The Initiate Brother Duology (77 page)

Shonto looked around the group. “I trust, General Jaku, that you learned of this independently?”

Jaku nodded. “I do not, however, know where the Kintari have fled or when they first disappeared. It would seem, Lord Shonto, that the Kintari must have learned of this from someone within the palace or within my guard. I have very tight security among my own officers, Sire.”

“I do not doubt it, General. More blows through the walls of this ancient maze than winter winds. Such things are inevitable in this situation.”

Servants brought a light meal and tables were arranged for Shonto and his guests. As though no matters of greater weight had been discussed, polite conversation flowed seamlessly until the servants had left and Shonto gave his guard orders to secure the chamber. The discussion went from the best time of year to hunt various game birds back to the issues at hand without a sentence of transition.

Shonto sipped his cha, then set the cup back on his table, turning it slowly. “It appears that the palace is not about to be stormed by forces loyal to our enemies. The suggestion that the Kintari were warned is no doubt true. Perhaps our hopes that the Kintari would become allies in our attempt to gain the Emperor’s support were vain.”

Shuyun gave a half bow before speaking. “If the Kintari could have been convinced of our intentions, they may well have become the support we hoped. We will not likely know this now. We must find support without them. The men of Seh and the Emperor both need to be convinced of the truth of our discoveries in the desert. It is a pity that we did not return with evidence other than words.”

“As Brother Shuyun says,” Jaku added, “I have been convinced by words and the belief of the witnesses. Not everyone will think as I do. I have composed my letters to the Emperor and certain of his counselors. As you are aware, the court functions according to an elaborate, unwritten system of debt and payment—the coinage is favor. If one understands the workings of
the court and has given credit to many, one can collect accordingly. In the palace they say: it is improper to ask the Great Council of the Empire to add a wing to your home, but it is quite possible to have the Great Council offer to build such a wing.

“I am not a great lord nor do I hold high position, but I will call in what credit I may have given. We shall see.” Jaku tugged at the corner of his mustache. “If there is no support forthcoming from the Emperor or the men of Seh—what will we do?”

Hojo nodded. “It is the very thing we have debated these past months, General Jaku.”

A gong sounded and somewhere in the darkness the guard changed. The night guard appeared in the doorway and signaled Kamu. All was well.

“It has been our hope to convince others of the true threat, General Jaku,” Shonto began, “but as you have said—this may not be possible. When the barbarians cross our border in the spring, the men of Seh will rally to our support…too late, unfortunately.” The lord rearranged several objects on his table as he gathered his thoughts. “We will make these final attempts to gain the support of the men of Seh and the Emperor, but we cannot plan as if these attempts will succeed. It must also be realized that to gain the support of the Emperor but not the men of Seh, or the reverse, will not be adequate. Our needs are great.

“If we have not gained the support we need, our concern will no longer be the defense of Seh but the defense of Wa. We will attempt to raise an army as we move south. It will become a question of how many men of Seh will be willing to follow, for they will form the heart of our army.”

“Sire!” Komawara blurted out, “you will abandon Seh….” Suddenly aware of the naïveté of this statement, Komawara reddened noticeably, adding to his embarrassment.

Shonto’s tone remained calm as he answered. “I do not wish to abandon Seh, Lord Komawara, but to throw a tiny force at a vast barbarian army will accomplish nothing. If our tactics are prudent and our courage does not falter, we may slow the barbarian advance long enough to allow an army to be raised in the south. I am the Governor of Seh, Lord Komawara, and would not consider such a course if it were not for the grave danger to our entire Empire. If the men of Seh and the Emperor will not act to secure the borders or to protect the Empire, then we must act in their place.

“I believe, Lord Komawara, that the people of Seh will be largely safe from the barbarian threat due to our retreat. This Khan cannot have an army large enough to hold Seh and pursue us south to the inner provinces. If Botahara smiles upon us, the barbarian army will pass through Seh like a wind, pulling only a few leaves from their branches.”

In the long silence that followed, no one met the young lord’s eye. “Excuse my outburst,” Komawara said evenly. “I bring shame to the Komawara House. Please excuse me.” He shifted his sword in his sash. “There is one other question that I must ask at risk of again appearing naive. What will happen if the barbarians wish only to conquer the province of Seh, and we allow them to take it without a fight?”

Shonto nodded. “It is as we have often asked, Lord Komawara. This would probably fit the designs of some. Then Shonto and all who support him will be brought down. We still believe that if the barbarians only desired Seh they would have taken it in the autumn when surprise was assured. We all will gamble our lives on this assumption…be certain you believe it.”

Komawara nodded. “I will risk my life to save Wa, though I would rather it were Seh I hoped to save. Still, for me there can be no choice.”

“Truly, Lord Komawara,” General Hojo offered, “there can be no choice for any of us.”

“Kamu-sum,” Shonto said, “we must begin to gather the craft needed to take us south and make preparations to destroy all others. Leave no boats for the barbarians. Begin an inventory of river boats at once.”

