The Initiate Brother Duology (38 page)

“Lord Shonto is an Imperial Governor; he may go where he pleases.”

“Ah. Then I have misunderstood. I was under the impression that the Hajiwara…
hindered
Lord Shonto in his progress north.”

Kamu touched his hand to his chin, considering these words carefully. “Hindered would seem a good description, Lord Butto, yes, but my lord is a most resourceful man and has found a way out of this predicament.”

“This I am most happy to hear. Will he go on his way soon?”

“Not,” Kamu said, “until he has dealt with this situation to his satisfaction.”

“May I ask how Lord Shonto will accomplish this? I have lived beside Denji Gorge all of my life, and I confess I don’t know how this could be done.”

Kamu folded his hand in his lap. “It has been said that if one separates true lovers, they will find a way to surmount all difficulties that hold them apart. My lord is like this—there is no difficulty he cannot surmount.”

The young man broke into a boyish smile. “The Butto are fortunate to have such a friend. My father is a loyal subject of the Emperor and willing to help his delegates in any way. Is there some specific task the Butto could perform that I may discuss with my father?”

“It is kind of you to enquire. There is something you could do which would be a great service to the Son of Heaven….”

T
HE CHAIR HOJO Masakada rode in had once belonged to Chakao Isha, a famous general of the Dono Dynasty. Chakao Isha had been a forebear of the House of Hajiwara, so it was a great honor that they carried the emissary of Lord Shonto in such state.

Hojo Masakada thought it unfortunate that the Isha blood had been wed to, and finally found its end in, this House. He looked around at the green-liveried Hajiwara guards that accompanied him and could not tell that they were not farmers in costume.

They are a minor House in a small province, he told himself, and little different from any other in the same position. I must not forget that, at the moment, they have power over us.

The procession proceeded along a narrow road that led under long rows of peach trees. The sun cast the shadows of the almost bare, twisted branches onto the white gravel of the road, so that it appeared his bearers walked through a dark and tangled pattern.

Behind General Hojo came thirty Shonto guards in full armor and the blue livery of their House. It was a small retinue for such an occasion, but it had been calculated to appear so—an admission of the circumstances in which the Shonto found themselves.

Walls appeared at the end of the corridor of trees, the walls of a fortress, granite, like the walls that formed the famous gorge. As he drew closer, the general could see that it was a typical fortified dwelling of the country type, surrounded by a wide moat—though it appeared that this moat was not
purely decorative. Unlike most other dwellings of its kind, this one was accessible only by drawbridge. It said much when a lord’s home, only seven days’ journey from the capital, had need of such defenses.

Hajiwara guards knelt in rows along either side of the wooden bridge as the procession passed, bowing carefully. The general wondered if the description he had read of Lord Hajiwara Harita would match the man he was about to meet. Shonto intelligence was seldom wrong, but when it came to men, Hojo liked to make his own assessments.

The Hajiwara steward received the Shonto emissary in the most formal manner. “General Hojo, my lord welcomes you to his house. His family is honored to receive you. Do you wish to refresh yourself before your audience?”

Audience?
Hojo asked himself. Does this country lord think he sits on a throne? “I am honored that your lord receives me. The journey has been short, and I do not wish to detain your lord. If it is convenient, I would meet with him as soon as possible.”

The steward bowed and the Shonto general was led up a wide flight of stone steps and through a gate. The garden they entered was of the middle Botahist period, sparsely planted, with large expanses of raked gravel broken by careful arrangements of stones—a type of garden once thought to be ideal for meditation. Behind a sculpted pine tree was a small summerhouse, and, as they rounded it, General Hojo could see, sitting inside, the large figure of the Hajiwara Lord. Hojo Masakada bowed to him and in return received a nod.

So it begins, the general thought, and entered the summerhouse.

The lord who sat before him had seen perhaps thirty-five summers, yet his face was lined like a much older man’s. His hands, too, seemed to show more age—the large, tanned hands of a veteran campaigner. Yet, in contrast to this, he wore a robe of the latest and most elaborate fashion which, General Hojo thought, looked entirely out of place on the man’s immense frame.

The lord welcomed him in a slow, deep tone, enquiring into the health of Lord Shonto. Cha was served and the two warriors discussed the unseasonal weather and the hunting in Itsa Province.

When the cha was gone, and the stories of hunting exhausted, Lord Hajiwara said, “I look forward to a meeting with Lord Shonto upon his recovery. I’m sure it is out of the question to move him while he is ill.”

“My lord has instructed me to discuss this with you, Sire. He feels the
need to continue on his way as soon as possible. He has a duty to the Emperor that cannot be ignored.”

“Lord Shonto must not let duty endanger his health. It would be better for the people of Seh if their new governor would arrive with all of his strength. I’m sure the Son of Heaven would agree. Let us not speak of it any more.”

The general almost smiled at this. Yes, my friend, he thought, you will have few surprises for us. “I am sure my liege-lord will be most grateful for your concern. He, too, has expressed concern for your own position, Lord Hajiwara.”

The lord raised his eyebrows. “Pardon me, General—
my position?
”

“Your military situation, Sire. All of your efforts brought to a standstill, as they have been.”

