The Way of the Fox (36 page)

The fox gave a nasty little chuckle. “
No – but we can solve your own problem, Akiko hime, and help this town. The Raiden are in line for a swift kick to the happy sacks!”

Tonbo followed
Sura step by step. “The ledger. Katsura’s men were searching for a black ledger in the old man’s rooms. They do not have it.”

“Yep! The fox rubbed her hands together
in glee. ‘So all we have to do is go and get it!”

Akiko stared.

“But we do not know where it is!”

“Of course we do!” Sura helped herself to the last of
the wine. “Well,
I
do. If they wanted to find the thing, they should have asked a fox!”

Benten was utterly bemused. “
It is still in the castle?” He looked from one Spirit Hunter to another. “The castle swarms with troops, with servants… There is no possible way to enter.”

“
Oh – we should have it in hand in about – what? An hour? An hour and a half?” Sura put one arm over Chiri’s shoulder and grinned. “Trust me – I’m a fox!”

C
hiri had a vague sense that something was about to happen. She felt a prickle of worry travel up and down her spine.

“Will I enjoy this?”

“Oh don’t be such a baby!”

In th
e dark hours past midnight, watch fires at the castle gates burned low. The inexplicable riots in the town had triggered off extra patrols – and yet more men had been sent into the forest to protect the gold mines. Two of the old lord’s chief retainers had disappeared, and it was feared that more trouble might be brewing. So the guards at the gates remained carefully on watch, looking out across the long road into town. In the bottom floors of the keep, the door guards were changed. A patrol of eight samurai moved out into the grounds, off to carefully inspect the battlements.

Once
the samurai had passed, a fox, a little white rat and a pair of tiny elementals emerged out of a drain that fed beneath the walls. The fox had a great long coil of twine fixed to her back by a knotted string. She slipped carefully over to the cover of a pile of horse manure and peered here and there across the grounds. Sura gave a signal with her tail, and the little white rat came bustling over, twittering swiftly through the weeds. Bifuuko and Daitanishi flitted along quietly at her side.

They made their way past a stable filled with sleeping horses – past a barracks block crammed with Raiden
foot soldiers. Past a guest house that seemed sadly underused.

The ma
in keep stood upon a great stone-faced mound. At the base, a few small ornamental trees had been planted – all totally within dense black shadow. The massive wooden walls of the keep rose five stories up into the air. A few lights glimmered in the lower stories, but the upper floor was dark.

Untying the string about her middle, Sura shucked off
the huge pile of twine. She quietly turned to her fur form and sat in the shadow of one of the little trees. Bifuuko seized one end of the twine and sped off and up into the air, heading to the upper reaches of the tower.

Gilded dolphins had been placed at the point of each of the eaves.
High, high up at the fourth story roof, Bifuuko looped the cord around the base of a dolphin, and whirred silently back down to the ground. Sura took the end of the cord out of the little elemental’s claws, and joined the ends together to make one enormous loop reaching dizzily up into the air. She tied an old straw sandal to the lower part of the line, and gave everything a few more knots for good measure.

“Right! Here we go!”

Chiri clambered into the old sandal, not entirely happy about this part of the plan. “What if the string breaks?”

“
Daitanishi will go with you! Hold onto him and he’ll slow your fall!” With the rat safely ensconced in the sandal, the fox began hauling upon the upper length of string. “Yoiks and away!”

“I hate it when you say that!”

“Shush! Action, adventure, air travel! Where would you be without me?” The fox hauled away. “Off we go!”

The rat swayed and jounced her way up into the air. She sat inside the
sandal with her rock elemental floating stoically at her side, cranked along through the empty air foot by foot, yard by yard. She looked down only once – seeing the dizzy drop to the stone wall below her. Chiri gripped tight to the sandal lashings and wrapped her tail three times around the string.

“
How do I let her talk me into these things?”

Daitanishi
swivelled to look at her, and gave the impression of a shrug.

Up
ward they went, with Chiri hoping that the keep was empty of owls. The rat was winched onward until she reached the golden dolphin at the edge of the roof.

Bifuuko flashed a little sparkling light to signal Sura. The fox ceased pulling at the
string. Assisted by Daitanishi, Chiri gingerly clambered out of the sandal and onto the sloping tile roof that capped the fourth floor of the keep.

