Read Sea of the Wind, Shore of the Maze, Chapter 7 for Free Online

of you guarantee that you will bring the Kou back without the slightest injury?"
    Risai nodded her head solidly. "We will definitely make sure he does not get injured in the least."

    "It's too bad we can't come with you. The nyosen need the permission of Genkun to leave the Five  Mountains. I know it's very dangerous there, so please consider the Kou's safety first while you're hunting.
    He must not come into contact with blood. This I ask of you."
    "Yes... Of course." A labored expression floated onto Risai's face. Teiei ignored it and continued  speaking.
    "If you really must kill a youma, one of you please take the Kou away first...even if it means  abandoning the other person."
    "Teiei..." Afraid that Teiei would keep talking, Taiki gently tugged at the bottom of Teiei's dress.
    "We are not setting off on a sightseeing excursion," said Gyousou with a stern look upon his face.
    "The main purpose of this trip to the edge of the Yellow Sea is to hunt for youju. Thus, I cannot guarantee  you that it won't be dangerous. However, we are most confident that we can protect the Kou, so that is why  we have invited him to come with us. For you to give us these instructed again and again, I must say that the  nyosen of Mt. Hou are being a bit too discourteous."
    Teiei looked unwaveringly at Gyousou. "...You are really full of self-confidence... I suppose that it  would be useless to say anymore..."
    Gyousou fearless looked back at Teiei, the unyielding glimmer in his eyes becoming more intense. "I  must please ask the nyosen not to worry. The Kou is the Kirin of our Tai Kingdom. Protecting the safety of  the Kou is the absolute responsibility of the people of Tai Kingdom. Can the nyosen accept what I have  said?"
    The two looked at each other for a moment, until Teiei looked away briefly.
    "What you've said does make sense... Then that is all I ask of you."
    "Of course."
    When Teiei turned to make her way back to the palace, Gyousou grasped his sugu's reins and said,  "The daylight is almost here. We should head out, Madam Risai."
    Though the tenba was galloping very quickly, riding upon it didn't feel shaky.
    Whether it was leaping across the crags, running upon flat land, or passing through the dense forests,  it completely didn't affect those who rode upon it. This steady feeling was not at all like riding on the back of  an animal. Sitting on top, Taiki felt both surprised and blissful.
    It seemed as if the tenba had exceptional eyesight in the dark. Even if it was going through areas  where rocks and trees were blocking the moonlight, it didn't slow down at all.
    "...What does it feel like?" asked Risai, who was holding Taiki with her arms as she clutched the  reins with her hands. Taiki turned back to look at her.
    "It's a lot like a kirin."
    Risai showed a little surprise. "You've ridden a kirin before?"
    "Yes... Is that strange?"
    Risai smiled wryly. "Now that is quite a rare experience. --Also, how could Hien compare to a kirin?  I feel rather embarrassed."
    "Really?"
    "Yes. Of course, since you are a kirin, you may not think that riding a kirin is anything special. But  for someone like me, I wouldn't dare to dream of riding one."

    "Oh..."
    Taiki had never thought about that before. Certainly, when he recalled riding upon Keiki, he felt a  little bit bewildered, but not that it was anything terribly special.
    "But really, I would never have dreamed that I would actually have the opportunity to ride upon the  same saddle with you."
    After Taiki looked up and saw Risai smiling, he tilted his head, which meant that he didn't object to  what she had said.
    Taiki had wanted to ask Gyousou for his opinion, but when he turned to look at Gyousou, who was  riding Keito next to them, he only saw Gyousou's profile as he looked ahead with a stern expression on his  face. Taiki supposed that Gyousou hadn't heard the conversation between himself and Risai.
    That frightening feeling emanated from Gyousou once