The Scarlet Kimono (Choc Lit) (29 page)

‘That’s not all, however,’ Taro added. ‘Reiko is returning for the occasion. I’ve had to ask for special permission from the
Shogun
, as she insisted she wanted to be here to see her family.’

‘So you get to see your son for a while. That’s good, isn’t it?’ Hannah didn’t understand why Taro looked so gloomy. He ought to be pleased, but he shook his head.

‘No, Ichiro has to stay behind. The
Shogun
wouldn’t let Reiko come otherwise. He’s in safe hands, though. My aunt is still with him and she sends me regular reports.’

‘Oh, I see. Well, never mind, you’ll see him soon.’

‘Yes, I’ll make sure of it.’

‘May I sit behind a screen in the Great Hall when they arrive? I would like to see the Lady Reiko’s father and his retinue.’

‘I don’t see why not. You could even sit to one side of the dais to watch. As my official consort you have a right to be there if it’s my wish.’ Taro smiled. ‘And I should like to see Lord Takaki’s face when he catches sight of your hair.’

‘Oh, if it’s a jester you want, I’m not sure I am willing to come.’ Hannah made a face. ‘I was only curious.’

He pulled her close. ‘You know very well it’s not in the capacity of jester that I desire you.’

He proceeded to convince her of this most thoroughly.

The lord Takaki was a middle-aged man with a rather large belly and not very much hair, but he was an imposing sight nonetheless. Hannah had been told to sit quietly to one side of the dais as Taro had said. She was dressed in the scarlet
kimono
to show the Lady Reiko her intended insult hadn’t bothered her, and also, she had to admit, perhaps with the intention of shocking Lord Takaki a little.

The effect she had on him was gratifying indeed. Lady Reiko shot Hannah a malevolent glare as Lord Takaki goggled at the latter for several minutes before recollecting that he was supposed to greet his daughter.

‘
Chikusho!
’ he exclaimed and said none too quietly, ‘Who on earth is that ugly creature? And is she wearing …?’

‘This, my lord, is my chief consort, the foreign Lady Hannah, wearing a
kimono
that was a gift from your daughter,’ Taro told him, a slight frown on his face. It obviously hadn’t been his intention that Hannah should be insulted. Hannah herself remained serene, however, her face showing no expression. She really couldn’t blame the man for thinking her ugly in this outfit when she knew it was the truth. And he’d obviously recognised the
kimono
as well, which she hadn’t reckoned on.

‘Hmph.’ Lord Takaki turned to his daughter after a last glance at Hannah and a puzzled look at his son-in-law, as if he wondered whether the man had taken leave of his senses.

There followed formal greetings and refreshments, and Hannah sat patiently without moving, listening to the conversation without taking part. She was supposed to keep her gaze lowered, but couldn’t resist the odd peep. Whenever possible she let her eyes roam around the room. She noted the large number of retainers present from both clans, all dressed in the colours of their respective lords. It was an awe-inspiring sight and Hannah was glad she’d had this opportunity to witness it first hand.

As their lordships stood up at last and the visitors prepared to retire to their rooms, an ominous, rumbling noise was heard. The Great Hall suddenly began to shake. Several of the ladies let out little shrieks, and there was swearing from the men. Some people lurched to their feet and began to run from the room, fighting to reach the doors first. Others stood irresolute, as if they couldn’t decide on a course of action or were petrified into immobility.

Hannah looked around in confusion. ‘What’s going on?’ she asked one of the guards nearby.

‘Earthquake, my lady. You must find shelter. Come, this way.’

Taro’s voice rang out at his most imperious, ordering everyone to stay calm and to leave in an orderly fashion. ‘
Hayaku!
Make haste,’ he shouted. Hannah turned to look and saw people being hustled through a doorway. Taro himself stayed back to make sure everyone else was safe first.

The guard urged Hannah to hurry towards the nearest door, but before she could follow him the floor shook even more violently and she fell to the ground. She heard a loud crack and looked up to see a beam falling towards her. She was sure her last moment had come, and knew there was no way she could move fast enough to get out of the way even if she’d been able to move, which she couldn’t.

