Page 67 of Shadow of the Fox

“Of course,” the ronin exclaimed immediately. “We’re always happy to aid a friend of Yumeko-chan’s. Just leave it to us.” He paused, scratching the back of his head. “Though it would help if I knew what the hell was going on.”

I sighed, lowering my sword. Shrine maidens, ronin, farmers, yurei. Was there anyone Yumeko wouldn’t trust as soon as she met them? “You said the head priest has gone missing?” I asked the shrine maiden, who eyed me warily but nodded. “How long ago?”

“Three days,” the miko answered, and stepped back with an exasperated look at the doors, lying in the frame. “You might as well come in.” She sighed, waving us through. “Sit down, and I’ll explain the whole situation.”

We stepped carefully over the broken door panels and sat down in front of the low table, with the miko on the other side. And we listened as she told us of the head priest, the mysterious summons to the palace and his meeting with a woman named Lady Satomi.

At the name, Taiyo-san straightened, a flash of recognition going through his eyes. Yumeko noticed it, as well.

“Do you know her, Daisuke-san?” Yumeko asked.

“I do.” The noble’s expression turned faintly sour. “Not personally, but I know who she is. Everyone in the palace does. She’s the emperor’s favorite concubine. She came to the city less than a year ago and has been growing her influence ever since. There are some who believe the emperor favors her too much, that a simple concubine should not be given such status, but any who speak too loudly against her find themselves dishonored, exiled from the city or worse. And...”

He trailed off. “And?” I asked softly.

He exhaled. “It is nothing. Peasant gossip, nothing an honorable bushi would concern himself with. But there have been...rumors of late, whispers, about Lady Satomi. The servants are all terrified of her, and she never seems to have the same handmaid more than a month or two at a time. There was a little servant girl...Suki, I believe her name was, who was last assigned to Lady Satomi’s quarters. By chance, I ran into her once, when she first came to the palace.” He tapped his fingers on his arm, frowning. “I have not seen her since.”

Yumeko cocked her head. “What happened to her?”

“I do not know.” The noble shook his head. “I do not keep track of Lady Satomi’s maidservants, but I believe she has yet another girl working for her. If what you say is true, and the head priest has gone missing, that does indeed appear suspicious. What would Lady Satomi want with Master Jiro?”

“I intend to ask her,” the shrine maiden said, “if I can get into the palace.”

The noble’s jaw tightened. “I would be very careful, were I you,” he warned. “Lady Satomi may not be a warrior, but she is the emperor’s favorite and a lady of the court. Within the palace, she holds a tremendous amount of sway and power. She will be a dangerous opponent if you attack her head-on. If you do not bring down the wrath of the emperor himself.”

“Daisuke-san,” Yumeko said, as if just realizing something. “You’re a noble of the great imperial family.Youcould get us into the palace, right?”

“I...” Taken aback, the noble stared at her a moment, then nodded. “Yes,” he finally admitted. “I could. It would take some planning, but I think I could manage it.”

I could, too, I thought, unreasonably annoyed with the smile Yumeko gave him. Hakaimono perked up, intrigued by my flash of irritation, and I shoved the demon’s presence down.

“However,” the noble went on, “there are proper channels we must take. I cannot simply walk you through the gates of the Imperial Palace and demand to see Lady Satomi. Such dishonorable behavior would ruin my family’s reputation and make us the laughingstock of the court, and my father might commit seppuku in shame. And if Lady Satomi decides she is being threatened, she could turn the court against you, have you arrested, or even executed. This is not something we can take lightly. One wrong step in the court will be disastrous for us all. But...” He paused, brow furrowed in thought, before nodding. “Yes, of course. That might work. I think I have a way.”

“What do you have in mind, Daisuke-san?” Yumeko asked.

“Tomorrow night,” the noble went on, “the emperor is holding his annual Moon Viewing party in the palace gardens. It is a very prestigious event, and a great honor to be invited, so all the important nobles and families will be there.”

“Including Lady Satomi,” the miko guessed.

“Most certainly. My family has already been invited, of course. The trick will be getting the rest of you through the gates. A difficult proposition, but I think I can manage it.”

“And you would do this for us?” The shrine maiden stared at the noble, eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Forgive me, Taiyo-san,” she said, as he raised a brow at her. “But...you are a noble. Not only that, you are part of the imperial family. Why would you help a shrine maiden, a ronin and a kinsman of the Shadow Clan into the emperor’s party?”

“Lady Reika.” The noble gave her a solemn look. “I met Suki-san only once,” he said. “Normally, I do not notice the comings and goings of the servants in the palace, but this meeting, brief as it was, stood out. I discovered she was the daughter of a craftsman, and had an ear for beautiful music. She was...genuine, something quite rare within the Imperial Palace.” His brow creased, a look of weary disgust briefly crossing his face. “The dance of the court never changes. Every year, it is exactly the same—silken words that hide daggers of venom beneath the veneer of decorum and compliments. A smile can be as dangerous as a sword, and the wrong choice of words can mean the difference between great favor and eternal shame. When I met the girl, it was refreshing to speak to someone who did not care about earning favor or keeping up appearances. For Suki and her father’s sake, I feel it is my responsibility to discover if the rumors about Lady Satomi are idle peasant gossip, or if they have any truth to them.”

“Wow,” the ronin interjected. “A noble who actually realized a peasant was a real person. Better be careful, Taiyo-san—next thing you know, you might start courting dogs and having conversations with monkeys.” Yumeko frowned at this, looking puzzled, and the ronin hurried on before she could ask a question. “But that still doesn’t explainhowyou’re going to sneak a ronin, a priestess and...her—” he nodded at Yumeko “—into the Imperial Palace.”

“Sneak you into the emperor’s party?” The noble seemed genuinely horrified. “What a shameful thought. I may find the courtly events a bit repetitive, Okame-san, but I am not so bored as to consider treason.” He sniffed, letting us all know he was offended, before continuing. “However, a distinguished onmyoji and her yojimbo is a different story. Those who practice onmyodo, the ancient art of yin and yang, are highly respected. The emperor himself often calls upon onmyoji for advice in political affairs, to tell his fortune or divine the future of the country. I’m certain he would welcome Yumeko-san and her companions into his presence.”

I saw the shrine maiden glance at Yumeko and narrow her eyes; perhaps she could tell that the girl wasn’t an onmyoji, or anyone with magical abilities. But she didn’t correct the noble’s assumption, and neither did Yumeko, though the ronin looked vaguely uneasy at the thought of meeting the emperor.

“So, it’s decided,” the shrine maiden said. “Tomorrow night, we will attend the emperor’s Moon Viewing party, find Lady Satomi and discover what has happened to Master Jiro. Are we all in agreement, that this must be done?”

“Yes,” Yumeko said immediately. “And once we find Master Jiro, we can finally go to the Steel Feather temple.”

“Sounds like fun,” put in the ronin, rubbing his hands together. “I’ve never been invited to the palace before. I can’t wait to see it up close.”

“Agreed,” said the noble. “Although, if I may...” He glanced at Yumeko, then the ronin. “The emperor’s party attracts nobles from across Iwagoto. All are looking to make an impression, to see and be seen. And, for the most part, you will not want to stand out among the crowd. Perhaps a change of attire would be...prudent.”

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