Read Online White Serpent Castle by Lensey Namioka - Free Book Online

“Do you often go out at night to hunt crickets? How does your mother feel about your going out so late?”
    The boy Yoshiteru looked a little shamefaced. “To tell the truth, my mother doesn’t let me go out at all after dark. She is becoming terribly nervous lately. That’s why we decided not to tell her about our plan to go out tonight. . . .” He broke off when he found that his woman companion had disappeared. “That’s funny, where did she go?”
    â€œWhat is her name?” asked Zenta. He had seen the woman slipping away, but had decided not to stop her by violent means for fear of alarming Yoshiteru. “Has she been serving your mother for long?”
    â€œNo, she’s quite new,” replied Yoshiteru. “I’m afraid I don’t know her name. You see, after my father died, the chamberlain started to replace our attendants. We have so many new people that I haven’t sorted everyone out yet.”
    â€œWho thought of going out tonight to hunt crickets?” asked Zenta. “Was it your idea?”
    â€œShe suggested it, because she knew how much I liked to collect crickets,” replied Yoshiteru. He added defensively, “I can’t stay cooped up by a lot of jumpy women all the time, if I want to grow up to be a proper warrior.”
    â€œI’m not sure that tonight’s expedition was a good idea,” said Zenta firmly. “When your mother finds you gone, she will be terribly worried. A proper samurai would not cause unnecessary anxiety to his mother.”
    â€œDo you really think so?” asked Yoshiteru. “I suppose you’re right, since you are such a great warrior yourself. We’d better go back before my mother starts looking for me, then.” As they started back, he began to look a little worried. “I’m afraid I don’t know how I am going to sneak back into my room again.”
    â€œA samurai would not sneak into his room,” said Zenta. Seeing that the boy was really looking worried, he added, “Let’s go back together. You can leave the explanations to me.”
    â€œOh, yes, my mother would listen to you ,” said Yoshiteru eagerly. “I still wish I had seen that fight of yours, though. Can you arrange another fight soon? And make sure that I’m there to see it?”
    â€œI’ll do my best,” said Zenta gravely. “Is there anyone in particular whom you want me to fight?”
    Yoshiteru gave this question serious consideration. “Well, I’d like it to be one of the chamberlain’s men again. How about Jihei? I don’t care for the way he looks at me sometimes. And he is such a strong man that everybody was afraid of him, until you came along.” “But he kept aloof from the fight this afternoon,” said Zenta.
    â€œThat was because he thought his men could finish you off without him. Wasn’t he surprised!” As he talked, Yoshiteru led Zenta to the complex of wooden buildings that formed Lady Kaede’s apartments. They still had not encountered any guards.
    When they were within sight of the buildings, they could hear shrill and excited voices. Yoshiteru’s steps began to lag, and he finally stopped altogether. Looking for reassurance from his companion, he said rather dubiously, “You know, you don’t look very fierce. How do you frighten your enemies when you fight?”
    â€œOh, I can look very fierce when I’m fighting. I roll my eyes and cross them like this. Then I gnash my teeth together,” said Zenta, and proceeded to demonstrate. Looming over the delighted boy, he gave a terrifying snarl.
    Instantly they were surrounded by a group of hysterically excited women. Cries and shrieks came from every side.
    â€œHelp! Help!”
    â€œHe’s threatening our little lord!” “Save Lord Yoshiteru!”
    Some of the women tried to carry off the indignantly kicking boy, while others