In another week, young Taro’s grasp of tactics was fully validated. When our vanguard reached the end of the mountain passage, they were greeted with a rain of arrows. Six or seven bushi were killed or wounded immediately. While the passage itself was not blocked, the Abe had fortified positions controlling the exit. Lord Yoshiie ordered a halt, and I heard the command echoed up and down the line. It was impossible to retreat quickly, as our column was spread out for some distance through the mountains, and as it was, we were barely out of arrow range ourselves, and every now and then one would skip past our horses’ hooves like a dying hornet.
Kenji managed to thread his mount through the confusion to where I was. “Is the war over before it even began? How are we supposed to get out of this?”
“That is a good question. Let us hope our young general knows the answer.”
Lord Yoshiie seemed completely unconcerned. He gave orders to two of his scouts, who immediately moved forward to positions that, while not out of danger, were out of the direct line of fire of the archers, even though the archers were doing their best to kill them anyway. I could see sparks from the steel arrowheads striking the rocks providing the scouts cover.
“What are they going to accomplish there?”
We didn’t have to wait long to find out. Suddenly there was the sound of drums and a great shout from outside the passage. The order was relayed to stand ready for a charge. Then one of the scouts, after a quick look around the rock shielding him, struck sparks to a fire arrow and launched it high over the mouth of the passage.
“Forward!”
I didn’t have time to think about what was happening. Our column, narrow as it was, thundered down the last several hundred feet to the passage end, and then we were riding toward what looked like a forest of pointed stakes. Just as I was certain we were about to be impaled, the entire column wheeled to our left, punched through a line of mounted archers before they could nock another arrow, and then fell upon the Abe right flank. I felt a sting at my shoulder and another across my forearm, but I drew my sword and cut down a man trying to spear someone next to me.
I now had a better idea of the forces arrayed against us and had thus started to wonder why we all hadn’t been killed in the first few seconds of our charge, but a glance toward the Abe left flank gave me my answer. At least half of the opposing force had not been able to concentrate their arrows on us because they were already under attack. I saw bushi bearing the Shibata Clan colors firing into the massed Abe archers who were quickly falling into disarray.
Where did they come from? I thought, before I remembered the Shibata force which had remained behind. They weren’t to guard the border, as I had first believed; they were to enter Mutsu in enough force to make their way west and then north to meet us upon our entry into the province. It was clear they had taken the Abe by surprise, and their attack was what the scouts were waiting for and what the fire arrow signal had meant.
I had hoped that Kenji had been sensible and hung back, but I saw him dodging a spearman in order to knock an Abe archer from his saddle. I rode to his side as soon I managed to disentangle myself from a knot of riders that was half Abe, half Kiyohara, though I knocked an Abe bushi from his saddle in the process. I found myself hoping I hadn’t ridden over the man, then remembered this was war and to do so would be a desired outcome. I was still having trouble grasping what I was doing. I had fought for my life on more than one occasion and against multiple opponents, but there was always a more personal element to it. The kill or be killed dynamic was the same, but I personally bore no ill will to anyone I was fighting. I wondered if it was the same for them, even as they did their best to kill me.
I reached Kenji only to have him take a hard swing at my head, which I barely dodged. Even so, his glancing blow made my ears ring. “Stop, you idiot! It’s me!”
“Lord Yamada? Sorry, I forgot about the armor.”
“It is fortunate for me I didn’t. What about you? You’re not supposed to be here!”
Kenji didn’t look happy. “When the order came, I didn’t have much choice! It was either flow with the river or be drowned!”
“As long as you’re here, let’s find Yoshiie . . . and try to stay alive.”
“You do the same!”
It was the place of a general to direct his forces from a secure position, but there was no secure position on that first battlefield. While Lord Yoriyoshi directed forces from the rear, we found Lord Yoshiie in the thick of the fight, surrounded by his personal guard, but even so two arrows were lodged in his armor. He was taking no notice of them that I could tell. Kenji and I joined the perimeter bushi. The greatest danger was arrows, but every now and again a foot soldier or unhorsed bushi would try our line. At first I had thought it reckless for Lord Yoshiie to lead the charge, but now I was starting to understand his strategy. While the Shibata charge had allowed the vanguard to get through, the balance of our forces were still in the passage, leaving us heavily outnumbered, and Lord Yoshiie had made himself a target. Yet the longer he remained alive, and the longer the Abe warriors concentrated on attacking him, the fewer there were to contest the mountain pass. Every minute brought hundreds of Minamoto and Kiyohara bushi through the pass in a flood that showed no signs of abating.
