by Sarah Ash
“Look at the emblem. It’s the Akatobi mon, but etched in gold, not scarlet. Only the lord’s heir would bear such a weapon.”
“So when Lord Naoki realizes –”
“We’ll have to make the substitute sword a gift – to apologize for your carelessness.”
“Oh? So I must bear all the responsibility?” Kobai’s soulful expression hardened into a sulky pout.
“Indeed you must. You’d better go after Lord Naoki and make a full apology. All we can do is hope that he accepts your explanation. And doesn’t ask any awkward questions.”
Chapter 35
Another evening and no sign of Hotaru all day. . .
Ayaka had waited up again in the hope that her husband would make an appearance but it was getting late and he had not even sent a message. When the evening meal had been cleared away, Ochiba ordered Reika to accompany her to collect the empress’s new robes for the Autumn Moon Festival (Ayaka had chosen aster layering in gradually deepening shades of purplish-blue, embroidered in silver thread) from the palace seamstresses. Bored, Ayaka proposed a game of go with her ladies-in-waiting to pass the time but after a while she noticed that they had begun to fidget and hide yawns behind their wide sleeves. Taking pity, she dismissed them all.
“Well, it’s just you and me now, Kuri,” she said to the little dragon dog who was snoozing in the warmth of the charcoal brazier. “Where can Hotaru be tonight? Unless he’s with a certain Lady Saisho again.”
Kuri suddenly raised his head and gazed around, as if not quite sure where he was. He sniffed the air and then got up, stretching first his front legs, then his back legs, adopting such a comical pose with his little tail poking straight up in the air that Ayaka could not help smiling. She patted her lap and he hopped on, reaching up to lick her face with his hot tongue.
“You won’t leave me, will you, Kuri?” She rested her cheek against the softness of his black coat. “You won’t spend your evenings with some other woman?” To her surprise he gave a little shake of his head. “It’s almost as if you understand what I’m saying, you sweet thing. Although it could just be a flea. . .”
He put his front paws on her shoulders, standing up so that he could stare into her face, panting appealingly with the tip of his little red tongue showing.
“Oh, that’s so adorable,” she said as he bumped noses with her. But then a feeling of extreme weariness began to seep through her.
So tired. . . I need to lie down.
She struggled to stay alert but even though she could feel Kuri licking her face, the more he licked, the more drowsy she became.
What’s happening to me? She felt herself slowly crumpling toward the mats as the strength drained from her limbs and her heavy eyelids began to close.
Has someone slipped a sleeping draught in my tea? As she sank into semi-consciousness, she was aware of two ruby-red points of light in the gathering gloom, lights that began to burn more intensely, even as her senses dulled. Flame-red eyes. . .
“K-Kuri? Get. . .help. . .”
And a voice, soft as smoke, whispered, “Now you’re mine, Ayaka-dono.”
***
A streak of dark flame passes over the sloping roofs of the imperial palace, heading toward the coast.
Hotaru almost dropped the ebony flute, glancing up as he sensed Kurika, re-empowered, shatter the barrier he had set around the palace to restrain him.
“What’s wrong, majesty?”
He blinked and realized that Lady Saisho was staring at him.
Kurika’s escaped.
“I must go.”
Hotaru’s bodyguards leapt up to follow him as he hurried away from Lady Saisho’s rooms.
He’s gained enough power to break all the restraints I placed on him. But how?
He hastened his pace, heading for Ayaka’s rooms, breaking into a run, tormented by the possibility that his wilful shikigami might have carried out his threat and drawn enough life energy from her to break his bonds.
A shrill scream rang out as he turned the corner.
“The empress is ill! Call the physician!”
Chapter 36
A sudden violent gust of wind caught Susumu as he went out into the cloudy darkness to take his turn on guard duty on the watchtower overlooking the harbor.
Strange. . .the weather was so calm.
Rikyu turned to greet him.
“All quiet?” Susumu asked, shivering in spite of himself; the nights had been turning chillier as the leaves began to fall.
