The Twelve Kingdoms: The Shore in Twilight by Fuyumi Ono Read Free Book Online Page A

lacquered nightstand. The man sat on the edge of the nightstand and examined her face.
    "Koshou-dono."
    "Yep. That's me. You're a fighter, you are." He gave her a reassuring wink, obviously elated by her improved condition. The girl standing at Koshou's shoulder dabbed at her eyes with her sleeve.
    Risai was alive. This fact surprised her as well.
    She weakly raised her arms above her head. Her left arm complied and appeared before her eyes. Her right arm did not. Her gaze traced an arc across her body to where the right sleeve of her nightgown lay empty on the quilt.
    For some reason an apologetic expression rose to Koshou's face. "Push come to shove, we couldn't save your right arm. I couldn't tell you honestly there was any life left in it. I know it's painful, but don't despair."
    Risai nodded. She had lost her right arm. She suffered severely fighting off the youma, and had tied it off with a tourniquet to staunch the loss of blood. Gangrene had set in. Of course she couldn't have expected the arm to survive. By the time she arrived at Gyouten it felt about ready to fall off. She had to wonder if it'd come off of its own accord or whether it'd been amputated.
    And yet she didn't feel too broken up about the loss. Losing her dominant arm would of course end her career as a soldier. But what general, unable to save her liege, deserved to be called his retainer? She could live without it.
    Koshou cradled her head in his hand and lifted her head. The girl pressed a warm teacup to her mouth. The liquid trickling into her mouth was sweeter and more delicious than anything she'd ever tasted before. But then as her tongue grew accustomed she realized it was only water.
    The girl took away the cup. The man smiled. "Yeah, you're going to be okay."
    "I--"
    "I get why you'd do something so crazy and reckless. You got the words out before you collapsed. Youko's been by many times to see you."
    "The Royal Kei--"
    "Providing the doctors don't say no, I'll go get her." Risai nodded. He released her hand and stood up. "Suzu, take care of her. As soon as I've called the doctors, I'll have a word with Youko."
    "Sure. Make it quick."
    Risai followed Koshou with her eyes to the door and then stared up at the ceiling. "How long have I been lying here doing nothing?"
    "Oh, please. Don't say things like that. You needed a great deal of rest. It's been three days since you last opened your eyes. Since you collapsed it's been almost ten days."
    "That long."
    She'd intended to close her eyes only for a moment and had instead slept for days. All that time gone to waste. The wasted days pressed painfully on her chest. Risai raised her hand to her throat. She felt something round and smooth at her fingertips. She grasped it and focused her eyes on it. A round gem hung from her neck.
    "Nobody but the Empress is ever allowed to use it. But Youko--" A clever smile came to the girl's face. "But the Empress twisted a few arms at the Ministry of Winter and forced them to make an exception in your case."
    "For me?"
    "The Imperial Regalia of Kei, normally stored in the Imperial Repository. The gods have indeed smiled upon you. Had you collapsed in such a condition anywhere else or in any other kingdom, we might not have able to save your life."
    "Oh." Risai didn't know whether she should rejoice at such news or not.
    Kaei.
    When she closed her eyes she could hear nothing but the wind. The round gem at her fingertips was cold. A coldness that brought to mind the face of her friend.
    Kaei. I made it.
    The warm countenance of the civil servant a mere ten years her senior. As kind as her mind was keen, and so discrete as to almost appear timid. Risai had last seen her in Sui Province in the south of Tai. There they'd parted ways, and Risai had set her eyes upon Kei.
    Risai, anything but that! she'd cried out, her body quaking in the wind. Her voice was soft but filled with fortitude. In her face and in her tone of voice, the resoluteness of her refusal showed on