One of Yoshiie’s guards went down with an arrow piercing his throat. I goaded Kenji’s horse through the gap and then took my place in the defensive circle. One of Yoshiie’s personal attendants ran to my side and handed me a long spear. I could see the advantage, as I really had no room to swing my tachi now, and I sheathed the blade and took up the spear instead. The weapon was unfamiliar, but the principle of it was simple enough—use the pointed end, which I did several times in quick succession. Sweat was running into my eyes now despite the helmet’s padding, and it was getting harder to see. I used a lull to wipe my eyes, and then I realized it wasn’t a lull. The reinforcements streaming through the mountain pass had finally broken the Abe center, and those Abe who had survived were in orderly retreat. Lord Yoshiie immediately called off any pursuit and began to roam the field to arrange his forces in formal battle order while his father led our remaining forces out through the pass. I rode with Lord Yoshiie’s bodyguard while Kenji separated himself to perform priestly duties.
There was a great deal for Kenji to do in the aftermath, but it had to be done quickly. Lord Yoshiie soon ordered the advance, and we pushed on toward the heart of Mutsu until evening. There was a considerable force of Abe bushi still in our vicinity, but we didn’t stop until Lord Yoshiie and his father found what they considered an adequate defensive position to make camp. I didn’t see Kenji again until nightfall. By then the wagons and servants had caught up. I was relieved to see Taro, leading Rie’s cart. He in turn seemed very relieved Kenji and I had not managed to get ourselves killed but perhaps more so that Shiroirei and Neko had come through unscathed.
“You’d best have someone look at that arrow, Lord Yamada,” he said as he led our mounts away to be tended.
Arrow . . . ?
It wasn’t until I was standing on the ground again that I began to realize just how weary I was and remember I had not come through the battle untouched. I found a campstool and Kenji helped me peel the armor off. When we were ready to remove the chest and back pieces, we realized doing so wouldn’t be possible until the arrow was removed.
“Brace yourself,” Kenji said, barely giving me time to do anything before he yanked the thing out.
“Chie . . . !”
“Language, Lord Yamada.” Kenji held up the arrow. “Fortunately for you it wasn’t the barbed sort, or it would have hurt a lot more.”
The arrowhead looked like a miniature of my spearhead. There was a bit of blood on it, but only a bit. Kenji lifted the body armor over my head and dropped it unceremoniously on the ground with the arm and leg pieces. I had already removed my helmet.
“I was too old for this when I started,” I muttered, giving my weariness full rein. The rush of battle was long over, and whatever mixture of excitement and terror that had kept me going until then was quite used up. Kenji examined my wounds. Aside from the arrow in my shoulder, there had been a glancing strike on my left forearm that had drawn blood, but neither was serious. Without the armor it would have been a tale with a different ending.
“Kenji—” I began, but he interrupted me.
“Before you say anything, I promise to stay out of the next one if at all possible. I am a priest, and that’s a warrior of a different sort. And you should do the same. You didn’t dishonor yourself by any means, but this is not your element.”
“I know, but until our business is concluded, it will have to be. Lord Yoshiie remains our priority, with or without magical attacks. Speaking of which, did you see any signs of shikigami back there?”
“Nothing at all,” Kenji said, “which you must admit is strange, considering the number of warriors assigned to prevent our passage. Clearly Lord Sadato understood the importance of containing us there, and a fight with such a limited tactical goal would have been a natural fit for the use of shikigami . . . if the word ‘natural’ can be used at all when referencing such an unnatural creature.”
I considered. “Maybe you were right about Lord Sadato. Have we seen any shikigami at all since Akimasa’s archer destroyed that one in crow form?”
Kenji grunted. “No, but it doesn’t matter if I am right or not,” he said. “The danger from human beings is real enough.”
I entrusted my armor to the supply wagons, and Taro promised to look after it. Fortunately it needed no patching, so it would be ready for my use whenever required, which I hoped would not be for a while yet.
