The Seabird of Sanematsu Read Online Free PDF Page B

for the energy to bathe. His head fell forward, and then he jerked awake.

    Hamasaki and a girl stepped into the room, admitted by Sanematsu’s private guard, who stood vigilant in the outer hall.

    “My lord.” Hamasaki dropped to his knees. A hand clasped on the woman’s wrist forced her down with him. She bowed forward in like manner.

    “Greetings, Hamasaki-uji.” He bowed, and then all three straightened. “You may depart.”

    Hamasaki fled, and the personal guard fell back and closed the shoji. The panel slid without resistance on its thin wooden frame with a faint hiss followed by a definitive snap.

    Sanematsu berated his carelessness. Dozing off could have cost him his life. Since childhood, he had been drilled never to show a sign of weakness or appear less than perfect. It angered him to have to be so rigid in every facet of his life. He wanted to be at ease in his household, but nothing about his life promised relaxation.

    He shook the cobwebs from his brain while he tried to recall who this was. When he remembered her--the prisoner from the ship--he was amazed. She looked so different from the filthy, gore-covered girl she had been. With half a heart, he motioned for her to come forward.

    ** *

    Aderyn stood and walked to a zabuton a few feet in front of Sanematsu. She knelt on the floor cushion and sat on her heels, watching her captor. Confusion clouded his dark eyes. He did not remember her!

    He signaled for a maid and requested tea. The servant returned minutes later and, after he moved the sword to his left, knelt at his right. Aderyn watched her prepare the tea. Her black hair, straight and long, framed a face with delicate features powdered pale, and red paint adorned her mouth. Her hands, too, were delicate and tiny, and lacquer glistened on the nails of her long, slender fingers.

    The man did not look at the maid often, but when he did, Aderyn could read lust in his eyes--she had not spent so many years with lecherous, woman-starved sailors without noticing the leers. Though she had been aware of her elder sisters’ keeping company with sailors in the darkest areas of the ship, the men terrified her and she avoided them.

    Well, if he looks so at her, he will have no need of me!

    No longer afraid, she grew curious. She had received fair treatment since the moment Hamasaki had awakened her with a tray of food in the afternoon. She was so hungry she did not care or remember what she had eaten. The Evil One then came and ordered Hamasaki to take her to Sanematsu’s quarters after the daimyo had dined. A short while later, a woman arrived and spoke in muted tones to the young guard and he had brought her here.

    As she came out of the prison, she noticed a deep glow in the western sky, changing shape. A stream of smoke billowed; cinders flew. Imagining her father’s ship disappearing beneath the water in flames brought anguish to her heart. No hope of escape, no familiar language or customs. No family to join her in her exile except in her memory. She was alone without ally.

    Or was she? The man who saved her life could be such. Wiping a tear off her cheek, she had continued after Hamasaki.

    The maid’s gesture for her to move closer interrupted Aderyn’s reverie. This brought her within inches of the table in front of Sanematsu, her knees under its edge. The maid poured the tea and presented the first bowl to her master. With a nod of his head, he took it, his eyes resting on her. She repeated the process and offered the small bowl to his prisoner. Concentrating on preventing her hands from trembling, Aderyn reached to take the delicate cup, but it slipped through her fingers, damp with nervous sweat.

    Hot tea rushed across the tabletop toward Sanematsu. Jumping to help, Aderyn upset the table. The teapot tipped backwards and emptied onto his leg. The maid began to mop his clothing with her wide sleeve. The simple, light garment soaked up the liquid effectively.

    “I am sorry!”