They sat in a plain room: General Hojo; Lord Komawara; Shonto’s Steward, Kamu; Lord Taiki; and Brother Shuyun.
The wall paintings drew the governor’s attention for a moment—on one side of the hall a scene of the great war with the barbarians in which his own ancestor had played a significant part—on the other a scene among the plum trees in spring in which Genjo, the great poet of Seh, chanted to a rapt audience. Shonto turned back to his advisors.
“We will proceed as we have discussed,” Shonto said, finally. “Perhaps the guardsman will tell us more than he means to. Lord Komawara, you are prepared for your part?”
Komawara nodded, half a bow. His hair had still not grown back from his travels as an itinerant Botahist monk, and he welcomed the dressing on his head wound and wore it larger than necessary in an attempt to cover as much of his scalp as possible. His efforts to pretend this did not shame him were sometimes difficult to watch.
“Then we can do no more.”
A guard opened the screen a crack, as though on cue, and a hand signal was given to Kamu.
“He is at our gate,” the steward reported, and all present composed themselves to wait.
Jaku arrived with two of his black-clad Imperial Guards who stationed themselves, with Shonto’s own guard, outside the entrance to the room. He knelt on a cushion that had been set for him and bowed deeply.
Shonto nodded and then smiled. “Does the chaku bush fare well, General Jaku?”
Jaku nodded. “I am convinced that my gardener never tended his own children so well. The chaku fares well and is without question the centerpiece of my garden. I remain in the Governor’s debt for such a gift.”
“There is no debt between friends, or so Hakata said and I believe he spoke the truth.
“It is my honor to introduce you to my guests.” Introductions were made and Shonto watched carefully the guardsman’s reactions but even when introduced to Shuyun he gave no sign of what he might think or feel. Well played, Katta, Shonto thought, gracious even to the man who defeated you in the kick boxing ring.
“May we offer you refreshment, Katta-sum?”
Before the guardsman could answer, they were interrupted by screens sliding open to Shonto’s right and then the rustle of silk and female voices. All eyes turned to find Lady Kitsura and Lady Nishima, followed by their ladies-in-waiting and servants who carried a harp and a flute.
The women bowed to Shonto and his guests. “Our apologies, Uncle,” Nishima colored as she spoke, “It was not our intention to interrupt. Kitsura had promised a concert…. Please excuse us.” She turned to go.
“Nishima-sum, please do not apologize.” He smiled to reassure her. Certainly he would never think to embarrass his daughter and Lady Kitsura by sending them away. “I’m sure music would be welcomed by our guests. Especially music provided by players of such note. Please, join us.” Shonto waved to the servants.
The ladies bowed and cushions were set for them before the dais. They were less formally dressed than the occasion demanded, as they were in the presence of guests, but even so their robes were of fine materials and matched to the layers of inner robes with the greatest care. Nishima’s kimono was a pattern of snow-laden plum blossoms on a field of blue and Kitsura wore a robe of deep red bearing a flight of autumn cranes.
Although Nishima’s hair was worn in a traditional arrangement, Kitsura’s was most informal—worn in long cascades that flowed down her back. The ladies-in-waiting took a moment to arrange Kitsura’s tresses for her hair all but reached the floor when she stood. It was not common for women to wear their hair this way except in the privacy of their own rooms or with members of their families or occasionally with trusted family friends. The effect this had on the gentlemen present was visible.
“You have met General Jaku, I believe?” Shonto asked. “Lady Kitsura Omawara, and my daughter, Lady Nishima.” Servants arrived with wine and tables. The ladies’ instruments were set nearby.
“Did your efforts on the canal go well, General Jaku?” Nishima asked. Shonto admired how quickly her poise returned.
“It is kind of you to ask, Lady Nishima. I believe the Grand Canal can now be traversed by unescorted women and children in complete safety.”
A typically modest warrior, Shonto thought.
