L5r - scroll 01 - The Scorpion Page 10

  Pleased with his analysis, Toturi smiled. His hand unconsciously stole to the hilt of his katana. Isawa Kaede noticed the move.

  The Phoenix Mistress of the Void was worried. What had possessed Ishikawa to challenge her fiance? She could see no good outcome of the contest. Either the captain would win and Toturi would be disgraced, or Toturi would win and Ishikawa would gain nothing. Of course, there was always the slim chance someone could get hurt. Sometimes a samurai's emotions could get the better of him during combat, even in a friendly contest such as this.

  Kaede could not stand the thought of either man being hurt. She said a quick prayer to Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess, and continued to follow the two men.

  They soon arrived at the castle's training dojo. As Ishikawa had said, the chamber was deserted. The small retinue seated themselves around the room on tatami mats. Toturi and Ishikawa removed their dai-sho, carefully setting the swords aside in a manner that would neither impugn the honor of their clans nor the honor of their opponents. Then they stripped off any of their ceremonial outer garments that they deemed might hinder their movements during a fight.

  Each man selected a wooden bokken, a practice sword, from one of the many stands resting along the dojo's walls. Toturi and Ishikawa made some practice moves and cuts, testing the weight and balance of their weapons. Presently, the two men bowed and faced each other across the large tatami mat in the center of the dojo's broad, wooden floor.

  Toturi held his sword high, in a defensive posture, the wooden blade close to his ear. Ishikawa kept his sword low, angled behind him, the tip of the blade nearly touching the floor.

  He hopes to use his iajutsu skill for the first blow, thought Toturi. I must be ready for it.

  "Ready?" the captain of the guard asked.

  Toturi nodded grimly, his mind playing over a thousand outcomes. Most battles were won before the first blow was struck.

  Silence fell over the dojo. The audience hardly dared breathe.

  Toturi watched his opponent, careful not to be misled by the man's eyes; Ishikawa did the same. Each man waited for the other to make a mistake or, alternately, for the perfect moment to strike. Toturi listened to the sound of his own heart.

  The moment came.

  With a wild war cry, Ishikawa charged. He swung his wooden sword in a wide arc from his hip, aiming for Toturi's chest.

  The Lion was ready for him. He whipped his sword around, blocking the blow.

  The two spun on each other, their swords meeting a second time. After the third clash, they stepped back to assess the situation.

  Ishikawa charged again.

  Toturi met his opponent's bokken with his own and stepped deftly aside. Ishikawa staggered forward, but Toturi didn't take advantage of it. Instead, he resumed his defensive posture.

  Ishikawa turned, embarrassed by his mistake, and faced his opponent once more. He cursed himself for being a fool and felt glad Toturi hadn't taken advantage of his lapse. He brought his sword up into a defensive posture similar to the Lion's.

  The men stared at each other, sweat trickling down their brows. Ishikawa's eyes showed grim determination; Toturi's eyes seemed detached, distant.

  The Lion's coolness made a fire spring up in the belly of the captain. How can a man with blood so thin lay claim to Kaede? Ishikawa thought. He charged again.

  Toturi parried and stepped aside once more. This time Ishikawa was ready for it. As the Lion stepped, Ishikawa thrust at him with the point of his sword.

  Toturi's reflexes saved him. He hopped back at the last instant, and the point never found his gut. He batted at the sword with a sweeping motion.

  Ishikawa pressed forward, sensing the Lion was off-balance.

  That was what Toturi wanted him to think. Ishikawa bore in, making himself off-balance. Toturi spun quickly away from the point of the captain's sword. For a brief moment, the Lion looked like a dancer doing a pirouette. His bokken described a short arc through the air and landed solidly across his opponent's shoulders.

  Ishikawa fell to the mat, landing hard on his chest. His breath rushed out in a great huff.

  The small crowd gasped and applauded. Toturi bowed and

  offered his hand to his opponent. "A worthy match," he said.

  Ishikawa looked at the hand for a moment and then took it. As he did, he felt his anger subside. Toturi had beaten him fairly; the Lion proved himself the better man on this day.