“Thus far, my lord.” Rikyu shouldered his bow, making ready to leave.
But Susumu’s keen eyes caught a flicker of movement in the distance. He peered into the night, trying to make out more clearly what he had glimpsed.
“Rikyu – what’s that?”
Rikyu peered in the direction that Susumu was pointing. “A storm cloud?”
“It’s travelling very fast for a cloud.” Susumu shivered again. He felt jittery just looking at it. “And it’s coming straight toward us.” Even as they stared, it seemed to Susumu that he saw a flash of fire within the roiling darkness. “Lightning?”
“Red lightning?”
“Go raise the alarm. Protect the emperor. And the princess.”
The swift-moving blot of darkness was almost upon them.
Rikyu sped off, shouting at the top of his lungs, “Attack! We’re under attack!”
Susumu hesitated a moment, torn between his duty to stand his ground and his gut instinct to flee. And as he gazed upward, a shape blacker than the night sky snaked overhead, swiveling around in the air to fix him with its glowing eyes.
Am I hallucinating? It looks just like a –
“Dragon!” he yelled, taking to his heels. “It’s a dragon!”
As he ran he felt the stifling heat of its fiery breath. A blast of flame burst from its nostrils and set the wood-shingled roof of the main hall alight.
Caught off-guard, Susumu tumbled down the last of the watchtower steps and rolled into the courtyard below. He could hear cries of terror and disbelief; all around him, people were fleeing in the flame-seared darkness. Some were shouting, “Go to the harbor!” but others, “Make for the mountain!”
The night sky was filling with acrid smoke. Scrambling to his feet, Susumu set out, forcing his way through the oncoming tide of the panicking clansmen, calling out his brother’s name.
“Isamu! Isamu!”
Where can he be? With the princess and Lord Takeru? Lord Takeru still can’t walk very fast. Supposing they’re trapped inside the compound?
Above him he heard a sizzling sound as the dragon wheeled around for a second attack. A strange smell exuded from its sleek body, like the hot reek of molten metal. Susumu caught a slick glisten of coal-black scales, catching the fire’s light, as its coils rippled.
Rikyu reappeared with his archers.
“Aim for the eyes!” he cried, fitting an arrow to his bow and aiming at the oncoming dragon. “On my mark – now.”
The arrows flew up into the smoke – but Susumu heard the barbed tips bounce harmlessly off the dragon’s hard scales with a sound like the pelting patter of hailstones in a winter storm. Another fiery breath exuded from its flaring nostrils and caught the surrounding hut roofs alight.
“Get everyone out!” He heard General Tachibana’s voice rising above the crackle of the flames. “Go up the mountain. Stay away from the harbor.”
Away from the harbor? Susumu wondered why; it was instinctive to head for water when surrounded by a growing wall of flames. And then he understood. The dragon had turned toward the sea, letting out another fiery jet at the ships tied up or at anchor. From the searing screams that arose, Susumu realized that many had not heard the general’s warning and were caught in the conflagration.
His eyes smarting, he battled onward, determined not to get knocked over in the stampede, still shouting his brother’s name.
“Lord Susumu?” A plump little woman came stumbling toward him, her sleeve ra
ised to keep the smoke from her nostrils and mouth. He recognized Umeko-san and caught her by the arm, steadying her.
“Where’s the princess?” he asked.
“Back there.” She gestured toward the main hall. “Go and help your brother get her out.” She was wheezing for breath.
“Will you be all right?”
“Yes. Just go.” She pulled her arm free and gave him a little shove.
Coughing on the thickly billowing smoke, his mouth and throat burning from the foul fumes, Susumu ran on toward the main hall.
Through the eye-stinging smoke he could just make out three figures staggering toward him, two supporting the third.
Is that you, brother?
“This way!” he shouted, going forward into the searing heat. But just as he was about to cross the threshold, he heard a rending sound overhead. He leapt back. A flaming beam came crashing down, sending up a glittering fountain of fire sparks as it hit the ground.
