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Chisato awoke to an unfamiliar thatched ceiling and an intense pain in her stomach. Almost as though there was a knife sticking out of it—which, she remembered, there had been, just before she'd lost consciousness.
In any case, it seemed she was alive. Somewhat unexpectedly. She tried to sit up and instantly regretted it, instead trying her best to examine her surroundings from the position she'd been lying in. There were no bindings keeping her to the bed, which meant that whoever had found her either wasn't interested in keeping her captive or thought there was no way she'd be able to escape in her current state. And this hardly seemed, from the rough craftsmanship of the bed and bare surroundings, like a noble's house, so perhaps she'd managed to evade the clutches of her pursuers.
That felt optimistic, which had never been Chisato's style. The aristocracy spread its influence far and wide, tendrils creeping even into rural areas that might never have been "graced" by the presence of a member of the high houses. So it was entirely possible that she'd been taken up by some noble's hireling, or simply someone looking to earn some money by ransoming her off. And her companions, last she'd seen, had been bleeding out on the grass next to her; it seemed like too much to ask for them to have lived through the attack as well, and even if they had they'd be unlikely to be much help.
Chisato sighed. If she'd ever needed a lesson in humility, this was more than enough. Oh, she'd had power, and influence, and had been working steadily on a plan to secure those further, but in the end all that alliance-making and puppeteering had crumbled before the brute force of someone waving a sword in her face. Maybe she'd made a wrong decision, somewhere, or maybe the truth of the matter had just been that there was a limit to what one woman from a minor noble house could control in the vast political spiderwebs that surrounded her. But Chisato had never been the kind of person to despair at her defeats, much as she'd never taken any great joy in her victories. She was still breathing. That meant there was still something she could do, as hopeless as the situation seemed.
First off, it seemed prudent to get the attention of whoever else was in this house. There was no guarantee, of course, that whoever it was would be friendly, but she saw no real other option. Dealing with people had always been her specialty, in any case, and even though she had close to no leverage in any negotiation as things currently stood, a little creative accounting of the truth could go a long way. Though she had a feeling she might need more than a little, this time around.
A small bowl of water was laying on the crude table to her right, and after taking a sip to wet her throat, she let it fall to the floor, where it made an obnoxiously loud clattering noise against the wooden floorboards. A good way to draw some attention, and with quite a bit less effort than yelling.
Sure enough, after a few seconds there was the noise of a door opening, from a corner of the room outside of Chisato's current line of sight, and a woman soon appeared, brown hair tied up in a ponytail and practical grey tunic slightly smudged with dirt.
"My apologies," Chisato said, voice coming out raspier than she'd expected. "It turns out my hands are a little more shaky than I'm used to them being."
"Oh, don't worry about that!" She smiled at Chisato warmly. "I'm just glad to see you're awake. I was kind of worried you weren't going to make it, but Sayo said your injuries weren't quite as bad as they looked. How are you feeling?"
"I've been better." The friendliness was not unappreciated, but Chisato knew better than to let that appreciation turn into anything resembling trust for the woman in front of her.
"You're going to be stuck resting for a while longer, I think," the woman said, still smiling. "I'll get Sayo to take another look at you once she gets back." She bent over to pick up the bowl Chisato had knocked over, and Chisato couldn't help but notice her arms, all taut, defined muscles and faded scarring. The mark of someone more used to inflicting wounds than healing them, she suspected.
"Might I get your name? I'd like to be able to properly thank the people who rescued me." In any case, until this woman exhausted her kindness towards Chisato, it was probably best just to play along.
"Oh, I'm Lisa. And really, I'm not the one you should be thanking—I just found you, it was Sayo who did the work to make sure you didn't die."
"I'll have to make sure to thank her for that later. What of the others who were with me?"
Lisa's face turned suddenly grim. "They were dead when I got there. I'm sorry."
