The Way of the Fox (24 page)

Tonbo nodded. He planted his tetsubo on the ground, and pointed to the crow.

“Ask him.”

An excellent suggestion! Sura ambled over towards the bridge. She called out raucously to the crow as she approached.

“Hey you! Hey Crow san! Seen any ghosts around here?”

The crow hopped down from the
bridge, and strolled over. He nudged his way into an old robe that lay across the nearby bushes, and suddenly changed into human form. He was a man huge of nose and sharp of eye – with black tail feathers jutting from the back of his robes. He looked Sura over with a measuring eye.

“
A reibai! Ha! Strange to see an exorcist out on the road.” The man’s voice was croaking and merry. He hopped back to the bridge and sat upon the railings. “You’re late, reibai! The time to settle all these bones in their graves was twelve years ago! Trust a fox to be tardy!”

Kuno came forward, full of righteous decorum, to stand beside Sura.

“You are impolite, Crow san! You are addressing a priestess!”

The crow seemed to finally take note
of his other visitors. He sat on the railings and bobbed his head in something of a bow, looking most happy to have so much attention all at once.

“Aaaah! A fox – and a
samurai too! “ The man shifted shape again, now into his ‘half and half’ form – his head changing to a sharp, clever crow’s face, and his hands almost vanishing beneath the back feathers of his arms. “Please forgive a humble crow! I am not as polite as I could be, samurai - but then what need has a crow for manners? Sharp eyes and a sharp mind. That serves best! Still – welcome!” He nodded a bow to each and all. “Welcome samurai. Welcome priestess. Welcome dear rat – and man with huge club!”

The crow came
back down from the railings. His feet were now clawed. He strutted forward and pointed up river, past the sacred rock.

“
You must listen to a crow! You should go no further upriver, friends! They say that rock marks the realm of the hungry ghosts.” The crow stalked over towards the mossy skulls. “Twelve years ago, the Usagi clan were attacked there. Blood! Much blood. They were wiped out – women, children, even their beasts. Oh – terrible! Their castle was just up there.” The crow pointed off along the road. “Go no further. Their ghosts are hungry for blood. Those who go up river are never seen again. Not even an old crow will get to pick their bones!”

Sura looked upriver, immediately interested. Her ears pricked high.

“Oooh! Hungry spirits!” She peered at the great, dark trees. “Hey crow! You think there’s really ghosts?”

The crow looked at Sura, somewhat askance. “Does crow
look crazy? Crow does not go up there!”

“
But there’s a town around here? Do you think they want to get rid of their ghosts?”

Kuno immediately leaned in to confe
r with the fox. He was most put-out by her attitude. “Priestess – this is not seemly!”

“
Hey! I’m trying to run a business here! We need money for rice!” She called over to the crow. “Hey crow san! Would the local lord pay for an exorcism?”

The crow scratched at his beak.

“Lord Raiden? Bah! He’s not a good man! And that’s coming from a crow – I have nothing against carrion!”

Kuno turned his disapproving scowl from the fox onto the crow. He was exceedingly displeased by
the manners on display.

“
Crow san. It is unseemly that you speak of your lord so!”

“
He is not my lord, samurai san! If you talk to a crow, you get plain speaking!” The bird hopped about, indicating the forest, the path, the ruins and the bones. “This was all Usagi land, but they were wiped out by the Raiden twelve years ago. All gone – so much food left lying in the fields to waste!” Crow gave a cluck of disapproval. “But the Raiden lord cares nothing for his conquests. Bah! The local town is poor. Raiden comes only once a year to get his taxes. He slays a few to keep the rest in fear, and then he goes! He cares nothing for the town at all!” The crow shook his head. “So much blood spilled, and all for nothing.”

The crow came to stand beside Sura. He looked across the bridge and along the road. The long beak nodded. His voice
became less merry – his manner far less comical.

“
That’s not a good place up there, Kitsune san. There is a doom here. First the forest – and now the town. Unexplained deaths all the time now. All the time!” The black feathers shivered. “It is the curse of the Usagi, who wonder why their old vassals let their murderers walk free in the streets.”

