The Initiate Brother Duology (128 page)

The river men brought the boat alongside a set of stone steps that led to a side gate used by the Imperial Guard. Tadamoto disembarked stiffly and forced himself to stand erect to ascend the steps. The canal and the quay were thronged with people—all trying to escape the barbarians, no doubt. It was a sad sight and sadder yet when Tadamoto realized that he would soon join them. His future would become as uncertain—was as uncertain now.

A password opened the gate and Tadamoto and his guards entered. They were in a square bordered with quarters for the Imperial Guard.

“Colonel Jaku,” a guard said quietly. “I will find attendants to assist you with your armor and to see to your injuries.”

Tadamoto shook his head. If he kept moving, the stiffness could be worked out as long as he did not stop again. “I have duties. See to yourself now, but I will need a boat—before dawn, no doubt.”

“I will arrange for the boat myself, Colonel.”

Tadamoto nodded. He walked toward the central palace buildings. The grounds were quiet, deserted, almost serene in contrast to the streets beyond the walls.

Mounting a set of stairs, Tadamoto passed the hedge-maze where he had been given instructions by the Emperor—instructions and threats, as it always was with the Emperor. Two guards challenged him as he came to one of the great doors to the palace. He identified himself and gave the password needed.

“The Emperor, is he in the palace?”

“I cannot say, Colonel,” one guard answered. “Perhaps the Son of Heaven attends the council in the Great Hall.”

“Find my brother, Colonel Jaku Yasata.” Tadamoto ordered one of them. “I will need him to attend me in my quarters within the hour.”

Inside the palace, Tadamoto was met by near darkness; only a small number of the hall lamps had been lit and these smoked from lack of attention. He removed one and used it to find his way.

Few knew the palace as well as the Commander of the Guard. He took an impossibly narrow set of stairs used by servants and kicked open a door to another hall, saving himself some minutes. The Emperor, Tadamoto was certain, would flee at the first opportunity and Tadamoto did not want that to happen.

*   *   *

There was a stirring in the square and whispers rippled around the edge. Much pushing occurred at the mouth of the major avenue and then mounted armed men appeared, some in black and others in blue or purple.

“Shonto livery!” one of the Komawara guards exclaimed, rousing the two ladies from a near sleep.

Nishima leapt up from the cobbles, surprised by the pain from riding. “It is General Hojo,” she said, and had to be restrained by Shuyun from rushing forward.

“Do nothing,” Shuyun whispered in her ear, “until we know what occurs
here.” He kept a grip on her arm and Nishima leaned against him as others stood and vied for a view. She closed her eyes and felt the monk’s warmth. Surprised to find herself fighting back tears, she forced herself to open her eyes and focus on the scene, what little of it she could see.

Jaku Katta and the diminutive Butto Joda rode at Hojo’s side. All three were covered in dust and appeared very grim. They rode at the head of a substantial force of armed men, Imperial Guards and Shonto men and a few wearing purple. They stopped before the gate and silence fell in the square as ten thousand held their breath, listening.

Hojo looked up at the guard over the gate. “Open the gate,” he called out. “We will speak with the Emperor.”

The guard stood frozen in place and then disappeared. There was silence and then Hojo rode up to the gate, drew his sword, and pounded on the wood and bronze with his pommel. The square rang with the sound of his anger.

“Open this gate!” Hojo roared, “or we will have it down and the palace will be open to all.”

A guard officer appeared above the gate. “We do not open the gate to rebels,” he shouted.

Jaku Katta spurred his horse forward, pulling off his helmet as he did so. “Brother,” he called out. “You must open the gate. The barbarians march toward the capital and the Emperor does nothing. The Yamaku have betrayed Wa. Open the gates! We have an Empire to defend.”

There was hesitation above the gates. Other black-uniformed men appeared and there was a hasty council. Suddenly a sword flashed above the gate and then others. The crowd surged forward at this and the Shonto guards pushed them back. The black-uniformed men disappeared and a moment later the gates creaked open and Jaku Yasata appeared.

The crowd surged forward again, shouting, “Bring forth the Emperor.” A chant began. “Bring forth the Emperor.”

The Shonto men and Imperial Guards pushed the crowd back, but even so Nishima felt herself thrust forward and she struggled to keep her grip on Shuyun and Kitsura.

