Call of Duty by Tsuruchi Nakata
"No wall stands forever. Only duty stands forever."--Kaiu Hosaru, A Perfect Cut
* * *
Call of Duty
by Sébastien Michaux/Tsuruchi Nakata
A Matsu returns home from a long campaign to discover that his/her only child is woefully unprepared for his/her gempukku in one month's time.
The youngest child of a prominent family is kidnapped and taken into the lands of a rival clan.
Lady Moon was high in the sky above the sea. Yoko sighed. Even though she had seen the reflection of Lady Hitomi's light on the sea more than a thousand times, every time she saw it from the Deathless' deck, memories came back at her. Her husband. Their daughter. It had been more than three years since she had last seen them.
"Good evening, Yoko-san."
The voice that had pulled her out of her reverie was all too recognizable.
"Otemi-sama. I didn't hear you come on deck."
"Well, it's true I did not come here announcing my presence with the usual string of imperial heralds but I thought they would be unnecessary tonight. I wanted to ask you, Yoko-san, how long have you been aboard our ship? Around three years, if my memory serves me right."
"Next week will see the beginning of my forty-first month aboard the ship, Otemi-sama."
"And during all this time, you never went back to your family's estates?"
"No, Otemi-sama. I was fulfilling my duty here while my husband was taking care of the house."
"You miss him, don't you?"
"Otemi-sama, rest assured my feelings would never interfere with my duty aboard the ship."
"Of course, Yoko-san, of course. I would not think of anything capable of standing between a member of the Lion's Pride and her duty. But you did not answer my question."
"Yes, I miss him, Otemi-sama."
"As you miss your daughter Tsukiko, I'm sure."
Yoko turned to once again look at Lady Moon.
"Yes, Otemi-sama, I miss her too."
"How old is your daughter now?"
"She will be fourteen in three months' time."
"Which means she will be of age to pass her gempukku."
"Yes, Otemi-sama. She should be among those who will have their gempukku ceremony on the first day of spring."
"I am sure she will make you proud."
"So am I, Otemi-sama."
"Yet something seems to trouble you. Don't look at me like that, Yoko-san. Even though as a bushi you are trained to keep your feelings to yourself, I, as an Ikoma, am still able to see through the people under my orders."
"I thought you had been trained as a bushi, Otemi-sama," she said, before realizing she might have insulted her officer. But before she could apologize, Otemi began to laugh.
"That's true, Yoko-san," Otemi said, "but I guess the time I spent with my uncle Sume-sama must have bear fruits none of us really desired. Well, maybe he did. So, what troubles you so, Yoko-san?"
"I'm not sure, Otemi-sama. I know when I was about to pass go through my gempukku, my mother, even though she kept saying to anyone who would listen that I would make her proud, was silently afraid I would fail."
"But you did not. You and I passed our gempukku together."
This was not Otemi's voice, but Yoko knew who it was. Otemi's second, Matsu Kenji, Taisa of the Lion's Pride.
"And you surpassed me in every test, Kenji-sama," Yoko said, bowing.
"Not exactly, Yoko-san, you beat me in the go contest. If I remember well, nobody actually beat you in that contest. I'm sure your daughter will fare well beyond your expectations, Yoko."
Otemi was sure he actually saw Kenji smile at Yoko.
"But I did not come on deck to discuss your talent at go, Yoko. Otemi-sama and I have something to tell you."
"Yes," Otemi said, "you will use our next stop to disembark the Deathless."
"Disembark?"
"Yes, you will go back to your estates and attend your daughter's gempukku ceremony. And after that, you'll come back on board on our next stop in port. We'll let you know where and when that stop will be," Otemi said.
With that, he bowed and walked back towards his cabin, closely followed by Kenji.
Yoko turned, looking at the calm sea, smiling at the thought she'd see her home and family soon enough. But it seemed she would not be allowed to dwell in reverie on that evening, for she heard a voice behind her.
"Yoko leave-leave boat?"
