Griffin's Shadow

by Leslie Ann Moore

  “Nazarius proposed that the essence of the disease itself can be utilized in producing a kind of natural blockage,” Raidan answered. “Unfortunately, Nazarius himself died before he could test his theory.”

  The king shook his head. “This all sounds so fantastical. How can a sickness prevent itself from afflicting a body?”

  “Your question reveals just how little we know about the workings of illnesses. It’s why I’ve devoted myself to science…to find out the answers.”

  The king appeared unconvinced, but Raidan knew the futility of arguing any longer. His brother remained firmly mired in the traditional view that magic and science existed as separate entities, rather than the more rational view that each stood as two different aspects of the same discipline. To Keizo, magic would always be the superior path.

  “We need to have our force on the road to Kerala as soon as possible,” Keizo said.

  “They can leave by the end of the week,” Sakehera answered.

  A heavy silence fell over the room. Raidan knew that each of them shared the same dire thoughts which no one wished to speak aloud.

  A shout, followed by the sound of a young woman’s laughter- lighthearted and joyful-floated up from the yard below.

  “Our children are down in your private sparring yard, hitting each other with practice swords,” Sakehera commented. “I wonder how wise that is, given Jelena’s condition.” Raidan noted the fatherly concern in his voice.

  “I’ve known my daughter barely two months,” Keizo said, “but I’ve come to learn that she is very much an Onjara. When she sets her mind to something, nothing will deter her. She has insisted on serious weapons training…to aid in the defense of Alasiri, she says.”

  “Keizo, we need to formulate plans for what we might do if…if it looks like the Soldarans will prevail.” Sakehera’s voice was grave.

  “Don’t you think that is a little premature?” the king shot back. “We haven’t even had so much as a skirmish yet! You’re selling us short if you’re already talking of defeat before the war’s even begun!”

  “Sen’s right, Brother. Our forces are outnumbered at least three to one. The Soldarans have the most formidable army in the known world. He’s just trying to be realistic. We need a backup plan should the unthinkable happen and the Imperial Army succeed in breaking through our lines at Tono.” Raidan paused, then added, “I also believe we should plan to utilize magic as part of our overall defense plan.”

  Keizo cocked an eyebrow. “I thought you were a man of science, Brother. Now, you advocate using magic?”

  “I believe we need to use every weapon at our disposal. The humans have no magic; therefore, they will be unable to mount any defense against ours. It could give us the advantage we need to counter their superior numbers.”

  “Yes, yes, that’s true!” Sakehera agreed.

  Keizo laid his hands flat against the table and looked up with troubled eyes. “The amount of skill and energy required to conjure the kind of powerful workings we are going to need will be enormous. It will take several high level sorcerers, and even then, the risks to each of them of death or insanity will be significant…Still, I agree with you.”

  “We should consult my wife,” Raidan replied. “She, better than anyone else at court, will know exactly what needs to be done.”

  “I will hear from Taya tomorrow, then, during the council meeting.” Keizo paused, then added, “I plan to allow Jelena to attend as well. It’s high time she started learning the skills of statecraft. The future has become too uncertain. I want her to have at least a basic knowledge, in case…” Keizo frowned and would not meet Raidan’s eyes.

  “In case…what? What are you trying to say, Keizo?” The unspoken part of the question hung like a dark shadow between them. The king stood and went over to the window. He stared out over the sunswept rooftops for awhile, hands folded behind him, rocking back and forth on his heels. A stray breeze lifted a tendril of silver hair and blew it back over his shoulder.

  “I’m not trying to say anything, Brother, other than I wish my daughter to be prepared for any eventuality,” he said at last, turning from the window to face Raidan. “Both of us will necessarily have to risk our lives on the battlefield when the time comes, as will your son Raidu. It may come to pass that Jelena will be the only one of our blood left who can carry on. I want her to be ready.”

  Raidan felt the heat of anger rise within him, but he ruthlessly quelled it. As much as he hated to admit it, Keizo was right. He remembered Taya’s admonition that he do nothing, even if Keizo took the unthinkable step and proclaimed Jelena his Heir. There were larger forces at work, and Raidan had to give them time to play their part.

