The Gilded Fan (Choc Lit)

by Courtenay, Christina

  She clapped her hands twice, bowed deeply, then began to pray for her parents’ help.

  ‘Please, give me the strength to meet my fate with courage, as you would have done. Help me to overcome any obstacles and to accept with fortitude that which can’t be changed. Please, I beg of you, stay with me always and protect me,’ she whispered. ‘I need you both to guide me now as I journey into the unknown.’

  She bowed once more and waited for a response. She believed with every fibre of her being that her parents were still with her, although as kami, spirits, and she had no doubt they were benign ones since they’d both been good in life. This was part of the Shinto religion she’d been taught by her father, and she much preferred it to her mother’s Christian belief in an afterlife where the choice was only between heaven and hell.

  ‘If the Shogun could see me now,’ she whispered, ‘then perhaps he wouldn’t doubt me.’

  A small wind stirred the hair on the nape of her neck and she knew her parents had heard her. Immediately she felt reassured. She must remember she wasn’t alone and never would be. The prayers finished, she took the urns and tablets and began to pack. Wherever she went, her parents would go too.

  There was one other thing she couldn’t leave behind. From a small chest of drawers, she retrieved a tiny silk pouch. It contained a golden cross hanging on a chain and Midori held it up to the light. She shivered at the sight of the tiny symbol, glinting in the sunlight. She hadn’t realised that to own it was to put oneself in the greatest of danger, but after what Ichiro had just told her, she understood now. It had belonged to her mother though, so how could she possibly leave it behind?

  The safest course of action would be to throw the necklace into the pond and never set eyes on it again, but images of her mother wearing it kept intruding into Midori’s mind. Hannah would have wanted her to keep it and surely, if it was well hidden, no one would ever know? Midori looked at the offending object again, then made up her mind. Soon, she’d be on her way to a country where such things were not forbidden – were encouraged even – and it might come in useful. She tied it into a piece of cloth, then fetched a garment and slit open a seam. Sewed safely inside, no one would ever find it, she was sure …

  Chapter Five

  Nico lay on the soft futon with his hands behind his head, contemplating the dancing dust motes. It was only just after dawn, but he couldn’t sleep. His mind was still whirling from his encounter with the sword-wielding Midori and his gut churned at the enormity of the tasks that lay before him.

  How could I have agreed to take her with me? I must be mad!

  All his arguments against letting her buy passage on his ship were definitely valid. Bringing one woman to live among over a hundred men was asking for serious trouble, no doubt about it. And not just any woman, but a young and breathtakingly beautiful one at that.

  ‘Aaargh!’ He punched his pillow to give vent to some of the frustration.

  She had surprised him by attacking him like that, but he’d never been in any real danger. He could have said no and walked away, then put her out of his mind forever. There was nothing that said he had to be the one to rescue her, after all. Except my conscience, devil take it! He happened to be the man she chose to ask and once he’d seen her, talked to her and been dazzled by that amazing smile, he was lost.

  Dear Lord, but she was so determined! Something about her resonated within him – perhaps an echo of the young boy he’d once been during that first voyage with Casper. Because, despite her bravado, he knew she was as vulnerable as he’d been then. No matter how many fighting tricks she knew, how skilled with her weapons, she’d been no match against a big man like himself. How then would she fare on a ship full of rough sailors without someone to protect her?

  He dry-washed his face. Well, I’ve taken on the task and I’ll do my best. The Lord only knew how.

  Her beauty had disturbed him, more than he cared to admit. He’d seen pretty women before, had even been lucky enough to bed a few, but never had he met anyone like Midori. Perhaps it was her mixed heritage, he thought. The combination of European and Asian features made her looks exotic, yet not as different as the pure Japanese girls. She was somehow much more appealing and he couldn’t deny that her fighting skills had fired his blood, too. Such courage!

  ’Struth, but I don’t need this complication and I can’t be lusting after her all through the voyage. I’ll go insane … No, enough! No more thoughts of her.