"…It's fine." She'd bought their loyalty with coin, to be sure, but they hadn't been bad people, her mercenary companions. And while she'd never been accused of being excessively sentimental, even she was capable of feeling sorrow at the deaths of people she'd known. And not just because of the loss of her investment.
"So I take it you're being pursued," Lisa continued.
"I was, yes, though if I'm lucky those pursuers are now convinced I'm dead."
Lisa gave Chisato a probing look. "Well, if you're looking to disappear for a bit, then this town's a good place to do it. It's isolated and rural enough—and there's those mountains to the north, too—that it isn't an easy place to find. Not impossible, mind you, but hard enough that it might throw people off your trail."
"I see." If any nobles got serious about hunting down Chisato, she had no doubt they would make short work of whatever protection the residents of this backwater thought they had. But she was nevertheless grateful for any potential obfuscation.
A jolt of pain ran through her stomach and she winced, prompting an apologetic look from Lisa.
"Sorry. I should let you rest again. Did you need anything before that, though, miss?"
"I think some rest is all I need at the moment, but I'd appreciate if you let me ask some more questions later."
"Of course!" She pulled a blanket back over Chisato and quietly took her leave, the picture of good hospitality. But there was something about Lisa—maybe the fluidity with which she moved, maybe the sharp look in her eye beneath the warmth—that made Chisato doubt that her rescuer was just a simple country woman taking pity on an injured traveler.
A place to disappear. The wheels in Chisato's head had already begun to turn, and she felt herself closing in on what could be the crucial bit of leverage she needed—or alternatively, a path straight into a very dangerous situation. But Chisato wasn't in a position where she could afford to avoid risks.
For now, though, all she could do was drift back into slumber once more.
A different woman was by her side when she awoke, looking much more serious—and a good deal less muscular—than Lisa. The woman (likely the Sayo that Lisa had mentioned previously) was methodically chopping up herbs on the table next to Chisato's bed, her eyes remaining concentrated on her task even as she spoke.
"I'm preparing some medicine to help with the pain. But you do seem to be healing better than I expected given your injuries."
"That's heartening news," Chisato said. "I'm very grateful for your assistance. I didn't expect to be here, to be quite honest."
Sayo finally turned to look in Chisato's direction. "I'm not the kind of person who would let someone die who could be saved. And Lisa isn't either."
"Fortunate that I ran into the two of you, then. I'm a little curious about your friend, though; seems like she knows her way around a sword."
"You're correct about that. But it's been some time since she's had to wield one, and I think that's for the best."
"So she's not looking for a new employer, then."
"…Let me just tell you this." Sayo's gaze had sharpened. "Helping to heal your injuries does not mean that either of us are interested in getting involved with whatever it is you're caught up in. You'd do well to remember that."
"Oh, of course. I would never get in the way of someone's quest for a quiet life. But I am interested in how both of you ended up in a place like this. You don't seem like ordinary country folk."
"I think you're asking a few too many questions for my taste. Whatever may have happened in the past should stay in the past. I have no interest in seeing Lisa hurt herself any longer." She thrust a mug in front of Chisato's face. "Drink this. Your wound's hurting, isn't it?"
"…Thank you very much." It seemed that Chisato wasn't going to get too much out of this woman, at least without changing her approach. Perhaps Lisa would prove more talkative, or perhaps Chisato needed to do a bit of asking around to gain what she needed.
She took a sip of the brew she'd been offered, which tasted terrible. Normally she would be reluctant about accepting a drink from someone she didn't know well, especially a woman who seemed to have a less-than-favorable opinion of her, but for now she'd just have to take solace in the thought that if Sayo had wanted her dead she would be already. It did seem as though the pain was dulling.
The innkeeper, a well-built man somewhat older than Chisato, gave her a surprised look as she somewhat awkwardly swung open the door.
"Are you sure it's all right for you to be out and about, missy?" he asked, eyeing the makeshift crutch she was supporting herself with.
"It's a bit rough, but I'm managing. There's only so long I can stand being confined to my bed."
