Part II, Chapter Nineteen: Kohashi Is Persuaded

Part II: Shiromori

"There is little overlap between those who are rulers and those who should be rulers." --Tasian dissenter, c. 1070 AE

April 24, 1110 AE
Shiromori Castle, Ayumora, Shiromori

"I take it there still hasn't been any sign of either of them?"

Kohashi needn't have asked; he already knew the answer. Ustelian's body language had a tendency to change with the status quo, and the man's stance had remained constant since he'd seen him hours earlier. Of course, he hadn't been optimistic to begin with anyway. Takamari had left him. His prisoner had escaped. Somehow, he had to deal with both disappearances without looking like a pathetic fool.

Ustelian shook his head. "I'm sorry, your majesty. Frankly, I'm surprised that you're in any functional state; were I in your shoes, I'd probably have barricaded myself in my bedchamber and cried."

He must have just been trying to be sympathetic, as Kohashi could not imagine any instance in which Ustelian would do such a thing. In any case, he could only frown. "If you're referring to my wife, the shock hasn't really set in yet; it seems so surreal than I can scarcely believe it as I see it. In the meantime, I'm more concerned about the prisoner at this point. I trust you told Banus all you know?"

The other man nodded. "He was... shocked, to say the least. He did give permission for you to do as you saw fit in that regard, and the added note that if you did not, he would."

"Convenient," Kohashi snarled bitterly. "The one thing we see eye-to-eye on, and the dog escapes from right under my nose. How am I going to explain this to Banus?"

Ustelian took a step forward. He was a few inches taller than Kohashi, but he had a way of making eye contact without having to stoop, or even appearing to be looking downward at all. How did he manage? Somehow, Kohashi doubted he'd ever know. "Fortunately for you, I've already thought of that. If the boy is on the run from you, then logically, he wouldn't show his face in these parts any time soon, correct?"

Kohashi's eyelids sunk to the edge of his vision. "Fair enough..."

"And if he's been hiding all this personal information from Banus, then he probably won't be running off to Tasius, correct?"

"Yes..."

Ustelian's eyes flickered toward the door. He then muttered, his voice lower than usual, "Well... seeing as this occured before the matter could become public... perhaps we could simply cover it up?"

Kohashi's brows arched. Coming from anyone else, he didn't think he would even consider a plan that relied on so many uncontrollable variables, but Ustelian had never steered him wrong before. "How so?"

The other man glanced toward the ceiling. "We tell anyone who was aware of the incident that you decided not to wait and hung the man at dawn. If anyone asks, you cremated the body shortly afterwards. It's obviously not the best of plans, but this situation doesn't exactly present many choices."

He had a point. Defeated, Kohashi fiddled with his wedding band. "True. You may tell Banus; I believe I should rather tell my daughter myself."

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