“That is welcome news indeed,” Nishima said, her smile a bit forced. She turned immediately to Komawara who had been slowly sinking into himself since the women arrived. “And Lord Komawara, I understand that you also have been making the Empire safe from brigands?”
“A small altercation in the hills, Lady Nishima. Of little consequence.” Shonto noted that Lord Komawara only met his daughter’s eye for the briefest second.
“You are far too modest, Lord Komawara.” She turned to Jaku. “Lord Komawara’s men were twice outnumbered, and yet they did not hesitate. At some loss, and with many wounded, including our brave lord, they made the Jai Lung Hills safe for passage again.” She rewarded Komawara with a smile that seemed to speak great admiration.
“Nishima-sum,” Kitsura said, “shall we play and then allow Lord Shonto and his guests to return to their conversation?”
Nishima agreed and they took up their instruments. The melody they had chosen for the occasion was not in the modern style that they usually preferred but was of an ancient form known as “Poem Song.” Autumn on the Mountain of the Pure Spirit was a melody that conjured up the sounds of the world and was thought to be one of the most evocative songs ever written. The flute led the harp through the first movement which captured the mood of the leaves beginning to fall.
It was not impolite to watch musicians as they played, which meant that the gathered gentlemen could regard the two women in a manner that would otherwise have been unacceptable. In the warm lamplight Kitsura and Nishima appeared to be two figures from the wall painting come back to a time where things were more real and mundane. With her eyes closed and her face covered in a blush from winding the flute, Kitsura seemed even more the ideal of feminine beauty. Shonto turned his gaze away with difficulty and found that both Jaku Katta and Lord Komawara appeared enraptured. At the same time Shuyun sat with his eyes closed as though he meditated—whether it was upon the music or something else Shonto could not know.
The melody followed the falling leaves down to a small waterfall that became a stream winding down the mountainside among the pines. The sound of temple bells echoed in the strings of the harp as the stream passed one of the many fanes among the mountain groves.
It was not a long piece, and when it was over everyone sat in silence for several moments. As though on cue, Kitsura and Lady Nishima rose and their servants collected up their instruments.
“Please excuse our interruption,” Kitsura almost whispered. And before the men could protest, the women had retreated the way they had come.
The room seemed as empty as a bell after it has been rung. The men sat quietly, each lost in his own thoughts and the feelings the music and the presence of the women had stirred. Shonto finally broke the silence.
“All official business should have such interruptions. It provides the proper perspective from which to proceed.” He looked at each member of the group in turn, holding each of their gazes for just an instant, and then he nodded. The audience began.
“General Jaku, may I begin by expressing the thanks of the government of Seh for what you have so recently accomplished on the Grand Canal. We are all in your debt and owe much to the Son of Heaven who sent you on such a worthy enterprise.” He nodded to Jaku again.
“Do you plan to stay long in Seh, General? We could plan some fine hunting and other entertainments, which your officers may also enjoy.”
Jaku paused before answering. “I have completed my work on the canal sooner than anticipated, Lord Shonto. As I have no orders as of yet, I had hoped to offer some small service in your military efforts. It would be an honor to serve with such a renowned general.”
“This is better news than I had expected,
General. It would be an honor to have your counsel.” Shonto smiled broadly. “If this is indeed your intention, Katta-sum, then I would happily share what little I have learned of our situation here.”
Jaku said nothing but composed himself to listen.
“Only this morning I have finished a long report to our Emperor detailing the situation we have found in Seh. Although this is a report for the eyes of our ruler I feel that, as you command the Emperor’s Guard, I may speak to you with complete confidence.
“As you no doubt are aware, there is a disagreement among the lords of Seh regarding the barbarians and their intentions and also about their numbers. On both sides of this debate stand men with many years of experience and proven wisdom. As you might imagine, this made deciding between the two arguments difficult. I have always believed that the direct approach is best whenever possible. We decided to send men into the desert to find out what we could.
