Free Yamada Monogatori: The Emperor in Shadow by Richard Parks Page B

worried at the news that Takahito was now emperor. Lord Yorinobu had made it quite clear that the Fujiwara were by no means done interfering. Somehow, despite everything, I had expected to be in the Capital before affairs proceeded this far, though if anyone had asked me what possible role I could have played in the events in the Capital of the last several weeks and to what purpose, I could not have answered them. Now, thanks to Lord Yorinobu, I did have a purpose, but Prince Kanemore’s request meant that again my return to the Capital would be delayed. The saiō ’s procession back to the Capital was one of tradition, not expedient haste. By my estimation our arrival in Kyoto was more than a week away, yet I knew that even the Fujiwara wouldn’t attempt to force an abdication of a sitting emperor in less than a week. Knowing this did not reassure me whatsoever.
    “I will be ready to depart at first light tomorrow,” Tagako said. “Until then, I must bid you gentlemen good day. There is much yet to do.”
    “We are at your disposal,” I said, and we took our leave.
    Morofusa had arranged our campsite to combine with that of the Minamoto from the Capital. On our way back to the hill, Kenji was the first to speak.
    “I must say this—I really hate veils. Was she as beautiful as she sounded?”
    “Even more so, you old lecher. Not that this is of concern to either of us. I only wish we could hurry our return.”
    Kenji grinned. “No chance of that. I spoke to Akimasa earlier and discovered our new route. Remember that fishing village on the Kushida River where we stayed before arriving at Saiku? First we return there where Princess Tagako must perform a purifying ritual similar to the one she performed after her appointment. Then we travel west from Ise across the Kii Peninsula then turn north to the old capital at Nara, avoiding the Suzuka Pass altogether. Yet from Nara, only a day away from Kyoto, mind, we divert southeast to Osaka Bay for another ritual. Then we travel back to the village we stayed the night before, stay another day, and then return to Nara. In Nara we also wait another day before returning, finally, to the Capital.”
    I almost groaned. If anything, I had underestimated the time it would take. Yet Prince Kanemore had known that as well. So far as I could tell, there was no reason for Kenji and me to be a part of Tagako’s escort, and yet we were. It almost seemed as if, having sent Lady Kuzunoha to inform me of the seriousness of the situation, Prince Kanemore had then deliberately delayed my return. Granted, if I were to meet with Lord Yorinobu in a fashion that would arouse no suspicion, the Grand Shrine at Ise was perfect. That much had made sense to me. This did not.
    One day, I hope I will have the opportunity to ask him about this .
    For now, there was nothing for it but to perform our duties as required. I checked the position of the sun, noting there was no more than an hour or two of daylight left.
    “I’m going for a walk,” I said.
    “This late in the day?” Kenj scowled. “Whatever for?”
    “To be alone for a little while. To clear my head. If you tell Morofusa where I’ve gone, I’ll cut your head off. Or cut my patronage to your temple in half for the next year, your choice.”
    He winced. “That’s hardly a choice at all. Where are you going? So I’ll know where I’m not telling him you are.”
    I looked east. “That way.”
    “Ise Bay is that way.”
    “Then that is where I am going,” I said, and set out at a brisk walk. I glanced back once to see Kenji shaking his head. The next time I glanced back, he was gone. I passed a small grove of maples before I was able to see the bay. Far on the other side of it lay Kamakura and the life I had come to know. It had been three years since I’d left the Capital, and I had very mixed feelings about returning there now, but for the moment I was content to put those emotions aside. I breathed in the salt air, simply