The closer we got, the more it occurred to me we should not have been able to get so close. I fully expected the creature either to bolt or to attack us, but it did neither. It kept its attention focused on the north veranda of the mansion, as if it really had not noticed us or simply did not care. I could not tell which. We circled behind the building and used it as cover to approach the creature from the left.
Closer now, I could see the thing clearly enough even in the weak light. At a distance, in the dark, it might have passed for human, but in daylight no one who was closer than a bowshot would be fooled. There was a flatness to its features that extended to its body, and it looked almost like a
sumi
portrait come to life, only without the artistry. As I studied the creature, I used my thumb to loosen my
kodachi
in its sheath, and I heard a faint click behind me as Morofusa did the same. I knew the charm which bound the
onmyōji
’s will to the paper would be located somewhere on the creature’s body, and not necessarily where one would expect, making it necessary, as Toshihide’s men had done before, to hack the creature to pieces to make certain of its destruction. I studied the thing as closely as I dared, searching for a line or shadow that did not appear to be part of the thing’s appearance alone.
There.
I took a deep breath, let it out slowly as I got ready to choose my time.
The
shikigami
decided for me. Two of Toshihide’s
bushi
rounded the mansion on their assigned search, and in that moment the creature tensed. I had time enough to realize two things: first, the creature was about to move and second, that it would choose to move at this particular time was very strange. I put the second understanding aside for a later time, and when the creature bolted toward the mansion, I was ready. I took one step and slashed left to right at what I hoped was the correct height. I was rewarded with the sight of what had been the creature’s head separating from the rest of its body, and an instant later there was nothing but two pieces of paper of different sizes fluttering to the ground.
The two
bushi
had detected our movement and rushed up to stare at the remnants. “You found it!”
I quickly snatched up the paper from the ground as Morofusa returned his
kodachi
to its sheath. “I will report to Toshihide-
shōshō
,” I said, as I put my own blade away. “Keep searching for now. We do not know if this was the only one.”
“
Hai!
”
Kenji and Ujiyasu approached as the two Taira
bushi
continued their assigned course. “If you two gentlemen would finish searching this last building,” I said to Morofusa and Ujiyasu, “Kenji and I will go speak to Toshihide. Join us as soon as you are done.”
“
Hai
, Yamada-sama,” Morofusa said.
We left them to it as we made our way around the east wing of the mansion toward the garden. As we walked, I handed the remnants of the
shikigami
to Kenji, who paused to study them under by the light of a nearby lantern.
“It is much easier to read when the paper hasn’t been cut to shreds,” Kenji said.
“Somewhat risky when your first aim is to make one clean cut, rather than to simply destroy the creature, but I’m glad I succeeded. What can you make of it?”
“Well, for one thing, the discrepancy Master Chang Yu showed us is much easier to see. It is likely I would have spotted it on my own under these circumstances,” Kenji said, “but I cannot deny visiting the old man was the best course.”
“Anything else?”
“I believe it was the same
onmyōji
as the last one, and I am almost certain this is not the work of Moritomo.”
“Almost certain? Not completely certain?” the lantern asked.
“As certain as I can be—” Kenji began before he realized who—or rather what—had asked the question.
The lantern’s paper split into a grinning mouth just as a pair of eyes appeared. It detached itself from its hook on a post and floated off across the grounds, laughing.
My
kodachi
was halfway out of its sheath before I realized what the creature was, and I slowly put the blade back. Kenji was fuming.
“Stupid eavesdropping lantern ghost,” Kenji muttered. “My heart nearly stopped.”
“Or a
tsukumo-gami.
Either way, it was definitely startling, somewhat annoying, but not dangerous. Which is fortunate, since such a creature is almost impossible to detect unless it reveals itself.”
“Which they always do, since by their nature they cannot keep themselves from playing tricks or trying to startle people, as this one did,” Kenji said. “I’m sorry I cannot tell you anything else about the
shikigami
. We still do not know who the
onmyōji
is.”
