"Searching for your sister. Not the best time to make your acquaintance, I know. My apologies."
Tyrus embraced his mother with one arm, the other still clutching his sword. "I am glad to see you are safe. I was going to look for you. I just--"
"You're busy trying to solve the current crisis. As you should be." She lifted up to kiss his cheek. "I'll not interfere with that. I saw Moria searching for her sister and wanted to say that she is not here."
"What?" Moria said. "The guard told me--"
"I suspect the guard told you whatever he needed to get you in here." Maiko cast a look behind Moria. "Which would not be the young man's fault."
Emperor Tatsu approached. "I did not tell him to lie about Ashyn. But yes, he could have extrapolated that when I said bring you all here by force if necessary. I have men searching for your sister, Moria."
Moria turned toward the door. "I need to find her."
The emperor stepped into her path. "I know you'r
e worried about your sister--"
"It's not just that. Um, and excuse my interruption, your imperial highness."
Maiko's lips twitched in a smile as Moria hurried on.
"While I am of course worried about her, I need her. We can dispel the shadow stalkers. That's the only way to stop them. Well, short of hacking them into tiny pieces and . . ." A glance at Maiko. "Apologies, my lady. I did not mean to be so blunt."
The concubine smiled. "Continue, child. Please."
"I need Ashyn. If we can get the court Seeker and Keeper, we can do even better. Together, we can end this quickly."
"She's right," Tyrus said.
The emperor nodded. "All right. But you will be guarded--"
"That . . . Again, um, apologies. But the stalkers have possessed guards. Sometimes they do not manifest immediately."
"Again, Moria is correct," Tyrus said. "Which is why I was trying to find you to tell--I mean ask you to put the guards outside. Do not tell them why. Simply order them to stand guard outside the doors."
"Is that your order?" the emperor said.
Tyrus flushed. "Deepest apologies. Like Moria, I am rattled, and in my attempt to be efficient--"
"No, I believe her forthrightness is rubbing off on you. I would say I was glad to see it, if that would not imply I'm encouraging insubordination from my son. I will admit only that I'm not displeased to see it. Your point is taken, Moria. If the guards are infected, they should not go with you."
"I can," Gavril said. "They'll not bother me when I'm with the Keeper."
"I will as well, naturally," Tyrus said.
"Naturally you will not," the emperor said. "I need you here."
"No," Tyrus said carefully. "You wish me here so that I will be safe. You need me with Moria, to add my blade to Gavril's and bring Ashyn and the court Keeper and Seeker back."
"When I said I was not displeased to see you being more forthright . . ."
"He is correct, though," Maiko said. "As much as I would love to keep him safely here, he serves better out there. His companions will watch out for him."
"We will, my lady," Moria said, and Gavril seconded it. After a quick embrace between mother and son, the three of them were off.
"We'll focus on Ashyn first," Tyrus said as they strode toward the exit. "Daigo? You can help with that, correct?"
The wildcat gave no reaction.