to deliver it to the Hayate shrine. That useless new girl should be able to manage that, at least.”
She glanced down at herself, as if realizing for the first time she and her magnificent robes were covered in blood that stained the silk and was still running down her arm. “Such a messy business,” she sighed. “And trying enough without being spied upon. Are you getting a good look, little spirit, or whoever is haunting this castle? I can feel you watching me, you know. You’re not terribly subtle.”
Suki jolted back, flaring into existence, and Satomi turned to her with a smile.
“There you are. Well, well, still hanging around, Suki-chan?” the woman mocked, as Suki floated there, stunned. Satomi chuckled, shaking her head. “Poor lost lingering soul. Too weak and frightened to even come back as a grudge spirit. How very pathetic. But you are of no importance to me anymore.”
Suki clenched her ghostly fists, wishing she could do something, anything. Even pick up the dead crow’s head and hurl it at the evil woman. Satomi chuckled again, then bent to grab the bloody cloth from the table. “If you wish to haunt me, little soul,” the woman crooned as she wiped her arm clean, “you go right ahead. But if you become annoying, or if you get in my way, I know a few blood priestesses and onmyoji who would be happy to bind your spirit to a wall scroll. Or the mirror. Or perhaps stuff you into a monkey.” Her lips curled even further, showing teeth as she stepped forward. “Would you like to be a monkey, Suki-chan? Personally, I think it would be an improvement, don’t you? Catch!”
She hurled the bloody cloth at Suki’s face. Instinctively, Suki jerked back, throwing up her arms to shield herself. The rag passed right through her arms and face and struck the wall behind her, and Suki felt her body shiver like mist in response. With a soundless cry, the distraught ghost turned and fled, vanishing through the walls of the castle, hearing Satomi’s cruel laughter follow her as she did.
21
The Legend of Oni no Mikoto
“I think we’ve crossed the border, Kage-san,” the ronin announced, shading his eyes as he gazed down the hill with Yumeko. “I’m pretty certain we’re in Taiyo lands now. The capital shouldn’t be far.”
Standing in the shade of a ginkgo tree, I gazed down at the sweeping vista before us and concluded that he was right. These were definitely the lands of the Sun Clan. We had crossed into the territory of the Taiyo. While not as martially powerful as the Fire Clan, or as numerously large as the Earth Clan, the Taiyo were perhaps the most influential of all the Great Clans, for they made up the imperial family. They ruled the capital city of Kin Heigen Toshi, and as far back as history could remember, the emperor or empress had always been part of the Sun Clan.
The silvery glint of a river, snaking through the valley toward the distant peaks, caught my eye. “There’s the Hotaru Kawa,” I said. “If we follow it north, it will lead to the capital.”
“Yep. And we got here without having to pass through the border checkpoint, which would’ve been a pain in the ass.” The ronin grinned back at me. “See, it all worked out, Kage-san. A dog always finds its way.”
I didn’t answer. The ronin had kept his word and had led us through the mountains, but he was also responsible for getting us lost in the first place. Still, I could admit he had proven useful in the gaki village; his skill as a warrior had certainly helped in the last battle, even if it wasn’t with a sword. And we had avoided the checkpoint, though I would need to be careful of any imperial magistrates or guards who might demand to see my travel papers. At best, depending on the circumstances, I would have to pay a hefty fine for traveling through another clan’s territory without proper documentation. At worst, I would be imprisoned and executed, my clan shamed and dishonor brought to my family. Yumeko would be fine; no one paid attention to peasant girls, and ronin were rarely given a second glance. But I was a Kage samurai, or at least I looked the part, and samurai were treated with caution in territories not their own. Especially if that samurai was part of the Shadow Clan.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been