"Well, it's fine news that you're feeling better. I didn't think you seemed like a very robust lass when Miss Imai brought you in, if you'll forgive me saying so, but I suppose you're tougher than you look."
"I've had good caretakers."
"Oh, they're lovely people, are Miss Imai and Miss Hikawa. Can never be sure about people who've come up from the city, especially ones who've spent so much time around nobles, but they've fit in well. Miss Hikawa's much more skilled with herbs than anyone we've had around before. Not just you she's helped fix up."
"I thought they might not be from around here," Chisato said, easing herself into a seat at a nearby table, "but this is the first I've heard of nobles. Quite interesting for them to end up in a place like this, then."
"I've never pried too much, it's not my style. But you hear things. Some of the travelers who come through here, they know more than I do about all of this noble business. Everyone says something about a Lady Minato. Not sure if she was an enemy of theirs or someone they served, but I reckon she's involved with why they're here."
"I can't say I know anything about the way nobles act," Chisato said, and the innkeeper laughed.
"Who does?"
The door opened again to admit a young man, and their conversation broke off. It wasn't much, but she'd been given a lot to think about. Minato was a house she had very little familiarity with beyond having heard the name, which of course meant she had no real idea what kind of person this Lady Minato might be. But any information was useful if deployed in the right way, and though Chisato's body was burning from exertion she still felt the warm glow of a successful negotiation running through her.
"So," said the innkeeper, returning his gaze toward Chisato, "what about you? I won't push if you don't want to tell me. But it seemed as though someone really wanted you dead. That's a heavy burden to bear for a young lass like you."
"As far as I can tell we just fell afoul of some bandits," Chisato replied smoothly. "Perhaps that explains why they didn't make sure they'd finished the job with me if it was coin they were after. But I didn't know my traveling companions very well, so it could have been one of them who was the target."
The innkeeper nodded sagely. "Always worth being careful about who you travel with. Your story makes good sense. I had trouble imagining why a girl like you would be being pursued, unless it was by suitors after your pretty face." He laughed again, and Chisato smiled.
"I'll be more careful in the future, though this was a harsh way to learn that lesson."
His expression softened. "I'm sure it was. Do let me know if there's anything I can do to help you, Miss… sorry, I don't think I ever caught your name."
"…Shirasagi." The lie slipped smoothly out of her mouth. There was a low chance that anyone in this town had ever heard of the name of her house, of course, but it wouldn't hurt to be absolutely safe. And, well, that house was likely no more, after the events that had driven her out of the capital, so there was no real value in continuing to wear its name, was there?
"Miss Shirasagi, then. Try not to work yourself too hard."
"Thank you for the advice," Chisato said, bowing lightly, and slowly made her way back towards the door.
Lisa greeted her with a smile as she returned to the house she'd been staying in.
"How was your trip out? Feeling all right?"
"It was perhaps a bit much for me in my current state. Though I did enjoy spending some time outside for once."
"I don't know if I've ever been hurt quite as bad as you were, but I know it's no fun, being out of the action for that long." She laughed.
Chisato eased herself back into the bed, a sense of relief flooding through her as her muscles relaxed. The mattress could hardly be considered comfortable, of course, but it was shocking the kinds of things one could get used to in dire circumstances.
"I do worry about being discovered, though, spending all of this time in one place."
"Surely it's a little early to worry about that, don't you think? I mean, you haven't been here that long, and you mentioned that your pursuers might think you're dead."
"It's a fair point. But the reach of the noble houses is wider than you'd imagine. Particularly that of the Lady Minato."
Lisa's eyes widened at the mention of the name, and Chisato had to resist the urge to smile. A good piece of bait she'd picked up, it seemed.
"…Minato. I see," Lisa said, smiling weakly.
"Oh? You're familiar?"
"Well… to be honest, we kind of agreed that we weren't going to talk about it with anyone. But seeing as you're involved… I mean, I'd feel bad if I kept something from you that might help you out."
"That's very kind of you."
