At last, they reached the exterior wall and the grand doorway that led outside. Except for the observation level at the very top of the tower, this balcony offered the clearest view of southern Towabara. If not for the haze and the yellow clouds, Takeno could have seen the tips of the Sokenzan.
“Behold, Konda said. “The full majesty of—”
The daimyo never finished his thought. Instead, his hand tightened on Takeno’s shoulder as they both stared at the spectacle just beyond the edge of the balcony.
Yosei, the Morning Star, guardian dragon spirit of the realm, was little more than a blur as he circled the tower. His body seemed to be a constant, uninterrupted ring as he went round and round like a dog chasing its tail. Takeno had to concentrate to spot the dragon’s head, which overlapped the end of his streamlined body as he whirled around. Nearby, dozens of riders steered their battle moths clear of the frenzied guardian’s path.
The haze was thinner today than it had been, allowing Takeno and Konda to see much more of the horizon. In fact, there was a large circular hole in the center of the cloud cover, the clear eye in a swirling storm of yellow fog.
Yosei continued to race around them. Takeno heard the rising screech of the dragon’s increasingly panicked cry. He craned his head and peered into the clear, calm center of the sky.
“My lord,” he said, pointing. “Do you see that?”
Konda did not answer, but he dropped his arm from Takeno’s shoulder and shuffled to the stone railing at the end of the balcony. His vacillating eyes were fixed on the same spot Takeno had pointed out.
In the far-off sky, a flame sparked to life in the calm center of the storm. A similar spark flared nearby, mirroring the first, but at this distance it was impossible to gauge how large the flames were or how far apart.
The twin fireballs moved as one, orienting on Konda’s tower like a great pair of eyes. A second matching pair opened behind the first, then a third. Each pair moved together but independently from the others. All the flaming orbs fixed on Eiganjo then stopped, hovering ominously in the sky.
Takeno felt a rush of air flow past him as something unimaginably vast inhaled. Then, the old soldier dropped to his knees as an ear-splitting roar rolled up southern Towabara and slammed into the tower like a gale-force wind.
Blood dribbled from the general’s ears. Beneath his feet, Konda’s mighty tower shuddered, and for a delirious moment Takeno wondered if it too was frightened.
On the horizon the matching pairs of eyes began to move. Fog, smoke, or something unknown was coalescing around the huge flaming orbs. It appeared as if each set of eyes was housed within a great reptilian head that was still taking shape, each perched on top of a long and sinuous neck. Their progress was slow and ponderous, but they were definitely coming straight for Eiganjo.
Takeno climbed to his feet and went to Konda’s side at the rail. The daimyo’s eyes were steady and fixed on the monstrosity slowly inching its way toward them.
“My lord,” Takeno gasped. “What is happening?”
Konda did not seem frightened but resolute. He gripped the balcony railing before slamming his closed fist into his open palm.
“It has come at last,” Konda whispered. “As we were told it might.”
Takeno forgot himself and tugged on the daimyo’s sleeve. “Forgive me, my lord, but I am at a loss. What has come? Who warned us?”
“The Great Spirit Beast,” Konda said. Takeno noticed his eyes begin drifting anew. “O-Kagachi, the Great Old Serpent. The embodiment of the kakuriyo itself has come to claim The Taken One, that which now rightfully belongs to me.”
Konda turned suddenly, tossing off Takeno’s hand.
“Order all available troops to the Sokenzan border as we discussed. Yosei is needed here, to aid me in my struggle against O-Kagachi.” Konda paused, musing. “I must also send word to Minamo. Keiga must also prepare for this battle.”
The daimyo turned and clasped both hands on Takeno’s shoulders. “When you have dispatched your riders, return to me. We must repair to my sanctuary to meditate, commune, and prepare for the great serpent’s arrival. This will be a decisive battle, old friend, one that we must win.”
Takeno struggled not to swoon. Before him, the daimyo’s mad eyes swam back and forth. In the distance, a vast, three-headed titan was crawling across the sky.
“I am your servant, my lord.” Takeno stepped back and saluted. “I will do as you command.”
