“They are regents still.”
“Yet the chancellorship lies with you, lord.” Kitsue bowed low, but now, Yaeko saw, a deep and hungry glint had marred his eye. “I wanted you to know that it was me who came to help you. You have surpassed them, lord, marrying into the Ten’in. They know, lord: their time is up – but they, oh, those men are proud. Won’t let it go.”
There was a silence. For a moment, Seikiyo stood gazing at the young man from the northern gate, who had come declaring he had vital news fit only for the chancellor’s own ears. “What did they want of you?” he asked.
“Invited me. Din’t they?” Tano’s voice was thick and dark as smoke. “A meeting, at Deer Valley.They wanted me to become a captain, lord, of their new guard. Ananti-Keishiguard…”
He bowed again: “I bring you news of treason, lord. And I submit to you, I did, I attended their ill meet, but I knew nothing they would ask until I got there. I was told, lord, that I could count on your protection. Was I misled?”
Seikiyo observed the compact man with the lisp of the central provinces, who opened his palms before them now, revealing fingers you couldn’t break if you hit them with a mallet.
He’s a killer, Yaeko thought. Put a knife in his hands, he’ll come back with someone’s heart, dripping and still warm.
“I promise, I hold no intention, helpingthem,” Tano said.
“Tell me this.” Seikiyo’s cold gray eyes bored directly into Tano’s own. “You’ve turned on the house that clothed and fed you these last years. You bring us their secrets. Why? Who’s to say that these are not more lies?”
“I never lie,” said Tano.
“And yet you betray.”
“Betrayal?” Tano scoffed. “I amkijin, lord, as you are.”
“To be kijin means to feel shame,” Shosei interrupted. “You admit you freely turn against your lord. What stops you turning against us?”
“To be kijin meanswe choose who we serve,” Tano said. “I’ve given mypiece.” He bowed once more, and left: “Do what you will.” They brought him to the lesser halls, to wait, under guard.
Seikiyo had few words. “Can we trust him?”
“Can’t trust any of them,” Shosei mused. “Sanka-Gensei. You hear the way he talked? They’re nobodies. The wild blood never left them. They paint their faces. They’re basically Iteki.”
“Good for them,” Yaeko said. “This one seems unpainted.”
He glared at her.
“Come,” she said, “whowouldn’tbe fed up with the court? Those outside a system can see how it works – better, even, than those who are inside it.”
Seikiyo made to speak, studying the flames of his lamps as they flickered and waved. “Deer Valley. I’d hoped it wasn’t true.”
Seichi had come forward. “Father…”
But Seikiyo raised a hand. “Yaeko, escort Shosei to the emperor’s hall. Ashihara is to sign a decree, to invade Deer Valley, arrest these conspirators. Moro may be captured, or killed. It makes no difference.”
“Father,” Shigeo urged. A pale fear had come into his features, and Yaeko remembered that he had a Hara wife. “We can still find a way to peace—”
“Peace is what hasbroken,” Seichi barked. “Peace. You’re turning into the Poet now, brother. You spend too much time with him.”
“Peace, father, please,” Shigeo said. “These names… Hara, Moro, they’re the highest nobles in the court.”
“And they turn against us,” Seikiyo said. “The Hara clanline is fractured – the regents won’t hold sway. We confiscate their properties. All who took part in this… Deer Valley conspiracy. Bring Moro here. Arrest the others. You have your orders.”
“Listen to me!” Shigeo cried. “Moro has the ear of Goshira. Let me talk to him, and—”
“Talk?” Seikiyo stood. “Talk to him? This is –allof it – from the scheming of Goshira. And you want to talk?” His face grew cold. “Fine. You’re close to the retired-emperor, Shigeo. You were his attendant; you act as a mediator between us. So: mediate now. Make the old man come to his senses. Otherwise, we’re done.”
“Away, you snail,” Seichi mumbled, playing with the knife again. Shigeo slapped his younger brother across the face.
Outside, the light had turned. The gate had emptied. Beyond, the city stretched below, alive, inviting. Within the walls it felt a prison. The cherry tree had lost its leaves.