“I still have some of Lord Yoshiie’s gift of rice,” Kenji said. “Let’s make a fire and have something to eat.”
“I like your idea,” I said, but we were immediately interrupted by a messenger in Minamoto colors.
“Gentlemen, Lord Yoshiie requests you attend him.”
Kenji and I glanced at each other, but there was nothing to do but follow the messenger back to where Lord Yoshiie was quartered. A maku of cloth bearing a design of the Doves of Hachiman, which Yoshiie sometimes used as a crest, had been erected in a circle near the hilltop, essentially no more than a privacy curtain, and we were ushered inside. As camps went, it was not especially luxurious. There was a pavilion that could possibly keep the rain off, but otherwise the cook fires, pots, and racks of weapons were little different than one would have found in any bushi encampment. I didn’t see Lord Yoriyoshi, but Lord Yoshiie was out of his armor now, which had been stored on a special rack made for it, and I noted bandages on his right arm and chest. Kenji and I presented ourselves and kneeled.
“You summoned us, my lord?” I said.
“I did. First I must scold Master Kenji a bit for taking the field, first as a priest and second without proper armor. That was brave, but also both foolish and inappropriate.”
I was sure Kenji was smiling, or wanted to, but he didn’t raise his head. “My lord, I heartily agree with you. It will not happen again.”
Lord Yoshiie grunted. “Then we need not speak of it again. As for you, Lord Yamada—thank you.”
I almost looked up then. “I am your servant, but may I ask what I am being thanked for?”
“For taking the field, even though it was not your responsibility to do so. For joining my guard when it was necessary to hold the line until the rest of our troops could join us. For deflecting at least one arrow meant for me.”
I had absolutely no memory of that last incident, but I had to admit it was quite possible. There had been a lot of arrows.
“Your life is also my responsibility, my lord, in order for the Emperor’s will to be carried out, but I admit I am no bushi.”
“Just so,” he said. “Which makes your behavior and effectiveness in today’s engagement all the more surprising. It has yet again been made clear to me that Prince Kanemore did me a great service in securing your involvement in this matter.”
“I am honored.”
And I was honored. I was also worried. Lord Yoshiie, whatever else he might have been, was a practical man. If he was praising me now, he certainly meant what he said, but I had the distinct feeling there was more to this than I had yet heard.
“Gentlemen, please raise yourselves. My father needs rest and has retired early, but you will be dining with me this evening, and there is a matter I would discuss with you.”
We sat up then and were served by members of Lord Yoshiie’s personal guard, men I had fought beside that day. The fare wasn’t much different than what Kenji and I would have managed on our own—rice, of course, and the added luxury of broiled fish and a bit of radish. There was also rice wine. Kenji shot me a questioning look, which did not go unnoticed by Lord Yoshiie.
“I have heard something of your reputation, Lord Yamada,” Lord Yoshiie said. “If the wine is inappropriate, I apologize.”
“Not at all, my lord. It is very true there was a time in my life when I was more likely to be drunk than sober on any given day. Yet it is also true drink was never my master. I had hoped to turn rice wine into a servant and bend its effects to my will. That did not happen, but nothing prevents me from drinking to your continued fortune and good health.”
I took the cup and drained it with one gulp. The fire in my throat was familiar but faint, almost ghostly. In a moment or two it had faded completely. I set the cup aside. “We are at your disposal. What did you wish to discuss with us?”
“This does concern both of you, but specifically you, Lord Yamada.” His attendants brought up a low table on which had been placed a map. “Now then. You can see this river here . . . ” Lord Yoshiie indicated the map. “Lord Sadato’s primary castle lies on the Kuriya River just to the north of us. There are smaller hill-forts and such scattered around, but the ones that really matter are located where the Koromo River meets the Kitakami River . . . here, then again where it meets the Kuriya . . . here, and one closer to the headwaters of the Kitakami . . . here.” He touched the points on the map where the locations of the forts had been marked. “Each is well stocked and garrisoned, and the retreating forces from our battle today will likely be used to reinforce all of them. If we attack one at a time, even with such a large force as ours, we risk flanking attacks from the other forts in relief. If we proceed directly to Lord Sadato’s stronghold, we place large and active forces on our rear and right flank. Unacceptable, and Lord Sadato would be a fool not to take advantage. Yet the number of our forces gives us another option—we are going to ignore Lord Sadato’s main fortress and attack all three supporting fortresses at once, with myself and my father keeping a large enough force in reserve to move against Lord Sadato if he attempts to relieve any of them.”
