Blade of the Samurai: A Shinobi Mystery (Shinobi Mysteries) (28 page)

“He’s too old to pass without documentation,” Hiro said.

Kazu smiled. “His only family died in a fire. Their documentation burned. As a courtesy, I’m escorting the boy to his relatives at Iga.” He shrugged. “That and a gold koban should solve any problems. He won’t be wearing his swords on the road, and no one cares very much about a boy.”

Hiro laid a hand on Kazu’s shoulder. “Travel safely. And tell Mother our new brother is entirely your fault—but that I welcome him to the family nonetheless.”

Kazu chuckled. “I’ll send word of our arrival when we get there.” The smile left his face and voice. “Please tell Tomiko I’m sorry I had to go.”

“If I can.”

Kazu nodded. “Don’t kill the priest.”

Hiro frowned. “Don’t kill yourself.”

“I’ve done all right so far.” Kazu patted Gato, stood, and made his way to the door.

Hiro followed.

As Kazu and Ichiro left, Hiro stood on the veranda and listened to the muffled crunch of their feet on the gravel path. The neighbor’s dog began barking as the boy and the shinobi reached the street. Ichiro startled, but Kazu put a reassuring hand on the youngster’s shoulder and together they hurried off down the darkened road.

Clouds drifted across the heavens, blocking out the stars and moon. The air held the damp-earth smell of grass and trees still wet with rain.

Hiro inhaled deeply, enjoying the freshness and the charge in the air that promised a lightning storm by morning. He stood on the veranda and considered the past few days. Father Mateo’s hands were healing and with proper care would avoid infection. Kazu and Ichiro were closer to safety with every step.

Hisahide would be a dangerous shogun, but probably no worse than the one before him.

A warlord was a warlord, after all.

A flash of lightning lit the sky. Moments later, thunder cracked. Raindrops pattered on the roof like tiny paws. The sound made Hiro think of Gato, sound asleep at the end of the futon quilt.

The shinobi yawned. Like the cat, he needed to sleep while he had the chance.

With a satisfied smile, he turned and went inside.

Glossary of Japanese Terms

B

bakufu
:
Literally, “tent government.” Another name for the shogunate and the shogun’s administration.

bokken
:
A wooden practice sword, used for sparring or solo weapons practice.

Bushido
:
Literally, “the way of the warrior.” The samurai moral code, which emphasized loyalty, frugality, and personal honor.

C

chogin
:
a type of silver coin, used as currency in medieval Japan.

chonmage
:
The traditional hairstyle of adult samurai males. After shaving the pate, the remaining hair was oiled and tied in a tail, which was then folded back and forth on top of the head.

D

daimyo
:
A samurai lord, usually the ruler of a province or the head of a samurai clan.

d
ō
shin
:
The medieval Japanese equivalent of a beat cop or policeman.

F

futon
:
A thin padded mattress, small and pliable enough to be folded and stored out of sight during the day.

G

genpuku
:
A traditional samurai coming-of-age ceremony, after which a boy was allowed to wear swords and take on the responsibilities of an adult.

geta
:
Traditional Japanese sandals (resembling flip-flops) with a raised wooden base and fabric thongs that wrap around the wearer’s big toe.

gyokuro
:
Literally, “jewel dew.” A high-quality green tea that is grown in the shade rather than in the sun.

H

hakama
:
Loose, pleated pants worn over a kimono or beneath a tunic or surcoat.

I

ichibancha
:
Literally, “first-picked tea.” Tea leaves picked in April or early May, during the first picking of the season.
Ichibancha
is considered the highest quality, and most flavorful, kind of tea.

inkan
:
A personal seal, used in place of a signature on official documents.

J

jitte
:
A long wooden or metal nightstick with a forward-pointing hook at the top of the hand grip; carried by
d
ō
shin
as both a weapon and a symbol of office.

K

kami
:
The Japanese word for “god” or “divine spirit”; used to describe gods, the spirits inhabiting natural objects, and certain natural forces of divine origin.

kanzashi
:
A type of hair pin worn by women in medieval Japan.

kata
:
Literally, “form(s).” A detailed pattern or set of movements used to practice martial skills and combat techniques, performed either with or without a weapon.

katana
:
The longer of the two swords worn by a samurai. (The shorter one is the
wakizashi.
)

kimono
:
Literally, “a thing to wear.” A full-length wraparound robe traditionally worn by Japanese people of all ages and genders.

koban
:
A gold coin which came into widespread use in Japan during the later medieval period.

komus
ō
:
A mendicant monk of the Fuke school of Zen Buddhism.

kunoichi
:
A female
shinobi
.

