幕間　波紋 Interlude: Ripples

Pillars of jade and aventurine lined the palace’s inner walls. Kneeling before the throne, five rats looked up from their rising bow, whiskers drooped slightly in respect, eyes unwavering, tails lain upon the fine fabrics that made up the opulent rug that covered the floor.

“My Holy Emperor,” one rat spoke, pushing to six feet and nine inches tall, ten and a half with his geta on his feet. A silk-like brown fur covering his body, shortened whiskers that twitched at errant noises and movements, “If you would perk your ears to my audience,” he continued, “the scourges are far ravenous; villages in the south of My Holy Emperor’s domain have been turned to seas of blood. The prefecture of Nankou cannot bear the brunt of this invasion alone. My Holy Emperor, I request,” he pauses for a moment, sinking into a deeper bow, “humbly, that the prefecture of Nankou be reinforced. Mayhaps another lord’s platoons join fro—”

“No!” a towering rat booms from his side, he clears his throat and places his forehead on the ground, staring down into the fabric, “Excuse me, My Holy Emperor,” he apologises, “My battalions are already weighed down by—”

“That will be all.” the rat sat on the throne responded, raising himself from his ornamental armrest.

He stood up, only a little taller than the brown rat who spoke before, Nankou-tono (a suffix meaning “lord”).

As the Emperor rose, the lords bowed deeper, coming to all fours with their backs bent. The emblem on his belt shone a fantastic crimson red, his silk kimono flowed in the breeze through the open windows of the palace. As did his vermilion green fur.

Then he spoke.

“Guards. Mobilise the Royal Mikami. Send them south.”

“And as to what order to ordain?” one guard responded. The lords and guards all looked up with bated breath. One winced at the anticipation.

“Cut down anything red.”

The guards bowed, then in an orderly fashion, departed.