It looked so much like home.

Saiyun sat on a curb down the street from the Hangzai Empire's embassy. The building looked was surrounded by a low wall and Saiyun could see carefully cultivated trees scattered around the grounds. It was almost an exact replica of Magistrate Tiyake's manor back in Channan Harbor, where this whole debacle had gotten started.

It was having more of an effect than he expected.

"So, uh," Yazwa said, gently tapping her staff on the ground next to him. "Do you want to call this off? There might be another way that's less risky."

Saiyun slowly shook his head, staring at the dirt road. She meant well, but they both knew they were out of options. They only had one more night at the inn and no other way to make money. Bill was still locked up and Saiyun doubted that however fierce their reputation, the Vathlanri couldn't take out Azun's shipyard on their own. There was only one path home and it led through the embassy.

Slowly, he got to his feet, dusting off his robes. "No, I'm ready." The dark blue cloth was hot and itchy in the tropical sun, and Saiyun marveled that he actually missed the tattered clothes he wore so often. "Do you remember what we're telling them?"

"Yeah," Yazwa, tucking a stray dreadlock behind her shoulder and glancing around to make sure no one was listening. "The truth, except for what we're capable of."

A chuckle escaped Saiyun's throat as he forced himself to take the first step toward the embassy. After months of sailing under a pirate flag, his only hope lay in the ambassador believing their ridiculous tale. If he didn't, the best-case scenario was getting tossed out of the embassy as either lunatics or con artists. "The truth," he agreed as they made their way down the dusty street.

A short man sat on a shaded desk just outside the double doors with a stack of paper and a multitude of colored strings. "Old Qis?" he asked as they walked up.

"Yes, but I would prefer to speak Gray. My friend only knows it," Saiyun answered, gesturing to Yazwa.

"Fine, fine," the man replied, dipping his pen in the inkwell and laying out a fresh sheet of paper. "Names?"

"Saiyun Li Enoashi, of Chanan Harbor," he said. "And this is Yazwa Imala of Ibscaal."

The man let out a low whistle as he jotted their names down. "You two are a long way from home. What's the reason for your visit?"

"We carry an urgent message for the Ambassador," Saiyun answered. "We must speak to him right away."

"Good luck with that," the man mumbled as he wrote. "I had a merchant captain file a petition to meet with him three weeks ago. It still hasn't gone through."

"Well, this is important," Yazwa added.

The man gave her a look. "Important how?"

Saiyun cleared his throat. "I am an official of his Imperial Majesty's government. I carry..." he trailed off, deciding against speaking directly about the treasure fleet. "I carry vital naval secrets for the Ambassador's eyes only."

"Official business...related to the navy," the man said, blowing on the ink when he was done. Then he folded the paper in half, punched a hole in it, and tied a pair of red and black strings through the hole. "Go up the stairs, take a left, and hand this to the man at the desk. Someone will come to see you once your request has been processed."

"Thank you," Saiyun said, hiding his frown as he took the paper. Red and black. That was missing the white string that would mark the request as urgent. Something like this would take more time than they had to wait.

He eyed the lengths of white string on the table and sorely wished Aven was here to steal one for him, but it was too much of a risk, and he passed the table by, climbing the stairs into the building. "Do you have any loose white threads on your dress?" he whispered to Yazwa.

"What? Yes, why?" she said, leaning towards him.

Saiyun looked up and down the corridor, a few people were lingering around, talking in low voices. "Hold still," he said, dropping the paper and crouching down to pick it up. He reached out and snagged a loose thread from Yazwa's dress, quickly tying it next to the others before straightening up. "Now we have a chance at getting seen today."

They handed the paper off to another man at a desk and sat in a pair of rickety, threadbare chairs. "How long do you think this will take?" Yazwa asked, struggling to sit comfortably.

"Bureaucracy works at its own pace," Saiyun shrugged, leaning his head against the wall.

Fortune seemed to favor them, as after a short wait, another man emerged and spoke in hushed tones with the man at the desk. "Come with me," he said, ushering them into an office.

The man was dressed almost exactly as Saiyun, save for a shiny brass badge on his robes. "I am sorry for the mixup," he said, taking a seat behind his desk and looking up at them. "Official documents can be handed straight to a receiving officer; they don't need to be my level of official. If you'll just hand me the sealed envelope I'll send you on your way."

