Yatagarasu Series
Volume 7:
The Raven's Paradise
Author: Abe Chisato
Part 3: Noble Blood
“Be a true noble” was a favorite saying of Yorito’s father.
Yorito was born the eldest son of the Kitanokōji family—a family of Souke Territory nobles with blood ties to the Hokke family. He grew up amid the noise and industry of reconstruction in the years after the great war against the Kuisaru.
Military exercises were a frequent sight in the capital during that time. The Aerial Army of Heaven, which protected the city, and the Imperial Guards both drilled regularly and in public. For boys like Yorito, the Imperial Guards—Yamauchishu— were objects of reverence, acclaimed as the finest warriors in all of Yamauchi.
Yorito remembered the first time he had seen them as a small child, holding his father’s hand. The Yamauchishu rode overhead in formation, wearing black battle robes and carrying swords tied with red cords. Their sashes were a deep purple shot through with gold embroidery that caught the sun as they moved. At the formation’s head rode Yukiya of Hokke, a military strategist who had distinguished himself greatly in the war and would later lead the Yatagarasu on the emperor’s behalf.
The Hokke family was known for producing great warriors. Even when Yorito was very young, Yukiya—now called Sessai—was well known as the emperor’s right-hand man. He held great political influence as a scion of the Hokke family.
Yorito’s father managed to exchange a few words with Yukiya at court. In that brief exchange, he’d been completely won over by him.
“He is remarkable. Until now, nobles have thought of everything in terms of family connections, but he has a much broader perspective. He may be the first of our prominent politicians who views Yamauchi as a whole. That kind of thinking requires a selfless heart.”
His father’s voice expressed genuine conviction. “Listen, Yorito. You must become that way, too, in a manner suited to your station. Extravagance and arrogance are the marks of a bad man. Be prudent. Be sincere. Be humble. Be of service to others. Only then can you be called truly noble.”
His father’s words became Yorito’s guiding principles.
Yorito was aware that he was fortunate. He was loved by his family and raised without wanting for anything. Even compared to others his age, his physical abilities were exceptional, and he was a quick study academically. Those around him had high expectations, and Yorito was confident that he could exceed them.
When he went to pay his respects to Lord Yukiya of Hokke for the first time at age seven, Yukiya was surprised—and pleased—to hear of Yorito’s hopes for the future. Yorito could not have been prouder of himself, or of Yukiya. Only one moment marred that incredible experience.
Yorito told Yukiya that he wanted to grow up to be just like him.
Yukiya’s face clouded over. “You’d better not,” he said in a vaguely threatening tone. “I can tell that you’re a very capable young man. Keep training—there’s nothing wrong with that. But don’t try to be like me. You could be so much better.”
He didn’t say anything else. At the time, Yorito couldn’t understand why the person he most admired would say such a thing.
“He’s an extremely humble man,” a young Yamauchishu named Haruma told him. He looked at Yukiya with shining eyes. “He was only being modest.”
Haruma had since become the Yellow Raven’s chief of staff. He worked at the center of Yamauchi’s political machinery now, but at the time he was still young, with freckles standing out on his good-natured face. His manner was always kind, but the quality of his observations was unexpectedly sharp. Yorito suspected that sharpness resonated with Yukiya.
Haruma had been born in Touke Territory, but through his connection with Yukiya, he had become one of the Yamauchishu. He’d also given Yorito good advice about his future.
“Given your status, you could use the shadow rank system and enter the Imperial Court without difficulty. But if you have confidence in your abilities, I would recommend joining the Yamauchishu.”
“Why?”
“There is precedent. At present, it is the shortest path to real advancement. Officials who use the shadow rank system have a reputation for general incompetence.”
When Yukiya was young, he had been a personal attendant to the crown prince. He had resigned from his post and entered the Keisōin, graduating at the top of his class. He proved to everyone around him that neither his lineage nor his ability could be questioned.
“Before the great war, it was said that a noble’s entering the Keisōin was proof of their incompetence, but that’s no longer the case. To lead warriors, many of whom come from commoner families, noble status alone is not sufficient.”
Yukiya had been selected as Yamauchi’s most skilled military strategist at a very young age, just before the start of the great war. He was intelligent and talented; the only thing he lacked at that time was the wisdom of experience.
Haruma told Yorito frequently and emphatically that Yukiya didn’t have to go to the Keisōin and succeed in order to earn his place. He had followed this path so that his competence would be unquestionable. Other Hokke scions used the shadow rank system and experienced no negative consequences, but Yukiya refused to copy them. He’d joined the Keisōin scant years before the great war broke out, and there were people who suspected that Yukiya had foreseen the conflict somehow.
“I am a commoner by birth,” Haruma said. “If Yukiya had relied on his lineage and connections and issued orders from above, I would not have followed him as far as I have. He had real ability, and he endured the same hardships as the soldiers he commanded. Learn to do that. If you go to the Keisōin and graduate with a good academic record, you will become the Yellow Raven’s successor.”
Moved by everything Haruma had told him, Yorito resolved to go to the Keisōin and devoted himself to preparing for it. His father, his mother, and his older sister all supported him, and he was fortunate enough to be gifted as a warrior.
He passed the entrance examination—which had become considerably more rigorous in recent years—without incident. There were few noble cadets in his year, and at first his presence was resented. As time passed, Yorito proved himself, and much of this resentment faded. For reasons he couldn’t quite explain, he found himself saddled with the nickname “Saint.”
“You’re too blessed, Saint.”
The first classmate who’d called him that was a junior cadet one year younger than him named Karyō. Karyō was a commoner who was known for his flexibility and agility in sparring. He was a standout student. Everyone said that he’d likely graduate at the top of his class. He had a sullen personality and a brusque way of speaking that earned him few friends. Yorito had always liked him because he valued plain speaking. Karyō accepted nothing on authority. That kind of stubbornness required force of will to sustain.
For his part, Karyō seemed to dislike Yorito.
Matters came to a head on a rest day. Yorito was working up a sweat in the dojo when Karyō appeared. This was unusual, since he generally avoided the same spaces as Yorito. He asked to spar. Yorito accepted.
Karyō came at him with complete seriousness. Yorito, caught up in the intensity of it, fought in earnest. He wound up beating Karyō quite thoroughly in front of witnesses.
Realizing he had gone too far against a junior, Yorito apologized immediately. “I’m sorry. Are you hurt?”
Karyō, still on the ground, covered his face with one hand.
“You’re too blessed, Saint.”
Until that day, Yorito had never guessed that Karyō’s dislike of him might be motivated by jealousy. He thought about Karyō’s words often after that. It was true that he was blessed with many gifts. He considered it his duty to share those gifts with those who needed them. To his mind, the more gifted someone was, the more they owed to the world. He did not wish to be unworthy of his own blessings.
As a true noble, and as Karyō’s senior, Yorito should have paid more attention to him and other commoner cadets long before this incident. He felt guilty for missing the opportunity to share his gifts with others. He’d been cruel without meaning to, and he wanted to rectify that.
“I don’t expect you to forgive me, but… I’m sorry.”
Karyō didn’t accept the apology, of course. He looked at Yorito from between his spread fingers. There was grim resignation in his eyes, and his expression was vaguely pitying.
Unfortunately, there was little time for them to mend their relationship after that. Yorito had graduated scant weeks later, leaving Karyō behind. As expected, Yorito graduated at the top of his class and joined the Yamauchishu. His first assignment as a Yamauchishu was to study abroad in the human world.
Yorito loved Yamauchi. After going out into the human world, that feeling only grew stronger. Yamauchi was his home, and it was beautiful. He wished to protect it as a true noble.
That was why he was determined not to fail in his duties. He’d been assigned to a human guest, and it was his responsibility to keep him safe and show him that Yamauchi was paradise.
***
On the night that Yasuhara Hajime slipped into Yamauchi through the Gate of the Vermilion Bird, the Yellow Raven and his personal attendant, Haruma, lay in wait for Yorito. They’d received confirmation that Hajime had fallen asleep some time ago. The Yellow Raven and Haruma sat cross-legged amid disordered documents marked with red ink.
When he appeared, Yorito was urged to take a seat. He reported that Yasuhara Hajime had fallen asleep without showing any particular sign of tension.
The Yellow Raven’s face twisted in undisguised displeasure. “That man is the scum of the earth.”
Yorito gave him a rueful smile. He agreed wholeheartedly, of course.
“I never expected to encounter such a man. I spoke to him with complete candor, and he met my honesty with greed and depravity.”
“It’s unfortunate,” Haruma said.
