The Initiate Brother Duology (125 page)

“You will surrender the capital, then?”

Tadamoto did not answer. “It is the Emperor’s will that you retain command of Shonto’s army for now,” he said. “By the hour of the hare we will have begun moving south. Further orders will be sent to you.”

Jaku Tadamoto turned his horse and moved back into the darkness, the torches borne by his guard were quickly consumed by the fog.

*   *   *

Shonto knelt on cushions set out on a flat section of stone projecting from the side of the hill. Lamps had been hung in the trees nearby, but the apparent tranquillity of the scene was belied by the sounds of an army moving in the darkness around them.

“No news could be more welcome, Lord Taiki,” Shonto said, his voice
calm. “It was my fear that the Emperor would make a stand upon this field, and I would have committed my troops to a slaughter. General Hojo will assist you in moving the army, Lord Taiki, and then will join my party. You have much to do, may Botahara be with you.” Shonto bowed low.

“Sire. I take on this duty out of loyalty to the Empire and because you wish it,” Lord Taiki said, carefully keeping emotion out of his voice. “The Emperor does not command the smallest part of my loyalty. When the Khan is defeated…”

Shonto held up his hand. “When the Khan is defeated, there will be much to do to restore the Empire. The commander of an Imperial Army cannot speak of civil war. Choose your words with care, Lord Taiki, even in this company. The Emperor trusts few men.”

Taiki hesitated and then bowed, touching his forehead to the cool earth. He retreated three paces and rose to his feet, the company bowing to him as he turned and walked beyond the circle of light.

Shonto nodded to General Hojo who hurried after Taiki lest the lord become lost to him in the darkness.

“Kamu-sum, is our party ready to travel?”

Kamu bowed quickly. “They will be, Lord Shonto, before the hour of the hare, if need be.”

Shonto gave a tight smile. “Please see to our preparations.”

Kamu bowed, slipping off into the night as quietly as a Botanist monk.

Lord Komawara bowed then. Like the others present he wore full armor, his helmet tucked under his arm. “May I see to my troops, Sire? I can offer some small assistance to Lord Taiki before we depart.”

Shonto nodded. “We must be gone soon after sunrise, Lord Komawara. Do what you can, but we cannot wait.”

As had Lord Taiki, Komawara touched his head to the ground before retreating and hurrying off.

“General Jaku, no doubt you wish to do the same.”

Jaku nodded.

Shonto gave the guardsman a half bow. “An hour after the sunrise.”

Jaku, too, bowed low and disappeared into the darkness.

Shonto was left facing Lord Butto who, like Lord Taiki, was not seen as part of Shonto’s rebellion and would join the Imperial Army.

Butto Joda bowed low and returned to a kneeling position, a boy in armor laced in purple.

He is no boy, Shonto reminded himself, he is a formidable strategist and ruthless when necessary.

Shonto nodded, acknowledging the young lord.

“Sire, if I may presume…. No one would expect you to go north. If you traveled the edge of the foothills you would come to my fief. It would be an easy thing to hide there. The Butto hunting lodge is secluded and not uncomfortable. I would send word ahead of you. And, Lord Shonto, the mountains could be a last resort. Even if Akantsu can defeat this Khan, he will look for you to go south or to cross the Inner Sea to the islands. You have assisted the Butto in the past, Lord Shonto, and now sacrifice much for the sake of our Empire. I would risk the displeasure of the Son of Heaven without hesitation if I could assist you in any way.”

Shonto was silent a moment. “This is a generous offer, Lord Butto. The future is so unclear, I would hesitate to earn anyone the Yamaku’s enmity. The Emperor may retain his throne yet. Do not endanger your House as I have mine. The Yamaku will not be a dynasty like the Mori—their ascendancy will not last. Do not be concerned, Lord Butto, the Shonto have survived far worse than this. We are practiced in the art of waiting.” He gave the young lord a brief smile. “Lord Taiki will need your assistance, may Botahara walk beside you.”

Lord Butto bowed again. “May the Perfect Master watch over your House, Lord Shonto.” Bowing low again, the tiny figure backed away and hurried off.

Shonto sat alone but for his guard who kept their distance, kneeling in perfect silence.

A whisper came from beyond the lamp light. “Uncle?”

Shonto smiled. “Lady Nishima. Please, do not be shy.”