  He tried to concentrate on something else. Anything other than Midori! He let his gaze roam the plain interior of the house he was in. The spartan furnishings really appealed to Nico’s aesthetic sense and he wanted to remember them when he left. Raised wooden floors supported the tatami mats, and the walls were made up of unpainted wooden pillars interspersed with removable panels, sliding doors and screens which partitioned all the rooms. The screens were fashioned of plain, oiled rice paper. Shiny and soft, with silvery strands of fibre forming a pretty pattern, they were very unlike the coarse material he was used to writing on. The only other furniture in the room, apart from the odd silk cushion, were some low tables.

  If only his life were as simple, but fate seemed determined to play nasty tricks on him. Well, there was nothing for it but to grit his teeth and cope.

  He’d had a lot of practice at that.

  ‘We must buy you provisions for the journey,’ Ichiro said to Midori the morning after her visit to Dejima. ‘No doubt you’ll find the ship’s fare inedible so it’s best if you cook your own food. I’ll have my men deliver a small brazier to the ship and enough fuel to last you six months if you’re careful.’

  ‘What if it doesn’t fit? I’m not sure how big my cabin will be.’

  ‘We will make sure it’s big enough for your needs.’ There was a determined set to Ichiro’s mouth which stopped Midori from arguing the point. ‘Is there anything else?’

  Together they made a list, and a servant was sent to buy the required items.

  ‘Now I must go out for a while, but I think it’s best if you stay here, just in case anyone should catch sight of you and report it to the authorities.’

  Midori agreed, but as he’d said nothing about her having to remain in her room, she soon made her way into the tiny garden at the back of the inn. It was a haven of serenity, with a tiny water feature ringed by moss-covered stones and clumps of bamboo. The garden hummed with the drone of busy insects and a tiny frog croaked forlornly from under the shelter of a huge leaf. Midori sank down on to a rock nearby, breathing in the air that was moist with a tang of greenery. She stared at the tranquil scene, trying to come to terms with the unknown future she now faced.

  It’s odd how life can go on for years in the same old routines, then suddenly something happens to turn it upside down.

  She had been so sure the biggest challenge she’d ever encounter would be marriage. But the older she got, finding a suitor became less likely with each day, and she had accepted her fate and settled into a peaceful existence where nothing much happened. Of course, she’d had to cope with the loss of her parents, but that was something everyone went through at some stage. Hard though it had been, it was nothing compared to what she now had to endure.

  She took a deep breath. Perhaps it won’t be so bad? After all, her mother had done much the same thing, all those years ago, hadn’t she? Hannah had left her friends and family in England, never to return, and she’d been blissfully happy. Not once had she ever said she regretted her decision to stay. There was no reason why Midori shouldn’t find joy in a strange country, as well. Whatever happens, it must be better than staying in a place where I’m not wanted?

  Midori clenched her fists and silently cursed the Shogun.

  ‘I wish he hadn’t taken against foreigners,’ she whispered. ‘If only he would let me defend myself so I could convince him I’m not a Christian.’

>   And if only the gai-jin had kept their religion to themselves …

  She sat by the little pond in the garden behind the inn for what seemed like ages. Completely lost in thought, she didn’t realise she wasn’t alone any longer until she was suddenly grabbed from behind.

  ‘Got her!’

  The harsh voice sounded triumphant and Midori twisted frantically to see who her captor was, her heart pounding with shock. To her consternation, there were several men crowding into the small, enclosed space, all dressed in identical clothing, which looked alarmingly official. A lightning streak of fear shot through her and she tried to struggle, but it was futile as she was completely outnumbered and there was no chance of escape.

  ‘You’re to come with us, gai-jin. The authorities have issued a warrant for your arrest.’

  ‘I’m not a gai-jin, I’m the daughter of a daimyo,’ she said, trying to sound confident and haughty. ‘Release me, or it will be the worse for you.’

