Ranger's Apprentice 10: The Emperor of Nihon-Ja by John Flanagan Page A

such reassurance would likely fall on deaf ears, he knew. The Kikori had years of experience of arrogant treatment at the hands of the Senshi and no number of soft words could change that.
    As he hesitated, he felt a light touch on his forearm.
    ‘Perhaps I should talk to them, cousin,’ said Shigeru.
    Shukin hesitated. Even in such humble surroundings, Shigeru should be accorded a certain level of esteem. And that meant that he should be announced properly, with all his titles and honours, so that the people could greet him respectfully.
    He drew breath to say something along those lines when he realised that Shigeru was already swinging down from the saddle. The Emperor grinned at the man nearest to him, a heavily muscled, thickset type who had obviously spent his lifetime swinging the massive axe that he held loosely in his right hand. The man’s face was set in a stubborn, unsmiling expression. He had the look of a leader about him. He was the one to win over, Shigeru knew.
    ‘Aaaah!’ the Emperor said, with deep relief as he rubbed his buttocks. ‘That feels so good!’
    The timber worker couldn’t help a small, surprised smile forming. He was disarmed by Shigeru’s ingenuous statement and informal manner. They were far removed from the haughty demeanour of the Senshi that the timber worker had encountered in the past.
    Shukin watched anxiously from his saddle, his eyes fixed on that massive axe. He desperately wanted to move his hand closer to the hilt of his sword but he knew that would be a mistake – possibly a fatal one. At the slightest sign of aggression, this tableau could explode into bloodshed.
    Shigeru, however, seemed to have no such misgivings. He stepped closer to the man, bowed to him, and held out his hand in greeting.
    ‘What’s your name?’ he asked.
    The timber worker was taken aback. This Senshi was offering to clasp hands in friendship, an unprecedented gesture. And he had bowed first – a totally unexpected sign of politeness. He started to reach for Shigeru’s hand, realised that he held the axe in his own right hand and shifted it awkwardly to his left. Then he hesitated, glancing down at his callused hand, still stained with dirt and tree sap from the day’s hard work.
    Shigeru laughed, a deep booming sound that was genuinely amused.
    ‘Don’t worry about me!’ he said. ‘I’m not such a fragrant flower myself!’ And he held up his own palm, dirt and travel stained, for them all to see. ‘Just don’t crush my tiny fingers in that massive grip of yours!’
    A muted ripple of amusement ran through the watching villagers. Horace sensed a certain lessening in the tension. The timber worker grinned in reply and reached forward to clasp Shigeru’s hand.
    ‘I am Eiko,’ he said.
    Shigeru nodded, filing the name away. Horace knew the Emperor could be introduced to another twenty people this night and he would remember all their names after hearing them once. It was a skill that Shigeru had demonstrated on more than one occasion.
    Eiko now cocked his head to one side expectantly, wondering if the Senshi would respond with his own name. If he did, it would be a first. Senshi normally proclaimed their names loudly, expecting lower classes to respond with respect and awe. In Eiko’s experience, they didn’t exchange names in friendship with Kikori axemen.
    Shigeru held the pause just long enough to make sure he had everyone’s attention. Then he reclaimed his hand, shaking it a little in joking deference to the strength of Eiko’s grip.
    ‘Nice to meet you, Eiko. I’m Shigeru Motodato.’
    There was an intake of breath from the assembled villagers. Of course they knew the name. There had been rumours that Shigeru was visiting his mountain lodge, not too far away. And they had heard other rumours over the past few years. It was said that this Emperor was a friend of the lower classes, that he spoke easily and freely with farmers, fishermen and woodcutters when he encountered