by C. J. Anaya
“Princess.” I heard her whisper.
“Yes,” I whispered back. “I am here.”
The figure crept slowly over to my bed and then sat down beside me. I wasn’t afraid, even though I probably had good reason to be. I thought I found it more fascinating that someone was actually sneaking into my room without my father’s knowledge. I nearly let out a wicked laugh.
The figure struck something sharp and the room filled with a soft light. She set her candle inside a ceramic holder and placed it upon the night stand next to my bed. I looked upon the true form of the general for the first time.
She was strikingly beautiful with stunning red hair that could have rivaled the shade of the setting sun, and her coloring resembled that of Musubi’s. I couldn’t account for her parentage, but I was fairly certain she hadn’t been born in Japan. Her clothing appeared dark and nondescript. A man’s fitted robe and small trousers hugged her slender form.
The idea that this woman led men into battle baffled me. She seemed so slight. I felt an unwelcome wave of jealousy momentarily overcome me, thinking how often I would have liked to have asserted myself and ordered a few men here and there. I may have been a princess, but I was still just a woman.
She sat down on the bed next to me and gave me a respectful bow. I gave one in return. Though etiquette dictated I wait for her to speak, I worried about the soldier I had tried to save.
“General Akane, I must know how your soldier fared. I tried to save him, but I have no idea if he was able to escape before the guards realized he still lived.”
The female commander’s eyes shone brightly.
“He lives, your highness. I will forever be in your debt for saving my…soldier’s life, and mine, to be perfectly honest with you. It was good of you to stop and heal me when you didn’t have to.”
I noticed her hesitation when she referred to the young man I had saved, and I noted some strong emotions climbing to the surface, emotions she worked hard to push away. She must have loved him very much. It astonished me, her willingness to allow him to sacrifice his life simply to pass on a message, considering her strong feelings for him. The general seemed to have read my thoughts.
“It wasn’t my idea that he be discovered and captured. I needed a volunteer within the emperor’s ranks, and he blew his cover, revealing his true loyalties before I knew what was happening.” Akane gave me another slight bow. “You will never know the joy I felt when I saw him entering our camp after hearing he’d been taken to the palace to be tortured.”
“I am truly happy the ruse worked, and he was able to survive his ordeal. I worried I might have failed him and had no way of knowing until now. Thank you for putting my mind at ease.”
“It is I who must thank you. I never dreamed that you would risk yourself at that moment to save another’s life. It fuels my confidence that perhaps I might persuade you to use your gifts to accomplish even more good.”
She paused for a moment, and I nodded she should continue.
“Princess, my name is Akane. I have come to you hoping you might consider helping our cause. The people in this land cannot survive much longer under your father’s rule. There is no food for the villages because the soldiers take what isn’t theirs and destroy the rice fields we have worked so long to cultivate. The emperor will not listen to reason and cannot be made to understand the severity of the situation or the fact that soon all who live within the empire will succumb to this famine brought on by the emperor’s maltreatment if current practices do not change.” She hesitated.
“Therefore, your only option is to fight,” I said.
“Yes, Princess. Regrettably it is the only thing we feel we can do, and we have been doing it for quite some time.”
“What is it that you want me to do?”
“There are two things I would wish for you to consider. First, I have no doctors, but I cannot afford to lose any more men. Simply put, I need The Healer.”
I thought about that for a moment, letting the idea sink in. I had always wanted to use my gift to help and serve people, yet it was mostly used to torture and kill. Helping to heal soldiers who were battling against my father seemed like a dream come true for me, but even as the thought crossed my mind I realized how impossible it would be.
“I would like to join your cause and help you, but the minute I am missing, my father will hunt me down and destroy anyone who stands in his way. I would be more of a liability than I would a help.”
Akane shook her head. “With respect, highness, I disagree, and I have already thought this scenario through. We do not wish for you to join us in the field permanently. You would still live in the palace, but we would send you messages whenever we might need your help.”
“I would still be required to sneak away from the palace which is impossible to do. I am never allowed to leave the palace walls. My visits to the village to heal people are a difficult undertaking.”
“We have recently placed guards within the palace to accompany you to our meetings. The two men outside your door even now are part of our group.”
I raised my eyebrows in surprise.
“All right. Well, that takes care of the guards. Now how will I explain all of these outings to my father?”
“I think I can help with that, Princess,” Kenji said as he walked out of the bathing room.
Akane sprang to her feet. I barely had time to register the sword in her hand before she was upon Kenji. Kenji surprised me by deftly deflecting her thrust with his cane and circling round toward my bed.
“Akane, all is well. This is my tutor, Kenji.”
“I specifically requested that you be alone,” Akane hissed.
“You didn’t really think we were going to let my sister talk to the general of the samurai insurgents without our protection, did you?”
Akane spun around quickly only to be met with the sharp end of Saigo’s sword.
“Saigo, put the sword down. Akane means me no harm.”
