Where the Wind Takes Us
Part 2 - Long Ago
Chapter 12 - The Aru Clan
When the Sadan Taram returned to the inn in Takua Village, they found mounted soldiers serving the Aru clan waiting for them. Sari recognized them first; their horses were tethered just outside the inn, and the soldiers themselves were walking around the yard.
“Agachi? Sir? Is that you?” Sari called out.
The man she addressed turned, smiled a little, and bowed. Balsa gave him a once-over; the last soldiers she’d seen had attacked her, after all. But they didn’t seem to be a threat.
“Who are these people?” Balsa asked.
“Retainers of the Aru clan,” Kii said softly. “Don’t worry. They aren’t bad people.”
Balsa glanced over at Jiguro. He, too, was taking stock of the soldiers. His gaze lingered on their belts, which were embroidered with the symbol of the Aru clan.
It was midday. The soldiers took rooms at the inn and interrogated the men who’d attacked the Sadan Taram. They took the time to treat their wounds as well. The Aru clan retainers invited Sari to supper to tell her what they’d learned, and she agreed. Balsa and Jiguro were not permitted to attend, but stayed just outside the door. After dinner, Sari accompanied Jiguro and Balsa to Jiguro’s room and told them what Agachi had said.
“The good news is that our letter did reach Lord Shisol,” Sari said. “But just after, Lady Oria collapsed with a sickness. It was only morning sickness, but for a few days, the family was greatly concerned for her health. Our letter was briefly forgotten, and Agachi was only just sent with a reply.” She smiled. “We had a bit of a tough time of it, but things should be easier now. Agachi and the others have offered to escort us until the end of our journey.”
“Did the attack today have something to do with Lord Shisol?” Jiguro asked.
Sari shook her head. “Agachi denies that. He thinks that it’s more likely that our attackers are just bandits. I voiced my concerns, and he promised to investigate further. I’m relieved that you were able to capture all of them alive.”
Jiguro frowned deeply.
“Is there something wrong?” she asked.
Jiguro rubbed his chin. “Are you going to allow those men to guard you and your people?”
“Of course,” Sari said. “Why not? You’ll be working with them on the same side to defend us all. You don’t think that they’re secretly our enemies?”
Jiguro said nothing. His expression didn’t shift.
Sari turned toward Balsa. “I haven’t gotten a chance to thank you properly.” She bowed from the waist. “Without you, we all would have died.”
A muscle jumped in Balsa’s cheek. “It’s just work.”
“Did you change your bowstring?” Jiguro asked.
“Yep. Why?”
Jiguro shook his head. “Just take care of it. That weapon’s expensive, and it will only stay supple if you string it right. I thought it was strung to tight when I saw it last.”
Balsa resisted the urge to roll her eyes. The bow had saved both their lives and he knew now that she was taking care of it, but he was always going to ask a question like that. He was always looking for a flaw or something to fix. But if he wasn’t like that, they might both be dead by now.
“You chose your hiding place well,” Jiguro said after a pause.
She shrugged. “I noticed that there were a lot of rocks along that side of the road while I was practicing archery. I figured that if I moved quick and quiet and out of sight the whole way, I could catch them by surprise.”
“I see.” Jiguro chuckled. “So you got the lay of the land ahead of time.”
Balsa waited, like she was listening for some echo, but Jiguro didn’t say anything else. So that’s all the praise I get, huh?
Suddenly, Balsa remembered her fear of not being able to handle the archers. She’d been so scared of getting shot and watching Jiguro fight them off on his own to protect Sari. Could he have done it, even? The arrows of their attackers were poisoned. She hadn’t even considered that Jiguro would carry a shield, but it was the most sensible precaution he could have taken.
Balsa sighed inwardly. I may be a decent guard, but I still have a lot to learn.
There were strains of music coming from downstairs. Kii and the others had started their evening performance.
Jiguro faced Sari squarely. “I have two questions for you.”
“Yes?” Sari asked.
“Do you have to go into the Valley of the Forest King to perform your ritual, and if so, who is going to accompany you?”