  Her words were greeted with laughter and derision, and no one paid her the slightest heed. Instead, her hands were quickly tied behind her with a tight knot and she was hauled away through the inn. Just before they passed the front door of the ryokan and out into the city, she caught a glimpse of Satoshi, Ichiro’s servant, hiding in a dark corner of the hallway. He seemed to be cowering in terror, but there was a strange look in his eyes which had Midori puzzled. There was no time to dwell on it, however, and knowing he’d seen her lessened some of her fear. Ichiro would be told what had happened, then he’d help her somehow. The thought gave her courage and she shrugged off the tight grip of her guard to walk unaided with her head held high.

  ‘Lead on,’ she commanded.

  Some of the courage left her when she arrived at her destination, however. Her bonds were removed and she was shoved into a small room, filled to overflowing with pitiful individuals. They stank something dreadful, and she gagged as she landed on the floor with a thump. Gnarled hands reached out – some to help her up, some just fingering the fine silk of her clothing – but she shrank from them all and shot to her feet in record time. The hands continued to paw at her and she batted away a few, shrugging off others, looking around for some corner to shrink into.

  ‘Have you any food? Give us something?’ a voice pleaded, but Midori just shook her head, feeling too nauseous to speak.

  ‘Oh, she’s a haughty one, but they’ll soon beat it out of her, won’t they?’ someone else cackled. ‘What’re you here for? Stealing? They’ll cut your head off, so they will.’

  ‘Leave me alone,’ Midori muttered, shivering with delayed reaction. Seeing a free space by the wall at last, she stumbled towards it and sank down with her back against the rough surface. She pulled her knees up in front of her and hid her face behind the curtain of her hair, which had come undone

  The less she saw of this place the better.

  Nico was in the middle of his evening meal, enjoying the tranquillity of the night and the exotic dishes laid out for him so artistically. Casper had insisted on hiring a Japanese cook for the duration of his stay as he liked to try new things. Nico was all for it as well and so far he’d loved everything the man had served him. He would be very sorry to have to go back to the indifferent ship’s fare in the morning.

  He didn’t hear anyone approaching, but an unexpected draught of air made him aware he wasn’t alone in the room. Taken by surprise, he choked on a piece of shrimp tempura while staring at the menacing figure who had appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. The man stood before him, calm and unmoving. Dressed all in black and with a face like a threatening thunderstorm, he was a formidable sight. Nico immediately noticed the two shining swords at his side, their hilts glittering with his every move, and he felt sure there would be other weapons hidden among the man’s clothing.

  Throughout the bout of coughing which accompanied his attempts to dislodge the piece of shrimp, thoughts of the ninja Midori had threatened him with earlier streaked through his brain. He dismissed them almost immediately, though. From what he’d gathered, ninja never showed their faces and this man was staring at him openly, almost appraisingly. Besides, he’d already agreed to take her on board, so there was no need for threats.

  Breathing normally again at last, Nico slowly stood up and bowed. ‘Hai, nani desu ka?’ He wasn’t sure he’d said that right, but thought the man would understand his meaning anyway.

  To his surprise, the intruder replied in accented English. ‘I am Kumashiro, brother of Midori-sama.’ The polite phrase, ‘Yoroshiku onegai shimasu,’ that roughly equalled the English ‘how do you do’ was tacked on almost as a grudging afterthought, but Nico barely noticed.

  Brother? Nico studied the man’s features again, but couldn’t see any trace of European blood. So, a half-brother then, he surmised. And obviously high-born, judging by his clothing and weapons. How strange. That must mean Midori was the child of a noblewoman. Why had such a lady married an Englishman? It seemed unlikely in the extreme, but there was no time to think about that now.

  ‘How did you get in here? I thought no one was allowed on to this island without approval,’ Nico said, vaguely irritated that the guard system didn’t seem to be working both ways.

  Kumashiro smiled briefly. ‘Guard is … incapacitated.’

  ‘I see. Well, to what do I owe this honour?’ Nico crossed his arms over his chest to show he wasn’t intimidated.

  ‘You made bargain with my sister yesterday and I trust you keep it?’

  Nico nodded. ‘Of course. I’m a man of my word.’

