The Initiate Brother Duology (46 page)

“Did you tell her of Brother Shuyun’s display when he shattered the table?”

The maid nodded her head silently, knowing by her lady’s tone that it was as she had feared—she had been played for a fool.

“Continue.”

“She asked also about Brother Satake though I could tell her nothing, for I did not know him.”

Lady Nishima put her hand to her face as though she would hide how pale she had become.

“She had great praise for Brother Satake, as does everyone.” She fell silent again, searching for words or for courage. “Something else she asked, though I did not understand what she meant. This seemed important to her, though I do not understand why. She asked if you danced secretly, my lady.” The maid looked up, curiosity as well as fear in her eyes.

Lady Nishima dropped her hand back into her lap, fighting now for control. How could they ever know? she wondered, and felt her breath begin to come in short gasps. Closing her eyes, Nishima forced herself to breathe normally. How could anyone know?—she was so careful. The Sisters? Nishima had no contact with them—no contact with them at all! Opening her eyes, Nishima forced herself to focus.

“Did this Sister…did she explain what she meant by this, Hara?” Lady Nishima asked evenly.

“‘Danced secretly,’ were her words, Lady Nishima. Is that not strange?”

Nishima shrugged with an ease she did not feel. “Was there more?”

“The Sister also asked about Jaku Katta-sum; if he came here often and if
I had heard the story of the Bla…of Jaku Katta-sum saving Lord Shonto. Of course I had, it was common knowledge throughout the capital. I told her that Lord Shonto had honored the general with a gift from his private garden.” The maid kept her eyes cast down. “That is all, Lady Nishima.”

“Are you certain, Hara?”

The maid closed her eyes, hesitating and then nodded.

“Hara?”

“Please, my lady…” A tear appeared at the corner of each eye.

“You must tell me,” Nishima said softly.

“Yes, my lady. The senior Sister wanted to know if you had…lovers.” She whispered the word, her eyes still closed and her face distorted by the effort to hold back her tears.

“I see.”

“She seemed to suggest that it would not be uncommon…that it would be…as Lord Shonto was not your blood father, that…”

Nishima felt the sting of her hand striking the maid’s face before she realized what she had done. The young woman lay stretched out on the floor like a pile of scattered clothes. She did not move.

Nishima froze, horrified. She looked at her hand which she held away from her as though it were something dangerous, something not part of her.

Oh, Satake-sum, you taught me too well and too little. She slid across the grass mats to the unconscious maid and felt for a heartbeat. Yes, it was there, thank Botahara! Rising to her feet, Nishima slid the shoji aside and was relieved to find the hall empty. Rohku Saicha should be told of this, she thought. But what of these questions? Dancing secretly! How would she explain that?

Nishima closed the screen quietly. Why were the Sisters suddenly interested in her? I am Shonto, she thought, that is reason enough. But still, the Sisters? She shook her head. What will I tell Captain Rohku? She leaned her forehead against the shoji’s wooden frame. Behind her the maid stirred and moaned softly.

Nishima crossed the room and took the young woman’s head in her lap.

“Hara?” she said quietly.

“Lady Nishima?” the maid mumbled. “What…?”

“Shh. You are unhurt. Be still now.”

“But what happened?” The woman tried to sit up, but Nishima held her gently.

“I don’t know, Hara. Be still. Don’t struggle.”

“But I was struck, my lady. I…it felt as though I were struck. May Botahara protect me. What happened?” She began to weep softly.

“Shh, my child. I don’t know, it…it was terrible.” Nishima fought her own tears. “Take long breaths, like this. Do as I do.” Nishima led her through a simple breathing exercise, all the while stroking the young woman’s brow.

“There, now, is that not better?”

The maid nodded. “Thank you, my lady. The gods are angry with me. I don’t know what I shall do!”

“There are ways to appease the gods. Of course there are.” Nishima thought for a second. “You must burn incense at the Seven Shrines and take a vow of silence for one year. You will be forgiven, but you must observe these things and not falter.”

Hara nodded. “Thank you, my lady. I am not worthy of your attention.”

