Inevitably, the days slipped by like a speeding wind. With Koji and Aiya closer than ever to leaving, Ira’s depression returned with twice the glumness.

Central administration was a busy hub of nobles going in and out to do business. In River, their father and his subordinates preferred to pay visits to others rather than having them show up on his doorstep. The meeting grounds were even kept at a distance from the Takasa estate. It was a signal of their superiority.

Here in Agriculture, nobility and commoners alike had almost direct access to their ruling clan.

Koji lifted his game piece off the Maton board and moved it to the fourth square on the left. Ira’s board was left with five gold pieces: king, pawn and vassal, while Koji retained most of his pieces, save two pawns and a monk. Koji looked at Ira expectantly. Normally, Ira would offer more of a challenge to his brother, but right now he couldn’t be bothered.

The wide space of the office held four rooms in each corner, shut off from the rest of the building. The citizens around them busied themselves at desks or standing in groups, while Totane sat with his mother off to the side, facing her in conversation. The background noise was drowned out in Ira’s gloom.

Koji settled on something around them. “There’s a crane painted on every other wall in this city. Then again, they are the provincial animals of Agriculture. They’re also abundant in southern River. It’s been a long time since we’ve been to southern River.”

Ira was hardly moved to respond. “Did you move yet?”

“Yeah, sorry, I was just taking your king.” Koji snatched it from the board.

Ira simply eyed him.

“Not even a ‘Koji, you bastard, you do this to me every time we play! How did you manage to become so excellent?’. I’m worried that I’ve somehow broken you, Ira.”

“I’m broken as can be for a Ginju,” Ira said. “Try not to end up like me when you get back to Forgery.”

Though it was no fault of his own, he couldn’t help but feel he’d somehow been absent for a large part of Aiya’s life. He’d thought she long ago gotten rid of whatever held her back from her deity. In truth, she had always fought with a handicap worse than his own. She’d probably held the information back for his own sake, to help with his own recoveries, but the omission still hurt. Even so, he was glad that she was stronger now. He couldn’t deny that he was also a bit jealous.

His own circumstances could not compare. She likely overcame her shortcoming with sheer talent, whereas he was simply cursed. I lied that I prayed to the Kiru for their safe return, when I was selfishly only praying for myself. My prayers did not deserve to be answered.

He’d asked his sister to be honest with him, but in reality, he had not been completely transparent with her, reluctant to share the details of his current condition. The last thing he could afford was for them to concern themselves too much with himself and risk distraction from their mission. Of course, Aiya no doubt employed the same logic when she kept her own secrets.

Part of him knew there really were spirits out there, somewhere, but they certainly would not waste a morsel of their time on the likes of him.

Koji placed the king back down next to the pile he had already stolen. “Ira, I understand. Fate has turned against you, the future is dim. As your brother, I get it. You’re fucked. Except you’re not, and we’re going to finish all of this like you planned from the start, and you’re going to be the piece that makes it all possible. You’ll be just like my warrior.” Koji twiddled the red wood piece in his fingers. “Now let’s start over and actually enjoy our time together. I need a challenge, something to think about on the way back.”

“I was happy when you came back,” Ira said. “It was the happiest moment of my life. Now that you’re leaving again, I’ve realized nothing has changed. Life is just going to go back to sucking.” Humiliating even. He recalled his reunion with Aiya. She hadn’t noticed his cane, she’d told him, and oh, how nonchalantly she had said it. So normal, as if it had always been a part of him. He’d accepted his fate, but wasn’t ready for it to be accepted by his own sister. That felt too permanent.

“You’ll get better with time, Ira, just as your caretakers said. Believe in yourself.”

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“Doubtful.”

Koji paused, then placed down the piece he was fiddling with. “Whatever. There’s something the Empress told me, told us that might take your mind off things. Though not in a good way.” He leaned in close, eyes lit with a sudden seriousness. “Apparently, we may not be siblings at all. Apparently me, you and Aiya all come from common blood, and from different mothers. Father went as far as to bed three common women for the sake of disgracing us. He did everything to keep us lower than himself in his eyes. That’s what the Empress said, anyway. I don’t know if she was lying, but something in me very much doubts it.”

“Riveting,” Ira said.

