Emperor of the Fireflies

by Sarah Ash

  “What tune is that?” Hotaru asked. “It sounds familiar.”

  Ayaka looked up from pouring hot water on to the tea leaves, blinking in the fragrant steam. “I think it’s a song of the Kurozuro Clan. My mother used to sing it to me when I was little. ‘Three Cranes on the Shore.’ She taught me the actions that go with it. She said that Princess Asagao taught it to her when they were girls. . .” Ayaka’s voice trailed into silence as she realized that in mentioning the leader of the exiled clan, she might have overstepped the bounds of propriety and offended her husband.

  “‘Three Cranes on the Shore,’” Hotaru repeated, a distant look in his eyes. Perhaps he was trying to recall the words for himself. “Is that the melody Lord Kaito played to calm Flood at the festival?”

  So much of what had happened before Flood swept her into the sea had become vague and confused in her memory.

  “The melody that Lord Kaito was playing?” Ayaka looked at Hotaru blankly for a moment as she poured the sweet-scented jasmine tea for him. “I didn’t realize. It just came into my mind after I picked up the flute. It must have jogged my memory.” She poured tea for herself, positioning herself opposite him so that she could watch him sniff the tea, then taste it. To her delight, he nodded his approval and then took another sip.

  This is so nice. It’s just the two of us, sharing tea and chatting about this and that, like any ordinary husband and wife, She wanted this rare moment of domestic intimacy to last as long as possible. For now, he’s mine and mine alone. She could help smiling as she raised the tea bowl to her lips.

  “I wonder if any of the court musicians could play that song,” he said. His gaze kept straying from her face to the instrument and back. “Or maybe you could?”

  “Me?” Ayaka spluttered on her tea and had to set the bowl down, embarrassed at displaying such unladylike behavior. “I couldn’t even get a proper note out of it. I’m afraid I have no talent for it at all.”

  ***

  The lonely sound of a flute drifts into Ayaka’s dreams, whispering a melody as melancholy as the wail of the gulls high overhead.

  The flute player is sitting on a boulder overlooking the shore far below. He draws notes of such heart-breaking sweetness from the plain black flute, bending the pitches to echo the birds’ cries, that she comes to a halt, listening, enchanted.

  I can’t help but love him. I shouldn’t feel this way now that I’m a married woman, but I just can’t forget these feelings.

  He suddenly breaks off in mid-phrase, turning around, still holding the flute to his lips.

  “The black cranes are on the wing,” he says, gesturing with the flute to the bay beneath the cliff top and even as she turns to look, a flock of black-and-white feathered birds rise into the air, their plangent cries carrying on the sharp breeze. “I was playing their song in the hope that I can persuade them to return next year.” His face crinkles into a smile as he adds mischievously, “But I fear I may have frightened them away forever.”

  “Don’t fish for compliments, Kaoru,” she says, cross with him for breaking the spell his music has created. “You play better than anyone at my court and you know it; I could listen to you all afternoon. . .”

  ***

  “Ayaka?”

  She opened her eyes to see Hotaru’s face above hers, peering at her in the pearly light of dawn.

  “You were dreaming,” he said.

  The notes of the flute still whispered through Ayaka’s mind. “A man was playing a flute – just like the one Lord Kaito left behind.”

  Hotaru gripped her by the wrist. “Just like Lord Kaito’s flute? What else do you remember?”

  His grip was so tight that his fingers bruised her tender skin. “I – I’m not sure,” she stammered, alarmed by his reaction. “There were black cranes on the seashore. . .” The fragments of the dream were disintegrating too fast to make sense of them. “You’re hurting me.”

  “I’m sorry.” He relaxed his grip and raised her hand to his lips, kissing the reddened skin. “I was half asleep; forgive me. It’s just that. . . I believe you may be still connected in some way to the spirit of Empress Himiko.”

  “I’m possessed?” Ayaka sat bolt upright, horrified. “I don’t want to have to undergo an exorcism. It would be utterly humiliating.”

