The Initiate Brother Duology (119 page)

“I agree, Lord Taiki. Numbers are not the only measure of an army.”

Three riders in blue came at a gallop through the encampment. As they approached, Shonto recognized Rohku Saicha followed by Shonto House
guards. They pulled up before Lord Shonto and dismounted to bow low before the Imperial Prince and their liege-lord.

“Captain Rohku?” Shonto said, nodding to his retainer.

“There is a party from the Emperor approaching, Sire, under a flag of truce.” He pointed south. “They come by fast boat.”

“Send for General Hojo, Kamu, and Brother Shuyun. We will ride to meet them. Prince, Lord Taiki, will you meet the Emperor’s emissary with me?”

The two men nodded though Shonto thought the Prince showed a tightening around the jaw that had not appeared even during discussions of the coming battle.

The three set off at a canter, followed by their guards. Men in the encampment bowed low as the Prince and Lord Shonto passed and stared after them as they went. Rumor went quickly through the encampment.
The Emperor has sent his minions to bargain with Lord Shonto.
Did this mean there was hope of an alliance?

Just south of the encampment a decked boat that boasted thirty oarsmen swung to an anchor in the middle of the canal. Off its stern the Emperor’s banner fluttered in the breeze as did the banner of a senior official and the green flag of truce. Beneath a plum tree, mats had been spread, and it appeared that men had chosen this spot to drink wine and perhaps compose a poem-sequence, for there was no armor worn but by the guards standing at a distance. Those who knelt upon the mats drank from wine bowls and laughed cheerfully.

“Lord Shinzei,” Prince Wakaro said quietly to Shonto. “The Emperor’s favorite talking bird.”

Shonto pulled his horse up and dismounted. Several more Shonto guards had joined them and others had taken up positions close by and stood with hands on their swords.

Rohku Saicha rode up in haste. “Lord Shonto, General Hojo comes now. Kamu is across the canal and Brother Shuyun has been called to the plague ship.”

Shonto nodded. “We will do without them, then.” Shonto turned and saw men riding toward him at a gallop. “General Hojo is here.” Then turning to the Emperor’s son, “Prince Wakaro, does this talking bird have power to speak for the Emperor?”

“I would be shocked if that were so. No, this will be an offer from the
Emperor. Shinzei will have no power to negotiate. He is but the first move of the game and, as is common, the most expendable piece. Though I doubt he will realize this.”

Hojo rode up and dismounted bowing quickly.

“General Hojo,” Shonto said, “please approach the Emperor’s emissaries and ask them the purpose of their embassy. Or perhaps they have come merely to enjoy the fine day and the view?”

Hojo bowed quickly and set off toward Lord Shinzei and his party.

A moment later he returned. “They will speak to Lord Shonto only, Sire. They do not have concerns about who accompanies you.”

Shonto nodded. “And they expect the Prince and me to attend them?” Shonto cast a glance over his shoulder. What happened here would be known by everyone in his army within the hour. What fools did the Emperor send that they would allow such a situation to develop?

Shonto looked back at the Emperor’s men and shook his head. “Take them prisoner, bind them, and bring them to my boat.” He mounted his horse abruptly, leaving the Prince and Lord Taiki hurrying to follow. They rode off at a canter toward the boats that carried Shonto’s family and senior advisors. Much of the activity of the camp had come to a halt and men tried not to be seen watching.

Shonto’s own boat was protected by a bamboo fence forming a large open space on the canal’s eastern bank. Riding past the sentries, Shonto dismounted and left his horse to a guard. He stormed up the gangway of his boat, throwing gloves and surcoat at a servant. Mounting the stairs to the upper deck, he took up a position under the awning on the stern.

Kamu appeared suddenly. “Sire, excuse me, my attentions were drawn elsewhere…”

Shonto waved a hand to cut the old man off. “That guard who is a kick boxer—is he still in our service?”

“He is, Lord Shonto.”

“Bring him to me.” Shonto turned to Lord Taiki and Prince Wakaro as they came up onto the deck looking unsure if they should have followed. “Please, join me,” Shonto said pleasantly. He gestured to cushions. The two men took the offered positions and an awkward silence ensued.

