The solution to their difficulties arrived the next morning, in the form of a letter. It was delivered to Lady Mariko, who called Anna and Harada as soon as she read it. "His Highness has heard about this outrageous attack and has decided that it would be too dangerous for us to continue traveling to the palace every day." She related the content of the letter. "Therefore, I am invited to come and stay at the palace until Lord Takeda's return. A suitable escort will be provided and I am to take with me as many of my attendants and guards as I wish." She looked up. "This is a great honour." She said, looking at her companions with a mixture of pride and awe.
"My Lady," Harada bowed. "It's a perfect way to ensure your safety."
Nobody mentioned that the real target for the attack was Anna. Although she had no doubts that, deprived of one possibility, SaitÅ will find another. Poison, perhaps. But moving to the palace was the best solution for their problem and Anna nodded her assent.
"Very well," Mariko announced. "I've been told that our escort is already waiting at the gate. Harada-San, please, choose the people you want to go with us. Ana-San, please prepare." With that the meeting was over.
Anna went to her room to gather the few things she was going to take with her. Her swords will have to remain here, but she had other weapons she could take and conceal on her person. She would not be defenceless. Then she went outside to supervise the servants and soldiers gathering in the courtyard.
Kazuki was already there. "My Lady," He grinned in greeting. "I told you something would come up."
"Kazuki, always the optimist." She grinned back. Then she stepped closer, suddenly very serious. "I want you to make sure Mariko is safe during our trip to the palace."
"My Lady, my highest priority is your wellbeing." He was taken aback by her instruction.
"I will be fine." She cut him off. "That's an order."
"Hai." He just bowed, but his eyes flashed.
After a short while Mariko stepped out into the courtyard. She looked fresh and radiant, as if nothing had happened the previous day. She surveyed her entourage and with a nod of approval entered her palanquin. The gates opened and immediately they were surrounded by the armed guards. The commander stepped forward and with surprise Anna recognised him as the one who had come to their rescue the day before. This made her think.
"My Lady," The commander bowed to Mariko. "Please, allow me to escort you to the palace."
"Let us go." Came her calm reply.
"Hai."
Anna stayed close to the palanquin, surveying the street for any sign of danger.
This many guards caused a major sensation. Although all KyÅto had already been talking about the ambush, not many expected this course of action. Anna thought that the Emperor must have been told about the previous attacks and treated this one with all due consideration. Her assumptions were confirmed when they were met by one of the court officials, who was to escort Lady Mariko to her new quarters. At the same time Anna was taken straight to the Emperor.
"Your Highness." She bowed, entering his presence.
"I was told by Lord Takeda that an attempt on your life was likely, but... I didn't think they would dare to try this close to the palace." He was truly shocked by the audacity of the assassins. "Is Lady Mariko unharmed?"
"She was lightly wounded, but it's nothing serious, Your Highness."
"I was also told about the fight. Apparently, you fight like samurai."
"Hai, My Lord. Lord Takeda deemed it necessary to train me."
"And one of your men," He chose his words carefully. "Allegedly, he moves like Ninja?"
"Your Highness, he is just very agile. Anybody could have climbed that roof..."
He stopped her with a subtle move of his delicate hand. "Whatever means Lord Takeda deemed appropriate for his sister's and your safety is only a credit to his diligence." The Emperor smiled slightly. "In his place, I would have done the same." He added quietly.
*
Their stay at the palace did not change the daily routines much and the time seemed to slow down to a trickle...
Some weeks later, an unusual commotion awoke Anna in the middle of the night. To uphold her disguise she still shared a room with other maids, but none of them stirred in their sleep. Not knowing the reason for the disturbance, Anna grabbed her Tanto and quietly slipped outside. Kazuki, who somehow always managed to sneak in to the women's quarters, was already there. "What's going on?" She asked.
"I don't know, but the servants have been running up and down the corridor with scared faces. Something's up." He was very alert. "You should go to Lady Mariko's bedroom, My Lady."
"No." She shook her head. "Not before we know what's going on." She stopped, seeing the doctor hurrying towards them. "Mushiso-San, what's happening?"
"The court is in a lock-down. There's a pox outbreak."
She gasped. "Is the Emperor ill?"
"No. Not yet."
"He needs to be evacuated immediately!" She interrupted him. "He cannot stay here! Please convey that to his physician. How about the Prince and his mother?"
"As far as I can tell, both are ill. Although, the boy not as gravely as his mother."
"Children bear it better than adults. Let me help. I had chicken-pox when I was a child and should be resistant now."
"Are you sure?" He was sceptical.
"Yes. You will need all the help. How is Lady Mariko?"
"I was just going to see her."
"Kazuki?" She looked at her bodyguard.
"I am fine." He assured.
Mariko was up, also disturbed by the commotion. She convinced them she was feeling fine and didn't require any assistance. "Please offer your help to those who really need it." They bowed and left.
"Kazuki, I want you to stay and keep an eye on everything. This is a perfect opportunity for an assassin to slip in undetected. I will be safe." She preempted his protests.
He just bowed in submission and turned back towards Mariko's quarters.
Anna followed Mushiso deeper into the palace. They visited the Prince first. He was a boy of five and, despite a minor fever, he was very excited by all the commotion. He had a few spots that were itchy, but he should be fine in a few days. Unfortunately, all his attendants were ill and incapable of taking care of him. "I will keep him company and play with him until his servants are better." She offered. "But let us see his mother first."
The Lady, Nakayama Yoshiko, was a favourite concubine of the Emperor and the mother of Prince Sachi, who was groomed to become the Crown Prince and the eventual successor of his father, Emperor KÅmei. The Lady appeared to be very ill, with high temperature and rash on her face and chest. Her ladies were scared and more than a few displayed the same symptoms. Anna left them to doctor Mushiso. She knelt next to the futon and bowed low. "My Lady."
Lady Nakayama opened her eyes. "My son..." She moaned.
"The Prince is not gravely ill and should recover shortly. If you allow, I will watch over him. I promise to keep him safe."
"You... are... Gai-Jin."
"I will protect him." Anna just repeated.
The Lady nodded. Her eyes closed and she seemed to slip into a faint.
"Please attend to her." Anna bowed to Mushiso. "I will now return to the Prince. Please, let me know if you need any assistance."
The Prince was alone in his empty room and getting a little scared. "Where's my mother?" He asked.
"Your Highness," Anna bowed. "Your mother is ill and needs to rest. I will stay with you until she is well again."
He looked at her curiously, but well used to many strangers constantly surrounding him, he just nodded. "I'm hot." He complained.
"I'll help you to take off these robes. You will feel better. And later I can tell you a story."
His eyes lit up. "A scary story?"
"If you wish so." She smiled.
She undressed and bathed him in cool water. Soon Mushiso sent a herbal drink for the fever and some food. And although tired, the boy still demanded his story. Anna started speaking, but soon realised that he had fallen asleep.
From then on she fed him and played with him until he started to feel better. She told him stories and sung to him quietly when he couldn't sleep. He loved playing monsters and never complained about her singing voice. Once, when exhausted by chasing her, he fell asleep in her arms, she thought with sadness that perhaps this is the closest she would ever come to caring for a child. Her heart contracted painfully. What wouldn't she give to have a child of her own, to have Hikaru's baby...