  “No, no,” Hotaru said, pulling her back toward him. “Nothing so extreme. This seems to be a benign possession. It may be that the First Empress has some message that she wishes to impart to us – and she is using you, the current empress, as her medium. But I want you to tell me if it happens again. No matter how trivial the dream seems to be.” And then he smiled at her and caressed her cheek as she snuggled closer. “Don’t look so worried. I’m sure that Himiko’s message will become clear to us soon.”

  ***

  “You asked me to look into the background of the empress’s maid, Reika,” Lady Saisho said. “Unobtrusively, of course.”

  Hotaru nodded his approval. “And what did you discover?”

  “I believe you need have no fears about her devotion to your wife. Reika is the only surviving child of the Nagamoto clan’s martial arts master; her father, now dead, instructed Lord Nagamoto when he was a boy.”

  “But she’s not high-born.”

  “Indeed, she is not. She is in no way suitable to wait upon an empress of Cipangu.” Lady Saisho’s pained expression told him that she would approve the suggestion he was about to make.

  “Can I entrust you with the task of appointing a new maid for my wife? A girl of noble birth? Ayaka is still getting used to her role as empress – and any guidance that you can offer will be much appreciated.”

  Lady Saisho bowed low. “I hope my choice will please you.”

  As she rose to take her leave, Hotaru said, affecting what he hoped was a casual tone, “Oh – and could you recommend a good flute teacher?”

  “For her imperial majesty?”

  “For me.” Hotaru opened his fan to hide his face, as if he was too embarrassed to admit that he needed instruction. “I’m afraid I will prove a poor student; I need a teacher who is prepared to be patient and is not afraid to correct me when I make mistakes.”

  “I still have some skill on the flute myself,” Lady Saisho said with a discreet little smile. “But it might cause malicious gossip if I were to be seen to be tutoring your imperial majesty.”

  “Then let’s arrange lessons at a time when you would not be seen,” he answered with equal discretion.

  ***

  “Good morning, imperial majesty.”

  Ayaka opened one eye, surfacing from a dream. “Is it time to get up already, Reika?” she asked – and then opened the other eye as she realized that the woman kneeling at the foot of her futon was not Reika but a stranger. “Who are you?” she asked in surprise. “And where’s Reika? Is she ill?”

  “Reika has been sent to attend on your mother,” said the young woman calmly. “My name is Higekuro no Ochiba and I am honored to be chosen to attend on you, your majesty.”

  “Why would my mother send for Reika?” Ayaka was not at all pleased with this turn of events. “Reika is my maid and always has been. Mother has plenty of maids of her own.”

  “Lady Saisho has trained me,” said Ochiba, her voice betraying no emotion. “I hope that I will live up to her exacting standards.”

  “So you’re Commander Higekuro’s daughter?” Ayaka said, sitting up.

  “The emperor was good enough to confer the rank of admiral on my father,” said Ochiba evenly.

  I bet she’s been schooled by Lady Saisho not to show any trace of feelings.

  “Please convey my congratulations to your father on his promotion,” Ayaka said, equally evenly. If she can play the game this way, then so can I. And then she remembered that the latest scandalous installment of The Pillow Book of Lady Ukifune was lying next to her own pillow, with a deliciously shocking woodcut of the heroine entertaining a handsome young page from her husband’s retinue.

&nbs
p; “I’m famished,” she said, feigning a yawn and stretching widely, hoping her sleeves would conceal it from Ochiba’s sight. “Could you bring me some white tea, please? And rice cakes.”

  Ochiba bowed again and left Ayaka’s room. The instant she was gone, Ayaka stuffed the offending scroll into the chest in which she kept the earlier installments. And then she sat down on top of the chest, wondering why she had not been informed of what was going on in her own household. Has Reika been sent away because of what happened to Kuri? It wasn’t her fault. And Mother promised me I could keep her by my side, even though she isn’t of high enough status to be my maid. I hope she’s all right. I must write to Mother to make sure.

  To wake up and find Reika gone so suddenly – and without even a single word of farewell – had left her feeling insecure and more than a little lonely.

  Chapter 18

  Naoki woke.

  Someone’s there.

  A shadowy form had slipped into the hall where the Kites were sleeping.

  Naoki’s shinobi training kicked in. He reacted instinctively, launching himself across the sleeping area to grab the intruder and press a kunai against his throat.

