Part 14 (2/2)

”He needs to rest, but he becomes agitated and tries to get up,” Sugita said.

”Look at me, Hiros.h.i.+.” I leaned over him and let my eyes meet his.

Sleep came to him at once. His body relaxed and his breathing evened.

The women could not help gasping, and I caught the look that flashed between them. They seemed to shrink away from me, averting their heads and taking great care not to brush against my clothes.

”He'll sleep for a long time,” I said. ”It's what he needs. Tell me when he wakes up.”

I got to my feet. Makoto and Sugita also rose, looking at me expectantly. Inwardly, I was reeling with outrage, but the numbing calm of shock had descended on me.

”Come with me,” I said to Sugita. I really wanted to speak with Makoto alone, but I did not want to risk leaving Sugita. I was afraid he would slit his own belly, and I could not afford to lose him. The Maruyama clan's first loyalty was to Kaede, not to myself; I did not know how they would react to this news. I trusted Sugita more than the rest of them and felt that if he stayed loyal, so would they.

We walked back across the bridge and up the hill to the castle. The crowd outside had increased, and armed men were appearing in the streets. There was an atmosphere of unrest-not really panic or even alarm, just a host of unruly people milling, exchanging rumors, readying themselves for some unexpected action. I had to make decisions quickly before the situation caught fire and burned out of control. Once we were inside the gates, I said to Makoto, ”Prepare the men. We'll take half our warriors and ride at once against Fujiwara. Sugita, you must stay here and hold the town. We'll leave two thousand men with you. Stock the castle against siege. I will leave tomorrow at first light.”

Makoto's face was drawn and his voice anxious. ”Don't do anything hasty. We have no idea where Arai is. You could be simply riding into a trap.To attack Lord Fujiwara, a man of his rank and status, will only turn opinion against you. It may be best not to react immedi-” I cut him off. ”It's impossible for me to wait. I will do nothing except bring her back. Start at once.”

We spent the day in frantic preparation. I knew I was right to act immediately. The first reaction of the Maruyama people was fury and outrage. I wanted to take advantage of that. If I delayed I would seem halfhearted, seeming to accept others' opinion of my legitimacy. I was all too aware of the risks I was taking, and knew I was following one act of rashness with another, but I could not conceive of any other way of acting.

At the end of the afternoon I told Sugita to summon the elders. Within the hour they were all a.s.sembled. I informed them of my intentions, warned them of the consequences, and told them I expected their complete loyalty to myself and my wife. None of them made any objections-I think my anger was too strong for that-but I was uneasy about them.They were of the same generation as Fujiwara and Arai and were formed by the same code. I trusted Sugita, but with Kaede gone, could he keep them loyal while I was absent?

Then I called for Shun and went out for a ride on him to clear my head, stretch his legs before taking him on another hard journey, and look at the state of the land.

About half the rice harvest was in, the farmers working day and night to get the rice cut before the weather changed. Those I spoke to were anxious, forecasting an imminent typhoon, citing the halo around the last full moon, the migrating geese, their own aching bones. I organized Sugita's warriors to lend a hand in strengthening the dikes and banks against floods; no doubt they would complain, but I hoped the sense of crisis would override their pride.

Finally I found myself, only half-intentionally, on the edge of the hamlet where the outcasts had settled. The usual smell of tanning hides and fresh blood hung over it. Some men, Jo-An among them, were skinning a dead horse. I recognized the bright roan color; it was Hiros.h.i.+'s, the one I'd seen dying that morning. I called to Jo-An and dismounted, giving the reins to one of the grooms who'd ridden out with me. I went and stood by the riverbank and Jo-An came and crouched by the water, was.h.i.+ng the blood from his hands and arms. ”You've heard the news?”

He nodded, glanced at me, and said, ”What will you do?”

”What should I should I do?” I wanted some word from some G.o.d. I wanted to hear another prophecy, one that included Kaede, that bound our futures together. I would follow it blindly. do?” I wanted some word from some G.o.d. I wanted to hear another prophecy, one that included Kaede, that bound our futures together. I would follow it blindly.