“The only people of the Empire who can travel north of the border of Seh are the healing Brothers, so Brother Shuyun, accompanied by Lord Komawara disguised as a Botahist Brother, went into the desert.” Shonto turned to Komawara. “Perhaps, Lord Komawara, you should tell this tale.”
The young lord nodded and, as agreed, told an abridged version of his journey into the desert, saying nothing of the Kalam, or the cult of the Dragon and its shrine. Shonto watched the Imperial Guard Commander’s face throughout, but Jaku betrayed nothing. When Komawara finished, he bowed to Lord Shonto.
“Please, General,” Shonto said, “I’m sure both Shuyun-sum and Lord Komawara would answer any questions you might have.”
“I must have time to consider this information further, Lord Shonto. Please, continue, it is a most intriguing tale.”
Shonto took a long drink of his wine as though the talk of the desert had caused him thirst. “As you see, General, I am much more concerned with the situation in the north than I was when I set out on the Grand Canal.” He shook his head and then looked up and caught the guardsman’s eye. “Do you know anything of the barbarian Dragon Cult, General Jaku?”
It was a minute reaction, but Shonto was sure Jaku hesitated as though surprised.
“I have not heard of it, though dragon worship is not uncommon even within our Empire, Sire.”
“Huh.” Shonto looked thoughtful for a moment. “Perhaps that explains it.” He was silent for a moment. “I believe that we are about to encounter a threat the likes of which we have not seen since the day of Emperor Jirri. And this will not be a threat that confines itself to Seh, for though the men of Seh are brave and skilled in the arts of war, they are few in number as the plague destroyed most of a generation here.
“The situation is complicated by other factors. It is my belief that barbarian raids on Seh fit into someone’s design, someone within our Empire. Their purpose I leave to your imagination. For this reason the true threat will not be understood until it is perhaps too late.”
Shonto stopped and looked at Jaku expectantly.
“Lord Shonto, I am not sure what you suggest, but certainly no one within the Empire would be foolish enough to betray us to the barbarian. Why would anyone do such a thing?”
“I was hoping, General, that you might tell me.”
Jaku drew himself up to his full sitting height. “Lord Shonto,” his voice showed signs of an effort toward control, “you come close to suggesting that I am party to a treason.”
Careful, General, the lord thought, you speak to the lord of the Shonto. I will accuse whom I please. He nodded to Kamu who signaled an unseen attendant. A screen slid open and two of the Hajiwara men, now in Komawara livery, entered carrying a black, ironbound trunk on a pole. They set this on the mat before the dais and at a nod from Komawara they opened the lid and spilled the contents onto the floor before the Emperor’s Guard Commander. A cascade of gold spread like a landslide across the floor and came to rest, glittering in the lamplight. An Emperor’s ransom in gold coins!
The two Komawara guards retreated, and as they did so a third man entered. The Kalam, dressed in his barbarian clothing, came and sat between Lord Komawara and Shuyun.
When Jaku raised his eyes from the fortune that had been spread before him, his face seemed utterly changed. Perhaps it was the light reflected from the coins, but his skin had grown pale and appeared to be drawn taut over rigid muscles. The sight of the barbarian caused him to stop as he began to speak.
Lord Shonto caught the Tiger’s eye again. Now you wonder what I truly know, Shonto thought. You even wonder if I know your part in our beloved Emperor’s plot. “By the middle of the summer,” Shonto said, his voice hard, “the Empire of Wa will have been overrun by an army the size of which has not been seen in a hundred years. Everything we strive toward will be destroyed utterly. Anything that gives meaning to the life of General Jaku Katta will have been rendered meaningless…. Everything you value—family, your command, lovers, estates—will all become the prerogative of a Khan who will sit upon the Throne of our Empire. And he will distribute what is left of your life among his lieutenants and chieftains.” Shonto stopped to let his words have their effect.
“Akantsu,” Shonto said, using no title or honorific, “does not understand what he has done. In his mad attempt to bring down the Shonto House, he will bring down his Empire and blacken the name of Yamaku for all of history.