“Shh. Tomorrow you will begin your vow of silence. The gods will forgive you, Hara.”

“I pity the enemies of our lord, my lady.”

Nishima nodded. “Yes,” she said in a whisper. “Yes.”

After a few moments the maid was able to stand without help, and when Nishima was sure she could manage, the woman left quietly. “Not a word of this,” Nishima said as the maid left and she received a bow in answer.

When she was alone again, Nishima sat with her fingers pressed to her eyes. I struck someone! I struck her in anger. She shook her head in disbelief. What a terrible, terrible thing. It was this situation, Nishima told herself, it must be. Caught in the city while her uncle went off to the north without knowledge of things that put him in great danger. And this madness for an Imperial Guardsman! She buried her face in her hands. It was all more than she could bear.

Closing her eyes, Nishima began a long prayer for forgiveness, and felt somewhat better. I am Shonto, she told herself, and forced a calmness over her fears and confusion. My lord’s life may depend on my ability to make clear decisions. Tranquillity of purpose, she heard Brother Satake say. Tranquillity of purpose.

We will survive, Nishima told herself, only if our course of action comes from the very center of a pure and tranquil spirit. She composed herself then and again practiced a breathing exercise to bring a stillness to her spirit.
When she was done, she opened her eyes and looked around as though she had been transported to a new place and she was seeing it for the first time.

Daylight could be seen filtering through the screens and Nishima was glad. She leaned forward and blew out the lamp. It was then that she remembered the letter. She took it up—a tiny branch of slip-maple attached to a letter of deep purple mulberry paper.

It was folded in the most conventional manner, and not particularly elegantly. This cannot be from Lady Okara, Nishima thought, it is not possible. Spreading out the paper she took a second to recognize the hand. Katta-sum! He had taken his time, she thought, but then, considering his literary abilities, she was not surprised.

Moving to the outside screen, Lady Nishima opened it a crack and the cold air of morning seemed to flood in like water into a lock.

There is much to say, my lady.

Nishima read the poem through again. It was much better than she would have expected. Was it possible Jaku did not intend the double meaning of his final line? No, it was too obvious, certainly it was intentional.

The reference to Seh unsettled Nishima. Oh, Uncle, she thought, will the gods strike your enemies as Hara thought they had tonight?

She smoothed the paper on the small table, recalling the kiss she had allowed Jaku. The memory was almost as thrilling as she had found the kiss itself.

Nishima pushed the screen closed. This is foolish, she told herself. I have much to do. Decisions to make! When will I receive an answer from Lady Okara? It is only sunrise, Nishima told herself, I am too impatient.

Taking up a resin stick, she began to rub her inkstone rhythmically. I must answer Katta-sum, she thought, it will fill the time. But I must not rush the answer back to him, it is important that he not be overconfident. From
an envelope she chose a piece of pale green paper, the color of fall grains, and a reminder of spring.

She wet her brush and began:

Perhaps it is loyalty we should speak of.

There, she thought, blowing gently on the fresh ink. She held the paper up to the light and examined the writing. It was not the work of Brother Satake, but he would have approved. Certainly it would have the desired effect on the impetuous Katta—I am from a different station in life, my handsome general, mark this well.

She laid the poem carefully on the table and began to fold the fine paper, her long fingers seeming to have knowledge independent of her mind. It was done in a second, but she knew it would take Jaku Katta a few minutes to find the key to unfolding it.

She set the letter aside to allow herself time to consider what should accompany it. Perhaps a leaf of laughing poplar? She would see.

Nishima rang a small gong on her writing desk and a maid appeared almost without sound. “I wish to see Lady Kento and I will have my smaller meal.”

Lady Kento, Nishima’s senior lady-in-waiting, arrived almost immediately. Senior in this case was a relative term, Kento was only three years older than her young mistress. Nishima had an obvious partiality to Lady Kento which caused a certain amount of jealousy among the other ladies-in-waiting. But it couldn’t be helped; Kento was simply more joyous than the others as well as being brighter. It was true that others surpassed her in many ways, Lady Jusha was a superb yara player, and the young Lady Shishika was never wrong in her advice on matters of ceremony and propriety, but they were not really close to their mistress. Their souls were not akin to hers.

