Yatagarasu Series
Volume 3:
The Golden Raven
Author: Chisato Abe
Part 3: Wisteria Arrows
Yukiya waited impatiently for the Crown Prince at a temple in Shigure Province.
As Hamayū had predicted, the Crown Prince arrived at the temple shortly after Yukiya’s arrival. He was surprised to see Yukiya until he explained himself.
“I see,” the Crown Prince said. “I’ll make one last inspection here and then return to the capital.”
“Inspection?” Yukiya asked.
“Yes. There’s something I’d like to confirm. Since we’ve come all this way, we shouldn’t waste time. I’ll finish things here quickly. Come with me.”
The Crown Prince headed to the inner section of the temple—sacred ground. It was surrounded by a fence that deterred Yukiya from intruding further into the space. Entry was forbidden.
Temples like this one were dedicated to the mountain god. Priests in service to the mountain god were supervised by Hakū, the leader of the Ministry of Divinity and arbiter of the Imperial Code of Law.
Young priests appeared to block Yukiya and the Crown Prince’s way. They didn’t put their hands on them, but they said highly discouraging things.
“You shouldn’t go in there, sirs.”
Some of the older priests whispered in their juniors’ ears, and then they were allowed to pass. The senior priests knew the Crown Prince on sight. They bowed their heads and remained silent.
“Are you sure we should be here?” Yukiya asked. “This is a sacred place, right? You might be allowed here, but I’m probably not. Is it too late to ask?”
“Don’t worry about it,” the Crown Prince said as he strode confidently through a grove of holy trees. “The forbidden areas of temples aren’t truly sacred.”
“Huh? Really?”
“Yes. But that doesn’t mean they can’t be dangerous. We should make our approach carefully.”
Wait. Dangerous how? Yukiya stopped in his tracks, feeling uneasy. There was nothing visibly wrong, yet his footing felt strangely unsteady. He should have been walking on solid stone, but the ground under his feet felt soft and buoyant as if he were stepping on clouds.
There was also a strange scent on the wind. Yukiya couldn’t identify it. It wasn’t a bad smell, but it made him feel even more worried. He shivered slightly. His vision blurred and he saw double.
“Your Imperial Highness,” Yukiya called out. “Wait.”
“What is it?”
“I feel… unwell.”
He felt like he’d chugged a bottle of hard liquor on an empty stomach. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so lightheaded.
The Crown Prince frowned. “You look like you’re struggling. Step back a little. I’ll go on ahead of you.” He untied the bundle he had brought and began stringing a bow, his movements practiced and efficient.
Yukiya didn’t recognize the style of the bow. It wasn’t the same kind of weapon that warriors in Hokke Territory or Souke Territory used.
Bows used by warriors that Yukiya had seen were carefully crafted by skilled artisans. This bow wasn’t like that. It was made from raw, unseasoned wood. The grip was wrapped in what appeared to be fresh green wisteria vines. Yukiya thought it looked impractical. The arrows had stone arrowheads instead of metal. The bow was weird, and the arrows matched it.
The Crown Prince finished stringing the bow and checked the tension a few times. Then he nocked an arrow and aimed precisely at empty space. His eyes narrowed as he released the arrow.
The arrow made a dull sound as it flew. Yukiya thought that an arrow like that would be so poorly balanced that it would fly right into the ground, but that wasn’t the case. Defying both Yukiya’s expectations and common sense, the arrow struck empty air and then just… stayed there.
The way it remained suspended in midair made it look like it was stuck in something invisible.
As Yukiya gaped in astonishment, the arrowhead popped off the shaft. Yukiya had expected that to happen.
He didn’t expect a wisteria flower to bud at the end of the shaft, or for the shaft to remain suspended in the air. Before his eyes, the bud bloomed, and then the wisteria plant sprouted vines that grew rapidly in all directions. Soft new leaves went from yellow-green to deep forest green in moments. The vines moved with a gentle rushing sound, crawling over a surface that Yukiya couldn’t see.
Yukiya looked closer. The wisteria vines grew so thickly that he could see the shape of the surface before him. It wasn’t a wall—it was too irregular for that—but a cliff.
The moment he thought that, Yukiya saw the brown compacted earth that made up the cliff. The wisteria vines kept growing, dreamlike and impossible, until they covered the cliff.
Flowers bloomed, filling the air with a sweet scent. More buds opened every second. Yukiya took a deep breath and found the air clear and pure.
Just moments ago, this space had been nothing more than a thicket overgrown with trees. A towering cliff covered in blooming wisteria flowers had appeared before their eyes.
The Crown Prince watched the wisteria vines as they grew. He nodded in satisfaction as more and more purple flowers blossomed. Then he faced Yukiya.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“Better,” Yukiya said. The dizzy sensation from before had vanished. But that didn’t matter to him—not as much as the impossibility of what he’d just witnessed. “What was that just now?” He looked back and forth between the Crown Prince’s face and the wisteria flowers. “What did you do?”
Noticing Yukiya’s distress, the Crown Prince spoke gently in an attempt to reassure him. “I mended a tear in Yamauchi.”
Yamauchi meant “inside the mountain.” The mountain god was sacred. The nation’s borders were all mountainous; people were warned to stay far away from them.
The Crown Prince explained that sometimes, places where Yamauchi connected to other countries or worlds appeared even within the bounds of Yamauchi itself. These connection points were tears in reality—places where the world came apart like a ripped-open seam.
“What you just saw was a tear,” the Crown Prince said. “If you travel through a tear, you’ll never return to Yamauchi again. They’re dangerous. That’s why our temples are built where they are. Wherever there’s a tear, there’s a temple and a forbidden area. That way there’s no risk of anyone entering a tear by accident.”
“I’ve lived in Yamauchi for fifteen years, and this is the first time I’ve heard of such a thing,” Yukiya said weakly.
“Understandable,” the Crown Prince said. “Not everyone loves their homeland as much as you do. In the past, there were Yatagarasu who longed to escape and jumped into the tears of their own volition.”
“You said it was dangerous,” Yukiya said.
“It is. If you leave through a tear without following the proper procedures, you’ll cease to be a Yatagarasu. You’ll be stuck, not in raven form, but as a small, two-legged raven. And you’ll never come back. You’ll stay where the tear put you.”
Yamauchi had only learned of all this when they’d started trading with neighboring nations and learning more about the outside world. The fate of Yatagarasu who forced their way through tears became known to the Imperial Court. After that, tears in reality were closely guarded. Hakū was responsible for keeping people away from them.
“Our nation’s defenses make it easy to leave but difficult to enter,” the Crown Prince said. “Ordinarily I’d consider that to be a good thing, but now we have the giant monkeys to consider. I wonder if they entered Yamauchi through a tear—only from the opposite side.”
“Is that what happened?” Yukiya asked.
“I don’t know yet,” the Crown Prince said.
Seeing the Crown Prince nervous and uncertain always made Yukiya feel a sinking sensation in his gut. He swallowed heavily.
“I do know that the giant monkeys are magical creatures. They have the same general aura as Yatagarasu, but they are not the same kind of thing as me. I thought that there might be something unusual going on at the borders—and that includes tears in reality. I’ve been inspecting all of the ones I’ve come across.”
“And what have you found out?”
“The tears are getting wider,” the Crown Prince said. “But their general nature has not changed. If you shoot an ordinary arrow at a tear, it will pass through to the other side. I have not seen anything enter Yamauchi from the other side. The structure of the tears is the same as it’s always been. I don’t think the monkeys could have come through the tears, but it’s impossible to be certain at this stage.” He tilted his head, considering.