The Yellow Raven clicked his tongue and then rested his chin in his hands. He’d received reports from Yatagarasu spies in the human world: Yasuhara Hajime had been abducted by a woman and sent here.
Yorito had never seen the Yellow Raven lose his composure before this, but he understood why the man was so upset. Yasuhara Hajime was appalling, and the fate of Yamauchi rested in his avaricious hands.
“We have to find out who this ghost woman is,” the Yellow Raven said. “That is paramount.” He sounded like he was talking to himself.
Haruma pulled a stack of documents on the floor closer to him. “I’ll report what has come in from the field, shall I? The woman is described as being in her late teens to early twenties. She is slender, approximately five feet five inches in height, and has long black hair. She was wearing white women’s clothing when she was spotted by our people. She made contact with Yasuhara Hajime at Kanei Tobacco Shop at seven o’clock in the evening. Immediately afterward, she used the nearest subway. She was followed, but our people lost track of her and abandoned further pursuit. In the darkness of night, our people were unable to clearly make out her face, so we are not aware of any unique identifying marks.”
The Yellow Raven nodded slowly. “Yasuhara Hajime claimed she wanted revenge. For herself, and for her family. A woman.” He tapped his chin.
During the great war, the last remaining leader of the Kuisaru had been a woman. Despite her great age, she’d looked like a young woman in human form.
“Do you think that Kuisaru survivors fled to the human world?” Yorito asked pensively.
The Yellow Raven and Haruma didn’t answer immediately.
If Kuisaru survivors had escaped to the human world, that would be a serious problem. It wasn’t impossible, either. The mountain god’s realm connected to the human world, so there could easily be Kuisaru there now.
“If, hypothetically, this ghost is a surviving Kuisaru who escaped to the human world…” Haruma trailed off. “I’m sorry. I don’t understand the intent behind sending Mr. Yasuhara here. If they wanted to destroy Yamauchi from the outside, they could do so directly.”
“They lack the manpower for that. They sent Yasuhara—someone with a claim on Mt. Ara—to throw Yamauchi into chaos.”
“And what would chaos accomplish, specifically? Is this the revenge the woman spoke of, do you think?”
A silence settled over the room.
Yorito was about to speak, but Haruma’s stricken expression kept him silent.
“Let’s assume that the ghost’s objective really is revenge,” the Yellow Raven said.
Haruma and Yorito looked up quickly.
“Trying to apply rational logic to that kind of conduct is futile. Revenge isn’t rational; it’s emotional. It’s irrational by nature. I have never fully understood women’s thinking. They mix logic and emotion far too often,” the Yellow Raven said coldly. “Speculation about motives will not help us. We must examine practical reality.”
“How?” Haruma asked.
“We must determine whether or not it is possible to send a human into Yamauchi without Tengu assistance.”
Immediately after Yasuhara had been discovered in Yamauchi, the King of the Tengu—summoned by a Tengu wearing a crow mask in human form—had rushed to the scene.
Goods imported from the human world were normally transported to the Gate of the Vermilion Bird, which was disguised as a normal warehouse in the human world. The King of the Tengu claimed that two cargo loaders had been found stripped of their clothing and restrained. An unknown assailant had stolen their key to a cart, and they themselves had no part in Yasuhara Hajime’s presence here.
The Yellow Raven did not take that version of events at face value. He’d ordered his spies stationed in the human world to conduct their own investigation.
Haruma flipped quickly through the papers in his hands. “Preliminary reports indicate that two Tengu working as cargo loaders lost consciousness after eating at a rest stop. When they came to, they found themselves bound inside a bathroom.” He paused. “The men who drove alongside the truck that the ghost commandeered also found out that the original driver of the vehicle was gone. They assumed he’d gone to take a break and loaded the cargo in his stead. They claim they didn’t realize anything was wrong until they received word from the Gate of the Vermilion Bird.”
There was no other information in the reports.
“It’s too neat,” the Yellow Raven said.
Yorito privately agreed.
“It’s possible that the ghost is a decoy—a distraction meant to divert attention away from the Tengu. By destabilizing Yamauchi from within, she may be attempting to gain leverage in diplomatic negotiations.”
Haruma frowned. “But if that’s the case, the Tengu would suffer significant losses if things went badly. Would the King of the Tengu take such a dangerous gamble?”
“It’s difficult to believe that the Tengu are blameless in this, but I doubt they’re directly responsible,” the Yellow Raven said. “There may be another party behind this.”
“Who?” Yorito asked. Everyone present was likely thinking the same thing. Up until now, they had identified only the Kuisaru as enemies, but the Yellow Raven had his own detractors in Yamauchi. Any man who wielded the kind of power granted to Lord Sessai was bound to attract some negative attention.
The Imperial Court had been corrupt far longer than the Yellow Raven had been alive. His appointment to his current position hadn’t ended that corruption. The Nanke family in particular despised him. They had once had power similar to his own and hated him for ousting them from what they thought of as their rightful place. They used to have control over the Imperial Court, the White Raven, and Yamauchi’s priests, but their power had dwindled in recent years.
Now that more Yatagarasu were beginning to study abroad in the human world, the Nanke family expressed concerns about the erosion of their power. Before Lord Sessai’s time, Yatagarasu had needed permission from them and the White Raven to travel beyond Yamauchi’s borders. The Yellow Raven had changed that. He actively encouraged Yatagarasu to study abroad.
If a disaffected Nanke radical had access to the Gate of the Vermilion Bird, they might have managed to sneak Yasuhara Hajime in. And if they could get him in, then they could also get someone out.
“Are you suggesting that the ghost could be a Yatagarasu who left through the Gate of the Vermilion Bird without authorization?” Haruma asked.
The Yellow Raven was seriously considering the possibility of traitors. He rubbed his temples. The skin under his eyes was slack from exhaustion. “The idea of revenge begins to make more sense. I have done plenty of things that would cause others to hate me.”
“You’re too self-deprecating,” Haruma said.
The Yellow Raven glared at him.
Haruma grinned.
“Let’s consider what we know, and what we think we know,” the Yellow Raven said. “We know that Yasuhara Hajime’s presence here is destabilizing. We suspect that a Yatagarasu, or several, are directly responsible for transporting him here. The Kuisaru or the Tengu might have also played some role in bringing him here. We know the Tengu have claimed they have nothing to do with this and are keeping friendly relations open with us and the humans, including Yasuhara Hajime. Is there anything else we should consider?”
“I don’t think we can dismiss the Kuisaru so easily,” Yorito said. “We have no proof that Yatagarasu are responsible for Yasuhara Hajime’s presence here. Angry Kuisaru might have brought him here just to harass us. In that case, the Kuisaru and the Tengu could be working together.”
Haruma laughed and then glanced over at the Yellow Raven.
Yorito frowned. “Did I say something wrong?”
“No,” the Yellow Raven said. “But if you’re right, we’re in worse trouble than we thought.”
“The Tengu and the Kuisaru being allies is the worst possible outcome. Let us pray that nothing so troublesome has come to pass,” Haruma said.
The Yellow Raven shrugged. “In any case, we must continue the investigation into the Tengu and the Nanke family. Anyone who profits from throwing Yamauchi into chaos is not to be trusted. I think that when find out who the ghost is, we’ll know much more about the situation.” He held Yorito’s gaze. “Yorito, you are to interrogate Mr. Yasuhara regarding the ghost, but do it very carefully. Report everything you learn.”
“Understood. I will extract the information by whatever means I have available.”
Haruma nodded with visible satisfaction. “We are still in quite an inconvenient situation, but it was lucky for us that Yasuhara Hajime singled out Yorito. He’s a loyal man, and talented.”
A brief pause followed. The Yellow Raven smiled slightly. “Hush, now, don’t embarrass the boy. He’s always been your favorite.”
“If I had to choose a single person from among the younger generation for this task, it would be him,” Haruma enthused.
Yorito sat up straighter without thinking.
The Yellow Raven gave him a speculative look and then shrugged. “You may be right. We can trust Yorito to take full advantage of any opportunity that presents itself to us.” He paused. “I’ll leave this to you, Yorito. Negotiations for the rights to Mt. Ara are in your hands.”
Yorito’s throat tightened. “You would give me such a vital task?”
“I judge that Mr. Yasuhara singled you out because he likes you,” the Yellow Raven replied with equanimity. “It has been more than ten years since I spent any amount of time in the human world. I suspect that I do not understand Mr. Yasuhara well enough to negotiate with him. You just returned from the human world recently, so you are better placed to win him over.”
