Kiyama reread the message and she watched him as she had been ordered. 'Watch him so carefully, Mariko-san,' Toranaga had told her. `I'm not sure of his agreement with Ishido about the Kwanto. Spies have reported it but I'm not sure. You'll know from what he does - or doesn't do - if you give him the message at the right time.' She had seen Kiyama react. So that's also true, she thought.
The old daimyo looked up and said flatly, "And you are the proof of his sincerity, neh? The burnt offering, the sacrificial lamb?"
"No, Sire."
"I don't believe you. And I don't believe him. The Onoshi treason, perhaps. But the rest ... Lord Toranaga's just up to his old tricks of mixing half-truths and honey and poison. I'm afraid it's you who've been betrayed, Mariko-san."
"We'll leave at noon."
"No, Mariko-san." Lady Sazuko was almost in tears.
"Yes," Kiri said. "Yes, we'll leave as you say."
"But they'll stop us," the young girl burst out. "It's all so useless."
"No," Mariko told her, "you're wrong, Sazuko-chan, it's very necessary."
Kiri said, "Mariko-san's right. We have orders." She suggested details of their leaving. "We could easily be ready by dawn if you want. "
"Noon is when we should leave. That's what he said, Kiri-chan," Mariko replied.
"We'll need very few things, neh?"
"Yes."
Sazuko said, "Very few! So sorry, but it's all so silly, they'll stop us!"
"Perhaps they won't, child," Kiri said. "Mariko says they'll let us go. Lord Toranaga thinks they'll let us go. So presume that they will. Go and rest. Go on. I must talk to Mariko-san."
The girl went away, greatly troubled.
Kiri folded her hands. "Yes, Mariko-san?"
"I'm sending a cipher by carrier pigeon telling Lord Toranaga what happened tonight. It will go at first light. Ishido's men will certainly try to destroy the rest of my carrier birds tomorrow if there's trouble and I can't bring them here. Is there any message you want to send at once?"
"Yes. I'll write it now. What do you think's going to happen?"
"Lord Toranaga's sure they'll let us go, if I'm strong."
"I don't agree. And, please excuse me, I don't think you put much faith in the attempt either."
"You're wrong. Oh, of course they may stop us tomorrow and if they do there'll be the most terrible quarrel and threats but they'll all mean nothing." Mariko laughed. "Oh, such threats, Kiri-san, and they'll go on all day and all night. But at noon the next day we'll be allowed to go."
Kiri shook her head. "If we're allowed to escape, every other hostage in Osaka will leave too. Ishido will be weakened badly and he'll lose face. He can't afford that."
"Yes." Mariko was very satisfied. "Even so, he's trapped."
Kiri watched her. "In eighteen days our Master'll be here, neh? He must be here."
"Yes."
"So sorry, then why is it so important for us to leave at once?"
"He thinks it important enough, Kiri-san. Enough to order it."
"Ah, then he has a plan?"
"Doesn't he always have many plans?"
"Once the Exalted One agreed to be present, then our Master was trapped, neh?"
"Yes."
Kiri glanced at the shoji door. It was closed. She leaned forward and said softly, "Then why did he ask me secretly to put that thought into the Lady Ochiba's head?"
Mariko's confidence began to fade. "He told you to do that?"
"Yes. From Yokose, after he'd seen Lord Zataki for the first time. Why did he spring the trap himself?"
"I don't know."
Kiri bit her lips. "I wish I knew. We'll soon know, but I don't think you're telling me everything you know, Mariko-chan."
Mariko began to bridle but Kiri touched her, again cautioning her to silence, and whispered. "His dispatch to me told me to trust you completely so let's say no more than that. I do trust you, Mariko-chan, but that doesn't stop my mind from working. Neh?"
"Please excuse me."
"I'm so proud of you," Kiri said in a normal voice. "Yes, standing up like that to Ishido and all of them. I wish I had your courage."
"It is easy for me. Our Master said we were to leave."
"It's very dangerous, what we do, I think. Even so, how can I help?"
"Give me your support."
"You have that. You've always had that."
"I'll stay here with you till dawn, Kiri. But first I have to talk to the Anjin-san."
"Yes. I'd better go with you."
The two women left Kiri's apartments, an escort of Browns with them, passing other Browns who bowed, clearly enormously proud of Mariko. Kiri led down corridors, across the expanse of the great audience room, and into the corridor beyond. Browns were on guard here, and Grays. When they saw Mariko, all bowed, Browns and Grays equally honoring her. Both Kiri and Mariko were taken aback to find Grays in their domain. They hid their discomfiture and said nothing.
Kiri motioned at a door.
"Anjin-san?" Mariko called out.