You've Got to be Joking

Jokers. The black cats and bad omens of the Red and Black empires. Sellers of secrets and shadows of people. There are two where there's about to be one...

The Red Joker and her brother-from-another-empire, the Black Joker, have been selling secrets and lurking in shadows since their earliest years, sharing the gossip that circulates through their empires whenever they've got the chance. Lately, though, something's changed. Red's "brother" hasn't been showing up to their meetings. When Red receives word that the Black Joker has been caught and sentenced to death, she takes immediate action and sets off for the Spade kingdom in the Black empire. What will she encounter along the way to the Spade kingdom, and what will become of the Black Joker?