Even when they were hard pressed in battle, they protected Oguna faithfully, shielding him from danger. And every time, he felt miserable. He could understand their protecting the prince, who must survive even at the cost of their lives. And Lady Akaru too. But what value could he possibly have that they should protect him? What on earth could he offer in exchange for the life of any one of these skilled and hardy warriors? Why am I here? I’m no use at all. I’m just a burden ….
When he confided in Nanatsuka, however, Nanatsuka said, “Don’t think about it. It’s not your problem. Just wait until the prince issues you your orders.”
ONCE AGAIN THEIR pursuers caught up with them. One brave man stayed behind to hold them off so that the others could escape. He never returned. When the party finally stopped and looked at one another’s weary faces in the ruddy afterglow of sunset, there were only five left: Prince Oh-usu, Lady Akaru, Oguna, Nanatsuka, and the prince’s attendant, Miyadohiko.
The next morning, Lady Akaru could not take another step. She had kept pace with them all this way, never uttering a word of complaint, but now she was exhausted. “Please leave me here and go on without me. I don’t wish to slow you down. The most important thing is to get the prince safely to Mino. Please go on ahead.”
Hearing this, the prince hurried over to her, his brow furrowed with concern. “My lady,” he said sternly. “I can’t let you give up when we have come this far.”
But Lady Akaru was far from discouraged. Her eyes bright, she drew herself up straight and said, “I have no intention of giving up. I believe in our future together. Though I stay behind, I will survive. I will remain hidden where none can find me and wait for you to bring your army to rescue me. I’m not about to die here. If dying would have solved anything, I would have taken my own life long ago.”
The prince gazed at her radiant face. “Where on earth do you get such strength?”
She reached out her hand. “From you,” she said. “You give me strength. Now I fear nothing. I can bear anything at all. Because you came to save me.”
The prince hesitated for a long time and then finally called Nanatsuka to him. “Forgive me,” he said. “No matter how it may jeopardize our situation, I can’t leave Lady Akaru behind. Without her, there is no point in any of this. I vowed that I would never let her out of arm’s reach again.”
Nanatsuka nodded. “I know,” he said. “I’ll look for a place to hide. Let’s see how she does in the next day or two. If she still can’t move, I’ll carry her out on my back.”
A little farther up the mountain slope, Nanatsuka found a cave with an entrance barely high enough for an adult to pass through standing up. Large stones ringed the entrance as if they had been placed there purposely to conceal it. As Oguna helped him pile more stones to make a rampart, Nanatsuka explained that in the past it was quite common for people to live in such caves.
The interior was much drier than Oguna had expected, and it was empty except for some dry, odorless animal droppings. They covered the floor in a thick bed of clean, dry grasses and laid a cloth over top for Lady Akaru, who was delighted even with such a simple bed. She had not slept on anything resembling a bed for several days.
What they lacked was food and water. They had all but exhausted the dried rations they had brought with them. Nanatsuka went looking for provisions while Miyadohiko, fully aware of the risk, went to spy on the movements of the emperor’s troops. Taking turns with Prince Oh-usu guarding Lady Akaru, Oguna tasted the frustration and anxiety of being cornered.
Even a single step would bring them that much closer to Mino, but instead they had to hide in this unknown place, waiting to be discovered by their enemies. There was so much time to think, it was torture. Although he no longer knew what mountains they were wandering through, the trees and shrubs told him that he was still far from home. The types of plants and the smell of the air were different from those he remembered. Nanatsuka and the prince never expressed any doubt, but Oguna was beginning to wonder if they could really make it to Kukuri.
He thought it through logically as he had been trained to do. Even if the prince does get through, not all of us can possibly make it. Of the five of us, the prince must be protected at all costs. Next to him we must protect Lady Akaru. And Nanatsuka, because he can guide them and make sure that they reach Kukuri safely.
