Read The Twelve Kingdoms: A Thousand Leagues of Wind for Free Online

home was decorated with flowers. Paper lanterns hung from the eaves. From the eaves, the eye was drawn upwards to the soaring blue-tiled roof of the Highland Gate at the entranceway to the compound that housed the Hall of Government.
    A new king had acceded to the throne.
    The Ouki, the royal standard indicating the accession of a new king, had flown for two months. At last came the announcement of the coronation. The sight of the banners, signaling the arrival of the great day, was cause for much rejoicing.
    Crowds of people streamed down the wide boulevards to the Highland Gate. Inside the gate, between the Hall of Government and the Imperial Shrine (used primarily for ceremonial functions) was a wide plaza. The plaza was already jam-packed. Within the neat lines of black-armored Palace Guards and black-robed Ministers of State, and the row upon row of fluttering flags, a figure in black appeared on the rostrum of the shrine. The plaza erupted in cheering.

    The Imperial Regalia she wore was called the Daikyuu. It was comprised of a black robe, a black kanmuri or diadem, a pale red skirt, cinnabar apron and red slippers. And as if made to match on purpose, red hair.
    "She actually became Empress," Rakushun muttered to himself, recognizing the person standing in the middle of the luxurious room.
    Her presence evoked exclamations of admiration from the mismatched pair ahead of him, one tall man, one short. The Daikyuu was the most formal of the king's outfits. Its twelve ornamental insignia identified her supreme rank. Because she was a woman, her kanmuri was smaller. Instead, her hair was beautifully ornamented. The dragon embroidered on her robes was similarly elegant.
    The ceremony enthroning the new king had just finished. She looked over her shoulder and spotted Rakushun as he entered the room. A warm smile came to her face.
    "Rakushun," she said. She noticed the two men next to him and acknowledged them with a polite bow. "I thank you for coming all this way, Royal En and En Taiho."
    Enough with the etiquette, the shorter of the two said with a wave of his hand. "You look great, Youko. I'm sure the spectators saw what they came to see. Your subjects will be disappointed if you don't put yourself on display now and then. Besides, the general public knowing that they've got a babe for a monarch could come in handy in a pinch."
    Enki had an indecorous tongue and a completely nonchalant disposition. Youko grinned. She motioned for her guests to sit. They were the Royal En and Enki, the king and Taiho of the Kingdom of En to the north of Kei. The king's name was Shouryuu and Enki's name was Rokuta. En was the only country with which Kei currently had diplomatic relations.
    "It's been a while, indeed." She formally greeted Shouryuu and Rokuta. "For all your help I am indeed grateful." She bowed to the gray-haired rat standing next to them. "I must thank you as well, Rakushun. I certainly couldn't have made it to this point without you."
    "Oh, it was nothing." Rakushun said with a shake of his tail. "I'm a mere hanjuu. The king shouldn't be bowing to the likes of me. You're making me self-conscious."
    Youko laughed.
    She had come from across the sea, from the land of Yamato, the place she called Japan. Youko was born in Japan and had suddenly found herself thrust into this world, a world she knew nothing about. With the help of these three, she rightfully claimed the throne. A pretender by the name of Joei had raised an army and sought the kingdom for herself. With the Royal En and Enki at her side, Youko suppressed the rebellion. She of course appreciated all that they had done, but her depth of gratitude toward Rakushun was much more profound. Relentlessly pursued by the pretender's minions, Rakushun had rescued her as she lay on the verge of death.
    "I am indeed grateful to you," she said.
    Rakushun's tail fluttered back and forth. Rokuta couldn't resist chortling at his discomfiture. "It must be a rare thing for a king in