Griffin's Destiny (24 page)

If, if, if! Too many ifs! I’ve got to get to Hatora first!

He felt the familiar tug of the link binding his daughter to him, a link stronger, even, than the one that had bound him to Jelena. Hatora’s energy felt calm and unafraid. For the moment, she seemed to be in no danger. That could mean one of two things: The Nameless One had passed her by and was no longer in the castle, or the spirit lay in wait, ready to ambush him when he came for his daughter. Whatever the case, he had no choice but to go to her, and his fears would not be allayed until he had seen for himself that Hatora remained truly safe.

When he reached the secret door that opened into the library, Ashinji did not stop to check if anyone might be on the other side; it didn’t matter anymore that the portal remain a secret. The library lay deserted; he pelted through the empty rooms and out into the corridor, running at full speed toward the apartments where Hatora waited. Sweating profusely beneath his heavy clothes and growing light-headed from the trapped heat, Ashinji paused to shed his coat before continuing.

He pulled up outside the apartments where Jelena had lived as his widow for the last year, breathing hard. Eikko let out a shriek as he burst through the doors, then cried “Captain Sakehera, it’s you!” A heartbeat later, her face blanched with fear. “My lord, your hands are all bloody!” she gasped.

“Where is my daughter?” Ashinji softened his tone as the girl cringed. “Eikko, I’m sorry.” Looking down at his hands, he added, “I didn’t mean to frighten you.” He had been so intent on reaching the baby, he had not noticed just how much of Jelena’s blood stained his skin. No wonder Eikko had screamed. “Has anyone come here while we’ve been gone?” he asked.

The girl gulped and ducked her head. “Uh, no Captain, no one.”

“Lady Sonoe didn’t come here?”

“N…no, my lord. Was she supposed to?” Eikko looked scared and bewildered, as if she thought she may have made a mistake, but didn’t know exactly what she had done wrong. “If she did come by, I swear I didn’t hear her knock…”

“Never mind.” Ashinji pushed past the flustered maid and rushed toward the bedchamber. Despite what his magical sense told him, he had to see with his own eyes that Hatora lived.

The baby lay on her back in the center of the big bed, sleeping.

Thank the Goddess!
Ashinji blinked back tears of relief as he eased himself down beside her.

“My little bird, my sweet little baby,” he whispered, stroking her shock of wheaten curls. “Eikko,” he called out, never taking his eyes from Hatora’s face.

“Yes, Captain,” The hikui girl peered around the door.

“Where are my sisters?”

“Lady Lani took the little ones down to the bath house, my lord. They should all be back very soon.” Eikko smiled at the sleeping child. “She’s such a good baby, my lord, hardly any trouble at all. Always grinning and burbling.”

“Gather whatever you’ll need for the baby and yourself. I’m taking you both to a place where you’ll be safe…safer, anyway…until I can come back for you.”

And if I don’t come back…if Hatora disappears, perhaps Shiura Onjara won’t bother to look for her.

He could see fear spark in the hikui girl’s eyes, but that couldn’t be helped. To her credit, she asked no questions; within a short time, she announced she was ready to go.

“What about Lady Lani and the twins, my lord? Shouldn’t we wait for them?”

Ashinji shook his head. “No time. Besides, my mother will be returning soon.” Hopefully, Lani wouldn’t panic when she and the twins came back to an empty apartment. “Do you know where the weaver Sateyuka lives?” he asked.

“Yes, my lord. I’ve been there once with Princess Jelena,” Eikko answered. “I think I can find my way.”

“Good. Then I’ll need you to lead us there.” He scooped the still-sleeping baby into his arms and settled her against his chest. “Come.”

Without another word, he left the apartment with a confused but trusting Eikko in tow, a rucksack slung over her round shoulder. They encountered no one; Sendai Castle appeared deserted, though Ashinji’s magical sense told him otherwise. He felt the energies of those left behind whose jobs were to make sure the castle continued to function, albeit at a very low level, while most of the court was away.

When they reached the broad corridor that led to the king’s apartments, Eikko balked. “Lord Ashinji,” she squeaked. “I’m not allowed up here! I’ll be punished if I’m caught!” A sheen of moisture glistened on her brow.