He looked up at the distant blue sky. That and the color of the clouds were the only things that never changed no matter where he was. Oguna longed to go home, but this was in direct opposition to the pressing duty he felt. When it came to making a choice, he knew it was his hopes and desires that he must deny. So he had been taught. So he had been trained. He could see the faces of the prince’s men who had died protecting him … They, too, must have had people they longed to see. But they had still chosen death as if it were the most natural thing to do. If they could do it, surely he could too.
I must help them get to Kukuri. Otherwise I’ll never be able to justify my being here. There will have been no point in my going to Mahoroba. I wanted to become stronger. That’s why I went. Now I must stand strong and firm.
Between the clouds, he caught fleeting glimpses of Toko’s face—sometimes laughing, sometimes in an angry huff—but always twelve years old, even though he knew that this Toko could no longer exist.
Nanatsuka came back with nuts and berries from the forest. He apologized for not being able to cook a meal because the smoke would give them away. Although Lady Akaru appeared to have lost her appetite, he handed her different nuts and berries one by one, accompanying each with a detailed explanation that made her pop them into her mouth, entertained. Oguna loved Nanatsuka all the more for keeping his passion for food and for feeding others regardless of the circumstances.
Not long after, Miyadohiko returned with unexpectedly good tidings. The prince’s allies had already reached Nobono on the other side of the pass. Nanatsuka took a stick and drew a map on the ground while the others gathered around and listened intently.
“We’re here,” he said. “If we can just cross safely over the pass, we can reach Nobono in less than a day.”
The prince’s spirits lifted for the first time in a long while. “Don’t worry,” he declared. “We’ll get across. The heavens are on my side. Let’s push our way through right now. And don’t try to tell me you’re going to stay behind, my lady.”
Lady Akaru nodded. “I feel like I could walk now. I’ll do my best.”
They all knew that an ambush waited for them at Suzuka Pass, but the prince’s enthusiasm cheered their hearts against all logic. They felt capable of anything—all they needed was to put their heart and soul into their task. At that moment, however, Nanatsuka jerked his head up and, grabbing his bow, ran to the entrance. He peered out from the shadow of the rock, then turned and said in a flat voice, “They’ve found us. Miyadohiko, you were followed.”
Miyadohiko stood up, the color draining from his face, and went to the mouth of the cave. Now the others could hear the clamor they had all feared. Dogs howling, men shouting, branches snapping underfoot. “This was my fault,” Miyadohiko said. “I’ll stay here and hold them off while you make your escape.” He slung his quiver across his back.
“Do you intend to face them alone?” the prince demanded, but Oguna cut in.
“I’ll stay with him. Please go.” Without waiting for a reply, he continued. “Tell me to act as your shadow. Command me to take your place. You once told me that I would be your secret weapon. Well, now is the time to use it. When people hear that the prince has been captured, they’ll relax their watch over the pass. It’s the only way.”
The prince stared at him. Oguna had spoken so calmly and dispassionately that the prince wondered if he had really understood what he was saying. “Are you sure that’s what you want? Do you know what they’ll do to you in the capital?”
Oguna nodded. “You brought me to Mahoroba to be your shadow. That’s why I was given the chance to learn. How else can I repay
you if I don’t serve you now?”
Prince Oh-usu gazed into the face that looked so much like his. It was filled with so much potential, yet Oguna’s eyes held no trace of hesitation, no hint of fear or regret. “This is not what I brought you to the capital for … but still, I thank you.” Having made up his mind, the prince removed the jade necklace he always wore around his neck and gave it to Oguna. Then he slipped off his gold armband, symbol of the God of Light. Finally, he removed the blue silk headband he wore around his forehead. As he handed these to Oguna, he said, “I will never forget you, Ousu, little brother.”
“Thank you,” Oguna said. His chest filled with warmth at the word brother. But there was no time to say anything more. The enemy was closing in on them. Lady Akaru watched Oguna with anguished eyes as Nanatsuka carried her away on his back. Nanatsuka himself was speechless with anger. If looks could kill, his would have slain the entire enemy army.