A cold wind blew. The rat quickly ran along the roof ridge until she reached the edge of the first floor wall. The wall here was rough, harsh wood.
She clambered swiftly up and settled herself upon the window ledge.

The window had been equipped with hefty
wooden shutters – but each shutter was pierced by arrow ports. With Daitanishi pushing at her bottom to propel her upwards, Chiri reached the arrow hole and peered carefully inside the great, dark room beyond. She stuck her pink nose through into the room, quivered for a moment – and then the rat slipped rapidly inside.

The room was utterly deserted – left for the necessary spiritual cleansing to clear the room of the taint of death. The furniture was still
in place – the bed folded away. Slipping down onto the tatami mats, the rat made her way through to the alcove that sat beside the door.

The statue of
Daikokute
n,
the god of wealth, squatted in the alcove, grinning wickedly into the dark. The dead lord’s bedding had been piled at the statue’s feet. Chiri scuttled about and found the man’s long wooden pillow – a pillow painted with images of the wealth god and golden coins. She tapped at the wood, and sure enough, the thing was hollow.

Sura,
of course, had been quite right.

Chiri
sat back and changed into her fur form. Moving quietly, she searched the wooden pillow, finally finding a panel that gave slightly to the pressure of her fingers. She slid one wooden strip aside – slowly, carefully – and revealed a narrow secret storage space inside.

A cotton bag had been wedged tightly inside the secret space.
And inside the bag was a small black-bound ledger.

Chiri carefully carried the bag over to the window,
and fed it out through the arrow slit and into the hands of Bifuuko and Daitanishi. The two elementals wrestled the little book outside and settled it into the old sandal.

Chiri replaced the secret panel and set the
pillow back to rights. She took one last glance about the room, then turned back into animal form. She clambered out of the window, and Daitanishi lowered her back down onto the roof.

Chiri climbed atop the ledger, and
Bifuuko gave a subtle flash of light. In the black shadows below, Sura pulled on the cord and hauled them carefully out into mid air - down, down and finally safely to the ground. Sura picked up the rat and cherished her, then coiled in the line as Bifuuko pulled it clear of the golden dolphin far above. Cord and sandal were stuffed beneath a tree. The ledger was tied atop Sura’s back, and Chiri climbed aboard. With all safe and sound, Sura slipped silently off into the dark, her fox face flashing its teeth in a contented grin.

Some days, it was a wonderful thing to be a fox!

Chapter
8

Ayamejo castle was always seen at its absolute best in the early morning sun.
The palisades and multi-towered keep were all plastered in a brilliant white, and the grounds were planted with flowers. Irises were in bloom here and there all through the hills – persimmon trees were in flower. Imperial banners streamed in the wind, while brightly dressed samurai in hunting clothes galloped out across the hills. With trees and flowers growing beside the houses and children playing in the streets, the town and castle were a model of harmony and calm.

The Spirit Hunters had taken Lady Akiko and Benten far off into the north.
Kuno’s imperial warrant had secured three fast horses. With the three animal spirits in their animal forms, Tonbo, Kuno and Benten had ridden hard and fast along the roads, changing horses at postal stations. They had ridden to Ayamejo, and on into the presence of Commander Hijiya. Reports were delivered, Magistrate Masura was hastily summoned from his tour of the outer garrisons, and Chiri spent two days recovering from motion sickness. Sura tended gently to the rat, played dice with guards and townsfolk, and made deep inroads into Magistrate Masura’s personal stocks of plum wine.

Magistrate Masura sent forth officers escorted by grimly armed and armoured men. Ten days later, guests and new arrivals were summoned to the great audience chamber of Ayamejo.

Sura had dressed in her formal garments in honour of the day. Resplendent in eboshi cap and over-robes, she was playing a game of
sugoroku
‘snakes and ladders’ with Daitanishi, watching in scheming interest as the other guests arrived.

Imperial samurai escorted impressed, awed men from
White-moon Town – the elders, mounted awkwardly on horseback and staring wide eyed at the white castle filled with flowers. Sura waved, and the three old men took instant heart.

The Raiden came next:
Raiden Katsura with his own new hatamoto bodyguard, and an honour guard of fifty men – shepherded by twice as many imperial samurai. Lord Raiden Katsura – warlord of the Raiden clan and leader of the largest samurai fief in all the empire – was escorted grimly on into the keep.

