The Gilded Fan (Choc Lit) (33 page)

On this, the second day of the fighting, it became clear the King meant business. The noise, as they approached, was already deafening, with the roar of cannons, sharp cracks of musket shot and shouting of the fighting men all clamouring for supremacy. Nico and Midori made their way to the gate where they knew Daniel was stationed, and looked for him through the smoke and dust that hung in the air like a heavy shroud.

‘Where do we report for duty?’ Nico asked, following behind her. He tried to keep his tone even, so as not to show how afraid he was. Not for himself, but for her.
What if I lose her now? After last night, how could I bear it?
The thought was like a physical pain and he pushed it to the back of his mind. He couldn’t afford to think like that or he’d get himself killed, as well as Midori.

He’d noticed the two swords tucked into her belt, so similar to those of her brother. He knew she’d have honed them to perfection and the thought that she knew what she was doing calmed him slightly. Midori wasn’t some helpless female who needed protection; she was a fully trained warrior and he’d do well to remember it. And judging by the training she’d done, even in a small cabin on board his ship, she’d have kept her skills up. He remembered she’d said as much, yesterday.

The thick leather jerkins they both wore would protect them from sword thrusts. He had his own sword, a rapier he’d bought in Amsterdam years ago, hanging on his left-hand side. He carried his musket – a matchlock – and across his chest hung a leather bandolier with twelve flasks called Apostles, each one filled with enough gunpowder for one shot. He also had a larger flask at his waist with more powder for refills, a pouch with 48 musket balls and yards of match wound round his waist, which would be lit at either end before going into battle.
I’m as prepared as I can possibly be.

‘I suppose this is where we need to go.’ As Midori spoke, they both caught sight of a redhead coming towards them from the right. ‘Wait, that’s him I think. Daniel!’

‘Ah, there you are at last. You’re most welcome, I can tell you.’ Daniel, perspiring with his efforts and with streaks of dirt across his cheeks and forehead, pulled Midori close for a quick hug. Midori smiled at him and Nico found he didn’t mind. There was no need for jealousy now; she was his and he knew he’d never need to doubt her.

‘I can’t believe it’s all started so early,’ she was saying to her cousin. ‘We should have come sooner. Now, where are we needed the most?’

‘No idea. Come on, I’ll find our commanding officer and see what he wants you to do.’

As Nico walked behind them, he decided to follow his uncle’s example for once and pray. No one but God could help them now.

They were sent on to the battlefield almost immediately.

‘We need every man – and woman – who is able to fight,’ Daniel’s officer told them grimly, obviously not fooled by her disguise, Midori thought. ‘Just follow the others in your troop, but stay towards the back while you get used to things. It can be a bit, uhm, daunting at first.’ He looked Midori over one more time, his expression doubtful. ‘You’re sure you wish to join in the fighting, mistress?’

‘Yes, definitely. I assure you I am well trained.’
Although I’ve never had any actual experience of war.
She decided not to tell him that.

The man’s eyes told her he didn’t believe her in any case, but on the other hand, he probably didn’t care. He waved them on. ‘Very well. Off you go, then.’

‘Here, you’d best have one of these.’ Daniel handed her a helmet he’d been carrying. ‘Put on a Monmouth cap first though, or it won’t fit you.’ Midori donned a small knitted hat and rammed the helmet into place securely. An unpleasant odour emanated from it and Midori wrinkled her nose in distaste. It was also very heavy.

‘Do I really need …?’ she started to protest, but he cut her off with angry authority.

‘Yes, you do. Don’t be a fool.’

On her other side she felt, rather than saw, Nico bristle at Daniel’s harsh words to her, but she knew her cousin was only concerned for her welfare, so she nodded acquiescence.

Similar conical helmets were worn by hundreds of others around her, glinting dully whenever the sunlight penetrated the clouds of smoke which hung in the air. More smoke issued forth from cannon and muskets all the time and Midori had to blink often to see more clearly through the haze. The feel of the heavy swords at her belt reassured her, as Daniel lead the way.

They smelled the battle before they even came close. The sweet, cloying scent of blood, the stench of rotting flesh, the odour of unwashed bodies exerting themselves to their utmost, all mingled with the acrid fumes of gunpowder. Midori felt her nostrils flare as she recoiled instinctively, her lungs constricting in an effort to take more shallow breaths.
I never imagined it would be like this.

The mighty blasts of the cannon shook the hillsides and the accompanying screams that rent the air made Midori want to cover her ears. She had heard the sounds men made while suffering extreme pain before, but these cries seemed almost inhuman, like evil
kami
out for revenge. She saw men thrown up into the air as if they were nothing more than rag dolls, landing with a dull thud and the sickening crack of bones breaking.

