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Authors: Kei Swanson
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recalling the confrontation. He had shouted and raged while she knelt before him, disheveled and in tears, beseeching him to grant her wish to commit seppuku. She pleaded to be allowed to bring back his harmony and apologized for her wrongdoing.
He could have refused. The child, if male, would not be his heir. If he cast them out, their lives would not be worth much. This way, they died with the highest honor.
“I must ask your permission, sire,” Matsumoto’s voice broke into his thoughts. “to end my life with honor.” He inclined his body toward Sanematsu, his head touching the floor in front of him. “I have lost much face with your belief that I could do such a dishonorable thing. I cannot live with such shame.”
“I am afraid I cannot allow that.” The refusal was as empty as Matsumoto’s request. If his former friend had believed death necessary, he would have spoken of honor instead of face, for honor was far above face. “I need you alive to serve me. There will be no more discussion on the subject.”
Matsumoto sat erect and looked at him. His eyes told Sanematsu he had not heard the last on the matter, but it would come to haunt him another day. Both men stood.
“I do not want to hear that you have touched this barbarian.” Sanematsu glared at his general. “In any manner.”
“I would not think of causing you any disgrace, my lord.” Matsumoto spoke through gritted teeth. “So, you have decided the barbarian’s future?”
“That is not in my power. It is for her karma to decide. I find her…interesting. This girl has something I have never seen in our women. I want to find out if she can think. If she has wit. I want to talk with her,” Sanematsu said, almost to himself.
“Then she does speak?” Matsumoto’s hopeful and inquisitive tone showed his interest in the barbarian for his own ends.
“It is hard to tell.” He hastened to cover his slip. “She speaks a strange sort of language, familiar but different from the language of the gods. It will take some time to sort out and to teach her the proper words.” He straightened his shoulders and snapped, “Maybe you should spend more time at your home or with your consorts. Then you would have no need to think with your loins.”
Sanematsu Yoshihide strode away; his stockinged feet made no sound on the polished floor. He left no hint as to what he would do next.
CHAPTER SIX
Matsumoto sat alone to wonder at Sanematsu’s speech. He doubted the daimyo had cared for Masa as much as his words suggested--Sanematsu cared for no one, especially his wives. The women accorded the title “Lady” were a means to an end, their one duty to produce a male child of Sanematsu Yoshihide of the Minamoto clan.
A vulgar grin curved his mouth as he thought of his lord’s confirmation of the rumor spreading through the castle. Matsumoto had managed to sire the heir to the province, and Sanematsu had been denied it. Masa had stolen the coup d’grace from Matsumoto, but she had taken the easy path from her husband, also.
His anger at Sanematsu’s admonition about the barbarian increased his determination to reverse the years of history. Always having to kowtow to the daimyo, his duty was to die before Sanematsu. How he would love to have Sanematsu die first. Then Satsuma Province would be his.
Patience. Patience, and it will all be yours.
He would have to be very careful. If he wanted to rule, he must first keep the vulnerable Lord Sanematsu in power until the time came when he could be rid of him and move into the position himself. If Sanematsu’s behavior continued, as with the barbarian ship, it would undermine the respect and fear the men had for their master and lead to mutiny. An uprising was in Matsumoto’s scheme, but now was not the time. Other plans must be laid first for him to emerge victorious.
Matsumoto hid his contempt for his master’s strategy regarding the girl, letting the feeling fester. Sanematsu wished
He could have refused. The child, if male, would not be his heir. If he cast them out, their lives would not be worth much. This way, they died with the highest honor.
“I must ask your permission, sire,” Matsumoto’s voice broke into his thoughts. “to end my life with honor.” He inclined his body toward Sanematsu, his head touching the floor in front of him. “I have lost much face with your belief that I could do such a dishonorable thing. I cannot live with such shame.”
“I am afraid I cannot allow that.” The refusal was as empty as Matsumoto’s request. If his former friend had believed death necessary, he would have spoken of honor instead of face, for honor was far above face. “I need you alive to serve me. There will be no more discussion on the subject.”
Matsumoto sat erect and looked at him. His eyes told Sanematsu he had not heard the last on the matter, but it would come to haunt him another day. Both men stood.
“I do not want to hear that you have touched this barbarian.” Sanematsu glared at his general. “In any manner.”
“I would not think of causing you any disgrace, my lord.” Matsumoto spoke through gritted teeth. “So, you have decided the barbarian’s future?”
“That is not in my power. It is for her karma to decide. I find her…interesting. This girl has something I have never seen in our women. I want to find out if she can think. If she has wit. I want to talk with her,” Sanematsu said, almost to himself.
“Then she does speak?” Matsumoto’s hopeful and inquisitive tone showed his interest in the barbarian for his own ends.
“It is hard to tell.” He hastened to cover his slip. “She speaks a strange sort of language, familiar but different from the language of the gods. It will take some time to sort out and to teach her the proper words.” He straightened his shoulders and snapped, “Maybe you should spend more time at your home or with your consorts. Then you would have no need to think with your loins.”
Sanematsu Yoshihide strode away; his stockinged feet made no sound on the polished floor. He left no hint as to what he would do next.
CHAPTER SIX
Matsumoto sat alone to wonder at Sanematsu’s speech. He doubted the daimyo had cared for Masa as much as his words suggested--Sanematsu cared for no one, especially his wives. The women accorded the title “Lady” were a means to an end, their one duty to produce a male child of Sanematsu Yoshihide of the Minamoto clan.
A vulgar grin curved his mouth as he thought of his lord’s confirmation of the rumor spreading through the castle. Matsumoto had managed to sire the heir to the province, and Sanematsu had been denied it. Masa had stolen the coup d’grace from Matsumoto, but she had taken the easy path from her husband, also.
His anger at Sanematsu’s admonition about the barbarian increased his determination to reverse the years of history. Always having to kowtow to the daimyo, his duty was to die before Sanematsu. How he would love to have Sanematsu die first. Then Satsuma Province would be his.
Patience. Patience, and it will all be yours.
He would have to be very careful. If he wanted to rule, he must first keep the vulnerable Lord Sanematsu in power until the time came when he could be rid of him and move into the position himself. If Sanematsu’s behavior continued, as with the barbarian ship, it would undermine the respect and fear the men had for their master and lead to mutiny. An uprising was in Matsumoto’s scheme, but now was not the time. Other plans must be laid first for him to emerge victorious.
Matsumoto hid his contempt for his master’s strategy regarding the girl, letting the feeling fester. Sanematsu wished
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