Sura tossed away her chicken bones. Daitanishi won the final game, looking smug as they counted up the score
; he led by five to four. Sura bowed, folded the board into her sleeve, and took the little rock creature up onto her shoulder. They flitted off to summon up their friends.

An hour later, all were assembled inside
Magistrate Masura’s audience hall. Kitsune Sura, Tsunetomo Tonbo, Nezumi Chiri and Asodo Kuno all sat quietly to one side of the chamber. At the wall opposite sat Raiden Katsura and several of his closest advisors. At the far end of the room knelt Akiko – now in her human form, but with her hair combed to reveal tall, non-human ears. Benten and the elders of the Usagi town were in a row behind her. From up on the dais, Lord Masura read through a report one more time, then handed the papers back to Commander Hijiya. He looked sternly out into the room, and let his gaze fall wryly upon the fox.

“
So, Kitsune Sura. You have come to disturb the empire’s
wa
yet again?”

Sura was in her fur form –
fox face sly and marvellously unconcerned, sat amongst the pomp and ceremony of page boys, servants, banners and armed guards. She bowed to Magistrate Masura in genial familiarity.

“
I thought perhaps you might be getting bored, Magistrate Masura sama! We do our best to entertain.”

“Entertainment indeed.”
Lord Masura cracked his fan into his hand and looked coldly at Raiden Katsura.

“Raiden Katsura!
My men have swept into the forest in the old Usagi fief, and have located this secret gold mine. It was in full production. It is clear that this has been a long running and murderous operation designed to defraud the emperor.”

The new lord of the Raiden clan kept a stiff, sour face.

The emperor’s own imperial samurai were well trained and fiercely loyal. But they were dispersed in garrisons and patrols all across the empire. In total force, they were perhaps the equal of the Raiden clan. But the Raiden were stuck fast: to be declared in rebellion against the emperor was an instant invitation for any of the the neighbouring samurai clans to lunge into the Raiden fief and plunder. And the Raiden’s neighbours nursed long and lively enmities against them.

Raiden Katsura
had already weighed all of his options. He made a stiff bow to Lord Masura, keeping his voice devoid of all annoyance.

“
My lord – I know nothing of these affairs. I have only just inherited my lands. My father was a secretive, dishonest man. I have no knowledge of any of his arrangements.”

Magistrate Masura regarded the man through dark, stern eyes.

“Yes. We thought that this would be your position.”

He tossed the black ledger onto the dais beside him. The book thumped down, drawing every eye.

Magistrate Masura took an imposing pose, opening his fan to deliver judgment. He pointed towards Raiden Katsura.

“
Daimyo Raiden Katsura. The Raiden clan assaulted the Usagi clan on the premise that the Usagi clan were planning treachery.

“
We cannot prove or disprove this claim. However, your own clan is now shown to have most treacherously defrauded the emperor of his taxes. The Usagi fief is hereby confiscated from you. We shall investigate this ledger, and confiscate the revenues from the mine. The Raiden clan is also fined a thousand acres of rice land.”

Furious and helpless, Raiden Katsura could do nothing but bow. His hands were clenched, his knuckles
white. Magistrate Masura folded his fan and dismissed the man.

“
Go.”

Raiden Katsura and his entourage
arose to depart. The others in the room bowed. The new Lord Raiden seared the room with a dark glare as he swept off and out of the room, departing the keep in a controlled, cold fury.

With the Raiden gone at last, Lord Masura breathed more easily. He
swivelled and let his stern gaze fall upon the rabbit girl, Akiko.

“
Usagi Akiko. You are the last surviving member of your family. We hereby rescind the order repressing your clan.”

Akiko almost swayed. She fell down into a profound bow, deeply moved.

“Thank you, Lord Masura. On behalf of my family, I offer my undying gratitude.”

“
Yes…”

Magistrate Masura sounded grimly reserved. He considered the girl most carefully.

“Usagi Akiko, we must consider the needs of the fief. Your old vassals have petitioned the emperor to reinstate the Usagi as their rulers.”

The Usagi town elders bowed. The
magistrate examined them carefully.

“
Elders, I would like to abide by your wishes. However, there is one obstacle. Usagi Akiko cannot be instated as a
daimyo
if she has not upheld the dignity of her class.” Lord Masura stroked slowly at his moustache. “We have heard rumours that Usagi Akiko has been living as an apprentice courtesan.”