“You won’t be punished, Eikko, I promise,” Ashinji reassured her. “You’re with me.” The hikui girl wrung her hands, but followed at his heels as Ashinji approached the tall, ornate double doors.

Two soldiers of the King’s Guard stood rigid at their posts; nothing looked out of place but Ashinji’s newly heightened magical sense jangled in alarm. The energy residue of a powerful enchantment clung to both men like a pall of smoke.

Cautiously, he extended his mind toward the guards.

His consciousness rebounded off slick walls of black ice.

Those are not normal mental shields. This is very bad.

Ashinji looked at Eikko, who stared at the guards with wary eyes. “They’re bound by some sort of enchantment,” he said. “They don’t even know we’re here. Follow me.”

Taking care not to jostle the baby, Ashinji pushed open one door then entered the darkened anteroom. Neither guard moved. He closed the door on their stiff backs then carefully transferred Hatora into Eikko’s arms. “Wait here,” he said.

Swiftly he crossed the room to pause before the smaller set of double doors leading to the king’s bedchamber. No King’s Guard stood watch here, yet another bad sign. Once again, Ashinji extended his senses to quest through the doors into the room beyond. He detected no enchantments and no telltale warmth of a living, shielded mind.

He pushed the doors open and slipped inside.

The room appeared exactly as he had seen it last, when he and Jelena had come to bid goodbye to her father. His eyes darted to the bed where Keizo lay unmoving, hands folded atop his chest. He took a step forward and felt something soft crunch beneath his boot. In the dim light, he could just make out the shape of Jewel, Sonoe’s dog, sprawled lifeless upon the mats.

With a soft curse, Ashinji sidestepped the tiny corpse. He approached the big, silk-draped bed and peered down at the king’s waxen face. No residual magical energy lingered and he saw no telltale physical clues that could lead to any conclusion other than Keizo had died from his illness. Nevertheless, Ashinji knew with unshakable certainty that Sonoe had murdered him, perhaps even before they had all left for the Black Fortress. The ensorcelled guards at the outer doors and the slain dog all stood as proof.

“My lord?” Ashinji looked up to see Eikko peeking through the open doorway. When she caught sight of the king’s corpse, her eyes grew huge.

“I thought I told you to wait for me by the outer door!” Ashinji moved away from the bed, grabbed the girl’s shoulders then ushered her—Hatora still sound asleep in her arms—out of the bedroom and back across the dark antechamber.

“I’m sorry, Lord Ashinji, but I got scared,” the girl whimpered, fat tears rolling down her florid cheeks. “I thought I heard something!”

Ashinji’s annoyance fizzled. “I’m sorry I snapped at you,” he said in a kindlier tone.

“The king. He’s dead, isn’t he?” The girl sniffed and scrubbed at her dripping nose with the hem of her sleeve.

“He is,” Ashinji replied. “I don’t think anyone but us knows it yet, though.” He steered Eikko through the doorway back out into the hall and shut the heavy panel behind him, then paused to think.

I’ll need to wash my hands and change clothes, get a horse from the stables…

Princess Taya’s warning about his quarry sprang to his weary and traumatized mind.

The Nameless One is more dangerous than you can possibly imagine.

He glanced at the frozen guards, then at Eikko, hoping she had not seen him shiver. “Come,” he said. Wordlessly, Eikko followed.

***

“This is it, my lord, right here,” Eikko said, pointing to a tidy, mid-sized house nestled between two smaller ones. Lamplight spilled out onto the dark street through a beautifully carved wooden window screen, forming a complicated pattern on the beaten earth. The street itself was quiet, but all around him, Ashinji heard the muffled sounds of people in their homes preparing the evening meal, laughing with their spouses, playing with children, arguing with one another. He reined in the horse then waited while Eikko slid to the ground before carefully dismounting.

Loosening the knotted ends of the blanket he had used to bind Hatora securely to his back, Ashinji allowed Eikko to take his daughter into her arms. The baby, awake now, sucked contentedly on a dimpled fist.

“Shall I go knock?” Eikko asked.

“No, I’ll do it.” He retrieved Eikko’s rucksack from the back of the saddle then pulled the horse’s reins over its head and dropped them to the ground. Passing the sack to the girl, he then stepped up to the door and knocked.