“How do you mend the tears?” Yukiya asked. He glanced at the strange arrows.
“The same way seamstresses mend garments,” the Crown Prince said. “It’s literal mending. Tears are weak by their nature—reality ripped open just like fabric. You could also think of them as traps for the unwary. Leaving them alone for too long increases the risk of them tearing further. What I did was temporary, like placing a board over a pitfall or sewing the edges shut. I restored the tear to the same state it had when it was newly torn.”
“Is such a thing really possible?”
“Yatagarasu can’t do it,” the Crown Prince said. “I can.”
“Because you’re a true Golden Raven?”
“You’ve heard the stories about true Golden Ravens, right?”
There were plenty of stories about Golden Ravens. They could transform at night, make flowers bloom on withered trees, cause water to spring forth from the ground, and other such fanciful miracles. The Golden Raven was supposed to have everything required to rule over all the other Yatagarasu.
“There’s one story you probably don’t know,” the Crown Prince said. “True Golden Ravens can pass through the tears. And come back.” He said this as if it were trivial. “You probably think a lot of the stories you’ve heard about true Golden Ravens are fairy tales and propaganda, but most of them are true.”
Yukiya was struck dumb.
“I’m not made for resolving conflicts inside the Imperial Court. That’s not part of my nature. Of course I care about preserving peace in Yamauchi, but true Golden Ravens exist to protect Yatagarasu more generally. They aren’t made to play politics.”
“What is a true Golden Raven?” Yukiya asked. “What are you, really?” He thought he’d gotten used to the Crown Prince’s overall weirdness, but here he was again, asking the same question. Sometimes the Crown Prince felt like a total stranger to him.
“Golden Ravens are the progenitors of all other Yatagarasu,” the Crown Prince said. “Their mother and father rolled into one, going back untold generations.” He spoke like he was reciting a poem or something. “At all times and in all ways, the Golden Raven must stand before their children with compassion and love. No matter what difficulties arise, the Golden Raven must protect the Yatagarasu, teach them and guide them. The Golden Raven leads all Yatagarasu, and they follow.”
Yukiya recognized what he was chanting. He’d read that book before. The Fundamental Principles of the Mountainous Regions, Volume II. That book defined the essential rules that governed Yamauchi.
“That’s what a true Golden Raven is,” the Crown Prince said. “There’s no other way to describe it.” He turned his back to Yukiya and walked away.
***
Yukiya and the Crown Prince rode through the night and reached the capital. They were greeted with bad news.
“Welcome back, Nazukihiko,” Hamayū said. She’d come to meet them at the gate of the Sun Palace. “You were right.”
“So it happened again,” Nazukihiko said.
“Not a settlement this time,” Hamayū said. “Everyone in the house was wiped out. And the discovery was delayed.”
They were speaking of new victims of the giant monkeys. The bodies had been discovered in Shimaki Province in Hokke Territory. The house had been built away from the rest of the community at the end of an ancient highway.
The household register had listed five occupants. All that remained at the scene were several bones and dry blood. Too much time had passed between the attack and its discovery. Investigators estimated that the attack had occurred a month before.
“Was there anything left behind that could serve as a clue?”
“It seems the horse was left in the stable,” Hamayū replied.
The horse hadn’t been able to escape the stable; it had been tied too securely. The poor thing had starved to death. There had been no wounds on its body anywhere.
“A research team is being dispatched from the capital to conduct a detailed analysis. If we wait one more day, we might get a slightly more reliable report,” she said.
Taruhi Province bordered Shimaki Province.
Yukiya felt a chill go up his spine.
“Do you really think the monkeys infiltrated Hokke Territory from elsewhere?” Hamayū asked.
“I don’t think they entered Hokke Territory from the borders or the mountains,” Nazukihiko said. More attacks in the same geographical region was troublesome, though. He knew that the tears were getting larger suddenly, but he didn’t know why. The monkeys’ intrusion might have something to do with it.
Yukiya was giving both of them an anxious stare.
Nazukihiko faced Sumio. “Let’s check messages and then regroup,” he said.
Sumio handed him his letter box. “You’ve heard Yukiya’s report already, so you can leave that letter for last. Here’s the letter from the Underground.”
“When did it arrive?” Yukiya asked.
“Last night. They didn’t waste any time. They never do.”
The letter requested a meeting with the Crown Prince. Tobi had signed it himself.
The Underground had some connection to Koume’s father. Hamayū had taken it upon herself to investigate Koume’s background. Her expression was stern.
“I’ve spoken with Koume to hear her side of things. I can’t prove that she’s lying, if she is. Her story is consistent from what I can tell. Her father worked as a water seller in the city market.”
“What’s a water seller?” Yukiya asked.
“You don’t know?” Sumio asked, surprised. “There are places in Souke Territory where the water has special properties that nourish or heal. People who own such water sources sell it to others.”
Yukiya nodded in understanding. “We have that in Hokke Territory, too, but it’s sold as medicine water. I always thought medicine got mixed into the water later. I never realized the water itself was medicine.” He felt vaguely offended, like the water sellers he’d met had deceived him on purpose.
“It’s not just ordinary water, so medicine water is a fairly accurate description,” Sumio said. “The claims that it can cure illnesses and fertilize plants aren’t lies. Water sellers who get their hands on a good source can make huge profits.”
Somewhat mollified, Yukiya listened to Hamayū explain the rest.
“So, here’s the story. Koume’s family have owned a well that produces what Yukiya calls medicine water for generations. When her father was young, the well finally dried up. The family relied on the well and rapidly declined. Koume’s father tried everything to restore well’s water, but nothing worked.
“Recently, Koume suggested that her father should become a traveling merchant. She endured considerable hardship and was just establishing regular business contacts when this incident occurred. Koume lamented that she truly has no luck.”
Hamayū had asked her several times about any connection between her father and the Underground, but Koume said she had no idea about any of that. She mentioned that when her father was in despair, he frequented gambling dens in the Valley. Something could have happened there that he hadn’t told her.
“So I reached out to some contacts in the Valley,” Hamayū said. “They said that Koume’s father became violent one night and her mother kicked him out of the house. After that, Koume started working at a lakeside shop to support her family, but her father caused trouble there as well and she was fired. Several witnesses saw Koume in tears as she went to one of the taverns by the lake to collect her father.”
Yukiya nodded thoughtfully. Koume might be untrustworthy, but she certainly hadn’t lied about her hardships.
“How is Koume doing now?” Yukiya asked.
“She’s fine,” Hamayū said. “I have her working for Masuho no Susuki. She’s been a diligent worker so far.”
Koume had always loved and admired the Imperial Palace and noble culture. She was overjoyed to be working in Sakura Palace.
“Masuho no Susuki shares your suspicions, Yukiya,” Hamayū said. “Koume doesn’t seem to be lying, but she’s hiding something. She doesn’t act guilty, so we haven’t guessed yet what kind of secret she has.”
The Crown Prince rested his chin in his hand and assumed his thinking face.
They’d found no clear connection between Koume’s father and the Underground. Koume had used the Crown Prince’s title without permission, so this could all be chalked up to a misunderstanding. He shouldn’t have to accept the request to meet in the Underground. That was a shame, though. He wanted to accept that request.
“There must be some connection between Koume’s father and the Underground’s bosses,” Nazukihiko said. “If it’s not obvious, we should try delving deeper.”
“The Third Gate,” Hamayū said.
“The Third Gate,” Nazukihiko said, nodding. Sumio nodded along with him.
Yukiya had been left behind. “Um, excuse me. What is the Third Gate?” He hated being out of the loop again. He’d never asked so many questions in a two-day span in his life.
