"Yes, Great Lord," Chano said, ponderously getting to her feet, "I would obey as always but nature calls. So please be kind to an old peasant, I'd hate to disgrace you. It's time to go. Everything's ready, there's food and sake when you wish it, Great Lord."
"Thank you."
The door closed noiselessly behind her. Mariko waited until Toranaga's cup was empty, then she filled it again.
"What are you thinking?"
"I was waiting, Sire."
"For what, Mariko-san?"
"Lord, I'm hatamoto. I've never asked a favor before. I wish to ask a favor as a hata-"
"I don't wish you to ask any favor as a hatamoto," Toranaga said.
"Then a lifetime wish."
"I'm not a husband to grant that."
"Sometimes a vassal may ask a liege-" "Yes, sometimes, but not now! Now you will hold your tongue about any lifetime wish or favor or request or whatever." A lifetime wish was a favor that, by ancient custom, a wife might ask of her husband, or a son of a father - and occasionally a husband of a wife - without loss of face, on the condition that if the wish was granted, the person agreed never again to ask another favor in this life. By custom, no questions about the favor might be asked, nor was it ever to be mentioned again.
There was a polite knock at the door.
"Unbolt it," Toranaga said.
She obeyed. Sudara entered, followed by his wife, the Lady Genjiko, and Naga.
"Naga-san. Go down to the second landing below and prevent anyone from coming up without my orders."
Naga stalked off.
"Mariko-san, shut the door and sit down there." Toranaga pointed at a spot slightly in front of him facing the others.
"I've ordered you both here because there are private, urgent family matters to discuss."
Sudara's eyes involuntarily went to Mariko, then back to his father. The Lady Genjiko's did not waver.
Toranaga said roughly, "She's here, my son, for two reasons: the first is because I want her here and the second because I want her here!"
"Yes, Father," Sudara replied, ashamed of his father's discourtesy to all of them. "May I please ask why I have offended you?"
"Is there any reason why I should be offended?"
"No, Sire, unless my zeal for your safety and my reluctance to allow you to depart this earth is cause for offense."
"What about treason? I hear you're daring to assume my place as leader of our clan!"
Sudara's face blanched. So did the Lady Genjiko's. "I have never done that in thought or word or deed. Neither has any member of my family or anyone in my presence."
"That is true, Sire," Lady Genjiko said with equal strength.
Sudara was a proud, lean man with cold, narrow eyes and thin lips that never smiled. He was twenty-four years old, a fine general and the second of Toranaga's five living sons. He adored his children, had no consorts, and was devoted to his wife.
Genjiko was short, three years older than her husband, and dumpy from the four children she had already borne him. But she had a straight back and all of her sister Ochiba's proud, ruthless protectiveness over her own brood, together with the same latent ferocity inherited from their grandfather, Goroda.
"Whoever accused my husband is a liar," she said.
"Mariko-san," Toranaga said, "ask the Lady Genjiko what your husband ordered you to say!"
"My Lord Buntaro asked me, ordered me, to persuade you that the time had come for Lord Sudara to assume power, that others in the Council shared my husband's opinion, that if our Lord Toranaga did not wish to give over power, it - it should be taken from him forcibly."
"Never has either of us entertained that thought, Father," Sudara said. "We're loyal and I would never con-"
"If I gave you power what would you do?" Toranaga asked.
Genjiko replied at once, "How can Lord Sudara know when he has never considered such an unholy possibility? So sorry, Sire, but it's not possible for him to answer because that's never been in his mind. How could it be in his mind? And as to Buntaro-san, obviously the kami have taken possession of him."
"Buntaro claimed that others share his opinion."
"Who?" Sudara asked venomously. "Tell me who and they'll die within moments."
"You tell me who!"
"I don't know any, Sire, or I'd have reported it to you."
"You wouldn't have killed them first?"
"Your first law is to be patient, your second is to be patient. I've always followed your orders. I would have waited and reported it. If I've offended you, order me to commit seppuku. I do not merit your anger, Lord, I've committed no treason. I cannot bear your anger washing over me."
The Lady Genjiko concurred. "Yes, Sire. Please excuse me but I humbly agree with my husband. He is blameless and so are all our people. We're faithful - whatever we have is yours, whatever we are you've made, whatever you order we'll do."
"So! You're loyal vassals, are you? Obedient? You always obey orders?"
"Yes, Sire."
"Good. Then go and put your children to death. Now."
Sudara took his eyes off his father and looked at his wife.
Her head moved slightly and she nodded her agreement.
Sudara bowed to Toranaga. His hand tightened on his sword hilt and he got up. He closed the door quietly behind him. There was a great silence in his wake. Genjiko looked once at Mariko, then stared at the floor.
Bells tolled the middle of the Hour of the Goat. The air in the room seemed to thicken. Rain stopped briefly then began again, heavier than before.
Just after the bells tolled the next hour there was a knock.