They did not have long to wait, for Hojo appeared with his charges moments later. A boat ran up on the canal bank and the bound men were assisted onto the land with some degree of concern for their dignity.

Kamu appeared with a young guard and Shonto nodded to have the man brought forward, speaking to him privately and demonstrating several hand signals. “Turn Lord Shinzei over to this guard,” Shonto said to Kamu.

The Emperor’s emissaries padded up the stairs then and guards requested that they kneel. Shonto sat regarding them for a moment.

“We come under a flag of truce—emissaries of the Son of Heaven. Be certain that this will not be forgotten, Lord Shonto.” Shinzei spoke Shonto’s name with as much disdain as he could muster.

Shonto gave a hand signal to the young guard who spun quickly and kicked Shinzei in the diaphragm, doubling him over on the deck.

When the lord’s struggle to breathe had begun to subside, Shonto nodded and the man was pulled roughly back to a kneeling position. His voice perfectly calm and pleasant, Shonto addressed Lord Shinzei. “Perhaps you can relate the purpose of your visit, Lord Shinzei. Or was this merely an outing to drink wine and enjoy the fine spring weather?”

Shinzei visibly collected himself, trying to gain control of his breathing. “The Emperor of Wa has sent me to demand the immediate surrender of Prince Wakaro, Jaku Katta, Lord Shonto, and all senior advisors and officers of the same.”

Shonto waited for a moment and then signaled the young guard who again doubled the kneeling aristocrat over on the deck. His recovery this time was lengthy, the others in his party staring down at the deck, afraid to move. At last, the emissary was set back on his knees, managing not to collapse.

“My liege-lord,” Kamu explained quietly, “is addressed as Lord Shonto or Sire, Lord Shinzei.”

Shinzei nodded, unable to hide the pain he felt or to maintain his dignity in such a situation. As a favorite of the Emperor he encountered nothing but deference in all of his dealings.

“Lord Shinzei,” Shonto began again, his voice remaining calm. “I am well informed on the size and state of the Emperor’s army. It is no larger, and certainly less experienced, than my own. You cannot afford arrogance. Not two days north on the canal a barbarian army that, despite our efforts, numbers eighty-five thousand men is moving toward the Imperial Capital. In my estimate, their chieftain is four, perhaps five days away from the throne he seeks—your lord’s throne, Lord Shinzei. Already it grows late for the alliance that we require.”

Shonto looked at the man kneeling before him and shook his head. “Take
this message to your Emperor. If he will provide written pardons for myself, my family, and all who support me, I will consent to join forces with him to face the barbarian threat. If the Emperor will not agree to this, I will allow him to face the barbarian army alone. It is a simple choice—to retain his throne or to be overthrown, perhaps it is a choice between life and death. Be very clear when you explain this point to Akantsu, Lord Shinzei—it is important that he understands his position.”

Shonto nodded to Hojo who signaled the guards to take the Emperor’s men away. “General,” Shonto said to Hojo as the captives were led down the stairs, “put them on horses with their hands bound behind them and trot them through the camp on the return to their boat. Then throw them on the ground before their fine ship and leave them to be unbound by their own guard. Show them not a single sign of respect.”

Hojo bowed and hurried off.

Shonto signaled for cha and once it arrived, his spirits lifted noticeably.

“Excuse me for saying so, Lord Shonto,” Prince Wakaro said in a soothing voice, “but this will infuriate the Emperor.”

Shonto smiled. “But it will lift the morale of our own army to the very skies. We would only dare treat the Emperor’s advisors this way if there was no doubt of the outcome of the battle. It will give your father cause to think also, Prince. The next battle we fight will not require swords—it will be a battle of wills and I have answered his opening with a message which says the Shonto have nothing to lose, while the Emperor has everything.”

*   *   *

The army of Shonto Motoru moved south as soon as the fog lifted the morning after Lord Shinzei had paid his visit. The bulk of the army went by land though some ships were still in use and these paced the army as it went. Open fields bordered the canal in this area and stretched east to foothills and west toward distant mountains, jagged against the horizon.

Many of the “rebel army” rode horses, though companies of foot soldiers marched among the mounted troops. Despite the patchwork nature of this force, Shonto’s officers and the officers of his allies had marshaled it into a tight formation, better to impress the watching patrols of the Emperor.