She turned to face whoever had been sneaking on her this time even though the grammar of her interlocutor clearly helped to identify him as a member of a certain part of the crew.
Yoko's face was a mere inch from the upside-down face of one of the nezumi serving aboard the Deathless. A nezumi she recognized easily at the white patch of fur he had around his left eye. The nezumi was hanging from the ropes holding the sail in place. He had both his back feet and his tail entangled in the ropes, preventing him from falling at Yoko's feet.
"Good evening, Ak'trek."
At those words, the nezumi let go his grip on the ropes and landed softly on all fours before straightening to face Yoko.
"Ak'trek, how come you and your kin still haven't learned you are not supposed to sneak on humans aboard the ship?"
"Ak'trek not sneak-sneak. Ak'trek just where humans not look-look."
Yoko clearly did not want to engage on an argument about semantics with a nezumi, be it one of the most fluent in Rokugani she knew.
"Ak'trek hear-hear Yoko go see pup?"
Yoko sighed. She had first longed to have a quiet evening, looking nostalgically at the sea, but had been interrupted by her captain and his second who wanted her to hear the good news. She had then hoped she would have a quiet time to rejoice at the thought of seeing her daughter again. But it was not to be, thanks to being aboard the ship with most activity on deck of all Rokugan.
"Yes, indeed, I will leave the ship on our next stop so that I'll be able to attend my daughter's gempukku."
She had hesitated, but she could not think of a word her nezumi interlocutor would understand.
"Good thing," the nezumi said, "always nice to see pup grow-grow big and healthy."
Yoko could not keep her smile to herself.
"Well, yes, I am glad I can see my pup grow and become an adult, Ak'trek."
"Hear-hear, Ak'trek having idea. Ak'trek leave-leave boat too and go-go see pup of Yoko too."
Yoko was wondering if she could find a way to change the nezumi's mind, but she knew she was fighting an uphill battle.
"You see, Ak'trek, I don't know if it is a good idea. I do not think--"
But she could not finish her sentence. Years ago, she considered ratlings nothing more than vermin you had to get rid of before they would destroy crops and steals everything they could get their paws on. Three years aboard the Deathless with half the crew being human-sized rodents had taught them that nezumi were in fact good company. Better company than some humans, she had surprised herself thinking on more than a couple occasions.
"Listen, Ak'trek, after all, I think I would be pleased to enjoy your company on the journey back to my er, warren."
The nezumi let out what sounded like a squeak of pleasure before climbing back up the sail, saying, "Fine, Ak'trek happy he and Yoko are in same pack."
Well, even though Yoko had learned to kind of like them, they still struck her as weird most of the time.
Ak'trek was no exception.
But after three years living among a crew composed of nezumi as well as humans, Yoko had felt she would miss the company of her furry friends on her journey home.
*
Lion lands, three weeks later.
At last, after three years, Yoko could see her home a few hundred yards farther down the road. Several times she had thought about this moment, wondering how happy she would be. Never had she had any idea she would have been so glad to be back home. A lot of questions now assailed her. How tall and strong had her daughter grown. Had everything gone well while she was away on the Deathless. She had received and written letters to her husband, Ryutanshi, but she knew he could have omitted a few things if he thought he shouldn't have worried her.
The voice of her furry companion brought her back out of her reverie.
"That be-be warren of Yoko?"
She turned to face the nezumi.
"Yes, Ak'trek, indeed it is. We should hurry, they're waiting for us before nightfall."
With those words, she hurried down the road to her family's castle, Ak'trek following closely.
When they arrived close enough for the guards on watch to recognize Yoko's familial armour, the order was given to open the gates. Once they were open, four soldiers in golden armours rode forth to meet with Yoko. When they took notice of the nezumi following her, their squad leader rose an eyebrow.
"He's fine, gunso. This nezumi is part of Ikoma Otemi-sama's crew. He's travelling with me."