“Isamu!” he yelled into the inferno, trying to make out if the figures were still moving beyond the swirl of smoke and shadowed flame, straining in vain to hear an answering voice above the roar of the blaze.
***
A sudden red flare illumined the night, like a winter sunset when the dying sun sinks below the horizon, coloring the western sky and the gray waves with its intense flame-bright light.
“What’s that?” Kai swiveled around in the water to stare. The last time he had seen the darkened sky so brightly aflame was the night Castle Akatobi burned to the ground. His heart – and Flood’s – began to thud faster as he realized that the glow was coming from the direction in which Akatobi Island lay. “Fire – on Akatobi Island?”
“Is this Hotaru’s response?” Masao’s tone was grim. “That fire looks like Kurika’s work.”
But Kai had already started to move through the water toward the island.
“Wait, Kai! What are you doing?”
“If I can get near enough, I can channel seawater on to the flames.” There was no time to waste; fire would engulf the flimsy wooden buildings on Akatobi in no time at all. “I did it before at the Inari Shrine.”
“And used up too much life force. Let me take some of the damage as well.” Masao caught up with him; far out beyond the shore, they would be able to stay together for a little while longer. “I’m sure Shiohiru can do the same.”
“Ebb can channel seawater too?” It had never occurred to Kai that Ebb could do anything other than the opposite to his Tide Dragon brother.
“Heh.” A wry laugh floated back to Kai as Masao overtook him. “What’s the point in being a Tide Dragon if you can’t manipulate the tides?”
***
Susumu bound a strip of cloth torn from his sleeve over his nose and mouth to try to prevent himself from inhaling the foul smoke.
But now he hesitated at the entrance to the burning hall.
Let them still be alive.
He put his head down and plunged inside. Every shallow breath he took drew more scalding air and smoke into his nostrils and down into his lungs.
I can’t – I just can’t go any further.
“Isamu!” he shouted again, the name ending in a rasping, searing cough. The crackle of the flames was so loud that he gave up hope of making his own voice heard.
But I can’t abandon them.
The fires suddenly flared up. By the spurt of searing light, he could just distinguish someone lurching toward him.
“Susumu?” croaked a hoarse voice.
Susumu caught the fugitive and realized that the soot-smeared figure was his young clan lord.
“My lord –”
“Save my mother.” Lord Takeru wrested himself free of Susumu’s grip, pushing him away. “Go.”
Susumu steeled himself. He forced himself onward into the swirling heat.
“This way, my lord.” Susumu heard Rikyu’s voice close behind him.
Thank the gods Rikyu’s here; Lord Takeru will be safe now. . .but where is the princess? And my brother?
Another piece of burning roof beam came crashing down; he ducked, flinging up his arms to shield his head, as he was showered in flaming splinters.
“Susu!”
Someone was calling his name from within the inferno.
Briefly silhouetted against the dazzling glare, he saw a man half-carrying, half-dragging a woman, slowly, doggedly moving through the flames, one exhausted step at a time.
It had to be Isamu – with Princess Asagao. Susumu blindly launched himself toward them, vaguely aware that Rikyu was close behind him. Sight seared by the flames, he reached out, hands closing around his brother’s shoulders, gripping him tightly.
“Save – the princess –” Isamu gasped, sinking to his knees.
***
Flames were leaping from the clustered buildings that had been home to Kai’s clan and ex-emperor Suzaku. Even the ships in the harbor were alight.
Takeru, Mother, Umeko, Susu. . . Kai’s anguish only increased. Did you get out before the flames took hold? He scanned the dark sky for Kurika, fearing a surprise attack – but he could not sense any of the shikigami’s fiery energy nearby.
No time to worry about Kurika. Just extinguish the fires – without causing a flood.
And then he saw Ebb’s glistening neck craning high above the sea, a foam-white column against the billowing smoke. Masao had gone as far into the little harbor as was possible and was spewing out burst after burst of seawater on to the burning compound, dampening down the flames.
“I’m going ashore, Kai.” Masao called out. “I’ll take your clansmen up to the cave. They’ll be safe from Kurika there.”