“Let’s find another lantern . . . preferably one without a sense of humor.”
We found one on the south end of the east wing. I stopped for a minute to examine the script. There was far more of it left than the first time, and it was much easier to see. When I did so, I almost dropped the paper.
It cannot be
, I thought but then realized how foolish that was. Of course it could. I composed myself and spoke to Kenji. “I thought the script on the first
shikigami
looked somewhat familiar. Now I’m sure of it.”
“You know who the
onmyōji
is?”
I considered very carefully before I answered. “I said the script was familiar, and it is. I cannot say anything else for now, but I do have a person in mind.”
“Who?”
“Kenji-san, you will simply need to trust me for now. I will not name this person because I need confirmation before we make any accusations or take any action, should that prove necessary or advisable, and I will do my best to get that confirmation. This is not our most immediate concern—first we need to tell Toshihide about the
shikigami.
”
Toshihide was scowling when we approached, but as soon as he saw us, his expression lightened. “Yamada-sama, I heard some commotion from the north side. What happened?”
“Morofusa and I came upon the
shikigami
,” I said. “Fortunately, we were able to destroy it, but Morofusa and Ujiyasu are completing the search of the outbuildings in case there are any more.”
“I sincerely hope not,” Toshihide said. “One is more than enough. Worse, there is still no indication of how it got in. One cannot patch a bucket if one cannot find the leak.”
“That is indeed a problem,” I said.
He looked grim. “Here’s another one—Her Highness knows you are here and wishes to speak with you. I apologize, but I think you might be in for it.”
I did not bother to ask how she knew—in the confusion and excitement we had not been exceptionally concerned with discretion. Likely she had heard my name called.
Kenji, wisely, remained in the garden to wait for Morofusa and Ujiyasu. Under the circumstances, Princess Tagako’s
kicho
was set up in the main hall, not the veranda. Toshihide’s
bushi
kept watch at all the entrances but otherwise kept a discreet distance, for which I was grateful. As it soon proved, Princess Tagako was not in the best of humors.
“Lord Yamada, must I beg for you to visit me?”
I bowed. “Forgive me, Highness. Concerns for your safety have kept me occupied.”
“Safety? There is none, and I am rapidly reaching the point where my sanity is of more importance. Any of my attendants can attest to my ill temper these days. I daresay you will probably say the same.”
“I would not consider it,” I said.
“Liar.”
“Well, perhaps I would consider it just a little.”
She laughed, and finally said, “Oh, Lord Yamada . . . that is twice I’ve laughed today, and for the first time in a while.”
“Indeed? May I ask when was the first?” I asked, eager to change the subject.
“That moment when you and Master Kenji tried to read something under the light of Atsu-san.”
I blinked. “Atsu-san—you mean the ghost lantern? You saw this? You knew about that thing?”
“I heard your voices outside and listened at the screen. As for Atsu-san, of course I knew. I was not the
saiō
of the Grand Shrine at Ise these past eighteen years for nothing. Atsu-san—or so he calls himself—is a harmless creature. More, he is willing to talk to me . . . sometimes. I will grant you, what he says does not always make sense, but then the concerns of ghosts and
youkai
are not always the concerns of humans.”
I could just imagine the scene from Tagako’s perspective and could not help but smile as well. “At least we were able to amuse you.”
“I am curious, though—what were you two trying to read?”
“The remains of a
shikigami.
One had reached the grounds, but of course you knew this.”
“In comparison to the giant eagles at Osaka Bay and Kawachi, I have to wonder if whoever is doing this now is not trying very hard.”
“Or
is
trying very hard, trying to lull us into a false feeling of complacency. I will not give them the benefit of the doubt where your life is concerned, Highness.”
“Why?” she asked.
I frowned. “Why? I don’t understand.”
“It is a simple question, Lord Yamada. Why? What is your obligation to me, that you should concern yourself with my safety?”
