Nimatsu raised his hands and the roar of the crowd slowly died away.
‘The Kyofu killed seventeen of our friends and neighbours. Now these girls, these young girls from another country, have ended the Terror!’ Alyss raised an eyebrow. He didn’t use the word gaijin, she noticed. Literally, it meant foreigner. But the term had developed slightly pejorative overtones in the way it was sometimes used. Obviously, Lord Nimatsu intended that nobody might infer any kind of slur from his words.
‘Hasanu people, give thanks to Ev-an-in-san and Ariss-san!’
Now the roar that rose from their throats was deafening. Alyss glanced at Evanlyn, standing beside her. The princess smiled.
‘I think we could wave now,’ she said.
They acknowledged the cheers of the villagers, then Lord Nimatsu stepped forward to join them.
‘Today, you should rest and recover,’ he said. ‘I’ll send out messengers to gather the Hasanu army. By the end of the week, we should be ready to march to the aid of Emperor Shigeru.’
Alyss lay back in the scalding hot bath, feeling the water ease the bruises and aches of her battle with the Kyofu. She could still recall the mind-numbing terror she had felt when the massive beast had stormed out of the night towards her, the mouth-drying fear as she lay curled under the wooden shield, hearing its claws and teeth rip and tear at the wood, feeling it breaking up and knowing that it couldn’t withstand the onslaught much longer, then the overwhelming relief as she heard Evanlyn’s lead shot begin to pound into the animal’s body.
‘She’s as good as they say,’ she muttered to herself.
Reluctantly, she stepped out of the steaming hot water, wrapping herself in a giant, warm robe and groaning slightly as pain twinged in her back muscles. Yet the pain was much less than it had been before the bath, she knew. There was a light tap at the door frame.
‘Come in,’ she called. The door slid open and Evanlyn entered. She had bathed as well. She wore a wrap-around robe and her short blonde hair was still wet.
‘How are you feeling?’ Evanlyn asked.
Alyss made her way to a low stool and sat, groaning slightly once more, and indicated for Evanlyn to sit beside her.
‘I’ll live,’ she said, with a wry smile. ‘That hot water certainly does wonders. What doesn’t parboil me makes me stronger,’ she said, misquoting the old proverb. The smile faded and she regarded Evanlyn for a few seconds.
‘It occurs to me,’ she said, ‘that in all the terror and excitement and cheering, I never said thank you.’
‘Thank me?’ said Evanlyn, her tone incredulous. ‘I have never witnessed anything to match what you did last night! That was the most courageous act I have ever seen! Where on earth did you get the idea?’
Alyss coloured a little, although, with her face already flushed from the heat of the bath, it was difficult to notice.
‘Something Selethen told us when we were in Toscana. He said one of the tribes to the south of Arrida hunts lions that way. They let the lions knock them over, then lie under their shields and stab upwards at them. It struck me that might be the way to deal with the Kyofu. Of course,’ she said, smiling, ‘they don’t have the benefit of a friend hurling great chunks of lead at the lion as they do it. You have no idea how relieved I was when you came to the rescue.’
She looked seriously at the smaller girl now. Everyone had made a great fuss about Alyss’s willingness to act as bait in the forest. Only Alyss realised that when Evanlyn had come to her aid, she had done so without any protection at all. If her sling shots hadn’t been as accurate as they were, she would have been left facing an enraged beast at close quarters, without shield, armour or defensive weapon of any kind.
If Alyss had risked her life to defeat the Kyofu, Evanlyn had done no less. She wondered if the princess realised that and she felt a deep regard for the other girl, not just for her skill with the sling, but for her readiness to put herself in danger to save a companion.
If only…Alyss resolutely pushed the unworthy thought aside. But Evanlyn seemed to be thinking along similar lines.
‘Alyss,’ she said uncertainly, ‘one day I’ll be queen. And I’m going to want people around me who are courageous and dedicated and imaginative.’
‘That’s as it should be,’ Alyss said.
‘Frankly, I’d like quite a few of those people to be women. I think women have a different perspective on things, as your mentor has proven time and time again. I’d like you to be one of my inner circle, Alyss, professionally and personally. I think that we could work very well together.’
