The Initiate Brother Duology (27 page)

Outside the gate, Nishima felt a pang of guilt at having thwarted the captain’s precautions. Uncle would be furious if he knew, she thought. Ah well, it was done.

Her thoughts turned again to Lady Okara. Despite her guilt she felt excitement at the idea of seeing the great painter’s studio. She cannot know how much I admire her, Nishima thought, and she is so modest, so unassuming. How can she be so, when everyone agrees that she is the most important painter in three generations? I must try and learn this modesty myself, she thought. I am too vain about my meager accomplishments. Already she had forgotten her session in front of the bronze mirror.

The escort took the sampans by a preselected route that would be reasonably quick while not subjecting Lady Nishima to the cruder areas of the city. Large residences passed on either side, partially hidden by their walls. Few of them were mysteries to Lady Nishima, though, for she had been to social functions in many of the more important homes in the capital.

At last they came to the island on which Lady Okara resided. It was one of the dozen islands on the edge of the city where the homes overlooked the Lake of the Lost Dragon and the rolling, green hills beyond. An attendant of Lady Okara’s met Nishima at the dock, a man of middle age whose smile was as disarming as a child’s.

“Lady Nishima, it is a great honor that you choose to visit. Lady Okara awaits you. Her home is nearby, but a hundred paces—do you wish to ride?” He gestured to an open chair and four bearers who bowed before it.

“It is a good morning for a walk,” Nishima said and waited for the attendant to show them the path.

They started along the narrow cobbled street that led up the hill from the dock, the attendant and his bearers, the empty chair, Lady Nishima and her escort.

“I have never been here before. Are there many homes on the island?” Nishima asked the attendant who walked beside her shading her from the sun with a parasol.

“Perhaps a hundred in all, Lady Nishima, though most are on the other side closer to the capital. Only those who choose a quiet existence live here on the lake, though as you can see, it is very pleasant.”

Nishima looked around her and had to agree. The vine-maples had turned a bright crimson and the cherry trees lining the street were turning their own, darker reds. Fall flowers fell in drapes over the top of a low stone wall,
and behind them the lake lay shimmering in the sunlight, white sails cast across the surface like petals in the wind.

They turned into a tree-lined lane and in a few paces crossed a small bridge over a gurgling stream. Beyond this stood a wooden gate set into a sun dappled stone wall.

Entering the courtyard Nishima saw a medium-size residence built in a charming country style she had always admired. From the upper terrace Lady Okara saw her guest arrive and she descended a wide stairway to greet her.

“Lady Nishima, I am honored that you are able to accept my invitation so soon.” The two women bowed to each other.

“I…I wish it were only that, Lady Okara, but I come with some embarrassment. We both know why.”

“We won’t talk of that, Lady Nishima. Our families have had too much in common in the past for us to be concerned by such things. It is long past time that I took an interest in you. I had heard of your talent before, you should know. It is only a reflection on my terrible manners that I had not invited you here long ago.”

“You are too kind, Lady Okara.”

The great woman smiled warmly and gestured for Nishima to accompany her. “Tell me of your father, Lady Nishima. Did he set out as he’d hoped?”

The two women turned and walked back toward the stairs. “He is gone three days now, Lady Okara. I received word from him this morning. They make excellent time and all goes well.” Nishima paused. “If I am not being too presumptuous, Lady Okara, I would be pleased if you would call me Nishima-sum.”

Lady Okara smiled. “You could never be too presumptuous with me, my dear, I have known Lord Shonto for over thirty years. I was also an acquaintance of your mother’s—did you know that?”

Nishima shook her head in surprise.

“It was long ago, when we were younger than you are now. You look a great deal like her, you know, though you are more beautiful, I must say.”

Lady Nishima went almost as red as the vine-maples. “That can’t be, Lady Okara, I have seen the portraits of my mother in her youth and she was a great beauty.”

“Nonetheless, you are more beautiful than she. Please call me Okara-sum; I too, would be honored.”

The two ascended the stairs to the terrace where cha was served in steaming bowls.

“The view is breathtaking, Okara-sum, it must be very peaceful to live here.” Nishima said as they sat taking their leisure in the warm autumn sunlight.

