putting her
finger to her mouth and tasting the salt of her own blood.
“I don't know exactly. But Lord
Iida himself is in favor, and the Tohan keen to seal the alliance with the
Otori. Then they win control the whole of the Middle Country.”
“How old is he?” Kaede forced
herself to ask next.
“It's not clear yet, lady. But age
does not matter in a husband.”
Kaede took up the embroidery again:
white cranes and blue turtles on a deep pink background—a wedding robe. “I wish
it would never be finished!”
“Be happy, Lady Kaede. You will be
leaving here. The Otori live in Hagi, by the sea. It's an honorable match for
you.”
“Marriage frightens me,” Kaede
said.
“Everyone's frightened of what they
don't know! But women come to enjoy it; you'll see.” Junko chuckled to herself.
Kaede remembered the hands of the
guard, his strength, his desire, and felt revulsion rise in her. Her own hands,
usually deft and quick, slowed. Junko scolded her, but not unkindly, and for
the rest of the day treated her with great gentleness.
A few days later she was summoned
to Lord Noguchi. She had heard the tramp of horses' feet and the shouts of
strange men as guests arrived, but had as usual kept out of the way. It was
with trepidation that she entered the audience room, but to her surprise and
joy, her father was seated in a place of honor, at Lord Noguchi's side.
As she bowed to the ground she saw
the delight leap into his face. She was proud that he saw her in a more
honorable position now. She vowed she would never do anything to bring him
sorrow or dishonor.
When she was told to sit up, she
tried to take a discreet look at him. His hair was thinner and grayer, his face
more lined. She longed for news of her mother and sisters; she hoped she would
be granted some time alone with him.
“Lady Shirakawa,” Lord Noguchi
began. “We have received an offer for you in marriage, and your father has come
to give his consent.”
Kaede bowed low again, murmuring,
“Lord Noguchi.”
“It is a great honor for you. It
will seal the alliance between the Tohan and the Otori, and unite three ancient
families. Lord Iida himself will attend your wedding: Indeed, he wants it to
take place in Inuyama. Since your mother is not well, a relative of your
family, Lady Maruyama, is going to escort you to Tsuwano. Your husband is to be
Otori Shigeru, a nephew of the Otori lords. He and his retainers will meet you
in Tsuwano. I don't think any other arrangements need to be made. It's all very
satisfactory.”
Kaede's eyes had flown to her
father's face when she heard her mother was not well. She hardly took in Lord
Noguchi's subsequent words. Later she realized that the whole affair had been
arranged with the least possible inconvenience and expense to himself: some
robes for travel and to be married in, possibly a maid to accompany her. Truly
he had come out of the whole exchange well.
He was joking now about the dead
guard. The color rose in Kaede's face. Her father's eyes were cast down. I'm
glad he lost a man over me, she thought savagely. May he lose a hundred more.
Her father was to return home the
following day, his wife's illness preventing a longer stay. In his expansive
mood, Lord Noguchi urged him to spend time with his daughter. Kaede led her
father to the small room overlooking the garden. The air was warm, heavy with
the scents of spring. A bush warbler called from the pine tree. Junko served them
tea. Her courtesy and attentiveness lightened her father's mood.
“I am glad you have one friend
here, Kaede,” he murmured.
“What is the news of my mother?”
she said, anxiously.
“I wish it were better. I fear the
rainy season will weaken her further. But this marriage has lifted her spirits.
The Otori are a great family, and Lord Shigeru, it seems, a fine man. His
reputation is good. He is well-liked and respected. It's all we could have
hoped for you—more than we could have hoped.”
“Then I am happy with
finger to her mouth and tasting the salt of her own blood.
“I don't know exactly. But Lord
Iida himself is in favor, and the Tohan keen to seal the alliance with the
Otori. Then they win control the whole of the Middle Country.”
“How old is he?” Kaede forced
herself to ask next.
“It's not clear yet, lady. But age
does not matter in a husband.”
Kaede took up the embroidery again:
white cranes and blue turtles on a deep pink background—a wedding robe. “I wish
it would never be finished!”
“Be happy, Lady Kaede. You will be
leaving here. The Otori live in Hagi, by the sea. It's an honorable match for
you.”
“Marriage frightens me,” Kaede
said.
“Everyone's frightened of what they
don't know! But women come to enjoy it; you'll see.” Junko chuckled to herself.
Kaede remembered the hands of the
guard, his strength, his desire, and felt revulsion rise in her. Her own hands,
usually deft and quick, slowed. Junko scolded her, but not unkindly, and for
the rest of the day treated her with great gentleness.
A few days later she was summoned
to Lord Noguchi. She had heard the tramp of horses' feet and the shouts of
strange men as guests arrived, but had as usual kept out of the way. It was
with trepidation that she entered the audience room, but to her surprise and
joy, her father was seated in a place of honor, at Lord Noguchi's side.
As she bowed to the ground she saw
the delight leap into his face. She was proud that he saw her in a more
honorable position now. She vowed she would never do anything to bring him
sorrow or dishonor.
When she was told to sit up, she
tried to take a discreet look at him. His hair was thinner and grayer, his face
more lined. She longed for news of her mother and sisters; she hoped she would
be granted some time alone with him.
“Lady Shirakawa,” Lord Noguchi
began. “We have received an offer for you in marriage, and your father has come
to give his consent.”
Kaede bowed low again, murmuring,
“Lord Noguchi.”
“It is a great honor for you. It
will seal the alliance between the Tohan and the Otori, and unite three ancient
families. Lord Iida himself will attend your wedding: Indeed, he wants it to
take place in Inuyama. Since your mother is not well, a relative of your
family, Lady Maruyama, is going to escort you to Tsuwano. Your husband is to be
Otori Shigeru, a nephew of the Otori lords. He and his retainers will meet you
in Tsuwano. I don't think any other arrangements need to be made. It's all very
satisfactory.”
Kaede's eyes had flown to her
father's face when she heard her mother was not well. She hardly took in Lord
Noguchi's subsequent words. Later she realized that the whole affair had been
arranged with the least possible inconvenience and expense to himself: some
robes for travel and to be married in, possibly a maid to accompany her. Truly
he had come out of the whole exchange well.
He was joking now about the dead
guard. The color rose in Kaede's face. Her father's eyes were cast down. I'm
glad he lost a man over me, she thought savagely. May he lose a hundred more.
Her father was to return home the
following day, his wife's illness preventing a longer stay. In his expansive
mood, Lord Noguchi urged him to spend time with his daughter. Kaede led her
father to the small room overlooking the garden. The air was warm, heavy with
the scents of spring. A bush warbler called from the pine tree. Junko served them
tea. Her courtesy and attentiveness lightened her father's mood.
“I am glad you have one friend
here, Kaede,” he murmured.
“What is the news of my mother?”
she said, anxiously.
“I wish it were better. I fear the
rainy season will weaken her further. But this marriage has lifted her spirits.
The Otori are a great family, and Lord Shigeru, it seems, a fine man. His
reputation is good. He is well-liked and respected. It's all we could have
hoped for you—more than we could have hoped.”
“Then I am happy with
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