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in excitement and fear. The miles left to travel seemed endless, and yet, the
horses' steady step ate them up all too quickly. She was afraid above all of
what faced her at home.
She kept seeing views she thought were familiar, and her heart would leap in
her throat, but when they came at last to the walled garden and the gates of
her parents' home, she did not recognize any of it. Surely this was not where
she lived? It was so small; it was not even fortified and guarded. The gates
stood wide open. As Raku stepped through them Kaede could not help gasping.
Shizuka had already slid from the horse's back. She looked up. ôWhat is it,
lady?ö
ôThe garden!ö Kaede exclaimed. ôWhat happened to it?ö
Everywhere were signs of the ferocity of the storms. An uprooted pine tree lay
across the stream. In its fall it had knocked over and crushed a stone
lantern. Kaede had a flash of memory: the lantern, newly erected, a light
burning in it, evening, the Festival of the Dead perhaps; a lamp floated away
downstream, and she felt her mothers hand against her hair.
She gazed, uncomprehending, at the ruined garden. It was more than storm
damage. Obviously it had been months since anyone had tended the shrubs or the
moss, cleared out the pools, or pruned the trees. Was this her house, one of
the key domains of the West? What had happened to the once powerful Shirakawa?
The horse lowered his head and rubbed it against his foreleg. He whinnied,
impatient and tired, expecting now that they had stopped to be unsaddled and
fed.
ôWhere are the guards?ö Kaede said. ôWhere is everyone?ö
The man she called Scar, the captain of the escort, rode his horse up to the
veranda, leaned forward, and shouted, ôHello! Anyone within?ö
ôDon't go in,ö she called to him. ôWait for me. I will go inside first.ö Long
Arm was standing by Raku's head, holding the bridle. Kaede slid from the
horse's back into Shizuka's arms. The rain had turned to a fine, light drizzle
that beaded their hair and clothes. The garden smelled rankly of dampness and
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decay, sour earth, and fallen leaves. Kaede felt the image of her childhood
home, kept intact and glowing in her heart for eight long years, intensify
unbearably, and then it vanished forever.
Long Arm gave the bridle to one of the foot soldiers and, drawing his sword,
went in front of Kaede. Shizuka followed them.
As she stepped out of her sandals onto the veranda, it seemed the feel of the
wood was faintly familiar to her feet. But she did not recognize the smell of
the house at all. It was a stranger's home.
There was a sudden movement from within, and Long Arm leaped forward into the
shadows. A girl's voice cried out in alarm. The man pulled her onto the
veranda.
ôLet go of her,ö Kaede commanded in fury. ôHow dare you touch her?ö
ôHe is only protecting you,ö Shizuka murmured, but Kaede was not listening.
She stepped toward the girl, taking her hands and staring into her face. She
was almost the same height as Kaede, with a gentle face and light-brown eyes
like their father's.
ôAi? I am your sister, Kaede. Don't you remember me?ö The girl gazed back. Her
eyes filled with tears. ôSister? Is it really you? For a moment, against the
lightà I thought you were our mother.ö
Kaede took her sister in her arms, feeling tears spring into her own eyes.
ôShe's dead, isn't she?ö
ôOver two months ago. Her last words were of you. She longed to see you, but
the knowledge of your marriage brought her peace.ö Ai's voice faltered and she
drew back from Kaede's embrace. ôWhy have you come here? Where is your
husband?ö
ôHave you had no news from Inuyama?ö
ôWe have been battered by typhoons this year. Many people died and the harvest
was ruined. We've heard so littleùonly rumors of war. After the last storm an
army swept through, but we hardly understood who they were fighting for or
why.ö
Arai's army?
ôThey were Seishuu from Maruyama and farther south. They were going to join
Lord Arai against the Tohan. Father was outraged, for he considered himself an
ally to Lord Iida. He tried to stop them from passing through here. He met
them near the Sacred Caves. They attempted to reason with him, but he attacked
them.ö
ôFather fought them? Is he dead?ö
ôNo, he was defeated, of course, and most of his men were killed, but he still
lives. He thinks Arai a traitor and an upstart. He had sworn allegiance, after
all, to the Noguchi when you went as a hostage.ö
ôThe Noguchi were overthrown, I am no longer a hostage, and I am in alliance
with Arai,ö Kaede said.
Her sister's eyes widened. ôI don't understand. I don't understand any of it.ö
She seemed conscious for the first time of Shizuka and the men outside. She
made a helpless gesture. ôForgive me, you must be exhausted. You have come a
long way. The men must be hungry.ö She frowned, suddenly looking like a child.
ôWhat shall I do?ö she whispered. ôWe have so little to offer you.ö
ôAre there no servants left?ö
ôI sent them to hide in the forest when we heard the horses. I think they will
come back before nightfall.ö
ôShizuka,ö Kaede said, ôgo to the kitchen and see what there is. Prepare food
and drink for the men. They may rest here tonight. I shall need at least ten
to stay on with me.ö She pointed at Long Arm. ôLet him pick them. The others
must return to Inuyama. If they harm any of my people or my possessions in any
way, they will answer with their lives.ö
Shizuka bowed. ôLady.ö
ôI'll show you the way,ö Ai said, and led Shizuka toward the back of the
house.
ôWhat is your name?ö Kaede said to Long Arm. He dropped to his knees before
her. ôKondo, lady.ö
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ôAre you one of Lord Arai's men?ö
ôMy mother was from the Seishuu. My father, if I may trust you with my
secrets, was from the Tribe. I fought with Arai's men at Kushimoto, and was
asked to enter his service.ö
She looked down at him. He was not a young man. His hair was gray-streaked,
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