"Not at all! I'm happy to have someone to talk about it with, really. There aren't a lot of people out here who are going to understand, you know?"
"I can imagine," Chisato said. "It must have been a rough transition, coming to a place like this."
"There's been a lot of adjustment. More for Sayo than for me, to be honest." A faint shadow passed over her face. "But you're more interested in hearing about Yukina—er, Lady Minato, aren't you. I don't know what she's been like lately, but I can tell you about her up until a year or so ago."
"Whatever you have to say is fine. I've got nothing but time for the moment, after all."
Lisa nodded and took a steadying breath. "I met Yukina when we were kids, while my parents lived on House Minato's lands. She was the daughter of the local lord and I was the daughter of, well, no one, really, but she seemed to take a liking to me regardless. Yukina was a sweet girl back then, a little isolated and awkward but genuinely kind, and I—as dumb as it sounds—felt like I wanted to do what I could to protect her. That was what got me started on training to be a knight, all those years ago."
"There are a lot of people who start things for those kinds of idealistic reasons," Chisato said. For once, her words were perhaps not entirely insincere.
Lisa gave her a sad smile. "And then realize that what they've gotten themselves into isn't what they imagined at all, is what you're implying, isn't it? I figured out pretty quickly that I wasn't cut out for violence, but even so I just couldn't bring myself to abandon Yukina. And, well, the winter after we became adults—so five years ago now—there was a raid on the keep while we were away on a diplomatic mission. Lord Minato was killed, and Yukina took over his position as head of house. That's where everything started to go wrong."
At some point, Lisa had begun fingering one of the scars on her arm; the usual warmth of her expression seemed to have almost completely drained away.
"She made me captain of her knights, first thing. I wasn't sure I deserved the position, but I couldn't deny that I was happy to know she trusted me that much. She'd started to rely on Sayo a lot, too, at that point—that was when we met for the first time. Sayo's always been more of a scholar than any kind of strategist, but Yukina had a lot of faith in her opinions. And so with the two of us to rely on, I was convinced she'd have the support she needed to succeed Lord Minato, even at such a young age. Or at least I was initially."
"I'm guessing Lady Minato didn't remain as sweet as the girl you knew in childhood."
"You're right. But you probably knew that from firsthand experience already, didn't you?" She laughed mirthlessly. "Losing your father like that would hit anyone hard, but Yukina became… cold. Obsessed with revenge. Unsparing in areas where her father would have shown mercy. When it first began to happen, I wanted to stay by her side in the hope that my presence could do something to balance her out, but you can probably guess how that ended."
"You fled here?"
"Yes and no, I guess?" Lisa smiled, seemingly in an attempt to add some more good cheer to their grim conversation. "She and Sayo had a huge argument of some sort, the particulars of which I'm still not entirely certain of, and it ended with her banishing Sayo from House Minato's lands entirely. It was an act of kindness to an old friend, she said, that made her decide not to have Sayo killed. That was the last straw for me, too. Even though I'd sworn an oath to her, without Sayo there I just didn't think I could bear the burden of trying to keep her in check alone. So I ran away with Sayo, and we ended up here."
"A messy story."
"And probably not one that's gotten any less messy since I was away, given what's happened to you. Have you seen her recently? Or heard anything?"
"I've not actually spoken with the Lady Minato before," Chisato said, picking her words carefully. "But what I've heard does align with what you've said. Most nobles who've managed to grasp power are ruthless, but her especially so."
Lisa looked deflated, then nodded. "Thanks for the information. Which house did you say you were from, again? Politics was never my specialty, but at one point I did have a fairly good grasp of which nobles Yukina was allying or fighting with."
"A side branch of House Shirasagi."
"Not one I've heard of." Lisa looked thoughtful.
"I wouldn't expect you to have. There are more minor nobles than any one person can keep track of, after all."