  “Keizo, I want to go talk to my sons, tell ‘em they’re heading home and what they’re to do when they get there…If I have your leave?” Sakehera asked. Despite their lifelong friendship and the familiarity that came with it, Sakehera never forgot that Keizo was his sovereign first and foremost.

  “Yes, yes, of course,” Keizo consented. “And when you see my daughter, please tell her to come to me as soon as is convenient. I’ll be in my study.”

  “I will. Raidan,” Sakehera said, nodding his head in farewell. He rose from his chair and departed.

  “Brother, I know you too well,” Keizo said after Sakehera had left the room. He returned to his chair and poured himself another cup of tea before continuing. Raidan remained silent, waiting. “I’ve known since the day our brother Okame died, when I ascended the throne and you became my Heir, that you’ve desired the crown for yourself, or if not for you, then for Raidu.”

  “I won’t insult you by pretending otherwise,” Raidan replied. “But I have always stood behind you and supported you as a brother should. I’ve never allowed my ambition to cloud my judgment.”

  “True enough. I rely on and trust you most of all, but I suspect that if I try to set my daughter above you, you will fight me, even to the point of open rebellion.”

  Raidan’s eyes narrowed as he regarded Keizo, who stared back at him with eyes as hard and cold as glacial ice. He chose his next words with great care. “Brother, when have I ever given you cause to question my loyalty? I hold the good of our people before all else, just as you do, Keizo. The last thing I want is a civil war, which is what will surely happen if you try to name Jelena as your Heir.”

  “Is that a threat?” Keizo asked in a conversational tone, but Raidan could see tightly controlled anger in the rigid lines of his brother’s body.

  “No! It is merely a statement of fact. I happen to know over half the Council would oppose you, and in the ensuing fight, factions will inevitably form among the lesser nobility, further weakening us at a time when we need to be strong and united. And let us not forget the people!” Raidan stabbed the air with a forefinger, for emphasis. “Most, if not all okui will refuse to accept her as Heir, whereas the hikui will embrace her; in fact, they already have! Jelena would serve as a very potent symbol for them and encourage them to demand equal legal status.”

  “Don’t you think the people will accept my daughter because she is mine? She is a true Onjara; the White Griffin proved it!” Keizo replied heatedly.

  “Keizo, you should have married and gotten yourself a legitimate heir!” Raidan shouted. “I don’t know why you never did, because if you had done so, we wouldn’t be in this situation now! I would have gladly stepped aside for a legal child of yours, but for a bastard hikui …” He stopped and closed his eyes, unable to continue as his anger threatened to boil over and consume him.

  “You dare speak to me thus?” Keizo asked in a low voice.

  Raidan’s eyes snapped open and he sucked in a deep breath. “Let’s stop right now before I…before we take this too far.” He leaned forward, his face close enough for Keizo to strike if he so chose. “Zin… Brother! I don’t wish to fight you, but…I beg of you. Don’t do anything that all of us will regret. At least hold off making any decision until after we settle things with t
he Soldarans.”

  Keizo’s jaw worked, as if dangerous words fought to free themselves from the confines of his mouth. He clenched and unclenched his fists, and for one tense moment, Raidan thought his brother would punch him in the face after all. He prepared to dodge the blow, but it never came. Keizo sat back in his chair with a grunt and turned his face away. He rested his chin in his hand.

  Raidan sighed with relief. “Keizo, I…” he began, but the king interrupted him.

  “Leave me. I need to think.” He refused to meet Raidan’s eyes.

  Without another word, Raidan got up and departed.

  Chapter 15

  Danger In The East

  "You did very well with the sword today, love,” Ashinji said. “Your cousin Magnes would be proud.”

  “I know you held back, Ashi, even though I’ve asked you not to,” Jelena replied with mock irritation. “You won’t hurt the baby. The swords are dull and besides, you aren’t aiming anywhere near my belly.”

