Treasure (7 page)

Taka walked in a moment later and immediately scowled, planting his hands on his hips. "I see you at last deigned to sign the paperwork I put in front of you this morning. Your father is irate you slipped away so quickly after supper. Apparently he wanted to have a word with you."

Kyo sighed. "I do not suppose he has ceased wanting to have a word with me?" When Taka shook his head, he stood up and discarded his robe, then moved to his wardrobe to dress. He stifled another sigh and pulled out a black robe embroidered with white and silver stars as well as the pale gold under robe that went with it. Taka helped him put it all on, folding down the collar, and tying off the thin strips of raw silk that would hold it in place while Taka pulled out the gold sash that went with it. "Go to bed, Taka; there's no reason for you to wait up for me. I do not suppose that we have received any updates?"

"No," Taka said, "but the weather has been fair for days. Hopefully that holds true further out to sea. You know I will tell you the moment we hear anything. I'll wait until you come back from your meeting."

"Go to bed."

"I was planning to stay up and catch up on a few things, anyway," Taka replied.

Kyo rolled his eyes. "I do not suppose you have an inkling as to what he wants to discuss?"

Taka shrugged. "Maybe, I'm not really sure. He was speaking at length with Captain Midori when he looked for you, however, and they were still together when they waylaid me later and his Majesty demanded to know where you were. I told him you were conversing with Lord Krasny and went to bid your farewells to Prince Culebra."

"Thank you," Kyo said, wincing at what would happen should his father ever find out about his naked ventures into the shark pool and out to the ocean proper. "Go to bed," he repeated and left before Taka could voice the scathing retort on his lips.

He walked quickly to his father's private chambers, a heavy knot in his stomach because there was only one reason his father would want to speak to him that involved Captain Midori. He stopped in front of the guards before the doors to his father's room. "Please inform my father I have come to speak with him as requested."

"Highness, he bid you go right in," the left guard replied, bowing low before opening the door.

Kyo braced himself and went through, seeing his father immediately where he stood before a fireplace, sharing wine with Captain Midori. It was actually Lord Midori, but he had favored joining the royal navy, and being captain of the royal fleet superseded his earldom. "Father, Captain, I apologize for keeping you waiting. I wanted to be certain I bid farewell to Prince Culebra and Lord Krasny before they departed."

"Forget it," His father said, waving the words aside impatiently. "Captain Midori has agreed to personally escort you on your secret mission. He is handpicking the crew, and you will be sailing on our finest ship. All will be ready for departure in seven days. You will be ready."

Kyo bowed low. "As you wish, father. Captain, I appreciate your assistance in this matter."

Midori smiled at him, friendly and charming. In another life, with other choices, he would have been a suitable man to marry, and Kyo might even have tolerated it, if not loved it. He wondered what Midori would say if he knew the nature of the secret mission.

Probably ensure Kyo go through with it, and Kyo wondered idly if his father had already arranged for that, if he would do it last minute so it was too late for Midori to back out, or if he was trusting someone else to the duty. "Speaking of people to accompany me, father, I wanted to confirm with you that Taka be permitted to come along."

"Absolutely not," his father replied. "He's an unnecessary liability. You will have no use for a secretary at sea, or in the course of your mission. Taka's skills are better put to use here. Your brother expressed an interest in him."

Yes, he was quite certain Taiheiyou had. Kyo would have to tell Taka just to see him get angry. "As you wish, Sire. How else can I be of service to you?"

His father eyed him, clearly aware of the underlying sarcasm that Midori was just as clearly missing. "Be ready in seven days, Nankyokukai. You are both dismissed."

"Yes, Majesty," Midori murmured, sweeping a deep bow to Kyo's father, then a less deep one to Kyo before following him out. In the hallway, he brushed back his dark green hair and said, "Would you permit me the honor of escorting you to your room, Highness?"

"The honor would be mine, Captain," Kyo said politely, and Midori walked beside him as they made their way through the halls, across the palace to Kyo's rooms at the furthest end. "I do appreciate you would take the time to escort me personally, Captain. You are busy, I know, and the job could easily have been delegated."