At first sight of the enemy a frisson of fear slithered through Midori. For a moment she froze next to Daniel, unable to move either backwards or forwards, but after taking a deep calming breath, she managed to make her limbs function again.

‘You are the daughter of a
daimyo
, you can do this,’ she chanted silently to herself and sent up a swift prayer to her ancestors. ‘Father, Mother, give me strength and courage. Help me not to bring dishonour to the family.’

She walked towards the fray, Daniel and Nico either side of her, and tried to empty her mind of all thoughts except those of the coming fighting. She must stay focused, remember all the moves her father had taught her, and above all she must not show fear.
You can do this, you can do this …

The reek of panic was all around her, however, basic animal terror, wafting in the breeze, contagious. She knew she wasn’t alone and that any sane person would feel the same at such a time, but she also knew she must overcome it or she would die.

‘
Never show weakness, Midori. Your enemies will seize on it with glee, remember that,
’ her father had said. Midori nodded to herself and squared her shoulders. There would be no outward sign of her apprehension, she vowed.

The beating of drums – the only means of communication on a battle field as it was too noisy to hear shouted orders – made a strange excitement take hold of her as they came closer. She pulled her swords out of her belt in readiness and concentrated on the task before her. ‘These men are the enemy, they are scum, not worthy of life,’ she told herself fiercely, drumming up feelings of hatred to facilitate the act of killing.

‘Are you ready?’ Daniel asked and there were murmurs of assent from the men who had accompanied them. With cries of rage, they all suddenly charged towards the enemy, gaining speed as they egged each other on. Midori felt her legs move of their own volition, following the others and she let out the blood-curdling war cry of clan Kumashiro to bolster her courage.

It was time.

By Midori’s side Nico also tried to focus on the task at hand. He’d fought in so many battles already by now, but he still wasn’t sure exactly what they were fighting for and cared even less. Religion and politics had never been of interest to him, but he’d come to realise it was family that mattered. And since his family were threatened, this must be the right thing to do. He glanced at Midori and saw her determination, her absolute composure, and knew he had to be with her every step of the way.

One thought was clear in his mind – if Midori died this day, he no longer wanted to live, either. But what he wanted more than anything else was to have a future with her, and he’d fight for that as he’d never fought before.

He joined in the war cry and felt his legs gather speed as they charged into the fray …

Complete and utter chaos reigned.

Once in the thick of things, Midori didn’t have a single moment to think about what was happening or what she was doing. Instinct guided her every move. The primeval desire for survival had her jumping out of the way of enemy swords and slashing wildly with her own to kill or maim without discrimination. There was blood everywhere, staining clothing, pouring into the ground, raining down in tiny droplets, spraying through the air. Midori felt its metallic taste on her tongue and swallowed hard, revolted and excited all at once.

She soon realised that the imaginary battles in her father’s courtyard were a far cry from the reality of war. Here there was no quarter given, none expected. Each individual was intent on killing his opponent and the bloodlust she saw in the eyes of those around her chilled her to the bone, although she knew it must be reflected in her own eyes. It was an insanity which had her, and everyone else, in its grip; relentless, omnipotent.

There seemed to be some method in the madness occasionally. With banners flapping in the breeze, the two sides advanced towards each other in formation from time to time. Musketeers kneeled in tiers on the ground to fire salvos into their opponents and Midori heard more than one shot whistle past her ears. When the men in the first row had finished, the next stepped forward to fire in their turn and so on, sending off a never-ending stream of deadly musket balls, some of which found their targets in the ranks of Parliamentarians.

The pikemen were easier to pick off with a sword. Gathered in groups, their pikes held at shoulder height to charge their opponents, they looked like nothing so much as unwieldy hedgehogs performing a strange dance. Midori didn’t hesitate to attack them at every opportunity, and more than one billowing white shirtsleeve soon turned crimson with enemy blood from her efforts.

One pikeman turned unexpectedly, however, and surged towards Nico, who was busy fighting someone else. Midori reacted instinctively, swivelling round to pierce the man in the back with her sword just as his pike glanced off Nico’s arm.

‘Jesus!’ Nico jumped and sent her a wide-eyed glance. ‘Thank you. That was a bit close!’

Midori smiled, but didn’t tell him her blood had turned to ice in her veins at the thought of just how close she’d come to losing him.