The crow turned to Sura. “
The lord will not want you, Reibai san! But the town elders will receive you with pleasure. You are all just what they need! That town could do with some good luck again.”

There w
as a shimmer. The crow was once again in his bird form, old robes falling empty to lie upon the grass. The bird hopped forth, and flapped loudly up into the air.

“Follow the road. It’s not far. Not far
as the crow files!”

Off he flew – away from the forest and off downstream.
The Spirit Hunters watched the black bird go, seeing him soar off between the trees. Sura scratched herself, feeling rather intrigued.

“An unusual person...”

Chiri looked rather anxiously towards the woods, then along the road. “At least there is a town nearby...” She thought of the empty rice bag in her pack. “Are you certain that we have no extra funds?”

“Hey –
never worry, dear rattie! The Tao shall provide!” Sura put the sheath back atop her spear, making ready to march. “An inn room! Sakē! Piping hot dinners and breakfasts in bed. Oooooh – fried chicken skin! We could totally get them to make that fried chicken skin. I love that stuff!” The fox was perfectly pleased. “Plum wine!

Tonbo shook his head. “You should keep away from alcohol.
It makes you blush bright red all across your cleavage.”

“
See? Even drunk, I’m still cute as a bug!”

Asodo Kuno looked about at the others. He felt that he was missing some strange essential point.

“And how exactly do we pay for an inn?”

Sura tapped at her temple with one finger. “
They present the bill as you leave! So we go to the inn, eat, sleep – then pay for it with all the cash these people are giving us for chasing off their ghosts!”

“But what if something untoward should happen?” Kuno felt a sudden anxious pang. “
How do we know we shall be paid?”

The fox rolled her eyes. “
Of course we will! Otherwise, they’re going to find themselves stuck with a big bill from the inn. Stands to reason!” She chivvied Kuno off and on his way. “Come on! If we don’t feed Chiri soon, she might get cranky!”

They walked together up and across the bridge. With elementals flying beside her,
Chiri hastened to catch up with Tonbo.

“I would not get cranky!”

Tonbo nodded. “Quite so.”

On they walked – on towards the town, where the Usagi ghosts awaited them.

Chapter
3

Away from the forest, the lands seemed even more oppressive. There were abandoned houses by the path, and a row of fresh graves. The path met a wider road that came across the mountains from the main Raiden lands. It headed towards a listless town
that lay in the shadow of a dark, forbidding castle.

There were fields here – rice
paddies and vegetable plots, all planted with new young crops. The fields showed new boundaries – all of them rigidly straight, sometimes carved clean through old field lines and walls. The peasant’s huts were shabby, poor, and desolate. The whole place radiated an air of utter misery.

A pair of mounted samurai in full armour
came galloping down the road from the mountains. They roared out to the peasants who were working in the fields. Terrified farmers sped to the roadside and utterly prostrated themselves. The samurai looked arrogantly over the scene, then rode on to force the next segment of road into submission.

A procession was moving
grandly down the mountain road towards the town. Sneering samurai on horseback led the way – men armed with spears in the new combative fashion. They were followed by other horsemen: older men, many of them grey haired. They were extravagantly armoured and gorgeously mounted – quite clearly the
hatamoto
‘companions’ of a senior lord. The horsemen were followed by samurai infantry resplendent in full armour. Behind those came foot soldiers and men carrying banners showing a streak of red lightning: the symbol of the Raiden clan.

An el
aborate palanquin came next – flanked by samurai, and followed by bearers carrying the supplies of a grand court. There were pages, servants and maids walking along behind – a falconer, and a secretary who towed a pack horse laden down with scales, counting frames, books and ledgers. The whole procession snaked its way past the peasants, who kept their faces to the ground without daring to raise their eyes.

Some distance away, Sura
watched the parade while chewing on a straw. She watched the pomp and ceremony, then threw her gnawed grass stem in the general direction of the palanquin.

“Lord
’s procession.” She brushed her sleeves down into place. “You think it’s Lord Raiden? That crow said he comes here.”

“Could be.”
Tonbo watched the procession carefully. “Empty pack horses. Lots of clerks. They must be tax gathering.”