A few moments passed with no response, so he tried again. This time, a woman’s voice called out through the door, “Yes, who is it?”

“Mistress Sateyuka, it’s Ashinji Sakehera. Jelena’s husband.”

The door flew open to reveal a dark-haired hikui woman in early middle age. “I know who you are, my lord!” She stared at him in shock. “Everyone thought you were dead!”

“May we come in?” Ashinji asked.

“Of course, my lord!” She stepped aside to let Ashinji, Eikko, and the baby enter. “Does Jelena know you’re alive?” Sateyuka then caught sight of Hatora. “Yes, she must because you have Hatora. Why are you here, Captain Sakehera?”

Sateyuka was a handsome woman, with clear, intelligent eyes and the no-nonsense demeanor of someone used to giving orders. Ashinji knew right away his decision had been a sound one. “I’ve come to ask a very great favor of you,” he said quietly. “I’ve no time to explain. I must leave Sendai immediately and I need someone trustworthy to care for my daughter.”

“What has happened to Jelena, my lord?” Sateyuka asked.

Ashinji sensed the strength of the hikui woman’s Talent, but felt only mild surprise. She was doing an excellent job of shielding her thoughts but she could not hide her emotions quite so well; Ashinji felt her alarm like a burst of heat on his skin.

“It’s too complicated. Please Sateyuka. Time is running out. Will you shelter my child?”

On impulse, Ashinji mindspoke.

You are Jelena’s dear friend. She trusted…trusts you, so I will, too. We both need you to do this for us. I promise, when I return, everything will be explained to you.

Sateyuka’s face blanched. She stared hard at Ashinji for a few heartbeats, then gazed at Hatora, still calmly sucking her fist as Eikko bounced her in her arms.

Yes, Captain, of course I’ll look after your daughter! After all, I was there when she took her first breath. I love Hatora because she’s Jelena’s.

“You are the first okui who has ever mindspoken to me,” Sateyuka added aloud. She reached out to stroke the baby’s cheek. “I’ll keep her for as long as you need me to.”

“What about me?” Eikko asked in a tiny voice. “Am I to stay here as well?”

“The mistress will need your help with my daughter,” Ashinji replied.

Sateyuka cocked her head. “You look strong and capable, girl. I think I can find something for you to do in my shop when little Hatora doesn’t need you. Can you read?”

“Yes, Mistress,” Eikko replied, then added, “I can do figures also.”

“Sateyuka, I really must go.” Ashinji swung Hatora from Eikko’s arms and held her close. “I’ve a very long ride ahead of me.” The baby squirmed as he kissed her cheeks and forehead. He knew her thoughts, even though her mind could not yet form words to articulate them.

She knows I’m leaving her and that I have no idea when I’ll return.

Hatora’s face crumpled and she let out a wail.

“Please, baby,” Ashinji whispered, unable to hold back his own tears. “Don’t cry!” For a while, he could do nothing but weep, and when at last he felt strong enough, he handed his still bawling child over to Sateyuka and departed.

With Hatora’s cries ringing in his ears and her mental anguish piercing him like a flight of arrows, he flung himself onto his horse and took off into the night.

Sen Sakehera peered through his spyglass, humming tunelessly to himself. He swept the glass from left to right, scanning the valley below. Off in the distance, nearly lost in bluish haze, the twin towers of Tono Castle stabbed defiantly skyward. The big bay stallion beneath him snorted and stamped at the rocky ground, tail thrashing with impatience.

Prince Raidan maneuvered his own mount alongside that of his co-general. The two stallions glared at each other, ears flattened.

“By the One, I think we’ve beaten ’em,” Sen announced. “The valley looks quiet and Odata’s colors still fly over the castle.” He lowered the spyglass and closed it with a snap.

“I’m expecting a scout in shortly,” Raidan responded. “We’ll know more then.” The two men sat their horses atop a ridge overlooking the broad expanse of the valley; below, grasslands rolled away in a series of gentle folds to merge with the rich farmland of the valley floor. Behind them massed the combined elven forces, some twenty thousand strong, consisting of the professional army at its core, augmented by the levies of Alasiri’s great lords.