  “It’s me, my lord,” came a strangled voice. “Raiko.”

  Naoki lowered the blade and sat back on his heels, still breathing hard.

  “Where have you been? You weren’t on guard duty tonight.”

  “Call of nature.” Raiko laughed unconvincingly.

  “Since the moon set? That has to be a record. Or did you lose your way back in the dark, Raiko-kun?” From the mutterings and yawns around them, Naoki realized that the other retainers in his entourage had begun to stir.

  Raiko mumbled an inaudible reply.

  “What was that? I didn’t quite hear you.” Naoki was in no mood to be toyed with; their sleep had been disturbed and he wanted to know why.

  “Don’t be too harsh on the boy, my lord,” called out Chikaaki, stretching his arms above his head as pale dawn light seeped into the hall. “What’s her name, Raiko; Mai?”

  “I thought you were seeing Mai’s sister, the quiet one,” added Kinnori, his subordinate.

  “Why not both?” The other retainers sniggered. “Twins – two for the price of one. You lucky dog, Raiko.”

  “It’s not like that!” Raiko burst out. “She’s a sweet girl. I wouldn’t dream of two-timing her.”

  “So you were with a girl. A ‘sweet’ girl.” Naoki let out a sigh of irritation. He did not want to have to discipline Raiko, but Lord Toshiro had given strict instructions on the subject. “Have you forgotten what my father – our clan lord –decreed before we set out? No fraternizing with the Black Cranes. And what have you been doing, Raiko?”

  For the first time that Naoki could remember, Raiko did not come straight back with an indignant retort but just stared sullenly at the floor.

  “She’s a Black Crane. And a servant. How can you be sure that she’s not just leading you on? She could be grooming you, winning your trust – only to lead you into a trap.”

  “She’s not that kind of a girl.”

  “And the last I heard was that your father was arranging a marriage meeting for you with one of General Nakakuni’s daughters. You’re spoken for.”

  Raiko muttered something under his breath which was drowned out by a sudden babble of voices rising from the courtyard below.

  “Now what?” Naoki, still irritated, went to the window and looked down. One of the Kites’ saltpeter miners had returned and was gesticulating wildly in the direction of the upper mountain while a small crowd gathered around him.

  The twin serving girls from the kitchen appeared at one end of the hall, bearing miso soup and a tray of rice balls. Naoki noticed that Raiko had turned bright red and was examining his sandals with exaggerated concentration.

  “Go down and see what the problem is, Raiko,” Naoki ordered. “And report back to me straight away.”

  Raiko, face averted, made a sudden bolt for the doorway but not before Naoki’s keen eyes had seen one of the twins react as he went past, her hand rising to tuck away a straying strand of hair and cover a blush that almost matched his in its vivid redness.

  So she’s the one.

  As Naoki drank his soup, he looked up over the rim of the bowl and realized that Yūgiri was regarding him with an unreadable look.

  “What?” he said defensively. “Did I say the wrong thing? Raiko is constantly testing my patience and challenging my authority. Just because he’s General Okitane’s son doesn’t mean he can do what he likes. He’s under my command.”

  “But have you thought that he might actually have feelings for this girl?”

  “Raiko – in love?” Naoki let out a snort of disbelief. “Isn’t that what women like to talk about endlessly? Feelings?”

  “Are you implying that I’m talking like a woman, my lord?” Yūgiri’s bloodstained eyes narrowed and Naoki realized too late that in speaking so thoughtlessly, he had unwittingly trespassed onto dangerous and sensitive territory. “Or could it be that you have yet to experience it yourself?”

  “Ouch.” Naoki winced. “What do you mean? I’ve had girls.” Did it sound as if he was boasting? “I’ve got nothing to prove.”

  “So you’ve slept with a girl or two,” Yūgiri said, his expression still chillingly cold. “But did you ever feel anything for them?”

  “It was just for fun! You know how it is, a warm festival night in summer, fireworks, and lots of sake. . .” His excuse sounded lame, even to his own ears, “What exactly are you getting at?” he said, rather more harshly than he had intended.

