L5r - scroll 03 - The Crane (17 page)

Others stood, their voices raised one by one as they told of their lineage and their bravery. Three Lion, in all, and then two samurai of the Crab. Suddenly, Hoturi realized who had brought Mirumoto Hitomi into the chamber, and whose command had begun this hasty roll call of duelists. Carefully, he glanced toward the dais, but not at the grand Emperor Hantei.

Kachiko's eyes were closed in pleasure, listening to the chaos of the court. She knew Hoturi could not deny his clan the right to compete in the tournament of the Emerald Champion. His own father had held the position, and if he ilid not at least attempt to regain it, the Crane would lose favor in the Imperial Court. Yet, if he tried and failed, the Crane would appear weak. They could lose their tentative alliance with the Unicorn, or worse—they could lose the respect of the emperor.

Well played, Lady, Hoturi thought. Still our game of go has not finished. You may have set out the board, but I choose when and where to place the first stone.

Hoturi glanced swiftly at Kakita Yoshi, looking for some sign of encouragement. The Kakita Daimyo shifted his legs, twisting his fan and lowering the tip. Remain on your knees, he entreated Hoturi with the secret signs of the Crane. Tension clenched the corner of Yoshi's mouth. Obviously, if he were to accept the challenge, it would be disastrous for the Crane. Behind him, the rest of the Crane were silent—all of Yoshi's attendants were courtiers, not soldiers. None could possibly represent the Crane in a duel of this magnitude.

The letter had been sent to him, addressed to the champion of the Crane. Kachiko had planned to force him to accept, trapped by arrogance into believing she wished to see him privately.

The Fortunes and simple wit were on his side. He had not come alone.

Nodding faintly to Kakita Yoshi, Hoturi shifted upon his cushion, tapping the man behind him with one toe. It was all the encouragement needed.

"I, Kakita Toshimoko, master of the Kakita Academy and lord of the twelve provinces of Kunankei, will stand for the Crane. It is our honor and duty to follow the tradition so nobly set forth by our family, cousins of the Hantei from times long past. We will fight, and we shall serve." He bowed nobly.

On the dais, the emperor's eyes lightened as he recognized the sensei. "Master Toshimoko, your dedication to our family is well known. We look forward to seeing your skills tested in our tournament."

"Thank you, Your Imperial Majesty." A slight smile crossed Toshimoko's face as a mutter passed among the Crab at the back of the room. As all masters of the Kakita Academy, Toshimoko had once been the sensei to the Hantei. The Crane were connected to the imperial line through more than blood. It was time the Crane's place in the empire was remembered.

"My lords," the emperor said over the whispers of the court. "I grow weary, and ..." his hand reached for the arm of his throne. Another cough spasmed through his thin chest. "I must rest, and the tournament must be planned. I look forward to seeing our greatest duelists compete on the field of honor. For your clans, my lords—and for the honor of your houses."

Beside him, Kachiko stood, bowing and saying softly, "We shall have strength for you, Your Majesty."

The Unicorn courtiers murmured approvingly. A whisper of agreement from the Crab affirmed her ploy. The courtiers were dismissed.

Even as she assisted her husband into a golden palanquin, Kachiko's eyes lingered on Hoturi.

In time, my lady, I will tear away all your masks and silk, and there will be nothing left but the truth of your heart. Hoturi smiled, feeling in his pocket for the smooth black stone of the afternoon's go board.

Hoturi approached and bowed to the emperor. To Bake, he said, "My lord Seppun, someone seems to have dropped this. I believe it was part of her Imperial Majesty's go board. Could you return it to her?"

Bake bowed, confused, and took the stone. "Of course, my lord," he said handing it immediately to Kachiko.

Without waiting to see if she accepted the piece of black glass, Hoturi turned and followed the Crane ambassadors from the room. He knew what would occur behind him. He had no need to stay and watch.

The board has changed hands, my lady. Now it is your turn to place the stone.

smoke and dragons

Kyuden Kakita shone with frost. Thin trails of icy dew covered its stone towers. Though the chill air turned her breath into white plumage, Ameiko knew the cold was not enough to slow the armies on the march.