Alyss made a half bow from her sitting position and winced as the back muscles stretched again.
‘I’ll always be happy to serve my queen and my country in any way I can,’ she said politely.
Evanlyn spread her hands in exasperation. ‘Why do you have to be so formal, Alyss? Why can’t I get through to you? I respect you. I admire you. I like you! I want to be your friend! My father has shown that having good friends as advisers is the best way to rule. Halt, Crowley, Baron Arald. They’re not just advisers. They’ve been his friends for years. And friends will tell you when you’re wrong. I want that!’
‘Have I been unfriendly, your highness? I’ve always tried to be respectful.’ Alyss’s face was a mask, but now two spots of colour appeared in Evanlyn’s cheeks.
‘There always has to be a niggle between us, doesn’t there?’ she said angrily. ‘Thank you for that, your highness. Have I been unfriendly? I’ve always been respectful.’ She mimicked Alyss’s words savagely. ‘I’m offering my friendship, but you seem determined to push me away. Why? Let’s get it out in the open, once and for all!’
Alyss drew in a deep breath. She hesitated. She was an ambitious girl and she knew she might be jeopardising her future career if she took this any further. But then the dam broke.
‘We both know what it is! Keep your hands off Will, all right?’ She stood up, dominating the smaller girl with her superior height. But Evanlyn stood her ground and shouted back at her.
‘Will? What about Will? What is it with you about me and Will?’
‘Because you’re in love with him! You’re the princess and you think you can have anything you want, and you want Will. Any fool can see that!’
‘Then I’m afraid you’re the fool, Alyss Mainwaring, because I am not in love with Will. I’m in love with Horace.’ Evanlyn had lowered her voice, but her words carried no less weight for the sudden drop in volume.
‘Of course you are! Don’t deny it. You…’ Alyss suddenly realised what the princess had said and floundered to a stop. ‘You’re what?’ she said. ‘I mean, I know Horace is in love with you. But you…’
‘I am in love with him. Deeply in love with him. And only him. Why do you think I came halfway round the world to help him? Because he’s a good dance partner? Oh, I love Will, Alyss. But I’m not in love with him. We went through so much together and he was a wonderful friend and protector for me. Look, years ago, when we came back from Skandia, I thought I was in love with Will. I’ll admit I made a play for him then. But he refused me – and he was right. We’re friends, good friends. Surely you can deal with that?’
Alyss hesitated. She still wasn’t certain. She wasn’t sure that she trusted Evanlyn’s motives.
‘I’m not…’ she began but Evanlyn erupted in anger once more.
‘Oh for god’s sake, girl! Tell me, how do you feel about Horace?’
‘Horace?’ Alyss said in surprise. ‘Well, we grew up together. I love him, of course. He’s like a big brother.’
‘Exactly! Now has that ever seemed to bother me? Or have I coped with it?’
Alyss couldn’t help a wry smile. ‘Well, when we found him, you nearly broke my arm getting him away from me,’ she said and Evanlyn rolled her eyes to heaven. ‘But no…I suppose it hasn’t bothered you. There’s no reason why it should. There’s nothing like…that…between Horace and me, as I say.’
‘Aaaaaaaggggggghhhhh!’
Evanlyn let out a frustrated yell. Alyss actually recoiled a pace in surprise. ‘That’s what I’m trying to tell you! There is nothing like that between me and Will, either! Cope with it! For god’s sake, cope with it!’
More than a little taken aback, Alyss studied the determined stance of the small figure before her. Alyss was an honest person and she was forced to admit that Evanlyn had an excellent point. Alyss had spent the past few months, and some considerable time before that, acting suspiciously towards her, distrusting her and jealously resenting any time she spent with Will. Yet she realised that Evanlyn, if she chose to, could feel exactly the same way about her relationship with Horace.
But she didn’t. She accepted it.
And suddenly Alyss felt very small when she remembered the sarcasm and the taunts and the bruised knuckles that had characterised their relationship. Evanlyn had behaved well, she thought. It was she who had behaved badly, who had been petty and distrustful. This was a noble and courageous girl, she realised. She hadn’t hesitated to risk her life when Alyss was in danger. She had acted quickly and resourcefully.