“Yamauchi has two official gates for interacting with the outside world,” the Crown Prince explained. “Gates can be passed through and entered; you can use them to leave Yamauchi and come back. The First Gate is the Forbidden Gate. It’s sealed shut and can’t be used.”
The First Gate was in the Golden Raven’s Palace. The gate was near the summit of the mountain that housed the Imperial Court. This gate was rumored to connect to places beyond Yamauchi, but no one had opened it in decades. People had tried, of course, but the gate had been locked via magical means. Only a true Golden Raven could open the gate. Hakū had confirmed that the gate had unlocked after the Crown Prince’s birth. That evidence had been used to declare him a true Golden Raven.
The gate was unlocked, but still closed. No amount of pushing or pulling would open it. No one was sure why.
“The Second Gate is the Gate of the Vermilion Bird,” the Crown Prince said. “This is the only active gate in Yamauchi at the moment. We trade with the outside world and travel through this gate.”
The Ministry of Ceremonies was responsible for foreign trade and diplomatic relations with the Tengu. Access to the gate was largely controlled by members of the Nanke family. Iron and salt were important imports. The Gate of the Vermilion Bird was the only gate that trade could be conducted through, so the Ministry of Ceremonies had a monopoly. Regulations were in place to keep prices fair. Once, during the reign of the previous emperor, prices had plummeted and caused great turmoil in Yamauchi’s economy.
“A large quantity of cheap iron and salt suddenly flooded the city during my grandfather’s reign. The Nanke family was importing the usual amount and there was no evidence of stockpiling. The Forbidden Gate remained locked during that time. It can only be assumed that someone else was using a different gate to import resources and sell them at bargain prices.”
Naturally, the Imperial Court made every effort to find the culprit—and the gate—but the truth of the matter was never discovered.
“Nothing else like that has happened since then, so it was decided that whoever was responsible had stockpiled resources for years in advance. Rumors about the Third Gate never quite died down, though. No one knows where it is or even if it exists. I believe it does. There have been smaller-scale market fluctuations since the big crash that support the existence of the Third Gate.”
“You think that the Third Gate is in the Underground,” Yukiya said.
“Or they know where it is,” the Crown Prince said. “Or both. Yes. I suspect that the giant monkeys came here from elsewhere. If the Third Gate is in Hokke Territory, that would explain why the attacks we’ve seen so far are clustered in the same area. It would also go some way toward explaining why the Imperial Court didn’t discover the gate—it’s probably not in Souke Territory.” He paused, then said, “Let’s say that Koume’s father learned of the Third Gate’s existence somehow. He either interfered with the gate or noticed other tampering that brought the giant monkeys into Yamauchi. And now, the Underground’s bosses are desperately searching for Koume’s father.”
“That would make sense,” Yukiya said.
“Right? Even if this meeting came about from a misunderstanding, I don’t think we can afford to skip it. We might be able to find out how the monkeys got here and come up with some countermeasures to prevent more from entering Yamauchi.”
“I doubt we’ll get the location of the Third Gate from the Underground’s bosses—that secret is too lucrative for them,” Hamayū said. “But if we tell them about the attacks that the monkeys have made, they might cooperate with us enough to prevent more of them from coming through the gate.”
As Hamayū and Nazukihiko discussed their plans and questions for the Underground bosses with great enthusiasm, Sumio stepped between them.
“Wait a minute,” Sumio said. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Do you mean to visit the Underground yourself, Your Imperial Highness?”
The Crown Prince didn’t say no.
“Out of the question,” Sumio said. “The Valley is one thing, but the Underground is far too dangerous. Having me as your bodyguard is not enough.”
Sumio’s expression was the opposite of encouraging.
“And we can’t rely on the Yamauchishu,” Sumio added. “Even if we could, we’d never keep this meeting a secret from the Imperial Court.”
The agreement between the imperial family and the Underground’s bosses was informal. Most people didn’t know about it. If the Crown Prince mobilized the Yamauchishu to guard him, everyone would learn about the agreement, which would be troublesome in several ways.
“I could ask my brother to lend us Rokon,” Nazukihiko said. “He should have plenty of over-achieving attendants to spare.”
Rokon was Prince Natsuka’s bodyguard and an excellent warrior. He was famously loyal to Natsuka and would do anything that Natsuka commanded. If they wanted his help, they would have to ask Natsuka for it.
Sumio didn’t have a favorable impression of Rokon, but he respected the man’s martial skills. He nodded reluctantly. “Understood. I’ll contact Prince Natsuka and ask to borrow Rokon and a few other men. I’ll summon more Yamauchishu to watch the Sun Palace before I go. Yukiya, you stay here and protect the Crown Prince.”
“I don’t think I’ll be of any help just by standing here,” Yukiya said. He’d been born to a warrior family, but he wasn’t much use in a fight. The Crown Prince was a better fighter than he was. Privately, he wondered if bodyguards were even necessary. Between the Crown Prince’s tolerance to several poisons, his paranoia and his martial training, he should be fine on his own for at least a few hours. “We’re in a state of emergency because of these monkey attacks. Do you think that anyone’s really paying attention to what’s going on in the Sun Palace at the moment?”
“Perhaps not, but if they are, it wouldn’t look good to leave the Crown Prince on his own,” Sumio said. “You standing there is a deterrent, so please just shut up and do it.”
Yukiya chuckled. “Fine, fine. We’re short on allies, as usual.”
It was already unusual for the Crown Prince to have only one guard. The official explanation was that the Crown Prince disliked people in general, though that wasn’t actually true. The real reason he had one guard and one attendant was that he couldn’t trust anyone else.
The Crown Prince had not been born to his position. His older brother had willingly abdicated and gave him his full support, but not everyone in the Imperial Court was of the same mind. Lords and officials worked in the shadows, plotting assassinations. It would have been easier to deal with open rebellion in some ways. There were far too many enemies and fair-weather friends in the Imperial Court for comfort. The Crown Prince’s life had been targeted many times.
That was why the Crown Prince had spent so much of his early life abroad. He’d used the excuse of learning about the outside world to keep himself safe until he could face his legion of enemies. He’d expanded his circle of trust in the past year with Hamayū and Yukiya, but he still lacked reliable allies.
Sumio left to send a message to Prince Natsuka, leaving Yukiya with Nazukihiko and Hamayū. They exchanged more information about what had happened while Nazukihiko was in Hokke Territory until Sumio returned.
Prince Natsuka and Rokon had accompanied Sumio to the Sun Palace. Yukiya was surprised to see them all so quickly.
Before Yukiya could say anything, Prince Natsuka shouldered his way past Rokon and shouted in a voice like thunder, “Are you out of your mind, Nazukihiko?!”
Yukiya shrank back instinctively.
Prince Natsuka’s hair was loose. He wore simple priest’s robes with no ornamentation. His features were sharply defined. He was as tall and muscular as a warrior, but he didn’t have a violent temperament.
Or so Yukiya had thought. He’d never seen Prince Natsuka well and truly furious before. Prince Natsuka had always been tall and imposing, but his rage made his presence that much more impressive.
Yukiya went pale.
The Crown Prince was seated at his writing desk. He didn’t appear alarmed. “What is it?” he asked. “Why are you so angry?”
“How could I not be angry?!” Natsuka shot back. He kicked off his shoes and slid closer to the Crown Prince on his bare feet. “I heard everything from Sumio. You’re planning to go to the Underground. You can’t do it. It’s far too dangerous.” He spoke in an admonishing tone like a parent to a child.