The gunso nodded. Yoko and Ak'trek entered the castle through the gates, followed by the small honour guard which had ridden to meet them. In the courtyard, a tall and muscular man was waiting. He was standing in front of the doors of the main building, arms crossed. A tattoo of a tiger covered his shaved head.
Upon seeing Yoko, he walked to her and bowed, saying, "Welcome home, Yoko-san."
"Thanks a lot, Ryutanshi. I am glad I find the home of my family in as good shape as I left it but I did not expect less from my husband."
He smiled at her and when he took notice of Ak'trek, he said to Yoko, "Your last letter did not mention you would be accompanied by a guest. I will give orders immediately to have guest quarters ready to welcome our nezumi guest."
"Ak'trek and I discussed this and said he would be very pleased if we let him sleep in the stables or in a garden rather than in human quarters."
Ak'trek was not listening, he was looking all around him, apparently enjoying a lot what he was seeing.
"This nice-nice warren," he said, turning to Ryutanshi.
"Thank you very much, Ak'trek," Ryutanshi said, "you are most welcome here. Now, Yoko-san, if you would, I think we have much to talk about before we can meet our guest at dinner."
Yoko raised an eyebrow. It was not in her husband's manners to ask to talk to someone freshly arrived without letting the traveller rest at least a bit.
"Fine, Ryutanshi-san. Ak'trek, the garden is that way," Yoko said, pointing at the left side of the main building, "I am sure you will find it at your convenience."
Without showing whether he had heard or not, the nezumi wandered off in the direction Yoko had indicated. Once he had turned past the corner of the building, Yoko turned to her husband, asking, "What's happening, Ryutanshi-san?"
"Let's go to our room, Yoko-chan. This is a matter we cannot discuss here in the courtyard."
The look on her husband was serious enough to make Yoko think the matter was quite important.
He turned and led the way to his office, Yoko following.
*
"Now, tell me, Ryutanshi. What's the matter with Tsukiko? Is she ill?"
"No, her health is fine. It is about her classes."
"What happened? Did any of her teachers express concern about her passing her gempukku?"
"She quit training as a Matsu bushi."
"What?" Yoko shouted.
"She has renounced her training as a Matsu bushi."
"But...Why?"
"She has asked me to let her tell you herself. She is waiting for you in the garden. She--"
Before he could finish his next sentence, Yoko had stormed out of the room.
She strode towards the gardens, nearly at a run. When she arrived, she couldn't see anyone but Ak'trek speaking to a young man with a shaved head, without doubt a monk on a pilgrimage who had stopped on his way to a temple to get a bit of rest near the small pond. Her daughter's pond, which Yoko and her husband had had dug for their daughter's ninth birthday.
Yoko went to Ak'trek and asked, "Ak'trek, did you see a young girl around this garden."
"Ak'trek only see-see one young girl here."
"But where has she gone, now?"
"Here," Ak'trek said, pointing at the young man.
"I have no time for jokes and games, Ak'trek, I am looking for my daughter, I do not have time to talk with a monk," Yoko said, turning to the young man, "not that I mean to imply I could not take time to listen to the wisdom of a monk, but urgent matters require me to have a talk with my daughter Tsukiko."
"But what if I am the person you are actually looking for?" the monk asked, with a very calm voice.
"I am sorry I can't take time to listen to your riddles, young monk, but as I s--"
It had just struck her. The young monk's face. The eyes which were looking at her. Eyes she couldn't forget, the same as her husband's, those of her daughter Tsukiko.
"Tsukiko?", Yoko asked, nearly screaming.
"Mother," the young girl replied.
"What? Your hair...Why? Who?...What does that mean?" Yoko said, flabbergasted.
"Oh, this girl pup of Yoko?"
Yoko, who had nearly forgotten the nezumi's presence, turned to look at him and said, in a very cold voice, "Ak'trek, I think you should go and take a look around. Go and visit the stables, you should find them to your liking."
