Page 29 of Yoshi (Land of Jade & Fire #1)
Chapter 29
Yoshi
A dense fog cloaked the land as clouds shrouded any light the moon might’ve offered. Rain misted, then quickened into blinding sheets. Twice we passed survivors fleeing to the safety of the shrine.
I wanted to stop and offer aid, but Takeo refused.
For all we knew, my father had been slain and I was now one of seven Daimyo who ruled the Empire’s lands. There was nothing more important than keeping me safe, so said Uncle.
That thought might’ve been more frightening than the men who surely pursued us.
By the time we turned off the road onto a game trail that led to Ashina Shrine, we were soaked, cold, and miserable. We rode along a wood-chipped path that led through the outer torii gate, then passed two small buildings that stood on either side of the path. The purification fountain where visitors would prepare to enter the grounds called to me, but Takeo refused to stop and wash.
When we reached the second gate, a lone green-robed priest greeted us, halting our progress.
“Master Samurai, be welcome,” the priest said, bowing low before Takeo.
Takeo leaped from his horse and stepped forward, the balding man’s smile fading as Takeo’s armor came into view. He bowed again, this time even lower.
Takeo’s words were clipped. “Thank you, brother, but we have no time for greetings. I must speak with the Gūji at once.”
The monk’s already pale face turned ashen.
“The abbot is at rest. He—”
Takeo closed the gap between them and loomed over the frail figure. “You have known me since you were young, brother. Do not forestall us further. We must see your Gūji now. Wakō may be close behind.”
The frightened priest staggered back as though struck. His eyes widened as recognition dawned. “ Wakō ? Gods, no!”
“We passed a few survivors headed this way,” I added. “They will be frightened and hungry.”
“Our brothers will care for them,” the priest said. “Come, I will show you to the Gūji .”
Takeo removed a saddle bag from his mount, then turned to the priest. “Where should we stable our horses?”
The priest stepped forward and laid a hand on the horse’s neck. A faint glow flowed between them, then the horse lowered his head and nuzzled the man’s chest. The priest turned and repeated the gesture with my horse, then reached up to help me dismount.
“They will find their way to the stables now. Let us get out of this rain and find the Gūji .”
A shiver crawled up my neck as we passed beneath the second torii gate. I looked up at the ancient structure and saw nothing unusual but knew either magic or something of the Divine must have been at work. For one who scarcely believed in the kami , their touch pimpled my skin everywhere we walked.
The path led directly to the steps of the shrine proper, the main sanctuary where priests performed rituals honoring the kami . Despite its location deep within the forest, the sanctuary was nearly as tall as our castle. Towering columns coated in crimson encircled the building, supporting layers of swopping rooftops made of rich wood trimmed in gold.
Our guide led us into a long building a few dozen paces to the side of the sanctuary. Knee-high tables surrounded by plush cushions filled the first room we entered. A lonely candle burned on each table, casting the room in a dim, warm light.
“Please wait here in our dining hall while I wake the Gūji. ”
Takeo and I began removing our soaked outer clothing as the priest scurried across the room and vanished through a paper doorway. Moments later, a gong rang twice. One priest entered the hall, then another. Within moments, the chamber was filled with the sounds of excited chatter and scurrying men.
“Takeo- san .” An ancient man with a billowing beard of fresh snow appeared and bowed deeply. “It is good to see you, old friend.”
Takeo stepped forward, wrapped the spindly man into his arms, and lifted him off the ground, turning more than a few heads. “Noble Crane, it’s good to see you, too, though you have grown old since I last saw you.”
The abbot guffawed and slapped his palm against Takeo’s shoulder, then glanced to me as his feet hit the floor. He bowed. “Yoshi- san , welcome. My, how you have grown.”
I blushed beneath the Gūji ’s gaze and quickly returned the bow. “Thank you, honored Gūji .”
“What is this about wakō ? Their raids are not so unusual as to cause panic,” Noble Crane said, turning back toward Takeo.
“They assaulted Tooi this night in numbers like I have never seen. The city burns—even the Daimyo ’s castle was overrun.”
The Gūji gasped as his eyes darted between Takeo and me. “What of Hiroki- sama ?”