  With Toturi's help, Ishikawa rose. He bowed to the victor of the match. Toturi bowed back to his opponent. In his heart, Ishikawa vowed not to underestimate the Lion daimyo again.

  Toturi rose from his bow and scanned the assembled crowd.

  Hantei Sotorii, the royal heir, applauded wildly, thrilled by the outcome. Kakita Yoshi and Seppun Daiori nodded appreciatively. Their faces conveyed their respect. Yoshi's Crane ally, Doji Shizue, clapped politely. Her intelligent eyes took in every detail of the scene. Shosuro Taberu smiled and applauded— but who could know what a Scorpion really thought? The Moshi twins, the men-at-arms, and the retainers who had accompanied the contestants cheered, nodding to one another. Toturi had impressed them. Toward the back of the group, the Miya sisters and several of their girlfriends clapped enthusiastically and chattered to each other like birds.

  Only Isawa Kaede didn't seem to appreciate the match. True, she applauded politely, and her face showed no displeasure, but she was no Scorpion. The Lion could tell she either didn't like the fight, or—at least—didn't like its outcome.

  Words from Ishikawa brought Toturi back to reality. "Well struck, Toturi-sama," the captain said. "I thank you for doing me this honor." He bowed to Toturi again.

  "As you have honored me," Toturi answered back. He bowed again as well, but not as low as Ishikawa had. The Lion brought one long-fingered hand to his face and wiped the sweat from his brow back into his long, golden hair. "I pray that we both have time for a bath before the feast."

  This brought laughter from the crowd.

  "I doubt you need one," Ishikawa said. "I fear I hardly made you work up a sweat."

  Toturi smiled at him. "Then the roof of this dojo needs fixing, for I believe I am covered in rain."

  Again, they all laughed.

  "Well done, Toturi-san," said the heir.

  Toturi thought he could see a new respect in the boy's eyes. "Thank you, O Child of the Light," he said, bowing. After he stood up, Toturi said, "With your permission, Highness, I go to bathe."

  Sotorii held his nose in mock disgust, "By all means," he said, the fingers on his nose pinching his words as they came out.

  Toturi and the retinue laughed politely.

  Toturi headed toward the bath house, and Ishikawa watched him go. "After you, my lord," the captain said.

  The rest of the crowd stood to leave. They filed out of the dojo and returned to their courtly business. Only Isawa Kaede lingered behind. Ishikawa stood at the door of the dojo, staring toward the main keep of the castle.

  "Why did you do it, Ishikawa?" she asked him.

  The soft sound of her voice startled the captain; he'd almost forgotten she was there. "Do what?" he asked.

  "Why did you challenge Toturi?"

  Ishikawa shrugged, but he didn't look at her. "I wanted to see what he was made of."

  "And that is all?" she asked demurely, her breath so close that he could smell its perfume.

  He looked at her and realized she stood closer than he had thought—almost intimately close. "And I wanted to see if he was worthy to be your husband," he said gruffly.

  "And...?"

  Ishikawa reached under his kimono and rubbed his left shoulder. "His sword arm seems strong enough," he said. "And no one can doubt his prowess on the field." He smiled a crooked smile at her. "You could do worse."

  Kaede turned her eyes toward the floor and blushed.

  xxxxxxxx

  The feast to welcome the Lion daimyo was held in one of the palace's huge feasting halls. Tall, dark timbers supported the chamber's hi
gh ceiling. Fusuma, painted with trees, mountains, and waterfalls, made up the walls. Thick tatami covered the floor.

  The emperor's low dais occupied one end of the room, and Hantei the 38th sat cross-legged atop it. A place of honor next to the platform had been reserved for Toturi. The other guests seated themselves on the tatami in carefully ordered rows, their food and drink placed on the floor in front of them. The center of the room remained bare, for the entertainment to follow.

  The celebration began with a tea ceremony for three hundred, expertly performed. A dance presentation came second, followed by a poetry reading by Yoshi. Toturi had to admit that the man had talent. Then the food—many courses, all meticulously prepared, each presented precisely far enough apart for the guests to consider the tastes and textures they'd just experienced.

