The Twelve Kingdoms: The Shore in Twilight Read Online Free PDF Page B

feelings of thankfulness filling her heart. "I really have been blessed with great fortune."
    She was truly happy. With the King and Saiho extending their best wishes to her in such a manner, a new future reached out before her. The Imperial Court would quickly be put in order and the people of Tai would welcome their new King. All their futures seemed bright and inviting.
    The kingdom and the people would prosper and be happy. To the bottom of her heart Risai was certain it would be so. Not in her darkest nightmares could she imagine that in a few short months all her dreams would turn to dust.
    Her noble visitor left at least this room of her residence glowing with a warm light, while outside the cold winds blew. The light surrounding Risai vanquished the shadows. But she couldn't forget the storm brewing beyond the door. A storm that froze everything it touched: the kingdom, the hills and dales, the streets and cities. The people.
    There could be no doubt about the sound of the wind that day, bearing the piercing cold on its back, availing itself of every opportunity to extend the reach of its icy touch. The whirling, howling wind seeped inside the ears and played its discordant song.
    Enveloped in the festive spirits, Risai was not aware of the wind. But here and there in her new home, the coldness hung in the corners and clung to the walls. Her feet were long to warm and the chill bit at her fingers. Her limbs were heavy with numbness, her senses distant. The only sensation alive in her was the raw, cutting cold.
    Like now. She was so very, very cold. She was freezing to death, along with the kingdom and its people.
    I'm so cold--

    "Are you awake?" a voice asked cautiously.
    Or that's what she thought she heard. Concentrating with all her might, she managed to crack open her heavy, cold eyelids. Through the dark shadows of her eyelashes appeared the worried face of a girl.
    "Oh, good," the girl said.
    The girl pressed something cold against her face. A chill shook her from the marrow of her bones. The icy thing causing it was pressed against her face. That's right--she was--
    "The Empress--" Risai muttered, coming back to herself. She probably didn't even hear her own self say it. She opened her eyes wider and searched the face of the girl. She saw no sign of that brilliant red hair.
    "Please rest. You're in no condition to get up."
    Only when the girl cautioned her did Risai realize she was attempting to get out of bed.
    But I'm still alive.
    The girl pressed her cool palm over Risai's hand. The cool touch of her skin relieved her mightily. So chilled and so cold, yet the girl's icy hands felt so pleasant.
    The girl rested her gaze on Risai and said slowly and deliberately, "You've gotten here in one piece. Her Majesty will meet with you whenever she can. So take it easy and close your eyes."
    "But--I--"
    "It's okay. It's okay. Go back to sleep, okay?"
    The girl took Risai's hand in her own and placed it against Risai's throat. There she folded Risai's fingers around a round object resting against the hollow of her throat. It was even colder than the girl's hand and engendered within her an even stronger sense of relief. Then she finally understood that her body was burning up, arousing the pain of fevers and chills.
    "You really must rest. You'll be fine. Youko won't forget about you."
    Youko, Risai repeated to herself. Her tongue felt like it was sticking to the roof of her mouth.
    "She's not here right now, but she's repeatedly stopped by to see how you're doing. She really is concerned about you. You've got nothing to worry about. You're going to be all right."
    Instead of nodding, all Risai could do was relax her brows. Her eyelids closed of their own accord. She heard the sound of the wind. But whether this was the sound of the winter wind raging at the door or simply the sound of the roaring in her ears--
    This is no time to sleep, Risai told herself.
    "If I am unable to meet with the Royal Kei--"
    "Risai,