“Oh, I know. I was just getting ready to defend myself in case she threw that sword at me in the same manner she did with Kenji. Lucky you had that cane with you, old man, or we’d be preparing your body for cremation.”
“I never throw a sword,” Akane scoffed, “and I highly doubt you’d be capable of defending yourself against a warrior like myself.”
Saigo lowered his sword to the ground, and by the small light of the candle I could have sworn he was smiling at her.
“Do you think you could teach me to fight like your samurai insurgents?”
I thought I could hear Akane chuckling.
“Saigo, under no circumstances will you ever fight with the samurai insurgents,” I whispered. He sighed heavily and came to sit down on the bed beside me.
“You’re really no fun sometimes. You’re aware of this, right?”
“You said you might have a suggestion, old man?” Akane asked.
“My name is Kenji, and yes, I think I might be able to convince the emperor that her highness’s training for healing the veil would best be served by studying books written about the veil, and it just so happens that these books are not found within the palace walls.”
“I didn’t know there were specific books written about the veil,” I said.
“Oh, there aren’t, but I doubt Emperor Fukurokuju will know that.”
I looked to Akane to see what she thought of the idea.
She nodded. “This could work. We send you messages letting you know when and where we need your help, and your friend Kenji gets you out of the palace with the emperor’s permission.”
“I have one stipulation,” I said.
“And what is that?”
“No one can know who I am. As far as your soldiers are concerned, I am simply a woman of medicine and nothing more. I don’t want anyone aware of my title or my position.”
“I think that is a good idea. However, the fact that you are a single woman will cause problems amongst the soldiers. If we don’t want a
ny of them pursuing a possible interest in you, and in the process uncovering your identity, it would be best if you were said to be married,” Akane said. “The emperor’s spies are everywhere, even within the ranks of my samurai.”
I shivered at the thought. I hated the guards that were constantly keeping watch over me, but I was aware that father had his spies following my every move. We would have to be very careful.
“Does that mean you are agreeing to this plan, Mikomi? I thought we were going to get you out of here as soon as possible,” Saigo said.
Akane walked over to the bed and raised a questioning brow.
I considered how dangerous it would be to join sides with the samurai insurgents against my father, but in the end, I didn’t really care. My plan for escape, born from a desire to change my current circumstances, had guided me to this exact moment. This path achieved that for me and afforded me the opportunity to help and heal many others in the process.
I also loved the idea that a woman was running the show.
This commander was proficient with the sword, and her situation intrigued me. I wanted to know more about her, and if I were being honest with myself, I wanted to feel as if a woman could have some kind of control over the events happening within her life. It looked as if Akane had somehow managed to be her own person, her own master. I wanted to know what she knew. I wanted the confidence she carried with every step she took and every gesture she made. If freedom was my main desire, I couldn’t think of a better figure to emulate.
“Yes, I will do what you ask, Akane. There is one thing I would ask for in return, however.”
“Name it,” she said without blinking.
I leaned forward and eagerly took hold of her hand.
“Please teach me how to fight like you. I’m not eager to hurt anyone, but I would like to learn how to defend myself.”
Akane looked at the hand I had placed on hers and her mouth seemed to drop in awe. She may have been a seasoned soldier, but it must have been a bit disconcerting to have royalty behave so informally. When one considered how she arrived in my room, it seemed silly to think that simple hand contact might surprise her.
She covered my hand with her other one.
“Princess, you will have my soldiers with you defending you at all times, and I will defend you with my life.”
I was so touched by her bold declaration that I almost let go of my wish to learn, but defending myself was one more step toward becoming like Akane and gaining my own personal freedom. I couldn’t let the opportunity pass me by without at least fighting for it.
“Akane, I have no doubt that you and your soldiers are more than capable of protecting me, and I am very grateful for your willingness to sacrifice your life on my behalf, but I never want it to come to that. I want the knowledge necessary to protect myself if the need should ever arise, and what if I need to protect someone else?”
“I think it a good idea, child,” Kenji said. “Heaven knows neither your brother nor I will prove effective in defending you. We may not even be present at times, and I would feel easier about this dangerous escapade knowing you can take care of yourself.”
I heard Saigo make a disgruntled noise in the back of his throat. I knew he would worry about me, but it couldn’t be helped. Things needed to change, and the people in our empire had suffered long enough. I didn’t know if I wanted to follow an obscure prophecy and heal an invisible veil, but I did know that I could be The Healer in a more tangible, life-giving way. I could save my people, and if I could help the insurgents gain any kind of favorable ground over my father, then I would gladly abandon all of my own selfish plans of escape and join their cause.
Akane continued to stare at me intently. Then she nodded. “I have someone in mind who might be able to train you. He has fought on our side for quite some time and is one of the best warriors we have. Still, though I trust him with my own life, it will be important to keep your identity a secret.”
“Thank you,” I breathed happily.
“It is I who must thank you, Princess—”
“Mikomi,” I corrected.
“Mikomi.”
“You said there was something else you needed from me?”
