His feet took him to the wharfs. Heimin merchants clamored for attention across from the water, shouting about their wares from doorways and stalls. His stomach tightened as he caught the spicy smell drifting from the open doorway of a nearby noodle shop. A wagon, laden with sacks of rice, rattled across his path. When it was gone, he spied the river and the fishermen’s wharfs.
The docks were stubby things, barely there at all. Just enough room for the small boats to tie themselves off, and the day’s catch to be unloaded onto waiting handcarts or baskets. The fishermen knew everything that went on along the river, more than any merchant or clan sailor. If anyone knew where Lun had gone, it would be them.
Kitano called out to a knot of them sitting on the edge of the wharf and was greeted in kind. He had diced with many of them often enough to be a familiar face. He joined them, and took a swig from the bottle being passed around.
When he mentioned Lun’s name, however, the conversation dried up. Kitano pressed, but got no answer, until a familiar voice spoke up. “Why are you looking for her?”
He turned to see a young woman nearby, weaving a fishing net. “Yui,” he said, in his friendliest tones. He sidled towards her, putting on his best swagger. He liked Yui, though he’d only rarely had the pleasure of her company. “Last time I saw you, you were as big as a whale.”
“Oh, Daichi, you always were the sweet talker.” She set her work aside as he sat down. “I heard you got killed by some Crane bushi.”
“Almost,” Kitano said, showing off his injured hand. “You know me – luckier than most. The kami are on my side.”
“You shouldn’t boast about such things.”
“It’s not a boast if it’s the truth.” Kitano leaned back against a mooring post and looked at her. “Have you seen her, then? Or that fat fool, Torun?”
“Maybe. Why?” Yui asked, archly. “Aren’t we good enough?” She tapped Kitano on the chest. He laughed coarsely and patted her cheek.
“For me, oh yes. But I’m looking on behalf of someone else. Someone wealthy.” He made to rub his fingers together, but recalled, too late, that one of them was missing. He quickly lowered his hand. Yui frowned.
“Who are you working for, then?”
“What business is it of yours?” he said, playfully. “Looking to improve your circumstances now that I’ve come into money?” Her husband had been claimed by the river, or so she said. Privately, Kitano thought he’d run off. Yui had a temper, and some men were more fragile than others.
“If I wanted another husband, it wouldn’t be a gambler like you, Daichi.” Yui smiled as she said it, though. “No, I was just curious.” She paused. “I might have heard something.”
“Oh?”
Yui tapped her palm meaningfully. Kitano sighed and pulled out a coin – more than she would make in a week – and dropped it into her palm. “Tell me.”
“Willow Quay.”
“Of course,” Kitano said, slapping his head. “Why didn’t I think of that?”
“Because you’re an idiot?”
“I’ll forgive you, but only because you might have saved my life,” Kitano said, leaning over and kissing her on the cheek. She laughed and slapped him, though gently.
“Then we’ll call the debt paid. Best get going. I don’t think she’ll be there long.” She looked out over the river. “Last I heard, they were preparing to sail tomorrow.”
“Excellent,” Kitano said. He gave Yui a sly grin. “That gives us enough time for a drink.”
Chapter Twenty
Third Party
“There it is, my lord,” Ito said. The merchant indicated an ugly little establishment on the other side of Three Finger Street, squeezed between two larger buildings. Ramshackle was the first word that came to Shin’s mind as he looked at it. “He works in the back.”
“Excellent, Ito.” He looked about. The wharfs at the other end of the street were crowded, full of noise and bodies in motion. Fishermen hauled their full nets along creaking jetties as dock workers unloaded shipments of rice, dyes and textiles.
“It smells of fish and sweat,” Kasami growled. She stood just behind them, warily keeping watch on their surroundings.
“The smell of the city,” Shin said, inhaling the myriad scents of the riverside. “The smell of commerce, of progress.”
“I prefer jasmine.”
“Truth to tell, so do I.” He looked at Ito. “You managed to secure our invitation more quickly than I expected. I thought for certain it might be several days.”
“He was quite intrigued by the thought you might wish to see him.” Ito pressed a scented rag to his nose, trying to cut the stink of the back streets in late afternoon. Shin didn’t mind it, himself. He’d smelled worse in other cities. Even so, he gently stirred the air with his fan, trying to keep it moving about him.
“Intrigued – or suspicious?” Kasami said, watching the street. “This could be a trap.”
“It could be, but probably isn’t. Not everyone thinks like a bushi from the Uebe marshes, Kasami. Ambushes are rarely of the lethal variety in places like these.” Shin gestured to the teahouse. “Lead on, Ito.”
Ito led them into the teahouse and made a surreptitious gesture to the proprietor, who directed them to the rear without speaking. The floorboards creaked alarmingly beneath their feet as they proceeded to a back room. Ito tapped at the door, and someone called out from inside. At first glance, Shin took the room to be a storage area, crowded as it was. It was only when he noticed the shelves, and the man sitting before them, that he realized that it was an office, of sorts.
Saiga stood as they entered, and bowed low. “My lord, you honor me with your presence.” He glanced at Kasami. “I would ask that your yojimbo waits outside, however. My apologies, but I am a paranoid man.”