Ak'trek did not need it to be repeated, he knew Yoko's tone left no room for discussion, as he had heard the captain use it on the boat when situations needed to be dealt with swiftly, like that time when the ship had been caught in a storm or that other time when they had seen a pirate ship not too far away.
Once he had left, Yoko turned to resume her discussion with her daughter, who was now beaming at her.
"Mother," Tsukiko said, "I'm so glad you are back home."
"Tsukiko, what did you do to your hair?"
"I had it shaved"
"I can see that, but why?"
"Isn't it obvious, Mother? I chose to quit training as a bushi to become a monk."
"You WHAT?", Yoko shouted, anger rising quickly.
"I quit tr--"
But her mother interrupted her, saying, "I heard the first time but...you chose? What could ever make you think you should renounce and cast away the traditions of our family to embrace the life of a monk? Each and every first daughter of our family has trained in the Matsu bushi school and each one of them had received the honour of being accepted in the Lion's Pride."
"But, Mother--"
"I have not finished, Tsukiko. I do not care what you think, but you will change your mind. I will see personally that you are accepted back in the Matsu dojo. I will train you myself personally if I have to. But in one month's time, you will attend the gempukku ceremony at the bushi school, and you will succeed in the tests. Is that clear?"
"I won't, Mother."
"Did I sound like it was something to be discussed, Tsukiko?"
"No, Mother, you did not. But it does not have to mean I will do it."
"What? You are my daughter, and you will do as I say."
"No."
"How dare you talk to me like that?"
"I mean no disrespect, Mother, but I am afraid I cannot do as you want me to. I will follow a way different than the one you thought I would."
"A way? You mean it is some of that Dragon nonsense your father taught you? I thought it had been clear than by marrying me and becoming a Lion, your father had renounced his former allegiance and that he would never interfere in your education."
"Father has nothing to do with it. He has spent the last two months trying to have me change my mind."
"But if it's not your father, who is it?"
"No one, mother. Or, rather, it's my own fault. I found the way I have to follow by reading the scrolls about the Tao of Shinsei that uncle Kataro had with him last time he came here to visit father. I took the scrolls from his belongings."
"You stole your uncle's scrolls about his studies of the Tao?"
"Not exactly, I borrowed them, I intended to have them sent back to him."
"That seems to be the most brilliant idea you've had during the last three months."
Tsukiko smiled at her mother, but got no smile back.
"Upon finishing reading the scrolls, I realised there was much more to learn, but it would need time I wouldn't have if I kept following the martial training at the Matsu dojo. So I went to the sensei and told him I would not come to class anymore."
"And what was his reaction?"
"Well, he mentioned several ways he would use to have the insult repaid."
"Well, he took it quite well, I'm pretty sure another sensei would have cut you in half for that. You do realise how insulting it is for him, right?"
"Yes, but I couldn't help it. I already knew I must become a monk to better understand the Tao."
"Sitting in temples and meditating never brought glory to anyone's family. Becoming a monk never made anyone a hero to his or her clan."
"Toturi the First was a monk before being daimyo of the Lion."
"So what, you think becoming a monk will lead you to one day be the Empress?"
"Not at all. What I meant was--"
"I do not care what you meant. Now, think about the way you'll present your apologises to the Matsu dojo when you ask him to be reaccepted in his classes."
With that, Yoko turned and walked away back to her husband's office, considering the matter closed.
Ryutanshi had had tea brought to his office, and was still sitting, waiting for her.
"Seeing the look on your face, I see she has told you."
"Yes, she has but I think I made it clear that it was unacceptable and that she would ask to be reaccepted in the Matsu dojo."
"She has sent a letter to the sensei of the dojo a couple of weeks ago, telling him she had made arrangements for her to join the Brotherhood of Shinsei at the time she should have gone through her gempukku."
"She has done what?"
With those words, Yoko stood up and prepared to leave but her husband, who hadn't moved to stop her said, "You will not change her mind, Yoko."
"We will see."
"Your mother did not change yours."
"What do you mean?"