Saiyun frowned, trying to figure out the best possible way to say what he needed to say. "We don't carry any official documents. While we were at sea, we spotted the Treasure Fleet, and we wish to report what we know to the Ambassador."

The official's eyes narrowed. "Yes well, if you wish to write an official report, you may submit it to us and we will pass it along to the Ambassador's naval advisor. Good day."

"Not good enough," Saiyun said, surprised at the edge in his voice. "We have seen the Treasure Fleet with our own eyes, and it is vital that we personally inform the Ambassador of what we have seen."

"You and every other sailor in this port have seen it," the official scoffed. "If you wish to submit a written report, you may. The Ambassador does not need to hear any more wild tales."

"When was your last news dispatch from the Empire?" Saiyun asked, voice cold. "Three, four weeks ago?"

There was a moment of confused silence before the official spoke up. "Six weeks. What does that have to do with anything?"

"Think about what happened in Chanan Harbor three months ago," said Saiyun, gently flexing his fingers and staring the official down. "It must have made some good gossip."

The official's eyes widened as he leaned back in his chair. "Saiyun..."

"I am Saiyun Li Enaoshi," said Saiyun, putting his hands on the desk and leaning in close. "I stand falsely accused of embezzlement, arson, and the murder of Governor Menshi. To clear my name I sailed across the Raoin Sea under a pirate flag, fighting my way through armies and demons before I was taken prisoner by the Treasure Fleet. I parlayed with Azun himself before I escaped his flagship as it burned around me. All so I could make it here."

The official sat stock still, several shades paler than he had been a few seconds ago.

"Now," Saiyun said, straightening up. "Will you send me to meet the Ambassador, or do I have to go find him?"

–

Ambassador Shaoten's private chapel was quite nice, all things considered. It was large enough to hold a dozen people comfortably, with a large, cushioned bench in the middle of the hexagonal walls. Narrow windows with thick glass ran floor to ceiling, illuminating the walls painted with mythological scenes. Five altars stood in front of each wall, bearing unlit candles and tall disks made of colored glass.

"I think being sent here is a good sign," Saiyun said, slowly pacing in a circle around the room. "Better than having the guards called on us."

Yazwa took a seat on the cushion and stretched. "I thought that guy was going to pee himself," she laughed.

"It was unnecessary," Saiyun scolded himself, making another circuit of the room. His anger was fading, and the satisfaction of scaring the obnoxious official was fading as well. They were lucky no one else had been in the room when he'd declared his name and crimes. "But it did get us here. Be ready to cut your way out of here if they send a pack of guards after us."

Yazwa stood up, glancing at the only way in, a set of black-painted double doors. "Do you think that's what they're trying?"

As far as ambushes went, it made perfect sense. The chapel was at the far end of the grounds, away from the busy street. There was only one way in and out.

Saiyun reached over to tap one of the beams that held up the ceiling. It was solid, probably solid enough to call on Jado in an emergency. "Maybe, but I doubt it," he said, taking a seat. "There are other places just as good as here on the grounds that aren't quite so breakable. Putting us in here is sending a message, so we should stay put."

"I guess they don't want you going looking for him," Yazwa chuckled.

Saiyun's response was cut off by the sound of footsteps outside the door. He stood, resting his hand on the hidden Jado doll as the doors burst open.

"Leave us," a man snapped, slamming the doors shut behind him and leaving a pair of flustered guards on the outside. The man was richly dressed, with a set of robes dyed bright yellow embroidered with the image of a soaring black hawk. There were a multitude of rings on his hands and his shoes were fine leather with golden buckles. A tall black hat failed to cover his balding head, half covered with the same wispy gray hair that made up his beard.

"Ambassador Ongmin Sa Shaoten," Saiyun said, bowing deeply and gesturing for Yazwa to do the same. "I am Saiyun Li Enaoshi. This is my friend, Yazwa Imala. Thank you for seeing us on such short notice."

"Well," said Shaoten, breathing heavily. "It is not every day one of the most wanted men in the Empire walks into my home and demands an audience."

Saiyun flinched at the gentle reprimand, but the Ambassadors' demeanor gave him hope. He was out of breath, his robe was tied sloppily, and there were a few crumbs in his beard. Clearly, he had rushed here to see them privately.