Even so, she had left her chambers in high spirits, carrying a sprig of fresh-cut pine. Its scent cheered her as she walked the long corridors of the palace. The fireplaces burned dimly in the early morning, not yet rebuilt from the long sleep of a winter's night. Ameiko didn't mind. She was warmed instead by the secret message hidden within Kakita Yoshi's letter to the Crane court.

As she continued down the corridor toward the Kakita libraries, Ameiko reread the missive.

First it gave praise to the Seven Fortunes for Hoturi's safe arrival at Otosan Uchi. The imperial lords had met, which meant

the court would be in an uproar over who would speak with the Hantei first—if at all. The emperor's health must have been improving for him to summon his court.

Yoshi had not done badly, Ameiko told herself as she gracefully descended the oak staircase, but she wondered what truths remained uncovered in his letter. Pondering the real intent behind the master courtier's carefully couched phrases, Ameiko gazed at the heimin cleaning the corridors of the palace.

Most nobles never remembered the faces of their servants, ignoring the lower classes as one would ignore bricks in a wall. Ameiko knew each of them by name. She whispered polite greetings as she passed their kneeling forms. She was well loved here. Each samurai in the guard would gladly have given his life to defend the lady of the Crane.

There were those who believed ambition had caused Kit-sune Ameiko to climb her way through society's ranks. She had been the daughter of a minor noble house, but one day became the bride of the Crane heir. Over the years of their marriage, her beauty and wit had earned her friends in every corner of the empire. Those who knew her understood the true reasons for her unfailing loyalty to Hoturi.

Love alone had raised her to his side.

In the libraries of Kyuden Kakita, Ameiko reached for the ink stone and brush to compose a reply. Three servants aided her, lifting the scroll cases to their proper place and gathering rice paper and ink. Yoshi had arranged a meeting with the ambassador of the Unicorn. The Phoenix, as well, were willing to consider an alliance with the Crane. Within the cadence of the phrases lurked another message. Scouring the parchment and unrolling even the finest edges of the letter scroll, Ameiko reread Yoshi's delicate calligraphy. The symbol of messengers, and allies, and a faint Phoenix mon. Something unusual was stirring in the emperor's court.

Shaking her head softly, Ameiko sighed. She placed her cheek in her hands. The treachery and intrigue of the court were second nature to the Doji and the Kakita, but Ameiko had been born in the Fox Clan, a small group from the southern forests. The court was not her friend, though it had often proven the Crane's finest ally. Perhaps Yoshi's manipulations and Hoturi's sheer strength of will could gain something that war could not. She prayed to Shinsei that it would be so.

Still, Tsuko's armies gathered to the north, and three villages had already been burned. The future grew dimmer with each sunset. Soon the palaces of the Crane would shake, and be broken.

Footsteps approached beyond the paper screen. "My lady?" a low voice called out. A moment later, one of her heimin knelt by the door and slid back the screen. In the hallway beyond knelt the daimyo of the Daidoji.

"Dear Fortunes," Ameiko said, standing from the low table. She composed her features. "What happened, Samurai, that you should look so pale?"

"My lady, there has been another message," Uji replied grimly.

Straightening her shoulders, she asked, "From Lord Hoturi?"

"No, my lady. Actually, yes, my lady, but not in that way."

"Come here." Ameiko knelt once more on the cushion behind the library table.

Uji walked into the small stone chamber. Behind him, the door obligingly closed, slid by the hands of heimin.

Signaling for the servants to leave, Ameiko turned to face the growing light of the window. She arranged her kimono so that the folds spread gently on the floor. When the heimin had gone, Uji knelt beside her. "From the look of your face, Uji-san, the Daidoji have been wounded once more."

"Yes, my lady. Haikeun village has been burned, but the casualties have been light." Uji paused, his dark face becoming sallow and his shoulders tightening.

"Yes?" Ameiko prompted, noting the man's stubborn jaw.

"The messenger asks to stay the winter in Kyuden Kakita.

The first snow will fall soon, and the roads will become treacherous."

"A samurai carried the message?"

