“Lord Gisan will take care of that.”
“Tokuon? Why would he damage his lands for the sake of yours? If he bows down and turns on his own people, what respect will he have there?”
A Hara elder raised his hands. “That is not our debate. It’s not your nephew’s fault. Nor is it the bird-calling east. It is theKeishi. They have mismanaged for their profit and the corelands suffer. That is why we’re here. We’ve asked you here because something must be done.”
“You intend to stand against the capital.”
“Wearethe capital,” the Hara nobleman Ichiei Hoin said. Minister of the Left, friend of Goshira: Yora wasn’t surprised to see him here. Beside him sat his niece, Shigeo’s young wife, Nariko, Blue Lady of the Hara.So, she’s bound by her family, too, he thought.She met his eyes.
“Listen to me,” he said, “do not take part in a conspiracy against the throne.”
Slim-shouldered Moro laughed. “It’s not against the throne, it’s against Seikiyo! The Keishi grow fat and push the rest of us out.”
“We are fighting for our land,” Ichiei Hoin said, “and are prepared to take it if we must. He’s dismantling the entire order, taking everything for himself…”
“We can talk to them,” Yora said. “Seikiyo’s wife will listen…”
They didn’t believe it. Ascetic Shun’en said, “By taking the chancellorship, by marrying into the imperial line, he has merged kijin and Ten’in families… It’s an affront to everything we are.”
“You mean, everything youown?” Yora asked. He’d had enough. “I know you, monk – your temple has estates in Omori. What is this? Youconspire with the retired-emperor? Get the Gensei to fight them for you? Is that what you want?”
The silence told him more than words. “I cannot join with this conspiracy.”
“You must!”
Moro held a paper out, a list of names in a ring. They wanted him to sign. He batted it away.
“I cannot.”
The room erupted in argument again. “Things are in motion,” Moro said. “They move faster than you know. Sign.”
Yora left them to their rage.
The little courtyard, at least, was quiet, and the air smelled clean and cool. A small moment of peace, if that. Ichiei Hoin stepped out behind him, clucking lightly with his tongue, and came to Yora as he untied his horse. “A word, poet.”
“I’ve already given you my answer,” Yora said.
“I have something to tell you.” The older man sniffed. His hair looked thin, his skin sallow, puffy. He seemed to have aged, over the course of the evening, as though he too felt some great danger coming over them all.
“Ame’in,” Yora said. “Let me pass.”
“Hold,” said Ichiei. Yora tried to pass again, and again Ichiei blocked him. “You are in trouble, poet.”
“Am I? You’re the one who brings a daughter of your house to see this. She’s married to aKeishi.” Ichiei huffed. He knew Yora meant his niece, Nariko, who loved Shigeo Keishi with the love of all the worlds. Who had borne his son.
“Whatever you think, I am your friend,” Ichiei said. “I’m telling you the truth. You’ve been tricked. Seikiyo? You protected him thirty years. But you must know the truth. I’ve had word.Goshira sends his people to Kitano.”
“For what purpose?
“To ascertain,” Ichiei Hoin said, “if Iyo’s supposed son is really a Kitanohara.”
Fear pricked the back of Yora’s neck. “Nonsense.”
“No. No. No. We know,” Ichiei whispered. Yora could smell the rice-wine on his breath, the sweat beading at his brow. “The Hoshiakari.We know he is Gensei, poet… We know what youdid. The monk, Ryaku’in, he’s returned, and he returns with truth. He’ll tell everyone.”
“He won’t be believed.”
“Won’t he? Goshira has already taken steps. He sent his agents to the east. You ask, what purpose? I say:to instigate a war.Anything thatdestabilizes peace will only be more leverage for him to use against Seikiyo. He plans to instigate this… If you cannot help us, Yora, I respect that decision, but you must know, itiscoming. The retired-emperor and the chancellor? They are two bulls. They will come head-to-head – whether we like it or not. It’s coming, Yora, it is coming.”
