Prelude

 

by Nancy Sauer

Edited by Fred Wan

 

 

Doji Domotai looked up from the papers laid out on her desk. “This is sufficient? All the resources of the clan are available to you.”

“I believe it to be so,” Daidoji Fumisato said. “I can increase the numbers if you think it wise.”

Domotai resisted the impulse to smile. Fumisato knew far more about the topic than she did, making his offer merely a polite fiction. The libraries at Shiro Matsu and Kyuden Doji were filled with stories from the clan wars and the Battle of Oblivion’s Gate, and Domotai had read almost all of them – particularly the ones that involved her grandfather, Doji Kuwanan. They were all high in heroism and low in actual tactical details on fighting monsters from the Shadowlands.

“I am satisfied with your judgment,” she said. Working with swift grace she signed the papers, stamped them with her personal chop and set them aside to dry. “Anything else?”

“No, my lady. I will inform Kikaze of the matter tomorrow.”

“No.” Domotai voice was crisp. “I will tell him.”

“My lady, it is no problem,” Fumisato started to say.

“You are useful to me, Fumisato, but I will not hide behind you.”

“You are the Crane Champion,” he said. “What other purpose does a Daidoji serve, but to stand between you and your enemies?” Domotai paused at that. The idea that she needed someone for this still gave her problems, and she wasn’t sure her sensei would agree. “Kikaze is not my enemy,” she finally said.

“No,” Fumisato agreed. “But he could be a problem.”

“He is my vassal. And while he may not be the most honorable of samurai, he is loyal to me. I owe him at least this: to be forthright with him.”

Fumisato let the issue drop. He knew exactly how stubborn her forefathers had been, and how little use it was to argue in such a position. At least, he reflected, she was right on one thing: Kikaze was loyal to her. However unhappy he became, Domotai was in no danger from him.

 

           

Kikaze paused at the edge of the clearing and looked around reflexively, scanning the clearing for threats. It was closed about by a mix of pine, bamboo, and plum trees, but though it looked just dense enough to hide a man it seemed empty at the moment. Domotai was waiting for him by the small lotus pond in the center, dressed in a simple blue kimono with her wakizashi thrust through her obi. He bowed to her, then crossed the clearing to kneel down near her.

“What do you think of my garden?” Domotai asked.

“It seems safe enough, Domotai-sama,” Kikaze said. Then, realizing that this was not necessarily what she meant he added, “It is very nice, my lady. Very quiet.”

Domotai smiled for a moment. “Thank you,” she said. “I have called you here to inform you of something of great importance to our clan.”

Kikaze did not react to this; it had already occurred to him that the Crane Champion did not normally summon the Daidoji daimyo to discuss gardening. “Yes, my lady?”

“We have recently come into a great deal of information on the being known as Daigotsu Rekai,” she said. “The quality of it is such that we may have the means to kill her.”

Kikaze stared at her as he absorbed this news, and then a grin that was more than half a snarl split his face. “I shall begin preparations immediately.”

“No,” Domotai said.

For a moment he didn’t understand her. “No? How, no? She is a blight on our clan! We must destroy her.”

“Indeed,” Domotai said. “But you shall have no part in it. I have assigned the matter to another.”

“Domotai-sama, you cannot do this.” Kikaze leaned forward. “I must kill her – she is my mother!”

“She is not your mother,” Domotai said flatly. “Your mother died under mysterious circumstances near the Shadowlands, and whatever this thing may claim its only connection to her is her name and her face.”

Kikaze paused, tried to breathe around his anger. Everything Domotai said was true… but from the moment he had heard of “Daigotsu Rekai” his highest goal had been to kill it. It was the finest thing he could offer his mother’s memory; the only thing that could bridge the chasm he had created between them during her life. He had to kill it. He had to.

“My lady, you must understand me. Yes, you are right, and still – still this thing is an insult to my mother, to our house, to all of the Daidoji. It is my right – my duty – to kill it.”

“Your duty cannot be questioned,” Domotai said. “Your judgment, unfortunately, can. The last time you came within arm’s reach of Rekai you tried to kill it, in spite of the Emperor’s command, in spite of the fact that it was acting as guide for a party of samurai acting under his orders. Your act was dishonorable and foolish.”

“Domotai-sama. Those were very unusual circumstances. And I have changed. You yourself have seen it – I am a true lord of the Crane.”

“You have changed,” Domotai agreed. “I regard you highly for it. But I do not think you have changed in this, and I will not gamble on it.”

Kikaze closed his eyes so that he wouldn’t be able to look at his Champion, wouldn’t show her the hatred in his heart. He couldn’t fault her for her logic but he faulted her anyway – she couldn’t, shouldn’t deny him this. If she took this away, he would never be free of his hatred. He moved abruptly and bowed down deeply before her, face buried in the lush turf. “My lady. ” He tried to think of something more, some way to reach her, and found nothing. “I beg you. Please.”

“No,” she said. “You are dismissed.”

He laid there until he managed a facial expression that would not immediately be considered a threat, and then he rose up. Carefully not looking at her he bowed to Domotai and started towards the clearing’s entrance. Kikaze had almost reached it before she spoke again.

“Kikaze-san.” He stopped, but did not turn around. “What you said about the Daidoji family being shamed is true. I want you to know that this will be a Daidoji matter – no other Crane family will be involved.”

It was a little thing she offered him, and it made his heart hotter, sharper, and more bitter. Still she had offered it, and he had to answer her. Kikaze struggled to find a voice that didn’t belong to his rage and failed, settling for a sharp nod of his head. Then he continued on, and he didn’t stop until Kyuden Doji was a pale bump on the horizon behind him.