Oguna and Miyadohiko fired warning shots to let the other three slip out unnoticed through a small hole that Nanatsuka had concealed with tree branches. At least twenty soldiers were approaching the cave, but not knowing how many men they were up against, they kept their distance and fired a barrage of arrows at the entrance. The rocks acted as a shield, giving Oguna and Miyadohiko the advantage—at least until they ran out of arrows. They had used them sparingly at first until they were sure the others had had enough time to get away. Then, they began shooting in rapid succession.
“Let’s make them think there’s a hundred of us here,” Oguna said.
Miyadohiko grinned. “Raising the stakes, are you? You sound just like the prince.” Miyadohiko was a skilled archer worthy of Nanatsuka’s trust, and together he and Oguna did well for just two people. No one could get near them while they still had arrows left, but finally, the last arrow was gone. They looked at each other.
“Am I right in thinking that the prince wouldn’t wait for them to come and get him?” Oguna asked.
Miyadohiko nodded and said, “Yes. You too?”
“No, but I want to convince as many people as possible that I really am the prince, so I’m going out there.”
“In that case, I’m coming with you,” Miyadohiko said lightly and drew his sword. “Let’s make those cowards run. Enough playing around. It’s time to break through their ranks and be on our way.”
Oguna smiled. He had not had much chance to talk with Miyadohiko, but he suddenly felt a great affection for him. Perhaps it was a comradeship born from their readiness to die. They laid aside their bows and took up their swords. Leaping outside the ring of stones, they raced down the hill. Figures emerged from the trees on every side, but Oguna felt no fear. His head was clear and every movement seemed extraordinarily vivid. Just like before, he thought. He could do it—he could cut these men down. Together, he and Miyadohiko might even be able to break through …
Somewhere inside, he knew this was impossible. But this is what it takes to fight, he thought, to believe to the very end that you can do it.
His last thought before he merged with the sword he brandished was Goodbye, Toko.
5
PAIN WOKE Oguna. He hurt all over, which meant he must still be alive. Dazed, he wondered where Miyadohiko was. Even as he ran toward the soldiers, he had listened for Miyadohiko’s footsteps, for the sound of his breathing. The savage tumult of battle still rang in his ears—shouts, the clash of swords, random phrases. “It’s the prince!” “Don’t let him get away!” As Oguna had raised his sword, his gold armband flashed in the sun, and the blinding glare jolted him back to his senses.
Now he was lying facedown on the floor with his hands tied behind his back in a very unnatural position. A ray of sunlight from a tiny window far above shone full in his face. Surprised, he wondered when he had been captured. Then it all came back to him.
He and Miyadohiko had charged toward the enemy line, slashing so fiercely that at first the soldiers had fallen back. In the end, however, they were snared with surprising ease by a net thrown from a tree—the ultimate humiliation when they had been ready to die in battle.
The soldiers had removed the gold band from Oguna’s arm and bound him firmly with hemp ropes. Convinced that they had successfully captured Oh-usu alive, they did not loosen his bonds even once on the way back to Mahoroba for fear that the proud prince would take his own life. This made the journey so excruciating that what little Oguna remembered seemed unreal. When they had thrown him into this room, he had been relieved to think that everything would soon be over.
That was last night. Exhausted, he had actually slept despite his circumstances. I wonder if the prince managed to escape, he thought as he tried to move out of the light. His body was so stiff he could barely turn over. Sighing, he comforted himself with the thought that his capture was exactly what they had planned. The soldiers, thinking they had caught the prince, had returned with him to the capital, giving the others the perfect opportunity to escape. Nanatsuka wouldn’t miss that chance. By now the three survivors of the company must be on the other side of the pass, surrounded by their allies. Oguna’s life had not been wasted; he should be content …
After some time, he heard footsteps on the other side of the door and the bolt slid back noisily. Two soldiers bearing pikes entered. As Oguna peered up at them blankly, they grabbed him roughly and yanked him upright. Clearly, they now knew he was not the prince. He had known all along that he was too young to fool anyone who knew Oh-usu well.