"You perfectly know what I am talking about. When you told her you and I were to get married, with her blessing or not. You threatened her to leave Lion lands forever."
"I did not think about that."
"Painful memories are sometimes the ones who most easily slip away. Do you remember how your mother tried to change your mind?"
Yoko was digging through her memories.
"Yes, I do," she said, "she told me of the family's tradition to have each first-born daughter to train to be accepted into the Lion's Pride."
"But you did not care. You told her traditions change, you even mentioned how the line of the Hantei had seen the line of the Glorious Emperor Toturi take its place on the Throne."
"Yes, it's true, but in the end, Mother accepted our marriage if you accepted to marry into the Lion clan and if I trained hard to be accepted among the ranks of the Lion's Pride."
"Indeed. We had found a way for everyone to be happy. We would marry, and your mother would see you bring honour and glory to your family, like every one of your ancestors did before you."
"But Tsukiko cannot be a Matsu bushi, be a monk and hope to join the Lion's Pride at the same time."
"No, but she could be a monk and at the same time bring glory and honour to our home. And even though she would not do it the same way as her ancestors, would she not, in her own way, do what you want her to do. Because joining the Lion's Pride, although being a very high honour a Matsu can aim at, it is not the only one."
"But it is how it has been done in our family for ages."
"Traditions change, don't you remember? I even think you were the first of your line to actually say this."
The implications of all this slowly permeated Yoko's mind. How could she be angry at her daughter anymore when she had herself acted in the same way when she was of Tsukiko's age. How could she, after trying to be an example for a daughter for her whole life, judge her daughter for something she had herself done years ago.
"You are right, Ryutanshi-chan, as always. Tomorrow, I'll talk to Tsukiko and tell her I'll support her decision, whichever it is."
She turned to leave the room and this time, her husband did not say or do anything to stop her. As Yoko closed the door after having left the room, her husband resumed his work.
*
Night had fallen.
Yoko was walking in her garden, under the light of Lady Moon.
Her eyes fell on her daughter's pond. Lady Moon's reflection in the calm water reminded her of the night she had nearly fled from the castle because her family disapproved of her love for a Dragon monk.
She had fallen in love with him.
She had disappointed her mother.
She had showed disrespect to her mother. But she had not realized it. Not until Tsukiko, her own daughter, had behaved the same way to her.
"Yoko not be-be sad."
This was getting annoying. Yoko felt like somebody had to show that ratling how much his manners were out of place in the human world. Yoko turned to face the nezumi, her hand on her sword. Ak'trek was hanging upside-down from a nearby tree.
"Ak'trek, how many times do I have to tell you you must NOT sneak up on people like that."
"Ak'trek no sneak-sneak, Ak'trek--"
"I know, you only happen to use paths where no one looks."
"Yoko would be good rememberer if born a nezumi."
The anger which had been rising in Yoko began to fade away. Of course, the idea of having been born a nezumi seemed odd, but Yoko couldn't stop herself from thinking her life would be so easier without all the responsibilities being born a samurai implied.
Once again, the nezumi's voice brought her back to reality.
"So, why Yoko so sad?"
"I...It is hard to explain, Ak'trek."
"Why not try-try?"
"I don't know exactly. I think I am torn between thinking I should have followed my mother's wishes, but at the same time, I think I should let my daughter do as she wants."
She paused, looking at the nezumi, trying to catch a sign of comprehension on his face. But Ak'trek did not seem to show any sign of anything.
"See, Ak'trek, I think at the same time I do not want to make the mistake my mother made and I do not want to see my daughter make the same mistake I made either."
"Ak'trek not see-see what problem is."
"I don't know how I could help you understand. It seems that kind of problem must be as alien to you as our concept of honour."
The ratling nodded.
"Nezumi not have problem with pups like that. Nezumi and pups always agree tribe be-be more important."
It was Yoko's turn to nod. Ak'trek stayed silent, as if he wanted to let Yoko's mind absorb what he had just said.
