“Yeah, you got it.”
“So, now what?”
Esumi cocked his head. “What do you mean?”
“Well, the palace probably won’t notice I’m missing until mid-morning. I’d hate to waste a precious few hours of freedomsitting here on your grandmother’s floor, no offence to her. It is a fine floor.”
Esumi chuckled. “Better not insult her floor. I might have to—”
“What?” I said through a grin. “You might have to smack me with a broken table leg? That was some Samurai move you had there.”
“Samurai prefer thekatana,tanto, oryumibut also teach the value of using whatever weapon is available. Being resourceful is highly prized among followers of the Path.”
I groaned. “Please don’t start rambling on about the glories of Bushido. All I ever hear from my uncles is that I should act with pride or serve with humility. Half the Samuraiout there use Bushido as an excuse to execute any peasant who doesn’t bow deeply enough when they pass. Their sense of honor is about as thin as yourkimono. If I hear one more word about nobility and purpose, I’ll puke all over this fine floor.”
“As I recall, you were about to puke when I met you.”
My groan grew louder. “Keep talking like that, and I’ll lose the last of my self-control. My stomach is churning worse than the sea right now.”
A couple of hours had passed when I realized we’d been sitting on a dusty floor throughout most of the night. Esumi battered me with questions about my family, life in the palace, and what it was like growing up with the Emperor as my father. He barely let me answer one question before three others popped out of his mouth. When the subject of my uncles took center stage, Esumi leaped to his feet and paced excitedly.
“What’s theDai Shogunlike? Is he really as big as a bear? I’ve seen him from a distance but never up close. Does he really growl when he talks? They say he could take on ten men at once. What do you think?”
I laughed and held up my hands. “Wow, you sure love my uncle.”
“You don’t? He’s only the most famous general in the whole empire. During theHanWars, he personally led dozens of battles, hundreds if you believe tavern tales. He’s like a god among men.”
My brow cocked.
“Oh,” Esumi said, his mouth forming an embarrassed O. “I didn’t mean it like that. I mean, the Emperor, and your brothers, and I guess you . . . you’re all gods or descendants of gods, right? Or are you sons of gods? But your sister, she’s a girl. Is she a god—or a goddess—or, I don’t know. What is she? Bollocks. What am I saying? I’m talking about divinitytodivinity. Amaterasu’s tits, I should stop talking now.”
By the time Esumi’s lips clamped shut, my arms were folded across my belly, and I was fully doubled over. “You’re funny when you babble, you know that, right?” I spit out through bouts of laughter.
Esumi dropped to his knees and bowed, nearly slamming his forehead to the wooden floorboards. “Forgive me, Divine—”
“Oh, stop that.” I reached out and gripped Esumi’s shoulders, pulling him upright. I hadn’t meant to pull him close, but our faces were fingers apart when our eyes met. “Don’t bow to me, all right, at least not when we’re alone. I’m just, I don’t know, justme, okay?”
A breath apart, Esumi didn’t move.
I tried to pull my eyes away, but they refused.
My hands trembled as they clung to Esumi’s shoulders.
My mind reeled.
No one dared approach a royal much less touch one; and yet, Esumi only showed fear or deference when talking of godhood.
Who was this man? What did he think he was doing?
What am I doing?I thought.Oh, gods.
One heartbeat passed, then two.
“Uh, sorry,” I said, gently pushing Esumi back and releasing him. “I just . . . I’m not . . . I mean, the whole royalty thing never felt right on me.”
Where had that come from? Why did I say that? I’m such an idiot.
Esumi’s eyes never left mine. “I think it looks good on you.”
