Gold and Steel

Gold and Steel

1: Preparations

Long before gold and silver became the standard, a man’s wealth was measured by how much food he could produce. Pastoralists like the Mongols, Tartars and Uyghurs measured their prosperity by the size of their herds. The great agricultural civilizations, such as China, Korea, Japan and the Khmer measured wealth by the size of ones land. Only the hunter-gatherer, living lightly upon the earth, rarely concerned himself with such things as ownership and property. In feudal Japan, land was measured in terms of koku, the average amount of rice required to feed a man for one year.

In such terms the land around Kiyama Castle, which produced barely 1,000 koku, was measly, even during the Sengoku Jidai, the era of Warring States, a time when borders shifted constantly and local lords scrabbled for land like dogs over a dry bone. But the Maruyama clan had chosen to build their stronghold in this mountainous country after discovering a sizable gold vein in the local rocks. In such chaotic times as these, this easy source of wealth enabled the Maruyama to pay skilled warriors to protect their lands from rivals. Unfortunately the lack of arable land meant they could never field a force strong enough to conquer any of their neighbors. A common saying among their rivals was that Maruyama had all the arms for a fight, but lacked the stomach.

Kaede-hime, Princess of Kiyama Castle, first and only child of Lord Maruyama Moroshige, knew that saying. At the moment snide jokes were the least of her concerns.

Mother?

She padded down the silent halls of the castle. A gray light filtered in from outside and the chill of winter was biting into her hands and feet despite the thick tabi socks and the steaming cup of tea in her hands.

Mother?

To her relief she finally heard her mother’s voice, not as a response to her, but in prayer. Mother always prayed when Father was away fighting. Kaede found her seated on the porch overlooking the Zen garden. Father had made it for her after their marriage. Lady Tatsuko’s eyes were closed and her hands held a chain of prayer beads. The cold air muted the sound of her chanted mantras so Kaede was unable to hear exactly what she was saying. The chanting was interminable but she knew better than to try and interrupt her mother at such a time. At last the flow of words ceased and Kaede cautiously came onto the porch with the tea.

Mother?

Lady Tatsuko did not answer. She didn’t even turn to acknowledge her daughter.

Mother?

When she remained silent Kaede knelt beside her and held out the steaming cup.

I thought you might be cold so I brought you some tea.

Still her mother did not respond. Concerned Kaede reached out to her. Her fingers touched the hem of Mother’s sleeve and Kaede recoiled from a cold that seemed to burn her fingers. In the place of her mother sat a block of ice, carved to resemble her. Even as she drew away the statue shattered into white and blue fragments. Only the head remained intact and her mother’s serene features stared blankly towards the empty sky. Kaede tried to scream but no words came. She tried to run but saw that a frost had somehow crept across the wood of the porch and was already covering her legs. Frantically she struggled to rise but couldn’t even feel her limbs as the frost spread upwards covering every inch. One of her mother’s icy hands crawled towards her like a great white spider and seized her by one frozen arm. Again Kaede tried to scream, but the frost had already closed her throat.

Princess! Princess!

Kaede’s eyes snapped open. She sat up on her sleeping mats and heaved in a massive gulp of air. For a moment all was darkness. Then her vision cleared and she could see one of her maidservants kneeling beside her. The other woman had released her arm and was now prostrating herself before her.

Swiftly Kaede sought to regain some composure. Wiping some damp strands of hair from her face she sat up straight and spoke in her practiced tone of command.

What is it?

Lord Maruyama summons you at once, Princess. The servant kept her head down as she spoke.

Very well. Begin preparing my clothes.

The servant’s shoulders hunched slightly. Forgive me princess, but your father said you must come immediately.

In this state? Kaede was incredulous.

The servant did not answer. That proved an answer in itself. Once more Kaede felt a thrill of fear pass through her. Something was very wrong, had to be, for her father to be this urgent. In the end Kaede took time only to tie her long hair back in a loose plait and hang her good luck charm around her neck before the servant led her from the bedchamber.

The halls of Kiyama castle were silent. Every fighting man who could be spared had been sent to help fight the Ono clan. The only guards she saw were the two who stood before the entrance to her father’s audience chamber. Neither spoke or even looked at her as she and the maidservant approached.

Just as well. Kaede thought sourly. She was hardly indecent, wearing the simple white kimono and underclothes she had slept in, but it was simply not a fitting state for a young lady of her station to be seen in. The maidservant knelt by the sliding door, opened it and shuffled back as Kaede entered, trying to look as dignified as possible.

Kaede realized something was wrong the instant she saw her father. Lord Maruyama Moroshige sat grimly on his dais, a look of resignation on his worn face. At first Kaede did not notice the second man kneeling on the floor in front of her, the sight of her father’s face filled her with concern.

My daughter, Kaede. Lord Maruyama said to the stranger. As the kneeling man turned and made his obeisance to her, Kaede saw that this was not someone she knew. The man was in his late thirties, clad in simple peasant garb with his hair pulled back in a loose topknot. Formality completed, the man raised his head and met her eyes boldly. Kaede felt a cold shiver run down her spine and wished she had at least two more layers of clothing on. Except for her father’s chief retainers, no man would dare to look at her so brazenly. Those men were not present. The last she had heard, two of them were currently holding the mountain passes against the Ono clan. The other three had defected to that enemy three months ago, taking their own vassals with them.

