“No, thankfully. But that won’t last. Things are becoming untenable. If the Lion do not back down we will be forced to match them. Honor demands nothing less.”
“And they will not back down until this matter is settled.” Shin paused. “Might I ask how you came to find us here?”
Shichiro looked at them. “I suspected Saiga was the one who’d stolen that shipment. I’ve had him under observation for weeks.”
“Then you knew that the Lion had purchased the shipment.”
“Suspected,” Shichiro corrected. “Only suspected. As I said, Saiga dealt with all sorts. Even your vassals, little Crane. No way of telling which one did him in.”
“He seems to have been at the center of a great number of webs. It is a shame your spies did not see who killed him – or who he might have met with before he died.”
Shichiro frowned. “Yes. But as I said, it was probably a client of his.”
Shin bowed low. “As you say, my lord. With your permission, we shall take our leave. I have a report to prepare for the governor.”
Shichiro nodded absently. “Of course.” He paused. “You are certain you found nothing of interest?”
“If I had, my lord, I would certainly have told you.”
Shichiro turned back to the body. “Very well. Be off with you.”
Shin and Kasami bowed deeply and departed. As they reached the street, Shin saw Kitano loitering near the teahouse, looking shamefaced. Kasami gestured curtly, and the gambler hurried to join them. “I am sorry, my lord…” he began.
“Never mind,” Shin said. He glanced at Kasami, and saw that she was glowering at him. “Yes, Kasami? Something troubles you?”
“You lied to him,” she said.
“I thought it only fair, seeing as he lied to us.” Shin glanced over his shoulder at the teahouse. “I would bet that Shichiro knows exactly who we are looking for… but has chosen to say nothing.”
“Why would he do that?”
“I don’t know. But I intend to find out.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Acceptable Solution
The summons to Saibanshoki the next morning was not unexpected. The terseness of the invitation was. Tetsua’s ronin were in no mood to bandy words, and Shin saw the futility of arguing with them at once. Leaving Kasami to oversee things, he hurried to the governor’s manor as speedily as dignity would allow.
Despite being expected, it was interruption he felt they could ill-afford. Things were moving quickly now, he could feel it. He’d managed to dash off a quick missive to Iuchi Konomi, asking for a moment or two of her time. After that, he’d invited Ito for tea, hoping to get some answers about the papers he’d found in Saiga’s offices. One of those two conversations would hold the answers he was in search of, he was certain.
Shin saw no sign of Azuma as he was escorted up to the receiving room. He was either pursuing his own investigation or laying low. Shin would have wagered on either at this point. There had been tense stand-offs reported between the Kaeru and warriors of the Lion, as the latter attempted to fortify certain parts of their district, blocking roads and rousting merchants. Everywhere there was the growing sense that a storm was on the horizon.
Tetsua was waiting for him on the balcony. The governor looked pensive as Shin was ushered in. He gestured. “Join me, please.”
The balcony was cool, and the sounds of river traffic rose to greet him. “There was an incident yesterday,” Tetsua said. “The Lion boarded a merchant sloop belonging to the Unicorn. They claimed they were hunting smugglers.”
“So I heard.”
Tetsua looked at him. “Minami claims that her warriors acted without permission and will be disciplined, and Shichiro has accepted that – for the moment. But it is only a matter of time before another incident occurs. Shichiro might not be so forgiving a second time. What can you tell me?”
“The Lion had good reason to be close-mouthed about that shipment. It was stolen, and they knew it.”
“Minami admitted it?”
“Yes,” Shin said. “I believe it was bought from a dealer in illicit cargoes named Saiga.”
“The one you found dead last night,” Tetsua said.
“Yes.” Shin didn’t ask how he knew. Tetsua wouldn’t be much of a governor if he wasn’t aware of such things.
Tetsua looked away. “Fine, the rice was stolen,” he said. “What of it? Plenty of cargo is stolen and resold. The black market is this city’s vibrant shadow.”
“That it was stolen was not the issue. Rather, it is who it was stolen from.”
Tetsua was silent for a moment. Then, “The Unicorn. Of course.”
Shin nodded. “The Lion believe that the Unicorn allowed them to purchase the stolen rice in order to implicate them in a crime. That it was a trick designed to humiliate them.”
Tetsua looked at him. “That seems a somewhat complicated way of doing so.”
“But it is justification. If the rice had not been discovered – if it had been sold, and someone perished as a result, or, as is more likely, a wave of illness resulted, the Lion’s reputation would have suffered.”
“As would their profits.”
“Exactly. And once an investigation was undertaken, it would soon be discovered that the rice had been bought from a known dealer in stolen cargo, further implicating the Lion in illicit activities. Activities every merchant in this city participates in, but that no one wishes to be connected to.”
“Hardly justification for war,” Tetsua murmured.
“Good enough for some.” Shin looked out over the river. “The Lion are restless. I saw it myself when I visited their district, however briefly. They have more soldiers on their side of the river than any other faction in this city. Bored soldiers, bored bushi. And we both know what that can lead to.”