Midori smiled at him. "I am never too busy to serve you, Highness, or to answer to my King's will. It is an honor, truly. That aside, I am looking forward to being at sea again. Ironically, my position keeps me land-locked, which I cannot abide."

"I am looking forward to the sea," Kyo admitted. "We are a sea-faring nation and yet, as you say, duty keeps me bound to land."

He could see the curiosity burning, but Midori was too well trained to beg for answers to questions he should not be asking. "Your mission will keep you preoccupied I am certain, Highness, but I will see to it you enjoy the journey as much as possible. We will have to stop in a couple of ports for supplies, and perhaps there will be time to show you other places?"

"That sounds lovely," Kyo admitted. "As advanced and noble as you are, Captain, I am astonished there is no spouse keeping you firmly at home."

Midori laughed, amused and tired sounding all at once. "Sailors do not attract many spouses, Highness, least of all a high-ranking one, for my first love is the sea, my second is the family I serve, and no one wants to be, or ever should be, third."

Kyo flicked his fingers in dismissal. "I think you do not give yourself enough credit, Captain. Thank you for escorting me to my room."

Bowing low, Midori murmured in reply, "Thank you for permitting me, Highness. Dragons guard your sleep as they guard the Islands."

"The very same to you, Captain," Kyo replied and slipped into his rooms, closing the door behind him. He leaned against it and sighed, wishing briefly his life were that simple:  a lesser prince tending to the duties his brother did not have the time to address, married to the captain of the royal fleet, and every reason in the world to be happy with that lot.

But no, his life was not so simple. He was being sent to die so his family retained their magic, was instead going to die to take away that magic, and he would accomplish it by using Kinni to take him there.

He bit back an urge to laugh, afraid it would not come out as laughter at all.

"Master Raiden, the ship is here!"

Raiden looked up, amused as ever that, even though he had twenty-three ships to his name, only one was ever referred to as
the ship
, and that ship had only been in service a few years. He set aside the drafted contract that had arrived just that morning, along with a missive of urgency from Prince Nankyokukai, and went to greet Kin.

He strode out of his office and through the warehouse, wincing at the racket that his office mostly muffled. Men called out to him in greeting, and Raiden waved back, but did not slow his steps. Outside, he quickly made his way to where the
Kumiko
was docked. "Hail, Captain!" he called up cheerfully, grinning when Kin only shot him a scathing look in reply.

One of the sailors, already disembarked and helping to load crates on wagons and carts as they were hauled off ship, snorted in amusement and said, "Had several run-ins with the mermaids, Master Raiden, and a brief squall put us several hours behind schedule at the last moment. Otherwise we would have arrived half a day early."

Raiden laughed. "That would explain his sour mood, cert—" He broke off when he saw a tall man disembark, immediately recognizing his white hair and pale green eyes and feeling the power that emanated from him. Why was the White Panther in Kundou? He swept an elegant bow as Lord Ailill le Blanc drew close. "Your grace, welcome to Kundou."

"Thank you," Ailill replied. "Am I safe in assuming that you are the Master Raiden about whom I have heard so much?"

"Guilty as charged, your grace. Might I be so bold as to inquire as to your purpose in visiting our humble islands? Is there any way I might serve?"

Laughing, Ailill replied, "I am looking for something, actually:  a piece of jewelry."

"My specialty," Raiden replied. "I am certain that if Kin discussed me, he complained about how much money I waste buying up baubles. What piece of jewelry?"

"It's a tiara, made of rubi and esmeralda. Nine hundred years old, it's called—"

"The Roses of the Faerie Queen," Raiden cut in softly. "Set in white gold, lost a long time ago, but it was found about two centuries ago and sold to the White Bat of the time. Civil unrest caused it to be lost again, though rumors surfaced about fifty years ago that it had been found again. However did you trace it to Kundou? I have heard no rumors that it is here."

Ailill's mouth tightened. "You won't. Anyone who spilled the rumor is dead. Someone of Piedre origins has it, and I believe he has made his way here to hide."

"Then he will likely be in the Sand district, your grace. That is where the foreign citizens tend to gather when they do not want to draw attention. Here, I will have someone escort you. Yuki!" he called the young man over and gave him orders.