Pearl-Ear waited under the waning moon, near the tree where she had seen and heard Toshi. Externally, she was a study in calm, but she could barely keep her hands from shaking as she sat.
She did not, in fact, expect the ochimusha to show up. Toshi was a cunning man and a careful one, so he had to be aware of the bad blood that existed between himself and the kitsune. On their last outing he had insulted them, kidnapped the princess, sent Choryu to an unknown fate, and escaped from their custody, all with a sneer and a sarcastic comment. Her brother was eager to lay hands on Toshi, and the Tail brothers were likely to run him through on sight.
Pearl-Ear had been able to keep secret her meeting with Toshi, at least from Sharp-Ear and the Tails. Instead, she had confided in Captain Silver-Foot and Riko-ome from the academy. Silver-Foot had a low opinion of most humans and Riko, who had been on the outing that resulted in Toshi’s capture of Michiko, bore the same grudges as the kitsune brothers. Both the student and the officer had cooler heads and a better understanding of duty than the others, however, and Pearl-Ear felt she had to trust them. The alternative would be to go to Toshi’s meeting place alone.
Pearl-Ear shifted slightly under her tree. She could sense Riko, concealed among the cedar leaves overhead. She could not locate Silver-Foot, though she knew he and at least three of his rangers were positioned with a clear view of the area. Pearl-Ear was hopeful they would have a reasonable chance of catching Toshi or the princess, assuming they ever showed up.
Pale moonlight illuminated the trees, casting soft shadows along the ground. Pearl-Ear tilted her muzzle down. Her people were extremely sensitive to the natural order of things, and something decidedly unnatural was happening in the darkness. Though the night was cold and still, she sensed a motion from within the shadows on the ground.
Pearl-Ear leaned closer. No, not on the ground. For some reason, these dark shapes seemed to descend into the ground, plunging to depths she would never be able to fathom. Was this how Toshi could come and go so quickly?
All Pearl-Ear’s questions, fears, and concerns vanished when the crown of a shiny, black-haired head broke through the cedar shadow. “Michiko-hime,” she said, anxiety robbing her words of their force.
The princess rose from the black plane, rising like steam without apparent effort. She seemed fine, healthy and strong, if a little pale. Her eyes were closed, and she appeared to be in a deep sleep as she sprouted from the ground like a fast-growing weed.
Pearl-Ear stood in case Silver-Foot and his rangers could not see Michiko’s arrival. She wanted armed warriors by her side when Toshi emerged and demanded payment.
Meanwhile, Michiko’s tall, lithe form completed its vertical journey. Her toes still lay beneath the surface of the shadow, and her eyes were still shut, but she was whole and complete and as beautiful as ever. Pearl-Ear restrained herself from gathering her former student in her arms.
“Open your eyes,” Toshi’s voice said, “and step forward, princess.”
Michiko’s eyelids fluttered. She wavered on the surface of her shadowy perch, but as her eyes cleared she saw Pearl-Ear waiting with open arms.
“Sensei!” she cried. She stepped forward, dragging her foot through the shadow as if it were no more than a shallow puddle and placed her sandal on solid ground.
Pearl-Ear rushed forward, embracing the much larger princess with all her might, pulling her away from the dim pool that had spawned her. For a moment the fox-woman was able to forget kami, the daimyo’s ire, and her own journey on behalf of her people. She h
ad been reunited with Michiko at last, and she would let nothing spoil this perfect moment.
She stepped back and clamped onto Michiko’s upper arms, staring into the princess’s face.
“Are you all right?” Pearl-Ear said. “Is there anyone with you?”
“I am here, Lady Pearl-Ear.” Toshi’s voice echoed from within the shadow on the ground. “But I daresay if I show my face, someone will put an arrow through it.”
Pearl-Ear did not look up, where Riko sat with her bow at the ready. The student wizard was likely to shoot Toshi just to clear the way for her own reunion with Michiko.
“You have nothing to fear,” Pearl-Ear said, “so long as you have no surprises planned.”
Pearl-Ear heard a whisper of steel just before the razored edge of a blade pressed tight against her throat.