"No, my lady." Noting her confusion, he continued, "Eighteen samurai, my lady, and three shugenja. They are Phoenix, of the Shiba family, asking your hospitality."

"Phoenix." Ameiko repeated. How could Yoshi have known this would occur? His letter had mentioned Phoenix allies, but had given no details of their arrival. "Are they injured?"

"Yes, my lady," Uji snarled. "By Lion blades." Nodding his head in polite deference, he stood angrily. "The Lion march through our northern province, just to the west of Sayo Castle. It is obviously their first target in our lands. We ..." His face darkened as he realized that he spoke to the lady, not the lord, of the house. "I'm sorry, my lady. You have much else to do, and the Phoenix are in need of comfort."

"Uii-san," Ameiko said sharply. "In my lord's absence, you will speak to me of all things concerning the clan. As his wife, I care for the house and finances of the Doji—and as the wife of the champion, I care for the entire clan. Do you understand?"

Uji blackened visibly. "Hai, my lady. Forgive me."

"No, Uji-san, you will not be simply forgiven," Ameiko cautioned with a faint smile. "You will tel! me what you know of the Lion troop movements and will explain my lord's wishes regarding these Phoenix. Then, I will write to Kakita Yoshi of our plans so that the court can continue to turn on the will of the Crane."

"Hai, Ameiko-sama. Hai." Uncomfortable, the soldier bowed again.

He turned to the window to compose his thoughts. With narrowed eyes, he watched the artisans in the gardens below, discussing the festival of days past and preparing for the winter to come.

Ameiko turned again to the table, preparing the ink stone with a small amount of ground kohl. Tipping the water vial, she filled the reservoir of the stone with liquid and smeared tlie kohl to paste with her brush.

The brilliant light of dawn crept across the windowsiil. As silent moments passed, it began to illuminate the small chamber with glorious light.

Uji waited patiently for her to command him to speak. He was a broad man, and his shadow clung to the wall. Even without his armor and the well-known black mask, the daimyo of the Daidoji was a dangerous man. Bound to the Crane through ties of blood older than the empire, the Daidoji were the strength of the clan, and Uji was the strength of the 1 )aidoji. He had served the Crane for fourteen years without truly speaking his mind, and this time would be no different. Every word was colored by anger, every action dictated by a hatred of anyone who dared defy his command of the Crane provinces. Where Hoturi ruled through lineage, Uji commanded through strength. The Crane had good reason to fear Uji if his loyalty ever turned. He knew every inch of the lands they controlled, and he had the strength at arms to seize them.

At last, Ameiko nodded. She was ready to hear his words.

"The Lion," he began, "are gathering to the west of our border. Tsuko's force is a few days past Sayo Castle. Smaller legions have already entered our lands. We have harassed them as much as we can, but our troops are light in that area. With hostility from the Crab to the south, we are spread too thin to provide direct support against a large force. I'm keeping three hundred men here at Kyuden Kakita, but the Phoenix could prove more than useful. Their shugenja, in particular. We have none here—the Asahina are secluded in their monastery, and even if they wished to join the battle, they could not arrive before spring."

"Who commands the Phoenix at our gate?" Her fingers paced the table restlessly, idling with the calligraphy brush as if eager to release her thoughts.

"They are commanded by Shiba Tsukune, who has defeated Kitsu Koji, on the road just west of Kyuden Kakita."

Ameiko looked up, concerned. "They have already faced the Lion?"

"Twice. Once, in the village of Haikeun, and once against the Kitsu troops."

Tsukune. Ameiko remembered the samurai-ko, lingering impressions of a small, dark haired woman in bright armor shading her eyes. Hoturi and Tsukune.

"The Phoenix will prove good allies. We are fortunate they have chosen to ask our hospitality," Uji pressed his hands to the table, leaning forward over the scattered rice-paper scrolls. "If the Lion take Sayo Castle, we will need all the aid we can get. The winter is nowhere to be seen. Our skies are clear, and not a cloud passes the southern mountains. Even the foothills of the Beiden Mountains are free of snow. The Lion could march any day. If they come to Kyuden Kakita, your life will be in danger. Hoturi made certain that the Phoenix came to us in order to protect the Kakita. To protect you."