Free The Harsh Cry of the Heron by Lian Hearn Page B

ancestral sword of the Otori must be returned to
the Emperor.’
    ‘It is beyond my
comprehension that you dare to bring such a message,’ Takeo replied, masking
his shock and fury. ‘It is under my rule that the Three Countries have become
peaceful and prosperous. I have no intention of abdicating until my daughter is
old enough to inherit from me. I am willing to enter into treaties with the
Emperor, and anyone else who approaches me peacefully; I have three daughters
for whom I am prepared to make political marriages. But I will not be
intimidated by threats.’
    ‘No one really
thought you would be,’ Kono murmured, his expression unreadable.
    Takeo demanded, ‘Why
have you come suddenly now? Where was the Emperor’s interest years ago, when
Iida Sadamu was pillaging the Three Countries and murdering its people? Did
Iida act with a divine sanction?’
    He saw Minoru make a
very slight movement with his head, and tried to rein in his temper. Of course
Kono hoped to enrage him, hoped to bring him into an open statement of defiance
which would be construed as further rebellion.
    Zenko and Hana are
behind this, he thought. Yet there must be another reason why they - and the
Emperor - dare to move against me now. What weakness are they exploiting? What
additional strengths do they now think they possess?
    ‘I intend no
disrespect to the Emperor,’ he said carefully. ‘But he is revered throughout
the Eight Islands for his pursuit of peace. Surely he will not go to war
against his own people?’
    Surely he cannot
raise an army against me?
    ‘Lord Otori cannot
have heard the latest news,’ Kono said with an air of sorrow. ‘The Emperor has
appointed a new general: the descendent of one of the oldest families in the
East, lord of many countries and leader of tens of thousands of men. The
Emperor seeks peace above all things, but he cannot condone criminal activity,
and now he has a strong right arm with which to enforce punishment and justice.’
    The words, so softly
spoken, had all the sting of insult, and Takeo felt a wave of heat. It seemed
almost unendurable to be considered a criminal: his Otori blood rebelled
against it. Yet for many years he had settled challenges and disputes by shrewd
negotiation and diplomacy. He did not believe these methods would fail him now.
He let the words and the insult wash over him while he regained his
self-mastery, and started considering what his response would be.
    So they have a new
warlord. Why have I not heard of him? Where is Taku when I need him? Where is
Kenji?
    The extra arms and
men Arai had been preparing: could they be in support of this new threat? The
arms: what if they were firearms? What if they were already on their way to the
East?
    ‘You are here as the
guest of my vassal, Arai Zenko,’ he said finally. ‘And therefore as my guest. I
think you should extend your stay in the West, visit your late father’s estate,
and return with Lord Arai to Kumamoto. I will send for you when I have decided
how to reply to the Emperor, where I will go if I am to abdicate, and how best
to preserve peace.’
    ‘I repeat, I am only
an envoy,’ Kono said, and bowed with apparent sincerity.
    Zenko returned and
the midday meal was prepared: lavish and delicious as it was, Takeo hardly
tasted it. The conversation was light and courteous; he attempted to contribute
to it.
    When they had eaten,
Kono was escorted by Zenko to the guest apartment. Jun and Shin had been
waiting outside on the veranda. They rose and followed Takeo silently as he
returned to his own rooms.
    ‘Lord Kono is not to
leave this house,’ he said to them. ‘Jun, set guards at the gates. Shin, take
instructions at once to the port. Lord Kono will stay in the West until I give
written permission for him to return to Miyako. The same applies to Lady Arai
and her sons.’
    The cousins exchanged
a glance but made no comment beyond, ‘Certainly, Lord Otori.’
    ‘Minoru,’ Takeo said
to the scribe. ‘Go with