The Crown Prince gave him a dissatisfied look. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’ve tried to make inroads with the Underground myself for months, and now they’ve finally invited me to a meeting. I must go. The Imperial Court’s investigation is too slow. We need to find out how the monkeys infiltrated Yamauchi. If there’s even a chance that someone from the Underground knows, I have to take it.”
“I know that,” Natsuka said. “But if you die, that information will be worthless.” He stood up straight. “Listen, Nazukihiko. I helped you when you decided to go to the Valley, but you use a false name there. You would be going to the Underground as yourself. They know who you are and what you represent. If anything were to happen to you there, everything you’ve been working for here would come to nothing.”
The Underground was a truly lawless place. It was a stronghold full of criminals. Nothing good could come from going there.
Nobles in the city frequently visited the Valley, but visits to the Underground were vanishingly rare. Those who entered the Underground weren’t usually allowed to leave.
“Please, I beg you, reconsider. The attack by these monkeys was certainly unexpected, but we always knew that a day like this would come. You absolutely cannot die now. If they simply took you as a hostage, the Imperial Court would be paralyzed. Knowing the danger, do you still wish to go to the Underground?”
Nazukihiko met Natsuka’s gaze. “I was specifically invited,” he said. “My grandfather was specifically invited and negotiated the agreement that has held for decades in person. They won’t negotiate if I’m not there.”
Natsuka swallowed heavily. He closed his eyes and let out a dejected sigh.
“I see… You won’t listen to me no matter what I say.” He lowered his head and fell silent for a moment. When he looked up, he appeared resolute. “Rokon.”
Rokon sped to Natsuka’s side. He’d been standing by the door, making sure no one could go in or out without permission.
At the same time, three of Rokon’s subordinates rushed in and pressed their blades to the Crown Prince’s throat.
“Lord Rokon,” Yukiya gasped out. He was about to rise to his feet when Rokon commanded him not to move.
“If you resist, I will cut him,” Rokon said to Yukiya. “Prince Natsuka has already given his commands. To save his life, I’m authorized to lop off a limb or two if necessary.”
The Crown Prince frowned a little.
Yukiya swallowed a yell.
Rokon had always been an intimidating man. His fierceness was less like a raven’s and more like a ruthless hawk’s hunting prey from above, always seeking a new victim. He was even taller and broader than Natsuka. He wore an ornately embroidered uniform that did little to conceal his strength. His hair had been tied behind his head carelessly; several strands were loose. He looked like the overgrown child of a giant who’d just run through a field in his best clothes.
Rokon had been born into a branch family of Nanke and had always supported Prince Natsuka. No one knew why he’d discarded his own high status to serve Prince Natsuka. He had a reputation as an eccentric meathead. He had no real interest in the Crown Prince’s safety, but he would see all of Prince Natsuka’s orders fulfilled no matter the circumstances.
For a brief moment, Yukiya wondered if Prince Natsuka had finally turned traitor. But the situation couldn’t possibly be so simple. Rokon and his three subordinates were threatening the Crown Prince and the others, but they weren’t attacking. Not yet, anyway.
Rokon gave the Crown Prince one of his fierce smiles, all teeth, and then said, “If you try to leave, you’ll be chopped up into little pieces,” he said cheerfully. “Better to stay so that I don’t have to hurt you. Prince Natsuka wants you safe. Nothing else matters.” Rokon sheathed his sword and then spread his hands in a theatrical gesture. “Give up on going to the Underground. I’ve been given the duty of protecting the true Golden Raven. I can’t allow you to harm yourself in such a stupid way.”
The Crown Prince’s frown deepened. He turned to Sumio, who hadn’t moved. “Whose side are you on, anyway?”
Sumio stood by the doorway, just where Rokon had been standing before. He shook his head. “I’m sorry, Nazukihiko, but your brother’s not wrong. You shouldn’t go.”
Hamayū had calmly observed the whole scene. She leaned her elbows on the writing desk and shifted her weight forward. “Do none of you trust the true Golden Raven’s judgment?”
“Of course we do,” Prince Natsuka said. He sounded offended. “In situations like these, his judgment is impaired.”
Hamayū looked away. It looked like she was searching for some other argument to support Nazukihiko.
“Do you think the Underground will take my refusal to come in stride?” Nazukihiko asked. “Do you think there won’t be consequences? The letter invited me specifically. How will you deal with that, brother? If we send an unsuitable representative, our peace with the Underground might not last.”
“I’ll go in your place,” Natsuka said.
Everyone except Natsuka and Rokon were shocked.
“You can’t be serious,” Nazukihiko said.
“I’ll take responsibility for your rash actions,” Natsuka said. “Whatever clues you were hoping to find in the Underground, I can seek them out. I am the Emperor’s eldest son. They should not find me lacking as your representative.”
The Crown Prince opened his mouth and then closed it. He had no more objections ready.
Yukiya hoped that the matter was settled and that everyone would put the swords away. To his surprise, Prince Natsuka turned to him next.
“I have a request to make of you, Lord Yukiya,” Natsuka said.
“What is it?” Yukiya felt cold through. Prince Natsuka had no obligation to be polite to him. Whatever this request was, it was something terrible.
“I want you to accompany me to the Underground as the Lord of Hokke’s grandson.”
The Crown Prince protested immediately, but Natsuka didn’t flinch or look away from Yukiya for a moment.
Yukiya felt like Prince Natsuka had just challenged him to a duel to the death. He was asking Yukiya to use his status as the Lord of Hokke’s grandson—even though he’d never used it on purpose. The Shadow Rank system in the Imperial Court would have given him any position he wanted just by leveraging his noble bloodline, but Yukiya never wanted to do that. He disliked being treated as a member of the Lord of Hokke’s family. He thought of himself as Azusa’s son. His noble heritage was nothing but a hindrance to him in Taruhi Village.
Natsuka knew this. He knew exactly what he was asking.
“We’re in a poor position to bargain with the Underground,” Natsuka said. “I don’t think we can negotiate with things as they are now. If you’re with us, that changes things. The Underground bosses fear military might being brought to bear against them. Your grandfather is General Genya, the Lord of Hokke. They’re terrified of him.”
Yukiya managed a sarcastic smile. “You’re asking me to become a hostage.”
“I am. I won’t deny it.”
Yukiya allowed his contempt to show on his face. “Sorry for being rude, but that’s a horrible request. I can’t believe a Souke nobleman would ask it of me. Have you no shame?”
“Say whatever you wish. My request will not change.”
Yukiya used to think that Natsuka had a conscience. Apparently he’d been wrong.
“You and I want to protect the same thing,” Natsuka said. “Defending Yamauchi and defending the true Golden Raven are one and the same. If they take you hostage—”
“—when they take me hostage,” Yukiya corrected.
“—the information you obtain will help you save your village and the whole of Yamauchi. Is anything more important than that to you, Lord Yukiya?”
It was a good argument. Yukiya didn’t deny that. But there was no telling what people in the Underground would do to him. There was also no guarantee of rescue. He had enough status for the Underground to hold him as a hostage, but not so much that the Imperial Court couldn’t abandon him if they deemed it necessary. He was perfect for Natsuka’s purposes.
Yukiya hated that, but he also had to admit that Natsuka was right. They needed information on the Third Gate and to discover how the monkeys were getting into Yamauchi. The longer they lacked this information, the longer Taruhi Village would be in danger. He would do anything to protect his family. Being the grandson of the Lord of Hokke had always been an afterthought to him.
He pondered quietly for a moment and saw no way out. He raised his head and then said, “Prince Natsuka. When something terrible happens to me, will you tell my family in person?” he asked.
“I promise,” Natsuka said. “I swear that I will tell them.”
