On Thin Ice (Prequel to Guild)

Chapter Twenty: Beasts With Fangs

                Gently flapping coloured flags bid them welcome to Yukimura. Beckoned them in past armoured guards who rose their sabers and molniya as their carriages ambled past. A few called out friendly greetings that the Kimsura bannermen didn't dignify with a response. They just kept marching ever onward with faces as proud as their banners. Cold as the snow on which they trudged.

Cold as her cheeks, pressed up against the window as they rode further into Yukimura. As more and more people flooded the streets to meet them.

Yuina saw smiles on the faces of children too young for her to know. Felt the absence of elderly faces she'd known and loved in the soul that felt her homeland like the ghost of a severed limb. Yearned for a clan so different than her own, but so familiar still.

So dear, so loved, so-

Loud.

One second, the family standing on the stairs of Blue Moon Hall seemed the portrait of elegance and composure. The next, the Lady of Yukimura was running down the stairs in her headdress and jewels, holding her skirts and squealing as she followed her husband through the snow covered yard and into the streets.

Their carriage nearly ran them over.

Their soldiers nearly ran them through.

Dozens of halberds streaked the snow fields, flashing in the light of the midday sun.

"No!" Yuina cried, half laughing as she stumbled out the carriage door, tripping on her long skirts. "You mustn't worry! They're not dangerous."

"Only to wild beasts and Outskirts rebels," agreed Noboru.

But the men didn't stand down. Not when she told them they didn't need to be on their guard here- that they were safe- and not when the princess tried to push down their polearms herself.

They didn't obey until their shogun's straw boots touched down on northern snow.

With a wave of an arm, four dozen soldiers snapped to attention. Became ice-hewn statues yet again.

Silence blanketed them like a layer of snow and then slowly, carefully, Noboru and Sarnai bowed low, mouths agape and faces pale.

"May the Red River flow ever longer... Your Excellency."

Dai nodded slightly as Jia slid out of the carriage and went to join him. As Noboru's awestruck gaze glided over to her.

"Your Majesty."

And then to Yuina, eyes welling with pride. Pride that itched... somehow.

"Yuaa."

Yuina opened her arms.

"Sar," she warned as her friend sobbed into her shoulder, the jewel-studded horns of her headdress dangerously close to her flesh, "careful not to stab me." It made her friend cry harder.

"Oh, Yuaa, you've gotten so beautiful! I can't believe-"

But she pulled back before she could finish. Pulled away at the appearance of a blurry figure over Sarnai's shoulder, lingering on the great blue stairs. A child: but less of one than she remembered. "Gods and spirits," she breathed, blinking in surprise, gripping the woman's arms too tightly. " Is that... Is that Ara?"

Sarnai smiled softly. "And Sanna, our little girl."

Now it was her turn to tear up. Her turn to put her hands to her mouth and try not to cry as Arata remained behind with his aunts and his cousins and uncles, studying his family's visitors with confusion knitting his brows.