Dear Jin,

Hi!

How are you? This week was great for me. I mean, not for Dow, who has been mopey. He's been working for the past few weeks. Actually, I tried taking him for a walk, and that normally does it, but he's still kind of not doing anything, more than usual, I mean. Maybe it's the weather getting cold, but Marcus says it's always coldest before the spring.

I found some ticks in his hair the other day, so I got one of those mops they use to scrub the floors and a big jar of soap and went at him. He really doesn't like getting washed. He even kicked over the jar. It was actually kind of amazing. I never seen him move so much. Anyway, I don't think it's the ticks. I think maybe he's backed up? I've been checking out his stools, and they look kind of square. I don't know what that means. I tried getting one of the shamans to check him out, but they won't listen to me. Then I looked into Marcus's library, and he doesn't have anything on it either. You're the Emperor now, right? Can you put out a reward for anyone who might know this kind of thing? Oh, what about Doctor Liu? Mom used to take us to him when we were like four. He was the one with all the huge needles. Can you ask him? Then you have all those diagrams of animal bodies on the wall anyway.

So, remember Livia? I told you about her last week. She's doing much better now. She's starting to smile again, for real this time, not like the fake ones I told you about. And she's even whipping the tribe back into shape. They're like a real family again. The brewers are brewing, and the smiths are smithing—just give us a few weeks, we'll be just fine!

It's been harder than I thought to make progress on the alchemy thing, but I'm trying pretty hard. Last week Marcus started working with me in the evenings, and since then I've made a ton of progress. Things have been going much better now. We can bounce ideas off each other. He says I'm a genius. I mean, everyone does too, obviously, but it means more coming from him, you know? He's really nice. I know you have to kill him, but could you make it very quick and painless, please?

What else? Oh! Sabina tried talking to me, but I ignored her.

That's all from me for this week! How is Mother? How is Father? Is the war going okay? You better not be pushing yourself too hard. If you start losing, make sure to surrender quickly so they don't do anything bad to you! Just stay put, and I'll come and get you.

How are Sen and Tingting doing? Did you put Sen at the front line? You better not have. Also, you better not tell them I asked about them.

Love you always and forever,

Your sister Ruyi

***

To Marcus,

I write to you as a courtesy. Julia plans on flipping within two weeks; she will have declared for Lucius's side.

I know that you have something planned; you always do. Do me the courtesy of sharing what it is. Where I stand, things are about to grow ugly.

If you want my allegiance, I will need some assurances.

***

To Reina,

Thank you for the notice; this is much appreciated. And you need not worry, I do have a plan. I—

Marcus set the quill down and sighed, rubbing his eyes. He had less a plan than an idea, in truth, and it was far riskier than he was comfortable with. But he was the captain of a ship going far too fast to dock; all he could do was steer it and hope the wreckage left most of them alive.

He was missing something; he could feel it. He didn't know what it was, but he could sense its presence, or rather, its lack of presence. He kept a model of the realm in his mind, constantly updating—a map with more details than any of the ones sprawled across his study could hope to capture. It had the tribes and all of their statuses; it had the key players, him and the warlords, and even the Frigus tribe, and Ruyi.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

And something was missing there.

As though by fate, the door blew open and Ruyi came barging in. She didn't bother knocking anymore, but Marcus didn't mind. He wasn't sure what it was about her that gave him so much hope. Perhaps that a creature so kind, and in some ways so hopeful, could still exist in this gutter of a world. He knew she did not see the world the same way he did. Few saw as he did; he tended to be far more aware—and weary—of the darknesses of the world than its bright spots.

The girl plopped down on his couch, stretched out, and announced, "Jin just said his northern armies lost this big battle to take the capital of the Frostbite Peaks!"

"Oh," said Marcus, who had known about this two days ago. "I'm sorry to hear that."

Ruyi jerked up. "Do you think he should surrender?"

She had this way of saying things he would not have thought of in a thousand years.

"Surrender?" he repeated.

"Yeah," she said. "If you surrender, they'll take it easy on you, right? They'll show mercy.”

"Perhaps," Marcus allowed. "Perhaps he can strike a deal, certainly, and cede power, but perhaps not. Perhaps they may deem it better to eliminate him.”

Ruyi was quiet.

"Well, it's not too late to run, right?" she said. "He can just come to us, to your house, and won't you—"

"Oh," she paused. “…right."

"Even if I could," Marcus said gently, "I don't think he would come to us. It may be better for the human realm if he tries to defend it."

"Yes, but—" Ruyi bit back a sigh. "Yes, but I—" She flopped over, growling in frustration. "I just want him to be safe, but he keeps picking these stupid fights. It's like he wants to put himself in danger. It's kind of selfish, actually. Doesn't he know how sad I would be if he was gone? He's only thinking of himself!"

Marcus did not even attempt to unpack that.

"Ruyi," he said, then stilled. "Hmm."

“What?”

"I believe you have just given me an idea. Thank you."

"For what?"

"A way we might get out of this. I'm sorry—I must consider this. Let's chat over tea later, alright?"

"Okay…" Ruyi moped off.

***

Marcus paced the smooth, pebbled paths of his garden, waiting for a crane. He'd raked the pebbles over thrice now, but it couldn't calm his nerves.

When at last his letter came, he opened it with trembling hands and read, then sighed.

To Marcus:

Two of Lucius's divisions pincered us near Claw Valley. We were forced to retreat. We have lost one-fifth of our fighters; more are injured. We head east now to join with Gaius, that we may put up a better defense. I await good news, Marcus.

Your friend,

Aulus

Marcus folded the letter and marched with purpose back to his study. This was it, then. He saw no other path. He dipped his quill in ink and began to write to a player he had not considered a part of his game.

***

One morning, Ruyi joined the warriors' practice. Sabina seemed shocked to see her. It took her a breath to find her voice.

"Hello," said Sabina.

"Hello," said Ruyi. She swallowed. "I want to join practice."

After a tense moment— “Of course," said Sabina. "We would love to have you."

They spoke like strangers, like people meeting each other for the first time. Ruyi joined then, and they practiced—a morning of forms. Sabina led them through the slow, winding motions. Sabina wasn't so boisterously happy anymore; she seldom smiled at all, but she did nod and speak encouragement. Her posture wasn't so ramrod straight, her chest wasn't so puffed up. She used to carry herself the way people in statues carried themselves. Now, she just looked normal—it was like watching a crab without its shell.

Before, it had sometimes felt like Sabina was acting; her smiles didn't always reach her eyes. Maybe this was closer to who she really was. Ruyi hadn't known her at all, not really.

After they finished, Sabina came over to her with her head hung. She tried apologizing, but Ruyi shook her head.

"I know," she said softly. "When I was hurting and angry, I said things I didn't mean. I know you didn't mean it."

Sabina nodded. She didn’t seem to know what to say, so Ruyi pressed on.

“I don’t know if I can be your friend right now,” she said. Sabina had hurt her. It still hurt to talk to her. “But we don’t need to keep running away from each other either. We can just be members of the same tribe.”

“I would like that,” said Sabina softly.

Ruyi felt alright when she left. She’d felt such a strong urge to hug Sabina she almost gave into it, but she knew it wouldn’t be good for them both. Maybe it was possible to not hate someone and not love them either—she would at least try.