A black woman was crouched over a figure, rocking on the floor. He had his knees bunched to his chest, eyes shut tight.

Kiet lowered the spyglass.

'What is it?' asked Akai from the door.

Kiet shook his head. It felt wrong, somehow—a violation to be looking in uninvited upon such a scene. 'A child. Gyoseong's son.' He looked about twelve—Fukuhei's age—and wore the imperial colours.

'The older one?'

'The mist centres from him. It seemed beyond his control, like he was ... overwhelmed, somehow.'

'Overwhelmed by his theurgy?'

'I know not. Overwhelmed by something.'

'They say Fukuhei-himi is second-rank and still hasn't settled. A single second of uncontrolled theurgy could mean ill for the entire city.'

'What is his theurgy, do you know? Was he once not announced terrakin?'

'He was. He had a hiccup several years ago. Caused extensive damage to the first enclosure. They say the quake was felt all the way east in the valleys.'

'But the mist ...' No terrakin could conjure mist. That required both apsa- and eyrkindry. 'Gods. He is an omnikin.'

'Omnikindry is a great show of power,' said Akai carefully. 'The Emperor would proudly celebrate it, not lie about his son's theurgy.'

'Not if his son has little to no control of it, which seems to be the case. Announcing it would invite expectations for Fukuhei to demonstrate his powers, and his weakness thus be uncovered. The people would consider him only a danger.'

'Do you mean to milk the Emperor for a meeting with Hanjeon Haruse with this information?'

Kiet frowned. 'We will not exploit a poor child for our benefit. Gyoseong keeps him locked away enough as it is. But does it make you not wonder what other secrets the Emperor hides? Fukuhei is, after all, not the only person he keeps hidden.'

'Hijeon Yeungji,' muttered Akai.

'Almost three turns of the week have we spent here, not once have I seen the crown prince.' Now that he thought upon it, he knew little of Yeungji at all, other than the fact he was a first-ranking terrakin. 'I want you to find out where he is. If he is at Momuji.'

If he is alive at all.

He would not put it past Gyoseong to hide news of a brother's death—especially if said brother was the only existing Gyok in line to the throne.

Imagine the disorder that would spread across Tsunai, were people to hear nobody was poised to take Gyoseong's place in case of an untimely death. Imagine the number of clans that would vie to take over the empire's dynasty; the wars that would break.

Imagine how easy it would be for a stronger force, a stronger man, to sweep across the ocean and claim that proud castle as his own.

  
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Kiet's reflection glared back from the hand mirror in his coffer. He looked worn and felt twice poorer; the spyglass had more taken from him than any rune he ever used before. Was this why Dhvani looked as thin and taut as she did? Is this what drained the life out of her, and he following right in her footsteps?

Only until she is found, then all her devices will I put to rest.

But for now, his work was not done.

Kiet wrapped the spyglass in cloth and laid it into the chest, picking the mirror in its stead. He wiped its surface with a sleeve, read aloud the golden script impressed around its frame. This one was easier to use. The theurgy contained within was less exhausting to maintain.

He sat for a while on his bed, watching his reflection, waiting.

One blink later and it was Sindhu's sunken face staring back at him. 'Good evening, m-maharaj.'

'I trust you are somewhere quiet.' He only could make little of Sindhu's surroundings. A nondescript room, light pulsing from a paper lantern hanging from the ceiling behind. The faint sound of hoofs against pavement from without. 'Have you anything to report?'

'There has been no m-movement.' Sindhu's nose twitched when he stuttered. 'The soldiers you sent watch the caravan night and day. We have seen no m-merchants amongst them, no imperial soldiers. Only hireguards and an empty caravan.'

'And the runesmith?'

'We have seen no one that ... fits the description, m-maharaj. Nobody but the hireguards come and go anywhere near the caravan.'

Kiet sighed. Another avenue closed.

If Dhvani had kept her runesmith secret from Haruse and the Emperor, Kiet's scuffle at the temple surely would have blown that by now. Either the Divine Gyok decided to extend their protection to the runesmith, or his practices were deemed too unsavoury and he was removed from the city. The former seemed more likely.

Dhvani knew Kiet could not touch them within the castle walls, so they cowered now in there like cornered rats.

He hated to solicit the aid of a rival clan, but perhaps he must begin to consider it, if no other option remained.

'I have investigated all ... possible exits from the plateau,' continued Sindhu. 'Besides Hancheon Gate by the castle m-main and the soldiers' Ganwa Gate, there are no other paths up and down the cliff from the west. There are several paths to the n-north, but these are m-mostly hikers' trails and ... narrow footpaths. Nothing fit for a caravan.'

And the southern front opens up to the sea. 'I doubt Dhvani will descend through the western gates. That would take her through the heart of the city. Hardly a quick or discreet escape. That leaves only the east.'

'There are ... a-plenty passages there, but only one road large and safe enough for a caravan. It leads straight through the valleys, and from there they could ... vanish anywhere.'

'This road. Is it guarded?'

'It is an ... an unsavoury area here, east-side of the castle walls. A shanty town they call the rookery. Everything between the castle bailey to the cliff's edge is rook territory. They rob the n-northern hiking trails, occasionally pest the v-valleys, and the Emperor doesn't seem to waste any of his m-men beyond the fortification of his eastern Hokudo Gate.'

Hokudo. One that must not be passed. Dramatic, Kiet thought, to name a gate The Uncrossable. Part of him wished to see this rookery it opened into. His past self would have donned a cloak and explored the town just for the sake of it; but for his present self was it a terrible idea.

'Find a place to stay, close to this passage into the valley. If the caravan makes an unexpected exit, we should be able to cut it off at the road.'

'Yes, m-maharaj.'

'I'll have also some items sent to you. Elementary runes—smoke bombs, air blasts, objects of that nature. Few of my soldiers are versed in Ancient Pertheist. They should be able to teach you how to operate them. Now. Is there anything else I should know?'

'Well, there is a lot of gossip here, in the rook—in the rookery. Things they m-might not hear down in M-Momuji. Some soldiers and guards like to visit the brothels, so I guess that's where a-plenty rumours come ...'

'I took you not for a gossip. Is this relevant to our mission?'

'Relevant? If true, it could be imperative, m-maharaj!' said Sindhu, aggrieved. 'They say that the Hanjeon Haruse is dying.'

  
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☆ this chapter is dedicated to micpanda☆

Video: 낮잠 NZ Ambience
Image: © sunyilin0327 at DeviantArt

Turns out the Emperor's been hiding a lot of things. Do you think the rumours are true, and more importantly, what is Kiet going to do about it?

As always, thanks for reading. I hope you're enjoying these developments--if so, please don't forget to vote! In other news, my short story THE GODDESS, OR THE FOX? is free to read on https://www.patreon.com/AMPrabeswar (also linked in the inline comment, or click on "External Link" below) until 16 January 2022. After that, it will only be available for patrons to read, so hop on over while you can!

You don't have to create an account to read it, though you do if you want to leave any comments or likes. The story does become slightly relevant in TCOK later on, but otherwise stands on its own and contains zero spoilers of the main trilogy. Also, warning for mature sexual content. Nothing explicit, just fade to black stuff, but if that's not your thing, you might want to skip it.