She had never been so tired in all her life, but nor had she ever felt as alive. Each moment she managed to keep from being killed became precious, something to be savoured. Her senses took everything in, storing up the images for processing later. For the time being she couldn’t afford to think about what she was seeing or doing, only act and act swiftly. Wielding her swords furiously, she slashed her way through enemy soldiers, a dull satisfaction filling her each time she struck home.

‘Holy Mother of God,’ she heard Daniel hiss the first time he saw Midori’s swords in action. ‘Those are unbelievably sharp!’ But he soon had to concentrate on his own battles. He and Nico fluttered in and out of Midori’s vision, and although it was each man – or woman – for himself, they all kept an eye on each other’s backs.

For a while she felt invincible, then weariness set in and with it the fear came creeping back.
What if I don’t have the strength to keep going? Or I slip up in my concentration; become a liability rather than an asset?
To keep up her courage she shouted out war cries in her father’s tongue, some of which made her opponents stare at her in horror. She wondered fleetingly if they thought her a magical creature cursing them, such were their expressions. She was soon quite hoarse, however, and had to desist. The constant smoke around them made her throat so dry she couldn’t stop coughing.

Although she would never have admitted it to anyone, it was an unutterable relief when darkness descended at last and the fighting had to stop for the night. In her haste to reach the camp fires, she tripped over a dead body, but managed to retain her balance. She looked around to make sure no one had seen her.
I won’t have anyone think me weak.

‘Have you seen your father?’ Midori asked Daniel as she and Nico sat together on a boulder next to him, catching their breaths and eating some dry bread and cheese. It seemed to be the best thing on offer and she didn’t care as long as it was edible.

‘Not recently. He was over on the western side because some friends of his asked him to join them.’

‘I hope he’s all right.’

‘Yes. I told him there was no need for him to fight, but he’s a stubborn old man.’ Daniel sounded as if he wasn’t sure whether to be annoyed with his father or admiring of the old man’s courage.

‘I know. I tried to dissuade him as well, but once an idea takes root, there’s no turning him, as you well know. Runs in the family, doesn’t it?’ She punched him lightly on the arm and he retaliated in kind, but with a grin on his face.

‘I’m glad you came,’ he said, before standing up to stretch. ‘But now I must be off. See you both later.’

Nico, who had been silent throughout this exchange, put an arm round Midori. ‘Are you all right? Any cuts or bruises that need tending?’

She shook her head. ‘Nothing major. You?’

‘I’m all right, I think.’ He gave her a lopsided smile which melted her insides. ‘Although in truth, I’m so tired I’m not sure I’d notice.’

‘I know what you mean. Shall we just rest here for now, in case we’re needed?’

‘Yes. I’ve promised to take my turn at guard duty. Do you mind not sleeping in a bed?’

His eyes told her he did. Despite the weariness, she knew he desired her and it sent a tingling through her veins. She leaned over to give him a quick kiss. ‘Yes, I do mind, actually, but the sensible part of me says I should stay put.’

He sighed. ‘Yes, mine, too.’ He reached out to smooth away a strand of her hair which had escaped the cord she’d tied it back with. ‘When this is all over, we’ll spend a week in bed, agreed?’

She nodded, going along with his pretended optimism. ‘Absolutely.’ And although she noticed that he didn’t mention marriage as part of his plans, she was past caring. Besides which, she’d already given herself to him, so she was to all intents and purposes a fallen woman.

The thought didn’t worry her in the least.

The fighting continued at daybreak. Midori felt as if she was in the grip of a hideous nightmare, where everything was repeated
ad infinitum
. The stench, the fear, the noise and gore were all the same as the previous day, the only difference being that Midori’s limbs grew more and more reluctant to obey her. Her muscles screamed in protest, but no matter how many men she fought, there were always a hundred more to take their place.

Faces darted in and out of her line of vision in an endless stream; contorted with rage, frowning in concentration, gaping in wide-mouthed pain, triumphant, defeated, frightened. Midori wanted to scream at them to give her some respite, but there was no stopping them. The hours passed and she began to ache unbearably in every part of her body. There were bruises and cuts everywhere today; she’d lost count of the number of times she had been hurt. She had to stop repeatedly to wipe the perspiration and grime out of her eyes, and she saw Nico and Daniel do the same. Both men had insisted on flanking her yet again, each obviously determined to protect her, as she was trying to do the same to them. She had to admit she was glad of their presence. It made her feel safer.

The battle raged on. ‘Is it never going to end, damn it?’ she heard Daniel cry out once, but it seemed the answer was no.

Midori’s breathing became laboured and her sword arm leaden.
I can’t go on, but I must, I must …
It was an effort to simply remain upright and she had to pause repeatedly for short rests. It was just after one such break that disaster struck.

