All Hail Empress Ameiko!

The battle in the throne room was still raging. Sawyer slashed at the Jade Regent with Suishen, pounding against his ornate armor, but the Jade Regent didn’t seem to even notice. He’d just spotted Ameiko. Or rather Nicki’s pet oni Roscoe, disguised as Ameiko. The Jade Regent let out a shout of triumph. “You think you can take this from me?” he shrieked at the befuddled Roscoe. “You dare to challenge me in my own palace? This throne is mine, and this empire is mine!” With that, he flourished his sword at the faux Ameiko. A scintillating plane of force flashed from the blade, hitting Roscoe square in the face. The former Typhoon Guard had survived a lot, but this was the last straw. With a gurgle, he collapsed, and as he died, his shapeshifting expired, and he resumed his native kuwa oni form. When the Jade Regent realized the deception, he let out a roar of fury. A wave of force blasted from his armor, knocking Sawyer back and bringing him that much closer to death.

The Final Confrontation

“So do you think they know we’re here?” Everyone turned to look at Zhustin. Their ears were still ringing from the concussion of repeated Fireballs, and the aroma of scorched oni wafted up the open stairwells. “No,” Sandoval replied sarcastically, “I’m sure we’ll catch them totally by surprise.”

Theater of Death

As Marie doled out healing, Ameiko hurried to reassure the frightened servants who had taken cover behind the ovens during the battle in the dining hall. “Is there a way up from here?” she asked in Minkaian, and one of the cooks nodded. He pointed to a door in the north. “That way, Princess,” he whispered. “The stairs to the throne room are through there. But the way is guarded.” Everyone exchanged looks – were they ever going to catch a break? Ameiko looked at the cowering servants. “Can you tell us what we’re up against?”