Giving their farewells, the group drifted toward the open doors. Most of the servants who had survived were worked feverishly in the background, carrying out the trunks and boxes of the guests, removing bodies from the courtyard, and carrying off any unclaimed corpses to the massive burial pit near the outer reaches of the city.
Yuna and Azuma both remained immobile, standing like two pillars while the guests proceeded into the courtyard, where the surviving horses that would carry them back to their homes whinnied.
Yuna pulled in a deep breath. "A reassuring morning," she murmured once she was certain no one could hear.
"Let's hope it continues."
Let's hope those ridiculous assassins know what they're doing, she thought, but dismissed it when the sound of approaching feet caught her attention.
A Hiwan soldier entered the room from a side door, his face flushed as if he'd been running. His head darted from side to side, scanning, until Yuna lifted a beckoning arm.
"Over here, young soldier. Do you need something?"
Encouraged by her friendly tone, he rushed toward them. A few paces away, he stopped, head bowed.
"Nishu Yuna and Saten Azuma, I have been sent with news. A group of Hiwan soldiers have captured and imprisoned the fugitive Nobu Ameya."
"Really?" Yuna asked.
"He awaits you in the dungeon. He attempted to escape through the countryside last night. Fortunately, the patrols interrupted his path after tracking him. He struggled, but has been subdued."
"Wonderful news indeed. Thank you, soldier. We will visit him a little bit later."
With one last bow, the man backed up and left.
Once he left, Yuna cast a long glance at Azuma.
He grinned in response.
Late afternoon sunshine stretched across the gravel path as Yuna and Azuma walked through the small park toward the Imperial Mortuary Chamber. The building, built of marble, vaulted high overhead in a domed ceiling that sparkled with the dust of ground-up diamonds. Dappled sunlight came through the glass, sending a glow onto the sacred grounds.
Azuma slipped inside first, his breath catching at the sight of Danjuro and his wife on marble tables off to the right, gauzy black veils draped over their bodies. New clothes, garnished with jewels and golden sashes, adorned their bodies.
To the left lay Saemon on another cold slab of marble, blood still marring his skin and clothes. His body was still awaiting the Imperial funeral rites.
Yuna trailed in behind Azuma, her gaze reflecting boredom.
Next to Saemon lay a smaller, more lithe body. A young man with thick hair just like Prince Isao's, but with a face that had been smashed in by something heavy during the skirmish, completely eradicating the features. This body had been prepared for burial. It was draped in elegant clothes of the softest velvet decked with the Hiwan symbol across the chest.
Yuna strode across the mausoleum, gazing on the face of Saemon’s murdered servant. She studied the broken features, the swelling in the now grotesque face.
“A fitting death mask for a Hiwan clan member,” she snarled under her breath.
This body would do, she thought. The man’s resemblance to Isao was strong enough that people would believe it was him.
A slight movement caught Yuna's ear. She whirled around to find Ren sitting on a bench next to Danjuro and her mother. Ren sniffled, long, sparkling trails of tears trickling down her cheeks. She made no effort to wipe these away.
Yuna slipped to her side. Ren jumped when she sat down next to her.
"Yuna," Ren murmured. "I'm sorry. I didn't hear you."
"Don't apologize, dear sister. You are distracted by grief, as are so many. It has been a very bloody, difficult time. Our parents look so peaceful, don't they?"
For a moment, they gazed on the draped bodies, so artfully arranged in a peaceful slumber.
"Yes," Ren whispered. Tear welled up in her eyes again. She glanced briefly over at the mangled corpse meant to be her new husband, then away.
Yuna reached over, holding Ren's hand, and wondered if she really mourned him. "I'm so sorry that you lost everything, Ren. But you're strong. You can conquer this."
"Thank you, Yuna."
Azuma met Yuna's gaze over the top of Ren's head. He canted his head to the side. Yuna nodded softly.
"Ren, darling, Azuma and I have a few things we need to plan around our parents’ funerals. We need to decide and what to do with their bodies as we are so far from home. We'll be just outside if you need us. Just call. All right?"
Ren nodded wordlessly, and Yuna tucked a piece of hair behind Ren's ear.
"Take your time here, Ren. We're in no hurry."
Azuma and Yuna stepped back outside into the warm sunshine, and crossed the grass several paces. Once out of the marble chamber, Azuma relaxed.
"I don't want them buried here," he said.
"I agree. Father wouldn't want to be buried anywhere near the Emperor, and the Hiwan clan cannot honor them the way we can at home. This place is filthy, really."
"Then it's agreed. We take them back to Nagon and honor them with a procession."
"And leave them in the burial place of all our previous rulers."
Azuma's shoulders slumped. "Yes. They deserve that honor at least, if not more. They were greater than all the rest."
Yuna glanced back, over her shoulder, to see Ren through a window decorated by wrought iron curls. Her head was down, her hair spilling in long waves on her slender shoulders.
"We need to address the city of An Wan as well," Yuna said, her mind swirling with her thoughts. "Establish ourselves as the temporary rulers during this chaos while Ren pulls her life back together and the world mourns. The common people must know that Ameyas are the enemy, or all of this may fail. We need to declare the deaths of the Chancellor Najeem, Prince Isao, and Emperor Saemon. Some of them may not know."
"Yes, they are rustic bumpkins. They don't know anything, do they?"
"They will expect a celebration, for sure. On that note, we also need to announce Ren as the Princess and Ruler of the Marugan Empire. So much to do," she said, tsking. "We cannot miss a single step."
Azuma sneered. "Yes, we must not forget about vaulting Ren to the blessed position."
Yuna ignored him, staring instead at the emerald-robed figure striding down the gravel path, her mind full with thoughts of all they had to do.
"Bramen," Yuna finally said, inclining her head as the Chancellor got close. "We were just discussing the removal of our parents bodies so we could bear them back to Nagon. They would want to settle permanently in their home, I believe. Anpu will mourn them properly."
"I agree."
"And an excellent decision on the servant boy, Chancellor," Azuma murmured, his eyes alight. "I'm jealous I didn't think of it myself. No one will know that he isn't the prince, which makes his inevitable demise all the more beautiful."
"You had other reasons to be distracted, Saten Azuma. I am merely here to serve. Have you decided yet who will give the speech to An Wan? That must happen soon."
"Not yet," Yuna murmured.
"We'll have to introduce Ren as the new leader very carefully. She must have a full and proper coronation. She will need to present her best front. We need her to at least appear strong, or panic will ensue. It will be difficult for the Hiwan to have lost all their leadership and be forced to accept an outsider."
"She needs time," Yuna said.
"She can have some," Bramen said. "But not too much. And there is one other issue that has come up."
"Oh?" Yuna asked. "What's that?"
Bramen frowned, his forehead furrowing into deep lines. He glanced at the Mortuary Chamber and turned his back to it slightly, shuffling a few steps away. Yuna and Azuma followed.
"Several Hiwan soldiers have left the Army this morning; they don't want to serve another clan. Shall we be rid of them? Are they defectors that need to be punished? I am eager to avoid future problems."
"No," Yuna said. "Let's not make things more difficult for ourselves. If we appear to have a compassionate front, allowing those to leave who want to, we'll ingratiate ourselves with greater power. Besides, a smaller Hiwan army will not harm Nari purposes."