“None, Lady.” Toshi had appeared directly behind her, crouching between Pearl-Ear and the cedar tree. “And you? Kitsune are well-known for playing tricks. What lurks in yonder woods?”
Pearl-Ear held perfectly still. “Riko-ome is in the tree above, ochimusha. There are also rangers about. I thought it prudent to have someone to guard me while I waited.”
“Toshi,” Michiko said sternly. “Release Lady Pearl-Ear.”
“In a moment, Princess. He leaned close to Pearl-Ear’s ear and said, “I’m glad to see you’re keeping your wits about you, Lady. I have done what I said I would do. The princess is now in your care.”
The blade vanished. Pearl-Ear whirled around and locked her furious gaze on Toshi.
The ochimusha looked even less healthy than he had before. His skin was pale and drawn, his eyes were cloudy, and he seemed to suffer with each new breath. Pearl-Ear fought off a reflexive wave of sympathy—no matter how taxing the journey had been, Toshi was still too unpredictable to be considered a friend.
“Remember what we talked about,” he said. He looked at the thin crescent moon overhead. In the pale moonlight, she could see him fading away like a ghost. “Take her somewhere safe.”
The ochimusha was gone.
Riko slid down the tree trunk with her bow and an arrow in the same hand. When her feet touched the soil, she cast her weapons aside and rushed to Michiko, her eyes wild and wet.
As the two girls embraced, Pearl-Ear waved for Silver-Foot. In seconds, he and the three kitsune rangers had materialized out of the darkness.
“Welcome to the Jukai, princess.” Silver-Foot bowed, and the rangers followed his example. Michiko was still locked in Riko’s arms, and neither girl noticed the warriors’ respectful gesture.
The kitsune captain turned to Pearl-Ear. “So that was your kanji mage? Whatever he’s using to appear and disappear like that will kill him if he’s not careful.”
“I expect he is aware of that,” Pearl-Ear said. “He tends to be exceedingly careful.”
“As do I,” Silver-Foot said. “With your permission, I will lead you and your charges back to the camp site.”
“By all means.” Pearl-Ear stepped forward and placed a hand on each girl’s shoulder.
“Come,” she said. “There are safer places for a reunion, and I know several who will be almost delighted as we are to see you again, Princess.”
Michiko laughed, and Riko squeezed her hand.
“Almost,” the wizard said.
Toshi followed from a short distance as the kitsune led Michiko through the woods.
He was glad to see that the kitsune’s heightened senses still could not detect his phantom form. He was getting better at moving around in this state. He would never be able to match a fox warrior at a full run, but he could keep pace as they hiked through the dark, close enough to hear what they were saying all the way back to their campsite.
Toshi again marveled at the size of the party—dozens of kitsune warriors and a handful of Konda’s cavalry. He wasn’t sure what they were doing this deep in the Jukai, but he doubted it concerned him much. They looked like the remnants of a larger force, perhaps one that had been battling rogue kami and lost.
Lady Pearl-Ear and Riko led the princess to a large lean-to on the edge of the camp. Toshi recognized Sharp-Ear and the three kitsune warriors he had met before. He had never bothered to learn their names.
Toshi drifted to the very edge of the lean-to. He was glaring at Pearl-Ear as his mind worked. The last time this group had assembled, it had been to take Michiko into orochi country on some sort of pilgrimage. The snakes and the forest monks had attacked them without provocation and taken them all captive.
They wouldn’t be stupid enough to try again, even with a bigger force behind them. This new party had a far more regimented feel to it, with the soldiers marching in ranks and ceremonial sashes on some of the foxes. The snakefolk lived wild and had no embassy, no spokesman. What could this official-looking delegation do in the woods except pass through?
Toshi watched as the kitsune brothers walked straight up him and scanned the exterior of the lean-to. One of them passed right through Toshi, unaware of the ochimusha’s presence.
“We are alone,” the warrior said.
“Thank you, Dawn-Tail. Michiko, we have very little time, so pay attention. We shall arrive on the shores in two days. We are expected, but you are a surprise. I think you should stay out of sight.”
Toshi nodded to himself. He felt the familiar dread of being forced in the direction he least wanted to go.
