Chapter 1 #2
“How long have you been following me?” I asked.
“Three weeks.”
The honesty surprised me. “And you didn’t know me? Had no idea who I was?”
Esumi looked away. “I . . . well . . .”
“Well?”
“Fine. Yes. I knew who you were. It’s just . . . with all the talk of rebellion, I just thought . . .” His expression grew serious.
“You thought what?” I demanded, my anger bubbling as I imagined the royal guard plotting this whole thing.
Esumi glanced back, meeting my gaze. “I thought you needed a little help, that’s all. You do tend to lose yourself in your cups, and places like the Crab aren’t exactly safe for royalty.”
“You think I’m in danger.”
It wasn’t a question.
“I think the empire feels troubled, and princes make valuable targets for those who would see it fall completely.” Esumi met my gaze steadily.
I felt suddenly, painfully sober. “And you think protecting me serves some purpose? Some great need in the days to come?” I laughed, a bitter sound, then muttered, “Like I could make a difference in anything.”
“I think,” Esumi said carefully, “that you’re the only prince who understands the streets as well as the palace. I know you are the only one who moves freely among the people, the only one who really sees them.” He paused. “And I think you’re not nearly as drunk or useless as you pretend to be.”
The words hung between us, a challenge and an offer.
In the distance, temple bells chimed the hour.
Dawn was still far off, but morning would bring fresh reports of plotting and scheming, of spies lurking in the darkness, of plans to topple the Jade Throne.
“Why?” I asked finally. “Why do you care what happens to a third prince?”
Esumi’s smile was soft, almost shy. “Because someone has to. And because . . .” He hesitated, then seemed to find his resolve. “Because the Empire is worth saving, even if we have to save it from itself.”
Esumi tossed his lion mask to the floor, then disappeared into the back of the shop for a few moments before returning with a bowl filled with water and a small rag.
The cuts on his face had been cleaned of dried blood, though the bruises appeared even angrier than before.
He slumped onto the floor and leaned against a heavy wooden cabinet.
“Here, you have blood above your eye.” Esumi extended the rag toward me and pointed to a spot above his right brow.
“Thanks,” I said, wincing as I dabbed my forehead.
“I take it you snuck out of the palace?”
I laughed. “Yeah, not like the guards would just open the gates and let a prince roam freely.”
“Especially a young, willful prince.”
“Hey, you’re talking to royalty. Show a little respect,” I said, though my grin told Esumi all he needed to know about my love for pretense and protocol. “Besides, I’m nineteen, thank you very much. You can’t be that much older than me with that baby face.”
Esumi snorted. “Baby face. My haha called me that.”
“Called?” I asked.
Esumi’s face fell.
“Yeah,” he said. “She died a few years ago. That’s why I came here to live with my grandmother.”
“What about your father?”
Esumi shook his head. “Never knew him.”
“Sorry.”
“It’s okay. It’s not like I even have a face to miss. He left my mother when she found out she carried a child. Guess he didn’t like the idea of being a father.”
“Huh. Guess so,” I said.
We sat in silence while I finished cleaning myself. Wringing the rag out, I looked up and asked, “Does the eye look better?”
“Yeah, you got it.”
“So, now what?”
Esumi cocked his head. “What do you mean?”
“Well, the palace probably won’t notice I’m missing until mid-morning. I’d hate to waste a precious few hours of freedom sitting here on your grandmother’s floor, no offence to her. It is a fine floor.”
Esumi chuckled. “Better not insult her floor. I might have to—”
“What?” I said through a grin. “You might have to smack me with a broken table leg? That was some Samurai move you had there.”
“Samurai prefer the katana, tantō, or yumi but also teach the value of using whatever weapon is available. Being resourceful is highly prized among followers of the Path.”
I groaned. “Please don’t start rambling on about the glories of Bushido.
All I ever hear from my uncles is that I should act with pride or serve with humility.