  Toturi enjoyed the food, though it did make part of him long for the simple meals of the monastery. A blind flutist played during the dinner, enchanting all those who heard her, but never distracting from the meal itself.

  After the meal, Doji Shizue dazzled the court with a story of men and gods and monsters. Toturi had to admit that her storytelling was superior to his own. The story segued seamlessly into quiet conversation. Several courtiers played shamisen softly in the background.

  Seated on the floor near the Imperial tatami, Toturi wondered if he had imagined the slights of earlier in the day. The emperor smiled and nodded when he saw the Lion. Hantei Sotorii took delight in telling of Toturi's duel with Ishikawa. By the end of the evening he'd retold the story dozens of times.

  As conversation died away, courtiers drifted out of the dining room and into the many gardens surrounding the palace. Most bade good-bye to Toturi, the emperor, and the heir as they wandered out.

  "I hope we shall see you at court more often," Shosuro Taberu said to Toturi. Taberu stopped to whisper something in the emperor's ear as he went, leaving Toturi to wonder what the Scorpion envoy had meant. The emperor nodded and Taberu flashed Toturi a final smile before exiting the room.

  Suddenly uncomfortable, Toturi got up and stretched. He was trying to decide which garden to visit when he suddenly realized that the emperor had appeared at his elbow. Toturi bowed low, "Otennoo-sama," he said.

  "Walk with us in the garden," the emperor said, indicating an exit with his fan. Toturi swallowed hard, but did as he was told. The emperor led him through several winding passageways until finally they debouched into a splendid garden behind the palace. The moon overhead painted the elegant castle in a pale blue radiance.

  "We are pleased with how you and Doji Hoturi have quieted the feud between your two clans," the emperor said, leading Toturi along a path beneath the cherry trees.

  Toturi nodded. "We but live to serve," he said. "I only wish I could report that all the quarrels had ended."

  The older man chuckled. "We fear that will not happen until all of us are in the grave," said Hantei. He continued walking as he spoke, leading Toturi deeper within the garden. The emperor set a brisk pace, despite his advancing age. Toturi lost track of exactly where they were. The grounds of the palace were immense, and few people knew the whole expanse of them. Hantei the 38th was certainly one of those people.

  "As we grow older," the emperor continued, "we come to see that such bickering is of little importance. Cranes will be Cranes, and Lions will be Lions. Each acts according to his nature. We wonder ... what is your nature, Akodo Toturi?"

  The question caught him by surprise. All Toturi could think to say was, "I live to serve you, Majesty."

  Hantei waved his fan at the younger man. "So you've said. So you've said. Yet, we seldom see you around the palace."

  "I am your general, Celestial One," Toturi said, beads of

  sweat forming on his brow. "There are conflicts I must attend to, affairs I must set right..."

  "Hmm. Affairs. Yes. So we gather."

  This made Toturi flush, and he turned away momentarily.

  The emperor didn't seem to notice. "There are affairs you must attend to at court, too," Hantei continued. "One such affair you have neglected far too long." With this the emperor smiled and stepped into a small clearing.

  Toturi followed him and was shocked to find Isawa Kaede waiting for them inside. She bowed her head as the emperor and the Lion arrived.

  "G-Great Lord ..." Toturi stammered.

  "No need to thank us, my boy," the emperor said. He took Toturi's hand and Kaede's and placed them together.

  Toturi and Kaede looked at each other, both shy and nervous.

  The emperor turned and left the couple together. "We're sure the two of you have much to discuss," he said as he exited the clearing. The Lion and his fiancee held their breaths until the emperor was gone.

  Then, as if by silent agreement, they let their hands slip apart.

  Finally, Kaede spoke, "It has been a long time, Toturi-san."

  Toturi swallowed and took a deep breath. The fear he'd felt upon entering the castle earlier in the day bubbled up inside him once more.

  "Yes, it has," he said. "Are you well?"

  "As always," she replied. "And you?"

  He nodded. "I too am well."

  "Would you like to walk?" she asked. "The moonlight is very beautiful."

  "Perhaps a walk would be good."

