Leslie Moore - Griffin's Shadow

“You’re right. It is none of your business, but since you are so curious, I’ll confide in you. Misune was furious that she had to stay behind. I tried to reason with her, but…” Sadaiyo threw up his hands in exasperation. “There’s just no reasoning with her sometimes! She’s like… a thunderstorm or a whirlwind!”

Ashinji hid a smile behind his hand. Clearing his throat, he offered words of sympathy. “I’m sure once she calms down she’ll realize that a campaign is no place for a pregnant woman, not even one of her considerable skill at arms.”

Sadaiyo snorted. “I doubt it…But what of your wife, Little Brother? How did the princess handle you leaving her?”

Ashinji thought he detected the slightest hint of distain in Sadaiyo’s voice when he said the word princess. “Jelena is strong, and incredibly brave. She’ll be all right. She has the king and our father to support her. And she’ll need their support, especially…after whatever happens… happens.”

Sadaiyo’s eyebrows lifted in puzzlement. “What are you talking about?” he asked.

Ashinji looked away, out over the stubbled fields shimmering in the midday sun. “Nothing. I just meant…we’ll be risking our lives in battle. Anything could happen.”

“I don’t know about you, but I plan on coming back alive,” Sadaiyo stated. “I’ve got a son on the way, and I intend to be there on the day he’s born.”

“A son?”

“That’s right. The child’s a boy. Misune can already sense his Talent. He’s going to be a grand mage, I’m sure of it.” Sadaiyo grinned. Ashinji felt his throat constrict with tears he dare not shed, tears for his own child who might have to grow up without a father.

Damn it! Visions are shades of what might be, not of what will be! I can’t give in to this! I’ve got to fight to change what I’ve been shown!

Ashinji rolled over and climbed to his feet. Restlessly, he paced around the hoary bole of the ancient tree, rubbing at his temples.

Sadaiyo regarded him with mild curiosity. “What’s gotten into you?” he inquired. “Nervous about facing the humans?”

Ashinji shot his brother a withering glance. Sadaiyo never missed an opportunity to needle him. “No,” he replied and turned to walk away toward the road where his sergeant Homan waited, holding his horse. He felt the strain of keeping a lid on his anger slowly but steadily wearing him down, and an entire day had not yet passed. How will I survive another nine? he thought.

“You look troubled, my lord,” Homan commented. “Anythin’ I can do to help?” The sergeant spoke with the slow drawl of the Arrisae Islands. Ashinji trusted him completely, but certain things were too personal to share, even with a trusted officer.

He shook his head. “Thank you, but there’s really nothing you, or anyone other than myself, can do about my particular set of problems.” He gazed down the dusty road. “There’s a good meal waiting for us at the end of our day’s march, I’ve heard.”

Homan grimaced. “Field rations are only for keepin’ the body from starving. No one really likes ‘em. A hot meal’ll be welcome. I s’pose there’ll be a soft bed for you and Lord Sadaiyo, eh?”

“I’m certain my brother will take every advantage of Enzan’s hospitality, but I’ll sleep with Peregrine Company.”

Homan nodded in approval. “You’ve always shared everythin’ with us, Cap’n. The good and the bad.”

Ashinji shrugged. “I’m a soldier, just like the rest of you.”

But not really, he admitted to himself . Not since Jelena’s ascended to her lofty position and pulled me up with her.

Even though they all tried to pretend as if nothing had changed, he could sense the difference in the way the men and women under his command viewed him, now that he had become Keizo Onjara’s son-in-law.

Before, he had shared an easy camaraderie with his company, the Peregrines. They followed his orders, not only because they had to, but because they genuinely liked and respected him. Ashinji knew none of that goodwill had changed, but now a distance existed between him and his troops that had everything to do with his new social status. Though unavoidable, it still saddened him.

Homan snapped to attention, and Ashinji turned to see Sadaiyo approaching, dangling his helmet carelessly by its chinstrap.

“Time to go,” he said as he brushed past, signaling for his horse.

“Pass the word along, Homan. We’re moving out,” Ashinji ordered. Homan nodded once in acknowledgement, then turned and began to shout out the order to mount up. His words echoed down the line and the army quickly rose up and fell in. On Sadaiyo’s signal, they resumed the march.

The sun hung low in a hazy sky when they finally reached Enzan Estate. The estate was large and prosperous, and the road leading to the manor wound through fields planted with row upon row of grapevines. Fruit hung heavy in plump, purple clusters on the gnarled vines, awaiting the harvest.

A figure stood in the road ahead of them, waving. As they drew closer, Ashinji recognized the man who had been sent to meet them several hours earlier. Sadaiyo held his arm up, signaling the column to stop.

The man approached and bowed low. “If it please you, my lords, my lady has bid me lead you to the ground where the army is to camp tonight.” Sadaiyo waved impatiently, indicating that the man should proceed. The servant bowed again and trotted off, leading them down a side road that curved away deeper into the vineyards.

Dusk had fallen by the time they left the vineyards and entered a large, open meadow. A single, massive oak tree stood near the center, like a well- armored sentry on guard duty. The manor house stood at the far edge of the grassy expanse, windows gleaming a soft gold from the light of many lamps. Sadaiyo reined his horse to a halt and dismounted. He handed off the stallion to his aide and turned around in a circle, surveying the ground. Ashinji waited, still mounted, for his brother’s command.

“Give the order to set up camp, and I want you and the other senior officers to assemble under that tree as soon as everything’s settled,” Sadaiyo directed. “I don’t intend to keep our hostess waiting any longer than necessary.”

The camp sprang up quickly. By the time Ashinji had passed the word to those officers who ranked high enough to dine at the lady’s table, most of the common troops had shed their armor and now attended to evening duties-grooming horses, starting small cooking fires, cleaning tack, laying out bedrolls.

Ashinji checked in with Peregrine Company before leaving to join the other senior officers.

“I feel sorry for you, Cap’n,” Homan drawled. “While you’re up at the manor eatin’ whatever poor fare the lady can scrape together, we’ll all be out here feasting on dried fish and journeycake!” A gale of laughter erupted all around. Ashinji grinned and for a brief moment, he felt the ease he had known with his people before he had been lifted so high above them by circumstance.

“I’ll try not to feel too envious,” he replied. “I’ll be back after dinner, so save some beer for me.”

“And a little something stronger, my lord?” Homan winked and held up a small metal flask. Ashinji recalled, with wistful clarity, the night he had shared a flask of muato with Magnes Preseren.

I wonder where Jelena’s cousin is now, he thought. Will we have the misfortune to come face to face on the field of battle? If I’m forced, can I fight, to the death, a man I call ‘friend’?

Goddess! Maybe the face I saw in my vision…belonged to Magnes! Can it be possible that my friend-my kinsman-will be the instrument of my death?