“Very well,” Yukiya said. “Then I humbly accede to your request.”
Natsuka had his men escort Yukiya out of the Sun Palace. He left Nazukihiko and Hamayū behind.
***
When they reached Natsuka’s residence, Natsuka sat Yukiya down and taught him all of the information he would need before they went to the Underground. Natsuka was driven, serious and single-minded. He truly intended for Yukiya to be taken hostage and didn’t even try to hide his intentions.
Yukiya appreciated the honesty, strangely. It was better than being used and lied to without any warning or preparation at all.
A letter was sent back to Tobi arranging a meeting for the next day. Yukiya remained in Prince Natsuka’s residence overnight. In the morning, he received a message that special clothing had been prepared for him.
“Masuho no Susuki,” Yukiya said. Why was she here? Wasn’t she supposed to be in Sakura Palace covering for Hamayū?
Masuho no Susuki gave him an exasperated look. “Don’t look so surprised to see me. Do you have any idea how hard it is to prepare an outfit for someone of your rank on such short notice?” She jabbed one finger at the garment rack behind her. “I borrowed these from my family.”
Yukiya took in the sight of a splendid ceremonial uniform.
Masuho no Susuki had come to Sakura Palace along with Hamayū and the other duchesses of the Four Families last year. She was the Lord of Saike’s daughter. The duchesses of Touke, Nanke and Hokke had competed with her to become the Crown Prince’s bride. Hamayū had won that competition after being disinherited by the Lord of Nanke.
This competition was an ancient tradition called the Rite of Ascension. Every Crown Prince selected the duchess they would marry from Sakura Palace, completing the rite. The duchess selected would then ascend in status and become part of the imperial family.
Last year’s tradition was a little warped, though. The Crown Prince had refused to participate in the competition at all. He’d only visited Sakura Palace once to select his bride. He hadn’t met with any of the other duchesses alone, not even once.
The Crown Prince’s unorthodox methods for choosing a bride had ruffled more than a few feathers. Ordinarily, Hamayū would have entered the Imperial Court with a host of servants and ladies-in-waiting, but she’d been disowned by her family. Masuho no Susuki was her only attendant. The other duchesses and their attendants had all returned to their family estates.
Without Masuho no Susuki’s assistance, Hamayū would not have been able to fulfill her duties as the Princess of Sakura Palace. She had once been Hamayū’s rival, but now she supported Hamayū with everything she had. Her younger brother was the same age as Yukiya; she’d brought his uniform for Yukiya to use.
The vivid scarlet over-robe shone brilliantly in the morning sunlight. The white under-robe was a dazzling white that hurt Yukiya’s eyes. The headband was of fine make and the accessories were richly detailed. Every piece of clothing screamed wealth and quality.
This was not just a formal court uniform; it was formal attire that only noblemen could wear. This style of clothing was usually worn for coming-of-age ceremonies. Yukiya felt like it was a little much for a meeting with the Underground’s bosses, but Natsuka would probably approve. He wanted to show Yukiya off and make him a target.
Back when Yukiya had first come to the Imperial Court as the Crown Prince’s attendant, he’d worn a pale blue uniform that identified him as an imperial attendant of the lowest rank. Scarlet clothing was only worn by the highest-ranked imperial attendants. The lords of the Four Families wore scarlet robes when they were summoned to meetings in the Imperial Hall. It was hard to believe that he was supposed to wear these clothes.
Masuho no Susuki and another lady-in-waiting helped Yukiya put the clothes on properly. They were so elaborate that no one would be able to put them on by themselves. He layered the bright white kosode with the scarlet kimono and then stepped into loose-fitting hakama with some help. He passed his arms through each sleeve carefully and tugged to make sure the clothes sat evenly on his shoulders. After everything had been neatly arranged and the belt was tied, a ceremonial sword gifted to him by the Crown Prince was added to his waistband. A sash embroidered with pheasants and flowers came last.
Yukiya felt like a different person wearing these clothes. He didn’t feel like himself at all.
Masuho no Susuki gave Yukiya an appraising look. She nodded. “These will do. The hakama are a little long on you, though. As long as you remember to tie them at the proper height, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem.” It was hard to read the look on her face. Yukiya couldn’t tell if she was satisfied or not.
Yukiya bowed his head and thanked her.
Masuho no Susuki pursed her lips and looked away. “I never expected Prince Natsuka to ask for this. He might as well have asked you to die for him.” Masuho no Susuki had been commanded to bring the clothes, so she had. She didn’t agree with Yukiya going to the Underground, though. “Are you certain you’re all right with this?” she asked. A touch of anger infected her tone.
Yukiya confirmed that he’d agreed to this.
Masuho no Susuki’s eyes were like Azusa’s in that moment—like the eyes of the women in Taruhi Village who’d been sad to see him leave to serve in the Imperial Court. She saw her younger brother in Yukiya’s face.
Yukiya had rarely seen such concern come from anyone he didn’t consider family. He smiled warmly in an attempt to reassure Masuho no Susuki. “I appreciate your concern, but I understand my position. Prince Natsuka didn’t force me into this. I’m going because I need to protect my own family. I’m sure you can understand that.”
Before he finished speaking, the room’s sliding door opened with a loud bang.
“So you get it,” Rokon said approvingly. He was dressed in his usual brown uniform. “Good. I was worried that I’d need to smack some sense into you. But you remember that you’re the one who decided to go of your own free will.” He chuckled.
Yukiya had been startled by Rokon’s entrance, but he wasn’t really surprised to see Rokon here.
Masuho no Susuki’s shoulders stiffened. She glared at Rokon. “He’s still a child,” she said. “Sending a child to the Underground is reprehensible.”
“He’s small for his age, but he’s fifteen,” Rokon said. “He can make is own choices, lady.”
“You’re putting all the burdens of his lord and yours on this boy’s shoulders,” she said. “Wasn’t there any other way?”
“Sure, but not a better way. This is the path Prince Natsuka chose, so it can’t be changed now,” Rokon said bluntly. He looked Yukiya up and down. “You’re not wearing the headband.”
“No. Masuho no Susuki wouldn’t put it on me and I don’t know how to tie it properly,” Yukiya said.
The headband was worn before coming of age and served as a substitute for a crown. Yukiya didn’t mind not wearing it; he didn’t need a crown. City nobles considered placing such a headband on someone’s head for the first time to be a significant ritual, so Masuho no Susuki had refused. She’d floated the idea of having Prince Natsuka put the headband on him if he absolutely had to wear it.
“Yeah, you shouldn’t try,” Rokon said. He reached out casually and touched Yukiya’s hair. “And Prince Natsuka’s too agitated to tie this properly right now.” He picked up the headband and secured it behind Yukiya’s head before Masuho no Susuki could stop him.
Yukiya shook his head. “This is fine, Rokon. Better you than someone else.” He bowed his head. He wasn’t displeased to have Rokon as a guardian.
“Stubborn as a mule, but you use pretty words sometimes,” Rokon grumbled. “I can never tell if you’re being sarcastic or not. That’s your gift. I never expected you to come back here.” He tilted his head. “I thought you had no intention of serving the Crown Prince any longer.”
Yukiya hesitated for a moment before saying, “I didn’t, but now I’m not so sure.”
“What do you mean?”
“Recently, my mind has changed. I’ve been thinking about what it means to be a true Golden Raven,” he said.
Rokon wasn’t exactly trustworthy, but Yukiya respected his raw might. Rokon was perfectly loyal to Prince Natsuka and would never help the Crown Prince without his say-so. He was too straightforward and honest in his goals to be scheming.
