L5r - scroll 04 - The Phoenix Read Online Free PDF

night?"
    Kaede gazed at him with her liquid eyes. "When will we have the chance again?"
    Ishikawa nodded and grumbled, "Never, likely. Kachiko is too careful. Too sly."
    "What else would you expect from the Mother of Scorpions?" "A sting in the back," Ishikawa replied. "Come on," he said, indicating a nearby corridor with a nod of his head. "This way is quickest."
    A short time later they came within sight of the Imperial Chambers. Heavily armed guards stood near the doors, brandishing yari spears.
    "If we were Kachiko," Ishikawa whispered, "we'd know a secret way in and out."
    "But we're not," Kaede whispered back. "Thank the Fortunes."
    Ishikawa walked boldly toward the guards. They barred the entryway to the imperial chambers. "Konbanwa," he said. "Good evening."
    "Konbanwa, Ishikawa-sama," they said, bowing low. They bowed to Kaede as well. To do less would have besmirched her honor, an offense punishable by execution.
    "How's the emperor this evening?" Ishikawa asked. "Is he well?"
    One of the four guards nodded. Another said, "So his most esteemed wife tells us."
    Ishikawa paused as if listening to something in the distance. "Mistress Kaede and I thought we heard coughing. Bad coughing. She has healing skill that can help."
    "We didn't hear anything," one guard said.
    "Are you sure?" Ishikawa asked. "Lady Kaede's ears are very sharp."
    "The Lady Kachiko is with him," another said.
    "Surely she would welcome my help," Kaede said.
    The guards shifted restlessly. "The empress left orders that she is not to be disturbed," one said.
    "We don't want to disturb her, either," Ishikawa said. "We just want to ease the emperor's suffering. I assumed you would as well."
    The lead samurai scratched his shoulder nervously. "We're all concerned, Ishikawa-sama," he said.
    "As well you should be. After all, your lives depend on it," the Seppun captain said with a smile.
    The guards smiled weakly at him and nodded.
    Ishikawa turned to Kaede. "Come on," he said, making as if to leave. "I'm sure these guards know their business better than we do. It's impossible that the emperor could be in any danger with such fine samurai watching over him."
    One of the men stepped forward. "If you want to check on the emperor, Ishikawa-sama..."
    "We would feel better...." added another.
    "And if you do not disturb the empress, how could she object?" said a third.
    Ishikawa turned back to the guards and bowed slightly. The guards bowed lower. They parted to allow Ishikawa and Kaede to pass. Ishikawa let Kaede go first. He handed his katana to the guards as he went, leaving his smaller sword, the wakizashi, tucked in his belt.
    The two of them walked down the short corridor leading to the emperor's chambers. In the past, the Hantei emperors had often moved their quarters about within the castle. That way, they could catch the best views, or the best light. The emperor would reside in the coolest rooms in the summer and the warmest in winter.
    Since he had taken ill, though, Hantei the 39th had stayed within this one room. The room lay buried deep within the castle and had no windows. Only this one corridor allowed access—though, obviously, Kachiko knew of a secret way out. The way stood open, its fiisuma panel slid back to admit some air. Coming within ten paces of the room, Ishikawa and Kaede both understood why.
    The air was stale and sour. Sickly sweet incense burned to mask the smell, but only made the air more cloying. Kaede put her sleeve over her mouth and nose.
    As the two approached, violent coughing echoed from the room. Cautiously, Kaede and Ishikawa stepped to the threshold.
    The room was dimly lit. Only two red paper lanterns scattered their wan light about the chamber. Imperial tatami mats, thick and lush, covered the wooden floor. Draped silks hung from many of the rafters, creating a gossamer curtain around the room's perimeter.
    A marvelous painting of Fudotaki, the capital city's great waterfall, covered the north wall of the room.