Sura waved a hand, dismissing it all, looking as innocent as the dawn.

“My lord, you should know better than to listen to mere rumours! I, for one, vouch that they are totally untrue!”

The
magistrate swept the fox with his penetrating gaze.

“
The code of the fox is total support of friends. The code of the samurai might be more useful at this point.” Magistrate Masura pointed his fan commandingly at Asodo Kuno.

“
Deputy Asodo Kuno. I look to your honour as a samurai for an answer. Has Usagi Akiko been an apprentice courtesan?”

All eyes turn
ed to Kuno. Akiko paled, but Kuno never hesitated. He bowed smoothly and gravely before the magistrate.

“
My lord, I have no knowledge of any courtesan’s apprentice by the name of Usagi Akiko. To my knowledge, no girl of that name has ever held such a position.”

If the great lord noted the careful wording, he chose to utterly ignore it.
Beneath his moustache, his face almost –
almost
– revealed a smile.

“
The question had to be asked – and it is answered. The matter is permanently closed.”

Lord Masura again took on his
stern, magnificent pose.

“
In the name of the emperor! Usagi Akiko, your family lands are hereby restored. Rule them wisely – establish a family and clan. We grant immunity from taxation for three years to assist you with the rebuilding of your lands.”

Commander Hijiya hastened to clear his throat, looking at Masura in alarm. The magistrate
wavered, then waved a hand at his commander.

“
Ah – yes yes yes. Well, not the gold mine taxation. But fifty per cent of the gold mines’ returns should provide you with wealth enough.”

Akiko
inclined her head in dazed gratitude.

“
Yes, my lord, although gold production may be slower. I have sworn to Nezumi Chiri that we shall forswear the use of quicksilver, and care for the river once again.”

The
magistrate was most pleased with the day’s affairs. He arose, folding his fan, and called the audience to an end.

“Spirit Hunters – this was well done.” Tra
iling his secretary, a page boy and Commander Hijiya, the great magistrate departed.

“Well done indeed.”

Later, out in the beautiful castle gardens, Magistrate Masura took the time to stroll slowly along with Sura, Kuno and Akiko beside him. They walked beside the castle pond, where the local ducks caught sight of Sura and wisely swam away. It was a beautiful day, the Raiden were gone, and imperial troops had departed to supervise their evacuation from the Usagi fief. It had been a day of great events.

Magistrate Masura paused and looked
out across the lake, admiring the perfect reflection of the castle towers.

“
Chugo
: undying loyalty. One of the seven pillars of the samurai.”

Kuno bowed. “
Yes, lord. And in General Idē Yagorō’s case – loyalty. He was utterly exemplary.” The man gave a fierce nod. “Nezumi Chiri is writing it as a play.”

“
She writes?” Lord Masura smiled, wonderfully pleased. “A soul of many talents. I am so pleased to see her once again. I am pleased to see you all.” The lord beamed, quite satisfied with the world for a change.

“
Well done, Spirit Hunters. Well done.”

A great, ancient tortoise swam slowly in the depths of the pond. It arose and cruised slowly along beside the shoreline, its shell glimmering with a maze of patterns within patters.
They watched the creature for a while, until it tired of their company and departed into the depths again. Lord Masura watched the bubbles slowly fade.

“
And what now, Lady Akiko? What will you do?”

The rabbit woman now stood straight and
proud, as though the burden of ages had lifted from her heart. Though she now wore fine robes, in her hand she still carried her old, beloved fan.

“I shall build, my lord. Your kind offer of tax relief will surely draw peasant
families to settle in our empty lands. Rabbit spirits from far distant provinces will send us warriors to found new samurai families. And many of our scattered vassals shall be found. I shall presume upon your favour, my lord, and ask for the assistance of worthy administrators and capable officers.”

The beautiful young rabbit woman gave a quiet bow. “I shall rule from the heart. And I shall build upon joy.”

“I believe you have seen the right way forward.”

On they walked, with Sura swishing her tail and watching the passing bees. They smelled the distant scent of dinner being cooked – some sort of sizzling fish, and perhaps a partridge or two for the visiting carnivores. Lord Masura let his appetite rule his steps, and he curved his path back towards the towers.