Read Online The Harsh Cry of the Heron by Lian Hearn - Free Book Online

parents’ secret ambitions and hidden
motives might be, the boys had been well brought up.
    ‘You are very
generous,’ he said again. ‘I will discuss it with my wife.’
    ‘The children will
join us for the evening meal,’ Hana said. ‘You may get to know them better
then. Of course, though he is nothing out of the ordinary, Sunaomi is already a
great favourite with my older sister.’
    Takeo remembered now
that he had heard Kaede praise the boy for his intelligence and quickness. He
knew that she envied Hana and regretted never having a son. Adopting her nephew
might be a compensation, but if Sunaomi became his son . . .
    He put this line of
thought from him. He must follow what seemed the best policy: he must not allow
himself to be influenced by a prophecy that might never come true.
    Hana left with the
children, and Zenko said, ‘I can only repeat what an honour it would be if you
were to adopt Sunaomi - or Chikara: you must choose.’
    ‘We will discuss it
again in the tenth month.’
    ‘May I make one more
request?’
    When Takeo nodded,
Zenko went on. ‘I don’t want to cause offence by bringing up the past, but -
you remember Lord Fujiwara?’
    ‘Of course,’ Takeo
replied, holding down his surprise and anger. Lord Fujiwara was the nobleman
who had abducted his wife, and had brought about his heaviest defeat. He had
died in the Great Earthquake but Takeo had never forgiven him, hating even to
hear his name spoken. Kaede had sworn to him that this spurious husband had
never lain with her, yet there had been some strange bond between them;
Fujiwara had intrigued and nattered her; she had entered into a pact with him
and had told him the most intimate secrets of Takeo’s love for her. He had
supported her household with money and food and given her many gifts. He had
married her with the permission of the Emperor himself. Fujiwara had tried to
take Kaede into death with him: she had narrowly escaped being burned alive
when her hair burst into flames, causing the scars, the loss of her beauty.
    ‘His son is in Hofu
and seeks an audience with you.’
    Takeo said nothing,
reluctant to admit that he did not know it.
    ‘He goes under his
mother’s name, Kono. He came by boat a few days ago, hoping to meet you. We
have been in correspondence over his father’s estate. My father was, as you
know, on very good terms with his father - forgive me for reminding you of
those unpleasant times - and Lord Kono approached me about matters of rent and
taxes.’
    ‘I was under the
impression the estate had been joined to Shirakawa.’
    ‘But legally
Shirakawa was also Lord Fujiwara’s, after his marriage, and so is now his son’s.
For Shirakawa is male-inherited. If it is not Kono’s to claim, it should pass
to the next male heir.’
    ‘Your eldest son,
Sunaomi,’ Takeo said.
    Zenko bowed his head
without speaking.
    ‘It is sixteen years
since his father’s death. Why does he suddenly appear now?’ Takeo questioned.
    ‘Time passes swiftly
in the capital,’ Zenko said. ‘In the divine presence of the Emperor.’
    Or perhaps some
scheming person, you or your wife - almost certainly your wife - seeing how
Kono could be used to put more pressure on me, wrote to him, Takeo thought,
concealing his fury.
    The rain strengthened
on the roof, and the smell of wet earth floated in from the garden.
    ‘He may come and see
me tomorrow,’ he said finally.
    ‘Yes. It is a wise
decision,’ Zenko replied. ‘It is too wet to travel, anyway.’
    This meeting added to
Takeo’s unease, reminding him of how closely the Arai needed to be watched: how
easily their ambitions could lead the Three Countries back into civil war. The
evening passed pleasantly enough: he drank sufficient wine to mask the pain
temporarily, and the boys were lively and entertaining. They had recently met
two of the foreigners in the same room and were full of excitement about the
encounter: how Sunaomi had spoken to them in their own language, which