Free The Ninja's Daughter by Susan Spann

asked.
    â€œBy the end of the week,” Ozuru said. “Your merchant will suffer a most unfortunate accident soon thereafter.”
    â€œAt your hands?” Hiro would rather not kill Ozuru, especially not to benefit Luis Álvares. However, he could not tolerate threats against Father Mateo’s household.
    â€œOnly a fool would send an assassin to kill a merchant,” Ozuru said, “and, whatever you think of Hisahide, he is not a fool. Hundreds of samurai in this city would gladly test a sword on a Portuguese neck to prove their loyalty to the shogun.”
    Hiro released the shuriken and withdrew his arm from his sleeve. He didn’t trust Ozuru, but this particular conversation seemed unlikely to lead to mortal combat.
    â€œI don’t expect you to trust me,” Ozuru said, as if reading Hiro’s thoughts. “You know my loyalty lies with Koga. Still, my commander ordered me to treat you as an ally, and an ally deserves a warning when danger threatens. What you do with the information is up to you.”
    Unfortunately, Ozuru’s words could hide a trap as well as an honest warning.
    â€œPerhaps you can tell me,” Hiro said, “does Hisahide plan to exterminate all of the Portuguese in Kyoto, or only the single merchant and the priest?”
    â€œThat, I do not know,” Ozuru said. “Regrettably, Hisahide is a man of limited vision. I believe his time as shogun will be short.”
    â€œHe is not shogun yet,” Hiro said.
    â€œHe will be. Get your foreigners out of the city now.”
    â€œThank you for the warning,” Hiro said. “I will repay the favor, should the opportunity arise.”
    â€œForget the favor,” Ozuru said. “Just take your priest and the merchant and leave the city while you can.”

CHAPTER 15
    Hiro returned to the Jesuit’s home to find Father Mateo sitting alone in the common room. A kettle hanging over the fire sent a curl of steam into the air.
    The shinobi approached the hearth as Ana emerged from the kitchen bearing a tray with a teapot, a cup, and a plate of rice balls.
    The housekeeper looked at Hiro. “Hm. I suppose you’re hungry too.”
    â€œHe can share my plate,” Father Mateo said. “Please bring a second cup. That’s all we need.”
    Ana set the tray in front of the priest. “The way he eats? You won’t get a bite. I will make another plate.”
    Gato trotted in from the kitchen as Ana left the room. The tortoiseshell cat gave a trilling mew and bounded toward Hiro, tail high with excitement.
    Hiro knelt and extended a fist. Gato butted his hand with her head, then whipped her face upward and bit the shinobi’s knuckles.
    â€œHey!” Hiro pulled his hand away as Gato swatted it with her paw. She fell on her side and waved her legs in the air.
    Hiro reached for the cat’s white belly. Gato grasped his wrist with her paws, sank her teeth in his sleeve, and kicked at his arm. Her purr rose up through a mouthful of silk.
    â€œDon’t let Ana catch you,” Father Mateo warned. “You’ll never hear the end of it if Gato rips your robes.”
    Hiro scooped the cat into his arms. She tightened her grip on his sleeve and bit down harder.
    â€œThat’s enough.” He laughed and stroked the cat.
    Gato kicked at his sleeve once more, released her grip, and sniffed in the direction of the food.
    â€œDon’t let her near the rice balls either,” Father Mateo said. “She licked the last ones.”
    Hiro laughed again.
    â€œHm. That isn’t funny.” Ana returned with a second tray of rice balls and a cup for Hiro’s tea. She set the tray down and took the cat from his arms.
    Gato’s purr increased in volume.
    â€œI have something for you in the kitchen,” Ana told the cat as she turned to leave. “A nice little fish. I’d rather you had it than Luis.”
    Father Mateo sneezed. As usual,