Saiyun straightened up and looked the man in the eye. "I would not have been so bold if the circumstances were not so dire. What I said was true, I have been aboard the treasure fleet and made my escape. There is much you need to know."

"Start at the beginning," Shaoten said, waving them away from the cushions and taking a seat himself. "With the murder of Governor Menshi you are supposedly innocent of."

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"Of course sir," Saiyun said, standing in front of Shaoten where he was quickly joined by Yazwa. "It was to do with my charge of embezzlement, which was committed by Menshi himself. He stole and sold a valuable tapestry from the vaults of a temple of En Chitei. When the theft was discovered, he framed me, and I was compelled to sign a letter of confession. Soon after that, I drank myself into a stupor, and Magistrate Tiyake's manor was burned down by pirates as a distraction to steal from his safe room. Yazwa rescued me and carried me to the ship of Headless Bill."

Shaoten sputtered and held up his hand. "Wait. Wait. Did you say...do you mean...?"

"Yazwa was familiar with him and thought his ship would be the safest haven for me," Saiyun said.

Yazwa smiled nervously. "I was kind of right. And I was only hanging around him to find someone who can break my curse."

"Curse," Shaoten muttered, adjusting his hat. "Yes well...this does not explain the murder of Menshi."

"The Governor was a skilled warrior. He chased me down and came to blows with Bill and his crew. They won," Saiyun said, hoping Shaoten did not ask for more details. He spent most of that fight cowering in the cabin. "With nowhere else to go, I sailed away with him. Bill told me that the only way to regain my standing in society was to be useful. That if I sailed with him and helped him strike a blow against Azun, I would be welcome back with open arms."

"Did you?" Shaoten asked quickly. "Strike a blow. I was told you destroyed his flagship."

Saiyun grimaced. "Not quite," he said, shifting back and forth. "The rumors you may have heard about Treasure Ships sailing again are true. I have seen the vessels for myself. The pirate fleet Bill assembled to pillage them was completely outmatched. All that could, fled. Our ship was overtaken, and we were brought aboard the flagship as captives. That's where I met Azun."

Shaoten was silent, giving only the barest nod for Saiyun to continue.

"We meet briefly. He told me of his plans and asked me to carry a message to the Emperor for him," Saiyun said, shivering as he remembered Azun's cold eyes. "I agreed, but before I could receive one of Bill's allies intervened. A massive dragon flew down from the sky and attacked to rescue him."

"Is the fleet gone?" Shaoten asked, gripping the cushion tightly.

"We are not so lucky," said Saiyun, brows knit. Something...seemed wrong. "Three of the Treasure Ships had their masts destroyed and their sails burned in the escape. The rest are still intact. I counted at least twenty.”

Shaoten sighed, looking down at his feet. "For a moment...I thought all our troubles were gone. If even a dragon is no match for Azun's fleet, what hope do we have?"

"More than you might think," Yazwa grinned as Saiyun pulled the logbook out of his sack. "Saiyun was crazy enough to go chasing after this on the way off the Golden Colossus."

The book weighed heavily in Saiyun's hands as he opened it up to the very first page. "Proof I was there. These pages are written in Azun's own hand."

Shaoten took the logbook and rested it on his lap and gently flipped through the pages until they turned blank. "Took on prisoners and rescued captives from Headless Bill," he read aloud. "It does prove what you're saying, but I don't see how this helps us."

"Bill and I decoded some coordinates on this page," said Saiyun, flipping back to the front of the book and pointing at the notes scribbled there. "We compared it with-"

"Wait," Shaoten snapped, putting his hand on the logbook. "You and Bill. Did he survive the escape? Is he here?"

"...Yes," Saiyun said slowly. "But first, let me tell you what we found. The coordinates of the shipyard where the Treasure Ships were built."

Shaoten was silent, staring at Saiyun puzzledly. "...and?"

"Ambassador," Saiyun said, choosing his words carefully. "Much of the Tsilen Empires Navy is at sea with Azun's fleet right now. Which means the shipyard will be unprotected. If we can attack it before the fleet returns to port, we could strike a crippling blow. You would be a hero. I'm certain you would have the Emperor's gratitude, perhaps even a new position in his court."