The Yellow Raven tilted his head. “I cannot handle every important matter that comes our way. Eventually, the younger generation will need to take over. His Imperial Majesty is far from an old man, but we are none of us immortal.” There was an undercurrent of bitterness in his tone. “Difficult times lie ahead for Yamauchi. Old men cannot keep controlling everything. The young are a treasure. We will need people who can support His Imperial Majesty for many years to come.” He looked at Yorito steadily. “You are intelligent, and loyal, and suitable for this duty.
“I give you your charge anew. We are not barbarians. In a thoroughly gentlemanly manner, by legitimate means—but with certainty—we must secure the rights to Mt. Ara. You must win Yasuhara Hajime’s trust, no matter what it takes.”
Yorito blanched and looked away.
“Make him open his heart. Learn everything there is to know about Yasuhara Hajime. What does he value enough to trade the mountain for? What does he dislike? What does he fear?”
“Understood. I will complete this mission without fail.”
The Yellow Raven smiled. “I’m sure you will. I await your reports, Yorito.” Then he let out a long breath and leaned back. “It would have been so much easier if he’d agreed to give us the rights for money.” He looked down at the reports spread across the rice mat floor. His gaze stopped on one document.
“Yasuhara Hajime… Hajime…” He touched the paper lightly and said nothing for a moment. Then his eyes focused on a single point on the page. “…No. That can’t be right.”
The Yellow Raven was reading a report that described Mr. Yasuhara’s personal history and family composition.
“Is there something that concerns you?” Haruma asked, puzzled.
The Yellow Raven shook his head dismissively.
“Yorito, return to Mr. Yasuhara. I’ll assign Yamauchishu to you, so proceed as you see fit. Use whatever funds are needed. You and your charge will lack for nothing.”
“Thank you.” It had been only two weeks since Yorito had returned from the human world. He hadn’t even had time to receive his next post yet. He’d never imagined being entrusted with a mission like this one… but he wouldn’t fail the Yellow Raven or Haruma.
Yorito’s determination gave him strength and resolve as he returned to Mr. Yasuhara. A small, niggling part of him worried, though. How had this happened? And how, exactly, was he supposed to succeed?
***
Chihaya ran through the dark tunnel without looking back.
Pursuers hadn’t closed in yet. The tension in the air made Yorito’s skin prickle from head to foot. The only light came from the paper lantern Chihaya carried. Footing in the tunnel was treacherous, and Chihaya was not as sure-footed as he would like. Yorito found himself regretting that he had left his lantern in the flying carriage.
“Is this the right way?”
“If you’re going to complain, go back by yourself,” Chihaya said in a clipped tone.
Yorito kept following after him, unsure of himself. He’d been ambushed while on guard duty, and Yasuhara Hajime could have been killed. At the most desperate moment, Chihaya had appeared out of nowhere to save them. That wasn’t a coincidence, was it?
It was entirely possible that Chihaya was one of the attackers. He might be leading them into a trap.
Yorito followed Chihaya because he could tell that he wasn’t lying about being an ex-Imperial Guard. He moved like someone who’d trained at the Keisōin.
The Yamauchishu had an age limit. Most who retired transferred to the Aerial Army of Heaven. Some became instructors at the Keisōin. This man had chosen neither path. When asked, he said that he was a bodyguard in Yamauchi’s capital.
Yorito wasn’t willing to believe this man at face value. He kept his eyes on Chihaya’s back as they traversed the dark tunnel.
He couldn’t believe that every member of their escort had been killed. The attack had almost certainly already been reported to the Yellow Raven. Yorito needed to regroup with the other Yamauchishu.
“How do you know this path?” Yorito called out over Hajime’s head.
Chihaya answered without looking back. “I was posted here. I’ve thoroughly investigated the tunnels in this area. We were trying to discover the Kuisaru’s attack routes in those days.”
Yorito’s breath caught. He’d forgotten that such reconnaissance was necessary in the past. The Kuisaru had once used a hidden passage connecting Yamauchi to the mountain god’s realm. During the great war, many Kuisaru had entered Yamauchi through that passage. A thorough search for similar passages had been conducted after the war. He’d heard that the Yamauchishu had served as the vanguard for that search, ready to engage any Kuisaru they encountered inside the tunnels.
If Chihaya really was who he claimed to be, he was not only a colleague of the Yellow Raven’s—he was also Yorito’s senior officer, albeit retired.
“Do you know who attacked us?” Yorito asked.
“How would I know?” Chihaya asked. “Are you deaf? I already told you that it was just a coincidence that I was nearby. I saw you being attacked and jumped in without thinking. That’s all there is to it. I have no intention of getting involved in your problems, whatever they are.” He glanced over his shoulder. “I’ll guide you to the exit. Regroup with your people and go back to the Imperial Court.”
He lapsed into silence.
Yorito didn’t know what else to say to keep him talking.
“Hey, can we take a break?” Hajime asked. He was just ahead of Yorito, and he asked this question in Japanese. The question sounded more than half like a whine.
“No. We have to get outside before they catch up,” Yorito said.
“I’m so tired…”
“Keep moving!”
Yorito wasn’t annoyed by Hajime. He was vaguely disgusted and disbelieving. The man had almost died, and he was complaining about being tired? They were being pursued! How could he dare ask to stop, even for a moment? He wasn’t a brave man, and he was obviously afraid of being harmed.
Maybe Hajime didn’t understand how much danger he was really in.
As he pressed on while managing Hajime’s complaints, Yorito noticed that the ceiling above them had opened without warning. They entered a wide underground cave.
Chihaya’s lantern wasn’t bright enough to illuminate the stone ceiling here. Tree roots and jutting rock faces caught the light. He looked around and heard footsteps—and voices.
“Trouble,” Yorito said in a low voice.
Chihaya stopped to listen. “Shit,” he muttered.
Thinking he had been led into a trap after all, Yorito drew his sword and moved to shield Hajime.
Then a figure leaped up onto a massive boulder in front of him. “Who are you?” the cloaked figure asked in a high-pitched voice.
“Yeah! Who are you, you bastards?!” another figure called out as they jumped up on the boulder.
The two cloaked figures were rather short, but they were joined by a throng of eight or so more who all jumped onto the rock. They were armed with stones and short bows.
Yorito frowned at these people—were they children?—and moved to shield Hajime better.
The lantern’s flickering light revealed Chihaya’s standard-issue Yamauchishu sword and a few grimy children’s faces.
The children hissed when they noticed the sword.
“Red Cords,” one child spat.
“Hey, Red Cord! Drop the weapon or we’ll kill you!”
“What do we do?”
“Go get the boss! Now!”
One of the boys turned on his heel and vanished behind the boulder.
Yorito stood there dumbfounded.
Chihaya let out a long-suffering sigh. “So they found us.” He waved one hand toward the children. “I’m not one of your Red Cords. It’s me, Chihaya.”
“Chihaya?” A child squinted.
“It really is old man Chihaya.”
“What’s he doing here?”
“I’d rather not be,” Chihaya said. “We have no business with you. I need you to let these two through to the exit.”
Several children had recognized Chihaya. Their eyes went wide, but they didn’t lower their weapons.
“Don’t lie! He’s got a Red Cord with him!”
“Why are you guiding a Red Cord?”
Chihaya was bombarded with angry shouts. He turned and said to Yorito, “If you want to get through here without trouble, put the sword down.”
Yorito wouldn’t sheathe his sword while Hajime was being threatened.
“You damn Red Cord!”
The children’s hostility sharpened on Yorito.
“Don’t think you’re walking out of here.”
“Tobi’s coming. You’ll get beaten to a pulp!” one child crowed gleefully.
More children appeared from deeper in the cave, carrying torches and bamboo spears. Chihaya scratched his head with the air of a man who had entirely run out of options.
Yorito recognized the name Tobi.
“Hey, can I sit down?” Hajime asked.
Yorito spun and snapped at him in Japanese, “Please be quiet.” He hadn’t wanted the children to realize Hajime was human, so the words came out sharper than he’d intended.
Hajime didn’t care about his attitude. “What’s a tobi?” he asked.
Yorito hesitated, then said quietly, “Something like a yakuza boss.”
Before the great war, there had been a slum called the Valley on the border of the capital. Criminals and people of ill repute had gathered there: outlaws fleeing the law, women with nowhere else to go, desperate addicts, and the like. A few years ago, the Yellow Raven had carried out a large-scale land readjustment of the city which had dismantled the Valley entirely. All of its residents had since been relocated. Tobi was the name of a powerful man who’d controlled most of the goings-on in the Valley before it had been dismantled.