“It is, both beautiful and peaceful, but nothing is a fortress against the world, Nishima-sum. It is a good thing to remember.

“I worry about Motoru-sum and this appointment to Seh,” Lady Okara said suddenly. She touched Lady Nishima’s arm, “I don’t mean to cause you anxiety. He is wise, your father, and far more clever than anyone realizes.”

“You don’t cause me anxiety, Okara-sum. It is true that he is wise, but he is also without fear, and that is what concerns me.”

“He has always been that way. All the years I have known him. His father was no different. It is in the blood.”

Yes, Nishima thought, it is in the blood and I do not share that. My blood is Fanisan. Inside her she felt her resolve suddenly strengthen and she thought, But my spirit is Shonto.

“Would you like to see my studio?” Lady Okara asked.

“Oh, yes. I would be honored.” And they rose from their cha and walked down the terrace toward the studio doors.

*   *   *

A breeze had sprung up by the time Nishima left the home of Lady Okara and the lake had developed a short swell before her boat was into the system of canals of the Imperial Capital. Opening the curtains of the sampan, Nishima saw small whitecaps sweeping across the lake and suddenly the sailboats seemed to be hurrying on their way.

The experience of seeing Lady Okara’s studio still excited and deflated her. What a wealth of talent! The decades of hard work showed themselves in the fine detail and control apparent in all of the paintings. It is as Shuyun said, Lady Nishima thought, a part of Lady Okara’s inner beauty goes into each work. She does not hide herself in her art. Strange, for she obviously tried to seclude herself in life. But perhaps that was only to allow her time to work. Someone of her fame could be interrupted continuously if she were not careful.

The paintings Lady Nishima had seen appeared before her mind, all of them so perfect. One, an unfinished view of the lake from the terrace, struck Nishima particularly for its beauty. Yet when she said this to Lady
Okara the painter had answered, “Oh, that. I started it years ago and was never happy with it. I don’t think I’ll finish it now.” And she had gone on to something else.

Nishima was left feeling very humbled—she
dreamed
of starting a painting of such mastery and here Lady Okara abandoned such a work as though it were a mere trifle.

Lady Okara’s life had immense appeal to Lady Nishima—the freedom, the removal from the social whirl and the responsibilities of one’s House. It seemed the perfect life.

The artist had taken time to look at sketches Nishima had brought with her and had been most complimentary.

She is an old friend of my uncle’s, Nishima thought, she could hardly say anything else. Yet a part of her wanted to believe Lady Okara’s words and a few moments later she had convinced herself that Lady Okara was too honorable not to have told her the truth. An instant later she was sure this could not be—Lady Okara was simply being polite in her comments, as any person of breeding would do.

As she swung back and forth between her secret hopes and her lack of confidence, the boats rounded a corner into a larger waterway and were immediately confronted by a dozen craft waiting to pass through an Imperial Guard blockade. She heard her own guard on the escort boat in front of her begin to shout. “Make way for the Lady Nishima Fanisan Shonto! Make way! Make way!” How inconvenient, she thought, settling back into her cushions, and then her instincts told her to beware.

It was too late to turn back now—to avoid a blockade was forbidden, and her guards had announced her presence. Already, they had moved to the head of the line. She could hear the lieutenant of her escort talking to the Imperial Guard now. Her name was mentioned several times with the emphasis on
Shonto, Governor
Shonto. Yet they did not move.

Her sampan swayed as someone boarded it. The Shonto lieutenant bowed to her as the circumstances would allow. “The Guard wish to detain us, my lady, it is not clear why. They are claiming ‘orders.’ They wish to speak with you personally. I have told them it is out of the question, yet they insist and will not let us pass. I shall send a boat to the palace immediately, but it will take time. I apologize for this inconvenience, Lady Nishima.”

She considered for a moment, controlling her fear. “Do they doubt that it is me here?” she asked.

“That does not seem to be the case, Lady Nishima.”

“Huh. Tell them I will complain of their actions
directly
to the Emperor and see what effect that has.”