I had to admit there was a simple elegance to the plan. If each and every fort were under siege, there would be no possibility of any of them coming to the others’ aid. Lord Sadato alone would be free to move and in so doing risk an open field battle against a still formidable army or face the possibility of losing the better part of his forces when the forts were reduced. The danger was two-fold: splitting the Minamoto forces meant any one contingent was more vulnerable to an attack from the Abe main force, assuming it managed to evade Lord Yoshiie’s reserve. The second was the forts in question might prove strong enough to withstand our separate assaults and delay the Minamoto advance until winter, when the weather itself would force our withdrawal.
“I am no strategist,” I said, “but I certainly see the advantages.”
“And the disadvantages?” he asked.
I told him what had occurred to me, and he nodded with satisfaction. “You are more of a strategist than you admit, Lord Yamada. Yes, I would judge a possible delay as our greatest danger. All three forts must fall and quickly. If we achieve this, then there is nothing save hard fighting between ourselves and Kuriya Castle, where open battles will be to our advantage. This is where I require your assistance.”
“What can I do?” I asked.
“I want you to lead the attack on the northernmost fortress.”
For a moment or two I was too stunned to speak. “My lord . . . I am willing to do whatever you need of me, but surely there are men under your command with much more experience in these matters?”
“Oh, many indeed. Akimasa for one. He will be accompanying you as your second in command, and I would strongly advise you to listen to him, but he is not of sufficient rank to command such a force on his own. While you are—to be blunt—barely acceptable, acceptable you are. You will be in nominal command, but I expect Akimasa to take care of the details, one of which is the eventual surrender or destruction of the fortress. Now, if you were one of my bushi, that would rightly be the end of our discussion, as you have your orders. But I do understand you’re going to wonder about this arrangement, yes?”
“The question did cross my mind, my lord,” I said.
“It is simple—after my father and I had chosen among our generals to lead the assaults on the central and the southern fortress, we were left with two—the heir to the Shibata Clan and the heir to the Kiyohara. Both are green and a bit headstrong, but even allowing for that, to give the command to one of them is to slight the other, which I cannot afford to do. A joint command would be a disaster, as I do not believe them capable of working together. So instead they will have the ‘honor’ of remaining with me as personal counselors, and I will pretend to listen to them while you and my other generals go do what really needs to be done.”
“I understand your dilemma,” I said, “but you did say this concerns Kenji as well?”
“Say rather his special talents, in addition to your own. We know a considerable number of Emishi were involved in the massacre at the temple. Their presence suggests the northernmost fortress, which is in closer proximity to the barbarians’ allotted territories, was used as a recruitment and staging site. Therefore, if my information is correct, this fortress was the base from which the attack on Yahiko-ji originated.”
“You believe the onmyoji involved were once based there?” I asked.
“Not ‘once.’ I believe they still are,” he said. “Which very much includes Lord Tenshin.”
My expression must have been clear to read, because this time Lord Yoshiie did smile. “Yes, Lord Yamada. I knew this would get your attention. I believe my information to be reliable, though you must discover this for yourself. If he is captured alive, Lord Tenshin belongs to you, as I have said, so do as you see fit. As for the other onmyoji, if any are present, they are already guilty of disobeying the Emperor. Akimasa has my orders concerning them.”
After we were dismissed, Kenji and I walked back to our encampment. Taro had built a fire for us and arranged for bedding, which was fortunate because such practical matters as where we were going to sleep that night hadn’t had a chance to cross my notice.
“Thank you,” I said, but Taro just shrugged.
“Prince Kanemore was explicit that I look after you gentlemen to the best of my ability—after the horses, no offense meant. I am only carrying out his wishes.”
“As are we, Taro-san. And, none taken.”
I had already resolved to have a very serious discussion with Prince Kanemore about this very matter upon our return to the capital, assuming we did return. For now there was little more to do save to try to survive as we saw our mission to its end.
“I don’t like this,” Kenji said as we settled in for the night.