As she stepped into the light, Shonto was confronted with the sight of his daughter dressed in the clothes of a boy.

“Like Princess Shatsima, I am ready to flee to the wilds if that is your wish, Sire.”

Shonto smiled, despite the gravity of the situation. “I am certain that Shatsima never looked so lovely nor faced her exile with such courage. You do honor to your House, Lady Nishima.”

She came and perched on the edge of the stone. “I am certain Princess Shatsima not only exhibited but also felt more courage, Uncle.” She waved a
hand in the direction the Shonto army moved. “It shames me to feel such trepidation when I am not among those who will join the battle.”

Shonto shook his head. “After Rohku Tadamori witnessed the fall of Rhojo-ma, he told his father that he would rather die in a thousand battles than stand by and watch others give their lives. It is a common thing to feel. There is little comfort in this knowledge, but I am certain that you would enter the battle as willingly as any man of arms, were that your part to play. Those who do not wield a sword will yet be called upon, Nishi-sum. An act of bravery may be asked of each of us before this war is over.”

Nishima nodded her head, sadly it seemed. “I pray I am equal to it, Sire.”

“We all have the same prayer, Nishi-sum, even the bravest.”

Nishima waved toward the eastern horizon. “It grows light. Sunrise is not distant now. Is it time?”

“I wait only for the few to return who assist Lord Taiki: Jaku Katta, Hojo, and Lord Komawara. They will not be long.”

The blaring of horns and the clashing of metal shook the air suddenly and Nishima and Shonto turned to look out toward the field.

“Botahara save us,” Nishima whispered. “What is that?”

“An army preparing for battle. The Khan grows impatient to sit upon his throne.”

“Will he attack today, then?”

“The army he seeks will be gone when the fog clears. Then this barbarian chieftain will be tested. Will he pursue the Emperor’s army or will he choose to ascend the throne and declare himself Emperor of Wa? It is the question our Emperor would give half his wealth to have answered.”

“No one can know, Uncle, this Khan is a great mystery. Who is he? From where did he come?”

Shonto looked at his daughter then, raising an eyebrow; “I have not told you? Jaku Katta has admitted many things now that there is no question of regaining the Emperor’s favor. This Khan is your very distant cousin, Lady Nishima, a half-barbarian with Tokiko blood in his veins. He has almost as much claim to the throne as do the Yamaku or the Fanisan or the Omawara.”

“Uncle, this is not possible! How can you tease at a time such as this?”

“It is the truth, Nishi-sum. His mother was of the House of Tokiko, married to a lord of Seh. Barbarian raiders abducted her and she bore a son in
the desert.” Shonto waved toward the north. “And now he comes to claim his birthright.”

Nishima looked out into the still, dark night, where the fires of the barbarian camp glowed in the mist. “So it is he who has lived in the wilds, like Shatsima, waiting to reclaim his throne.” Nishima pressed her fingers to her chin. “It is as Hakata said. During times of upheaval, when history is created daily, miracles become commonplace.”

The horns echoed off the hills again and a stillness answered as the moving army paused to listen. There was no answer from the opposing camp who prepared their retreat.

Shonto reached out and took his daughter’s hand. “Join Kamu-sum and Brother Shuyun, now. I will wait a while to see that all has gone well. Stay close to Brother Shuyun, Nishima-sum, he is charged with your safety.”

Nishima sat for a second and then spoke in a small voice. “May I not wait with you?”

Shaking his head, Shonto squeezed her hand. “The less experienced riders should not come last. Watch over your cousin, she will find this an ordeal, I fear.”

Nishima sat saying nothing, then put her arms around Shonto. Neither spoke for a moment, then Nishima released him, touching his cheek as she turned to go.

*   *   *

The body armor was slipped over the Emperor’s head by attendants and the lacings tightened.

“Enter, Colonel,” the Son of Heaven said to Tadamoto who hovered outside the entrance to the tent.

Tadamoto knelt and bowed his head to the ground, moving forward awkwardly in his armor.

“Do not keep me in suspense, Colonel. If I desire suspense, I attend a play.”

“Excuse me, Emperor.” Tadamoto shifted his helmet under his arm. “Lord Taiki has delivered the army of Lord Shonto Motoru, Sire, but the Shonto have fled with their advisors and other members of the rebellion.”

