“I wouldn’t presume…”
“You’re not. You are a loyal member of the guard, you know more secrets than most. And it’s no secret that my husband no longer listens to my counsel.”
“Unfortunately, he’s not known for listening to anyone’s counsel,” Yora said. “Forgive me, that was rude.”
“It was honest,” she said. “Which is why we trust you so much. Honesty. A rare treasure to find, in these halls…”
“What can I do for you?” he asked.
Hagane moved from behind the screen. “My son will be the linchpin for everything,” she said. “The prince. They all want to control him. My father, Goshira, the factions of the monks – everyone. Tell me, lord, what do you think I should do?”
“I think you should stay close to the people you trust,” he said.
Yoshiko inclined her head. “Shall we trust you?”
Hagane spoke. “I have looked up to you, lord poet, as so many others have. You are known everywhere for your courage.” Her eyes were cold, but she didn’t hide the emotion in her voice. “Help me protect him. Please. I know you have not always gotten along with my family… but you were allies once. And you have always been loyal to the realm… My son willbe used, whether by my father or by others who want to take power. Help me protect him. He’s just a child. He can’t become a piece to be played in this war of generals.”
“Do you love him?” Yora asked.
A fleeting smile: “He’s my son, how could I not love him?”
“No. The emperor. Ashihara. Do you love him?”
The question seemed to strike her deeply. “I love what he should be,” she said. “I might have even loved what he could have been, if this world were fair. He is a young man, he knows almost nothing of the world, and he’s trapped in his palace; he cannot move a muscle without the entire court knowing about it. He cannot so much as breathe without his father’s permission… No, I do not love him, but our union was never meant for love.”
“It should be,” he said. “It always should be.”
“Then maybe you are as naive as he,” said Hagane. “I am no innocent; I am a weapon. And I’m controlled by my father just as much as any of them. That’s the life we lead. So, I’m sorry, I cannot say I love him. But I want to. And that will have to be enough. Perhaps, in time, if we can raise our son in peace, perhaps we will find something in each other one day; perhaps, when that day comes, we will find that it is love. Until then I am a part of the bigger picture – as are you. But my son is innocent of any of this. My father will try to use him. My husband-the-emperor’s father, Goshira, will try to use him. Perhaps your clan will, too. I cannot let that happen, and I know you are a man – perhaps the only man – in this capital who believes there can still be another way. We can still have peace. But I need you to protect him. Will you swear me that?” she asked. “Will you swear to protect the child of the throne?”
Yora bowed, hoping she couldn’t see the unease on his face.
Then he said, “I will.”
He met the retired-emperor the following day. Above him, the sky had turned metallic with cold, a dull sheen that sent a pallor over everything; not even the cloistered Ten’in house was spared. The Tessoku, Goshira’s shrouded guard, met him at the gate, and brought him in.
“It’s no secret I’m unhappy with Keishi control,” the retired-emperor said when they had settled, wafting a hand over his tea. “It’s no secret that my work has always been to increase power for the imperial family. Not these… oh, what does one call them? Interlopers. Theseregents. My son, the mirror prince, you know. Nioh, he should be emperor, not some brat from Ashihara and Seikiyo’s daughter.”
“Ashihara is your son,” Yora reminded him. “That ‘brat’ is your grandson, too.”
“He is my son. And that is a problem.”
“Ashihara is the rightful emperor. It’s his child.”
“He’snineteen. He was forced to marry Seikiyo’s daughter so the Keishi could insert themselves into the bloodline. He will be made to abdicate the moment his child can walk. Make no mistake, the prince will beSeikiyo’sheir, not mine.” Goshira spread his hands. “There are still families loyal to the Gensei,” he said. “The coalition is ready and they will come to your call. Especially with Nioh’s announcement.”
“What announcement?”
“Declaration of his intent to rule. You know how precarious things are. The balance of the court and the independent lords is at the edge of a knife. Because no matter how they may wish it, the court does not have a monopoly on violence. Help us. You know the evils that the Keishi do. That they have done, and that they will do again…”
For a moment, Yora felt as though the air had been pulled from his lungs. Goshira, retired-emperor of the realm, was talking about open rebellion.
“I am commander of the imperial guard,” he said.
Goshira scoffed. “Imperialguard. It’s meaningless. They’re hired swords. I was emperor once, Iknow– you think if the Keishi told them, your imperial guard wouldn’t hesitate to murder me? Would you? If your precious emperor – my son – ordered you to kill me, what would you do? Hm? Not so easy as a matter of oaths, is it?”
“You do not mean this.” Yora’s whole body had gone tense. His heart thundered in his ears, but Goshira merely smiled at him, calm as ever. The Chiten’s eyes had narrowed, dark, and hungry.
“I am father of the realm,” Goshira said. “Iappointed my son as sovereign when I retired, but I am still head of this family, and you, poet, will not tell me what I mean to do. I know Hagane has asked you to protect her and her son. I know. Poet, come. What do you think would really happen if they put aKeishion the throne?”