“Perhaps Lord Shonto is not truly aware of the situation, General, having only recently come to Itsa,” the lord said, mustering all possible dignity.

Immediately, Hojo looked contrite. “I’m certain that is the case, Lord Hajiwara. It is never good to listen to the gossip around the Imperial Palace. I’m sure your position is not understood in the capital.”

“They speak of my position in the capital?” The large man flushed now.

“Sire, I’m sorry to have mentioned it. You know the gossip that one hears from idle courtiers and Imperial functionaries,” the general paused, “and ministers and generals.”

The lord’s eyes went wide. “What is it they say, General Hojo?”

“Pardon me, Sire, I do not believe what they say for a moment but…in the capital they say you are being mastered by a boy.”

“What!”
The lord wheeled on his guest, knocking the cups from the table. “Who dares say this? Who?”

The general began picking up the cha service hurriedly, all the while shaking his head. “Please Sire, pay no attention to this. These Imperial Guards know nothing of what happens in the provinces, truly.”

The lord smashed his fist on the table. “Guardsmen! How dare they speak thus of me!”

Hojo observed every minute detail of the lord’s reaction, just as Lord Shonto had instructed him. Hajiwara had responded to the mention of Imperial Guards just as Shonto had thought he would. Interesting.

“It is a despicable situation, Lord Hajiwara, and one my lord is equally offended by. So offended, in fact, that he has instructed me to relate a proposal that he believes would change your position entirely.”

The lord sat upright, straightening his robe. “I do not need Lord Shonto’s assistance.” But then Hojo’s words seemed to register. “What do you mean,
change my position?
”

“Well, if I have not been misinformed, have not the Butto established a fortress on your own fief, a fortress that has been there for several years? Has not your offensive been thwarted—for some time now, I believe. As a warrior, of course, I understand that these are only appearances, but others who are less well trained….” The general gestured with an open hand. “Lord Shonto was only hoping to assist in a small way in your efforts against the arrogant Butto. Our passage through the Butto locks was hardly arranged with the honor due to an Imperial Governor! I see that it must be a constant insult to have to deal with this House headed by a boy.”

“Huh! This will not continue. The Hajiwara will triumph!”

“I’m certain that is true, Sire. The information Lord Shonto had thought to offer you would probably not change the final outcome.” The general shrugged.

“But I do not wish to offend the great lord,” Hajiwara said warmly, “if he has seen fit to send you with advice, then I would not think of ignoring it.”

Hojo paused, thinking a long time before answering. “It is more than advice, Lord Hajiwara. Lord Shonto has intelligence that may prove of great benefit to you.”

The lord assumed a posture of attentiveness. “Ah. The Shonto are known for their wisdom. I would be honored to hear Lord Shonto’s words.”

The general swept a drop of cha from the table absentmindedly. “If you were to know a time when Butto Joda was inspecting his defenses before the fortifications you have established on the Butto fief, would this be information you would deem useful?”

“
Indeed,
I believe it would. Do you know when this will happen?”

“We shall, Lord Hajiwara, we shall.” The general regarded his companion closely.

“I see.”

Neither man spoke, each hoping for the other to break the silence.

Finally, the Shonto general took the initiative. “Perhaps you should consider whether such information is of use to you, Sire,” Hojo said, smiling and sitting back. He looked around him as though searching for his guard.

“This information, would it also include troop strengths and the number of Lord Butto’s personal guard?”

“Of course.”

“I see.” The lord was deep in thought now.

General Hojo interrupted him, pressing, “This would be valuable knowledge, yeh?”

“It could be, General, it could be.”

“Some would be willing to pay a great price for such information.”

The lord seemed to shake himself out of his thoughts. “What you say is true, if the information were to prove correct.”

“Of course, information from Lord Shonto would be above suspicion?”

“Certainly. But many things may happen between the time the information is received and the time it is to be acted upon.”

“Ah. It would be best, then, if there could be mutual assurance in this matter, so that there will be no misunderstandings.”

“How would this be arranged, General?”

“Half of our fleet would lock through upon receiving the information. The other half would lock through upon the fall of Butto Joda, providing he does not escape through a military error.”

“I see.” The lord rubbed his forehead. “For this to be truly effective, Lord Shonto must not leave the gorge until after the Butto Lord has fallen.”

“It was assumed that this would be the case. His troops will stay with him, of course.”

“Certainly.”

“Except for those who accompany you against Butto Joda, those who will act as your personal guard.”

The lord looked at Hojo in disbelief. “This cannot be, General! I have my own guard. I go nowhere without them.”

General Hojo pressed his palms together, touching the fingers to his chin. “Despite your doubts, I think you should consider our proposal. It may prove very beneficial—your name will again be spoken with respect at court. The thorn will finally be drawn from your side. Speak of it with your advisors, with your kin. But do not wait too long, Lord, or the opportunity will be gone.” He opened his hands to Lord Hajiwara, empty hands.

I
T WAS NOT an auspicious night, the night of the first-quarter moon. Dark, starless, clouded. A cold wind swept down Denji Gorge from the north, pushing the first sting of winter before it.

Shuyun ignored the chill of the wind, which tore at him as he clung to the rigging of the river junk. The ropes bit into his hands and feet, even through the strips of cotton he had wrapped so carefully around them.