"Thank you for the assistance, Master Raiden. Your knowledge is most impressive."

"I love jewels," Raiden replied with a casual shrug. "Good luck in your hunt. The Roses belong in Verde, and I fervently hope they return there with you."

Ailill smiled at him. "Bid your Captain farewell for me; he's a good man."

Raiden nodded, then glanced up at Kin, amused that he had dallied with Ailill when he was usually so staunchly against mixing business and pleasure. "I will, your grace. Farewell."

"Farewell."

He watched as Ailill walked away, led by Yuki, until they vanished from sight. The sound of footsteps approaching finally drew his attention, and Raiden turned, smirking. "Kin, how unlike you to fuck a duke—and a White Beast at that! I see you are finally learning to be—"

"Oh, shut up. I refuse to be mocked by a man who looks like he got into a fight with several cans of paint and came out the loser for it."

Raiden ignored that. "So I hear you suffered an inordinate number of attacks."

Kin grimaced, folding his arms across his chest. "They're getting worse, yes. I'm still handling it, but unfortunately I think it would be best if the
Kumiko
stayed in port for an extended time."

"Not an option. We leave again in two days. Make certain she's ready for a journey to Pozhar, and from Pozhar we will be going to Sanhoshi."

"I'm not certain what part of that statement makes me want to punch you most," Kin said, barely unclenching his teeth enough to get the words out. "We just got back, Raiden! Even at the busiest times of year you give me five days home before I am gone again! And what do you mean by 'we'? You do not travel with your ships, not ever. I do not want you on mine. Why in the name of the Dragons' are we going to that storm-forsaken island?"

Raiden nodded his head toward the warehouse. "You're going to want a drink before I tell you."

"The moment we are out to sea, I am throwing you overboard," Kin snapped and ignored the warehouse in favor of stomping off down the street toward his favorite pub.

Sighing, Raiden decided he'd better give Kin time enough for a couple of beers before he broke the news that they were going to be escorting a royal prince and had agreed to more or less obey his every wish. Turning to the crew unloading his goods, he chatted with them about their recent voyage in detail, the troubles they encountered with the sellers and buyers abroad, tucking every little scrap of information away. "I have new buyers coming tomorrow for the Pozhar wools, so make certain they don't store those too far back."

"Of course, Master Raiden."

Raiden left them to it and finally went to go find Kin.  He slipped into the pub, ignoring the momentary hush that always fell in his wake.  He pushed his way through the crowded pub to the corner that was Kin's usual seat. Kin, as ever, was equal parts beautiful and dangerous looking. A hush might have fallen when Raiden stepped into the room, but it was to Kin everyone gave a wide berth. In a room full of people with dusky and sun-gold skin, and hair ranging from pale blue to deepest violet with nearly every ocean shade in between, Kin had white skin, white hair, and stormy eyes. Dressed in all black with only a gray sash to cut the severity …

Well, no one ever picked fights with the two of them. Those who knew them well left them to pick fights with each other. Raiden thanked the woman who brought him a bottle of his favorite cheap wine and a cup.  He poured out a small amount, sipping it slowly for a moment before he finally said, "I am sorry we must leave again so soon. I was hoping we would have more down time, but circumstances changed as of this morning, and a bargain struck is exactly that."

"I don't want to know," Kin groused, finishing off what was likely his second beer and signaling for a third that was almost immediately brought. "Tell me."

Raiden pitched his voice low enough that Kin would still hear him, but no one else. "We have been hired by Prince Nankyokukai to take him wherever he wants to go, and where he wants to go is Sanhoshi."

"Why?"

"He has not said, and I do not ask questions when I think I will not like the answer," Raiden said, finishing his wine and pouring a new glass. "I received a missive from him this morning saying that we must go within two days, so that is what we shall do."

Kin scrubbed at his face, and Raiden noted the fresh scratches on his hands and arms, sadness washing over him as he compared the hardened sailor with the boy who had snuck aboard one of his ships so many years ago. Kin scowled when he caught Raiden looking. "What? No man dressed like an advertisement for the city brothels should look that somber."