  Midori’s brother looked as if he doubted whether foreigners could be honourable, but he didn’t say this out loud. ‘Hmph,’ was all he said. ‘Your ship sail tomorrow? This is certain?’

  ‘Yes, unless your fellow countrymen find some way of delaying me. The cargo has been loaded and the ship is ready to leave at first light. I believe Mistress Midori’s possessions are already on board.’

  ‘My men have seen to it. There is slight problem, though.’

  ‘Oh? Has she changed her mind?’ In Nico’s experience, that was something ladies were very prone to doing, and it drove him to distraction. He hoped he wasn’t to be kept waiting, especially since he hadn’t wanted this particular passenger in the first place.

  ‘No, she has been arrested.’

  ‘What? Why?’ Nico felt himself go tense at this unexpected turn of events.

  ‘She is gai-jin, like you. If I can’t free her from prison, she be killed soon, tomorrow maybe.’

  A cold grip took hold of Nico’s gut. How could Midori be arrested and executed simply for being foreign? So she was right then, she really did need to leave, and quickly. He could see now why she’d been so insistent on buying passage immediately. He frowned and looked at the man before him. ‘Can you free her?’

  ‘Perhaps. But if I do, she must disappear straight away, or bad consequences for me and my clan. I must not be seen with her now.’

  ‘Surely you’ll be watched?’

  ‘Yes, but there are ways of becoming, er …’

  ‘Invisible?’

  ‘Hai.’

  Nico thought it best not to ask any further questions. The less he knew, the better, so he simply nodded.

  ‘If I bring her during night, you be ready to receive her?’ Kumashiro asked.

  Nico didn’t hesitate. This complicated matters even more, but he couldn’t refuse. If he’d had doubts about helping Midori before, they were all gone now. She was in serious danger. ‘Yes. I will go on board as soon as I have finished eating. I was all set to leave in any case.’

  ‘Good. Thank you.’ Kumashiro looked as if he wanted to say something else, but wasn’t sure how to phrase it and Nico thought he could guess what it might be.

  ‘Don’t worry, I will look after your sister to the best of my ability. It may not be enou
gh, but I’ll do all I can. She is … a very brave woman.’ Despite his anger earlier, he respected Midori for the way she had tried to force him to do her bidding. He’d never met a woman like her before, so sure of her own abilities and so unafraid.

  Kumashiro narrowed his eyes as if he was sizing him up again, judging what manner of man he might be, then unexpectedly he smiled once more. ‘Thank you. I hope you really are man of your word.’

  He turned to leave, but before he had reached the door, Nico realised he couldn’t leave it at that and blurted out, ‘Wait! Can I help in any way?’

  Kumashiro swivelled round, his eyebrows raised in surprise. ‘Nani?’

  ‘I would like to offer my assistance. You know, to free your sister …’ Nico trailed off, realising he was probably insulting the man. After all, what could he do? A foreigner who wasn’t even allowed to set foot on the mainland? His offer was genuine, though; he really wanted to help.

  Kumashiro stayed silent for a while, deep in thought, then he nodded. ‘Maybe, but you are putting self in danger, you know this?’

  It was Nico’s turn to nod. ‘Yes, I know. Now please tell me what you would like me to do.’

  Chapter Six

  Despite the fear, Midori dozed for a while, but raised her head when the door was opened and something was thrown in by the guards. She wondered if it was another poor condemned soul, but then realised that what had arrived was their supper in a sack. Her fellow prisoners dived for the floor, fighting tooth and nail for the meagre rations of what looked like stale rice cakes. Midori shuddered and wondered how any of them could even think of eating. Bile rose in her throat and she swallowed hard.

  For a short while, she’d thought perhaps she was just having a nightmare, but this was all too real. The hard, cold dirt floor she was sitting on smelled as if a hundred latrines had been emptied into it. The damp wall behind her back and the unbelievable stench of accumulated filth on the people all around her – no brain could have dreamed up any of it. Cockroaches scurried across her legs and a moment ago she had seen a rat peeping out through a hole in the corner. Her skin crawled and she scratched repeatedly at real or imaginary itches that were driving her insane.