Yorito broke into a cold sweat. It made sense for the city’s dissident poor to wind up in caves and tunnels, lacking other shelter. They must be close to the Underground, one of the oldest parts of the Valley. Since it was completely below ground, it hadn’t been dismantled.
If the Valley’s former residents were sheltering here, hostility toward the imperial government would run deep. They had stumbled into a seriously dangerous place.
The tension must have shown on his face, because Chihaya faced him and said, “Don’t cause trouble. Just do as you’re told. They’ll let you through if you cooperate.”
Before Yorito could respond, the children broke into joyful shouts. “He’s here!”
A boy jumped up onto the boulder. “You,” he said. “What are you doing here? Who gave you permission to use this passage? I am Tobi, and I rule the Underground.”
The boy carried himself with pride and authority, and his tone was haughty. But…
“He’s just a kid,” Hajime said, incredulous.
Yorito couldn’t argue. Tobi was very obviously a child. He appeared to be about twelve or thirteen. His face was smeared with grime and dust and his blue eyes were huge. His hair was tied up haphazardly and hadn’t been combed in some time. His expression was stern and brash.
Tobi’s eyes went wide.
“What was that just now? Human world language?” His imposing front crumbled immediately. His voice hadn’t dropped yet. He leaned forward from the top of the boulder with undisguised curiosity. “‘Gaki jan?’ What does that mean?”
“‘Just a kid,’” Chihaya translated through gritted teeth.
The boy repeated this loudly, but not in anger. He had already pulled something from his pocket—a small notebook and a pencil with a silver cap.
“Gaki, means brat, child, or kid.” He jotted down the note, muttering to himself. Then he remembered where he was. He looked up and smiled.
“Amazing, Chihaya. Did you bring them along so I could practice the human language?” He slid down from the boulder. Then his eyes met Yorito’s. His gaze tracked to the sword in Yorito’s hand. “A Red Cord?” His smile flashed off.
Chihaya spread both hands wide, showing he held nothing but his paper lantern. “Sorry. It just happened. We were attacked, and I had to help.”
Tobi sneered. “A Red Cord asking for help with a drawn sword? Typical.” He folded his arms. His sharp blue eyes fixed on Yorito contemptuously.
Yorito let his sword drop a bare inch under the boy’s scrutiny.
“Stand down,” Chihaya said to Yorito. “Or do you intend to threaten children with that weapon?”
The words stung. Yorito looked down, sheathing his sword almost immediately. He set the sword on the ground. “My apologies.” He showed his empty hands. “We were attacked without warning. I was only being cautious. We don’t want to harm anyone here.”
“Yeah?” Tobi studied him. “You didn’t come to take our people away?”
“No. We only want to leave. We don’t want any trouble.”
The children who had gathered around them watched the exchange with interest.
Chihaya addressed the children. They were still pointing their weapons at Yorito. “If these two try anything, I’ll deal with it personally.” He faced Tobi and said with more formality than usual, “Tobi, will you grant permission for us to pass through your tunnels?”
Tobi pursed his lips. He tilted his head slightly and looked at Yorito, then at Hajime, then back at Chihaya. He nodded.
“Fine, since you ask so nicely, Chihaya. Go on through. I’m coming with you, though.” He jumped in front of them, landing as lightly as a cat. “You lot, clear the way. I’m escorting our guests to the exit.”
The children’s tension visibly eased. Those who had been holding bamboo spears across the path stepped back. A narrow passage opened beside the boulder.
“Come on, then.”
The children waved and called out in high, cheerful voices. Tobi’s presence put them entirely at ease. This part of the journey was quite lively and quick.
“I can’t read this situation at all,” Hajime said. “Who are these kids?”
Yorito didn’t know, either.
“They are orphans,” Chihaya said in Japanese. “Their parents used to live here or in the Valley.”
Yorito had suspected something of the sort. He was surprised that Chihaya spoke Japanese so well. “Have you studied abroad?” he asked.
“I did, a long time ago.” The words sounded a bit awkward, but he was perfectly comprehensible.
Permission to study abroad in the human world was extended to only a handful of exceptional Yatagarasu. In the past, the selection criteria had been even more strict. Chihaya had studied abroad at about the same time as the Yellow Raven, and yet he held no important position in the Imperial Court now. Just who was this man?
Hajime looked at Chihaya with straightforward curiosity. “Where are we?” he asked.
“A slum.” He batted away a child who was pretending to attack his side with a wooden sword. “The Yellow Raven got rid of the Valley, but not the people in it. There are plenty of homeless children in the city. A lot of them end up here. I check in on them from time to time.”
“So their parents are dead?”
“Some are dead. Some are working as horses,” Yorito said stiffly.
Chihaya glanced at him. “It’s the truth. You don’t need to sound so offended.”
Hajime looked back and forth between them. “Horses… you mean those three-legged ravens you all can turn into?”
“Those horses are Yatagarasu, the same as us. Through a binding contract—one that severs or binds the third leg—horses can no longer take human form. They work as livestock after that.”
“I see.”
“That’s the long and short of it,” Chihaya said grimly.
“Horses are not compelled into service without cause,” Yorito said quickly. “That punishment is reserved for those who have committed crimes serious enough to warrant it. No one is reduced to that state arbitrarily.”
“So the people who were here—they were all criminals?”
“That’s right.”
Chihaya’s lips pursed. “You’ve never set foot in the Valley before, and yet you talk as if you understand it,” he said in the language of the Yatagarasu.
“I speak the truth.” Yorito held his glare.
Chihaya turned away from him. “Long ago, the slums were full of bad actors,” Chihaya said. “But that hasn’t been true for some time.”
Truly lawless places never existed for long. After the Valley’s most violent and dangerous criminal underclass wiped one another out with internecine warfare, the remaining denizens created their own system of laws and governance. The Valley hadn’t been run like the capital, but it had been far from lawless in those days. Bosses ruled over their own territories and mediated disputes. Those bosses lived in the Underground, the most defensible place in the Valley.
Twenty years ago, the Imperial Court and the Valley had been on reasonably good terms. Chihaya explained much of the Valley’s past state to Hajime in Japanese. The Underground had served as overflow housing for the Valley when Chihaya had been a young man. Now, it housed those who’d been displaced from the Valley and had nowhere else to go.
“Not long ago, there was even a formal secret agreement between the Imperial Court and the King of the Underground.”
“The King of the Underground?”
“His name was King Saku, meaning, ‘king of the new moon,’ when there is no light at all.”
Yorito knew about King Saku, of course. The man was a legend—the boss of all other Underground bosses. No one in the Valley or the Underground had dared cross him.
“King Saku harbored refugees and accepted people who were banished from the Imperial Court,” Chihaya said, describing the ancient king in glowing terms. Saku had been responsible for creating order in the Valley during his reign. He had imposed laws and negotiated with the Imperial Court. “The Valley flourished in those days,” Chihaya said, more than a little sadly. “This place is now the Valley’s tomb. It was so vibrant in those days, for all that criminals sheltered here. There was a society, and a decent life for most.”
“Who is that boy?” Hajime asked. “Is he the new King Saku?”
Tobi noticed that he was being talked about. He listened carefully, but he didn’t know enough Japanese to completely understand what Chihaya said.
“Hardly.” Chihaya snorted. “When King Saku died, Tobi became king in his place and tried to hold the Valley and the Underground together. That pipsqueak there is Tobi’s adopted son.”
The Underground had always been a meritocracy. Hereditary succession wasn’t terribly common there. The able led, and others followed. Tobi Jr. had settled into the role of leader among the orphans, and that role suited him.
“You’re really romanticizing this place,” Yorito said in the Yatagarasu language.
“I know its history better than you do,” Chihaya said sharply.
“There seem to be a lot of children here,” Hajime said. “Does the city and the Imperial Court know about them?”
“People fall through the cracks all the time,” Yorito said. “Isn’t it the same in your own world?” Yorito was sick of fighting with Chihaya, who seemed to pity the people here. Yorito knew the Underground as a den of criminals and thieves, and to him it was only natural that criminals and thieves be punished. “The Valley was neglected for so long simply because there weren’t sufficient resources to deal with it. When the Yellow Raven came to power, he addressed gathered those resources and used them. Isn’t that all there is to it?”
Chihaya looked at him steadily. “His crackdown was brutal. How can you stand to say all that so matter-of-factly in front of these children whose parents were killed?”
“Their parents were important to them; I understand that. But there are consequences for breaking the law. And these children do have somewhere else to go. They refuse the help being offered to them.”