  Yūgiri shrugged. “I’m not judging you. I’m merely saying that if you’ve never been in love, you won’t understand what Raiko –”

  “Lord Naoki!” Raiko burst in again and Naoki could not help feeling a certain relief that this uncomfortable conversation with Yūgiri had been interrupted. “There’s been a rock fall up at the cave.”

  “Are our men all right?”

  “All except one who was trapped and had to be dug out. It sounds as if he might have broken bones.”

  “I’ll go up there straight away.” Yūgiri rose and slipped his feet into his sandals.

  “Wait, Yūgiri. Suppose it’s a trap.” For some reason that he couldn’t yet analyze, Naoki still felt on edge. “At least take a shinobi with you.”

  “I’ll be fine by myself. I don’t need an escort.” Yūgiri picked up his straw hat and with a brief almost casual bow, left Naoki feeling even more irritated than before, yet still not entirely sure why.

  ***

  Hotaru had only stolen an occasional glance into the Akatobi shaman’s mind so far and had merely gained brief glimpses of everyday life in Castle Kurozuro: Yūgiri Hisui in conversation with Lord Naoki, using his healing skills, even gazing out from the castle battlements over the forest and the distant sea below. . .

  And each time, the shaman had instantly become aware of the invasion and had done his best to block him.

  Whenever Hotaru activated the link he had seared into the shaman’s eyes and mind, he experienced an echo of the agonizing pain this caused his victim. The hazy glimpses he gained through their linked sight were soon obscured by a wash of red as Yūgiri’s eyes began to weep blood. And each time Hotaru had to steel himself for the sudden excruciating back-wash of pain that made him swiftly sever the link.

  But I have to do this. No matter how painful it is, I have to find Masao.

  Hotaru took out the little bronze scrying mirror and, pricking his finger with a pin, let fall a drop of his own blood to awaken its powers.

  The clear surface filled with shadows that swirled then slowly melted away, revealing shady layers of green leaves. Hotaru leaned forward, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. Yūgiri was walking along an overgrown path.

  But where was he going? And why had he left the castle compound?

  ***

  Sakami placed a little offering of fried tofu before the Guard
ian kitsune statues guarding the mountain shrine and took a step back, bowing respectfully.

  “Please can you help us?” she said. “We need to collect the broken pieces of Inari’s sword if we’re to stand a chance of defeating Kurika. The fragments are really small, so I thought if, well, maybe you could ask the other foxes to search the mountainside to help us, then –”

  “This is really good tofu.”

  She looked up to see Honou helping himself to the offering. “But that’s for Yukiko and Kane!” she cried, lashing out to slap him. He ducked and ran off, laughing. “And you know there’s so little tofu to share round.”

  “All the more reason for you to give me some too!” he called back.

  She sighed in frustration. Sometimes he’s still like a naughty little child. I wish he’d grow up. One moment he’s trying to kiss me, the next he’s playing stupid tricks. “Then earn that tofu,” she called after him, “and start looking for those fragments.”

  “That young Two-tails is too willful,” said a soft, sleek voice. “Do you want me to discipline him?” Sakami turned to see Yukiko in fox-form, delicately eating the last of the tofu. The Guardian licked her white paws clean and fixed Sakami with her piercing golden-eyed stare.

  “N-no, it’s all right.” Sakami had a feeling that any punishment meted out by the elegant kitsune would be cruel and humiliating; all the other males seemed to fear Yukiko and stay well out of her way, even her partner, Kane. And much as Sakami found Honou’s behavior annoying, she was still grateful to him for caring for her as she adapted to her new life.

  “The rice has begun to ripen,” Yukiko said, “and Lady Inari will soon leave the mountainside, taking the other kitsune with her to watch over the harvest down on the plain. We’ll have to fend for ourselves while she’s gone. And if that fiery kami returns, we’ll have to face him alone.”

  “Not alone,” Sakami said. “Kai will help us protect the mountain.”

  “But he’s a Sacrifice,” said Yukiko. “If he uses up too much of his mortal life force, he’ll –” Her ears pricked up, listening intently. “Someone’s coming,” she said and sniffed the air. “I don’t recognize the scent.”