The
Raiden castle was a new affair built on the ruins of an older fortress. It had a great black, arrogant keep: an incongruous luxury snarling down over the impoverished town. Sura considered the procession, slowly waving her tail in thought.

“
A warlord in town. Could be trouble.” The fox considered carefully. “Let’s keep away from local authorities as much as we can.”

Despite her usual air of levity, the fox was a clever, calculating soul. But Kuno straightened his shoulders,
refusing to be admonished.

“The lands are clan lands – but imperial law is extended to all towns who hold imperial charter.
” He motioned towards the town. “Come. These people are in need.”

Sura hung back.
The fox looked at the listless agriculture – the shabby houses and neglected farms. She then cast an eye at the procession winding its way into the town – a procession glittering with silks, lacquer and gold.

“Why are they here?
Look at all that. Why spend such an effort on this place?”

Chiri hunched her shoulders, looking at the dark forests all around.

“Conquerors. They are motivated only by glory, or gain.”

“Well
, there’s no glory here...”

Sura hefted her spear. Kuno was already a dozen paces away, heading for the town. The lord’s procession had
disappeared into the distant streets and vanished. Sura followed after them, as a cold breeze ruffled at her hair.

“Come on. Let’s see what we can do to help souls in trouble.”

Sura, Tonbo and Chiri all hastened after Kuno, with the two elementals flying close escort overhead.

Lord Raiden’s procession entered the town with
a swaggering, arrogant tread. Samurai from the town garrison had paraded on the streets, forcing many of the population to gather and bow in abject fright. The hatamoto on their gleaming horses, the Raiden foot soldiers and marching samurai passed the townsfolk by without sparing them a glance: they were a conquered people, miserable beasts to be milked for taxes, and nothing more.

A cluster of more affluent houses
blossomed near the castle – houses owned by garrison officers, or by Raiden officials. Amongst them was a great two-story brothel that catered to the Raiden officers: a place with well-tended gardens, budding fruit trees and flowers. The brothel madam, her girls and servants had needed no urging to come forth and greet Lord Raiden. They formed a beautiful display at their open garden gates, dressed in brilliant robes. The courtesans – expensive, cultured and exquisite – all bowed with perfect grace. Behind them, apprentice courtesans and maids bowed in their turn.

One girl –
honey gold, with the most astonishingly bright, penetrating eyes – took a moment longer to make her bow. She was a courtesan’s maid all dressed in green. She gazed for a moment at the lord’s palanquin, then bowed with the rest.

The curtain to the palanquin twitched. It held open for an instant, while dark eyes glowered from
within the depths, then fell back into place.

The procession made its way up out of the town and into
the cleared ground around the castle. There was no beauty here – no gardens, flowers or water ways: merely a killing ground cleared for the castle’s bows. Lord Raiden’s column entered through zigzag gates, through the deadly gatehouse corridor lined with ramparts and armed samurai, and into the gravel courtyard beyond.

They were met by the senior officers of the town
garrison and hundreds of the castle foot soldiers and samurai – all kneeling to bow in crisp unison to their lord.
At their centre, far forward of the others and flanked by his own banners, was Lord Raiden’s eldest son, Raiden Katsura. Katsura rose up from his bow, but the rest of the garrison remained with heads planted to the ground.

Page boys ran to open the palanquin,
and Lord Raiden came forth from the dark.

He
was an unlovely man – a grey haired butcher in his sixties with a face deep-lined with the marks of brutality, greed and dissatisfaction. Robed in resplendence, he threaded his sword through his belt, not yet turning towards his son. Instead, he summoned one of his own servants, and looked back towards the castle gates.

A gleam of lust was in his eyes.

“The courtesan’s maid – the one with the green robes. Have her sent to me late tonight. No nonsense! No makeup.”

“Yes my lord!”

Lord Raiden coldly turned towards the keep. To his hatamoto, Lord Raiden gave a single command.

“
Have the special accounts brought to me at once.”

“
Yes lord!” An older warrior moved immediately to the keep, taking an accountant and a scribe. They moved past Raiden Katsura without acknowledging him.