The Imperial Court had a robust social safety net that would provide for every child here if they chose to make use of it. If these children were living in poverty because they didn’t know how to get help, then their criminal parents were to blame for that. The children didn’t need to suffer; all they needed to do was ask for help.
Chihaya stared at Yorito for a few seconds. Then he shook his head. “I see you’ve led quite the charmed life.”
Yorito didn’t translate this exchange for Hajime.
There was light ahead. “Please wait here,” Yorito said. He moved closer to the exit and took cover behind a rock.
The landscape outside was a ravine. Sheer cliffs closed in on both sides of the flat, narrow road between them. At regular intervals in the cliff faces, small holes had been cut through stone—arrow slits. Behind each, there was just enough space for a person. Anyone trying to force their way up here from below could be shot down easily.
This was a fortress built from the terrain, combined with a bit of ingenuity.
Yorito was reminded of cutting a cake in the human world. The Underground behind him was the point where the first slice touched the cake base. The sheer cliffs bristling with arrow slits were the exposed cross-section of what remained when the slice was removed from the whole.
Beyond the arrow slits, misshapen huts and rotting suspension bridges were packed together in an unbroken line along the cliff, clinging to bare stone. Torn red paper lanterns swayed in the wind. The area appeared populated, but he saw no people. None at all.
This was the Valley in ruins.
Yorito saw no sign of attackers or pursuers here. There was a temple close by. If he could confirm that they hadn’t been followed, they could go to the temple for assistance.
He turned back and saw Hajime sitting on the ground, surrounded by children. A small girl was braiding his unruly hair with great concentration.
“Mr. Yasuhara. I’m going to explain what we do from here, so please pay attention.”
Hajime cut him off before he could finish speaking. “Actually, that’s what I wanted to talk about.” He paused. “I want to stay here for a while. Is that a problem?”
Yorito opened his mouth and then closed it. “I’m—what are you saying?”
“I don’t want to go back.”
“Back where?”
“The Kōrokan. The Yellow Raven’s place.”
“You can’t be serious. You’ve nearly been killed twice in two days. Without proper protection, you would risk death three times every hour.”
Hajime turned to Chihaya. “You—Chihaya, was it? Would you protect me?”
Chihaya found himself suddenly at the center of things, very much against his will. He seemed content to sit among the children. He frowned and shook his head. “No, I will not.”
“Come on. Please?”
“It’s not possible.”
“Why?”
“I said no.” Chihaya’s frown twisted down.
Hajime didn’t back down.
Yorito was appalled by Mr. Yasuhara’s conduct. “Please stop this, Mr. Yasuhara. I am thinking only of your safety. Why would you—”
“—Because if I go along with what you say, I will almost certainly be killed,” Hajime said. He said this very quietly, but with real emphasis.
“Do you fear further attacks from the Kuisaru, or the men who attacked us in the carriage? I assure you, they will need time to regroup before attacking again—”
“—It’s not them I’m afraid of,” Hajime said, cutting him off again. “It’s Sessai. Your Yellow Raven.”
Yorito’s face went blank.
“I can’t trust that man,” Hajime said.
“What?”
“Think about it. Why do you think I came all the way here and refused to give him rights to the mountain? Because if I didn’t, he might have killed me,” he said calmly.
Sessai had told Hajime that his world and Yamauchi operated with different rules and that he had no intention of encouraging Yatagarasu interaction with humans. But Hajime already knew Yamauchi’s secret. The moment he transferred the rights to Mt. Ara, he would no longer be needed. And if he refused to sell the rights, Sessai would kill him and try again with the next heir to Mt. Ara.
“The only way to stay alive,” Hajime said, “is to intend to sell without doing it. That makes me useful enough to keep around, and decisive enough that he won’t risk killing me outright.”
Yorito was confused. Hajime was speaking as if he were explaining the pieces of a pipe, not as if he were afraid for his life. “Sessai has no reason to kill you, even if you did refuse to sell,” he said.
“He also has no reason to keep me alive,” Hajime said.
Yorito shook his head. “The Yellow Raven is not a reckless man. He bargained with you in good faith.”
“Then why hasn’t my father come back?” Hajime asked.
Yorito tilted his head. “Uh… what?”
“My adoptive father has been missing for seven years.” Hajime shrugged. “I looked for him, of course. The last confirmed sighting I got was from the lawyer managing his estate. My father left a letter saying he was leaving me the mountain, walked out the door, and then disappeared. By some incredible coincidence, there turned out to be a magnificent otherworld in the mountain he left me.”
“Were you worried about your father’s whereabouts? Is that why you came all this way without resisting?” Yorito asked.
“That’s part of it. I’m concerned about where he went, of course.” He grinned.
Yorito couldn’t manage anything like a smile. “You think we killed him.”
“Didn’t you?”
“No. We’d never do such a thing.”
“Wouldn’t you? Some of your people have already tried to kill me, or have you forgotten that already, Yorito?” He laughed as if the situation amused him.
“That’s a stupid inference,” Yorito gritted out. “I’ve protected you since you arrived!”
Hajime had traveled all the way here in pursuit of his father, putting his own life on the line. His easy smile sent a chill up Yorito’s spine.
“You want to know what happened to your father,” Yorito said. “Is that what has value to you?” he asked unsteadily.
Hajime kept smiling, but he said nothing.
He’s no fool, Yorito thought. We were wrong.
Hajime’s smile shifted into an exaggerated frown. “Well, if you can’t do as I ask, Yori, I suppose that this is where we part. Thanks for everything. Give Lord Sessai my regards.” He waved his hand in farewell.
“Please wait,” Yorito said. He grabbed Hajime’s arm. “Why do you intend to remain here? It’s a slum. There’s nothing to learn here. In the unlikely event that Yamauchi is connected to your father’s disappearance, whatever happened would have occurred as a result of decision-makers in the Imperial Court. They handle all trade with the human world. Without the Yellow Raven’s authorization, we can’t even arrange for you to return home. Are you prepared to die here without ever finding out what happened to your father?”
Hajime’s smile was back, and it was light and teasing. “I wouldn’t mind finding out what happened to my old man, but that’s not why I want to stay here.”
“Then why?”
“I feel like there’s something here for me, if I can find it,” Hajime said. “That’s why I ask people if Yamauchi was paradise. I’m searching for something, but I don’t know what it is yet.” He looked at Yorito’s face. “I can tell that you’re from the privileged classes. I understand your perspective of Yamauchi perfectly. Now I want to see it through the eyes of these poor children. If I find what I’m looking for, I’ll have no regrets, even if I die in this place.” He laughed hard enough to shake his shoulders.
“And if you find what you’re looking for, would that be worth the rights to Mt. Ara?” Yorito asked.
“Why would I tell you that?” Hajime shook his head. “I just told you. If I want to live, I need to keep my options open.” He shrugged. “You can do whatever you want now, Yori. The most reliable person I’ve met so far is this guy here.” He draped an arm over Chihaya’s shoulder.
Chihaya stiffened. His glare was cutting.
“Please protect me,” Hajime said. “Think of it as an act of charity. I’m powerless and helpless.”
“I refuse.”
“I’m just passing through. You won’t need to protect me for long.”
“No.”
Seeing them so close together and talking with such easy familiarity made Yorito panic. He’d lost Mr. Yasuhara’s trust. He’d failed his mission.
No. No, he couldn’t do that. He must succeed.
“I will accompany you,” he said. “Wherever you go, Mr. Yasuhara, I will follow.”
Hajime hadn’t removed his arm from around Chihaya’s shoulders. He raised an eyebrow.
Yorito prepared himself for what Hajime would say next. When he said nothing, Yorito added, “It seems you believe that the Yellow Raven had some involvement in your father’s disappearance. I think you’re mistaken. But I understand that you don’t trust him. I invite you to investigate matters for yourself and find answers that satisfy you. If you’ll allow me to remain with you, I will do whatever I can to assist you and protect you.”
He’d lost Mr. Yasuhara’s trust, and he had to gain it back somehow. If he forced Hajime to leave this place with him, Mr. Yasuhara would never trust him again.
Chihaya had no apparent intent to harm Mr. Yasuhara, but that could be an act. What if Yorito left Mr. Yasuhara here, and Chihaya fed him to the wolves? It was possible that he was allied with the men who’d attacked them. Yorito would need to find some way to get a message to the Yellow Raven. He would know what to do to bring Hajime back to the Imperial Court.
For now, Yorito was determined not to leave Mr. Yasuhara’s side.