Kaede looked away from the stranger and bowed silently to her father, as a daughter should, but when she faced him her eyes were questioning.

There is little time to explain, daughter. Lord Maruyama’s tone attempted reassurance. But the Ono clan has broken through Yamashita and Kato. You must be taken to safety before their army arrives.

Kaede did not gasp in shock, such behavior was unbecoming for a lord’s daughter, but she could not prevent her face from blanching at this news. The charm around her neck seemed to suddenly weigh heavier.

Harunobu. Does he live?

Lord Maruyama managed a small smile. According to the messenger, he and his father are alive, as is Yamashita. But they’ve been forced back from the pass and are retreating towards the castle.

Kaede bowed again, partly in acceptance, partly to hide her worry for her betrothed. The weight of her charm lifted only slightly.

In the meantime you must be taken to safety. Her father continued. This is Jiro. He and his men have agreed to escort you to Nishiraku–ji temple. Abbot Daitoku has promised to provide shelter until this business is concluded.

Kaede folded her hands in her wide sleeves, so that the stranger could not see them beginning to quiver. Ono Terumune fielded an army twice the size of her father’s. Kiyama castle was well built and heavily fortified, but what if the enemy prevailed? Her father would not be sending her away if the odds were firmly in his favor. She might never see him or anyone again.

As Kaede struggled with her fear, the man called Jiro faced her father.

The first payment, Lord Maruyama.

The lord grimaced, but reached into his kimono and drew forth a sack that jingled loudly in the stillness. He held it out to the other man and Jiro shuffled forward on his knees. Bowing, he accepted the bag and placed it inside his own robes.

And the second payment?

As agreed, it waits with Abbot Daitoku at the temple. Guide her safely there and it is yours.

My lord is most generous. Jiro said, bowing again.

Lord Maruyama rose to his feet, indicating that his guest should do likewise. For a long moment he regarded his only child, his eyes radiating emotion he would not show in the presence of strangers. At last he took Kaede’s hands.

Be safe. This man and Abbot Daitoku will protect you.

But what about you, Father? She did not dare ask that question. She feared the answer too much.

Lord Maruyama nodded once. Then he turned and left the audience chamber. Kaede turned to face the man her father had just entrusted her to, her heart already beginning to pound.

Come, princess. If we are to get you past the Ono army we must move swiftly. Follow me.

Part of Kaede wanted to object, to the man’s tone if nothing else. He ought to have addressed her more respectfully. But he was already moving, clearly expecting her to follow. Kaede suppressed her irritation and did just that. The two guards and the maidservant remained by the door to the audience chamber. Neither the armed men, nor the prostrate servant watched them depart. After that, neither the princess nor her strange protector saw any sign of life in the castle halls. It was unnatural.

Why is no else about? Kaede asked softly, more out of a need to break the silence than anything.

Your father probably ordered them away. He wants as few people as possible to see your departure. A wise choice.

He said that as if it were unusual. Kaede felt her cheeks darken as the slight registered, but she said nothing.

Her father must have also ordered the outer guards elsewhere for no one challenged the pair as they left through the southern side gate and made their way towards the castles outer walls. Jiro knelt and scraped away the earth at the wall’s base to reveal a small sack. From this he withdrew a rope and padded grapnel.

Is this really necessary? Kaede asked, looking nervously up. The walls of Kiyama castle were impressively high.

If we go through any of the gates we may as well be announcing your departure to the whole castle. Jiro was watching the wall top as well. As he spoke he began to swing the rope in great, lazy arcs. Secrecy is our best weapon right now. The fewer people who know you are gone the fewer the Ono can interrogate when they take the castle.

"If they take the castle." Kaede said tartly.

Jiro cast her a sidelong glance. As you say, princess.

Before she could respond to that he flung the grapnel up and outward. The iron hook, its tips padded with cloth sailed out of sight. Kaede strained her ears, but heard no sound. Slowly, Jiro began pulling on the rope. After what seemed like a small eternity the rope went taught in his hands. He pulled hard a few times, then grunted with satisfaction. Then to the surprise of the princess, he squatted down on his haunches before her.

Climb on.

For a wild moment Kaede wanted to laugh at the absurdity of his proposal. Thankfully she restrained herself long enough to realize that he was serious. She was rapidly losing count of how many times she had blushed with shame and she’d been awake for less than an hour. The night sky was slowly giving way to the blue gray of predawn. They were already losing time. Gingerly Kaede mounted Jiro’s back and wrapped her arms about his neck, trying hard to think of anything but the indignity of her current circumstances.

If her unusual protector was aware, he gave no sign. His breathing was a low steady roar in her ears as he climbed. Looking back down, Kaede saw they were already halfway up the wall. Icy fingers ran down her spine and she suddenly felt very dizzy. She buried her face in the rough cloth of Jiro’s tunic and sent her mind back to childhood. She imagined herself as a small child and Harunobu, or one of the other older boys was carrying her through the flower gardens. The scent of chrysanthemum and cherry blossoms filled the air with heady floral aromas.

The daydream was