She had offered her friendship and Alyss, as she always had in the past, had rebuffed her.
‘I’m sorry,’ she said meekly. ‘I never thought of it that way.’ She felt ashamed and for a few seconds she couldn’t meet Evanlyn’s eyes. But then she heard the unmistakable smile in the smaller girl’s voice.
‘Well, thank goodness we got that out of the way. After all, our future husbands are best friends. It’d be damn awkward if we continued to hate each other.’
‘I never hated you,’ Alyss protested, but she saw Evanlyn’s eyebrow raise in a familiar expression.
‘Oh really?’ the princess said.
Alyss shrugged awkwardly. ‘Well…maybe a bit. But I’m over that now.’ She looked up at Evanlyn and they smiled at each other. There was a new warmth in their smiles and Alyss realised that this was a friendship that would last for her lifetime.
‘Are you really going to marry Horace?’ she asked, intrigued. Evanlyn nodded.
‘I’ll be needing a bridesmaid,’ she said. ‘A tall one. That way, I’ll look more petite and feminine.’
Halt clapped his hand on the shoulder of the exhausted scout.
‘Thanks, my friend,’ he said. ‘Now go and get some food, then rest. You’ve served your Emperor well.’
‘Hai, Halto-san!’ the travel-stained young Kikori replied. He had spent a nerve-racking four days avoiding Arisaka’s army to bring his report to Ran-Koshi. He bowed to the command group, then again, more deeply, to the Emperor. Then he turned and left. Halt waited until he was gone.
‘I think that seals it,’ he said. ‘We’ll have to force Arisaka’s hand before his reinforcements get here.’
‘Now we know why he’s waited,’ Horace said thoughtfully. The valley leading to Ran-Koshi had been clear for several days, the last of the snow having melted away. Each day they had expected Arisaka to attack and each day he had failed to do so. Now the reason for his delay was obvious. General Yamada, an unexpected ally, was marching to his aid with a force of three hundred Senshi.
According to the report they had just received, the extra troops could arrive within a matter of days.
Shigeru shook his head sadly. ‘I had hoped that Yamada would at least remain neutral. I never thought he would believe the lies that Arisaka has been spreading about me.’
Through the winter, Atsu’s network of spies had brought in reports of an extensive disinformation campaign generated by Arisaka and his allies to win over the uncommitted clans. According to these reports, Shigeru had abandoned the throne and fled the country. Arisaka was claiming to have trapped a rebel force that was using Shigeru’s name and an impostor who resembled the Emperor, in an attempt to seize the throne.
‘The bigger the lie, the easier it is to sell,’ Halt said sympathetically. ‘People tend to believe that a preposterous story must be true – precisely because it is so unlikely.’
‘But surely, once Yamada and his men see Shigeru, they’ll know the story’s false?’ Will said.
Halt shook his head. ‘How many of Yamada’s men would know you by sight?’ he asked the Emperor.
Shigeru pursed his lips. ‘Very few. Even Yamada would need to see me at close quarters to recognise me.’
‘And by the time he had the chance to do so, you’d be dead. You can be sure Arisaka would see to that,’ Halt replied. ‘But, if we can break Arisaka’s force before Yamada arrives, you’d have the chance to prove you are the Emperor.’
‘Arisaka has at least five hundred men,’ Will pointed out. ‘They’ll outnumber us by more than two to one.’
‘They’ll outnumber us four to one if we wait for Yamada to arrive,’ Halt pointed out. ‘And this way, we can choose our own battleground.’ He turned to where Jito, the former headman of Riverside Village, was standing – a few paces away from the others. Jito was still a little in awe of being so close to the Emperor but he’d earned his place in these councils. Halt had put him in charge of logistics and organising defences. ‘Jito, are the hedgehogs ready?’
Jito nodded in confirmation. ‘Yes, Halto-san. We have fifty of them. I’ve had them taken down Mikeru’s Pass and they’re ready to be assembled and placed in position.’
