“You fought well, guardsman,” said Lord Ankan. “Why didn’t you kill Sadamichi while you had the chance?”

“I didn’t consider his death to be necessary, My Lord,” Jimmu said.

“Hmm!” said Lord Ankan. “You may live to regret your decision. Sadamichi is not the type of man who forgives and forgets. Captain Muraki tells me that your ambition is to become a samurai.”

“Yes, My Lord.”

“Then learn self-control!” Lord Ankan declared coldly. “A good samurai does not involve himself in petty squabbles. He saves his sword for the battlefield. That’s all, guardsman. Carry on, Captain Muraki.”

Lord Ankan turned abruptly, marched across the exercise yard, and reentered the castle.

Jimmu’s shoulders sagged as it dawned upon him that at any point during their exchange, he could have drawn his sword and killed Lord Ankan.

Why didn’t I? he wondered. What stopped me?

“Lord Ankan is right about Sadamichi, Jimmu,” said Captain Muraki. “He’ll try to get his own back one way or another. I’d watch your step if I were you. You’ve made an enemy.”

I have nothing but enemies, Jimmu told himself.

A sense of failure and a feeling of self-disgust rolled over him in a cold wave.

6

MITSUKAGE CASTLE ISE PROVINCE

AUTUMN 1572

Summer turned into autumn. The weather cooled and the days shortened. The countryside around Mitsukage Castle resounded with the traditional songs of farm laborers gathering the harvest. Autumn also brought rumors. The castle was visited by a steady stream of messengers from Lord Nobunaga and Lord Ieyasu, who were allies of Lord Ankan. Veterans read the signs, and began to mutter that a campaign was in the offing.

One evening, as Jimmu was leaving the mess hall, he was hailed by Sergeant Hankei.

“Captain Muraki requires your presence in his quarters immediately,” the sergeant said.

Jimmu saluted, and promptly obeyed the summons, but he felt uneasy. He had come to respect Captain Muraki’s perceptive intelligence, almost to the point of fear. If anybody could find Jimmu out, it would be Ishida Muraki.

The captain was seated cross-legged on the dais in the long room, where he had first interviewed Jimmu. He was working at a writing desk, dashing down characters on a sheet of parchment. As soon as Jimmu entered, the captain set down his brush.

“In three days’ time, Lady Takeko intends to travel to the shrine at Zato,” he said. “Her grandmother is unwell, and Lady Takeko wishes to leave an offering, and pray for Lady Murasaki’s recovery. You will accompany her as a member of her guard.”

Jimmu bowed.

“To be frank, I consider this journey to be ill advised,” the captain went on. “I have received reports that Takeda soldiers have been seen in the Zato area.”

Jimmu was intrigued.

“But the Takeda family are enemies of Lord Ankan, because of his alliance with Lord Ieyasu and Lord Nobunaga, sir,” he said.

Captain Muraki raised an eyebrow.

“I commend you for your knowledge,” he said. “One of my informants believes that the soldiers are disgraced samurai that Lord Takeda Shingen weeded out from his army. Maybe they’re simply passing through Lord Ankan’s territory, maybe they’re planning a daring raid to try and win back Lord Shingen’s favor. However it may be, I am anxious about this journey of Lady Takeko’s.”