“Prince Kanemore asked me—”
“To escort me to Kyoto. You have done so and admirably. Your obligation to your friend and to the emperor was discharged. Yet still you continue to aid me. You said you always wished to be of service to me. Please do not misunderstand, Lord Yamada—as I have mentioned before, I was and am very grateful to you for everything you have done. Aside from that, frankly I enjoy your company—when you deign to give it. I will be very sad when the day comes—as it soon must—when I am taken to my new husband and you return to Kamakura. I do not wish to embarrass or trouble you by asking, I merely want to understand—why?”
I thought of all the things I could say, all true, and all meaningless. I gave the answer that felt the most true to me, even if I had never expressed it before, even to myself. “I have grown fond of you, Highness. I have seen your kindness, and I value your wit and judgment. I also very much enjoy your company.”
Through the
kicho
she beckoned me closer, then she pulled it aside, just a sliver so that I could see her face. “If that is true, why do you avoid visiting me?”
“Highness, I think it is
because
what I have told you.”
She smiled, and did not bother to hide it. “
Baka.
”
“As much as anyone ever was,” I said. “Please forgive my foolishness.”
“If you will forgive my own, and thus we are a pair.
Baka.
”
I can only imagine how glazed my expression remained when I rejoined the others in the garden. I felt as if someone had smacked me in the head with a mallet.
“It must have been even worse than I feared,” Toshihide said. “I crave your pardon, Lord Yamada. I did say that she was in a state.”
“Oh, yes,” I said. “She was.” I shook myself and looked around. “Was anything else found?”
“Nothing. We’ve resumed our regular patrols, but the immediate danger appears to be past.” Toshihide bowed. “Thank you for your assistance. All of you.”
“It was little enough, but you are welcome. I think we had best return home for now, but I will likely be contacting you soon.”
“I look forward to it,” Toshihide said.
Kenji held his tongue until we had returned to my compound and the two
bushi
had taken their leave of us. “What happened in there?”
I was a little surprised this was his first concern and not what I had said about the
onmyōji
earlier, though after consideration I realized I should not have been surprised at all. He was Kenji, after all.
“You should have come with me,” I said, “and received your share.”
He looked at me for a moment, then shook his head. “Curious as I am, perhaps it is best that I do not know.”
“Try not to imagine, either, for you could not do it justice. I will simply say it would be best, in the future, if we could avoid doing anything to make Princess Tagako unhappy.”
“More easily done if I knew what makes her unhappy,” he muttered.
I sighed. “No need to worry. I do.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The next morning I wrote a letter to my son. I then made arrangements through Morofusa to send a pair of Minamoto couriers to deliver it to my estate in Kamakura, as I considered it prudent none of those in my household in the Capital be involved. That concern had no sooner been attended to than the steward of my town estate, Takamasa, brought news of the body recently found near the city to our notice. Sad to say, it was not such an unusual thing for a person in or near the Capital to come to a misadventure. Personal grudges, robberies, even bandit incursions were not unheard of within the confines of the city. Yet this instance was a bit unusual. First of all, the victim had been well-dressed, likely a member of the gentry or some minor government official whom no one had been able to identify, found in the area east of the city sometimes referred to as the “Mountain of Smoke.” It was where the temples had set aside space for the cremation of bodies. It was not the sort of place one would normally go, unless as part of funeral rites. Otherwise no one other than priests in charge of cremations and those who served them would go there.
The second strange thing was he was found with no marks on his body and nothing to indicate what killed him.
Takamasa bowed. “An unpleasant subject, to be sure. Pardon my presumption, but it is well known such . . . odd occurrences, shall we say, are of interest to you.”
“Thank you, Master Takamasa. I will consider this.”
“That
is
odd,” Kenji said after the man was gone. “A robbery would have left him with a dagger wound or a crushed skull. Something a little more direct. It seems likely the victim was poisoned.”