  The two of them had spent the morning in the king’s private sparring yard; after a quick bath, they had returned to the Sakehera family quarters for a lunch of cold meat, cheese, and bread. After helping themselves, they settled into their favorite window seat overlooking a small garden courtyard directly below the tower apartment.

  Jelena’s weapons training now kept Ashinji busy most mornings. Within the short period of time he had been schooling her, she had made rapid progress. He felt Jelena pushed herself out of fear of the near future, but also from her desire to master some basic skills before her body grew too ungainly.

  “I can’t help worrying, but…” he raised a hand to forestall her protest, “it doesn’t mean I don’t think you should learn how to defend yourself.” His undeniable need to protect her had to coexist with his desire to help her become strong and self-confident. Sometimes, he found it difficult to balance the two.

  Five months into her pregnancy, Jelena glowed with robust health. The nausea that had plagued her early on had subsided; her appetite had increased to the point where she now ate more than he did. Ashinji gazed into his wife’s face and noted how it had grown rounder, softer. Even with her mouth full of food, he found her irresistible.

  Jelena is carrying our child, he thought, smiling. She stared back at him quizzically.

  “What? Do I have sauce on my nose?” She reached up to wipe her face.

  “No, love. I’m just thinking about how lucky I am.”

  Jelena laid her hand on her swollen midsection. “I’m the lucky one,” she replied.

  They continued their meal in companionable silence; ever attuned to her mood, Ashinji gradually became aware of a subtle change in his wife’s demeanor.

  “Something’s troubling you. What is it?” he asked.

  Jelena sighed and took a sip of wine from her tankard before answering.

  “I visited Sateyuka yesterday,” she said.

  “Your friend the weaver.” Ashinji had yet to meet Jelena’s new friend, but he approved of their acquaintance.

  “Yes. Going down to Jokimichi, remembering what happened to Sateyuka and her family…it made me angry all over again, Ashi.”

  “Have you spoken to your father about how you feel?”

  Jelena shook her head. “No. Until now, I felt I didn’t know him well enough to speak to him about such things. But we have grown much closer in the last few weeks. My father is a good man and a good king, but I think he ignores the plight of the hikui…not because he’s uncaring, but because to change the laws would mean going against tradition.”

  Ashinji picked his next words with care. “I know you’ll be angry when you hear this, but…perhaps now is not the time to distract your father with this.” Jelena looked at him sharply. Ashinji took her hand. “I don’t mean to say I think it’s right that a hikui should be less than any okui person under the law, but if the Soldarans succeed in overrunning Alasiri, none of that will matter. We’ll all suffer, okui and hikui alike.”

  “I know what you are saying is right,” Jelena conceded, “but I still must tell him how I feel. I’m sure he’d want to know.”

  “Ah, children!” Sen called out as he swept into the room, interrupting their conversation.

  “Hello, Father,” Ashinji rose to greet his father. “You look troubled.”

  “I have news, Youngest Son.” He regarded Ashinji with a solemn expression.

  “Father, what’s happened?” Ashinji asked, frowning. He moved closer to Jelena and slipped an arm around her waist.

  “There’s trouble back home,” Sen answered. “Soldaran troops are gathering at Amsara Castle. We have good intelligence that says they’re planning an attack on Kerala within the month.”

  “No!” Jelena exclaimed. “My uncle can’t…” She stopped herself with a fierce shake of her head. “What am I saying…of course he can!” She swore a string of oaths in Soldaran. Sen’s eyebrows shot up.

  “Easy, Wife,” Ashinji soothed, stroking her arm. “How large is the duke’s army, Father?”

  “At least two thousand strong, by the best estimates of our scouts, and nearly half of that is heavy cavalry. And it’s not the duke who leads them.”

  “Who, then?” Jelena asked. “Surely not my cousin Magnes! He would never…Wait, wait. It must be Thessalina. She’s always been the captain of the ducal forces. But then that means…” She grabbed Ashinji’s forearm and he winced at the strength of her grip. “Something has happened to my uncle, Ashi. He’s ill, or…or…” She paused, then added, “He would never allow Thessalina to lead his troops into battle if he could do so himself.”