“I disagree, sensei. If the delegation is from both Eiganjo and the kitsune nation—”
“You do not represent Eiganjo,” Pearl-Ear said quietly, “and Headmaster Hisoka is a close friend and ally to your father. He will be obliged to return you to the tower or at least to report that you have come to him.”
Toshi watched Pearl-Ear closely, trying to detect any sign of her inner thoughts. It was no use. Her face was too alien and her body language too elegant. She had lied right to his face and he had missed it. They were taking Michiko to the academy.
“How am I to avoid being seen?” the princess flared. “Am I to travel in someone’s pack?”
“Don’t be flip. We will disguise you in some of my robes. You will be my attendant.”
“I am twice as tall as you, sensei.”
“Then we will stitch two of my robes together. This is not open for debate, Princess. You are a fugitive, and you must not be seen. Our mission is too important.”
The Princess gave a dismissive cough. “What is this mission?”
Toshi crept forward a few inches, listening carefully.
Pearl-Ear sighed. “Riko believes the school is hiding something. The masters lately have received frequent visits from the soratami above the falls. They are agitated, and became more so when …”
Riko stepped forward. “When I told them Choryu had died. They called me into Hisoka’s offices and had me tell them the entire story … how we smuggled you out of the tower, how we wound up among the orochi. I explained how the ochimusha’s friend was killed and how he accused Choryu of the murder. How he killed him for it. I asked if the ochimusha was right, because the evidence did support his claims.
“They didn’t answer. They thanked me for my report and told me not to mention the subject to anyone. I was given duties that kept me away from my fellow students. That night, three soratami came down from their cloud city, three more the next morning. Since then, there have been daily visits.
“The headmaster is a good man, but I believe he and some of the other masters are working for the soratami, whom they revere as semi-divine. We all do. We are taught that they are exalted, far closer to the perfect balance of mind, body, and spirit than we humans.”
Pearl-Ear spoke up. “Riko thinks this reverence has blinded the headmaster to the dangers we all face. He is pursuing the soratami agenda, working toward their goals. They do not see the Kami War as the rest of us see it.”
“How can you say that?” Michiko said. “All Kamigawa has suffered during the war.”
“The soratami have not been subjected
to the same degree of attacks we have here on the ground. Their city floats above it all.”
“That’s not true,” Riko said. “The academy is one of the busiest fronts in the war. I am part of an entire generation of students who trained for combat as well as academics. Minamo has contributed greatly to the defense of the utsushiyo.”
“Of course they have,” Pearl-Ear said, “but no one has ever seen their city in the clouds. It could be as devastated as the rest of Kamigawa, or it could be pristine and untouched. We cannot say.”
“Nor can we say what the soratami intend without investigating further,” Riko said. “I think it’s clear they are influencing the headmaster, forcing him to do what they want. He seems frightened and awed every time they come. I know that if he had an ally … an ally like the kitsune … he could find the strength to resist them.”
“If he had a confidant,” Pearl-Ear added, “he might also reveal some of his most troublesome secrets.”
The conversation continued, but Toshi slipped away into the woods. They were all fools, doomed fools. He had never heard Hisoka’s name before tonight, but he’d bet his right arm that the headmaster would not welcome their offer of support anymore than he would answer their questions. If anything, the little toad would politely ask them to wait while he ran to the soratami for guidance.
You could never count on professors and politicians, who had raised bureaucracy and obfuscation to an art form. By the time they were through with the formal greetings and declarations of mutual support, Hidetsugu would have arrived and eaten half the academy.
Still, the idea of getting more information about the soratami appealed to him. They and their little crescent moon kami were definitely moving into Numai, and who knew what else they were up to? Perhaps Lady Pearl-Ear was right: The moonfolk saw the Kami War in their own terms, as nothing more than an opportunity.
Well clear of the campsite, Toshi paused. He was feeling good enough to travel again, as the dizziness and the pains in his chest had subsided. There was no shortage of shadows to employ, but he wasn’t quite sure where to go.
Heretic, Betrayers of Kamigawa: Kamigawa Cycle, Book II Page 14