"A pipe dream," snorted Shaoten, waving him off. "The naval squadron at my disposal counts three leaky, half-crewed ships. Besides, what good would attacking the shipyard do? The fleet is already at sea."

Saiyun felt a spike of anger that he tried desperately to keep off his face. He'd wondered if Shaoten had been sent abroad to be kept out of the way, now he was certain of it. "I have told you of the size of the ships, Ambassador. There would be no other place for them to be repaired and no way to make new ones. Three have already been seriously damaged. Taking away Azun's ability to fix his damaged ships will weaken the fleet considerably. I have already convinced the Tavada Ata to take part in this attack."

"You...you allied yourself with Vathlanri?" Shaoten gasped. "You told them all this?"

"They won't be enough on their own," Saiyun pushed. "Which is why we need Hilt's help. They have a capable navy that could give us a better chance at success. They also have Headless Bill, which is why we need you to intercede."

"Hilt is sheltering Headless Bill?" asked Shaoten, rising to his feet.

Saiyun shook his head. "No, they have him in custody. That's why you need to reach out to whoever's in charge and get them to let him out. If you can arrange his release and convince Hilt to join this attack, you could be the man who struck the first blow against Azun's fleet. You."

A wealth of emotions crisscrossed Shaoten's face before he settled on a smile. "There's no love lost between Wabaro and Tsilen. I imagine she would jump at the chance to lay Azun's fleet low."

"You'll do it?!" Yazwa cheered.

"We have a time limit," Saiyun said quickly. "The Vathlanri intend to set sail in seven days, but I imagine they would delay if they thought they were getting reinforcements."

"I will send word to the Senior Batore immediately," Shaoten said, adjusting his hat. "The letter may take some time to get to her, but she can't ignore it when it comes to her desk. In the meantime, where are you two staying?"

"We have a room at an inn, but we're on our last night," said Saiyun. "We would appreciate it if you could find accommodations for us."

The ambassador nodded, crumbs of food shaking loose from his beard. "Of course, of course. What of your other two friends? Will they need rooms as well?"

"Well," Yazwa said, sharing a sheepish look with Saiyun. "They're off on their own right now."

"We have a meeting place pre-arranged," Saiyun said quickly. "Once we contact them they will need a place to stay as well.

Shaoten clapped his hands and smiled. "Excellent. I shall make all due preparations. But I must ask you to not...advertise your presence. People will ask questions if I give a known criminal shelter. All this fuss was...merely…a misidentification of an imperial envoy."

"Of course," Saiyun said, bowing his head. "I'm glad it was so easy to clear up this misunderstanding."

"Quite," said Shaoten, bowing as well. "I'll ask you to wait here while I get things in motion. No need to have too many people see my mysterious guests."

After the Ambassador slipped out through the black double doors, Saiyun's knees gave out, and he sat down on the padded bench. "It actually worked," he said, half-sighing, half-gasping.

Yazwa slapped him on the back, taking a seat next to him. "It went perfectly! We have a place to stay AND we have a way of getting Bill out of jail. If you can convince the Senior...the Senior Whoever to join the fight with Azun, you definitely have a way back home."

Saiyun took a deep breath and wiped his sweaty palms on his robe. "One thing at a time."

A glint of silver light caught his eye and drew his attention to the mural in front of him. It portrayed a massive storm with people and animals carried by strong wind as lightning streaked to the ground. At the very center of the mural sat a single seated figure surrounded by blue sky, a point of calm in the maelstrom.

"Yazwa? Would you mind stepping to the other side of the chapel? I want to light a candle."

"What? Sure," Yazwa said, standing up and getting as far away as she could.

Saiyun stepped up to the altar of En Chitei and used some flint and steel to light a small candle. He put it in the holder behind the glass disk, smiling a little as it shone with silvery light. Of all the gods, he had spent the least of devotion on En Chitei. Storms and battle were never part of the plan for his life. He searched his memory for any half-remembered prayers or chants, but came up empty. So Saiyun pressed his hands together and said the only thing he could think of.

"En Chitei, may your winds blow us back together again."