A cannon ball thudded into the ground next to them, splintering a small tree nearby and sending up a shower of dirt and debris. A sharp pain tore through Midori’s right thigh. She heard Nico and Daniel shout her name in unison as she felt her leg give way. She cried out, the ground hurtled up to meet her and then everything turned black.

‘Nooo!’ Nico heard himself scream, but it was as if the sound was coming from somewhere else as he watched Midori crumple next to him.

He exchanged glances with Daniel and saw the shock and horror that must be mirrored in his own eyes. Somehow, after her heroic efforts the day before, Nico had convinced himself Midori would be all right and they’d get through this somehow. He’d forgotten about the cannon, the unseen foe that could strike at any moment.

For an instant he froze, unable to make his limbs move in any way, while a cold sweat of fear broke out across his body. Then a cry from Daniel alerted him to the danger of an enemy soldier on his left and with an enormous effort of will he somehow made himself swing around to deal with the man, before turning back to Midori.

She’s not dead. She can’t be dead. I won’t let her, damn it!

‘Watch my back!’ he shouted at Daniel, who nodded and darted forward to shield Nico while he bent to pick her up. He put his ear to her chest briefly and heard the reassuring thud of her heart beat. It was all he needed for now. ‘Follow me,’ he ordered and set off at a run towards the earthworks. He didn’t wait to see if Daniel did as he’d asked; he trusted him.

As soon as they were safely behind cover, he put Midori down on the ground, shrugging out of his jacket to put it under her head. Daniel appeared next to him, silently helping him to lift Midori on to a blanket someone brought.

‘She’s breathing,’ Daniel said.

Nico nodded. ‘Yes, but look at her leg. A splinter from the tree, I think. It’s got to go.’ There was a huge gash in the breeches she’d been wearing and the material was covered in blood, the stain spreading rapidly.

‘Her leg?’ Daniel blanched under the grime that covered his face and blinked at Nico.

‘No, you dolt, the splinter.’ Nico tried to make his tone sound light. It wasn’t a joking matter, but the last thing he needed was for Daniel to turn faint now. They had to help Midori together. ‘Is there a surgeon about?’

‘I don’t know, I’ll ask.’

Daniel hurried off, but came back shaking his head. ‘Can’t find one, they’re probably all busy.’ With bleak eyes he surveyed the carnage all around them as everyone seemed to be bringing the wounded back here.

‘Then we’ll have to extract it ourselves. I’ve seen it done on board a ship. Hold her for me, will you?’

‘Me?’ Daniel’s voice squeaked slightly, like that of an adolescent, and Nico could feel the fear emanating from him. It was as nothing to the terror he felt himself, but he knew he had to act quickly if Midori was to have any chance of survival at all. He gritted his teeth and fixed Daniel with a stern glare.

‘Yes, you. I need you. She needs you. You can do this, all right?’

Daniel nodded and drew in a deep breath and swallowed hard. ‘Yes, yes I can,’ he said.

‘Good man. Oh, look, she’s stirring. Damnation, I was hoping she’d stay unconscious for a while longer, but it can’t be helped. Hold her, please.’

Nico took a deep breath himself. This was going to be hell.

‘Midori! Midori can you hear me?’

She opened her eyes slowly and at first saw nothing but sky, then Nico’s face swam into focus at the same time as pain exploded in her leg.

‘Nico?’

‘Yes, I’m here. You’ve been hurt and I’m afraid we have to hurt you a bit more, else the risk of infection will be too great. You must be brave now. Do you want something to bite on? Some strong drink?’

‘What are you going to do?’ She looked from one man to the other, but neither would look her in the eye. ‘Tell me! I need to know.’

‘You have a piece of wood in your thigh, a giant splinter. It has to come out quickly before it goes in deeper, or you might lose the entire leg. I’m sorry.’

Midori gritted her teeth and nodded. At least they weren’t cutting off the whole limb, or at least, not yet. ‘Very well. Extract it.’

She could still hear the sounds of battle, although slightly more distant now, and realised she was lying on the hard ground next to a tree with something softer for a pillow.

‘I’m going to put a strip of leather in your mouth so you don’t bite your tongue,’ Nico said. ‘All right? Here we go.’

Midori nodded; she’d seen the ship’s surgeon do that to his patients and knew it made sense. She bit down on it, trying not to gag at its foul taste.