Koji stared at him. “I don’t think you quite understand, Ira. Not only are we not actually nobility, we’re not even fully blood related! And father kept that from us, lied to us all those years.”

“Well, I might as well be a commoner in the state I’m in, and for all the good I’ve done.”

Koji sat back, hands on bent knees. “Now you’re being ridiculous.” They sat in silence for a while, listening to the scrambling and chatter around them. “Have you tried possibly seeking the river to help with your recovery?”

Ira watched the game board. He wouldn’t speak of that again, nor try it. If his connection never returned, there would be nothing to hold him back from spiraling into despair.

“Just a thought.”

“Ira-shen!” called Cheri, cheerfully from across the room. “Ira-shen, Ira-shen! Deliver your dearest a cup of tea, if you would.”

Ira bristled, straightening himself. An intense irritation set upon him, though he stood despite himself. He made his way to the steaming tea kettle on a floor table, which was fresh and brought to the office every hour. Several ceramic cups sat empty around it. With reluctance, he grabbed the kettle and began pouring it as ordered. As if I weren’t low enough, now she insists on making me her dog! If he wasn’t going to be of any real help, he’d rather be of no help at all. It wasn’t the action itself that bothered Ira so, but the false sense of a good it gave him. In the end, he was nothing more than a servant waiting to be disposed of. Further was the unpredictability surrounding Cheri that caused him to dread any request she made. Sometimes she would gently ‘remind’ him how to do something right, and other times she might throw a fit, no matter how nebulous her instructions. It all served to remind him on a daily basis, that he was a cripple and a guest, a Ginju from the former highest clan of River province, forced to serve the whims of an ill High Lady of another province for the rest of his days. There was deep sympathy in him for Cheri’s other attendants.

Ira glanced through the periphery of his vision. Totane was standing by his side. The Agriculture lord did nothing at first, said nothing. Then, conversationally, “Lady Cheri, my mother, she can be a lot sometimes. A real hassle, I know. But she means the world to me, and Risako, and to the rest of us. While we’re away, we expect you to take great care of her, and to put her life before your own.”

Glancing again before returning to the tea, Ira said, “Sure. Of course, my lord. Anything you say.”

Totane furrowed his brows. “You know, I really appreciate what you’ve done for the Republic, and for that, I respect you. I’m serious about my mother. As you’ve seen, she’s delicate and a bit easily swayed. We trust you to keep her safe.”

For the first time, Ira looked up. Not in Totane’s direction, but toward Cheri. More accurately, the spot where she still sat, smiling expectantly as a man he recognized crossed the room towards her. It was the man whom he’d witnessed squealing at some poor common woman the day he’d gone to the aviary. He jiggled this way and that as he approached Cheri, grinning widely before opening conversation.

“Serious question, have you been seeing that man around a lot, lately?” Ira asked, not taking his eyes off the scene.

Totane’s face contorted into a full-on frown. “Are you listening to me? Did your mishap affect your hearing too?”

“It was a genuine question, but it looks like if that guy keeps showing up, I might not have to be old Scatterbrain’s little dog any-”

The right side of Ira’s face burst in colorful red before he could blink. Totane’s slap connected in an instant, like steel against iron. Thrown off balance, Ira fell to the floor, the right side of his face tingling and hot.

Every conversation died out in an instant, and every pair of eyes in the room turned to watch the situation unfold. Koji shot up from his position, while Ira stared back in bewilderment.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Koji demanded Totane. There was a rare gravity to his voice, a guttural displeasure.

“Totane, why did you do that?” Cheri asked from across the room. “Why would you hit poor Ira-shen? He has a cane!”

Totane and Ira didn’t let go of each other’s gaze for a long time. Finally, Totane turned away. “Apologies, Ira. I…haven’t been myself lately. But I won’t let you speak down about my mother. And I won’t let you go without promising to take your task seriously.”

Ira scowled. “Do you think I’d forgotten my oaths already? For the Republic I live, and for the Republic I will also die. I’ll keep diligence in whatever tasks I’m required to do.”

Totane regarded him, scrutinizing. “When you recite those words, I hope you mean them.”

He grabbed the full cup of hot tea and brought it back to his mother. Ira, face still burning, looked from Totane to Cheri, who was already excited again for tea, to the jiggly nobleman, whose eyes locked with Ira’s own in a hateful glare.