There was something resembling tenderness in Lisa's eyes as she looked at Chisato. "I really do hope things work out for you, Miss Shirasagi. I'm lucky, I guess, in that I'm pretty sure no one wants me dead right now. But I know what it's like to be in those kinds of life-and-death situations, and it weighs heavy on you even long after the danger is over. So I'd like to help you in some way, if I can. Especially if it's Yukina who's involved."
Chisato blinked for a second at the unexpected words. Sincerity was a rare commodity in the world she came from, and she was decidedly unused to having it directed towards her.
"Thank you very much. I'll think about your offer."
Lisa grinned broadly, and for a second Chisato felt guilty about taking advantage of someone who seemed this genuinely kind.
But only for a second.
As she unwrapped the bandage on her stomach, Chisato felt suddenly very grateful that she wasn't squeamish. The wound was closing but still remained an ugly, jagged, deep red, in contrast to the neat stitches—likely the handiwork of the woman sitting at the table next to her—that lined it. It was fortunate that it was in a place that didn't show. Not that she was overly vain when it came to her appearance, but there were certain benefits available to a woman perceived as pretty that a visible scar might close off to her.
"How's she doing?" asked Lisa, peeking in through the door.
"Better than expected," Sayo replied. "Any strenuous activity might reopen the wound, but other than that I think she's close to returning to normal."
"Great!" Lisa beamed in Chisato's direction.
"That means it's coming time to think about what I'm doing next," Chisato said. "Thank you very much for your hospitality thus far."
"It's no problem at all," Lisa said, and then vanished behind the door once more, leaving Chisato and Sayo alone. It had been obvious from the start that Sayo was much less fond of Chisato than Lisa was, but the atmosphere today was chilly even compared to their previous conversations.
Sayo helped Chisato reapply her bandage in silence, then finally spoke once it had been fully retied.
"I heard from Lisa. About you and Lady Minato," she said.
"Did you."
"It's all the more reason I'd like you to refrain from involving us in your affairs any further. Nothing good will come from Lisa or I seeing her again."
"That makes sense. But I did get the impression that there was some unfinished business between you."
"It can stay that way. Lisa has a tendency to be… reckless when it comes to people she cares about. If she feels like there's something she can do to push Lady Minato off this current course of hers, I'm worried she'll dive in without considering the risks. And as I said before, I've seen her hurt too many times already."
"You're very devoted. It's an admirable trait."
Sayo gave Chisato a sharp look, as though trying to figure out if she was being made fun of, then sighed. "I don't mean to suggest that all of this is your fault. It's just a troubling series of events, personally."
"I'm sure," Chisato said. "But don't worry. I've been inquiring around at the inn. I expect I'll be off traveling again as soon as this wound is fully healed, and hopefully I'll take some of your troubles with me."
The furrows hadn't completely disappeared from Sayo's brow, but she nodded, expression slightly calmer than before.
"Good night, Miss Shirasagi."
The spring sun was hotter than Chisato would have liked, but the shade of the old, gnarled tree she was taking refuge under made things a good deal more pleasant. Lisa seemed rather charmed by the bucolic atmosphere of this village, but Chisato, now that her injury was mostly healed, was beginning to realize just how utterly boring she found it. She missed the capital, its high-class tea, its tastefully decorated houses, the overwhelming amount of people housed in its walls. Which wasn't to say that she loved large crowds, but rather that she loved the intrigue of politics, loved the feeling of fulfillment she got from laying complex plans and then seeing them spring to life just as she'd intended. And there was no such complexity to be found in a place like this.
After a few minutes of staring out at the surrounding fields, she noticed Lisa waving in her direction, carrying something under one of her arms Chisato couldn't quite make out at this distance. She cut a nice figure, Chisato suddenly thought, between her smile, her tanned skin, and her well-defined arms. It wasn't hard to imagine her having had a number of admirers during her time at House Minato.
"Miss Shirasagi!" she heard Lisa calling cheerfully, and somewhat reluctantly emerged from the shade to meet the other woman halfway.
"You seem like you're in a good mood."