Lord Raiden
finally looked at his son. His lips curled in dislike. With a snap of his fingers, he summoned his son forward.

“
Katsura! Your doctor – at once!”

Raiden Katsura
was a taut, dark man in his late thirties, who had a face marked by resentment. With well-veiled hatred, he bowed to his father, and signalled for the doctor to be brought. “Father. The garrison officers greet you. Your quarters are prepared. Would you care to refresh yourself, or will you inspect the garrison?”

“In time. First things first.”

Lord Raiden turned aside. He met the doctor – a lean man with the greasy air of a co-conspirator. He came to his lord with an air of anticipation, and Lord Raiden walked aside with the man, baring his teeth in a carnivorous smile.

“
Doctor. I have a guest tonight. A fine, delicate, athletic girl.”

“
I shall brew you a potion, my lord.” The doctor bowed, wickedly pleased. “It shall be brought to your quarters tonight.”

“
Excellent. Excellent indeed...”

Lord Raiden walked off – away from the garrison officers, the samurai and his son. He
stalked straight into the keep, waving servants aside with his riding crop. He headed indoors, limping past soldiers and servants to be swallowed up inside the black tower.

The garrison
officers all turned to Raiden Katsura. He nodded to them, and the men bowed watchfully, returning to their duties. The garrison samurai moved to assist with the stabling of horses, showing Lord Raiden’s guards to their quarters.

The doctor passed
Raiden Katsura in the entrance to the keep. He met Katsura’s eye – gave a subtle nod – then departed to his workshop.

L
eft alone in the courtyard, Raiden Katsura walked forward towards the gates. He looked out over the gravel. For a moment, he saw in his mind’s eye the Usagi buildings here burning – bodies falling – the rabbit women making their last suicidal charge. He glared off towards the town – a pale grey, listless and almost silent place. The black woods loomed nearby – mist shrouded and weirdly still.

Raiden Katsura gripped his sword, gazed at the forest a moment more, then turned aside. He turned
his back upon the light, and walked on into the keep.

With the sun sunk far behind the western mountains, the town was locked into a weird blue twilight. Here and there a few
lanterns came to life – but the streets were silent and utterly devoid of life.

Shirotsukimachi
– “white-moon town” – had fallen on hard times indeed. It did, however, still sport an excellent tavern – a place far too large for its minuscule clientele, and looking somewhat shabby in these latter days. But the cook was skilled, even if his ingredients were humble. He had managed an excellent bean soup – piping hot – and bowls of seasoned millet, with a dish of dried mushrooms, seethed and reconstituted in a little broth. It was excellent fare. Sura ate well, making sure that Daitanishi and Bifuuko each had a comfortable perch beside the teapot. She listened intently as the town elders leaned in close across the table and explained their woes.

The elders
– three small leathery men who might have been septuagenarian triplets – were pleased to be able to express their troubles. They looked like three heads sharing the same moustache. Thankfully each was dressed differently to the others: the old gentleman on the left was a monk – the one in the centre a merchant, and the third was a farmer.

The
merchant – his voice forceful now that he had an audience at last – was more than happy to answer Sura’s inquiries.

“
Yes priestess! The whole river gully is cursed, from the bridge into the mountains. It is more than your life is worth to venture more than a few yards into the forest!”

Sura poured tea all around, keen to hear every possible detail. “
We heard about the Usagi. So what happened in the forest? Some sort of massacre?”

The old monk heaved a sigh. He slowly shook his head.

“We do not know, Lady. Surely if – if there are angry ghosts, they would be at the castle, and not in the forest.” The old monk looked down sadly at the tabletop. “It was a terrible attack. The Raiden invasion was utterly unexpected – for some reason, the Usagi castle gates were opened to the intruders. The entire Usagi clan was massacred.”

The aged peasant bowed his head.

“The Usagi were greatly loved. They were just, and they were generous. The virtues of the Rabbit. Now they are scattered to the winds.” The old man looked to Kuno. “The emperor’s officials sanctioned the Raiden clan’s attack once it was done. The Raiden produced false evidence that the Usagi had been conducting treachery against the emperor. The Usagi fief was granted to the Raiden as their reward.”