Black Arrow (33 page)

Hitomaro grinned. “What did his lady say about the master’s injury?”

“When she found out, she couldn’t wait for the end of the hearing. She came to see him for herself.” Seimei shook his head. “So impulsive!”

“I like spirit in a woman,” observed Tora. “What a day! First the master solves the case of that mutilated body and locates a missing deserter when a whole garrison of soldiers could not find the bastard, and then the master’s wife makes him send everyone home so she can take care of him. He went like a kitten, too. And now listen to him.” He laughed again.

Across the yard the flute performed a series of elaborate but jarring trills before rising to a climactic shriek and falling silent. They held their breaths, but all remained quiet. Seimei said in a tone of reproof, “You should have looked after your master better, Tora. It’s lucky only the master and I knew she was there.”

Tora flushed and hung his head.

Seimei was pleased with this reaction and added for good measure, “He was extremely feverish. It was all he could do to walk to his room.”

“Oh, come on,” said Hitomaro with a glance at Tora. “You know how he is when he thinks it’s his duty.”

Seimei sniffed. “Her ladyship made him comfortable and sent for Dr. Oyoshi. The doctor’s face still looks very bad, but I must say I was glad to make his acquaintance. A very knowledgeable man. His medicine eased my cough right away. We consulted together and made up a special tea from some of my herbs for the master—it was ginseng and mint, with a touch of gardenia and a pinch each of willow bark and cinnamon, so soothing to a weakened constitution—and added an interesting powder the doctor brought with him. The medicine soon produced a sound sleep, and the master awoke this morning feeling much better. This is what I came to tell you. Also that he wants both of you in his office now.”

“Well, why didn’t you say so right away?” Tora was up and out the door, before Hitomaro and Seimei could get to their feet to follow.

The scene they found in the courtyard stopped them.

A group of about twenty armed and mounted warriors, with Uesugi emblems on their clothes and on the flying banners, waited in the wintry sun in front of the tribunal hall. There were several riderless horses, one of them with a gold-lacquered saddle and crimson silk tassels fluttering from its shining tail and halter.

“Surely not the Emperor of the North himself?” Tora said. “Do you suppose Uesugi’s found the boy?”

“Let’s go find out,” said Hitomaro.

♦

For Akitada, the Lord of Takata was an unexpected and, at the moment, unwelcome visitor.

After a restful night covered with scented silken quilts and protected from the cold drafts by carefully placed screens, he had woken to the tender ministrations of his wife. Greeted with fragrant hot tea and Tamako’s soft eyes and sweet smile, he had dressed and started his day in a very pleasant frame of mind in spite of his worries. His morning gruel was subtly flavored with herbs, and a new, much larger brazier made his office very comfortable. And then he had played his flute.

The Lord of Takata and two senior retainers were announced by Hamaya just when Akitada had felt near success with a particularly tricky passage. He reluctantly put down the flute. His visitors looked slightly taken aback by Akitada’s scowl.

Now Uesugi was seated on a silk cushion on the other side of the broad desk, while his companions knelt behind him. Akitada watched sourly as his wife poured some wine for his visitors.

Hitomaro and Tora came in, glowered at Uesugi’s men, and took up position at the door. Tora said, “I hope it’s good news for a change, sir.” He received a frown from Akitada and looked sheepish. Tamako smiled and poured more wine, but her husband looked grim.

“I had not expected to meet your noble lady,” Uesugi remarked to Akitada, bowing graciously to Tamako and ignoring the others. “I am afraid the tribunal is not a fit place for a refined person in her delicate condition.”

Akitada felt a surge of anger followed by fear. Uesugi kept himself too well informed about them. Controlling his voice, he said, “My wife is understandably concerned after the attack on me.”

Uesugi looked solicitous. “An attack? I heard a rumor that you sustained an injury. My dear Governor, you should have sent for me instantly. I had no idea that things had gone so far in this city. Too bad that Kaibara has disappeared. He was checking on some trespassers and has not returned. I think I should move my troops into the tribunal compound. That will straighten matters out fast enough. I wonder if the attack on you had something to do with your recent activities? I trust you are recovering?”

Akitada regarded him coldly. “Yes. No thanks to your man Kaibara, however. It was he who attacked me while I was out taking some exercise. I was unarmed and he fell upon me with his sword.”

Uesugi jumped up, pretending an almost comical surprise. “Kaibara attacked you? Impossible. Kaibara would never do such a thing. He had no orders.”

Akitada raised his eyebrows. “Then perhaps he anticipated them?”

Uesugi tried to cover his slip. “No, of course not. That is not what I... if it happened as you say, it must have been a mistake.”

“Are you calling me a liar or a fool?” Akitada asked.

Uesugi reddened. “Neither,” he ground out. Then he sat down again heavily and muttered, “It will be best to discuss this calmly. I was referring to a mistake Kaibara made. He must have thought you someone else.”

“Who?” Akitada asked interestedly.

Uesugi snapped, “I don’t know. No doubt you arrested and questioned him. What does he say?”

Akitada ignored the question. “What is your relationship with Judge Hisamatsu?”

“Hisamatsu?” Uesugi shot a glance at his retainers. “I see the judge rarely. Why change the subject? Where is Kaibara?”

“You surprise me. I recall that Hisamatsu was a guest at the banquet you gave in my honor. He seems to admire you.”