"Maybe just a bit." She pulled out the bag she'd tucked under her arm and offered it to Chisato. "Want some buns?"
"I suppose I'll take one." She reached her hand into the bag as the two of them retreated back into the shade. After spending a few moments eating in silence, Lisa spoke up.
"You're going to be leaving within the next couple of days, aren't you? What are your plans regarding that?"
"I was hoping to talk to you first, before I decided everything. Is this home for the two of you, now? You're going to stay here indefinitely?"
"It sure seems like that's what Sayo wants to do, at least." An unreadable expression had appeared on Lisa's face.
"…Pardon my saying so, but it seems a bit of a waste of her talents for her to spend her life crushing herbs in the countryside, assuming she was as good a scholar as you say."
Lisa smiled that sad smile of hers at Chisato again. "Believe me, I've thought that many times before. We haven't been unhappy out here, exactly, but this isn't really the life she deserves to lead."
"Those don't sound like the words of someone who's resolved to stick to the quiet life."
"What you told me got me thinking a bit. About whether I was a coward or not, running away from Yukina like I did. If she's continuing to act so ruthlessly, and I might be able to do something to make her stop, then I have a responsibility to at least try, don't I? But I don't know what one woman—one oathbreaker—can do."
"Then what about two women? I could certainly use someone of your talents. And House Shirasagi has many connections, even after what happened in the capital. It may take a while, but however you want to take on Lady Minato, I'm sure we can find a way to do it."
There was a brief pause, and then Lisa laughed. "You're smooth, aren't you?" she said. "You know exactly what to say to try and push me in the direction you want me to go."
"Are you opposed?" Chisato could feel her heartbeat rising. Where she normally would have had several backup plans to turn to, here she was betting it all on the success of her current gambit. She'd always hated the insecurity of gambling, but she couldn't deny that something about this situation was intensely exciting. Was Imai Lisa the kind of person Chisato had wagered on her being, or someone else entirely?
Lisa ran a hand through her hair, sighing. "All my instincts are telling me I shouldn't trust you, you know. I can tell you've been lying to me, even if I don't know exactly how often or what parts. I don't even know if you're telling the truth about Yukina. And yet…"
"And yet?"
"I don't think you're all bluster, despite that. If I had to guess, you got a knife stuck in your stomach because someone thought you would be extremely dangerous to them if you were to remain alive. And so while challenging Yukina from this position seems impossible, I'm not sure I'll get a better chance than this."
"I'm flattered to hear that. But I'd like a bit more of a concrete answer."
"Will an oath do?" She laughed again. "Though I've already broken one of those, so I don't know how much my word is worth."
"It'll do just fine," Chisato said, and before she knew it Lisa was kneeling in front of her, one knee on the ground and head lowered. Even Chisato had to admit the image was picturesque: one lady, and one knight, framed amidst the vast green emptiness of the pastures around them.
She took a deep breath, trying to remember the exact words she'd heard others use, then spoke.
"Do you swear to serve me, and the good of House Shirasagi, for as long as you are able?"
"I swear," Lisa replied solemnly.
"And do you swear to answer to the needs of this house first and foremost, before answering to personal desires or the wishes of other houses?"
"…I swear."
"Then rise, Imai Lisa, as a knight of House Shirasagi." Chisato laid her hand on Lisa's shoulder, and slowly Lisa rose to her feet, serious gray-green eyes looking deep into Chisato's.
After a few seconds, they both looked away.
"Kinda embarrassing, huh?" Lisa said, laughing.
"In what way?"
"It just sort of feels like we've gotten married, I guess. I know it's not exactly the same, but we've still bound our fates together, haven't we, milady?" She grinned.
"…I didn't choose you because of your ability to crack jokes." But Chisato couldn't deny that something in the air had changed after Lisa had sworn her oath. Words were cheap, she knew, easily twisted and falsified, eminently unreliable. But in the right situation, they could also be oddly resonant, filled with a power no silent action could replicate. And so maybe the words they'd exchanged today, too, would have reverberations that extended far beyond this current moment.