“You will have to get over it–” Kasami began, but Shin cut her off.
“Wait outside. Make certain we are not disturbed.”
She blinked. “What about you?”
“I am certain I will be perfectly safe. After all, I have Ito to defend me.”
Kasami snorted and made to argue, but Shin gestured sharply. “Go.”
“Fine.” She went, and closed the door behind her with a decided lack of gentleness.
“My apologies,” Shin said, as he and Ito sat. “Kasami takes her duties seriously.”
“You let her berate you openly?” Saiga said, resuming his own seat.
“It is best to let her air her grievances.”
“Most nobleman of my acquaintance would not agree.”
“I am not most noblemen,” Shin said, shifting to a more comfortable position. “I find that the dictates of my status are more in the way of guidelines than laws.”
Saiga smiled. “A man of rare wisdom.”
“Wisdom is attained with experience, but courage cannot be taught. An old saying among the Daidoji. Are you a courageous man, Saiga?”
“Middling bravery at best. Just enough to take risks, not enough to get caught.” Saiga bowed his head. “Shall we dispense with the courtesies, my lord, and get down to business?”
Shin smiled. “A fine idea.”
“Ito said you wished to speak to me about something…?”
“I spoke with Lady Minami recently. She made mention of your name, Master Saiga.”
“Did she, my lord? I cannot imagine why.”
“She recently purchased a shipment of rice from you.” Shin waved his fan in front of his face, his gaze straying about the room. “It is the rice we were discussing.”
“Ah. The rice.”
“Yes. You know the shipment I mean?”
“I would be a fool not to, my lord. It is all anyone is talking about these days.”
“So I understand. You told her that you stole it from the Unicorn, yes?”
“Are you
accusing me of theft, my lord?” Saiga sounded horrified. Shin snapped his fan closed and leaned forward.
“If I am, there is precious little to be gained by denying it. I could have you arrested now, merchant. But that is a tedious waste of my time. So instead, I ask that you tell me everything, without prevarication or any attempt to dissemble. You stole the rice and transferred it from identifying barrels to more anonymous sacks, before selling it on.”
Saiga was silent for a moment. Then, he nodded. “Yes. What of it? Ito has bought stolen cargo from me himself – haven’t you, Ito?”
Ito said nothing, but his expression spoke volumes. Shin waved the accusation aside. “We are not here to discuss Ito – only you, and how you knew that the rice had been sabotaged. And by whom.”
“It was obvious. The rice was left unguarded. They wanted it stolen.”
“But why?”
“Once I learned of what happened, it became clear. The Unicorn have been watching my establishment for some time. They know who I am, and the sort of business I conduct. In retrospect, they have probably been planning this for a while.”
“They used you as a catspaw, you mean.”
“An unwitting dupe,” Ito supplied, softly.
Saiga frowned at the other merchant. “I would not put it in those terms, but yes.”
“And when Lady Minami visited you, you told her all of this freely?”
“As freely as I could with a sword to my throat, yes.” Saiga shrugged. “I am a humble merchant, my lord. This is a game for bushi, not businessmen. I am well out of it.”
Shin sat back on his heels and studied the other man. “Are you indeed?”
“Of course. I sold them the rice, and contracted for its delivery, of course, but I played no more part in it than that.”
“The delivery – yes. About the delivery. I have been searching for the boat that made it, with little success. You would not happen to know where they are, would you?”
“Why would you be concerned with them, my lord? Sheerest river trash, I assure you. Of no more help in this matter than myself, if not a good deal less, I’d wager.” Saiga waved a thick hand in dismissal. “They are likely long gone, following the wind and current.”
“Possibly.” Shin fanned himself. “Even so, I have dispatched agents to locate them.” He watched Saiga as he said it. It was a calculated slip, and he was rewarded by a momentary tightness in the merchant’s expression.
Saiga knew. Shin could read it in his eyes. The merchant was no stranger to wearing a mask over his true thoughts and feelings, but Shin had been trained from birth to read people’s faces. And what he read in Saiga’s face pleased him. The merchant was involved. He knew something.
“I’m sure you will find them in time, my lord,” Saiga said, after a moment. “But as I said, I doubt they will be able to tell you anything. Not trash like that.”
“I find that enough money can make the dumb speak and the blind see.” Shin rose smoothly to his feet. “But that is my problem. As you say, you are out of it. I see no reason to take up any more of your, no doubt, valuable time, Master Saiga. I will leave you to the rest of your day.” He gestured, and Ito followed suit.
Saiga rose hurriedly. “Of course, my lord. I am happy to be of service, however poor it might have been.”
“Not poor at all. You were very helpful.” Shin paused at the door and smiled at the merchant. “Yes, very helpful indeed.”
When the door had been closed behind them, Ito chuckled. “Oh, well done, my lord. A bit obvious, but he’s surely sweating.”
“I find that subtlety is often overrated.”
“Is that your excuse, then?” Kasami said, as she fell into step with them. She had been waiting in the corridor, decidedly not eavesdropping.