-

Ji sat stock-still, trying to meditate as the little boat rocked back and forth. She’d been sitting at the back, rowing it forward through the chop, but now it was Aven’s turn. In the light of day, hundreds of the little skiffs had been darting back and forth across the bay, but now that the sun was setting, only a handful remained. A thick mist was descending over the harbor, hiding the far shore from view. She glanced to the right, and a rush of anger welled up inside her as she spotted the many piers, each looking like the one she had been too weak to take in the morning.

A steady breeze blew over the boat, and Ji closed her eyes, breathing it in deeply. "I am sorry for my weakness," she mumbled in her own language so Aven would not hear. "I went against your teachings and fled from battle, but it will not happen again. Your winds have sent me here, to this time and this place. I will fight and win the battles you have put in front of me. See my strength, see my fury, and see that I am worthy of your blessing."

"We're almost there," Aven said, angling their skiff towards the shore.

Turning around, Ji clenched her hands into fists and drew in a shuddering breath. There it was. The pier they had been chased away from. "It’s deserted."

"Seems so," Aven mused, dipping his oar into the water. "But there are still some people on the other ones. We should make another pass and wait for them to go."

Ji rounded on him, eyes flashing. "You said," she hissed, fixing him with a glare. "You said they would probably move everything when it got dark. That if we didn't go after them now, they would slip away."

"That's why we should spy on them and see where they go," Aven said. "Remember, I said charging back in would-"

"We can't retreat!" Ji snapped. "The Achali will spot us if we try to keep watch on them anyway. The only way we catch them is if we move now! I will SWIM over if I have to."

"Fine! Fine, just keep your voice down," Aven said as he started rowing again.

A rush of guilt threatened to overtake Ji until she turned away. This was just another crime to him, not a matter of honor. If she had to keep him on track, then so be it.

As the boat drifted up to the pier, she grabbed a ladder and held them steady while Aven tied up. Her heart pounded harder and harder with each rung she climbed until it was thundering in her ears. Before her was the same door they had snuck through last time. This time, the Blood Achali wouldn't get away.

Aven followed her up, creeping towards the door and pulling out his set of lockpicks. But when he reached the door he paused and frowned. "Look at that," he whispered.

Halfway up the door was a muddy boot print that clearly came from a very large foot. "Someone else was here,” Ji said.

"Yeah," Aven replied, reaching out and gently turning the knob until the unlocked door clicked open.

Ji darted in, but a putrid smell stopped her in her tracks. She staggered, coughing as she fought back the urge to vomit. "What is that?" she gagged, covering her nose with her hand as a low, droning buzz filled the air.

"The smell of death and the sound of flies," Aven said, holding his hand over his mouth as he peeked around the corner of one of the shelves, looking deeper into the pier. He waved her forward with his free hand as he went forward.

The smell only got stronger the further they went, and soon, Ji saw the source. Two corpses lay on the ground, surrounded by a cloud of flies and a swarm of rats. The rats scurried away as they approached, but the flies paid them no mind. One body was headless, lying flat on its front in a pool of blood, its head nearby on the ground. The other lay on its back, empty eyes staring at the ceiling.

"What?" was all Ji could ask before another wave of nausea washed over her.

As she fought to control her stomach Aven crouched down to examine the bodies. After a quick look at the headless one, he inspected the other one. "Look at this," he said, lifting the corpse's chewed-up hand. "Whatever happened, it happened quickly. They didn't even have a chance to fight back."

Ji let out a feral scream and kicked the severed head as hard as she could. "This was MY fight!" she bellowed as the head bounced off one of the shelves and rolled to a stop. "Who did this?!"

Aven hurried over to her, frantically waving his arms. "Quiet, quiet!"

"This was my chance!" she roared, grabbing him by his shirt and shaking him. "They drove me away! I was supposed to come back and beat them! That would have proved I was stronger! now they're dead!"

"Ji," Aven gasped. "Listen-"

"What am I supposed to do now?!" Ji raged.

Aven broke her grip on his shirt and clamped his hand over her mouth. "Listen," he whispered, squeezing her mouth shut.

Over the droning of flies, Ji heard the creak of a door opening. "I don't care who pays you I- Oh gods, that smell!"

"Hide," Aven hissed, releasing her and darting into the shelves.

Ji followed, a grim smile on her face. Maybe it wasn't over. Another chance to prove her strength had just walked in.