The sun had just barely risen on their planned day of departure when Chisato awoke to the sound of raised voices in the other room.
"…I still can't believe you're deciding to do this. Didn't we agree that it was pointless to go after her? That staying here was the best option?"
"Look, Sayo, let's just calm down a bit, okay? Circumstances have changed since we talked about this last. And I'm not planning to abandon you. I promise."
"That's not—that's not what I'm upset about. You're always like this, putting others over yourself, never considering how the people who care about you might feel about you constantly throwing yourself in the face of danger."
"I know. I figured you wouldn't appreciate it. But please… just forgive my selfishness for once, won't you?"
It was at that moment that Chisato opened the door, the argument pausing as both women turned to look at her.
"Anyway," Lisa said, "now that Lady Shirasagi's awake I'd better make sure all of our preparations are complete. I'll be back when things are all ready."
Sayo opened her mouth as though to say something in response, but even as Lisa left she remained silent, staring after the other woman until her silhouette faded out of sight. Then she turned to Chisato, a cold fire smoldering in her eyes.
"Do you know what it is you've done, Shirasagi?"
"All I did was make her an offer, which she accepted. She's doing it for you, you know. It's very touching."
Sayo's eyes narrowed. "I should have let you die," she spat, and Chisato took a step back.
"There's no need to be that upset. Rest assured, your knight will return to your side once she's accomplished what she set out to do."
"Don't think I don't know what your sort is like. You only care about people as long as they're useful to you. And if Lisa ever stops serving your purpose, you'll have no qualms about leaving her to die. As I imagine you've done many times before."
"I have no intention of either of us ending up dead."
"And I imagine you didn't have any intention of your previous companions ending up dead, either, did you?"
Chisato sighed. "Do you intend to bind her to your side forever, Hikawa Sayo? She wasn't the one who was sentenced to exile by her regent lord. Even if you've resigned yourself to this fate, it doesn't necessarily follow that she has as well. Will you drag her down with you, no matter what it takes?"
A painful look passed across Sayo's face. "You don't know what you're talking about," she said, but the burning force of her anger had ebbed. "Just know this. If anything happens to her, I will find you. No matter where you try to run off to."
"I'd expect no less." Chisato smiled in Sayo's direction, and the other woman shook her head and turned back to the herbs she'd been grinding, a frosty silence descending over the room.
They passed a few minutes like that before Lisa opened the door once again.
"Seems like we're all ready," she said. "…I'll meet you outside in a second, Lady Shirasagi."
Chisato nodded and slowly walked out into the late spring morning, the outlines of the village around her blurring in the fine mist. Back inside, Lisa and Sayo were having some sort of conversation, but Chisato had already gotten what she wanted. There was no need to eavesdrop any further.
It would have been hard to say that Lisa looked happy, exiting the house one last time, but she flashed a smile in Chisato's direction nonetheless. A simple sword hung from her belt, the first time Chisato had seen any kind of weapon on her.
"…I have to say I'm a little surprised you decided to come with me after all, given how she reacted."
"I mean, it's not like I don't get what she's upset about. But I'm not just going to die and leave her alone." Her gaze met Chisato's, the picture of determination. "I promised her that I'd come back for her. So no matter what it takes, no matter what I have to go through… I'll be back here. She can count on that."
A trace of that same sad smile flickered across Lisa's face, and Chisato's gaze lingered on her for a few seconds longer.
"I see," she finally said, and Lisa laughed.
"Why the long pause, milady? Is my face really that nice to look at?"
"…It's nothing. We ride to the west. It pains me to ask House Seta for assistance, but I think they're our best option."
"That sounds good. Need a hand up?" Lisa asked.
"Please."
They mounted the horses Lisa had brought for them, Chisato somewhat unsteadily, and Chisato took one last long look at the house she'd spent the last few weeks in. Then, soon enough, the sound of hooves hitting the dirt road filled her ears as they left the village behind.