Hajime’s expression was unreadable. A playful smile tugged at his mouth. “All right. How about you hire Chihaya here as my bodyguard, then? If you’re gonna stay, then make yourself useful.”
“What?”
Yorito glanced at Chihaya, who had turned toward him with a scowl.
“I…”
“You can’t do it?” Hajime asked airily.
This was obviously a test, but it was not a fair one. Not for Yorito, and not for Chihaya, who might be an innocent bystander for all they knew.
Yorito looked at Chihaya’s expression of suppressed displeasure, then back at Hajime’s unpleasant grin. He bit his lip. “You said you work as a bodyguard before, right? I’ll pay you appropriate compensation. Could you do as Mr. Yasuhara suggests?”
Chihaya was silent for a moment. Then he said, “It would be a pain in my ass, so no.”
Yorito bowed to him. “Please! You are a former classmate of the Yellow Raven. I am certain he would be reassured if we could secure your aid.” He switched to the language of the Yatagarasu. “I have been fully entrusted by the Yellow Raven to make decisions regarding these matters. Please consider this an order from him.”
Chihaya held Yorito’s gaze, then averted his eyes. He nodded slightly, still scowling.
***
Tobi had been watching the conversation between Hajime, Chihaya, and Yorito with visible impatience. He glanced at Chihaya, who shrugged.
“If you’re gonna stay, you should introduce yourself,” Tobi said to Hajime. “Let me present the others first. That’s Kuma, that’s Taka, and that’s Mitsu.” He pointed to the children in turn.
Kuma was a round-faced boy, Taka was a boy with a chipped front tooth and a button nose, and Mitsu was a determined-looking girl who rarely smiled. Each of them raised a hand in greeting when Tobi introduced them.
“Kuma handles meals and water. Taka handles injuries and illness. Mitsu handles cleaning and everything to do with where we live. If something’s troubling you, tell one of them and they’ll take care of it.”
“They’re in charge?” Yorito asked without thinking.
“That’s right,” Kuma said with a kind smile. “Everyone shares the work here, and we all help each other. Even the littlest children have jobs cleaning or hauling water.”
Taka nodded with evident pride.
“I see,” Yorito said, more than a bit skeptical.
Mitsu glared at him. “If you stay, you’ll need to work, too. If you’re not useful, you’re out.”
Yorito was taken aback by her tone.
Tobi burst out laughing. “You’re right, Mitsu. We need to whip him into shape.”
“Leave it to me. I don’t go easy on anyone.” She snorted.
Yorito had no idea how to respond.
***
Tobi led them straight to their quarters.
The Underground was warrened like an anthill. The area assigned to Hajime and Yorito was close to an exit leading into the Valley so that they wouldn’t get easily lost. There was an arrow slit nearby, carved into the stone. Their quarters were also high up, at the top of a crude staircase. Hajime was breathing hard by the time he reached the top of the steps.
“Sunlight is good for people,” Tobi said. “I try to have people live as close to the arrow slits as possible. Those with bad legs or chronic illnesses stay below.”
The arrow slits, cut at regular intervals into the bare rock, were equivalent to small windows. Tobi encouraged Yorito and Hajime to look through the one closest to their room. Their quarters had a view of the Valley below and the main path through it. Clean rush mats were laid out on the floor.
Old men and women rested against the cool stone walls. None appeared ill, but most were weak; perhaps they were convalescing after an illness. The more alert convalescents were alarmed by the sight of Yorito’s sword.
Tobi explained that Yorito and Hajime were guests, which made everyone relax. He told his people to report any issues to him immediately. He made his rounds with a patience that surprised Yorito. Tobi was quite responsible for one so young.
After showing them their rooms, Tobi guided them to another staircase. They kept climbing until they reached the highest level. Tobi pointed out places of interest from above.
“The latrines are there,” he said, pointing down to a deep trench. “The water in jars like these is drinkable.” He indicated clay vessels lined up along the side of a hallway. “Meals are made below; just follow the smoke of the cooking fires. Come down whenever you’re hungry. Kuma will make sure you’re fed.”
Yorito looked through an arrow slit at the abandoned buildings of the Valley. “Why live in these caves? Surely there’s more sunlight and better living conditions in those houses over there.”
“Are you stupid?” Tobi asked flatly. “If we get attacked, we’d be defenseless down there. We live in the caves because they’re defensible. We don’t even have to fight; there are plenty of places to hide.”
“Why would you need to fight?”
“Soldiers still come,” Tobi said. There was wariness in his eyes.
“Soldiers that come here would be trying to help you, not hurt you,” Yorito said.
“We can’t trust that.” Tobi’s tone was firm. “Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m letting you stay here, but you’re still a Red Cord, and my people don’t like Red Cords.”
Yorito had already figured out that Red Cord was a derogatory term for the Yamauchishu that the children used. He was a little confused and surprised that Tobi was allowing them to stay. He was a current Yamauchishu, and Chihaya was a retired one.
Before Yorito could ask why he was permitted to remain here, Tobi told him.
“You’re only here because I trust Chihaya,” Tobi said.
Chihaya had helped and protected the children here for years. There were no other fighting fit adults here that Yorito had seen. Tobi had told him that soldiers came, but soldiers were not the only threat they faced. Brigands and thieves sometimes found their way into the tunnels. Theft and kidnappings used to be common.
The children had armed themselves, and most of the time they managed on their own. When they couldn’t, they called for Chihaya.
“Whatever the problem is, Chihaya can handle it,” Tobi said proudly. “A lot of people underestimate him. If it ever comes to a fight, Chihaya ends it in one blow. We owe him. He brought you here, so you can stay. But if Chihaya stops vouching for you or you do anything to hurt us, we’ll throw you out. I’m responsible for the people who live here. If you sell us out to the Imperial Court, I’ll never forgive you.”
Tobi’s blue eyes narrowed.
Yorito nodded rapidly. “I’ll follow your rules. I swear it.”
“Good.” Tobi grinned. “I like people who listen.” He turned on his heel toward the stairs. “When it’s time to eat, you’ll hear the drum. Don’t dawdle—the pot empties fast.” He left.
***
Hajime slid down against the wall. “I can’t feel my legs,” he complained. He dragged a dusty rush mat out of the corner and settled it under him with an unhappy whine.
“Mr. Yasuhara—”
“Don’t you ‘Mr. Yasuhara’ me right now. Can we talk about things later? I need a few minutes.” He lay down on the mat and closed his eyes.
Yorito felt as if all the careful hospitality of the past twenty-four hours had been entirely pointless as he stared at Hajime spread-eagled on the filthy mat, appearing perfectly content.
He leaned against the wall beside Hajime and thought about what to do next. He had to get a message to the Yellow Raven as soon as possible, but he couldn’t leave Hajime’s side. He didn’t fully trust Chihaya. His options were limited.
One of the children might carry a message to the nearby temple, perhaps. He could use a cipher so that he wouldn’t need to worry about the message being intercepted. A child who didn’t know what they were carrying wouldn’t be in danger.
“Don’t even think about using a child.” Chihaya’s voice reached him from the stairwell. “You’ll hear from that heartless bastard soon enough.” Chihaya entered the room and leaned against the opposite wall, watching him with an oddly knowing expression.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You’re thinking about how to get a message him. I’m telling you it’s pointless. You’re focused on the wrong thing. Worry about your enemies, not your allies.”
Yorito frowned at him. “Why shouldn’t I worry about my allies? The Yellow Raven has no idea we’re in the Underground. He must be searching for us now.”
Chihaya snorted. “He knows you’re here. I’d bet on it.”
There was a brief silence.
“Are you certain?” Yorito asked.
“As certain as I am about anything. I can check to be sure, but it would take me a day or so.”
Yorito put his eye to the arrow slit. He saw no one moving below, but that didn’t mean someone else couldn’t be listening in on this conversation, unseen. “Is this place safe?” he asked.
“More or less, while you remain my guests,” Chihaya said. “I don’t know who attacked you before, so I can’t promise you perfect safety.” He said this like he didn’t care if Yorito lived or died.
A wave of exhaustion caught up to Yorito. How long had it been since he’d slept? He put his hands on his knees; his head drooped.
Chihaya was smiling at him. “You hired me, right? So trust me a little. You need to rest now, or you won’t be able to act when it matters.”
Yorito found it hard to remember that he didn’t trust Chihaya. Right now, he seemed so solid and reliable.
“Who are they? We took every precaution—how were we found so easily?” Yorito asked without thinking.