Yoko turned to look back at the pond. Lady Moon's reflection had not moved a bit it seemed, even though Yoko felt like hours had passed since she had decided to take a walk in the garden. Suddenly, she saw something fly right in front of Lady Moon's reflection. She looked up and saw a bird fly away. It seemed like it had come from one of the windows of the small castle. The bird hooted in the night.
"An owl," she said. The bird flew past the wall and disappeared into the night.
"Lost bird," Ak'trek said.
"Lost?"
"Yes, bird like that not fly here. Bird of far-far North."
Yoko did not question the nezumi's knowledge. She had learned to trust the nezumi on all matters of flora and fauna.
"Something is amiss here," Yoko said.
"Yes. Men run-run on roof is always bad."
"What do you mean?"
"See," the nezumi said, pointing upward to the roof of the castle. Yoko could see a shadow move up there, apparently carrying something quite big. Something the size of a young human, she thought.
"Tsukiko!"
"Yoko's pup?"
"Guards! Guards!" Yoko called. But no answer came. Nor could she hear anyone coming.
An arrow hit the tree right where Yoko had stood a moment before.
She let out a curse and ran back to the castle. When she arrived, her husband was standing in the doorway, carrying a staff in his hands.
"What's happening, Yoko, I heard you calling for guards."
"I saw someone on the roof, and I think he has kidnapped Tsukiko."
"Go to her room and check, I'll ask the guards to be extra careful."
She hurried upstairs and when she reached her daughter's room, her fears had come true. Her daughter had been taken away.
Yoko fell to her knees. She could feel her strengths go away as fast as tears rolled down her cheeks. Her daughter, her most cherished treasure, had been taken away from her. As regret and sadness overwhelmed her, darkness clouded her mind.
*
"Yoko-chan."
She knew that voice.
"Yoko-chan, wake up."
She could feel his arms around her. She opened her eyes.
"Ryutanshi-san. What happened?"
"You were ambushed. They must have waited for you here and when you entered Tsukiko's bedroom, they knocked you out by surprise."
She could feel the dried tears on her cheeks. He knew. He must know she had fainted from sadness and despair. Yet he would not think of mentioning her weakness.
"Tsukiko!"
"Gone. The guards of the west wall have all been put asleep by magic. I could still feel the presence of the kami when I arrived at the wall. I launched guards in pursuit of the kidnappers, but the doors of the castle were barred by magic, too."
"But why? Who would go to such great length to take our daughter away?"
"I am not sure, Yoko, but I may have an idea."
"Who? I will make them pay their treachery with their blood."
She could feel her strengths come back to her, fueled by a burning desire for vengeance.
"If I am right, no blood will have to be spilled."
"Who are you thinking about, Ryutanshi-san?"
"I can not tell you as long as I am not sure. I will have to ask you something, Yoko-chan."
"What do you want?"
"Let me handle this."
"Ryutanshi-san, it is my daughter we are talking about."
"Our daughter, Yoko-san. The fruit of our love. I am sure you know I want to protect her as much as you do."
At those words, Yoko felt her tears come back. She cast herself deeper in her husband's arms to hide her tears from him.
*
The following morning, Ryutanshi had left before Yoko had woken up. He had left a note saying he had left before Lord Sun rose, but had decided against waking her because he hated to have to say goodbye.
He had taken the best horse in the castle and headed straight towards the north.
He did not stop riding until he was in Dragon territory. There, he only stopped to let his presence be known to the local magistrte and the reasons for his travel in Dragon lands.
"I am here to pay a visit to my brother Kitsuki Kataro."
He only was a couple of days of riding away from their father's castle.
"Welcome back in Dragon lands," the magistrate had said, "how long do you intend to stay?"
"Oh, only a couple of days, Magistrate-sama, there is some family matter I must discuss with my brother."
"Enjoy your stay in our lands, Matsu Ryutanshi-san."
"I undoubtedly will, Magistrate-sama."
