“You will speak to no one of this, Jimmu. The fewer people who know, the smaller the risk to Lady Takeko,” said the captain. He made to leave, but turned back at the doorway and said, “Be careful, Jimmu.”

“Have you heard reports of Takeda soldiers near Sakura, sir?” asked Jimmu.

“No, but be careful nonetheless,” Captain Muraki said, and turned away.

At daybreak, Jimmu and Takeko rode out of the castle, heading southwest, in the direction of the coast. It was a cold morning, and the sky was pale gray. The landscape’s winter colors were somber, streaked white with thin patches of snow.

Takeko’s “disguise” turned out to be the same padded cotton outfit that she had worn when Jimmu had last seen her. Her hair was pinned up and concealed beneath a wide-brimmed straw hat.

Jimmu was shy of Takeko, unable to think of anything to say, and when he looked at her, he felt hot and clumsy.

“You’re quiet,” observed Takeko. “Aren’t you pleased that we’re together again?”

“It’s always a pleasure to serve you, My Lady,” Jimmu said.

Takeko pouted.

“That isn’t what I meant,” she said. “And I told you before, I’m not ‘My Lady’ when we’re outside the castle.”

“As you wish.”

Takeko peered intently at Jimmu.

“Say my name,” she said.

“What?”

“I’ve never heard you say my name.”

Jimmu blushed. “Takeko.”

“I like the way you say it,” said Takeko. “Names are powerful. If you tell a witch your name, she can use it to put a curse on you.”

“I’ll be sure to remember that if I ever meet any witches,” Jimmu said drily.

“You might already have,” teased Takeko. “I might be a witch for all you know.”

Though Jimmu would not have been surprised to discover that Takeko was a witch, he made no reply.

“What do you dream about, Jimmu?” demanded Takeko.

“I don’t know. Mostly things that I was frightened of when I was a child.”

“What things?”

“Ghosts,” Jimmu said. “Bloodsuckers. Demons in the night. What made you afraid when you were little?”

“Grandmother!” said Takeko. “She still frightens me sometimes. She pays the servants to spy on me and report back to her. She treats me like a baby. I knew she wouldn’t approve of our being alone together like this. That’s why I asked Father to send you with me to Sakura.”

“So I’m only here because you wanted to spite your grandmother?” said Jimmu.

“Of course!” Takeko retorted.

This answer both relieved and disappointed Jimmu.

“Not that I particularly object to being with you again,” Takeko added. “Your company isn’t repulsive to me—not entirely.”

Jimmu was exasperated. Before he could stop himself, he said, “Are you really so conceited, or are you playing some sort of game?”

Takeko’s face lit up.