in order to add to her own power. As counsel to your sons, my presence would be unobtrusive, and I could serve as a safeguard against magical influence."
The Great Bear thought about this and grumbled. "I do not like the emperor, and I do not trust the Lady Scorpion. But even I have trouble seeing this as a threat to my sons."
Yori approached Kisada. "I am certain," he whispered, "that Hantei the 38th said the same about Bayushi Shoju's final visit."
xxxxxxxx
"What a load of dung!" Yakamo threw his hands in the air.
"For ten days you've been blathering on about how playing the role of the 'proper guest' is a tactical decision that will help you win the war of politics!" He glared at Sukune. "And nothing you've said even begins to convince me that you're doing anything other than playing a stupid game. A game whose ridiculous, pompous, self-important rules were invented by imperial courtiers so that they are the only ones who can win!"
"It is a long-term strategy," said Sukune for about the twentieth time that day. "You do not want to win this 'game' quickly—the only way to do that is to follow the path of the Scorpion."
Kuni Yori rode between the two brothers but said nothing. In fact, with his hood pulled close over his painted face, neither Hida could tell whether he was paying the least attention.
"If you play the game for too long, your opponent has won," Yakamo said adamantly. "The minute you switch your tactics in hopes of gaining the approval of bureaucrats, you've lost any chance of making the changes you really want. If you want to reform the Imperial Court, you must tear it down. There is no way to rebuild it piecemeal."
"So you favor overthrowing the emperor?" Yori's voice startled the brothers.
"N-no," said Yakamo. "Not necessarily. I think that simply ignoring the Imperial Court is a much better solution. If they want their borders secure, they will not interfere with Crab decisions."
"But if they insist on regulating our comings and goings?" Yori played Yakamo the way a geisha played a shamisen—subtly but with great power.
"If they cannot see what is in their own best interest, they deserve whoever's wrath they incur." That was as close to sedition as the elder Hida was prepared to go.
They rode on in silence. It might well have lasted the rest of the day if not for the appearance on the horizon of Otosan Uchi. The capital city gleamed like a jewel at the seaside. Its broad walls stood proudly silhouetted against shimmering waves. In the midst of thousands of rooftops rose the Forbidden
City, a white citadel with a white waterfall. It was their destination, home of the emperor.
"One thing I can say for polite hospitality," muttered Yakamo, "is that the emperor will offer us food and drink no matter how much he wishes we would go away."
Sukune laughed.
"Still," the younger Hida said, "we'd do well not to arrive like ravenous vagabonds. We don't want the other clans to think we are incapable of feeding ourselves."
Yakamo grunted his agreement.
About an hour later they rode through the gates. Just beyond the entrance, a small city of tents and shacks beckoned to travelers, offering basic supplies, spiritual guidance, and food in abundance.
The trio rode up to a soba shop. A nice bowl of cold noodles would fill their bellies but allow them to get back on the road quickly.
"It has been a while since I saw your dueling form, Hida Yakamo," said a samurai-ko who sat in the shade, loudly slurping her noodles as they approached. It was Mirumoto Hitomi. "Why don't you climb down off that horse and finish what we began two years ago?"
To answer the challenge in any way would be unwise. If Yakamo refused, he would seem afraid to fight. If he agreed, he would have to fight a duel to the death. Yakamo looked at her with utter disdain but said nothing. He glanced meaningfully at his brother, as if to say: See? I can hold my tongue when the moment is right.
Yakamo dismounted and entered the shop without
The Great Bear thought about this and grumbled. "I do not like the emperor, and I do not trust the Lady Scorpion. But even I have trouble seeing this as a threat to my sons."
Yori approached Kisada. "I am certain," he whispered, "that Hantei the 38th said the same about Bayushi Shoju's final visit."
xxxxxxxx
"What a load of dung!" Yakamo threw his hands in the air.
"For ten days you've been blathering on about how playing the role of the 'proper guest' is a tactical decision that will help you win the war of politics!" He glared at Sukune. "And nothing you've said even begins to convince me that you're doing anything other than playing a stupid game. A game whose ridiculous, pompous, self-important rules were invented by imperial courtiers so that they are the only ones who can win!"
"It is a long-term strategy," said Sukune for about the twentieth time that day. "You do not want to win this 'game' quickly—the only way to do that is to follow the path of the Scorpion."
Kuni Yori rode between the two brothers but said nothing. In fact, with his hood pulled close over his painted face, neither Hida could tell whether he was paying the least attention.
"If you play the game for too long, your opponent has won," Yakamo said adamantly. "The minute you switch your tactics in hopes of gaining the approval of bureaucrats, you've lost any chance of making the changes you really want. If you want to reform the Imperial Court, you must tear it down. There is no way to rebuild it piecemeal."
"So you favor overthrowing the emperor?" Yori's voice startled the brothers.
"N-no," said Yakamo. "Not necessarily. I think that simply ignoring the Imperial Court is a much better solution. If they want their borders secure, they will not interfere with Crab decisions."
"But if they insist on regulating our comings and goings?" Yori played Yakamo the way a geisha played a shamisen—subtly but with great power.
"If they cannot see what is in their own best interest, they deserve whoever's wrath they incur." That was as close to sedition as the elder Hida was prepared to go.
They rode on in silence. It might well have lasted the rest of the day if not for the appearance on the horizon of Otosan Uchi. The capital city gleamed like a jewel at the seaside. Its broad walls stood proudly silhouetted against shimmering waves. In the midst of thousands of rooftops rose the Forbidden
City, a white citadel with a white waterfall. It was their destination, home of the emperor.
"One thing I can say for polite hospitality," muttered Yakamo, "is that the emperor will offer us food and drink no matter how much he wishes we would go away."
Sukune laughed.
"Still," the younger Hida said, "we'd do well not to arrive like ravenous vagabonds. We don't want the other clans to think we are incapable of feeding ourselves."
Yakamo grunted his agreement.
About an hour later they rode through the gates. Just beyond the entrance, a small city of tents and shacks beckoned to travelers, offering basic supplies, spiritual guidance, and food in abundance.
The trio rode up to a soba shop. A nice bowl of cold noodles would fill their bellies but allow them to get back on the road quickly.
"It has been a while since I saw your dueling form, Hida Yakamo," said a samurai-ko who sat in the shade, loudly slurping her noodles as they approached. It was Mirumoto Hitomi. "Why don't you climb down off that horse and finish what we began two years ago?"
To answer the challenge in any way would be unwise. If Yakamo refused, he would seem afraid to fight. If he agreed, he would have to fight a duel to the death. Yakamo looked at her with utter disdain but said nothing. He glanced meaningfully at his brother, as if to say: See? I can hold my tongue when the moment is right.
Yakamo dismounted and entered the shop without
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