The steward nodded.

“We must consider ways to raise an army as we pass south. Who can be won to our side? Once we cross the border of Seh, the Son of Heaven will try to remove me from command of the army. Who will be sent to do this? General Jaku, perhaps your knowledge and contacts at court could answer this?”

Jaku nodded.

“Much to do. We will make our last attempt to win over the lords of Seh at the Celebration of the First Moon. Lord Komawara, I will have to prevail upon you to describe your journey into the barbarian lands again.”

*   *   *

The cool, first light of a northern morning glowed through the unshuttered paper screen and cast the shadow of Jaku Katta’s large hand across the paper.
The brush hovered in the air, as it had often in the last hours. The soft bristles seemed to contain only ink and no words.

Again he dipped his brush.

I
T WAS A small entertainment arranged for the high-ranking residents of the Governor’s Palace and for those who frequented Seh’s court—perhaps seventy people in all.

The evening’s entertainment was provided by a wrinkled, elderly man who moved with the stooped carriage of someone who’d spent his life toiling in a rice paddy. His threadbare robes, sewn in the country style, did nothing to deny this impression, though in truth this man had once been a respected scholar, holding appointments at the Hanama court where he was renowned for the quality of his verse. Long ago he had retired to seclusion in the far north and only the promise of a concert by the Ladies Nishima and Kitsura had lured him out this night—that and a suggestion that Lord Shonto might provide him with a cask of a certain rare wine.

The old man, one Suzuku, sat on a raised platform built to resemble a balcony and behind this a silk hanging bore a sunset and far off, a V of geese winging south among crimson clouds. Skillful arrangements of dried leaves and cedar boughs symbolized the autumn, just as the flying geese were the common symbol for letters or messages.

The old man’s voice had no doubt lost much of its power and timbre to the years, but his great refinement of speech and the beauty and richness of the language he used more than made up for it.

He would speak softly, the meter of the verse as subtle as the rhythms of rain, and then he would break into a chant, strong cadences driving the images like drumming drove dance.

Earlier in the evening Lady Kitsura had played without the accompaniment of her cousin, who was not in attendance, but if this had initially been a disappointment it was soon forgotten. Kitsura Omawara could hold the attention of the most critical audience without assistance. She had taken her place among those listening, now, and seemed hardly less the center of attention there. In contrast, the gathered peers of Seh, guard officers, ladies-in-waiting, and members of the administration seemed like a gathering of the dull and the gray. It was not just the refinement of her dress and manner that set Lady Kitsura apart, it was as though life flowed more strongly in her veins and gave her the ability to find pleasure and delight where it escaped others. She easily stole the hearts of all men present and gained the grudging admiration of the women.

Among those in attendance, General Jaku Katta had the most difficulty concentrating on the verse. He hoped to speak with a certain lady, and carried a poem in his sleeve that he thought might melt some of the coolness of her manner. Although he realized it was absurd, he felt like a suitor scorned to find that Lady Nishima was not present. He tried to turn his thoughts elsewhere and redoubled his efforts to focus as Suzuku began a new poem.

The evening’s last poem read, the gathering broke into small, informal groups and plum wine flowed as smoothly as gossip. Jaku found himself in the company of several of Seh’s most well-born young ladies.

“It is a shame,” said the youngest of the women, “that Lady Nishima was not present also. I had so looked forward to hearing her harp and had hoped she might trade a poem-sequence with Suzuku-sum.”

Jaku could not have agreed more, though he said nothing.

“General Jaku,” said another, “you must have heard Lady Nishima play at court?” She tried to hold the general’s gaze as he answered and was disappointed that he looked away so quickly.

“Oh, many times. Not four days ago I heard Lady Nishima and Lady Kitsura play here in the palace. They complement each other perfectly, as you might imagine.” He was immediately embarrassed—a short time in the north and he was already playing the fool’s game of trying to impress the provincials.

As he spoke, Jaku’s eye was drawn by Kitsura as she broke away from a disappointed group of young men and made her way across the hall. There is no doubt, Jaku thought, the rumor that she spurned the Emperor had made her even more desirable. Despite the fact that he had come hoping to meet another, Jaku could not help but feel excitement at Kitsura’s presence.

Lady Kitsura stopped briefly to speak to Lord Komawara and Jaku shook
his head. Komawara, he remembered, had made a fool of himself in Shonto’s chambers the morning before. It was bad enough he had not realized that Shonto might be forced to abandon Seh but to reveal his ignorance so blatantly exhibited the poorest judgment. Jaku was surprised that Shonto allowed the boy into his councils. Strange.

Jaku’s attention was drawn back into the conversation as he was asked to comment on the most current fashions in the capital. He was forced to disappoint them, explaining that Lady Kitsura dressed in a more timeless style and was not a follower of the latest fad. The conversation then drifted into a discussion of the relative merits of silks from Oe and Nitashi. Lady Kitsura again caught the general’s eye. She had finished her conversation with Lord Komawara, and as Jaku looked up she motioned to him with her fan.