*
The rest of the travel to his father's estates was uneventful. And when he reached the open gates, he could see his father and brother standing there.
"Father, Kataro-san, greetings."
"We were waiting for you, Ryutanshi, my son. Come. We have much to talk about," the old man said, turning and walking slowly across the yard to the building in its centre. The walls of the small castle were covered with ivy and seemed to be part of the surrounding gardens. While walking behind his father, Ryutanshi took notice of four samurai wearing Mantis colours playing dice under one of the willow trees. Ryutanshi recognized them. They were mercenaries Ryutanshi's father used to do bothersome tasks. They were men with no honour except regarding the fulfilling of their part of the contract.
"They are a necessary evil, my son," his father had replied once, when the young Ryutanshi had asked who the Mantis samurai in the garden were.
Ryutanshi and his brother followed their father to his own private garden. Once there, the old Dragon sat nearby the small pond in the middle of which there was a small fountain. He casually threw some food to the fishes before turning to Ryutanshi and saying, "Your sharp mind has not been weakened by the years you spent away in Lion lands, my son."
"Thanks a lot, father," Ryutanshi said.
"I knew you would figure it out, but tell me. What showed you the way here?"
"Well," Ryutanshi began, "the method was reminiscent of something I had seen before, but the arrow one of them shot was a kind of signature. The arrow was recognizable as typical facture from one of the Mantis you hire from time to time. And there were some other clues who confirmed me in my opinion about the authors of that act."
"And what were those clues?"
"First, the spell used to put the guards to sleep left some distinct traces. There was sand around the sleeping guards. That spell is hard to perform, and I know of only a few select shugenja who could cast it so efficiently."
The old Kitsuki nodded.
"Second, the man who went to my daughter's room to take her away knocked out two of our guards while carrying our daughter. He left one of the guards with a broken arm and the other with a broken nose. There are few men capable of such feats of strength with only one arm available. And there is only one of those who usually works with a shugenja like the one capable of casting the spell we talked about."
A smile began to appear on the old Kitsuki's face as a bit of pride seemed to lighten his eyes.
"So you obviously identified the men who had been sent to take Tsukiko-chan from your home. And what made you think they had brought her here?"
"Well, my brother Kataro left his beloved owl in my daughter's care last time he visited us. When upon entering my daughter's room I saw the owl's cage was empty, I concluded she had sent the owl away, without a doubt as a signal for the men waiting outside the castle to do their job."
"Very well, my son," the old Kitsuki said, now beaming at both his sons.
"Kataro," the old man said, "you can go. I will talk a little bit more with Ryutanshi here."
The young Kitsuki bowed to his father and then to his brother before going back into the castle.
"Follow me, Ryutanshi. I will show you something."
He led the way further down a garden path until, after turning around the corner of a small patch of bushes, they saw the young Tsukiko reading in the shadow of an old willow tree.
"She asked her uncle some time ago if she could come here and study the Tao. We knew it would be hard for her mother to accept, so I planned all of this in case her mother would try to stop Tsukiko-chan from following the way she had chosen. Maybe you want to have a little talk with her, son."
"No, I just wanted to make sure she was here. She does not know it, but her mother finally approved of her decision."
"You should tell her that."
"No, father. You will tell her. Tell her I came. Tell her her mother is not angry at her anymore, and that both her mother and I would like her to visit us from time to time."
"Are you sure you do not want to tell her yourself?"
"Yes, father. I am afraid if I talk to her there, under that willow tree, I won't go back."
"Oh. That willow tree. I had forgotten about that. This is the tree under which you met Yoko-chan, isn't it?"
"Yes, it is. Now, you will understand why I do not stay any longer. I must go back to Lion lands and tell Yoko her daughter is alive and well, here."
The old man smiled, and said, "As sure I am Tsukiko will be glad her mother has changed her mind, I am sure Yoko will understand why we did what we had to do."
"She surely will, Father. She was once ready to run away to Dragon lands, too."
* * *