Beyond the Werefox Whistle
Written by Uehashi Nahoko
Illustrated by Yumiko Shirai
Part 3: Nobi and Sayo
Chapter 6: With Dairou
Dairou recovered for two days. After that, he was well enough to ride Hayate again. He was weak from hunger. Nobi had hunted a pheasant before he’d run off that Dairou had eaten a little of, but Sayo hadn’t been able to find much more to eat.
Nobi had stayed away. Neither Dairou nor Sayo knew where he’d gone.
Dairou was feeling better, but his wound wasn’t fully healed yet. Riding Hayate hurt his head and his arm and made something inside him ache.
Sayo felt wounded, too, though she was physically fine. She wanted to see Nobi again. She wanted to talk to him.
Dairou seemed to sense that Nobi was a sore subject and didn’t talk about him to Sayo.
“Lord Harumochi is probably worried about us by now,” Dairou said as he rode. He should have reached the High King’s castle some days ago. He wasn’t supposed to be attacked on the road leading to Aori.
Riding opened Dairou’s wounds and made him feverish, but he forced himself to keep going and didn’t complain.
***
After a long journey with little rest, Sayo and Dairou reached Yuuji Castle just before sunset. The gates were closed for the night, but there were guards posted outside. They moved in front of the closed gates as Sayo and Dairou moved closer.
“I’m Dairou, of the Umegae Estate,” Dairou gasped out. “Please open the gates.”
The guards tensed. Dairou frowned. Before he could react, an arrow whizzed past his ear. There were archers standing on the wall, aiming down.
“What are you doing?!” Dairou called out.
The guards gripped their spears tight. One said, “You cannot possibly be Dairou. Dairou left with the lord for Aori this morning.”
Sayo held her hands over the reins of her horse and tried to steady herself.
Koharumaru… was gone.
Dairou bit his lip. Was this why the spirit fox that had attacked him on the road hadn’t pursued him to finish him off? Had the spirit fox had other orders, other plans? He knew that spirit foxes could alter their appearance. The one that had attacked him had seen his face and could easily pose as him.
That must be what had happened. The spirit fox had transformed into Dairou and deceived Lord Harumochi.
“Monster! Show us your true identity, you fiend!” a guard shouted.
Another arrow whizzed by, just barely missing Dairou.
The worst part of this was that if Dairou was a spirit fox, he’d be able to dodge these arrows and fight off these guards easily. But he was on horseback and recovering from severe injuries. He could scarcely move his damaged hand. He had no chance of escaping this situation.
Dairou rode in front of Sayo, hoping to at least spare her harm, as another arrow cut through the air. Dairou closed his eyes, waiting for the impact—
—but it didn’t come.
Dairou opened his eyes.
A small spirit fox sat on the ground before his horse with an arrow in his mouth. The fox smirked.
“Nobi!” Sayo called out.
The fox spun, kicking up a gale along with the movement; the wind blew the guards’ spears away and broke them in midair.
Dairou took advantage of the guards’ distraction by squeezing Hayate's body with his knees, urging the horse into motion. The archers on the wall shot down; Nobi jumped onto Dairou’s back and forced his head down so that he could catch the projectiles before they did any harm.
“Nobi! Nobi!” Sayo called out again. She hadn’t expected to see the fox here. She thought that if he were to leave them now, she would never see him again. She shouted so loud that she coughed; blood leaked from the corners of her eyes. “Nobi! Get back!”
Nobi dashed down the darkening road and was lost to view.
Sayo called after him, but Nobi didn’t turn back.
Sayo’s voice faded into darkness and shadow. She wept and thought she saw a shadow moving in the trees near her, but in the gathering dark, it was hard to be certain. She wiped her tears away with her uninjured hand.
***
Lord Moritada of Yuki stared at Kuna, his sorcerer, even more intently than usual. “Is what you have told me true?” he asked. He sounded stunned.
Kuna nodded. “This next part will be difficult, however. Much of a sorcerer’s power depends upon them being anonymous. The ceremony to legitimize Lord Harumochi’s son will be held in a public hall before many witnesses, including the High King.”
“And you intend to show your face at such an event?” Moritada asked.
Kuna chuckled. “I wouldn’t if there was any other option. I don’t believe there is.”
“Is creating a door to the dark world really so difficult?” Moritada asked.
“It differs significantly from the kind of sorcery known at court. From Dairou’s magic, for example. Sorcery is not the same as protective magic. That is why Dairou was not able to undo our work for all these years. But that girl can. I thought we’d eliminated that threat when her mother was killed, but it seems I was mistaken.”
As Kuna spoke, he felt the stirrings of a cold enthusiasm. “We cannot leave things to my familiars and the hakage. Not when there is a risk of my spell unraveling because of that girl. Besides, I would like to see my plan come to fruition with my own eyes.”
Moritada sighed heavily. “I don’t like this. The risk is too great. Koharumaru will die in the High King’s hall. The High King will be most displeased.”
Kuna nodded. “You are correct, lord. But this is the best way to remove Koharumaru without revealing that I have cursed him.”
Moritada sighed again. “So this will happen at the High King’s castle after all.”
Kuna looked at Moritada. Moritada’s expression showed hesitation and a hint of fear.
“It’s not too late to abandon this plan,” Kuna said quietly.
Moritada’s brow furrowed. “Yes, it is. I won’t give up. Not for any reason.”
Kuna nodded. “Very well. I will see this plan through. Even if the curse on Koharumaru is broken, I will be right there to take the necessary steps to remove him regardless.”
Moritada nodded firmly. “See that it is done.”
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