Sari frowned a little. “Usually I wouldn’t have to go all the way in for the ritual, but we need to repair the grave this year. I wouldn’t worry too much about danger within the valley. I’ve never been attacked there before. I’ve walked through the valley for the ritual with Aru clan retainers and their lord several times, and the worst thing I ever saw was wolves keeping their distance in the trees.”
Jiguro nodded thoughtfully. “Now, my second question: do you normally eat or drink anything while you’re in the Valley of the Forest King?”
“We don’t bring food with us,” Sari said. “The ritual itself requires that we drink a sacred wine fermented with flower petals.”
Jiguro remained silent for a while, considering. “You have to fix the grave, so I imagine several Sadan Taram will be accompanying you. Will they also have to drink this wine?”
“Yes,” Sari said. “Everyone who steps foot on sacred ground for the ritual must partake of it.”
Jiguro hmmed. “In that case, I have a favor to ask.”
***
The journey to the Aru clan lord’s estate was blessed with fair weather, and they made excellent time. The terrain sloped downwards from Kemiru Hill.
Balsa and Jiguro remained vigilant. The road was surrounded on all sides by forest and grassland, making it easy for enemies to spring an ambush. But there were no ambushes. The autumn sun shone on the path, guiding all of them gently forward.
When the Aru clan lord’s estate appeared in the distance, the Sadan Taram sent up a cheer. The estate was familiar to them; it had been passed down by the hero Lagaro to his heirs. The estate was not large, but it was strongly built, with tall towers facing the east and west. The windows in the towers were stylized to look like stars. Lagaro and the Tahsa people had worshiped Hanma, a star goddess, long ago.
The road widened out and became smoother. It was lined by autumn flowers that extended all the way to the stone staircase leading into the estate. The flowers made the cold stone walls seem a bit less forbidding.
Kii clapped her hands. “The flowers are new,” she said to Balsa. “And the road’s been fixed. I guess Lady Oria has been making some improvements.”
They entered the estate and were greeted by servants who offered them clean rags and buckets of water so that they could make themselves a bit more presentable. The servants showed them to private rooms where they could change clothes, if they wished.
Sari alone was summoned to see the clan lord. The others were all guided to a separate wing of the estate where guest rooms were prepared for them. The rooms were a bit low-ceilinged compared to newer architecture, but they were solid stone and the floors were covered with thick, warm, embroidered rugs. The estate was not as grand as anything in southern Rota, but it was cozy and warm. Balsa looked around at old stone carvings and statues and felt the weight of history on this place.
There was a separate dining room in their guest suite that was large enough to seat everyone and then some. Servants set out baked candies and fresh fruit for them to enjoy.
It was a beautiful day outside, so all of the windows in the guest suite were open to the afternoon sun. Red flowers called risma bloomed in window boxes, filling the air with a sweet scent. They only bloomed at the start of autumn. Balsa found their familiar smell comforting.
The Sadan Taram ate and drank freely of all that was offered to them, but Balsa and Jiguro accepted only water and ate nothing.
“They’ve chilled the fruit, and this fruit juice tastes wonderful,” Kii said. “Are you sure you won’t have any?”
Balsa shook her head, and Kii looked troubled. “Does that mean that we shouldn’t have any, either?” Kii asked.
“No,” Jiguro said. “Remember who’s in danger here.”
“The Conductor,” Kii said.
“Right. They won’t poison your food, but they might tamper with hers--or ours, since we’re protecting her.”
A little while later, another servant came in and announced the arrival of Sari, their clan lord and their clan lady. The doors to the suite were swept open. The Sadan Taram rose quickly to their feet.
“I present Lord Shisol and Lady Oria,” the servant said.
The Sadan Taram bowed low.
“As you were,” the young lord said with a kind smile. “I’m sure you must be tired from your journey. My father was uncourteous enough to keep your leader from you for this long. Please, enjoy our estate’s hospitality.”
Sari smiled brightly. “It was no trouble, Lord Shisol, truly. I am glad to see that your father is doing so much better.”
Lord Shisol and his wife looked to one another uncomfortably. “There is more we should discuss,” Lord Shisol said. “A lot of unfortunate things happened last year. But come, we should all eat a little something.” He offered his arm to Lady Oria and led her over to the dining table. They sat down, and Sari sat across from them.