“One of several,” Shin said, as he led them out of the teahouse. He was aware of eyes on them as they went, and glanced at Kasami, who gave a terse nod. She’d noticed as well. He signaled Ito to be silent as they left the establishment and crossed the street to the docks.
It was noisy near the water, and crowded. Someone would have to get very close indeed to eavesdrop. And that meant they would be more easily seen. He twitched his fan at Kasami and she nodded, moving a few feet away. While he made himself seen, she would watch. “Well,” he said, looking at Ito.
“As I said, my lord. Saiga is not inclined to be helpful.” Ito looked at him. “What do you think, my lord? You seemed to come to some conclusion, as we were leaving…”
“He is involved,” Shin said.
“Quietly, my lord.” Ito tugged discretely on his earlobe. If he had noticed that Kasami had repositioned herself, he gave no sign. “Anyone might be listening, even here.”
“Good. I want them to know.” Shin fluttered his fan, watching the light dapple along the river. “Saiga is involved, but I do not think he is alone in that.”
“You think there are others?”
“I suspect. Nothing more. Saiga does not profit from war – it is easier to thieve and sell in times of peace. So why, then, instigate conflict?”
“He sees some greater profit to be made?”
“Possibly,” Shin said. “If we can locate our missing boat, we might learn more.”
“And if it cannot be found?”
Shin snapped his fan closed. “Ito, how difficult would it be to get a record of Saiga’s dealings over the past few months? People he’s talked to, that sort of thing.”
Ito paused. “It might take me some time, my lord.”
Shin glanced at him. “But you could get it for me?”
“Almost assuredly, my lord.” Ito hesitated. “Though, might I inquire as to why?”
Shin tapped his lips with his fan. “Because, if Saiga does have a partner, that is where we will find them.” He glanced at Kasami, and she flashed two fingers in a signal. Two listeners, then. He turned to Ito. “Find me that information, Ito, and you will be well rewarded. You have my word.”
“That is all I require, my lord.” Ito bowed low and hurried away. Quickly, he lost himself in the crowd. Shin doubted that anyone would be able to follow the little merchant if he didn’t wish it.
Kasami joined Shin as he strode along the wharfs, his eyes on the water. “Two of them. I recognized one – they’re Shichiro’s men.”
“Interesting,” Shin murmured. “Saiga mentioned that the Unicorn were watching him. I wonder why.”
“The stolen rice,” Kasami said.
“Possibly.” Shin looked at her. And then past her. He pointed his fan at a burly figure, pushing through the crowd towards them. “Is that Kitano?”
Kasami turned, eyes narrowed. “I think so.”
The gambler gestured with his injured hand as he approached. “My lord – is that you?” he called out. “I thought I saw you – I was surprised…” He trailed off and bowed low to Shin. “Fortune smiles on me. I have found what you sent me for.”
Kasami sniffed. “You smell of fermented sweet potatoes,” she said, disapprovingly.
Kitano flinched. “I had to have a drink to get the information.”
“It smells like you had more than one.”
“Never mind. What did you find out?”
Kitano cleared his throat and glanced around. “The captain’s name is Lun. They’re anchored downriver, at Willow Quay.”
“Of course,” Shin said. “I should have thought of that myself.” Willow Quay was the largest of the shanty villages outside the city. Like others of its ilk, its crudely constructed wharfs catered to those captains who wanted to avoid exorbitant portage fees or inconvenient questions about the nature of their cargo. According to popular rumor, it was the haunt of smugglers, pirates and mercenaries. Shin felt a thrill of excitement at the thought of finally seeing it for himself. “Well done, Kitano.”
The gambler bowed awkwardly. �
�Thank you, my lord.” He’d obviously realized that being deferential was the best way of keeping his remaining fingers. “I’m pleased I was able to be of service.”
Kasami snorted. Shin gave her a look and she fell silent. “What’s the best way of getting there?” he asked.
“You’ll have to take a flatboat,” Kitano said. He paused, and added, “I know a man who can rent you one cheap, if you like.”
“You mean we’ll have to take a flatboat,” Shin said. “You’ll be accompanying us.” He looked at the river, watching the sunlight dance across its surface.
“I will?”
“Naturally. We need you to lead us to the boat, after all.”
Kitano swallowed and nodded. “Of- of course, my lord.”
“Stout fellow,” Shin said. “Go, procure us that flatboat, and we’ll set off at once. The sooner we find this boat, and its crew, the better.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Willow Quay
“You sure this is a good idea, Captain?” Torun asked, passing her the bottle of shōchū. “We won’t see half these fools again.”
“There are always people looking to ship out, Torun,” Lun said, taking a swig. They stood on the deck of her sloop, watching as the last of her crew trudged down the gangplank, carrying their gear. “But things are too hot right now. The Lion are on our trail, and they know what this scow looks like.”
“Maybe they don’t.”
Lun snorted and slapped the bottle into his chest. She turned and leaned over the rail. Below, the muddy waters slapped against the side of the hull. Her reflection was little more than a shadowy blotch on the water’s surface, and she was low enough to smell the river.
Torun was still talking. “I’m just saying, there are a lot of boats like ours on the river. And we all look alike to those bastards…”
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