The vast chamber was silent and still. She was alone. Her footfalls led her to the Emerald Throne of the Hantei Dynasty and she looked upon the carving that showed the sun goddess and the first Emperor and the fissure that separated the two. Shadows fell across the image, making the crack seem deeper that it was, or perhaps the shadows revealed its true depth.
"The first steps have been taken, sweet Mother Sun," she whispered. "Already, one of your chosen has fallen. I have wounded one of your Seven Thunders." There was the slight sound of laughter in her voice. "I cast him down from the light of your favor. He is nothing." Her fingers caressed the lion head engraved in the throne. "The next fall will be even more delicious than the Crane's"
She spun about, the folds of her kimono folding all about her and she fell into the arms of the Emerald Throne. Only the darkness heard her laughter. She spoke, "Aramoro?"
The darkness answered. "Yes, my Lady?"
The lids of her eyes gently closed. "Kisada has made his alliance with the Shadowlands?"
The darkness answered again, "Yes, my Lady."
She smiled. "Excellent."
"But there is other news that troubles me."
She snuggled into the Throne, her eyes closed and her smile unfaltering. "Yes, what is it"
"Lord Toturi is leading an army of Dragon samurai."
"We knew that, Aramoro. You have not told me anything new."
"He brings with him the armies of the Naga."
Her back straightened and her eyes flashed open. "Naga?"
"Aye, my Lady."
Thunder rolled in the distance as the darkness waited her commands. Her eyes seemed lost for a moment, but then she regained command of her thoughts. "Panic will not serve us well at this hour," she said. Then, she regarded the darkness once again. "Tell Lord Kisada. Suggest to the Great Bear that Yakamo would serve us well in this situation. I am sure he will come to the same conclusion."
"Yes, my Lady." The darkness was silent again.
"Naga?" she whispered. "Indeed, the situation has changed." But then she remembered the young Dragon samurai-ko who had only recently left the palace and she smiled. "A small surprise for you from me, Lord Togashi," she said. "I only wish I could see under that mask or yours when you see how much she has changed." It took all of Kachiko's will not to fill the room with victorious laughter.
"The first steps have been taken, sweet Mother Sun," she whispered. "Already, one of your chosen has fallen. I have wounded one of your Seven Thunders." There was the slight sound of laughter in her voice. "I cast him down from the light of your favor. He is nothing." Her fingers caressed the lion head engraved in the throne. "The next fall will be even more delicious than the Crane's"
She spun about, the folds of her kimono folding all about her and she fell into the arms of the Emerald Throne. Only the darkness heard her laughter. She spoke, "Aramoro?"
The darkness answered. "Yes, my Lady?"
The lids of her eyes gently closed. "Kisada has made his alliance with the Shadowlands?"
The darkness answered again, "Yes, my Lady."
She smiled. "Excellent."
"But there is other news that troubles me."
She snuggled into the Throne, her eyes closed and her smile unfaltering. "Yes, what is it"
"Lord Toturi is leading an army of Dragon samurai."
"We knew that, Aramoro. You have not told me anything new."
"He brings with him the armies of the Naga."
Her back straightened and her eyes flashed open. "Naga?"
"Aye, my Lady."
Thunder rolled in the distance as the darkness waited her commands. Her eyes seemed lost for a moment, but then she regained command of her thoughts. "Panic will not serve us well at this hour," she said. Then, she regarded the darkness once again. "Tell Lord Kisada. Suggest to the Great Bear that Yakamo would serve us well in this situation. I am sure he will come to the same conclusion."
"Yes, my Lady." The darkness was silent again.
"Naga?" she whispered. "Indeed, the situation has changed." But then she remembered the young Dragon samurai-ko who had only recently left the palace and she smiled. "A small surprise for you from me, Lord Togashi," she said. "I only wish I could see under that mask or yours when you see how much she has changed." It took all of Kachiko's will not to fill the room with victorious laughter.
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