“I used to think that there was no such thing as a true Golden Raven,” Yukiya said. “I thought it was just a story. An excuse for the Emperor to disinherit sons and grandsons he didn’t like.” Both Natsuka and Nazukihiko had seemed silly to Yukiya then. Neither had really wanted power and Natsuka was better suited to having it. Yukiya himself had no desire for power whatsoever.
“When I left, I didn’t dislike the Crown Prince. I also didn’t understand his purpose. I didn’t know what he was trying to accomplish by being a true Golden Raven. So many people got hurt—some people died—just for a story. I didn’t think all that sacrifice was worth a crown. If the people who lost their lives hadn’t been so fixated on power, they would still be alive. Even the Crown Prince could have spared himself from so much danger if he’d abdicated.”
Yukiya hadn’t had any sympathy for the Crown Prince when he’d resigned as his attendant. He’d been convinced that the Crown Prince had brought all his troubles on himself.
“Remaining in the Imperial Court would have meant risking my life for goals I didn’t value or comprehend. I couldn’t bring myself to do that for no reason.”
Rokon nodded. “So that’s why you stopped being the Crown Prince’s attendant.” He laughed. “Makes sense to me. You didn’t know a lot of stuff at the time. Now you do.”
Yukiya raised an eyebrow. It was true that he’d learned many secrets since coming back here. The Wisteria Arrows and the tears in reality were shocking to him. He was certain now that the Crown Prince was not just an ordinary Yatagarasu.
Understanding what the Crown Prince was not didn’t give him a full understanding of what he was.
“The Crown Prince called himself the progenitor of Yatagarasu—their mother and father. That’s the same thing that’s written in the old books, but I don’t know what that really means,” Yukiya said, his voice rising out of frustration.
Rokon patted Yukiya’s shoulder lightly, trying to ease the tension. “Unfortunately, boy, I have no idea what the true Golden Raven really is, either!” He scratched his cheek and then smiled. “The Crown Prince and Prince Natsuka have decided to keep it secret.”
Masuho no Susuki was trembling slightly.
“You’re from the same family as the Crown Prince and have sworn loyalty to the imperial family, right?” Rokon asked. “Do you know what a true Golden Raven is?”
“No, I have no idea,” Masuho no Susuki said.
“So we remain in the dark.” Rokon shrugged. “That means there’s nothing we can do about it until we know more.”
Masuho no Susuki looked away.
Rokon turned his back on her, signaling that this conversation was over. He headed for the door. Just before he left, he spun on his heel and locked eyes with Yukiya. “One more thing, boy. Today’s meeting? It’s not going to go well.”
The certainty in his tone left Yukiya and Masuho no Susuki momentarily speechless.
Yukiya opened his mouth to ask why, but Rokon waved the question aside before he could voice it.
“If we gain anything, it’ll be through you, not Prince Natsuka,” Rokon said. Then he waved. “Be prepared.” He left the room.
***
Two splendid carriages stood in the courtyard of Prince Natsuka’s residence. The horses pulling the carriages were much larger than the normal breed. Prince Natsuka would ride in the first carriage and Yukiya would ride in the second. The carriages took off and flew toward the Valley.
Yukiya looked out the carriage window. Mounted guards were flying all around them. He saw Rokon on a horse.
It didn’t take long to reach the Valley. They landed close to the border between the Valley and the Imperial Court. Their landing area was an open space surrounded by buildings. They would have to walk the rest of the way to the Underground.
Yukiya hadn’t expected to land in a functional carriage yard. He hadn’t seen this part of the Valley before. He looked out his window curiously.
News of their arrival spread quickly. A crowd of rough-looking onlookers watched them like they wanted to eat them alive. A figure stepped forward out of the mass of people and called out. Prince Natsuka left his carriage and gestured for Yukiya to do the same. He did.
The bamboo blinds around the carriage were rolled up and then a four-legged stepping stool was provided for Yukiya’s use. He rested his feet on the stool as his footwear was prepared. The guards offered their assistance so that he wouldn’t be hindered by his elaborate attire.
Yukiya was annoyed at how excessively formal this whole rigmarole was. He reached Natsuka, who was dressed in luxurious and dignified purple ceremonial robes adorned with golden embroidery. The dazzling clothes stood out in the valley, but Prince Natsuka seemed not to notice.
“Thank you for coming to meet us. I am Prince Natsuka, leader of the Clear Mirror Temple. I have come here as the Crown Prince’s representative and speak with his voice.”
The young man who’d come to meet them was one of the men Yukiya had met outside of Koume’s house. Whether or not he recognized Yukiya was unclear. He greeted both Yukiya and Prince Natsuka with a feral frown and bad manners. He clicked his tongue in annoyance and then gestured vaguely forward. “This way,” he said.
Yukiya and Natsuka walked forward, surrounded on all sides by Rokon’s subordinates. The young man had brought his own guards; these moved in to protect him as they traveled. The air was thick and smelled of cheap oil and cheaper alcohol.
The Valley had changed little since Yukiya’s last visit. The streets were chaotic and badly maintained, but there was a liveliness here that the more sterile and ordered city lacked. Red lanterns hung in rows along the street and every window was covered by delicate red latticework shutters. Women peeked out of the windows. Warriors and guards that swore loyalty to no lord watched the procession pass warily and from a distance.
Natsuka and Yukiya parted the crowd, walking among tall buildings that seemed to scrape the sky. They couldn’t possibly be any more out of place.
The Valley was built in a ravine below the capital city. The Underground lay beneath Yamanote and was partially enclosed by the ravine walls of the Valley. It was truly underground; chambers were connected by tunnels with walls made of packed earth. The Underground had started as a naturally occurring interconnected cave system and had been expanded greatly over time. It reminded Yukiya of a mole’s burrow, but he saw no moles or other underground animals. Nobles from the city almost never came here; they weren’t allowed.
As they proceeded along the path, the appearance of the onlookers lining both sides of the street gradually changed. There were now men dressed similarly to warriors in Souke Territory: they wore feather robes and carried exotic weapons in good repair. More and more of them wore white headbands like the man who was leading the way.
Fewer buildings dotted the landscape. The walls of the ravine narrowed so much that there was only room for the path itself. Their guide’s guards reshuffled to fit in the smaller space and most of the onlookers hung back.
They continued on, ignoring the piercing stares directed at them. They stopped where the ravine walls met, closing the gap. This was the edge of the Valley. A black crevice like a hole to hell was on the ground in front of them. Men in feather robes holding spears stood at the edges of the hole.
This was the Underground’s main entrance.
Yukiya and the others followed their guide silently, descending into darkness. The air was much cooler underground than Yukiya had expected. He’d traveled through a secret tunnel to reach the Valley before, but that tunnel wasn’t this cold. The path was even and well cared for, but there was hardly any light. Torches set at odd intervals provided enough illumination for Yukiya to make out a few vague shapes ahead of him.
Yukiya didn’t want to stay here for long for many reasons, but getting lost was becoming a significant concern.
The group continued winding through the twisting tunnels until they arrived at a spacious cave lit by countless hanging lanterns. Yukiya was reminded of the Imperial Hall, though the cave’s overall construction was much rougher. This space was not dazzlingly beautiful or serene, but it was impressive in its own way. Yukiya thought it looked like a hallowed space. It was more dignified than the Imperial Hall for being formed from nature and hidden from hostile eyes.
The rough stone walls had lanterns built into them. The floor was made of wooden planks. Rice mats were set up on the floor in a circular pattern. Men were seated on the rice mats, silent. They cast sharp glances Yukiya’s way.