“Samurai still battled wakō inside the castle grounds when we fled. We know naught of the outcome,” Takeo said. “When last I saw the Daimyo , he ordered me to find Yoshi and bring him here to safety.”
“Do you think wakō followed you here?”
Takeo thought a moment, then shook his head. “No. If they had known the boy riding by my side was the Daimyo ’s son, they would have pursued us across the Empire, but I do not think they recognized him. We were just two more villagers fleeing the attack. You will see others coming for refuge, though.”
“I will have our brothers prepare food and bedding.” Noble Crane nodded. “We will also post brothers to watch, just in case the wakō move further inland. They will find our magic more challenging than any castle’s walls.”
“Do you have any spare robes?” I asked.
When Noble Crane quirked a brow, I wrung out my sleeve, leaving a puddle on the spotless wooden floor.
The Gūji smiled for the first time since he’d appeared, then raised a palm toward my chest. A dull light flowed into the fabric. In seconds, moisture filled the air around us, but my kimono was dry. I ran my hands over the cloth, then looked up with wide eyes.
“I may be ancient, but magic still flows in these veins.” Noble Crane patted my arm. “Now, we should get you settled.”
Noble Crane passed us off to a portly priest, then excused himself to organize preparations for the influx of survivors. Despite the dire circumstances, Bright Star, our new escort, remained jovial, laughing often at his own jokes. I grinned as the man’s jowls jiggled with merriment.
Bright Star led us to a mid-sized chamber usually reserved for high-ranking clergy.
“Yoshi- san , Takeo- san ,” he said, bowing, “Noble Crane regrets this is the best we have to offer.”
Takeo waved him off. “This will do. Thank you, brother.”
Bright Star bowed again, then backed out and closed the door.
I sat on the corner of a straw mattress. When I looked up, moisture brimmed at the edges of my eyes. Takeo kneeled before me and gripped my shoulders.
“Yoshi, look at me. We are safe now.”
“How can you say that after what those . . . after what the wakō did? People I’ve known all my life . . . and Father . . . we don’t even know—”
I covered my face. The shame of shedding tears before my Samurai uncle only added to my despair. Takeo drew me to his chest and held me through sobs.
“They may yet be well, Yoshi. Your father has survived worse than this night.”
I mumbled something unintelligible, and Takeo squeezed me tighter.
Then I remembered something and pulled back.
“Uncle, they took Kaneko.”
“You said as much as we fled. What do you remember?”
“He wasn’t hurt, at least, not that I could tell. I saw them take him toward the docks.”
Takeo’s eyes squeezed shut. “Yoshi, if they took him on their ship . . . he is lost.”
“No! Uncle, no. We have to help him.”
Takeo sat back and stared up at the ceiling, then looked into my eyes. “Yoshi, we do not even know where they would take him. Besides, gods forbid your father was killed, you may be Daimyo now. Either way, your place is here with your people.”
“He is one of our people. He’s my person.” My voice rose. “Kaneko deserves my help as much as anyone on this island. Takeo . . . Uncle . . . please.”
“Despite the Trials, you are still a boy and, I am sorry to say, have never been the strongest. How would you save him?”
“I’ll . . . well . . . if I am Daimyo , I’ll send our Samurai to save him.”
Takeo shook his head. “We do not know how many Samurai survived, and after the raid, we will need our men to secure the peace. And the wakō may have attacked other towns, too. Until we have news from the other towns and villages, we cannot commit to any action beyond protecting our lands. As loyal as they are, I fear the Samurai would ignore such an order, even from their Daimyo .”
My shoulders fell, and my voice became a whisper, a plea. “I have to save him, Uncle. I . . . I just have to.”
Takeo leaned in and pressed his forehead to mine. “Just breathe, Yoshi. We can do nothing for him tonight. Let’s get something to eat, see if we can learn more news of the raid from those who survived.”
I wiped my nose with a sleeve and rubbed my eyes, then nodded and stood.
“I’ll be out in a minute. I just need a minute to think, okay?”
Takeo eyed me for a moment, then nodded and stepped out of the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts as the last shred of childhood fluttered away.