“Yes, you have access to all of the information the emperor holds, concerning his movements and sources of supplies. I hoped that perhaps you could use this access to acquire information we might need from time to time, but only so long as you are not endangered in the process. Information is leverage, and any leverage we can gain over the emperor will help our cause tremendously.”
I stood up and then paced the room, considering her proposal. I had never used my ability to transfer memories with people who weren’t being interrogated by my father, but I wondered if I could somehow manage it around his visitors without them being the wiser. Then I wouldn’t be left with the difficult task of sneaking into my father’s rooms unless absolutely necessary. “I would be happy to do all I can in acquiring whatever information you might require.”
“Excellent.” Akane gave me a grateful look. “I will discuss your training with the man I told you about and contact you with details for our first meeting.”
Akane looked as if she might leave, and a sudden thought emerged.
“I must ask you—how on earth did you manage to breach the palace walls? You’re not a kami, are you?”
Akane reached inside her shirt and pulled out a small vial of red liquid linked to a strap around her neck. “Kami blood,” she stated. “I wasn’t certain it would work, but we needed to find some way of reaching you. Glad it functioned as I’d hoped.”
I shook my head at her reckless behavior. If it hadn’t worked, an internal alarm would have resonated within the palace walls, leaving Akane with the difficult task of escaping a barrage of imperial guards. “Where did you get kami blood?”
“We have a few kami on our side anxious to see the end of King Fukurokuju’s reign. It wasn’t too hard to convince them to help.”
“How will you be able to send me a message? Surely you won’t risk the life of another soldier.” I worried I wouldn’t be able to save another one despite the success of the first.
“I have my ways…Mikomi. You’ll learn this soon enough.”
I felt her preparing to leave again and panicked, worried I might never see her again. It was strange to have found a friend in Akane so quickly. I spoke rapidly in order to prevent her from leaving just yet.
“Akane, what is the name of this warrior who will train me?”
“All in good time, Princess,” she whispered.
And then she was gone.
My father rarely summoned me to eat with him and Mother. They never seemed to care much for my presence, and my charming conversation wasn’t something that motivated them to have anything to do with me, considering I wasn’t allowed to speak unless spoken to. Yet here I sat, on a golden, tasseled cushion covered in red silk with Father to my right at the head of a chestnut brown table resting just above our knees. My mother sat on the other end and Saigo across from me.
My brother sneaked a questioning look at me and then stared down at his plate before father could notice. I stole furtive glances at my mother. I rarely saw her, and despite her ambivalence toward me I still loved her and wished to please her in some small way. Besides, I’d had enough of looking at my father.
“I’ve brought you all here today for two specific reasons,” my father bellowed.
I sensed a headache coming on and wanted to rub the sides of my temples. It seemed the only volume my father ever used was thunderously loud.
I hadn’t slept well either. After tossing and turning the first few hours of the night, Aiko had entered my rooms and given me a sleeping draught. I hadn’t needed them for quite some time, not since my nightmares had subsided, but Aiko was always prepared.
The sleeping draught had been a strong one this time. If Aiko hadn’t tried to wake me this morning with such dogged determination—and a half pitcher full of cold
water— I never would have pulled out of my deep sleep.
My father resumed his speech. “The first being this—the warrior god Katsu was most pleased with you, Mikomi. He mentioned that you were agreeable, strong, and indispensable in the fight against the nekomata…though I’m sure he embellished that last bit.”
I gripped my eating sticks tightly within my fist and refrained from mentioning that I had healed said warrior god’s pretty little face. I supposed it shouldn’t have irked me that my father glossed over my involvement in the attempt on my life, but I was tired of having my role and my abilities so minimized.
I was also quite concerned about the pain I had caused that nekomata. I had never before attempted to simulate the kind of pain that one might feel if their body had been burned. I wasn’t sure how I’d managed it either and hoped to never have it happen again.
The only thing I could attribute my reaction to was the terror I felt in the nekomata’s presence and the overpowering need to defend myself, hence my desire to be trained in the art of the sword. I held no illusions that I might possess the presence of mind to defend myself like that again. More worrisome still, the possibility that I would never position myself close enough to an enemy before being cut down.
“The attempt on your life within the palace walls has me very concerned. It should not have been possible for the nekomata to enter the palace. This leads me to believe we might have a traitor amongst us. Someone willing to risk their very life in order to do the demon god’s bidding.”
I doubted my father was concerned in the way a normal father should be. If I died he lost his empire.
“Chinatsu,” my father continued, “I know the attack on our daughter has been quite hard on your nerves. Perhaps you would like to finish your meal and retire to your room early this morning?”
He made it seem like a question, but everyone present knew my mother had just received a veiled command. I looked at my mother, but her eyes were downcast. She hadn’t said a word to me since I’d arrived for this little family meeting, and I highly doubted she had felt any real fear of losing her daughter when she was notified of the attempt on my life. I longed to hear her tell my father she was well enough to finish her meal…stand up to him…but she sat demure and quiet. She then nodded her head and raised herself to a standing position, leaving the room with her attendants following her and never once looking back.