-Kanyou, Capital of Qin-

Ketsu's hands shook as he read the message. A messenger hawk had returned from the search, and the news it gave was grim: Reida's camp was found. The guards were dead. Reida was gone. A Sheikah knife was planted in the ground.

"Sheikah!" Ketsu whispered in horror.

The Sheikah were one clan, and a small one at that with no land to call their own. But their move was at the worst time! Chancellor Ryo was on his way to the capital! Ketsu would need all the forces he could muster! With the Sheikah having made a move in private, they were confronted on two sides! One from outside and one from within.

Ketsu yelled at the nearest servant, "Get the commander of the royal guard! Immediately! Tell him to gather everything!"

The servant bowed and rushed to do as ordered. Ketsu looked out over the wasteland between Kanyou and Genyuu Pass. The main army loyal to him were stationed at the great gate, and Ouki was arriving now. They would be safe from that side. But that left nothing to defend Ketsu from the Sheikah!

Ketsu hurried out of his manor to the street where he ordered a caravan. Servants loaded him onto the seat and carried him to the palace. Ketsu looked out and about for Sheikah, but the elusive bastards were sneaky. He didn't see anything, but he knew... he knew they were there.

The commander of the Royal guard was already waiting by the palace entrance with the army a thousand strong at attention. The commander hesitated when he saw how terrified the chancellor was.

"What is the matter?" He asked. "You look as if you have seen a ghost."

"Worse!" Ketsu cried. "The Sheikah have committed treason!"

"Treason?! The Sheikah are loyal to a fault!"

"Not to Kyou they are not! The blasted shadow assassins kidnapped the king's fiancé and killed her guards."

"But- the Sheikah are still in the capital." The commander argued, confused. "Why would they commit treason but openly show themselves at their estate? Wouldn't they flee or go into hiding? It does not make sense."

"Do not question it!" Ketsu beat his large fist on the man's head. "The Sheikah are cunning! They are ruthless! They are filled with witchcraft and illusion! It is all part of their ploy! All you need to know is that they have committed treason, and are close enough for you to kill! Your orders are to burn their quarter to the ground and kill everyone you find! And kill Reida while you're at it!"

"Don't you mean rescue?"

"Right! Yes! Rescue! That's what I meant!"

The commander looked worriedly at the chancellor. The man was frazzled and freaked to the point of near insanity. "I understand, Chancellor. But I am loyal to the royal family."

"It is the order of the king! I speak for the king and when he learns Reida is still in the capital, he will want them dead! Do you want me to go up there and tell him you know where his beloved is, and you refuse to rescue her?!"

The man gulped. Were it any other man, he would question whether or not the chancellor truly was speaking for the high prince. But Ketsu had been Kyou's right hand all his young life. There was no other man who could ever speak for the high prince.

Deciding to go with his gut, the commander bowed, turned, and ordered his men to march on the Sheikah estate.

-Royal Palace, Kanyou-

Being a king was proving to be far more taxing than Kyou expected. Every morning his sleep was disturbed by notices of some minister wanting a meeting, his lunch was disturbed by some ambassador wanting to join him, and now his evening nap was being disturbed by some nobody!

Kyou gave the man an evil eye. The servant took a step back fearfully under his gaze and threw himself to the ground.

"What?" Kyou demanded.

"Th-the Sheikah! The Sheikah estate is on fire!"

Kyou blinked in disbelief, then surprise. The Sheikah? Why would their estate be on fire? It was in the capital.

Kyou groaned. Ketsu wasn't here. Why did he have to do everything himself? He rolled out of the throne and walked down its steps. He rubbed at his tired eyes.

The royal guards around the room gathered at Kyou's side. He barely noticed it as he had been surrounded by guards every moment of his life, but there was still something off. There were only a few.

"Where are the rest of my guards?" Kyou asked. If they were sleeping when they should be on duty at his side there would be hell to pay.

"My prince, Chancellor Ketsu had the commander of your royal guard gather all of us to his side but for us."

"All?" Kyou wondered in disbelief. "Whatever for? Where is Ketsu? Where is the commander?"

"I believe they are at the Sheikah estate, my prince."

What the realms were they doing there? Were they the ones burning the estate? Now that Kyou was outside he could see that the Sheikah manor was on fire as they said.

"Why is it on fire?!"

"I do not know, my prince."

"Doesn't anyone know anything?!" Kyou demanded. He received no answer. He called for a caravan and had them ride him to the Sheikah estate.

The Sheikah quarter was a massive household in the corner of the capital opposite the royal harem quarter. As Kyou's caravan walked closer, he opened the curtain to find that the fire ablaze in the building was great. It was a bonfire reaching to the dark sky, and even as he watched the Sheikah house was crumbling as its foundation burned to ash. The estate was surrounded by his royal guard... and Ketsu.

Angry, Kyou jumped out of his caravan without telling his servants to stop and lower the carriage. "Ketsu! You buffoon! What is the meaning of this!?"

Ketsu jumped in fearful shock. "My prince!?"

"Ketsu! Answer! Now! What the realms are you doing in my capital! Why is the Sheikah house on fire! Why did you take all of my royal guards!" Kyou glanced around and realized there were thankfully no bodies to litter his streets. But that also begged to question whether they had killed any of the Sheikah. "Did you kill them too or did you just decide to take my guards for a stroll and dance around a bonfire?!"

"My prince, calm yourself!"

"Then answer a question already!"

Ketsu gulped. "The Sheikah kidnapped your fiancé."

This made Kyou pause. All of his anger disappeared, and in its place was fear. "Reida?" He whispered.

Ketsu nodded. "Her guards were found dead on the road, and a knife bearing the emblem of the Sheikah house was found. We are paying them back justice for their treasonous crime against you, my king."

"And Reida?" Kyou asked. "Where is she? Is she okay?"

"We-" Ketsu paused, fearful to answer.

The commander, thankfully, stepped forward. He bent a knee and saluted the prince. "My prince, we have not found Reida in the estate. Nor have we found any Sheikah. We found an entrance to underground tunnels, but the way was blocked with rocks. We believe they closed the entrance with explosives."

"Then where are they?!" Kyou demanded. "Have the Sheikah sealed themselves in with Reida!? If they hurt one hair on her head, I swear by all that is holy I will skin them alive!"

It was at this time that they received their answer. In a moment of almost divine clarity, there was an explosion in the distance. Kyou knew where the explosion originated from, but he banished the thought. It was impossible. Ketsu's eyes widened as far as his mouth, and he shook in terror at what he saw. Even the commander was not above shock and awe. Kyou slowly turned to see where they were looking, and what he feared was revealed.

The palace was in flames. Explosions erupted from its roof, spreading the flames further.

"You..." Kyou whispered. "You took all of my royal guards from the palace... All based on a knife... those professional assassins left in a scene... Did you not consider for a moment they did that on purpose?"

"I-"

"I am nine years of age and even I can connect the dots! They wanted us gone from my throne so they could soil it with their filthy hands! How dumb are you!?" Kyou yelled furiously. Fury and flame filled his veins. He was angrier than he recalled ever being, coming close to the anger he felt at the sight of the bitch Zelda looking down on him. The Sheikah had touched Reida! The Sheikah had taken his throne and possibly burned it! The Sheikah had burned his palace! Forget Ryo, he wanted the Sheikah. "Get them! Kill the Sheikah! Search the city and butcher every last one of them! I want their heads!"