‘
Akai?
’ She heard Taro call out to her and in the next instant two strong arms scooped her up and she felt the pair of them lurching sideways. They fell to the floor, with him taking the brunt of the impact, and landed in a tangle only inches from the spot where the beam crashed down. Hannah almost sobbed with relief.

Taro kept his body over hers as a shield until the tremors of the earthquake died down, then sat up. ‘Are you unharmed?’ he said hoarsely, running his hands over her body to check for any damage.

‘Yes, yes I think so.’ She glanced around the hall, taking in the full extent of what had happened.

Part of the ceiling had collapsed and the beam which had almost killed Hannah wasn’t the only one to have come crashing down. There were screams of agony and pleas for help ringing out. The feelings of vulnerability she experienced were similar to those she’d had on board the ship. She had felt small and insignificant when they were out in the middle of the vast ocean, being buffeted by storms. In each case, humans were completely at the mercy of nature and were absolutely helpless against such forces. Whether they survived or not was simply down to luck. No matter how skilled they may be, their efforts would avail them nothing. It was as if the ship and the castle were tiny toys being subjected to the temper tantrum of a giant. Hannah and the others were nothing but specks of dust to be discarded at will. She shuddered and scrambled to her feet, wanting to help.

Taro got to his feet as well to survey the damage, which wasn’t as extensive as it might have been. He ascertained that his father-in-law and Reiko were unharmed and began to issue orders to those of his retainers who remained in the hall and who were able to help the wounded.

Hannah staggered outside, supporting an elderly man who seemed to be mostly shocked. In the courtyard she immediately encountered the blazing gaze of the Lady Reiko. The hatred she read in the depths of the other woman’s eyes was almost tangible. Belatedly Hannah realised that Taro should probably have been concerned about Reiko and his guests in the first instance and not run to his consort. She closed her eyes and turned away. This was all wrong.

It was time to face facts.
I can’t remain here, my position is untenable!
Reiko would no doubt soon become his wife, even if he didn’t really want her. He was pragmatic enough to marry for convenience, and who could be more convenient than his former wife’s sister? It was the perfect solution for everyone concerned, except Hannah. No matter what Taro said, Hannah didn’t feel comfortable sharing him with other women. It wasn’t her way and never would be. There was only one thing to do, even if it would break her heart.

Surely hearts healed eventually? She resolved to speak to Taro as soon as she could.

Chapter Thirty-Four

The hand that came out of the darkness and clamped itself over Hannah’s mouth was dry, calloused and ice cold. She tried to fight her assailant, but just like the last time she was soon pinned to the mattress unable to move so much as a muscle.

It must be a nightmare, she decided. Surely a person couldn’t experience the same thing twice in such a short space of time? Besides, the castle was so well guarded no
ninja
could possibly enter it without being spotted even if they could somehow scale the steep walls, supposedly an impossible feat. Hannah braced herself and waited. Soon, she would wake up and all would be normal.

She was wrong and it wasn’t a bad dream at all.

Her body was turned on its side and her hands quickly and efficiently bound behind her. A rag was stuffed into her mouth and a piece of material tied over it. Then she was once again hefted onto someone’s shoulders and manhandled out into the darkness of the garden.

It was pitch black. No moon or stars shone through the thick clouds and her attackers didn’t make a sound as they hustled along a path. They stopped every so often to take turns at carrying her, thereby making sure they moved with all speed. Hannah concentrated on trying to breathe so she wouldn’t faint, and she tried to get her bearings. Her sense of direction told her they seemed to be moving towards the wall farthest away from the back of the castle, but she couldn’t be sure. A small gate, which Hannah hadn’t known existed, materialised in front of them, illuminated by the faint light from a lantern. As if by magic, it was opened from the outside.

Hannah swore inwardly. Where were the guards? There should have been several of them, unless this was a secret entrance of some sort. The abductors must have had help from inside the castle and no trace of them would ever be found. Nor of her.
Heaven help me!
Where were they taking her? What were they going to do to her? But it was probably best not to speculate.