The tiny Lady Kento knelt and bowed, her attractive round face beaming even though it was composed in the most serious manner.

“Will you join me for cha, Kento-sum?”

“I would be honored,” she answered as though it wasn’t an established morning ritual.

“Kento-sum, before we go on to other matters, I must tell you of something I have learned. I have found that Hara has been gossiping, not in a harmful way, but this is not acceptable.”

“I will speak to her at once, my lady.”

“It is not necessary. I have already spoken with her. But I want her sent to the country. She could be given a position that is not sensitive. I don’t imagine that she would do this again, but I will not take the chance. Hara has taken a vow of silence for a year. For someone with her weakness that will be punishment enough.”

“I will see this done as you wish.”

Nishima nodded. A servant brought cha and a light meal for one and then was dismissed before she could kneel nearby, ready to serve.

“Kento-sum, I need your assistance in a delicate matter.”

“I am your servant, my lady.”

“I must leave the capital very soon, perhaps even tomorrow. Of course, I have been honored by the Emperor with an Imperial Patronage so it would be impossible for me to leave without gravely insulting the Son of Heaven. Nonetheless, I must go. It will be up to you to preserve the appearance that I am still in residence here. It will not be easy and naturally I don’t expect such a charade to go far without being uncovered. But I must have five days. Ten, if Botahara will allow it. Is this clear?”

“It is, Lady Nishima.” Lady Kento offered her mistress a steaming cloth and then ladled cha into bowls.

Lady Nishima wiped her hands and face, realizing suddenly that she had not yet slept and still wore the formal robes she had worn to the palace. I become more like my lord each day—caught up in the world around me, not sleeping, forgetting meals. It is the way of our House.

“There is more, Kento-sum. I have written to Lady Okara. This ruse can hardly be accomplished without her cooperation, though I am asking more of her than I should ever presume to ask.” She sighed. “I have no choice. I must go to Seh, I cannot tell you why. You must trust me. Lady Okara will certainly think her friendship has been misplaced, but it should appear that the Lady Nishima still visits the great painter. I will understand if she refuses to become involved, but if she will not help me then your task will be more difficult, if not impossible.”

“Perhaps the lady’s friendship with your esteemed father will be of help in this matter.”

“Oh, yes. I presume on that, too. It will be hard for her not to say yes, though it will not be what her heart desires.”

“Excuse me, my lady, but it is as Brother Satake always said: Each name brings its own obligations.”

A fleeting smile crossed Nishima’s face. “You know me too well, Kento-sum. And I consider it very unfair of you to quote my mentor.” Nishima smiled again and turned her attention to her food but gave up the pretense of eating in a few seconds.

“Is the preparation not to your liking, my lady?”

“No, Kento-sum, it is good, really,” she said, but pushed the tray away from her all the same. “There will be another problem.” Lady Nishima blushed ever so slightly. “I have been corresponding with the Imperial Guardsman, Jaku Katta. It is important that all of his letters are answered. He is hardly a scholar, Kento-sum, so you need not worry about the quality of the poetry, but it must be obscure, and not too discouraging. The Black Tiger may yet have a place in our lord’s plans. Can Shishika-sum copy my hand?”

“I’m sure she can approximate it, Lady Nishima, though your hand is very distinctive.”

“No matter, if she can come close, it will be adequate. I will copy out all of the poems we have exchanged so you can refer to them and Shishika-sum can examine my hand.”

“Have you discussed these arrangements with Rohku Saicha, Lady Nishima?”

Nishima shook her head. “No. I need time to consider how best to approach him.”

“He has been in an uproar since the incident with the Imperial Guards, my lady. The men at every gate have orders to detain you if you attempt to leave without his express permission.”

“He has given orders to detain me?” Outrage was not masked in Nishima’s voice.

“Excuse me, my lady. I should have told you sooner, but I did not wish to precipitate difficulties unnecessarily.” The woman bowed low.