In a seat of honor built far higher than the rice mats on the floor, a middle-aged man sat in a chair with his hand resting on a padded armrest. This was Tobi, the most powerful of the Underground’s bosses. He was somewhat short, broad-chested and dressed in a richly embroidered dark garment subtly decorated with silver patterns. His deeply lined face was stern but not unkind. He resembled a skilled, high-ranking official who would sit below the lords of the Four Families in the Imperial hall.
Natsuka and Yukiya were told to sit in front of Tobi. They did. Natsuka opened his mouth to greet Tobi but was interrupted before he could say a single word.
“We requested the Crown Prince’s presence here,” Tobi said. “Is he not coming?”
Tobi’s low, resonant voice made Yukiya shiver. He wasn’t afraid of Tobi, but if he was angry already, that didn’t bode well for this meeting.
It seemed that Natsuka felt the same way he did. His expression hardened. “I am Natsuka, the leader of the Clear Mirror Temple and brother to the Crown Prince. I have entered the priesthood, but I was born into the imperial family as a prince and my father’s heir. I am here as my younger brother’s representative.”
“So he’s slighted us,” Tobi said, snorting.
“That is not the intent of my presence here,” Natsuka said. “The Crown Prince values the agreement made with the Underground. Several recent difficulties prevented him from coming in person. He sent me in his place. I ask you to understand the Crown Prince’s circumstances. He is not always free to act as he wishes. Now, if I may, I would like to ask the reason I have been summoned here.”
Before he finished speaking, Tobi said sharply, “You are not worthy of facing me.”
Being dismissed so readily made Natsuka freeze for a brief moment. He had not been raised to question his own worth. He tried to speak again, but the men sitting around him drowned out his voice.
“The Crown Prince broke the agreement and he didn’t even come here himself? Ha!”
“What a joke.”
The men laughed, but the atmosphere in the room was ice cold.
Sensing danger, Natsuka became desperate and shouted, “Wait! The Crown Prince did not break the agreement! That is a lie!”
“Then why did he protect the water seller’s daughter?”
“She’s a witness to a terrible crime,” Natsuka said. “A settlement was wiped out, and she was the only one who survived.”
“I have heard about this attack,” Tobi said. “The outside world matters little to us.” His words brooked no argument. He had no interest at all in the problems of the Imperial Court or Yamauchi as a whole. “If there is no connection between you and the girl, then hand her over peacefully. Otherwise we will believe you to be conspiring with the water seller.”
Natsuka frowned deeply. “What did that man do, anyway?”
Tobi’s frown matched his. “This is why it is useless to speak to you. If the Crown Prince were here, things would be much simpler. You are not even able to resolve the issues of your own house. This so-called true Golden Raven is questionable at best. He can’t protect the people in his own domain and breaks faith with those of us who dwell below. Calling yourself his representative is a joke.”
“Prince Natsuka.” Yukiya tugged at the prince’s sleeve. Tobi mocking the true Golden Raven had sparked real anger in Natsuka’s eyes. He looked at Yukiya, clearly wanting to defend his brother.
When Yukiya shook his head, he bit his lip.
They weren’t getting anywhere. Tobi was getting more rigid and unforgiving. Something had to change.
Natsuka steeled himself. “I have a proposition for you.”
“Oh? What is it?” Tobi asked.
Natsuka kept his eyes on Tobi, who appeared openly hostile. “I don’t know what kind of preconceptions you have, but the Crown Prince has never broken the agreement with the Underground. He has no ulterior motives and does not seek to harm anyone here. As a show of good faith, I am willing to entrust the Lord of Hokke’s grandson into your custody.”
Tobi’s eyes widened. “What do you mean by that?”
“We are saying that we are willing to make that concession.” He didn’t hesitate. He spoke earnestly and with perfect honesty. “The Crown Prince has no guilt over how he has handled matters with the Underground in the past. If you cannot trust us, we must provide some proof that we are telling the truth.”
“You offer a hostage as your proof?” Tobi asked.
“Yes. Unless you believe that putting the life of the Lord of Hokke’s grandson on the line is insufficient.”
Tobi narrowed his eyes. “That’s quite a way to show your sincerity. Do nobles often resolve disputes this way?”
Natsuka gave him a bitter smile. “Not often. Nobles value their children too much. But this time is different.”
“Different, pah,” a man said, spitting in disdain. He sat closer to Tobi than anyone else. “Enough is enough! Stop fooling around!”
“Just how much do you intend to insult us before you’re satisfied?” another man called out.
“Is this how the Imperial Court operates?”
“I’m so shocked I can’t even speak. Are all those in power so corrupt?”
These reactions were very different from what Natsuka and Yukiya had expected.
As angry shouts flew back and forth around the hall, Natsuka looked from speaker to speaker, stunned speechless.
Tobi spoke above the din. “So our relationship is regarded as a trivial squabble between nobles. How disappointing.”
The shouters looked like they were getting ready to throw heavy objects.
Tobi dismissed Natsuka coldly. “You are not a suitable representative for our negotiations. Leave.”
“W-Wait!” Natsuka panicked as Tobi rose from his seat.
Rokon muttered, “I knew it.” He pushed Natsuka’s shoulder down when he tried to stand up. “There’s nothing we can do. We’ll have to let the Crown Prince handle it later.”
“You fool! There’s no way we can do that!” Natsuka shouted over the angry voices of the other men, who were still hurling insults at him.
Yukiya had never seen such naked desperation on Natsuka’s face before. He’d been raised as an imperial prince and knew how to conceal his emotions. He looked so young, and Yukiya remembered that he was only twenty. Only a young man in a hopeless situation.
As Natsuka resisted leaving, Tobi’s followers rushed over.
This meeting was about to turn violent. Rokon put himself at Natsuka’s side, tense and threatening.
It looked like nothing would be gained at all from this meeting. Yukiya hated that, but he couldn’t salvage the situation.
Rokon shot an amused glance at Yukiya.
“If we gain anything, it’ll be through you, not Prince Natsuka,” That was what Rokon had said that morning.
Before he had time to think about anything, Yukiya shouted, “I have something I need to report to Lord Tobi!” His voice was a boy’s still—it hadn’t dropped yet. The sound of such a young voice in this chamber full of angry men drew attention.
Yukiya’s presence had largely been forgotten amid all the shouts and insults. Natsuka and Rokon looked at him in alarm.
In the brief moment of silence that followed his shout, Yukiya said, “I have spent time in the Valley before. I know that Lord Tobi values honor and justice.”
Tobi was about to leave the room, but he stopped moving when he heard Yukiya’s voice. He said nothing, but he didn’t interrupt.
Yukiya had no idea what to say next. He just kept talking and hoped something would come to him. “I came here in service to Prince Natsuka, but that is not the true reason I decided to come. Noble status has no meaning here. Lord Tobi, I beg you to hear me not as the grandson of the Lord of Hokke, but as a boy pleading for your mercy and forbearance.”
Tobi nodded and then gestured for him to continue. The men clustered around Yukiya stepped away, giving him plenty of room.
Yukiya stood up as straight as he could and looked directly at Tobi. “Taruhi Village was attacked by monstrous man-eating monkeys. I was born and raised in Taruhi Village. It is my home, and those people—they died. Not just died. They were devoured. I’m responsible for them; I think of them as family. I never would have come here if I didn’t want to save my family. I couldn’t care less about whatever Prince Natsuka is scheming. I don’t even know what he’s thinking half the time.”
Rokon burst out laughing. Natsuka’s jaw was on the floor.
Tobi slowly turned toward Yukiya. “Why did you agree to become a hostage?”
“For the reason I said,” Yukiya said. “I want to protect Taruhi Village. I have heard that you may know something about how the monkeys appeared in Hokke Territory.”