They’d carried out a decoy operation after the Kuisaru attack. A man of similar build to Hajime had been dressed for the part and sent back to the Kōrokan in the flying carriage they’d arrived in. Yorito and the real Hajime had departed after that. The plan had been to move quickly with a small guard presence so that they wouldn’t be followed or intercepted.
“It’s obvious,” Chihaya said. “Once again, you’re focused on the wrong thing.”
Yorito looked up. “You know who attacked us?”
“You were lightly defended compared to the false target. That’s why I noticed you in the first place.”
“You know about the decoy operation?” Yorito asked.
“The day before the attack, you never left Hajime’s side, and he had a contingent of guards. But they were all in the wrong configuration. Too many Aerial Army of Heaven veterans, too few Yamauchishu. That kind of arrangement is for show. You’d never assign that kind of guard detail to someone who actually needed protection.”
Yorito inhaled sharply.
“You arranged the decoy operation,” Chihaya said.
“Yes.”
“Be more careful next time.”
“I will.” He responded like a Keisōin cadet to an instructor.
Chihaya glanced at him with something like amusement, then directed Yorito’s attention to Hajime.
“So he holds the rights to Mt. Ara.”
There was no point in denying it. “He inherited it recently,” Yorito said. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is negotiating the transfer of rights. His father, the original rights holder, has been missing for seven years.”
“I see. And there’s suspicion that the Yellow Raven is involved with his disappearance.” Chihaya had studied abroad, so he understood things like human property rights. “Why would Yukiya bring his son here?”
“The Yellow Raven didn’t bring him here. An unknown party transported him here by force.”
“Unknown?”
“Yes.”
Chihaya frowned. “There can’t be too many possible culprits. Do you really not know anything?”
“Nothing yet. Mr. Yasuhara’s purpose here is also unknown.”
Chihaya lifted a hand to his chin. He shifted his attention to Hajime, who lay sprawled on the mat like a dead man.
“There’s one thing I want to confirm. Is the Yellow Raven really not involved in this man’s father’s disappearance?”
“That’s what I’ve been told.”
Chihaya’s expression was difficult to read. “Do you understand the position you’re in right now?” he asked. Before Yorito could answer, Chihaya continued, “Hajime’s reasoning is sound. His father disappears, and then he learns about Yamauchi. Yukiya might decide that it will be safer for us all if he never leaves Yamauchi. Are you prepared for that outcome?”
The bluntness of this question made Yorito flinch. “I can’t believe that the Yellow Raven would do something so barbaric. If humans keep disappearing in Yamauchi, it would hurt our trade relations and make studying abroad more difficult. He isn’t short-sighted enough to create a problem like that. He would gain nothing by harming Mr. Yasuhara.”
Yorito felt the same irritation he had felt with Tobi. Why did everyone assume that the Yellow Raven had the worst possible motives?
“I hope you’re right,” Chihaya said.
Drum beats echoed from below, loud and vigorous. Taka popped his head into the room and gave them a gap-toothed smile. “It’s time to eat!”
***
They roused Hajime and went down into the Underground, only to walk straight into a current of rushing people. Almost everyone was elderly or had missing limbs. Only the children looked healthy and energetic.
Going along without resisting the flow, Hajime arrived in a large hall. Torches mounted on the bare cave walls lit the space brightly. In the center stood two pots, one so large that three grown adults would struggle to carry it and one medium-sized pot that was small enough for an older child to haul. Kuma directed people to form an orderly line, and then everyone was given a clean bowl. People served themselves with a ladle from the largest pot.
Chihaya and Yorito joined the line with Hajime between them.
Before they had gone far, a man overseeing food distribution approached them. “Hey, Chihaya. Is this the new one you brought?”
“Sanji. Yes, this is him.”
Sanji had a prosthetic right leg. The limb was missing below the knee. His hair was pure white and a sword scar scored his left cheek. His gaze kept drifting to the sword at Yorito’s waist.
“To think, we’ve got a Red Cord here,” Sanji said. “Tobi gave you permission to stay, but don’t expect things to stay peaceful.” His voice was low and colorless. “Are the Yamauchishu coming to take more children away?”
Some of the people in line shifted uncomfortably and went silent.
Yorito shook his head and started to answer Sanji’s question in the negative, but Sanji wasn’t paying attention to him, only his sword.
Sanji pointed toward a shadow behind a large stone.
Chihaya nodded and came out of line, following Sanji with Hajime and Yorito. “Officially, Tobi is the boss. But the one who actually runs things here is this man,” Chihaya whispered in Yorito’s ear.
When they were behind the stone, Yorito did his best to explain the situation. “Your suspicion is entirely understandable, sir. But I have no connection to any kidnappers—none whatsoever! I swear to the mountain god. All we’re asking for is a temporary place to stay.” He bowed his head.
Chihaya corroborated what Yorito said.
Sanji’s severe expression softened by degrees. “All right. I’ll take your word for it, for now.” He paused. “Sorry. I have to protect these people. I can’t welcome just anyone here, you understand.”
Sanji had originally worked as a cook for the bosses of the Underground. He had fought the Yamauchishu during the takeover of the Valley, lost his leg, and ended up here.
“If I don’t raise these brats properly,” he said, “I won’t be able to face my boss in the next life.” He looked upon the children with fond exasperation.
“Why is the boy the official leader, and not you?” Yorito asked.
Tobi was watching the food distribution with a satisfied expression from atop a wall.
Sanji gave Yorito a wry grin. “The previous boss gave him his name, and people listen to what he says. He’s a fine leader. When he grows up, I’ll happily fade into the background as a subordinate. With a leg like mine, even these kids could beat me up.” He laughed. “Welcome to our fortress of rogues and troublemakers. You’re living up on the arrow slit level? That’ll strengthen your legs in no time.”
When they returned to the line, it was considerably shorter. An older woman handed Yorito a bowl and chopsticks. “You can borrow these.” The rim of the bowl was chipped. The chopsticks had been split from bamboo.
Yorito ladled from the pot into the bowl, found a suitable stone, and sat down to eat. The meal was rice porridge mixed with other grains and vegetables. It was a bit overcooked, so it was very easy to eat. Dried sweet cherries gave the concoction a faintly sweet flavor. Roasted walnuts added saltiness. Roughly cut greens, added last to the pot, were still a bit crunchy.
A large steamed egg was served on top of the porridge, fluffy and seasoned with scallions.
The meal was far more filling and nutritious than Yorito had expected. He’d been worried a bit about providing food for Mr. Yasuhara, but this fare should be sufficient.
Hajime had watched Yorito eat before digging in himself.
“This is the first time I’ve had a dish like this made with eggs,” Yorito said, almost to himself. “It’s good,” he added.
The older woman who had loaned him the bowl smiled. “You beat the broth into the egg and steam it while stirring so it sets thick like that. If you put in too many ingredients, it won’t puff up properly. There aren’t many people in Yamauchi who can make eggs like this.”
“Is it your specialty?”
“Oh, no. The children always fight over the size of things. If you fry eggs normally, they end up smaller or larger, and then the children fight. I try to make the eggs look as large as possible. It was Kuma who suggested it, but the cooking method came from Sanji. He is very considerate to the children.”
Yorito remembered walking into this place and being terrified of what he’d find. There was no need for terror here. There was a certain order to things, and everyone pitched in. The meal was pleasant, much to his surprise.
After people finished eating, a few children went around and poured hot tea into empty bowls. After people finished drinking the tea, the bowls were rinsed with water and refilled with porridge.
“Those are for delivery,” the old woman said. “Not all of us can walk.”
The Underground was its own self-sufficient society that cared for its suffering poor. Yorito felt a strange discomfort he couldn’t name. He finished his tea and felt something brush against his lip.
A twig? A stone?
Yorito fished a small wooden token out of his bowl. There were threads wrapped around one end and knotted in a specific pattern that Yorito recognized. The encoding changed with each operation so that any outside tampering would be detectable before the message reached its recipient.
This was a message from another Yamauchishu, or someone with equivalent standing. Yorito let the token fall between his feet where no one else could see it. He scraped cook rice grains from around the knots and read the message.
The code identified it as a communication from the Yellow Raven. He was commanded to report to his superiors when possible.
He drew out the thread’s end and undid all the knots, then quickly retied them in a pattern that confirmed he had received the message. He added that he might not be able to report for some time. Then he placed the token back into his bowl.
A middle-aged woman appeared at his side almost immediately.
“Finished eating? I’ll wash that for you.”
“Thank you.”
She smiled, stacked the bowl and chopsticks with a casual gesture, and moved away quickly.
So he really is watching everything. I see, Yorito thought.