There was a moat and a drawbridge on the other side of the gate. The moon had made a half-hearted appearance by now and Hannah could see the dull glitter of the water. The drawbridge had been pulled up, but a small boat was tethered near the gate and she was dumped unceremoniously into the stern, jarring her ankle in the process. The boat was quickly rowed to the other side, then set adrift on the moat, while one of the men picked Hannah up once more.

Her captors had horses waiting and she was flung across the saddle, then lifted to sit in front of the man as they galloped off at great speed. She couldn’t see anything as the darkness of a forest swallowed them, but presumably the abductors knew where they were going since they never once stopped to get their bearings.

It was to be one of the longest nights in Hannah’s life.

‘My lord! Oh, my lord, forgive me …’

It was just after dawn and Taro had been on his way to the courtyard to go hawking with his father-in-law. Hannah’s serving woman Yukiko suddenly came rushing towards him, barefoot and with her hair hanging down her back. He was surprised she would seek him out, especially so early and in such a state. His stomach muscles tightened. ‘
Nani?
’ he snapped. ‘What’s the matter?’

‘It’s Hannah-
san
, my lord, she’s gone. I’m so sorry, it is my fault.’

Taro frowned. ‘Your fault? What do you mean, and where is she gone?’ Had Hannah decided to go back to her own people after all without consulting him? The thought made him furious. He thought they had agreed she would stay at least until the spring.

Yukiko wrung her hands and fell onto her knees in front of him. ‘They came in the night and stole her away and I was powerless to stop them. I had a knife of course, but I wasn’t fast enough and they overpowered us all. Please forgive me, I have failed you. Allow me to commit
seppuku
, my lord.’ She bowed her head and he saw that at the back of her skull the hair was matted with blood.

‘Someone has abducted her? Last night? And you’ve only just raised the alarm?’ He tried to control his voice so as not to shout at the woman. In all fairness, with a wound like that she had probably been unconscious for ages.

‘Y-yes, my lord. The rest of us were all tied up and gagged. We couldn’t free ourselves. A passing servant heard us banging our feet on the floor only a short while ago. I came as soon as I could.’

Taro swore inwardly. ‘Go and have your wound tended to. I will deal with this. And there will be no
seppuku
,’ he ordered sternly.

In a calm but deadly voice which procured instant obedience, he shouted for guards, for the castle and grounds to be searched and for no stone to be left unturned until some clue as to Hannah’s whereabouts was unearthed.

‘I want a trail found and I want it found now!’ Still seething inside, he stalked off towards Reiko’s quarters. His spies had informed him they were fairly sure she was behind the poison attack, although they couldn’t prove anything. He didn’t think Hannah had any other enemies, so it made sense. If anyone had arranged to have Hannah abducted it could only be Reiko. She must have planned it to coincide with her father’s visit, thinking Taro wouldn’t harm her while he had guests. Well, she was mistaken.

Pulling open the flimsy door to her chamber without knocking, he strode in and yanked her out of bed. She flailed her arms and tried to fight him off, but he was much stronger and didn’t loosen his grip. He shook her until her teeth rattled.

‘I’ve had enough of your interference. Where is she?’

‘Who? What are you talking about?’

‘You know very well who I’m talking about. You have gone too far this time, Reiko. Either tell me where they have taken Hannah or you will die this instant.’ He pulled his sword out of his belt and raised it.

She drew herself up, like the haughty noblewoman she was, and stared him in the eye defiantly. ‘Then kill me. I don’t know what you mean and I have done nothing wrong.’

Taro narrowed his eyes at her. She was lying, he was sure of it, but he wouldn’t gain anything by killing her at present. If she was behind the abduction, then she was the only one who could tell him where Hannah had been taken. Making her talk, however, would take time, and he hadn’t a moment to lose. He growled in frustration.

‘You will regret this,’ he hissed at her. ‘Guards!’ he bellowed and a whole company of them came running in an instant, unused to hearing his voice raised like that. ‘See to it that the Lady Reiko doesn’t leave this room. On pain of death, do you hear me? And she’s not to talk to anyone either.’

‘Yes, my lord.’

He glared one last time at her before leaving the room. Although she bowed to him, he still saw the brief look of triumph that passed across her features and it made him even more furious. He controlled the fury, however, and rushed towards the courtyard. He would deal with Reiko later and he promised himself she wouldn’t like it.

