Aki’s claim to power was stronger than Kenbei’s, and the day she gave birth to Daigoro’s son, the infant’s claim would be ironclad.
If it was a son. If she lived long enough to see him born. If Yasuda samurai did not cut them both down.
“I speak to you because House Okuma still looks to you for guidance,” Kenbei said, softening his tone considerably. “Support me. A man of my experience is better suited to govern than young Akiko will ever be.”
“Lady Okuma,” Daigoro corrected.
“She is no lady. She is a girl. Of what, sixteen years?”
“Who sits at the head of House Okuma.” Daigoro delivered each word like a punch. In truth he was angry enough to escalate to swords.
Kenbei conceded the point with a bow. “You see what I mean. It is all too easy for the men of Izu to see her as a girl, not a landed samurai. They already look to me, for the same reason water looks for low-lying places: it is in their nature.”
“No one looks to you, Kenbei. House Yasuda is the lowest and smallest of Izu’s lords protector.”
“And House Okuma is the highest of them. I will have that seat whether you like it or not, so why not come along willingly? Support me and I will see to it that Akiko and your mother live in comfort for the rest of their days.”
“They already live in comfort. The only one who threatens to disturb that is you. Know your place, Kenbei.”
Azami snorted like an angry dog. Daigoro would not have been surprised to see her bare her teeth. “You tell my husband to know his place? You’re nothing more than a common criminal!”
“Not so common, or else you and your husband would not treat with me.”
“I do not need to,” Kenbei said. “I had hoped for your blessing, but if you will not give it freely, then I will take House Okuma by other means.”
“Have you lost your wits? The Okumas and Yasudas have not gone to war for generations. Our alliance is the only reason the Soras and Inoues did not gobble us up years ago. The only reason Izu remains independent is that we force the lords protector to maintain a unified front. So why draw swords now?”
“I will not make war with steel when I can do it with gold. House Okuma’s coffers are nearly empty, Daigoro-san. I will call in all of your debts. Since your family cannot pay in coin, I will force them to pay with their other holdings. I will take their home away shingle by shingle if I must, and leave them sleeping in the rain.”
A derisive laugh escaped Daigoro’s lips. “I would have thought to hear that strategy from your wife, not from you. Money is a woman’s weapon.”
The muscles stood out in Kenbei’s cheeks. “My father speaks highly of you. I had not thought to encounter such stubbornness.”
“You must not have listened to him very carefully. What you see in me is not stubbornness, it is honor.”
“Where is the honor in allowing a sixteen-year-old girl to govern your house? Surely you can see the wisdom in what I propose. Let the younger Lady Okuma raise her child in peace. Together we can restore your mother’s status as dowager. We will establish her as Lady Yasuda Okuma-no-kami, Protector of the Okumas. She will have sixteen years of peaceful rule before her husband comes of age.”
“Peaceful rule, but in name only. No doubt you would be generous enough to step in and speak on your grandson’s behalf.”
“Only on the most important matters.”
“And who would decide which matters are ‘most important’?” Daigoro jeered, making no effort to conceal his scorn. This had gone on quite long enough. “You intend to unite our clans under one banner—a green banner, a Yasuda banner. You would make the Okumas your vassal.”
“As is only just, if House Okuma cannot manage its own affairs.”
Daigoro pushed himself to his feet. It took some effort; his withered right leg made everything more difficult than it should have been. In that regard it was just like Yasuda Kenbei. “We’re through talking,” he said. “Get out.”
Kenbei’s jaw muscles flexed again. He looked like a squirrel with nuts in its mouth. “I thought you would be more reasonable.”
“I thought you would not forget your honor. How is it that a man as great as your father had so little influence on you?”
Kenbei looked at his wife. It was such a fleeting glance that Daigoro could