"How…how did this happen?"
Saemon shook his head. "I don't know."
His brow furrowed as he thought about dinner and the strange way the Ameya and Nari clans had behaved at the banquet. The deep heaviness in his chest told him that the Saran’s prophecy was coming to pass – and also had something to do with the clans’ strange behaviors.
One could never trust anyone, apparently.
"I will be in my room," Saemon said. "I have a few strategies to consider for how to best attack now that the invasion has begun. Notify me once when the Karus have arrived, for we will not waste a moment. We will fight and save those who are already endangering their lives as they defend us."
Captain Jurobei nodded.
Saemon spun on his heel, retreating back into the safety of his room. He pulled out a map of the castle, and upon reviewing it, began mumbling under his breath about strategies for breeching the walls and where the weakest spots stood. Fifteen minutes passed before a rapping came on the door, pulling him from the battle plans.
Saemon opened it to find the corridor full of the elite soldiers.
A snarling lion decorated each man’s chest armor, including the intricate curls and delicate swoops of the lion’s mane. This armor was the battle armor of the Karu unit. The helmets had elaborate paintings over their tops, paintings which featured portrayals of previous Karu soldiers who had died with honor.
Saemon glanced at the soldiers’ faces; each featured a determined expression. Pride welled up in his chest as he ran his eyes over the ranks and noted the special boshu swords that hung at the soldiers’ sides.
No other men could handle such these long, curved blades. The Karus had been specially trained to be able to do so. Therefore, they were extremely deadly in battle.
"Karu unit," the Sheng declared loudly, "you are the pride of the Hiwan clan, and most welcome here tonight. I hope you are prepared to fight for your life, for mine, and for our beloved Empire. We will need every ounce of your strength. I too am ready to fight, and possibly die, alongside you."
With that, Saemon turned on his heels, strode down the hall, and headed for the main staircase.
The invasion had started in the courtyard, and quickly turned into a slaughter.
The moment the Hiwan army began to fight, many dropped to their knees, overtaken by weakness. Some staggered, dizzy on their feet. Invaders jumped from the parapets, landing on the Hiwan soldiers and toppling them to the ground.
They died in droves.
Awakened by all the commotion, the palace guests arose. “Ameya!” several cried. “The Ameya are attacking!”
The guests barricaded themselves inside. Ameya soldiers climbed trellises, broke windows, and moved the battle into the city streets, sparing none. Saemon observed through glances out the windows as he charged through his palace, making his way down to the fighting from his upstairs room. Seeing the emerald armor of the Ameya clan brought him no surprise – only pain. The Karu unit filled the space behind him, the heavy clomp of their boots creating an ominous sound.
Upon reaching the third floor of the palace, Saemon threw open a pair of double doors leading to the ballroom – and stopped in his tracks.
Inside it, members of both the Ameya and Nari clans were ruthlessly attacking his soldiers.
Saemon paused for only a moment, taking in the struggle of war. Nari, he thought with a jolt. Of course.
His suspicions had been correct. Neither Clan had drunk any of the wine. Most of them had left the bridal feast as soon as possible.
They were, together, the betrayers.
Bringers of doom and death.
With a snarl, the Sheng wielded his katana and gave a growl. "For the Empire!" he called.
Together, he and the Karu unit joined the fight.
The Karu unit fell into a basic formation: Saemon at the front, the rest of them forming a protective circle behind him. They pushed into the battlefield, ready to fell those who dared to strike at them.
In a moment, something pulled at Saemon’s heart. A minute later, his muscles flagged. Next to him, a Karu began to pant and wipe at his forehead.
Something felt wrong. Something was wrong.
The Karus were sluggish, stumbling as they moved ever so slowly into battle. Saemon blinked in disbelief as the Karu next to him stumbled to one knee. As he did, an Ameya took advantage and struck him on the back of his neck, killing him.
Dead. The Karu was dead.
Saemon struggled to lift his katana, but it felt like there was a heavy cloak weighting down his shoulders and arms. It was…. as if the air was full of rocks that were pressing down on him. Pressing, pressing.
Saemon tilted his head back.
The air…The air!
His mind flashed back to the celebration earlier.
Kenzo standing with a glass of Dhul powder in hand. The way the jars had filled the air with a sickly perfume and smoke. They had filled the air with a lethal something that was causing all of them who had been there to struggle now.
None of the invaders had been at the feast…and all of them were at full strength.
The Ameya and Nari clans had deliberately sabotaged the Hiwan clan. It was a clever and sneaky ploy to weaken the strong Hiwan clan.
It was a trick worthy of betrayers who lacked honor.
Saemon pressed into the fighting despite experiencing a sudden dizzy spell. There was nothing else to do.
As he fought, familiar memories flashed through his mind. When he met the gaze of a soldier he was about to kill or heard someone's death cry, he remembered the Horat-Vu war, and how naturally destruction came to those who had trained for it.
His muscles remembered the way to swing his sword. How hard to press on another’s skin to draw blood. Where to aim his sword when a man was charging at him.
Saemon fought like a true Hiwan warrior.
"The doors," he called at one point, pointing across the room. "We must get into the throne room."
Saemon adjusted to the left, keeping his gaze trained on the double doors leading into the throne room that some Nari—and a few Ameya—stood guarding. At least ten men were there, ensuring no one would go inside, and leaving little doubt as to what, or whom, they were protecting.
Only a foolish leader hid behind his men.
Saemon and the elite Karu unit waded through a mass of bodies, slashing and destroying those whom they passed.
"Clear the way!" Saemon roared as he neared the doors.
The Karus fell into fight with the ten guards. Saemon sliced into the throat of a Nari soldier, and when another Nari attempted to hack at his shoulder, the Emperor blocked him with his shield. On his right, a Karu soldier fell, eyes glazed in death. Within minutes, Saemon pushed through a pile of dead bodies and threw open the doors to the throne room.
A pair of sapphire eyes immediately met his.
Azuma Nari stood in the middle of the room, flanked by at least fifty guards. He held a Qiang.
Saemon felt a moment of apprehension upon spying the spear-like weapon.
Ameya soldiers slammed the door shut behind them Karu, deepening the shadows in the room where only a few torches flickered along the wall.
There was no escape now.
No escape from the Ameyan and Nari traitors who were doling out death to the Hiwan clan members.
Saemon's chest bucked and heaved as he fought for adequate air. Another shiver of weakness slipped through his body. What was happening to him? He was stronger than this.
Next to him, a Karu soldier wavered on his feet.
"Azuma," the Emperor snapped. "How appropriate that you hold that particular Qiang! I cannot be wrong in surmising that was your uncle Wu's weapon. It has been passed down from traitor…to traitor."
Azuma scoffed, "You are talking about betrayal? A fake Emperor who is unable to manage his kingdom, and who doesn't care for his people? You betrayed my uncle. You betrayed the whole Empire, and now you will pay!"