Shuyun stood beside his liege-lord at the rail of a river craft. Before his arrival in Wa, he had never seen an army and he found the sight both impressive and very sad. In the next few days many of the men before him would die. The words of Brother Hitara came back to him:
“War brings no soul to
perfection.”
My Order has bound me to serve this man and now I am at war also—a follower of Botahara, Shuyun thought, a poor follower.

Something the monk had never anticipated was the sound of men going to war. There was silence in the ranks, but the sounds of men and beasts tramping over the land was ominous, disturbing, like the pulse of a dying man—the strength of its rhythm came from fear. Unspoken fear.

“There are no reports of a new outbreak of the disease?” Shonto asked Shuyun.

The two men stood at the rail of Shonto’s ship watching the army as it moved.

Shuyun shook his head. “I have sent men out among the refugees and to the villages. The plague seems to be under control. We have had only one report of a woman of Shimeko-sum’s description, but this was not certain and whoever it was made an effort to avoid contact with others.”

“Huh.” Shonto tried to turn the hemp shroud, the muscles in his forearm bunching into knots. “Nishima-sum told me this young woman was a person of education and intelligence but caught in a crisis of the spirit.”

Shuyun nodded. “I believe Lady Nishima was correct, Sire.”

“Perhaps she seeks a monastery or wishes to live the life of a hermit.”

“Perhaps.” Shuyun seemed lost in thought. The dull pounding of the army on the land kept calling his attention. “She seeks escape, I believe, Sire.”

Shonto let go of the shroud and shaded his eyes against the sun, staring off toward the south. The Emperor’s position would not become visible until the next day at the earliest, but it was common to see people standing with their gaze focused on the horizon as though meditating upon a distant point.

“It is a fine balance we must achieve, Brother,” Shonto said suddenly. “If we meet the Emperor’s force before the barbarian army is seen for its true size, then we risk the Emperor making a foolish mistake. If we do not arrive at the Imperial Army’s position soon, we will not have time to join the two armies into an effective force. Once we have committed a piece, we cannot retrieve it. There can be no mistakes.”

“May Botahara guide us, Lord Shonto.” Shuyun had watched his lord carefully since he had come into his service and though it could be said that Shonto always kept much to himself, Shuyun was noticing a change. The lord often shared information that was not truly necessary for others to know, yet at the same time the monk was convinced there was some knowledge
that Shonto was keeping entirely to himself. If asked, Shuyun could not have explained why he felt this.

“Once we reach the Emperor’s position, I will move the members of my household to the northeast of the probable battlefield. When battle has been engaged, you will join Lady Nishima. Be prepared to run toward the mountains, Shuyun-sum. Leave everyone else behind if they cannot keep your pace.” Shonto turned to regard his Spiritual Advisor. “If the Shonto army falls and I cannot escape, Lady Nishima must be protected at all costs. I charge you with this, Brother Shuyun. Do not fail.”

Shuyun gave a half bow in response. “Perhaps Lady Nishima should be closer to the mountains now?”

Shonto shook his head. “There is danger whichever course we choose, Shuyun-sum.” The lord shrugged. “Perhaps it is the selfish path, but I wish to keep Nishima-sum close for now.”

The river men dropped the sail behind Shonto and Shuyun as the breeze had come up and was moving the ship ahead of the marching army.

Shonto waved a hand out toward the patch of dark blue uniforms among the men on horseback. Shuyun could see Shonto pull his focus away from the knowledge he was hiding. “I am concerned about Lord Butto and these Hajiwara men in Lord Komawara’s guard. Lord Butto has not spoken of it, but certainly it must weigh upon him.”

Shuyun leaned out over the rail looking down into the water. “I have considered this matter also. Lord Komawara believes that their sworn oath binds these Hajiwara men and that all of my lord’s allies are safe from any plans for vengeance. Perhaps that is true, but men have been known to word their oaths in ways that are understood to mean different things to different people. I would keep the Butto and the Komawara companies separate on any battlefield.”

“Huh.” Shonto shook his head. “Within our own ranks to have such concerns….” He left the thought unfinished.