Half the Samurai out there use Bushido as an excuse to execute any peasant who doesn’t bow deeply enough when they pass.
Their sense of honor is about as thin as your kimono.
If I hear one more word about nobility and purpose, I’ll puke all over this fine floor. ”
“As I recall, you were about to puke when I met you.”
My groan grew louder. “Keep talking like that, and I’ll lose the last of my self-control. My stomach is churning worse than the sea right now.”
A couple of hours had passed when I realized we’d been sitting on a dusty floor throughout most of the night.
Esumi battered me with questions about my family, life in the palace, and what it was like growing up with the Emperor as my father.
He barely let me answer one question before three others popped out of his mouth.
When the subject of my uncles took center stage, Esumi leaped to his feet and paced excitedly.
“What’s the Dai Shogun like? Is he really as big as a bear? I’ve seen him from a distance but never up close. Does he really growl when he talks? They say he could take on ten men at once. What do you think?”
I laughed and held up my hands. “Wow, you sure love my uncle.”
“You don’t? He’s only the most famous general in the whole empire. During the Han Wars, he personally led dozens of battles, hundreds if you believe tavern tales. He’s like a god among men.”
My brow cocked.
“Oh,” Esumi said, his mouth forming an embarrassed O.
“I didn’t mean it like that. I mean, the Emperor, and your brothers, and I guess you .
. . you’re all gods or descendants of gods, right?
Or are you sons of gods? But your sister, she’s a girl.
Is she a god—or a goddess—or, I don’t know.
What is she? Bollocks. What am I saying?
I’m talking about divinity to divinity. Amaterasu’s tits, I should stop talking now. ”
By the time Esumi’s lips clamped shut, my arms were folded across my belly, and I was fully doubled over. “You’re funny when you babble, you know that, right?” I spit out through bouts of laughter.
Esumi dropped to his knees and bowed, nearly slamming his forehead to the wooden floorboards. “Forgive me, Divine—”
“Oh, stop that.” I reached out and gripped Esumi’s shoulders, pulling him upright. I hadn’t meant to pull him close, but our faces were fingers apart when our eyes met. “Don’t bow to me, all right, at least not when we’re alone. I’m just, I don’t know, just me, okay?”
A breath apart, Esumi didn’t move.
I tried to pull my eyes away, but they refused.
My hands trembled as they clung to Esumi’s shoulders.
My mind reeled.
No one dared approach a royal much less touch one; and yet, Esumi only showed fear or deference when talking of godhood.
Who was this man? What did he think he was doing?
What am I doing? I thought. Oh, gods.
One heartbeat passed, then two.
“Uh, sorry,” I said, gently pushing Esumi back and releasing him. “I just . . . I’m not . . . I mean, the whole royalty thing never felt right on me.”
Where had that come from? Why did I say that? I’m such an idiot.
Esumi’s eyes never left mine. “I think it looks good on you.”
We sat in awkward silence, staring and trying not to stare. I couldn’t bring myself to ask what had just happened or how holding this man had made my heart race. My mind refused to question what that moment had meant or if I’d simply imagined the whole world stopping for what felt like an eternity.
When I couldn’t stand the tension anymore, I pushed myself to my feet.
Esumi watched me take a few tentative steps toward the door before rising.
When I started to stumble, Esumi was there in a flash. “I’ve got you. Just focus on breathing and not spewing all over me, all right?”
“Thanks,” I said, glancing at Esumi’s hand now wrapped around my torso. The moment he followed my gaze, my eyes dropped to my boots. “How about we find somewhere with tea or water, maybe something solid to eat? I need to clear my stomach . . . and my head.”
“Most everything will be closed for another few hours, but I know a honjin that welcomes Samurai at all hours. They’ll probably make an exception for one of Heaven’s sons.” Esumi smirked when I winced. “It’s a few blocks away. Think you can make it that far?”
“Yeah, I’m okay. Lead on.”