Nori turned around and looked past her minimal mask, a simple veil that said she didn't care to hide her secrets. An image that was a mask in and of itself. The more intelligent members of the other clans realized that a Scorpion that wore such a slight mask had, indeed, much more to hide than average.
"What is it, Sei," she asked, looking up from her papers. She was busy, very busy of late. Her lord had her sparking wars between the Lion and the Crane, and wars in which she could see little gain for her clan. Little gain except perhaps something that was dangerous to consider.
"There is a messenger from Lord Bayushi," the aide said hesitantly, she stood aside to let the man in. Many would say that all Scorpions looked alike, but Nori was born and bred within the clan and recognized one family from another. The person that was coming in to speak to her was a Shosuro.
"What message does my lord send?" Nori asked hesitantly as she and her servant tried to give the appearance of calm before the messenger. He smiled and handed over the scroll which Nori opened.
The scroll read simply:
"The Empire is not safe with these squabbling Cranes and Lions." Nori frowned as she read that, it was her that set them to squabbling. "We would see that the future of the Empire is secure, we shall send a contingent to aid in guard duties in the case that the squabbling should spill over to the court. Any further orders will come to bearer of this message, and you are at his command, Shosuro Koshinke. The Empire must be saved."
Nori looked up, face as smooth as silk and cold as ice. The letter made no mention of protecting the Imperial Family, merely the Empire. And she had just been placed at the command of an assassin. There was only one possibility. Her Clan was going to attempt to usurp power.
See other episodes by Thrythlind
(Posted Sun, 20 Oct 2002 18:04)
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