“I am prepared to mount a force to take you into the desert, General Jaku, so you may see with your own eyes the things that Lord Komawara and Brother Shuyun have seen. I will spare no effort to convince you that the barbarian threat is real, for if we do not gain Imperial support before spring we cannot stand against the force that will come out of the desert. Without your influence at court, General Jaku, the Empire of Wa will fall.”
Jaku reached out and took up a handful of coins, but he did this without sign of desire or awe, as though it was a fist full of sand he held. He let the coins run through his fingers, ringing as they fell back into the pile, the sound echoing in the silent room.
Picking up a single coin, Jaku turned it over, examining it as though the meaning of gold had just become clear to him, and its meaning did not bring him comfort.
He turned his gaze on the Governor’s Spiritual Advisor. “Brother Shuyun, on the soul of Botahara, do you swear that this story of what was seen in the desert is true?”
Komawara almost rose from his cushion. “You cannot ask him to commit a blasphemy! It is against his…”
Shuyun reached out and grasped the young lord’s arm and he stopped in mid-sentence.
“I cannot speak as you ask, General Jaku, but may my own soul be bound eternally to the wheel if what Lord Komawara has said is not truth. There is little doubt in my mind that the picture Lord Shonto has painted will come to be if the Empire does not rise to the defense of Seh. The army we saw in the desert was as real as the coins you see before you and the warriors more numerous.”
Jaku gave a nodding bow to the monk and looked back to the coin in his hand, turning it slowly over and over. “I cannot guarantee that the Son of Heaven will heed my words, Lord Shonto. In certain endeavors our Emperor does not listen to the sound of reason. I will, however, do what I can. Certainly the Emperor will believe that this is only a ploy to gain control of a large force and that I have fallen victim to your cunning. Or the fact that I am convinced by your words may suggest treachery more than it will suggest an accurate military assessment.” He placed the coin carefully back in the pile. “A way that we could strengthen our case would be to convince a certain lord in Seh of the danger to the Empire.” He hesitated. “But I am concerned that revealing his name might bring about his own demise, and that would certainly put assistance from the Son of Heaven out of reach forever.”
Shonto shifted his armrest again. “If I were to invite this lord to the palace and display the contents of this trunk to him, do you think you could assist us in convincing him of the true danger to Seh?”
Jaku nodded. “I believe I could hel
p make the argument convincing. Again I stress that if I reveal his name, revenge must not be sought against him. This could damage our cause beyond any hope of repair.”
“General Jaku,” Shonto said, “the Empire has been brought into great danger through the rivalry of its Houses. If we are to save Wa, all such pettiness must be put aside.” He turned to his steward. “Kamu-sum, invite Lord Kintari and his two oldest sons to come and hear the ladies of the capital play.” He turned back to Jaku and raised an eyebrow. The Black Tiger nodded.
* * *
Each rhythmic sweep of the oarsmen sent the fine craft gliding along the silent canal. The speed of his boat often brought Jaku great pleasure; when he discovered an empty stretch of water he would exhort his boatmen to greater and greater speed for the pure joy of it. This evening, however, he seemed unaware of his crew’s efforts.
Jaku Katta had absolutely no doubt that the Supreme Master of the Botahist Order could look him in the eye and lie as easily as he chanted the name of Botahara. He was equally convinced that Brother Shuyun was as incapable of this as his former servant had been.
Despite all that he felt about the Botahist Brotherhood and its meddling, he knew that this boy-monk had somehow remained pure, untouched by the hypocrisy of his Order. How else could one explain the feat that Jaku had witnessed in the kick boxing ring? The boy had deflected a blow without actual physical contact! Jaku had felt it.
Even though Jaku had long worn the humiliation of that defeat and the years of anger that it had caused, he knew that Initiate Brother Shuyun was not another Botahist hypocrite…. What the boy was Jaku could not be certain, but his suspicion caused him both awe and fear. Shuyun, he sometimes believed, was a child touched by Botahara himself.
The Initiate Brother Duology Page 55