Tetsua paled slightly. The history of Rokugan was full of stories of what happened when a warrior class became too big and had too few enemies to fight. Shin went on. “The Emperor’s decision to claim this city as an imperial fiefdom has never sat well with them. And now someone has handed them an excuse to claim what they see as theirs.”
“Minami…” Tetsua began.
“She is doing her best to stall, but from what you’ve said, I fear she is waging a losing battle. There will be more incidents in the coming days.”
“Then you must be quicker about finding me a culprit,” Tetsua said. “We have arrived at the point where guilt and innocence are immaterial. What about this Saiga?”
“As yet, his motives are unclear.” Shin decided not to mention the papers he’d found. Not until he knew more, at least. “I am looking into the matter, but it seems he was simply another link in the chain.”
“Working for someone, you mean?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“Also unclear,” Shin said. “And there is, of course, the question of who killed him…”
Tetsua gestured sharply. “Irrelevant. Do you have any theories as to the identity of his accomplice – or employer – that I should be aware of?”
“No, my lord.” Shin paused. “There is no evidence that he was employed at all, in fact. It is merely an assumption on my part, given the nature of the man.”
Tetsua nodded. “So, in theory, he could well have been working alone.”
“Yes. Though as to what end, I am at a loss…”
“His motives are unimportant. The question before me is will the clans be satisfied with his death? Will it bring this matter to a close?”
“That is not for me to say, my lord.” Shin paused. “But I will say that it does not satisfy me. And it may well not satisfy whoever ended Saiga’s life. They will continue their course until they have broken every link in the chain.”
“Good,” Tetsua said. “The faster this mess is cleaned up, the better f
or us all.” Shin kept his expression carefully neutral, but Tetsua must have seen something in his eyes, for the governor added, “You think me cruel, Daidoji Shin?”
“I think you are the imperial governor,” Shin said, carefully. “You must balance the good of some against the good of all. That is no easy thing.”
“No. It is not. And if I have been remiss in my duties of late, it has only made such decisions more difficult. But make them I must. This… incident, minor as it might seem, came very close to causing a disaster…”
“And if a few heimin must die so that trade continues uninterrupted, it is a small price to pay,” Shin said, without anger or malice. Even so, Tetsua’s expression hardened.
“Remember who you speak to, Crane.”
Shin bowed wordlessly. “Forgive me, my lord. My emotions have ever had the better of me in matters like these.”
Tetsua turned away. “Your grandfather warned me about your lack of respect. I see now I should have listened to him. Perhaps I was wrong to involve you in this matter.”
Shin did not reply. Tetsua was silent. Then, finally, he said, “If I commanded you to leave the matter be, would you obey me?”
“I would, my lord.”
Tetsua chuckled softly. After a moment, he said, “You have done well. Both the Unicorn and Lion will be satisfied that the matter is settled.”
Shin wanted to ask how he could be certain, but suspected that he already knew the answer. Neither side wanted war, and both would be eager for any result that allowed them to save face without showing steel. He bowed low. “Then I am pleased to have been of service, my lord.”
Tetsua did not dismiss him as he’d expected, however.
“Our business is not concluded, Daidoji Shin,” Tetsua still did not look at him. “This city is important,” he said. “Not just to me, but to the empire as a whole.” Shin did not know what to say, so he opted for silence. Tetsua continued. “Here, three clans are forced into an amicable truce. An unwilling one, perhaps, but a truce nonetheless. It is my duty to oversee that truce and the peace it has engendered. I cannot allow that peace to be broken.”
“I understand, my lord.”
“I do not think that you do. Not fully, at least.”
Shin waited as Tetsua gathered his thoughts. “I will do what I must to maintain that peace. Even if it means I must dip my hands in blood and sign away my honor. I will hold that which has been entrusted to me in the most expedient manner which presents itself.” Tetsua looked at him. “But you are under no such obligation, Daidoji Shin.”
Shin hesitated, unsure if he’d heard correctly. He did not speak, for fear he might say the wrong thing. Tetsua went on. “Until further evidence presents itself, Saiga is the culprit. Do you understand?”
Shin bowed. “I believe so, my lord.”
Tetsua smiled again. “Good. You may go.” He turned back to the river and said nothing further. Shin backed away, turning Tetsua’s words over in his mind.
It wasn’t quite permission, but neither was it a denial. A suggestion, then. The sort of thing a Crane lived for. You could do a lot with a suggestion, if you were of a mind to be creative. His steps were light as he returned to the wharf and the craft waiting to take him back to the city. It seemed Tetsua was a man after his own heart after all.
Sanemon hurried across the stage, his mind full to bursting with little problems. Torn costumes, dwindling supplies, arguments between actors – the usual headaches of a man in his position, albeit exacerbated by Okuni’s stubbornness.
The woman was a fool. Her pride had blinded her to the realities of their current situation. She thought to brazen it out. Meanwhile, they were running out of everything and the rest of the troupe were getting nervous. He’d tried to tell her, though the day she listened to him was the day he grew wings.
He snorted. Some days he thanked the gods for bringing Nekoma Okuni into his life. She had saved him from drowning in the bottom of a bottle. But other days, he thought she had saved him only to preserve him for a far worse fate. He was dying by increments, drowning in a sea of furious anxiety. One day they’d find him dead, a handful of unpaid bills clutched in one stiff, claw-like hand.
