Min-Orota sat there, his mouth open, stunned by Cadillac's response.

'You... are Brickman?"

'No, sire. I am Cadillac Deville of the Clan m'call, from the bloodline of the She-Kargo. But we have met."

Min-Orota slapped his thighs angrily. 'I knew it! By the G.o.ds! It was you who built the flying-horses!" 'Yes, my lord. But you must believe me when I tell you I had no part in their destruction or the murderous events that followed. That was the work of the Federation and the TohYota."

'But you fled with them..."

'I had no choice. iF i had stayed, would you have spared me?"

Min-Orota, recalling the slaughter of everyone connected with the Heron Pool who had survived the debacle, said grimly: 'I spared no one. But I still do not understand. You had the clear skin of a long-dog then."

Cadillac - who was aware of the speed with which Iron Masters could draw and strike with their swords hoped Roz was ready to quell any violent move by Min-Orota.

The domain-lord was trembling with anger. In the circ.u.mstances it was justifiable. He had been deceived then and thought he was being deceived now. The trick Cadillac had to perform was to deflect that anger onto the Shogun.

He squared his shoulders and looked Min-Orota fearlessly.

'Have you forgotten what you witnessed at Sarakusa?

We have the power to make you see us in any shape or colour we desire."

He reached out sideways and grasped Roz's wrist. 'Or become invisible like the kami of the forests!" Roz seized control of Min-Orota's mind.

The domain-lord gasped as the two monkey-witches disappeared from the room, and then the room itself melted away. He found himself sitting on the gra.s.s in a leafy glade in the middle of an immense forest pierced by the slanting rays of the sun. He could smell the pine-perfumed air, hear the rustle of leaves, feel the gra.s.s between his fingers.

Cadillac and Rain-Dancer materialised- seated in front of him. As they bowed, the surrounding forest faded away, the gra.s.s beneath him vanished - and they were back in the room with everything as it was.

Min-Orota was still trembling, but not with anger. He took a minute or so to compose himself then bowed his head. 'I acknowledge your power, I admire your truthfulness and. am left breathless by your audacity."

Cadillac bowed in return. 'My lord, the Plainfolk have always sought a just friendship with the Iron Masters even though you have only treated us as slaves. We too feel betrayed! But because our code of honour is the equal of yours, I have returned to offer you rest.i.tution.

The real murderers of Lord Yamas.h.i.ta and the others who died at the Heron Pool are still unpunished! We are here to help you wreak vengeance on the Toh-Yota for the crimes they have committed against this nation! Are we to go forward together?"

'We are,' said Min-Orota. He drew the sheathed long-sword from his sash and held it up in both hands. 'I pledge my word and sword on that." He kissed the scabbard reverently then laid the sword on the mat in front of his knees.

'And we pledge our power to your righteous cause,' said Roz, pleased to be able to get a word in edgeways at last. 'Speak to us of the Lady Mishiko."

Kiyo Min-Orota told them about the secret message that had been delivered prior to meeting her face to face, and what had pa.s.sed between them. He did not know how or when she would arrive, but after her remark about being unable to sleep, he was sure she would turn up at some time during the night. His men had been alerted to expect a visit from a high-born lady who might for reasons of discretion appear to be something else entirely.

Cadillac mulled this over, then congratulated Min-Orota warmly. From past experience he knew that with this guy, flattery never failed. 'If we can prime Lady Mishiko, this secret journey by the Shogun and Ieyasu could actually work to our advantage. But we will have to move fast."

'My thoughts exactly,' replied MinoOrota. 'If she comes here tonight, as I believe she will, you will only be a day behind the Shogun. You will have plenty of time to get there and make your preparations."

Cadillac frowned. 'I don't quite follow you. Get where?"

'To the Summer Palace, on AronGiren."

Min-Orota uncapped a slim footlong black laquered tube he had laid down beside him on entering, and produced a rolled silk map of Ne-Issan. He spread it out on the polished wood floor and pointed out the relevant locations.

'We are here, just north of the Winter Palace. That is Aron-Giren, and the Summer Palace is there, at Yedo.

The Chamberlain and the Shogun are travelling by road.

It will take them another four days to reach the Summer Palace. If you and Lady Mishiko leave by junk tomorrow from here, Oshana-sita, you can get there in twenty-four hours - a full day before they do.

'.With the palace almost empty you will have the time and the opportunity to prepare the ground - as you explained to us at Sara-kusa. It would have been a hundred times more difficult here."

Cadillac sought Roz's reaction and saw the answer in her eyes. 'You are right, my lord. And if we travel with the Lady Mishiko we will have longer to... influence her."

This hadn't occurred to Min-Orota but he wasn't going to let himself be upstaged if he could help it. 'My thoughts exactly."

Cadillac bowed. 'We are fortunate to find ourselves allied to someone so wise and far-seeing. May the Heavens bless and preserve you."

Smug b.a.s.t.a.r.d ....

Min-Orota allowed himself.a brief smile of satisfaction.

'Only one question remains. How is the interview with the Lady Mishiko to be conducted?"

Cadillac who, in concert with Roz, had thought about little else over the last twelve days, proceeded to tell him.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

Having seen her children safely tucked up in their beds, Lady Mishiko donned the clothes of a Korean kitchenmaid, wrapped one of her own outfits in an empty rice sack, and slipped out of the Winter Palace on the back of an ox-cart, wedged between two trusted female servants and five of her guards.

As far as the sentries on the gates were concerned, they were just another off-duty group of workers heading for the crowded inn down the road for a jolly night out, but once they were swallowed up in the darkness, the driver turned right instead of left, and urged his plodding beasts towards the post-house at Be-isha.

It took just under an hour to cover the three miles.

Even though it was pitch dark it might have been quicker on foot, but it would have been unthinkable for someone like Lady Mishiko to walk along an open highway. Women of n.o.ble birth might take a stroll in the privacy of the palace gardens, but on any public outings they were always transported on the shoulders of lesser mortals.

Hearing the ox-cart trundle into the courtyard, the inn-keeper despatched his wife Shoshi to turn away the new arrivals. Opening the door that led onto the front verandah, she found the way barred by two of Lord Min-Orota's men. One of them told her to go back inside. The cart, he explained, belonged to their baggage train, and had been delayed by a broken wheel. There was no need to rouse her servants.

He and his companions would find somewhere for the late-corners to sleep. If anything else was required it could be attended to in the morning.

Faced by two armed samurai, Shoshi bowed obediently and beat a quick retreat, but her curiosity was aroused.

All inn-keepers were required by law to keep a register of all their guests. There were people who, for a variety of reasons, used forged ident.i.ty papers and travel permits, and it paid - sometimes handsomely - to keep one's eyes and ears open. It was also a good form of life insurance.

Like most buildings in Ne-Issan, the post-house inn was bolted and barred at nightfall, and its windows shuttered, but there were still cracks and crevices through which one could peer out. Shoshi did so now. Spying on people was one of her favourite occupations and it had proved to be an efficient way of keeping her staff on their toes.

Several more of the domain-lord's men were positioned round the cart.

Another pair, holding lanterns, helped Inazo, the gate-keeper, close and bar the high double gates hung beneath the roofed archway that linked the courtyard with the road beyond.

As the stocky figure of Inazo hurried back to the little house built against the inside wall, Shoshi caught sight of two more lantern bearers escorting the northern domain-lord towards the ox-cart.