And as Shiohiru’s sleek form slid back into the sea, Kai saw Masao separate from the Tide Dragon and swim with strong strokes toward the little strip of beach, before heading into the burning compound.
“Take care!” Kai called back, coming closer until he could feel the heat of the few boats that were still aflame. Others had broken up and sunk, their charred hulks blocking the harbor entrance. A thick cloud of foul smoke hung low over the island like a hot fog and there was little breeze to disperse it. The buildings still burned in spite of Masao’s efforts to extinguish them.
“Lend me your strength, Lord Shiomitsu.” Kai rose up, stretching the Tide Dragon’s long neck until he was staring directly into the heart of the flames.
***
“Save – the princess.”
As Isamu toppled forward, Rikyu scooped the princess up in his arms and retreated. Susumu felt his brother slump against him, a dead weight.
I have to get him out of here. The wall of heat was now so intense that Susumu feared it would char their skin and set their hair alight.
Why did it have to be such a fine night? It rains enough on this godforsaken island – so why not tonight?
Against jagged flashes of flame and shadow Susumu tucked his hands beneath Isamu’s armpits and began to drag him backward, one arduous step at a time.
We’re not going to make it.
A fine spray began to patter down. Steam hissed from the burning timbers. Susumu, tugging Isamu’s limp body through the smoke, paused for a moment.
Rain? I must be hallucinating.
The spray ceased.
How could it be rain? But then another burst came showering down, dampening the flames. Susumu, stubbornly, exhaustedly dragging his brother, felt drops of water landing on his head.
Thunder spots?
And somewhere beyond the roar of the flames he thought he could hear distant voices faintly cheering.
Survivors.
Chapter 37
Ochiba-san was standing outside the entrance to Ayaka’s rooms, twisting her hands together in distress.
“What’s happened?” Hotaru demanded.
“Forgive me, imperial majesty.” Ochiba-san dropped to her knees, bowing low. “I don’t know. I was only away for a little while, collecting her robes for the festival –”
Hotaru pushe
d past her, entering the room to see Ayaka lying unconscious on her futon. Reika was dabbing at her face with a damp cloth impregnated with some sharp-scented herb that made his eyes water.
“Where’s that damned dragon dog?” Hotaru gazed around, searching for any sign of Kuri.
Reika shook her head. “Gone, imperial majesty.”
I knew it. Hotaru knelt beside Ayaka, taking her limp hand in his own and pressing it. The room reeks of dark energy. What has Kurika done to her?
“Wake up, Ayaka,” he said sharply. “For the gods’ sakes, wake up.”
Reika’s ministrations had wiped away the rouge and face powder, revealing a face pale as early almond blossom; the skin beneath her closed lids was violet-stained, as though she had passed a sleepless night. For one disconcerting moment he saw Aoi’s face superimposed on hers – but hastily pushed the memory of that ill-starred last day away.
“Were you here when she fainted, Reika?”
“No; I was busy helping Lady Ochiba with the empress’s festival robes.” Was that a hint of censure in Reika’s crisply polite reply?
“Imperial majesty!”
Hotaru became aware of a buzz of voices outside, growing louder and more agitated, calling out to him. And perhaps Ayaka heard them too for she stirred, mumbling something he had to lean close in to hear.
“What’s. . .happening?” Her lids fluttered open and her eyes, their usual lively gleam dulled, gazed up at him in puzzlement.
“Ayaka.” He hugged her to him, forgetting that an emperor was not expected to display affection in such a common, mundane way, even to his first consort.
“Hotaru?” she said, her voice a little smothered by his shoulder.
“Lie back, Ayaka. Don’t overtax your strength.”
“Did I faint?” she asked, obeying as he tucked cushions around her. The very fact that she didn’t protest that she was perfectly fine told him how weak Kurika had left her.
Where has he got to? I swear I’ll make him suffer for this when he deigns to return.
He could not ignore the growing suspicion that Kurika might be testing the Sacrifice bond between them to its limits. What on earth shall I do if he’s grown strong enough to defy me?