“I owe you so much, My Lord,” he said. “I swear to devote myself totally to your service. While we both live, I will be your samurai. Tomorrow, at dawn, I will set out on my pilgrimage.”

20 - MITSUKAGE CASTLE ISE PROVINCE

20

MITSUKAGE CASTLE ISE PROVINCE

SPRING 1573

Jimmu woke before first light the following morning. He dressed in a plain cotton kimono, and secured his sword with a black sash tied around his waist. Then he went down to the main gate, where he found Kambei waiting.

“Thought you could sneak off without saying goodbye to your old nursemaid, did you?” Kambei scolded. “Think again, young man!”

Jimmu laughed in surprise.

“How did you know I was leaving?” he asked.

“Word gets around,” said Kambei, shrugging with one shoulder. “In a place like this, you can’t break wind at night without everybody knowing about it the next day.”

Kambei reached inside his kimono and withdrew a small leather purse, which he offered to Jimmu.

“What is it?” Jimmu said.

“Sergeant Hankei instructed me to make a collection for you,” explained Kambei.

Jimmu frowned in disapproval.

“Go on, take it!” insisted Kambei. “Even pilgrims need to eat, and sleep with a roof over their heads sometimes. Consider it a loan that you can repay when you come back.”

Jimmu smiled and accepted the purse.

“Thanks, Kambei,” he said, “and thank the others for me.”

Kambei tugged at the lobe of his left ear.

“I was going to wish you good luck, but you don’t need it, because anyone can see you’re going to be a fine samurai before long,” he said. “So I’ll give you a bit of advice instead. Take the road to Zato.”

“Why?”

“Oh, I had a dream that you went that way, and met with good fortune,” Kambei said airily.

“Do you often have dreams about me, Kambei?” teased Jimmu.

“Only when I can’t help it,” Kambei said. “Remember, the road to Zato!”

The sun rose, and its light reflected off the dew that had formed overnight, making necklaces of the spiders’ webs in the bushes on the roadside.

Jimmu kept up a steady pace and met no other travelers until, after a half hour’s walking, he heard hoofbeats approaching from behind. While stepping aside so that the horse could pass, Jimmu glanced idly over his shoulder. He saw Takeko, riding a dapple-gray mare. Takeko was dressed as a boy, in a cotton top, breeches, and a straw hat. She reined the horse to a halt, and slid out of the saddle.

Jimmu bowed.

“Have you come to gloat, My Lady?” he said. “How pleased you must be that I’m leaving your father’s castle.”

“Don’t presume to know what my feelings are,” Takeko said frostily.

Jimmu bowed again.

“Forgive me, My Lady. You’re right,” he said. “Why should you feel anything for me but contempt?”

Misery showed in Takeko’s eyes.