M

maiko
:
A novice or apprentice entertainer who has not yet earned the title or rank of geisha.

mempo
:
An armored mask that covers the wearer’s face, with holes for the eyes and mouth.

miso
:
A traditional Japanese food paste made from fermented soybeans (or, sometimes, rice or barley).

mon
:
An emblem or crest used to identify a Japanese family or clan.

N

noren
:
A traditional Japanese doorway hanging, with a slit cut up the center to permit passage.

O

obi
:
A wide sash wrapped around the waist to hold a kimono closed, worn by people of all ages and genders.

oe
:
The large central living space in a Japanese home, which features a sunken hearth and often serves as a combination of kitchen, reception room, and living space.

otosan
:
Father.

P

Pontocho
:
One of Kyoto’s
hanamachi
(geisha and courtesan) districts, containing geisha houses, teahouses, brothels, restaurants, and similar businesses.

R

ronin
:
A masterless samurai.

ryu
:
Literally, “school.”
Shinobi
clans used this term as a combination identifier and association name. (Hattori Hiro is a member of the Iga
ryu
.)

S

sake
(also
saké
):
An alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice.

-sama
:
A suffix used to show even higher respect than
-san
.

samurai
:
A member of the medieval Japanese nobility, the warrior caste that formed the highest-ranking social class.

-san
:
A suffix used to show respect.

seppuku
:
A form of Japanese ritual suicide by disembowelment, originally used only by samurai.

shakuhachi
:
A type of flute, normally made from bamboo and blown from the end.
Shinobi
sometimes concealed weapons inside flutes or other benign objects.

shinobi
:
Literally, “shadowed person.”
Shinobi
is the Japanese pronunciation of the characters that many Westerners pronounce “ninja.” (“Ninja” is based on a Chinese pronunciation.)

Shinto
:
The indigenous spirituality or religion of Japan, sometimes also called
kami-no-michi
.

shogun
:
The military dictator and commander who acted as de facto ruler of medieval Japan.

shogunate
(also
bakufu
):
A name for the shogun’s government or the compound where the shogun lived.

shoji
:
A sliding door, usually consisting of a wooden frame with oiled paper panels.

shuriken
:
An easily concealed, palm-sized weapon made of metal, often shaped like a cross or star, that
shinobi
used for throwing or as a handheld weapon in close combat.

T

tabi
:
An ankle-length Japanese sock with a separation between the big toe and other toes to facilitate the use of sandals and other traditional Japanese footwear.

tanto
:
A fixed-blade dagger with a single or double-edged blade measuring 6–12 inches (15–30 cm) in length.

tatami
:
A traditional Japanese mat-style floor covering made in standard sizes, with the length measuring exactly twice its width. Tatami usually contained a straw core covered with grass or rushes.

tengu
:
A supernatural demon (“monster-spirit”) from Japanese folklore, often depicted as a human-avian hybrid or with a long, hooked nose reminiscent of a beak.

tokonoma
:
A decorative alcove or recessed space set into the wall of a Japanese room. The tokonoma typically held a piece of art, a flower arrangement, or a hanging scroll.

torii
:
A traditional, stylized Japanese gate most commonly found at the entrance to Shinto shrines.

W

wakizashi
:
The shorter of the two swords worn by a samurai. (The longer one is the katana.)

For additional cultural information, expanded definitions, and author’s notes, visit
www.susanspann.com
.

ALSO BY SUSAN SPANN

Claws of the Cat

About the Author

SUSAN SPANN is a transactional attorney focusing on publishing law and a former law school professor. She has a deep interest in Asian culture and has studied Mandarin and Japanese. Her hobbies include Asian cooking, fencing, knife and
shuriken
throwing, traditional archery, martial arts, rock climbing, and horseback riding. Susan keeps a marine aquarium where she raises seahorses and rare corals. Spann is a member of the Historical Novel Society. She lives in Northern California with her family. Visit her Web site at
www.susanspann.com
.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

A THOMAS DUNNE BOOK FOR MINOTAUR BOOKS.

An imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group.

BLADE OF THE SAMURAI.
Copyright © 2014 by Susan Spann. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

www.thomasdunnebooks.com

www.minotaurbooks.com

Cover design by David Baldeosingh Rotstein

Cover photograph by Lisa Adams

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The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:

Spann, Susan.

     Blade of the samurai: a Shinobi mystery / Susan Spann. — First edition.

        p. cm. — (; 2)

     ISBN 978-1-250-02705-4 (hardcover)

     ISBN 978-1-250-02704-7 (e-book)

  1.  Ninja—Fiction.   2.  Samurai—Fiction.  3.  Murder—Investigation—Fiction.   I.  Title.

     PS3619.P3436B53 2014

     813'.6—dc23

2014008766

e-ISBN 9781250027047

First Edition: July 2014