Nico advanced on her with a small sharp knife and she closed her eyes. Daniel took one of her hands in both of his and squeezed, trying to imbue her with his strength. Then he lay down gently across her torso, pinning her down. ‘Sorry,’ he murmured. ‘Have to do this.’

‘Are you ready?’ Nico’s voice came from the other side of Daniel.

‘Mm-hmm.’ Midori braced herself. Almost immediately pain sliced through her as Nico began his task and she hissed in a breath through her nose. Her teeth gripped the hard leather strip so tightly she thought they might break. As Nico continued, she couldn’t stop a moan from escaping her throat, then the pain became so acute blessed darkness descended on her again and she knew no more.

‘Will she live?’

‘Yes, I think so. She’s a fighter, as we all know.’

The disembodied voice sounded slightly disapproving as it floated into Midori’s brain and niggled at her until she struggled to open her eyes. She saw nothing at first except the colour white and wondered if she was still unconscious. Then she realised she was staring at Aunt Hesketh’s apron and her aunt was kneeling next to Midori’s bed, bandaging her wound, while Temperance hovered nearby.

With an effort she turned her head and saw Nico standing by the door, a worried expression on his face. As her aunt finished the task, the dull fire burning in Midori’s leg turned into stabbing pain, and she drew in a sharp breath, which the others heard.

‘She’s conscious again.’

‘Midori, how are you feeling?’ Nico came forward, a frown creasing his forehead and his deep-set eyes full of concern.

‘A bit … sore.’

Aunt Hesketh put a hand on Midori’s forehead and nodded to herself. ‘No fever yet,’ she muttered. ‘Did you use a knife?’

Nico nodded. ‘Yes. My ship surgeon once told me he always cleaned the rust off his knife blades with wine before performing any surgery, but all I could find was someone’s flask of strong cider so I used that. And I put it in the fire to cauterize the wound after. Is it still bleeding?’

‘A little, but I’ve put some cobwebs on it, so it’s almost stopped. I’ll leave it for a while before making a comfrey poultice to stop it festering, but she should have willow bark or feverfew now. I’ll go and find some.’ She left the room with Temperance, leaving Midori alone with Nico, who sat down gingerly on the edge of Midori’s bed.

‘You’re in good hands with my stepmother,’ he said softly, and smiled when he saw the look of scepticism she managed. ‘Really. I know you’ve had your differences, but that’s in the past now, and when she takes charge of something, she does it to the best of her ability.’

‘I suppose you’re right,’ Midori reluctantly conceded. ‘Are you well? The splinters didn’t hit you or Daniel, did they?’

‘No, we’re both unharmed. Daniel is still fighting; he said he couldn’t be spared. I carried you back here, but I’ll have to go in a while and …’ He didn’t finish the sentence. They both knew what he’d be going back to.

‘Of course, I understand.’ She tried to smile, but it was beyond her at the moment.

Nico was staring towards the window, so Midori couldn’t see his expression, but she heard the catch in his voice as he said, ‘I thought I’d lost you, Midori, and I just wanted to die myself.’ He turned back to her. ‘You must get through this, do you hear me?’ Midori was taken aback by the emotion blazing in his eyes, but at the same time it made a warm feeling spread through her veins.

‘I will. Just you look after yourself. You can’t spend a week in bed with your mistress if you get yourself killed, you know.’

‘Mistress? You thought …? For heaven’s sake, Midori, I can’t believe you still think me so dishonourable!’

‘No! I’m the one who has thrown away my honour. What happened the night before last was … well, it was my choice and I don’t regret it. Really, it’s all right.’

Nico took her hands in his and leaned over her so his face was very close to hers. ‘No, my love, it’s not “all right” at all, if that’s how you’re thinking. I thought you understood – I love you. I want to marry you. But there seemed no point making plans when there is every possibility one or other of us might not live to see the end of this week.’

‘You love me? Truly?’

‘Of course I do, you goose.’ He shook his head. ‘Although why, when you persist in thinking the worst of me, I’ve no idea.’

She raised her hands to pull his face down to punctuate her words with kisses. ‘I don’t. Think. You. Dishonourable. I love. You. Too. With all my heart.’

He smiled then and kissed her back, but carefully, tenderly, as if she was the most fragile thing on earth. ‘So you’ll marry me, then?’ he whispered.

‘Yes, of course. I’ve never wanted anyone else.’

‘Good, then I’ve got something to look forward to when I come back.’

The thought of him having to return to the battle put a dampener on Midori’s joy, but she glanced towards the urns that were still on the little mantelpiece of the bedroom and sent a swift prayer to her ancestors.

‘Please, keep him safe for me. He’s precious and I can’t lose him now!’