"Say that after you've spent three months on the run in north-eastern Lightning Country," Ryouma said, teasing a young blade of grass out of its sheath. He nibbled on the white end. "You always worry about pursuit. But that sounds like we won't have to worry as much."

With six hours to go, a rough attack plan already sketched out, and nothing to do but wait till sunset, it was hard to worry at all.

The time passed easily. They took turns napping while the other kept watch; they split a light meal of energy bars and water. They watched the fortress, critiquing the soldiers' drill, checking the guards' routines against the times the Intel agent had supplied. Ryouma stretched out and warmed up with his kata; Katsuko sharpened her swords until the honed blades could split a hair. As twilight fell and the guard on the eastern parapet turned to pace his way northward, they left their hiding place and chased the lengthening shadows down to the fortress. Seventy-five steps for the guard; half a mile for the ninja. They dropped flat in a dimple of land when he turned to patrol the other way, and ran on when he turned back again. Before the first stars had begun to spring out against the velvet sky, they were beneath the fortress wall.

Ryouma palmed a soldier-pill from the bottle in his hip-pouch and slipped it under his mask. "You doin' good?" he murmured to his partner. She was a live wire, practically vibrating with tension, breathing faster than their run should have required. "Only usually I'm the reckless one. And next to you, I'm feelin' pretty damn zen."