Part 17 (2/2)

Another week pa.s.sed before Kondo finally returned. The weather had cleared and s.h.i.+zuka had walked to the shrine to pray again to the war G.o.d to protect Takeo. She bowed to the image and stood, clapped her hands three times, asking also, helplessly, that Kaede might be rescued. As she turned to walk away, Taku came s.h.i.+mmering out of invisibility in front of her.

”Ha!” he said in triumph. ”You didn't hear me that time!”

She was astonished, for she had neither heard him nor discerned him. ”Well done!”

Taku grinned. ”Kondo Kiichi has returned. He's waiting for you. Uncle wanted you to hear his news.”

”So make sure you don't hear it too,” she teased him.

”I like hearing things,” he replied. ”I like knowing everyone's secrets.”

He ran ahead of her up the dusty street, going invisible every time he pa.s.sed from suns.h.i.+ne to shadow. It's all a game to him It's all a game to him, she thought, as as it used to be for me. But at some point in the last year it stopped being a game. Why? What's happened to me? Is it that I learned fear? The fear of losing the people I low it used to be for me. But at some point in the last year it stopped being a game. Why? What's happened to me? Is it that I learned fear? The fear of losing the people I low?

Kondo sat with her uncle in the main room of the house. She knelt before them and greeted the man who two months earlier had wanted to marry her. She knew now, seeing him again, that she did not want him. She would make some excuse, plead ill health.

His face was thin and haggard, though his greeting was warm.

”I'm sorry I have been so delayed,” he said. ”At one point I did not think I would return at all. I was arrested as soon as I got to Inu-yama. The failed attack on you had been reported to Arai, and I was recognized by the men who came with us to s.h.i.+rakawa. I expected to be put to death. But then a tragedy occurred: There was an outbreak of smallpox. Arai's son died. When the mourning period was over, he sent for me and questioned me at length about you.”

”Now he is interested in your sons again,” Kenji observed.

”He declared he was in my debt, since I'd saved your life. He wished me to return to his service and offered to confirm me in the warrior rank of my mother's family and give me a stipend.” s.h.i.+zuka glanced at her uncle, but Kenji said nothing. Kondo went on: ”I accepted. I hope that was the right thing to do. Of course, it suits me, being at the moment masterless, but if the Muto family object...”

”You may be useful to us there,” Kenji said. ”Lord Arai a.s.sumed I knew where you were and asked me to give you the message that he wishes to see his sons, and you, to discuss their formal adoption.”

”Does he want our relations.h.i.+p to resume?” s.h.i.+zuka asked. ”He wants you to move to Inuyama, as the boys' mother.” He did not actually say and as his mistress and as his mistress, but s.h.i.+zuka caught his meaning. Kondo gave no sign of anger or jealousy as he spoke, but the ironic look flashed across his face. Of course, if he were established in the warrior cla.s.s, he could make a good marriage within it. It was only when he had been masterless that he'd seen a solution in her.

She did not know if she was more angered or amused by his pragmatism. She had no intention of sending her sons to Arai or of ever sleeping with him again or of marrying Kondo. She hoped fervently that Kenji was not going to order her to do any of them.

”All these things must be considered carefully,” her uncle said. ”Yes, of course,” Kondo replied. ”Anyway, matters have been complicated by the campaign against Otori Takeo.”

”We've been hoping for news of him,” Kenji murmured. ”Arai was enraged by the marriage. He declared it invalid immediately and sent a large contingent of men to Lord Fujiwara. Later in the summer he himself moved to k.u.mamoto, close enough to strike at Maruyama. The last I heard was that Lady s.h.i.+rakawa was living in Lord Fujiwara's house and was married to him. She is in seclusion, virtually imprisoned.” He sniffed loudly and threw his head back. ”I know Fujiwara considered himself betrothed to her, but he should not have acted in the way he did. He had her seized by force; several of her men were killed-Amano Tenzo among them, which was a great loss. There was no need for that. Ai and Hana are hostages in Inuyama. Matters could have been negotiated without bloodshed.”

s.h.i.+zuka felt a pang of sorrow for the two girls. ”Did you see them there?”

”No, it was not allowed.”

He seemed genuinely angered on Kaede's behalf, and s.h.i.+zuka remembered his unlikely devotion to her.

”And Takeo?” she said.

”It seems Takeo set out against Fujiwara and met Arai's army. He was forced to retreat. After that it's all very unclear. There was a huge, early typhoon in the West. Both armies were caught close to the coast. No one really knows yet what the outcome was.”

”If Arai defeats Takeo, what will he do with him?” s.h.i.+zuka asked.

”That's what everyone wonders! Some say he will have him executed; some that he wouldn't dare because of Takeo's reputation; some that he'll make an alliance with him against the Otori in Hagi.”

”Close to the coast?” Kenji questioned. ”Which part, exactly?”

”Near a town called Shuho, I believe. I don't know the district myself.”

”Shuho?” Kenji said. ”I've never been there, but they say it has a beautiful natural blue pool, which I've always wanted to visit. It's a long time since I've done any traveling. The weather is perfect for it now. You had both better come with me.”

He sounded casual, but s.h.i.+zuka sensed his urgency. ”And the boys?” she asked.

