Chapter Eighteen - Declaration of War (Part 2)

Back in Nanyang Palace…

The shadow returned, lowering himself before the King. "The plan is working as you predicted, Your Majesty. We have successfully infiltrated the imperial palace. In no time, we will be able to seize the throne."

"Good job, shadow. Proceed with the next step." Akio picked up the King's chess piece, studying its ivory carved edges with a cynical glint in his eyes. "I believe the Emperor will begin gathering allies to contend with me. But it's useless. I will crush him and everything he loves, until there's nothing left.

"Then, this faithful servant shall send word to General Tsugumo and Commander Freed." The shadow bowed and disappeared.

Akio's gaze shifted to the folding screen beside his bed. "I'm surprised you are still here. Your beloved Emperor has already gone."

Emerging from her hiding place, the General pointed her weapon at him. "I wasn't fooled by that missive you sent to me. Kyou only sends his missive via carrier hawks and that was your first mistake. Your second mistake was to write of his feelings for me when I know better than anyone that he cannot love."

"That seems to have changed." Salt on her wound. "Yet here you are. Do you plan to kill me?"

"My loyalty lies with the Emperor until the day I die. If what I heard is true then you are a threat to Xi. It is my duty to eliminate you."

Akio's face darkened yet he didn't move, deceptively shifting a pawn across the board. "You overestimate yourself, General Attaw. Even if you are a General of Xi, you are still unmatched for me. Don't forget that I was trained by your father."

"Whether you are as skilled has yet to be seen."

"It doesn't matter. Your death is my victory." He smirked. "Imagine Kyou's reaction when I return your corpse to him."

The statement struck a chord and her face twisted with contempt. "Your third mistake is to boldly assume!" She flew at him.

Flinging the chess board into her face, Akio dove for his sword hanging above his bed. Pivoting around, he blocked her attack and delivered a merciless kick in her stomach, sending her crashing through the door frames.

Attaw gritted her teeth and exchanged her short blade for a lighter pair of twin blades. Meeting him blow for blow, they destroyed his room, smashing furniture to pieces and ripping his bedclothes to shreds. She admitted where the King lacked precision, he made up with his immense strength. Every hit she absorbed, sent numbing shockwaves through her arms, exhausting her muscles.

Sweat dripped off her face as they faced each other, panting harshly. There was a nick on his cheek but, she had more on her arms. Pain — she could handle. She was more worried about her spasming fingers.

"You are truly my master's daughter but, like all women you are weak." He snidely jeered. "I can see that you are at your limit."

"As long as I am still standing, the winner isn't definite." She forced out and pounced with her overlapping swords.

Akio did the unexpected and tossed aside his weapon, willfully falling flat onto his back. Too late to pull back, she slashed at empty air and tripped when he scissor-trapped her legs. Catching her by the throat, he squeezed hard, and she choked.

Attaw dropped her weapons to claw at his hand, her lungs burning for air. The King rolled her onto her back and applied more pressure, digging his fingers into her flesh until her complexion turned blue. He subdued her with his body weight, pinning down her flailing limbs.

"Not so tough now, are you?" He bared a feral smile. "Look at how pathetic you are. Your blind loyalty to my brother has earned you nothing but death. Don't worry, soon I'll send him to join you on the other side."

Attaw's eyes bulged as the tightness in her chest expanded, threatening to split wide open. Spots danced before her, and her energy waned. There was a distinctive buzz in her ears, and she caught the King's moving lips but heard nothing.

The General's struggles abated into weak twitches — a violent jerk — and then nothing. Certain that she was dead, Akio exhaled brusquely and stood up to straighten his clothes. "Guards!" He bellowed, kicking apart what was left of his doors.

Hasty footsteps shook the hallway, followed by the appearance of uniformed soldiers.

"Clean up this mess and get rid of the body." He ordered angrily.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

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Dusty and weary, they reached the palace at nightfall. Shuhei immediately ordered the stable master to prepare two of his fastest stallions for Kyou and his Commander.

Inka reluctantly bid her lover goodbye. "Don't forget your promise." She reminded him with anxious eyes. It was rare for Inka to send a loved one off to war. Usually, she would be part of the fight.

He finally smiled. In the past few hours, his face was a mask of forbidding worry. "I won't. And you had better keep your promise not to get into trouble."

"I'll try," she answered cheekily, attempting to lighten the tension.

He opened his arms. "Come here."

She went willingly, lifting her lips for his kiss. It was brief but, she felt it all the way to her toes. Kyou poured his emotions into her, and she answered back stroke for stroke.

"I love you," she murmured when he pulled back.

His face lit up, his dark stare glittering with raw hunger. "This is the first time you said it."

"Your Majesty, we have to go," Rei interrupted atop his stallion.

Pressing another kiss on her forehead, he said, "See you soon, witch." Looking over her shoulder, he acknowledged his brothers with a nod before mounting his horse and riding off into the night.

"It's going to be fine, Inka," Shuhei reassured.

"My instincts warn me that a storm is coming."

"It doesn't look like it's going to rain," Ryuu commented, his eyes searching the night sky. It was filled with twinkling stars.

Kuriko smacked him lightly. "She's referring to impending danger, you dolt!"

"Ow!" He rubbed the sore spot. "I know that. I was trying to cheer her up."

The young woman sighed. "We need to work on your comforting skills."

Shuhei smiled at their liveliness, urging everyone inside where it was warm. "There's no use in worrying over something we don't know yet. Inka, you should focus on your tribespeople who are likely excited to know that you're back."

"You're right." She agreed, composing herself. "I need to focus on what's important. In fact, I need a favour from you."