Princess Momo was awakened early in the morning by Princess Fuyumi meekly knocking on her door, but she seemed in a hurry.
"Forgive me for this most unorthodox intrusion, Lady," Fuyumi said, "but I have a fear and dread upon me."
"Whatever is the matter?" Momo sprang out of bed at once, with the agility of a warrior, and went for her sword.
"Father has summoned Shoto to his chambers," Fuyumi said. "This usually only means one of two things. He's going to scold him, or he intends to train him..."
"This is a problem?" Momo said.
"Oh, yes," Fuyumi said. "There's nothing we can say about it here, you know...and you're an outsider--father wouldn't like me talking to you about it--but...Shoto is often so exhausted after such things as to need an apothecary."
"Perhaps the training is just demanding," Momo said.
"Perhaps, but I thought losing one's senses was a sign of too much exertion," Fuyumi said. [This expression means to be knocked out or faint, by the way, as well as to go mad.]
"Oh my..." Momo gasped. "That much?"
"I know it's presumptuous." Fuyumi looked down. "But I had thought, perhaps, as you are new here, you might convincingly seem like you simply wandered into the wrong room...and perhaps a distraction would put off our father's intentions.... He won't want to offend you."
"You wish me to intervene?" Momo said.
"Shoto left home once already," Fuyumi said. "I worry if this goes on, he will never come back, should he find a way to escape again."
Momo could understand why, if this was true. But seeing Fuyumi was worried, she was touched.
Shoto had led her to believe none of his family were that close to him, but perhaps he just didn't see that they cared.
"Hurry, get dressed," Fuyumi said.
Momo pulled on some more of the clothes she'd been given, a nice red frock, and followed Fuyumi.
She kept her sword hidden under her skirt, though.
But she wasn't really so sure about this idea. Would the king take her interference as a mere accident? Or would he suspect it was intentional? If so, she might only make it worse.
She hoped that Fuyumi was wrong and it was just a regular talk between relatives.
* * *
When Shoto had been summoned to his father's meeting chamber, alongside the bed chamber, he was wary.
But he had no notion of just how dire it was going to be when he entered. He tried to keep his expression and tone cool and remote.
"Shoto--" King Enji didn't stand on ceremony. --in your travels, did you meet any person of interest?"
Shoto's spine prickled.
Why would he be summoned here just to discuss this? His father must have a purpose in mind...someone he was trying to find, perhaps?
"None that I recall, save for Momo," he lied stoically.
"Is that so?" The King looked at him narrowly.
Shoto nodded, grimly.
A moment of silence.
"You lie!" The king erupted into flames--a sign of anger.
Shoto wasn't afraid of fire, but he knew that tone. His father was in a rage...probably had been already; his calm was just a ruse.