The Lord of Takata clenched his fists. “A mere courtesy to you,” he said with ill-concealed impatience. “I also asked the garrison commander, a city merchant, the abbot of the Buddhist temple, and your new coroner, Oyoshi. Surely you don’t think I have a special... relationship, as you call it, with all of them?”

“Ah, no,” Akitada said dryly. “Not all of them.”

There was a brief silence. Uesugi shifted. “Let me speak to Kaibara,” he finally demanded. “I’ll have this matter cleared up fast enough. He will be punished for his carelessness.”

“I’m afraid that is not possible. He died in the attempt.”

“What?” Uesugi stiffened. His retainers reached for swords that were not there because they had been left outside, and Tora and Hitomaro walked around them to stand on either side of Akitada.

Uesugi unclenched his fists and some of the tension left his body.

Akitada thought that he seemed relieved by the news that Kaibara could no longer be interrogated. And that was interesting. He went on, “Kaibara’s extraordinary behavior throws a new light on the murder of your late father’s servant and the disappearance of his grandson. I shall have to pay another visit to Takata.”

There was a brief silence, then Uesugi smiled. “Of course,” he said smoothly. “I shall do everything in my power to assist you!” He reached for his cup, and drained it. “What a thing! Kaibara of all people. And you suspect him of murdering the servant and the boy? He must have gone mad.” He paused, cocked his head, and said, “Perhaps not. Perhaps it was a plot. If he really killed my father, I would have been next, no doubt. What a thing!” He shook his head at the monstrosity of such a thought, then added, “I shall certainly be in your debt if you can discover the truth, Excellency.”

Akitada looked grim. “I doubt that, but I do intend to investigate the irregularities in this province, both as its governor and its high constable.”

Uesugi cried, “So it’s true! You have assumed the powers which rest with my family. That is illegal.”

“Do not presume to lecture me about the law, Uesugi. It is what I am trained in, and I assure you that I am quite within my rights. When there is evidence of conspiracy against the emperor or his lawfully appointed representatives, extraordinary powers may be used at the discretion of the governor.”

They looked at each other. Uesugi’s fury faltered, but only for a moment. Akitada caught something in the man’s eyes—it certainly was neither nervousness nor fear. He rose to depart with stiff expressions of regret. Akitada barely nodded.

“Pah,” said Tora, when he had gone. “The bastard lied. It’s easy to accuse a dead horse of eating the missing bale of straw.”

Hamaya put his head in. “The doctor, sir.”

Oyoshi came in, made a small bow to Tamako, nodded to the others, and then approached Akitada. “You look better, sir,” he said and touched Akitada’s forehead.

Akitada looked at Oyoshi’s discolored face and the scabs left by Kaibara’s blade. “Thank you. I wish I could say the same for you. Sit down and have a cup of wine.”

Oyoshi smiled. “I’m not a vain man and this will heal. It might have been much worse.”

“Surely you will not travel to Takata soon?” Tamako asked her husband anxiously as she poured the doctor’s wine.

“Now that the battle lines have been drawn, the sooner, the better,” Akitada said in a tone which brooked no argument. “There is no time to be lost. Uesugi did not make any threats, but that does not mean he won’t take up arms.”

“But it sounds dangerous. And you are far from well,” she protested. “Remember what happened yesterday. If not for Dr. Oyoshi’s powder, your fever might have moved to the wound, and then you might have died.” Her voice trembled over the final word, and tears filled her eyes.

Akitada was embarrassed but softened. “Well, perhaps it can wait until tomorrow.” He added more firmly, “You may leave us now.”

His wife bowed formally to her husband and inclined her head to the others before slipping from the room with a soft rustle of silk robes and a faint trace of orange blossom scent.

Akitada motioned everyone closer. While they found cushions, he put away his flute, tying the silk cord into a neat bow on top of the oblong box.

“Where did you learn to play?” Oyoshi asked.

“In the capital.” Akitada paused with the box in his hands. “I taught myself. The first instrument was a gift from a kind and noble man. I took it as a reminder that a part of my education had been sadly neglected. You see, as a boy I never received any musical instruction. I am quite determined to make up for it now.” He was puzzled by the expressions of alarm on the faces of his lieutenants.

The doctor smiled. “How extraordinary!”

“Yes, wasn’t it?” Akitada agreed eagerly. “At first it seemed impossibly difficult. But with persistence I may prevail. I realize how important a musical skill is for a man’s ability to think clearly. It requires concentration to play certain sequences and it purifies the mind amazingly. Would you like me to demonstrate?” He started to undo the box again.

“No, please don’t trouble,” Oyoshi said, raising a hand. “You were just about to give us your instructions. Perhaps some other time?”

Akitada put the box away with a small sigh. “Of course.” Pulling forward a stack of official papers, he risked another glance at the flute and said, “This is not the same instrument, you know. The first one got broken. It saved my life when I was attacked by a murderer. Remind me to tell you the story sometime.”

“I remember. That killer was also a doctor,” Tora said with a nod.

Oyoshi stared at him and turned quite pale.

Akitada thought his reaction odd. He said, “Never mind that now, Tora. The most troubling problem facing us is still the missing boy. I am afraid we made no progress at all. I am thinking of returning to Takata to ask more questions. And then there is Hisamatsu. Hitomaro has been invited to work for the judge. He will try to find more information about Uesugi’s plans and accomplices. Hitomaro’s place at the tribunal will be filled by Genba. Genba’s disguise has served its purpose. Inform him before you leave the city, Hitomaro. As for Tora...” He broke off when he saw his lieutenants’ expressions. “What is the matter now?”