He mopped at his face with a handkerchief. As an ashigaru, he’d thought he’d known fear. But the terrors of the battlefield were nothing next to the manifold horrors of running a minor kabuki troupe.
“She’s back,” Nao said, falling into step with him as he headed for the dressing rooms. Sanemon glanced at him.
“What?”
“Came in through the back entrance, dressed like a beggar. A wet beggar. I almost had her thrown out.”
“You would have regretted that.”
“Yes, well, luckily I know a drowned cat when I see one. She’s been in the river again, and she is not happy.”
“I wouldn’t be either. Where is she now?”
“My dressing room. I made sure no one saw her enter.”
Sanemon nodded. “Good thinking.”
“Well, I do have a reputation to consider.”
Sanemon followed Nao back to his dressing room, his heart pounding. When Okuni hadn’t returned, he’d feared the worst. But there had been nothing for it but to go on and hope she somehow turned up. Now that she had, he wondered what trouble she’d brought with her this time.
“We must leave,” Okuni said, without preamble, as they entered. “Tonight.” She looked disheveled and tired, as if she had been running all night.
“Our boat is not scheduled to depart until tomorrow afternoon,” Sanemon protested. If it was even going to depart at all. Tensions between the clans had thrown a pall of uncertainty over all river traffic, regardless of where it was heading or what it carried. “And anyway, we still have one last performance to give. Think of our reputation…”
“I’m thinking of our lives,” Okuni said, rounding on him. “Someone wants me dead!”
“Not just you,” Nao said, from the doorway. Okuni glared at him.
“What are you talking about?”
“Someone killed a merchant a few streets over. No one is really sure how. And I heard from one of the stagehands that there was some sort of massacre elsewhere – the crew of a boat, all killed.” He paused. “Or missing. No one is quite sure.”
Okuni looked at Sanemon. “You see? They are cleaning up after themselves. I have the money. We must go.”
“Where?” Sanemon barked. “And how?” He flailed at the door. “Half of the troupe is getting ready for today’s performance, and the other half is already in costume.”
Okuni grimaced and looked away. Sanemon read her face and loosed a virulent oath. She blinked and looked at him. “No,” he said. “No. We are not abandoning the others. You insisted we stay, and so we did. And now we are here. We will leave tomorrow. For tonight, you will stay hidden – here, in the theater. Do not go back to the house. Nao will collect what you need and bring it to you.”
“Will I?” Nao asked, lazily.
Sanemon glared at him. “Yes, or so help me, I will break that skinny arm of yours.”
“Brute,” Nao said. But he didn’t argue. Sanemon turned back to Okuni.
“I learned one thing of value in the army. When the enemy comes, you don’t run – you hunker down and hope that you have more bodies than they have arrows. This theater is our palisade. You’re safe here if you’re safe anywhere.”
“And if they followed me?”
“Then I would rather die on stage, like a proper actor, than on some grubby wharf trying to escape.” Sanemon turned back to Nao. “Let the others, especially the stage crew, know what’s going on – not specifics, but that someone might be looking to cause trouble.” Sanemon wished he felt half as confident as he hoped he sounded. “If anyone suspicious starts creeping around, I want to know about it.”
Okuni looked at him, a half-smi
le on her face. “Sometimes I forget that you used to be a soldier.”
“Sometimes, so do I.” He took a deep breath and let it out, trying to calm his racing nerves. “If these shinobi of yours come calling, we’ll give them a performance such as they’ve never seen.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Iuchi Konomi
A servant led Shin down a cobbled path to a flat patio of violet stone set beneath a large tree. The garden was larger than his own, and filled with flowers he did not recognize, save from books. It was beautiful, in a wild sort of way.
Iuchi Konomi awaited him on the patio. She sat on one of two low wooden benches, cleverly carved to resemble stampeding horses. A small table sat between the benches. As Shin seated himself on the opposite bench, a pair of servants brought tea and cups. They placed them on the table between the two, and began to prepare the tea.
“Thank you for agreeing to meet with me,” Shin began. “I trust it is not an imposition?” He had come straight to the Unicorn quarter from Saibanshoki, hoping to speak to Konomi. Luckily, it seemed that she was inclined to do so, despite Shichiro’s prohibition. Then, perhaps she was simply curious about the investigation.
“Not for me,” Konomi said, fluttering her fan in front of her face. “Though my father did not wish us to speak.” She waited until the servants had poured the tea, and then waved them away. They bowed low and left. “Perhaps he fears for my virtue.”
“I assure you my lady, you are safe with me.” Shin smiled. “At least for today.”
Konomi giggled politely. Then she lowered her fan. “Your message implied that you wished to ask me something?”
“If you are willing to indulge me,” Shin said, with a slight bow.
She smiled slightly. “I have heard you are a man who enjoys his indulgences. They say that is why you are here now.”
“Who is they?”
Konomi gestured airily. “The city. Your grandfather sent you here to save you from an honor challenge, I am told. Is it true you kidnapped a daughter of the Scorpion Clan?”
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