Tobi’s eyebrows raised.
Yukiya bowed deeply to him. “Please! I beg you. I must save my family. My life is meaningless if I can’t protect them.”
Tobi remained silent for a short while, considering.
Yukiya wished with all his might for a miracle.
Someone clapped—slowly and with the regularity of a metronome.
“Impressive,” an old man said querulously. “It seems that there are a few hot-blooded honest souls among the nobility, eh, Tobi?”
The men seated around the room rose to their feet at once. The ones who’d been glaring at Natsuka shifted their attention immediately to the old man, their faces brightening with excitement.
Even Tobi was flustered. “My king,” he said.
Yukiya turned to look behind him.
The old man stood in the entrance. He was frail, thin and very tall. His posture was so perfect that Yukiya deliberately stood up straighter in response. His skin and hair were pure white; the hair shone silver in the low light. He wore a pale gray kimono. He looked more like a ghost than a man, but there could be no doubt that he was present. His kindly gaze swept over Yukiya and the others in the room.
So this was Saku, the King of the Underground.
“Please stay where you are, Tobi,” Saku said. “I didn’t expect you to be so easily surprised. You’re one of the most powerful people here, after all.”
Tobi remained frozen halfway between standing up and sitting down in his seat of honor.
Saku walked into the room. He was so light on his feet that his footsteps made no sound. The men in the room moved out of his way. He stopped in the center of the room near Natsuka, Yukiya and Rokon.
“For shame, Prince Natsuka,” Saku chided. “You know less about the Underground and its workings than that young man there. Is it possible to fault your education?” He let out an exaggerated sigh.
Natsuka didn’t move a muscle. He was out of his depth and he knew it.
Rokon stepped in front of him protectively. “My apologies. I never expected you would come here in person.”
“I never expected you to act so stiffly either, Rokon. Just because I’m not around doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want. And you should discipline your underlings properly.”
Saku had just called Natsuka an underling.
Rokon bowed his head in shame.
Yukiya wasn’t used to seeing Rokon take anything seriously. He laughed his way through life, even when he was in danger.
“Who are you?” Prince Natsuka asked, his voice strained. He hadn’t heard Tobi address him before over all the shouting.
Saku laughed cheerfully. “No one. Just a retired old man. I’m not like Tobi; I don’t give a fig for my reputation and I’ve got no pride. Let me teach you a little about the rules here.”
“What do you mean?”
“I wasn’t finished speaking.” Saku’s voice resonated in the underground cavern.
Yukiya felt like the temperature in the room had just dropped several degrees.
Natsuka froze.
“I’m not some low-level thug. If you think you can dangle bait in front of me and I’ll bite, you’re gravely mistaken. Even Tobi’s guys would find that unacceptable.”
Natsuka had no idea what he was being reprimanded for. He looked like a child being scolded by an adult.
Saku smiled slightly. “You’re acting like you’re bringing in a puppy. What you’ve done is disregard the value of your hostage. You show disrespect to us as well as yourself.” He chuckled. “You dare to treat that boy there as your dog. Is this the way of nobles these days? You betray your own people so easily and blame others for it. How arrogant and shameful.”
Natsuka blushed scarlet. He really hadn’t understood anything about what the Underground valued or how it operated. He’d thought to trade a hostage for information, but the situation wasn’t anywhere near that simple. The Underground had sent their real leaders, but he was only the Crown Prince’s representative. The Underground had not just been slighted by the Crown Prince’s absence; they’d been humiliated.
“Respecting your opponent’s honor in the Underground is as important as obeying the law in your imperial city,” Saku said mildly. “You put a price on people and use that to determine their worth. Not so here. The cost of our cooperation is trust. Once you lose that, you have no right to speak before us.”
“But—”
“—Silence,” Saku said. His tone was unnaturally calm.
Natsuka’s mouth snapped shut.
Saku faced Tobi again. Tobi squirmed in his chair. “You are also at fault.”
“Huh?”
“Tobi. These people don’t have the information you seek. Surely you must know that.”
Tobi blinked a few times in surprise. “The Crown Prince was not behind this? Truly?” he asked.
“He was not. I wouldn’t say he had no involvement, but he certainly had no knowledge of anything that took place.”
Tobi groaned and then rubbed his face with one hand. He looked exhausted. “What a farce…”
“From an outsider’s perspective, it was quite entertaining,” Saku said. He approached Tobi’s chair and then patted him soothingly on the shoulder.
What’s a farce? Yukiya thought. It seemed that Saku had convinced Tobi that the Crown Prince hadn’t broken the agreement with the Underground.
Saku’s hand lingered on Tobi’s shoulder.
“Sorry about that brief digression, boy from Taruhi Village,” Saku said. He smiled. “Let’s hear what you have to say.”
Yukiya stepped forward before the old man and bowed. “My name is Yukiya,” he said.
“Hello, Yukiya. It seems that the reason for the misunderstanding among us cannot be understood unless we hear your story.”
Yukiya nodded rapidly. He told everyone about the attack on Sugō and that Koume was the only survivor. She’d spent some time sheltered in his father’s house. When she’d returned to the capital to collect her belongings, she and Yukiya had encountered people from the Underground who’d threatened to kidnap them. He told them that Koume had used the Crown Prince’s name without permission and that the Crown Prince suspected that the Third Gate might be what the man-eating monkeys had used to infiltrate Yamauchi.
Tobi remained silent as Yukiya explained everything, as did Saku.
Saku nodded after Yukiya finished speaking. “I see. I believe we understand your own position and reasoning for being here. With all that in mind, let me ask you, Yukiya: What is it that you seek from us?”
“Anything,” Yukiya pressed. “We need as much information as we can get about these horrible monkeys. If a Third Gate exists, I don’t need to know where it is. I just need to know that the monkeys aren’t using it.”
Saku tapped his chin thoughtfully. “Hmm. Your desire for aid is genuine, and the Underground shall respond. We have some ideas about the monkey invasion.”
“You do?” Yukiya’s voice trembled with excitement.
“However,” Saku said, “I can make no guarantees.” He appeared indifferent to Yukiya’s plight. “I can offer you some information, but I don’t know if it will help you. All I can offer you is the possibility that something we know will assist you. And the information we have carries risk. Knowing it might endanger your life.”
“I don’t care,” Yukiya said. “I still want to know.”
“Commendable,” Saku said.
Some of the men grumbled, but Tobi was not among them.
“The Crown Prince has negotiated with us from the start,” Tobi said tentatively. “We have had no dealings with Taruhi Village. Until now.”
Tobi was deferring to Saku’s judgment. Saku gave Tobi an exaggerated bow and then turned on his heel. “Follow me, boy.”
Yukiya followed Saku hurriedly.
Natsuka watched him go and said nothing.
Translator's Notes
Masuho no Susuki is wearing a kouchigi, which refers specifically to court clothing from the Heian period.
The cherry is referred to by the species name cornus mas, commonly known as cornel (also the Cornelian cherry, European cornel or Cornelian cherry dogwood). It is a species of shrub or small tree in the dogwood family Cornaceae native to Western Europe, Southern Europe, and Southwestern Asia. It looks like other European cherries and is a bright red color.
The word translated as "guardian" is kanoya, literally “crown parent.” Crown parents were not literal parents, but were trusted individuals that participated in a boy’s coming-of-age ceremony by placing the crown (if the boy was noble or of the samurai class) on his head. Crown parents have some similarity with godparents; they were expected to care for their crown children for life. Historically, this ceremony would have the boy shed their childhood name and take on their adult name.
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