The Emperor nodded, considering the information. “It was to be expected,” the Emperor said with some finality. “Motoru will remain treacherous to the very end.”

Tadamoto shifted and felt the weight of his sword against his thigh. The
guardsman closed his eyes for a second, the words of both Tanaka and his brother coming back to him.

I am not loyal to his principles,
Tadamoto thought.
There are no guards present—I am the only armed man in this room. It would be easy. But what would ensue?

“Will Taiki deliver up this army as he has said, or is this a trap, Colonel?”

Tadamoto placed a gloved hand on his sword.

This man
….

“I believe that Taiki will bring us the army and is prepared to take orders in the coming war. His loyalty to the Emperor is, however, in question.”

“Once we have our march in order, Colonel Tadamoto, I will transfer the command of the Shonto army to you. After the river is crossed, we will have time to deal with the disloyal.”

The disloyal,
Tadamoto thought.
I remain loyal to my principles.

The Emperor’s shoulder pieces were laced into place. “Is there light, Tadamoto-sum?”

“The sky is turning gray.”

The Emperor nodded. “Then let us leave this barbarian to wonder. He will take the capital, I’m certain. We move south toward Yankura.”

Tadamoto nodded and retreated from the tent. Osha, he thought, I must send word to Osha.

He stepped outside to find the sky light, hinting at blue, and the fog hanging in the valley being swept away by a breeze from the north. The army of the desert could be seen in the mist, wavering, as though it lay at the bottom of a moving stream.

*   *   *

“Komawara. Is he not with you?” General Hojo asked Jaku Katta.

“I have not seen him since we left your company, General Hojo.”

“We wait only for him.” Hojo stood holding the bridle of his own horse. He kept looking north as they spoke. The barbarian position was becoming visible and the fog threatened to clear. “This will expose the Emperor’s retreat,” Hojo said. “The Wind Goddess will bring ruin upon us if this continues.”

Jaku nodded. He dismounted. “What will the Khan do?”

Hojo did not answer. The two warriors stood looking out over the field as the sky became fully light. Horses were heard coming down the path behind them, and the two generals turned in time to bow to Lord Shonto.

They were within the protection of the trees just below the base of the hill so their view was imperfect.

“Can you see the Imperial Army?” Shonto asked. “Are they in the earthworks still?”

Hojo dropped the reins of his horse to the ground and picked his way some distance down the slope, stepping over fallen trees and bramble. Leaning out from behind the base of a tree, he scanned the Emperor’s position.

Pulling himself back he shouted up the hill. “The Imperial Army appears to be retreating from their position, but this operation is not complete.”

“Damn fool,” Shonto said. “If this mist clears, they will be caught on an open field. Better to stay behind their earthworks and pray they can hold until dark.”

Shonto came up closer to Jaku but did not dismount. Mist pushed up the hill from the valley then, enveloping Hojo in white. The lord motioned his guard forward. “Do not leave General Hojo alone in this fog.”

Five guards dismounted and stumbled down the slope, disappearing before they had gone a dozen steps.

Again a braying of horns and a clash of arms, then again, and once more. The shout of hundred thousand went up, an inhuman din, and the sound of a charge shook the earth.

“General Hojo!” Shonto shouted.

There was no answer. All that could be heard was the pounding of hooves, the crying of men.

Suddenly the mist cleared, snaking off around the sides of the hill, and there, on the field, was the barbarian army in full charge.

Hojo turned and ran awkwardly up the embankment followed by his guard. “They break ranks,” he said breathlessly, “the few that remain. It will be a slaughter.”

“It is a rout!” Shonto shouted. “Damn that fool Emperor! Damn him for eternity. They will fall upon Lord Taiki from behind.” He spurred his horse. “Come, we must save what we can. If these armies are broken, the barbarians will take the Empire.”

The others were quick to follow, whipping their horses up the hillside in pursuit of their liege-lord. They came up to the shoulder of the hill in moments and Shonto stopped to survey the scene.

The first wave of barbarian warriors washed across the earthworks, taking the few who tried to stand and throwing them back like bits of flotsam.
Men of Wa were on the wooden bridge spanning the canal trying to escape to the western bank, but many fell to arrows and a fire ship was bearing down on the bridge.

Standing in his stirrups, Shonto watched with an air of detachment, the gii master surveying the board, weighing possibilities coldly. “The banners of this Khan, do you see them?”