Ranger's Apprentice 10: The Emperor of Nihon-Ja Read Online Free PDF Page B

to bow from the saddle. That was odd, thought Horace. He’d been around Shigeru long enough to know that the proper etiquette called for the rider to dismount and then kneel. The message, whatever it is, must be urgent.
    George had noticed the breach of normal behaviour as well. ‘Something’s gone wrong,’ he said quietly.
    The messenger was speaking rapidly to Shigeru now. He kept his voice low so that those around the Emperor couldn’t hear him. Horace saw the Emperor and his cousin both stiffen in their saddles and sit a little straighter. Whatever the message, it had taken them by surprise. And the surprise seemed to be an unpleasant one. Shigeru halted the messenger’s flow with a quick word and turned in the saddle to beckon them forward.
    Quickly, Horace and George trotted their horses up to join the small group.
    ‘Tell us again,’ Shigeru said. ‘But speak the common tongue so that Or’ss-san can understand.’
    Horace nodded his thanks to Shigeru. Then the messenger spoke again. In spite of his haste in arriving here, he spoke calmly and clearly.
    ‘Lord Shigeru, Or’ss-san and George-san, there has been a revolt in Ito. A revolt against the Emperor.’

Nihon-Ja

    Horace frowned, puzzled. George evidently felt the same. He leaned forward to question the messenger.
    ‘But why would the people turn on their Emperor?’ he asked. ‘They love Lord Shigeru.’
    It wasn’t idle flattery or the sort of sycophancy that you might expect to hear around a ruler. Both Horace and George had seen ample evidence of Shigeru’s popularity as they had travelled north with him from the palace. But Shigeru was shaking his head at them, a look of immense sadness on his normally cheerful features.
    ‘Not the people,’ he said bitterly. ‘The Senshi. Lord Arisaka has led his clan in a revolt against my rule. They’ve seized the palace at Ito and killed many of my supporters. The Umaki clan has joined them.’
    These were two of the most powerful and influential Senshi clans in the country. Horace and George exchanged horrified glances. Then George addressed the Emperor.
    ‘But, your excellency, these clans have sworn their obedience to you, surely? How can they break that oath?’ George knew that among the Senshi class, an oath was inviolable.
    Shigeru’s lips were drawn together in a tight line and he shook his head, unable to speak for the moment, overcome with emotion. It was Shukin who answered for him.
    ‘They claim the Emperor has violated his own oath by trying to raise up the common people against their betters. They claim he has betrayed his class – the Senshi class – and is no longer worthy to be Emperor.’
    ‘And as a result,’ Shigeru added bitterly, ‘their oath of loyalty to me is worthless. I am the oath-breaker, not they.’
    ‘But…’ Horace hesitated, searching for the right words. ‘You’re not “raising up the common people”. You’re simply trying to make their lives better, by recognising their value. How can Arisaka get away with such a distortion of the true facts?’
    Shigeru met the young man’s gaze. He had regained a little control now and spoke evenly.
    ‘Or’ss-san, people will believe half-truths and distortions if they coincide with what they want to believe. If they reflect their fears. The Senshi have an irrational fear that I want to take away their power over the people and Arisaka has traded upon that fear.’
    ‘But Arisaka doesn’t believe it himself?’ George said.
    ‘Arisaka believes something else,’ Shigeru replied. ‘When the previous emperor died without an heir, Arisaka believes he should have been chosen as Emperor in my place.’
    ‘He’s been busy for months,’ Shukin told them, his contempt for the traitor Arisaka all too obvious in his voice, ‘sowing fear and dissent among the Senshi, spreading the lie that my cousin is betraying his class and planning to give the common people power over them. His campaign has been successful, it