The lieutenant bowed quickly and went forward again. Nishima pulled the curtains, leaving only a slit through which to watch. She could see the lieutenant draw himself up into a suitable posture of outrage as he approached the guards, but she could also see that they were not going to allow themselves to be intimidated. They argued back and forth for a moment, voices becoming louder on both sides. Without bowing, the Shonto guard turned and came back across his boat and stepped now onto hers.

“They refuse to let us pass,” he said bowing, and she could see that he fought to control anger. “They are intolerably
insolent,
” he spat out suddenly. “Excuse me, Lady Nishima, pardon my outburst.”

She said nothing, not seeming to notice his apology. The situation was becoming dangerous, and she could see the anger rising in the other Shonto guards. Do they seek to provoke us into violence? It could serve no purpose. She had never been put in a situation like this before and did not know how to deal with it. Rohku Saicha would be furious when he heard, she thought.

“Tell them I will speak with them,” she said suddenly.

“Are you certain, my lady?” the lieutenant was obviously shocked by her decision.

“I am certain,” she said forcing confidence into her voice. I am Shonto, she told herself, they dare not interfere with me.

The lieutenant crossed the boats to the Guard again, obviously feeling humiliated that they should be in such a situation. Nishima watched as he nodded to the Guard commander and explained his lady’s decision. She could not quite hear the words, but suddenly the lieutenant went rigid for a split second and then reached for his sword. Imperial Guards jumped forward to protect their officer and Shonto guards did the same. The lieutenant came to his senses before a melee erupted, though, and ordered his men back. He turned, again without bowing, and returned to Lady Nishima, his face scarlet with rage.

Lady Nishima’s heart was pounding with fear.

“The officer in charge refuses to come to you, Lady Nishima. He insists that you come to him. I’m sorry. I have demanded that he take us to his commander, but he refuses. This is intolerable, I have never witnessed such lack of respect. These are men without honor. I apologize, Lady Nishima, but I
don’t know what we should do. We cannot go back, other Guards block our way.” He cast a glance behind him. “I am entirely at fault and dishonored.” The man bowed his head in shame.

Nishima realized that Lord Shonto would agree with the man entirely, but she felt sympathy for him. It is not his fault, she said to herself, though his own code says that it is.

“Tell them I will come to them,” she said.

“
My lady, it is out of the question!
These are not even soldiers of rank!”

“It doesn’t matter. There is no choice but violence, and we are few while they are many.” She turned to the crewmen. “Boatmen, move me forward.”

Slowly, boats parted and Lady Nishima’s sampan pushed through the crowd. Rivermen and their families stared at the spectacle. They are so close, she thought, never have I been so vulnerable. She was not afraid of the rivermen, who were hardworking and honest, but this was a perfect place to hide an assassin. She cursed herself for ignoring Rohku Saicha.

Finally she came up to the Imperial Guard’s boat which blocked the canal. She could see the Emperor’s soldiers now, dressed in their black armor. Their commander was only a Guard Captain, and a huge man he was. He leaned silently back on the boat’s small cabin, his arms crossed before him casually. He chewed something as he waited, perhaps oona nut, she thought. It was terribly bad manners.

When her sampan was ten feet away, Lady Nishima pulled the curtain back fully and stared out coldly at the Imperial Guard Captain—the soldiers with him, she ignored entirely.

“I am Lady Nishima Fanisan Shonto, why am I being delayed?” she demanded.

“You are being delayed because I am an Imperial Guard and I choose to delay you,” he answered without hesitation.

Again her escort reached for their swords, but she stopped them with a gesture.

“This is unpardonable insolence, Captain, I warn you. Give me your reason for this delay or let me pass immediately!”

“I must see your papers before I will consider whether you will go on or not,” he said.

There was a buzz in the surrounding crowd now, they had never seen such a thing, not with the Shonto! Could it be that such a family was in disfavor with the Son of Heaven?

“
Papers,
Captain? Could it be that you believe the Shonto carry
papers?
Perhaps you think also that I sell
fish
from my sampan?” she said, gesturing to her elegant craft.

The crowd laughed and the Guard Captain stared them into an abrupt silence. “If you can produce no papers, then you will accompany me to our keep. I have my orders.”