miramoto replied with a smile.

"You're not the first to have that observation, Master Miramoto." Soyun's statement was interrupted by a burst of mild laughter. "Yuhann was taught personally by her mother and there was simply no one here who could best her in combat and replace her mother when she decided to retire," Soyun explained. Two imperial guards in white armor that contrasted well with the red and gold armor of the imperial cavalry that escorted Miramoto and Soyun approached the group.

"We are here to escort you inside the palace," one of the white-armored guards announced as they approached. Miramoto looked puzzled as he stared at the shiny white armor of the new guards. It has been almost two decades since Miramoto visited the Imperial Palace.

"Order of the Imperial Crown. The Inner Circle was disbanded, and its members were court-martialed after the events that I am sure you are very familiar with, Master Miramoto," Captain Commander Yuhann explained in the same emotionless manner.

"Isn't that merely replacing one with another without exactly addressing the holes in security?" Miramoto asked with a skeptical tone. He turned to Yuhann with a face filled with questions.

"Three independent elite groups replaced the Inner Circle—the Order of the Imperial Crown, the Gauntlet's Guild, and the House of Masters. Each of the three is independent of each and has headquarters in three separate locations within the lands of the empire. A member of the three is always present where a member of the Ruling House is present. If someone from a group betrays the empire, the other two have the mandate to execute the traitors and wipe out their entire group immediately," Yuhann explained patiently. Her face remained an expressionless mask as she spoke.

"Their entire group? What if there are only two traitors within the group?" Miramoto asked.

"The entire group will still be eradicated to eliminate the possibility of sleepers," Soyun explained.

"And to instill the value of being responsible for everyone in their group in each one of the members of the three groups," Yuhann added. "It's one thing for the officers to look out for possible traitors within their group, and it's another thing to have everyone else in the group to watch out for their comembers that have the potential to betray the empire. They would root out traitors themselves so that they don't get wiped out," she added.

"I'm impressed," Miramoto said with an approving nod.

"Well, we're getting ready for the return of the emperor. We will spare no expense to ensure his safety, of course," Soyun declared with a proud smile.

"Yes. Yes of course," Miramoto said with a smile. "By the way, if there must be at least one from each of the three groups. Why are there only two of them?" Miramoto asked.

"The Rule of Three is applied only to members of the Imperial Ruling House," Yuhann said flatly with the same emotionless look. "Unfortunately, you and Soyun are not members of the Imperial Ruling House."

Soyun bowed silently to Yuhann then smiled at her before they walked with their two white-armored escorts.

Miramoto said nothing and was in deep thought as he walked beside Soyun through the Inner Palace Grounds. Yuhann watched them both with a blank expression until they disappeared from her sight, lost in the carved topiary trees of the palace grounds. Only the blowing wind on the leaves of the tall trees that lined the edges of the inner grounds of the palace and the light sound of metal being bent by metal can be heard from where Yuhann stood.

"Lieutenant Soi!"

"Yes, Captain Commander Yuhann?" Soi replied as he hurried in front of Yuhann. He then stood in perfect attention and awaited her command.

"My helmet is bent. It was probably damaged when it was polished this morning. I want it repaired as soon as possible and shined once more." She threw her helmet to Soi and then walked towards the western barracks.

"Yes, Captain Commander Yuhann!" Soi replied as he caught the helmet. He stared at the bent helmet with disbelief. He had seen helmets trampled under the hooves of the imperial heavy cavalry, but they were never as badly bent as Yuhann's helmet. He marveled at the force that managed to bend the helmet of Captain Commander Yuhann and if there was such a cloth that could have carried such a force during polishing.