Chihaya sipped his tea.
Of course the Yellow Raven would have eyes and ears here. Yorito should have guessed that for himself. The Valley was a powder keg of discontent against the Imperial Court. It made sense for the Yellow Raven to employ discreet spies in this place.
He’d gotten a message to the Yellow Raven. He wouldn’t worry about anything else for the moment.
***
After the meal, Hajime climbed back up to the arrow slit level and collapsed onto the dusty mat.
Yorito and Chihaya agreed to take turns resting. The one who stayed awake would sit with their back against the rock. The one who slept would lie on the opposite side, with Hajime between them.
“I’ll sleep first,” Chihaya said. Then he lay down, and that was the end of the conversation.
The surrounding quiet settled in. Moonlight filtered through the arrow slits outside the room. Yorito heard frogs croaking.
After a while, mixed in among the sounds of the night, Yorito caught something else. A faint sound like a bird’s call.
He looked around. Hajime hadn’t stirred. Neither had Chihaya. They were both asleep.
Moving carefully, Yorito found someone tucked into the shadow of the stairs outside the room.
“Good evening, sir,” a man said quietly.
Chihaya and Hajime didn’t stir.
Silver light illuminated half the man’s face. He had thin eyebrows and eyes that slanted slightly upward at the corners. His mouth was set in a grim line.
Karyō. Yorito had just been thinking about him, when Chihaya had accused him of leading a charmed life. His former Keisōin classmate was here.
This didn’t feel like a coincidence.
Unlike Yorito, who had been abroad until two weeks ago, Karyō had remained in Yamauchi since his graduation. He had worked directly for the Yellow Raven for months. It made sense for the Yellow Raven to use him as a messenger.
“I received your message. Tell me the details,” Karyō said.
Yorito laid out the sequence of events from the moment of the first attack to their arrival in the Underground. Karyō didn’t interject once.
When Yorito had finished giving his report, Karyō spoke. “So you’ve decided to remain here because Yasuhara Hajime suspects the Yellow Raven and refuses to leave?”
“I judged that taking him away by force would damage whatever trust he has in me.”
“Understood. The Yellow Raven’s orders remain unchanged. Protect Yasuhara Hajime, and don’t lose his trust. Given the circumstances, your judgment will likely be considered reasonable.” Before Yorito could feel any relief, Karyō continued, “However, you should know that the people who attacked the flying carriage were all former residents of the Underground.”
“What?”
The group that had attacked the carriage were escaped work site laborers. They’d been captured in the Underground and forced into service. Their third legs had been severed so that they could no longer take human form. This had all happened during the Yellow Raven’s crackdown on the Valley.
There had been an attack on the largest work site recently, and many workers had escaped. Those escaped workers had attacked Hajime’s carriage. The ambushers lying in wait along the cliffs were their allies—fugitives who’d fled from the Valley or the Underground some time before.
Yorito drew in a slow breath.
Karyō gave him a thin smile. “I don’t envy you your assignment, sir.”
All ten guards from the escort had suffered injuries, but none had been killed.
“The ones who beat our comrades—they’re here. They’re related to the children.”
Yorito’s mouth went dry.
“Was this—was the attack orchestrated? Did we know about it in advance?”
Karyō shook his head. “The man named Chihaya, who led you here—you should know that he didn’t retire. His sword was confiscated before the end of his service.”
When leaving the Yamauchishu, the protocol was to return the sword granted by the Golden Raven. A confiscation prior to that meant those above had judged him unfit for service.
“What did he do? What did the Yellow Raven say?”
Yorito glanced toward Chihaya. He lay with his back to them, entirely still.
“I don’t know any more about Chihaya. But I confirmed that he and the Yellow Raven attended the Keisōin together, and they were friends in the past. Something happened between them, and they’ve been distant since.”
“So he fell out with the Yellow Raven. And then he joined forces with—”
“We don’t know. We may be reading too much into it. It’s possible he intends to hand you and Yasuhara Hajime over to the Yellow Raven’s people.”
“Can we afford to be that optimistic?”
“The Yellow Raven hasn’t designated Chihaya as a threat. For now, you can treat him as being on our side. An order will come through if the situation changes.”
Yorito acknowledged this with a nod.
“We took several attackers alive,” Karyō said. “They claim that their leader ordered them to get rid of Yasuhara Hajime. They said that if they’d succeeded, they would have attacked the Imperial Court next.”
The Valley’s scouring had been thorough, but not complete. The Yellow Raven had been expecting an attack to come from that quarter for years. A reward was being offered to anyone who reported the whereabouts of criminals and renegades. Anyone who sheltered them would face punishment.
Such measures had already been in place before the attack, but now they were widely publicized. The attack on Hajime hadn’t been a haphazard, disordered strike performed by desperate men. These people had a competent leader, and that was dangerous to consider.
Why would the Underground risk so much to kill a single human man?
“I assume that the attackers know who Mr. Yasuhara is and why he’s here,” Yorito said.
Yorito had only ever told people that Hajime was human. He’d never revealed why Hajime was in Yamauchi. Information about the rights to Mt. Ara was not widely available.
The presence of a traitor in the Imperial Court was not merely possible, but likely.
Karyō smiled faintly. “More than that. The Yellow Raven suspects that the person who brought Yasuhara Hajime into Yamauchi and the Underground may be one and the same, or at least closely allied.”
Yorito remembered the ghost woman. “Is there any information about the ghost?”
“The preliminary investigation has found no one matching that description. The ghost’s objective remains unknown.”
So the ghost was a dead end.
“Mr. Yasuhara has no intention of returning to the city, does he?”
“It seems not.”
“Then for now, there’s nothing to do but watch and wait. It’s far from ideal, given what we know. Stay close to him as you have been. We’ll keep watch from our side without making contact. If anything happens, we’ll move to defend you.”
“Understood.” Yorito was relieved to learn that reinforcements were nearby. “There may be times when I need to make urgent contact with you. Can you tell me who is connected to the Yellow Raven here?”
“Everyone.”
“Everyone?”
Karyō looked at him with clear exasperation. “Think about it. Would the Yellow Raven leave dangerous elements entrenched in a place like this? Anyone with real backbone either ran away long ago, was made into a horse, or is no longer in this world.”
The people currently living in the Underground were children and adults employed by the Yellow Raven.
“The food and medical supplies here are also arranged by the Yellow Raven, behind the scenes. They couldn’t produce decent meals consistently otherwise.” Karyō said this as though it were entirely obvious.
Yorito thought of Sanji’s face—the way he had looked at the children with that quiet, careful tenderness. So that was it. The Underground didn’t trust the Yellow Raven or the Imperial Court, but the Yellow Raven had found ways to help the people here all the same.
“In that case,” Yorito said, “someone should tell the children that they benefit from the Golden Raven’s support.”
Karyō looked like he’d just swallowed something unpleasant whole. “That doesn’t have to be you. It can be revealed slowly, step by step. But not now.” He looked like he had more to say, but whatever it was, he kept it to himself.
Yorito considered the situation. Things weren’t as bad as he feared. There were enemies here, but those rogue elements were outnumbered by allies. Most of the adults he’d seen had suffered grave injuries. Chihaya was hard to read, but if the Yellow Raven didn’t see him as a threat, Yorito didn’t, either. If things did degenerate into violence, Yorito would have backup.
All Yorito needed to do was protect Hajime and win his trust. Hajime’s objective remained unclear, but he wanted to remain in the Underground for a while. Yorito could do that, though he preferred not to. Staying here was a risk, albeit a mitigated one.
“This will be good experience for you,” Karyō said softly. “The Yellow Raven sent me here specifically. You should consider what that means.”
Yorito didn’t understand him at all. Karyō’s eyes on him were unnervingly still.
“You’re clever. But clever isn’t enough. You need to see things that you never noticed before, or you’ll earn nothing but the Yellow Raven’s scorn.”
Yorito recognized the look in Karyō’s eyes now. They’d looked the same when Karyō had called him Saint for the first time, all those years ago when he’d lay bleeding on the dojo floor.
Yorito nodded at him decisively. “You’re right. This is an opportunity. I’ll carry out the mission, and I’ll learn as much as I can from it.”
Karyō huffed out a breath. Then he moved soundlessly into the darkness below, departing without a word of farewell.
Tobi gets the Japanese word for “thanks,” arigatou, a little wrong.
Tobi does not use hakurikukō, the formal title of the Yellow Raven (meaning something like “Land Sovereign.”) He uses kou, which literally means “yellow raven.” This form of address is a show of disrespect.
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