‘My lord, a word if you please.’ Kenji, one of the higher-ranking officers in his guard came running towards Taro with a young
ashigaru
in tow.

‘What is it? I’m in a hurry.’

‘Yes, my lord, but this man has information that might help you.’

Taro stopped and turned to look at the man, who bowed as low as he possibly could. ‘Yes? Speak, then.’

‘I have just been to the back gate and I found the guards dead, their throats cut.’

‘I have posted new guards, my lord,’ Kenji interrupted.

‘Very well. Go on, please.’ Taro could see there was more to the story.

‘Well, I had a quick look around and there were no signs of struggle. It must have been a surprise attack. The guards were all still sitting in their correct positions, but the door was wide open. The drawbridge was still up, however, so the abductors must have used a boat. As I was running back along the path I found this, my lord, and I believe it belongs to the Lady Hannah.’ The young man was blushing now and held out his palm. On it glittered a small chain with a tiny golden cross. Taro took it and gritted his teeth. He recognised it as Hannah’s as well, but in any case no one else in the castle would wear such a thing since there were no Christians here.

‘You have done well, thank you. Kenji-
san
, see to it he is rewarded and question everyone else in the castle in case anyone has seen or heard anything. And please inform Lord Takaki that I won’t be able to ride out with him this morning. Convey my apologies. In the meantime I’ll try to pick up the trail by the back gate. It must be possible to follow them. As soon as you have any news for me, send your swiftest messenger after me. We’ll leave markers so he can find us easily.’

‘Yes, my lord. Right away.’

Hannah was extremely uncomfortable since she hadn’t been on a horse for weeks, not since the trip to Edo when at least she’d been in control of the mount herself. Being continuously bumped up and down for hours on end without any stirrups was not an experience she would like to repeat. Her captors had removed her gag at least, which was a small mercy in itself, but her hands were still tied behind her. It made her sit in a very awkward position. Her shoulders ached and she longed to rub them. Towards midday the men stopped at last, however, and she had other thoughts to contend with. Such as, were they going to kill her and if so, how could she prevent them from going through with it?

‘What do you want with me?’ She tried to inject some bravado into her voice, since she knew they would respect her for it. ‘Lord Kumashiro will pay you handsomely for my return, if only you take me back, I promise you.’

‘Silence. We have already been paid generously and whatever you offer us will be doubled.’

She was pulled off the horse’s back and her knees buckled, but the man who had been riding behind her pulled her upright. She sucked in a hissing breath as her shoulders protested against such treatment, then tried to reason with the man again. ‘Please, listen to me, he will pay you much more, if only –’

‘I said silence!’ The other man came up behind her and prodded her in the back with a short sword or knife. She felt the sharpness of it dig into her flesh and recoiled.

‘Walk.’ The man gave her a rough push which nearly sent her flying, but she managed to right herself and began to half walk, half run to escape his prodding.

‘Where? Where are we going?’

‘Nowhere.’

It was obviously no use trying to talk to them, so Hannah gave it up and concentrated on not stumbling over the uneven ground. They seemed to be deep inside a forest. It was fairly high up since she could see glimpses of a steep valley below, and there was no discernible path that she could find.

Taro will never find me here. Oh, dear God, help me, please, and I will try to atone for my sins, I promise. Only help me now, I beg of you!

Her mind ran in circles, desperately trying to think of a way to escape, even though she knew it was impossible. Even if she should manage it, she had no idea where she was and no means of returning. She had never thought to ask exactly where the castle was situated. In any case, she wasn’t sure in which direction they had travelled. Fear almost choked her and she thought she might be sick any moment. Was this it? Was this what she had come halfway across the world for – to die alone in a forest, murdered by men she didn’t even know? It was a mind-numbing thought and she tried to push it aside.

Without warning, Hannah’s feet encountered the side of a ravine. It hadn’t been visible because the edge was covered with clumps of grass and bushes. She gave a small cry and managed to recover her foothold, but before she had time to say a word, one of the men gave her an almighty shove between the shoulder blades.

Hannah screamed and hurtled into space.