They were close to a Shonto guard now and Shuyun called out and was recognized. Nishima was squeezed through the wall of guards and found herself face to face with Hojo Masakado.

“Lady Nishima! May Botahara be praised.” He almost forgot to bow.

The crowd took this up then and Nishima heard the syllables of her name pass around the square like a chanted prayer, a sound she found deeply disturbing.

“You should not be here, Lady Nishima,” Hojo started but then stopped. “Come, we must go in while we may.”

Dismounting his horse, Jaku Katta bowed to Lady Nishima, a standing bow but low. “The north wind has brought us together, Lady Nishima, I am grateful.”

Nodding Nishima stepped away, looking for Hojo. What of my father? she thought, what has happened to him?

The general had turned toward the gate and Nishima fell into step between him and Butto Joda who performed an awkward bow.

“My father, General, I have had no word of him.”

Hojo shook his head. “We were separated on the field. The main force has not reached the city though I do not doubt Lord Shonto has managed an organized retreat. Do not fear, Lady Nishima, your father is wise in the ways of the battlefield.”

“And Lord Komawara—what of him?” Kitsura asked.

“Lord Komawara,” Hojo said with great warmth. “He is out on the plain yet, harrying the enemy in the dark. Lord Butto tells us that, lost in the fog, Komawara encountered the Great Khan and his guard and engaged them, felling a chieftain and sending the Khan running. Lord Komawara and General Jaku,” he nodded at the guardsman, “have become the great warriors of our time, Lady Nishima. Their deeds will make a thousand songs.”

Lady Nishima looked away. What a terrible thing, she thought. Behind her, she heard the whispers of the Komawara guard repeating Hojo’s words.

War will destroy all of our souls,
Nishima thought.

*   *   *

The Emperor paced the length of his chamber and back again. “Hopeless fools,” he muttered, “they will fall into argument over the correct color robes to wear at the surrender of the Empire.”

A knock rattled the door to his chamber and made the Son of Heaven start. “Enter,” he called out.

The face of a kneeling guard appeared. “We have a boat, Emperor. It is being readied as we speak.

“The palace is completely surrounded, Sire. The people…” he hesitated, “appear unruly, Emperor.”

“They are calling for my head, is that what you mean?”

The guard said nothing but stared down at the floor before him.

“Knock when the boat is ready.”

Before the door closed, the Emperor had returned to his pacing. Venturing onto the balcony, he looked out over the city. Little could be seen, but the open fires in the squares said much. They will have someone’s head before the night is over, the Emperor thought. Anyone’s will do—nothing less will satisfy them. Well, he almost smiled, let them have any number of ministers and palace officials.

He paced back into the room and looked down at the armor of an unranked guardsman: the disguise for his escape. It went with the uniform he wore. He crossed the room and knelt on a cushion, staying only a second before morbid curiosity drew him back to the balcony, like a man fascinated by his own fear of heights.

Where was Osha? He had sent for her an hour ago. Were the servants afraid to say that she was gone? Run off like his wife and sons the minute he left the palace to go to war. He shook his head.

From the Gate of Serenity he could hear shouting and what sounded like a crowd chanting. The words were unclear, but he found the sound unsettling all the same.

*   *   *

A knock sounded at the door again and it opened without the Emperor’s command. Osha slipped into the room, looking around, her face like a frightened bird’s.

“On the balcony, Osha-sum,” came the Emperor’s voice. “I am basking in the affection of my loyal subjects—who call out for my death.”

Osha moved slowly toward the sound of the Emperor’s voice and finally saw him, dressed in the black robes of an Imperial Guard, his dark form blotting out the stars.

“Do not be afraid, it is not your name they chant,” the Emperor said.

She did not like the tone of his voice.

The Emperor stood on the balcony, his back to the rail, his arms crossed.

“It warms my heart to see that not everyone has abandoned me, Osha-sum. Loyalty has not fled the palace entirely.”

She nodded.

“Here is what you must do,” the Emperor said matter-of-factly. “There is no one else I would trust. I will make my escape in moments. You must bar the door to this chamber when I leave and open it to no one. Force them to
break it down. I should be out of their reach by then. I had the robes of a servant brought for you. A servant will be safe enough.”

