Grass for His Pillow by Lian Hearn

head.
    â€œI am a shamed man,” he said. “I should have died. I did not. I am hollow now, only partly alive. Look at me, daughter.”
    It was true that terrible changes had been wrought in him. He had always been controlled and dignified. Now he seemed a husk of his former self. There was a half-healed slash from temple to left ear; the hair had been shaved away from the wound. His feet were bare and his robe stained, his jaw was dark with stubble.
    â€œWhat happened to you?” she said, trying to keep the anger out of her voice. She had come seeking refuge, looking for the lost childhood home she had spent eight years mourning, only to find it almost destroyed.
    Her father made a weary gesture. “What does it matter?Everything is lost, ruined. Your return is the final blow. What happened to your marriage to Lord Otori? Don’t tell me he is dead.”
    â€œThrough no fault of mine,” she said bitterly. “Iida murdered him.”
    His lips tightened and his face paled. “We have heard nothing here.”
    â€œIida is also dead,” she went on. “Arai’s forces have taken Inuyama. The Tohan are overthrown.”
    The mention of Arai’s name obviously disturbed him. “That traitor,” he muttered, staring into the darkness as though ghosts gathered there. “He defeated Iida?” After a pause he went on, “I seem to have once again found myself on the losing side. My family must be under some curse. For the first time I am glad I have no son to inherit from me. Shirakawa can fade away, regretted by no one.”
    â€œYou have three daughters!” Kaede responded, stung into anger.
    â€œAnd my oldest is also cursed, bringing death to any man connected with her!”
    â€œIida caused Lord Otori’s death! It was a plot from the start. My marriage was designed to bring him to Inuyama and into Iida’s hands.” The rain drummed hard against the roof, cascading from the eaves. Shizuka came in silently with more lamps, placed them on the floor, and knelt behind Kaede. I must control myself, Kaede thought. I must not tell him everything.
    He was staring at her, his face puzzled. “So, are you married or not?”
    Her heart was racing. She had never lied to her father. Now she found she could not speak. She turned her head away, as if overcome by grief.
    Shizuka whispered. “May I speak, Lord Shirakawa?”
    â€œWho is she?” he said to Kaede.
    â€œShe is my maid. She came to me at Noguchi Castle.”
    He nodded in Shizuka’s direction. “What do you have to say?”
    â€œLady Shirakawa and Lord Otori were married secretly at Terayama,” Shizuka said in a low voice. “Your kinswoman was witness, but she also died at Inuyama, along with her daughter.”
    â€œMaruyama Naomi is dead? Things get worse and worse. The domain will be lost to her stepdaughter’s family now. We may as well hand over Shirakawa to them too.”
    â€œI am her heir,” Kaede said. “She entrusted everything to me.”
    He gave a short mirthless laugh. “They have disputed the domain for years. The husband is a cousin of Iida’s, and is supported by many from both the Tohan and the Seishuu. You are mad if you think they will let you inherit.”
    Kaede felt rather than heard Shizuka stir slightly behind her. Her father was just the first man of many, an army, a whole clan—maybe even all the Three Countries—who would try to thwart her.
    â€œAll the same, I intend to.”
    â€œYou’ll have to fight for it,” he said with scorn.
    â€œThen I will fight.” They sat for a few moments in silence in the darkened room with the rain-drenched garden beyond.
    â€œWe have few men left,” her father said, his voice bitter. “Will the Otori do anything for you? I suppose you must marry again. Have they suggested anyone?”
    â€œIt is too early to think of that,” Kaede