“Get up. His Majesty will question you in person. If you don’t walk straight, we’ll beat some manners into you.” With this gentle encouragement, they shoved Oguna out the door, prodding him along with the shafts of their pikes. Although Oguna tried to walk properly, he could not help staggering. A sharp blow from one of the guards, however, cleared his head a little and brought his chin up. For many years he had both feared and longed to see the face of the man who ruled Mahoroba. While he had never imagined that it would be like this, he decided it wouldn’t be so bad to pay his respects to the emperor before he died. He summoned the last of his strength and kept walking.
From his surroundings, he guessed that he must already be inside the grounds of the emperor’s palace. A tall wooden fence ran around the outer edge. Inside, all was silent. The fence, the walls, the pillars of the buildings towered over him, making him feel he had shrunk. The guards led him down a mazelike path that followed a narrow cleft between the buildings—the perfect route for those on confidential missions for the emperor. They finally came into a small, secluded courtyard enclosed on all sides. In front of them stood a large building with a raised wooden floor, part of which jutted out into the courtyard. It was there that the emperor sat, shaded by the eaves.
Judging by the lack of spectators, Oguna guessed that this was a private interrogation during which the prisoner of war could be killed at will. He was here only because the emperor had shown some fleeting interest in him. Oguna was curious as well. Here, at last, was the man whose very name inspired awe, the man for whom he felt such mixed emotions yet whom he had never seen.
The emperor sat impassive as a statue, a faintly cynical look on his face. The breadth of his shoulders made it clear that he was tall, and his jade robes accentuated his jet-black hair and beard. While he showed no signs of aging, his face lacked youthfulness. His eyes looked hard, even cruel, not likely to be moved by the simple joys of life or by compassion, yet at the same time, they gleamed with an unmistakable wisdom. No matter how he might strive to find fault with him, Oguna was forced to acknowledge that this was no ordinary man. He radiated such power that it made Oguna’s skin prickle.
So this is Prince Oh-usu’s father, he thought.
The two guards, who had forced him to his knees and then bowed deeply, suddenly realized that their prisoner, far from prostrating himself on the ground, was actually staring at the emperor. Enraged, they struck him. The emperor, however, signaled them to step back, having sensed no hostility in Oguna’s behavior.
/> “Oh-usu appears to have trained a good shadow,” he said. “I can see why those who didn’t know him well could mistake you for him. I underestimated his resourcefulness.” Something in the man’s voice reminded Oguna of the prince. Even the way his mouth moved when he spoke was the same. They were obviously father and son, yet Oguna found it hard to believe that he too looked like this man.
“We already know that you’re an impostor. The penalty for impersonating the prince is heavy, but if you answer honestly, perhaps we can lighten your sentence. Tell me. How many men has Oh-usu drawn to his side? How many bases does he have and who are his allies?”
Oguna could not answer. Even if he had wanted to, he did not know.
“Where did they go?” the emperor demanded. “To Mino? Where in Mino?”
This question Oguna would not answer, no matter what, for if he did there would have been no point in staying behind and abandoning all hope for the future. When he remained silent, however, a searing pain suddenly raced from his shoulder down his back. The guard behind him had struck him with a bamboo switch.
“Insolent fool! The emperor is asking you a question. Silence is not permissible.”
Oguna was truly sorry. He could tell from the emperor’s voice that he was not a man to be ignored, that to do so was unforgivably arrogant. But he had already relinquished his claim on life. A shadow exposed to the light, Oguna had no choice but to fade into silence.
When Oguna failed to respond, the guard whipped him mercilessly, and although he thought his knees were planted firmly on the ground, Oguna felt himself fall to his face. Blinking the mist from his eyes, he saw the emperor tilted at an odd angle.
“What is your name?” the emperor asked. His tone seemed almost kind. While he was unsure of the motive behind it, Oguna was thankful that he had finally been asked a question he could answer. He wanted at least to say something.
“The prince called me Ousu.”
Mirror Sword and Shadow Prince Page 10