”We'll take them both; it will be a good experience for them, and we may even needTakus skills.” Kenji got to his feet. ”We must leave at once. We'll pick up horses in Yamagata.”

”What is your plan?” Kondo said. ”If I may ask, do you intend to make sure Takeo is eliminated?”

”Not exactly. I'll tell you on the road.” As Kondo bowed and left the room, Kenji murmured to s.h.i.+zuka, ”Maybe we will get there in time to save his life.”

9.

No one spoke as we rode, but the att.i.tude of Akita and his warriors seemed courteous and respectful. I hoped I had saved my men and Hiros.h.i.+ by surrendering, but I did not expect my own life to be spared. I was grateful to Arai for having me treated like an Oton lord, one of his own cla.s.s, and for not humiliating me, but I imagined he would either have me executed or order me to kill myself. Despite my childhood teaching, Jo-An's words, and my promise to Kaede, I knew I would have no alternative but to obey.

The typhoon had cleared the air of all humidity, and the morning was bright and clear. My thinking had the same clarity: Arai had defeated me; I had surrendered; I would submit to him and obey, doing whatever he told me to do. I began to understand why the warriors had such a high regard for their code. It made life very simple.

The words of the prophecy came into my head, but I put them aside. I did not want anything to distract me from the correct path. I glanced at Hiros.h.i.+ riding next to me, his shoulders squared, his head high. The old horse plodded calmly along, snorting now and then with pleasure at the warmth of the sun. I thought about the upbringing that had made courage second nature to the boy. He knew instinctively how to act with honor, though I was sorry he had come to experience surrender and defeat so young.

All around us were the signs of the devastation left by the typhoon when it swept along the coast. Roofless houses, huge trees uprooted, flattened rice, and flooded rivers, with drowned oxen, dogs, and other animals stranded among the debris. I felt anxious briefly about my farmers at Maruyama, wondered if the defenses we had built had been strong enough to preserve their fields, and what would happen to them if Kaede and I were not there to protect them. To whom did the domain belong now, and who would look after it? It had been mine for one brief summer, but I grieved over its loss. I had put all my energy into restoring it. No doubt the Tribe would return, too, punish those who had supplanted them, and take up their cruel trade again. And no one but I could put a stop to them.

As we approached the small town of Shuho, Arai's men could be seen foraging for food. I pictured the extra hards.h.i.+p this huge force of men and horses was imposing on the land. Everything that had already been harvested would be taken, and what had not been harvested would have been ruined by the storm. I hoped these villagers had secret fields and hidden stores; if not, they would starve when winter came.

Shuho was famous for its many cold springs, which formed a lake of a brilliant blue color. The water was reputed to have healing qualities and was dedicated to the G.o.ddess of good fortune. Perhaps this was what gave the place a cheerful atmosphere, despite the invasion of troops and the destruction of the storm. The brilliant day seemed to promise the return of good fortune. The townspeople were already repairing and rebuilding, calling out jokes to each other, even singing. The blows of hammers, the hiss of saws, set up a lively song against the sound of water as streams ran overflowing everywhere.

We were in the main street when, to my astonishment, I heard from out of the hubbub someone shout my name. ”Takeo! Lord Otori!”

I recognized the voice, though I could not immediately place it. Then the sweet smell of the fresh-cut wood brought him up to the surface of my mind: s.h.i.+ro, the master carpenter from Hagi who had built the tea house and the nightingale floor for s.h.i.+geru.

I turned my head in the direction of the voice and saw him waving from a rooftop. He called again, ”Lord Otori!” and slowly the town's song stilled as one by one the men laid down their tools and turned to stare.

Their silent burning gaze fell on me in the same way that men had stared at s.h.i.+geru when he rode back from Terayama to Yamagata, angering and alarming the Tohan who accompanied us, and on me when I had been among the outcasts.

I looked forward, making no response. I did not want to anger Akita. I was, after all, a prisoner. But I heard my name repeated from mouth to mouth, like the buzz of insects around pollen. Hiros.h.i.+ whispered, ”They all know Lord Otori.”

”Say nothing,” I replied, hoping they would not be punished for it. I wondered why s.h.i.+ro was here, if he had been driven from the Middle Country after s.h.i.+geru's death, and what news he had from Hagi. Arai had set up his headquarters in a small temple on the hillside above the town. He was not accompanied by his whole army, of course; I found out later some were still in Inuyama and the rest encamped halfway between Hagi and k.u.mamoto.

We dismounted and I told Hiros.h.i.+ to stay with the horses and see that they were fed. He looked as if he were going to protest, then lowered his head, his face suddenly full of sadness.

Sakai put his hand on the boy's shoulder and Hiros.h.i.+ took Shuns bridle. I felt a pang as I watched the little bay docilely walking beside him, rubbing his head against Hiros.h.i.+'s arm. He had saved my life many times and I did not want to part with him. For the first time the thought that I might not see him again lunged and hit me and I realized how deeply I did not want to die. I allowed myself to experience this sensation for a moment, then I drew up my Kikuta self like a defense around me, thankful for the dark strength of the Tribe that would sustain me now.

”Come this way,” Akita said. ”Lord Arai wants to see you immediately.”

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