  “A woman does, indeed, appear to be in charge,” Sen confirmed.

  “Have there been any reports of my cousin Magnes?” Jelena asked.

  “I’m sorry, my dear, but the scouts don’t know what your cousin looks like. There’s really no way to tell if he’s even at Amsara.”

  “I know you’re worried about Magnes, Jelena,” Ashinji said. “Let’s pray that he somehow finds a way to get through this trouble unscathed.”

  “The king wants a force of our own in Kerala to stand ready to repel any sorties the Soldarans make across our border,” Sen continued.

  Ashinji frowned. “Why would the empress choose to launch an invasion so far to the east…and why now? I thought her plan is to attack through the Tono valley next spring.”

  “Think about it, Son. The empress knows that by sending an army out to the east now, she can split our forces and weaken us by making us fight an exhausting defensive action. This way, she wears us down before the main fight even starts.”

  The harsh squawk of a raven drifted in through the open window. The sound filled Ashinji with foreboding. He shivered and pulled Jelena close against him. He could sense her puzzlement. “I assume Sadaiyo will lead our guards back to Kerala?” he asked.

  “Our guard and a contingent of regular troops, yes,” Sen replied, then added, “You’ll go along as his second-in-command.” Ashinji felt Jelena stiffen in his arms. She pulled away and sank back onto the window seat, her face gone pale.

  “My heart is telling me to beg you not to send Ashi away,” she whispered, looking at Sen, “but my mind understands what is at stake. I know where my husband’s duty lies.” The pain and fear in his wife’s voice cut like knives; still, Ashinji had never been so proud of her.

  “Spoken like a true princess,” Sen replied. “Your bravery honors us, my dear.”

  “I don’t feel very brave right now.” Jelena put an impatient hand to her face and dashed away the tears leaking from the corners of her eyes.

  “When do we leave, Father?” Ashinji asked.

  “Two days from now. I’ll be staying in Sendai. The king can’t spare me just now. The full council meets tomorrow. There’s still a lot of planning to be done, and in light of these new developments… Well, I’ve got to go find your brother, and I pray to the One that wife of his controls her temper when she hears Sadaiyo’s going away without her!”
r />   “I’ll be ready, Father,” Ashinji assured. Sen nodded and squeezed his shoulder, then headed for the door.

  Ashinji sat on the couch beside Jelena. She looked so young and frightened, like a little girl who faced the loss of her entire world.

  “Jelena…” he began, but she laid a finger to his lips, stilling his words.

  “Please don’t say anything, Ashi.”

  He gathered her into his arms and held her while she cried.

  ~~~

  That night, Ashinji dreamed of fire. Flames shot up in bright walls all around him, yet he could not run fast enough to escape. The sounds of pursuit-the thud of horses’ hooves, the hoarse shouts of men-echoed in his ears; suddenly, he found himself surrounded by shadows, all featureless, save one. He knew, with terrible certainty, that if he could recognize that face, he would be able to save himself.

  ‘ Help me!’ he cried, but harsh laughter drowned out his plea. The eyes of the one he should have known burned like stars-cold and distant. Ashinji realized at that moment he was lost. A high-pitched keening, like the wail of a damned soul tore at his ears. He looked down to see an arrow had sprouted from his chest. Bright blood, red as roses, spurted, and he fell, down, down, into darkness…

  …and woke with a start, clammy with sweat. His heart hammered against his ribcage and his limbs shook with the knowledge that he had just experienced not a dream, but a vision of his future. He turned to look at Jelena, who lay facing him, sleeping soundly. As he watched, she sighed and muttered, then rolled onto her other side, away from him.

  He lay back and took a deep breath, trying to will his body to relax, but to no avail. He knew he would sleep no more this night.

  When Jelena awoke the following morning, she found him sitting in the window, staring out over the rooftops, his eyes narrowed against the red glare of the rising sun.

  ~~~

  “Little Brother, your first duty as my second-in-command is to hold my stirrup while I mount.” Sadaiyo grinned in more of a wolfish display of his teeth than an actual smile.