Balsa didn’t bow to Lord Shisol or his wife. She stared openly at them as they came closer, not in the least bit concerned for propriety or manners. Lady Oria’s hair was soft-looking and tea-colored. Her skin had a healthy glow. Her eyes were dark and piercingly beautiful.
“Are you feeling well, my lady?” Sansa asked. “We received word on the road that you were ill.”
Oria smiled. “Thank you for your concern. I am feeling quite well now. I apologize that my sudden illness caused a delay in sending back a message to you.”
Sansa waved her hand dismissively. “There’s no need to apologize, my lady. We should be offering you our congratulations. I hope your child will be born strong and healthy.”
Sansa and the other Sadan Taram congratulated Lady Oria on her pregnancy. She blushed a little and thanked everyone. “It is good that you are here,” Lady Oria said. “My child will be like you--part Tahsa, part Rotan. I can’t wait to see what they look like.”
“I’m sure the baby will be cute as a button,” Sansa said.
Some of the Sadan Taram appeared troubled. The number of Tahsa people in the province were dwindling, and the problems they’d faced over the past year cast a shadow over the happy news. Lord Shisol was of the Tahsa people, and they’d come on hard times recently.
Sari dispelled the tension in the air with a bright smile. “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the Tahsa people and Rotans could meet at a Hanma festival again, under the stars? Mixed-race children are the foundation of our people. The relationships of their parents were based on tolerance and love.”
Lady Oria blushed again. She looked around the room, taking in all of the estate’s guests. Her eyes rested on Jiguro. “Sir,” she said, “forgive me if my asking is rude, but I heard from one of my servants that Sari is smitten with one of the men at this gathering. Would that be you, perhaps?”
Kii and several other Sadan Taram tittered. Jiguro’s eyebrows rose. He cleared his throat, then said, “I have my own reasons for being here.”
“Indeed,” Lord Shisol said. “It’s fortunate for us all that Sari hired such skilled help to defend the Sadan Taram on the road. I heard that you captured all three of the people who came after you on Kemiru Hill alive. That’s quite an achievement.”
Jiguro bowed his head modestly. “It was nothing.”
“You sell yourself short,” Lord Shisol said. “Was the letter true? Have you all been attacked repeatedly during your journey? How frightening.”
Sari nodded gravely. “Yes. That was the third attack that we suffered on our way here.”
“I see.” Lord Shisol frowned deeply. “If that’s the case, then they’re certainly not unrelated bandit attacks.”
“They weren’t bandits at all,” Jiguro said. “Several of the soldiers we captured claimed to be soldiers of Rota.”
Lord Shisol leaned forward. “Tell me about the attacks. I want to know everything.”
Jiguro told Lord Shisol about each attack in painstaking detail. Balsa listened while observing him and his wife. Lady Oria appeared genuinely concerned about the situation and didn’t interrupt Jiguro during his explanation.
Jiguro completed his summary of the attacks. “We still do not understand the motives of the attackers, only their intent,” Jiguro said. “Based on rumors that I’ve heard, I believe they might have a stake in the maharan wood trade. Or perhaps they have a vested interest in making sure that Lagaro’s grave isn’t repaired. Does any of what I’ve said give you an idea of what we may be dealing with?” he asked.
Lady Oria ducked her head. “It pains me to say it, but my lord father has a significant stake in the maharan trade. He also doesn’t want Lagaro to be reburied.” She sighed. Her face was drawn and pale.
“I don’t understand why he would ever command such a thing, though,” Lord Shisol said. “It doesn’t make any sense.”
Lady Oria leaned forward slightly. “If my father truly was behind the attacks on your people, I sincerely apologize. I will do everything in my power to keep you all safe in the future. I swear it.”
Sari nodded her head deeply in thanks.
Balsa wasn’t sure if she believed Lady Oria’s words. If her father was behind this, she might be in on it all. She tried to catch Jiguro’s eye, but he didn’t look away from Lady Oria or Lord Shisol. To her, it looked like he was staring through them--trying to see their secrets.
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