Those Kikori who weren’t training as fighters had been busy during the previous months, constructing defensive measures and equipment. The hedgehogs, portable obstructions designed by Halt that could be assembled quickly on the battlefield, were one example of their work.
‘Then deploy them tonight where we decided – between the rocks and the drop-off on our left flank.’
‘Yes, Halto-san. It will take four to five hours to assemble them and place them in position.’
‘We need them in place by first light. Set your own timetable but make sure they’re in place when we need them.’
‘Yes, Halto-san.’ Jito bowed to the Emperor and turned to leave the tent.
Horace stepped forward to study the map Halt had prepared. ‘You plan to engage Arisaka on the same ground where we fought the first battle.’
Halt nodded in confirmation. ‘Our right flank will be secured by the bluff. The rocks were good enough on the left flank when we weren’t outnumbered, but we’ll need more this time. The hedgehogs will extend the protection to this shallow cliff. That way, both flanks are secure.’
Selethen rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he looked at the chart. ‘Relatively secure,’ he corrected. ‘They’ll still get through the hedgehogs, given time,’ he said and Halt glanced up at him.
‘True. So I’ll put Mikeru’s dart-throwers on the left flank. They can stay hidden among the rocks, then hit the Senshi while they’re forcing their way through the defences. The reserve goju can take care of any that make it through. And Moka’s men can take a hand if they’re needed.’
Moka, head of Shigeru’s Senshi bodyguard, frowned as the foreigners discussed these dispositions.
‘Halto-san,’ he asked, ‘why don’t we simply advance down the valley below the palisade? We could choose a spot where the valley walls protect both our flanks.’
‘If we do that,’ Halt explained, ‘there’s no incentive for Arisaka to attack. He’ll know we could simply retreat back up the valley to the palisade. If we go out onto the plain here, he’ll see we have no real line of retreat.’
‘Other than Mikeru’s Pass,’ Will put in and Halt glanced at him.
‘True. But Arisaka doesn’t know about that. He’ll see this as his chance to defeat us once and for all.’
‘If the worst comes to the worst, we’d never make it back up that pass in a hurry. It’s too narrow. Our men would be jammed up at the entrance,’ Horace said.
‘It’s a risk,’ Halt said. ‘But I think we have to roll the dice and take it.’
The Emperor wore a worried expression on his face. He looked at Horace, then back to Halt.
‘Halto-san, you’re saying that in order to make Arisaka attack
us, we have to place ourselves in this dangerous, exposed position?’
Halt met his gaze levelly. ‘That’s right, your excellency. There are always risks in battle. It’s a dangerous business. The trick is to take the right ones.’
‘How do you know which are the right ones?’ Shigeru asked.
Halt glanced at his two younger companions. They grinned and answered in chorus, ‘You wait and see if you win.’
Shigeru nodded. ‘I suppose I should have known that.’
Halt smiled grimly at Will and Horace. They knew, as well as he did, that they were taking a huge chance. But the only way to win battles, when you were seriously outnumbered, was to take chances.
‘Have your gojus ready to move out two hours before dawn,’ he ordered. ‘We’ll jump off from the palisade gate and march down the main valley. It’ll be safer and quicker than moving down Mikeru’s Pass. And besides, we need to keep that clear for Jito’s people.’
After the others had left, Halt stayed behind with Shigeru. The Emperor sat, waiting expectantly. He knew Halt wanted to talk to him and he had a shrewd idea what he wanted to talk about.
‘Your highness,’ Halt began, ‘there is one alternative we haven’t discussed…’
He paused, searching for the right way to broach the subject. But Shigeru was ahead of him.
‘Halto-san, you’re going to suggest that I might make my escape from here alone, correct?’
Halt was taken aback that the Emperor had read his thoughts so easily. But he recovered quickly.
‘Yes, sir, I am. It needn’t be a permanent thing. But I have to admit, the odds are against us here. It might be better if you made your way to the coast. Our ship is waiting at an island only a few days away. They could take you on board and –’
‘And turn Arisaka’s lie into the truth,’ Shigeru said.
The Emperor of Nihon-Ja Page 35