“What part?” I asked. “I’m not very fond of this entire enterprise, considering what it has cost me so far.”
“Fate is what has already happened, so clearly it was meant to be so,” Kenji said, “which is not to diminish your loss, Lord Yamada. My concern now is for what is to come. You do know the onmyoji loyal to Lord Sadato are to be summarily executed?”
“That was my assumption,” I said
“This does not bother you?”
“Does it bother you? You said yourself you wanted revenge for Yahiko-ji, whereas I think of Rie and my cup of empathy is quite drained. I also think of the innocents who will inevitably suffer in war regardless of what happens at the north fort. At least the onmyoji have the advantage of deserving death, and I daresay a great many more will have death whether they deserve it or not. Let us change what we can change, Kenji-san, and leave the rest to whatever gods or Buddhas seem inclined to help. Frankly, both have been rather scarce lately.”
“I hear what you say, Lord Yamada. Next I will see what you do. Good night.”
Kenji rolled over and that was the end of the conversation. I must have sensed I had somehow not suffered enough during the day’s events, so I went to talk to Rie. I found Taro nearby. His blankets were unrolled under the cart itself, but he was not in them. Rather, he was standing some distance from the cart, a look of fear and confusion on his face.
“Lord Yamada! I was just about to come for you.”
“What’s the matter?”
“I don’t know, but something is wrong with Lady Rie . . . I mean, something new. She said some things to me, but it was different this time—none of it made any sense, and her face was strange-looking.”
I followed Taro to where my sister was confined. She sat in the middle of her cart, her shackles in place, looking exactly as I would have expected her to look.
“I want to die, but we have already discussed that,” she said. “So, brother, what have you come to talk about instead?”
Taro looked puzzled, but I had my suspicions and merely waited. We did not have to wait for very long. Suddenly the corners of Rie’s mouth began to twitch, and when she spoke again she neither looked nor sounded like the Rie I knew.
“Insufferable!” she said, in a voice both thick and hoarse. “Free me at once!”
“You know that is not going to happen,” I said.
She frowned. “Who are you?”
“I am a friend of Lady Rie’s. Who are you?” I asked. “No, don’t bother—you are Lord Otomo no Tenshin, yes?” I didn’t need the confirmation by this point, but the stunned look on what should have been my sister’s face was validation enough.
“Who are you? What have you done to me?”
“Far less than you have done to me and mine, Lord Tenshin.”
“Where am I?” the creature asked.
“That is a good question. Where do you think you are?”
“Do not trifle with me! I am an onmyoji of great power!”
“I know what you are, Lord Tenshin. I know what you have done and can do. Answer my question, if you know the answer.”
“I—I am dreaming. I must be dreaming!”
“Then it’s time to wake up,” I said.
There was no way for me to be certain, but I believe he did just that, for in a few more seconds the strangeness left my sister’s face, and she was Rie again, or as close to Rie as was possible under the circumstances. “Brother? Where did you go?”
“I have not moved from this place, sister. I think you were the one who left us for a while. Where did you go? Do you remember?”
She frowned. “All I can remember is a prison. A little larger than this one, but only a little. Was it a vision of hell?”
“I do not think so. Listen to me very carefully, sister—I believe Lord Tenshin is beginning to lose control of the link between you, and rather than simply manipulating you like a puppet, his will is actually manifesting within this constructed body. This time it happened while he slept, but if I am correct, it may begin to happen when he is awake. When—if—that happens, he will take control of you, speak from your tongue, see what you see, possibly without even meaning to do so. When that happens, you may, as just now, see through his eyes, be where he is. I need you to let me know what Lord Tenshin sees.”
“How can you trust me to relate it? Is he not still in control of me?”
“I’m not even certain he is in control of himself at this time, and the issue of trust I will leave to whatever judgment remains to me. I know you have no reason to do so, but despite what I must do to you when the time comes, I would like your help.”
She shook her head, looking disgusted. “Certainly there’s a reason, you dolt! You are my brother. Even as I am, whatever karma has brought us to this, you remain my brother.”
“I know, but thank you.”
“Whatever for?”
“For helping me remember. When the time comes, I will need you to remember as well.”
“What do you mean? Of course I will,” Rie said.
I wish I could be as certain as you are, sister. But we shall see.