I am a mistress, Osha thought. She knew what happened to the pampered mistresses of fallen Emperors.

The Emperor pointed at neatly folded cotton robes lying on a small stand. “Quickly. We will throw your robes off the balcony.”

Osha nodded. She began unwinding the yards of brocade sash. Looking up, she saw the Emperor watching. I am about to die at the hands of the people he has betrayed and he stares at me as though I am a hired woman. She closed her eyes and continued.

Steeling her nerve as she finished unwinding her sash, Osha asked the question that haunted her. “I hope your officers survived, Sire, so that they may assist you in the future. Colonel Jaku, for one, would be a great loss.” She turned her back to the Emperor and removed her outer robe.

“The Colonel has acted as a loyal subject should— putting himself in the path of the barbarian army so that his Emperor might escape. As for the rest, they turned and ran, trying to save their miserable lives, may they be damned for eternity.”

Osha steadied herself as she felt the room spin.

“Osha-sum, shyness does not become a dancer. Do not hide your beauty.”

*   *   *

Nishima fell in behind General Hojo as Jaku Katta led the way to the Great Hall. The tramp of soldiers behind her was disquieting and so out of place. She had been in these halls many times, but they had been filled with laughter and music and poetry on those occasions. She felt Kitsura take her sleeve, like a shy child not wanting to be left behind.

“General Hojo, what is it you intend here?” Nishima asked nervously.

Hojo did not slow his pace. “We intend to force this fool Emperor to perform his duties. He cannot leave his throne, as much as it would gladden me if he did,” the general said, casting a glance at Jaku. “We cannot fight the barbarians and a civil war as well,” Hojo said, pointedly.

Nishima saw Jaku shake his head. “This Emperor, in an attempt to bring down your lord’s House, sold our Empire to the barbarian Khan, General Hojo,” Jaku said with force. “I have not changed my opinion—the Emperor is a threat to all.”

Nishima looked back at Hojo, wondering how he would respond. The two officers had obviously been arguing the point.

“We will let Lord Shonto decide the fate of Emperors, General Jaku. Soldiers will always make decisions with a sword. It is our way, but there are other ways.” He said this with finality.

They reached the doors to the Great Hall and the guards stationed there drew their swords. Jaku did the same, followed by the men around him.

“Stand aside,” Jaku commanded as he pulled open his face-mask. “The Emperor you serve has fallen. You cannot be loyal to a ghost. Stand aside.”

The men hesitated, exchanging glances, and then gave a half bow and laid down their swords. The doors were thrown open and the members of the council turned, their eyes wide. Immediately the officials leapt to their feet and fled in every possible direction, ornate robes flapping, like a flurry of escaping moths. The Dragon Throne was empty.

Hojo stormed into the room while his guard chased down several running officials and dragged them back to him. Nishima remained outside the door, trying to hear what was said. A commotion to her right drew her attention, and she saw Jaku Katta disappearing down the hall with Lord Butto on his heels.

General Hojo came out the door then, an official in tow. “This man has kindly offered to lead us to the Emperor,” Hojo said, pushing the man in front of him. Something drew his attention. “Where do they go?” Hojo waved his sword down the hall at the backs of retreating Komawara guards.

“They follow General Jaku and Lord Butto,” Nishima said.

Hojo looked around as though sure he would find Jaku beside him.

Nishima pointed. “That is the way to the Imperial apartments, General.”

“May the gods take them!” Hojo swore and set off at a run, followed by the entire company.

Shuyun paced the general. “Those Komawara guards wear the green lacings on their sleeve—they were Hajiwara men, General.”

Hojo nodded, saving his breath. They came to stairs and the armored men lagged behind. Shuyun looked over his shoulder once and then sprinted ahead. Seeing this, Nishima pushed past General Hojo and the other men exhausted from battle. She ignored the calls of her cousin and the guard, focusing on the sound of Shuyun’s running feet just ahead of her.

*   *   *

Tadamoto reached the head of the stairs leading to the Emperor’s apartments. From the guards before the Great Hall he had learned that the Emperor was in the Imperial apartments and, though less than certain he would
be allowed through the halls, Tadamoto had set out. To his surprise, he had not been challenged once. The Imperial Guard, their commander realized, had broken and run just like the army in the field.