”There are three more battles,” Jo-An said. ”One to lose and two to win. Then you will rule in peace, from sea to sea.”

”With my wife?”

He looked away across the water. Two white egrets were fis.h.i.+ng near the weir. There was a flash of orange and blue as a kingfisher swooped from a willow. ”If you are to lose one battle, you should lose it now,” he said.

”If I lose my wife, none of it matters to me,” I said. ”I would kill myself.”

”That is forbidden to us,” he replied quickly. ”G.o.d has his plan for your life. All you have to do is follow it.”

When I did not reply, he went on: ”It matters to us who have left everything for you. It matters to those in the Otori lands who suffer now. We can bear war if peace comes from it. Don't abandon us.”

Standing by the peaceful river in the evening light, I thought that if I did not get her back, my heart would break utterly. A gray heron came flying slowly over the surface of the water, just above its own reflection. It folded its huge wings and landed with the slightest of splashes. It turned its head toward us, watching us, then, satisfied that we posed no danger to it, began to stalk silently through the shallows.

My real goal was to avenge s.h.i.+geru's death completely and take up my inheritance. Then the prophecy would be fulfilled. But it was impossible for me to let anyone take Kaede from me without resistance. I could do nothing but go after her, even if it meant throwing away everything I had struggled for.

I bade farewell to Jo-An and rode back to the castle. Word had come that Hiros.h.i.+ was awake and improving in health. I asked for him to be brought to me shortly. While I was waiting I searched the residence for the box of records but found no trace of it. It was yet another source of concern. I feared it might have been stolen, which would mean the Tribe had penetrated the castle once and could do so again.

Hiros.h.i.+ came to me just before nightfall. He was pale, with dark hollows under his eyes, but otherwise he had made a swift recovery. Physically and mentally he was as tough as a full-grown man. I questioned him about every detail of the journey and made him describe the terrain around s.h.i.+rakawa and Fujiwara's residence. He told me how Raku had been killed, and the news saddened me deeply. The black-maned gray horse was the first I had mastered, a link with s.h.i.+geru and my brief life as his son in Hagi. Raku had been my gift to Kaede when I had nothing else to give her, and he had brought her to Terayama.

I'd sent everyone else away so I could speak in private to Hiros.h.i.+, and now I told him to move closer.

”Promise you will tell no one what we speak of next.”

”I swear it,” he said, adding impulsively, ”Lord Otori, I already owe you my life. I'll do anything to help rescue Lady Otori.”

”We will rescue her,” I said. ”I leave tomorrow.”

”Take me with you,” he begged.

I was tempted to, but I did not think he was well enough. ”No, you are to stay here.”

He looked as if he would protest, but thought better of it and bit his lip.

”The records my wife wife was copying-did she take them with her?” was copying-did she take them with her?”

He whispered, ”We took both the originals and the copies. We hid them at s.h.i.+rakawa in the sacred caves.”

I blessed Kaede in my heart for her wisdom and foresight. ”Does anyone else know this?”

He shook his head.

”And you could find them again?”

”Of course.”

”You must never tell anyone where they are. Someday we will make a trip together to retrieve them.”

”Then we can punish Shoji,” he said gleefully. After a moment he added, ”Lord Otori, may I ask you something?”

”Certainly.”

”The day my father died, the men who killed the guards made themselves unseen in some way. Can you do that?”

”Why do you ask? Do you think I can?”

”The women in the room today were saying that you were a sorcerer-forgive me. But you can do many strange things, like making me sleep.” He looked at me, frowning. ”It was no ordinary sleep; I saw vivid dreams and understood things I'd never known before. If you can make yourself invisible, will you teach me how?”

”Some things cannot be taught,” I said. ”They are talents that are born in you. You already have many skills and you have had the best of upbringings.”

Something I said made his eyes suddenly fill with tears. ”They told me Jiro was dead.”

”Yes, he was killed by an a.s.sa.s.sin who was aiming at me.”

”And you killed the a.s.sa.s.sin?”

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