  She extended her hand to him, but then drew it back when she perceived that he would not take it. They walked in the garden together, but not truly together at all. Toturi sensed that she knew the paths well; personally, he felt lost.

  How can a man face death without fear and yet feel terrified by such a maiden? he asked himself.

  "Was your trip to the palace difficult?" she asked.

  "No more than usual."

  "I had hoped," she said, "that you would visit more often."

  "A common refrain this visit," he said, more brusquely than he had intended.

  She turned her eyes away from him. "It is good for people to get to know each other before they are wed."

  This sent a cold spike through Toturi's heart. For a moment, his brain fumbled for an answer that would not insult her. Finally he said, "I gather the emperor feels so too."

  She nodded. "Hai," she said quietly.

  Toturi looked around, but saw no easy avenue of escape. "The gardens are beautiful in the moonlight," he said.

  "The palace is lovely throughout the year," she said.

  Her voice sounded wounded. Toturi knew he had inflicted pain on her. Moisture clung to the corners of her eyes. Kaede's long lashes batted the tears away. Proud and fair of face and form, she looked beautiful beneath the summer moon.

  "Not half as lovely as you," he said, and wished immediately that he hadn't said it.

  A burning contradiction welled up inside the breast of the Lion. He did not want to hurt this fair creature, he knew that. He couldn't bear the thought of the pain he was causing her even now. Yet, he loved Hatsuko with all his heart. Even in Kaede's dark, sumptuous orbs he saw the eyes of his geisha lover. The modest cut of the Phoenix lady's kimono reminded him of the soft pleasures that awaited him beneath Hatsuko's robes. Even her smell and the scent of the gardens reminded Toturi of the woman he truly loved.

  Hatsuko.

  He could almost hear her voice on the wind.

  Kaede looked at the Lion daimyo as if she wanted to read his mind. Toturi felt glad that she could not.

  "Tell me what you're feeling," she finally said.

  "I must leave," he said stiffly. "My couriers are bringing news of skirmishes. I have dallied too long here."

  "Is that all I am, then, a dalliance?" she asked.

  Toturi could feel his Lion's heart breaking, but he remained firm. He forced distance into his voice, though part of him wanted to crush her to his bosom and comfort her. "Of course not," he said. "You are my fiancee. But I am general to the empire. Duty must come first. I need to check the reports."

  "I understand," she said quietly.

  Part of Toturi thought that she did. He stepped
away from her. "Thank you for the walk, Kaede-sama," he said, bowing formally.

  "You're welcome," she said, not looking up.

  Toturi looked around, sighted the main tower of the palace, and strode off through the garden in that direction. Hatsuko's fire danced in his brain, but it still took all his resolve not to look back.

  From a hidden spot in the flowers nearby, Ishikawa watched Toturi go. Kaede sank to her knees and wept. A fist clenched inside the captain of the guard. His regard for her honor prevented him from going to her, though all his heart cried out that he should.

  So Isawa Kaede knelt alone in the royal gardens, crying in the moonlight.

  AMBITION

  The return to Kyuden Bayushi took the Scorpions less time than had their journey to the Palace of the Dragon. The dragon ship of Reiko ferried them all the way back to Shiro no Soshi, cutting two days off their journey.

  Bantaro hoped the Scorpion lord would linger in the shugenja's keep for a while, but Shoju insisted they press on quickly. The Scorpion never spoke of his meeting with the Dragon to anyone save Kachiko, and she kept her own counsel on the matter.

  The morning after their lord's arrival, the Scorpion host left the Soshi castle and marched back through the mountains toward the castle of the Bayushi. The trip took the better part of two weeks, and the Scorpion lord kept to himself for most of that time.

  Occasionally, he could be seen in the company of Tetsuo or checking the ranks of his soldiers. Even as he rode at the head of

  the company, he seemed distant—as if he were in another world.

  Hidden in her palanquin, Kachiko wondered what thoughts coursed through her husband's mind. Aside from a brief confidence about his meeting with the Dragon, Shoju had kept himself distant from her too—which was unusual. The Scorpion lord and lady were partners in all things; they had no secrets from each other. No secrets, save their own inner thoughts, and even these they usually shared with one another.