Chapter 26: Winter Court

The political dance

Winter court was a completely new experience, instead of the drills of soldiery and dozens of men dressed in elaborate armor, there were courtiers talking and laughing in circles throughout the palaces of the Emperor the, beautiful robes and dresses each wore trying to outdo one another. Even the bodyguards were dressed carefully, though their clothing was far less than their masters, still they wore expensive silks and their hair carefully dressed.

Fuyukaze frowned as the attendant pulled a comb through his long hair, carefully working blue ribbons into the long strands making patterns within the long ponytail. He looked across the room, Hiroyama had an attendant working carefully to attach different elaborate netsuke or ornamental figures over the knotwork of his clothing. His sister however was surrounded by six attendants, each checking her clothing, her nails, her hair, for even the slightest imperfection, while the oldest sat at her feet and read her different letters as she stared forward trying to keep still while a servant applied her makeup.

The boy frowned, it seemed so meaningless, all this pomp and circumstance just to get started for a day. He looked down at the floor reflecting over the past weeks, and the events that had transpired. Though he had trained to be a warrior of his clan for years, his own mortality had showed itself so plainly in the past weeks. He drew a hand up to his shoulder, remembering the duel with Ayomi and how it nearly claimed his life. The young samurai moved his hand down to his side thinking of the battle in the woods, and how so many had tried to kill his sister. This world they were in was like a dream compared to the harsh realities outside the walls.

“What are you thinking about brother?” his sister's voice broke his reverie. Fuyukaze looked up to find the entire room had turned to look upon him, his sister looking at him squarely as each servant had paused in their duties to look towards the boy.

A hot blush slipped across his face, the young man gulping softly “N..nothing, I was just thinking about all that has been happening lately.” He stammered just looking down across the floor, as if the answer lay upon the polished wood.

“Many things have changed in the past few weeks, but these chance experiences are what make life more interesting.” She said, her voice practiced and almost musical, the girl but a few years older seemed so much more mature to Fuyukaze. Slowly she returned to her regal poise and her attendants resumed their duties. Still facing forward she continued a bit more softly “Does the wound on your side still hurt?”

“No Miyuki, it does not bother me.” The young man smiled slightly at his sister's words, then carefully straightened himself for the attendant. He was being dressed in a dark blue robes with a brilliant white crane, its body beginning upon one arm of his kimono and stretching across his body. A boy of about his age offered him his wakizashi, holding it lovingly in a piece of cloth. Fuyukaze took it gently, looking down at the new sword, the representation of his honor and adulthood. It felt so light in his hands, something so small and light for an item of such significance. He carefully placed the sword in his black to gray sash, drawing up the cords of silk to tie the weapon carefully into place.

He rose after Hiroyama, the youth carefully picking up his katana from the rack near the doorway, again carefully tied the silk cords to his sash. He began circling the room, trying to mimic Hiroyama's checks of all the doorways and windows and looking up at the rafters.

Not long after the group left, Hiroyama in front of Miyuki and Fuyukaze in the rear. They walked in column through the polished halls of the imperial palace, passing by servants as they strode confidently towards the main hall. Fuyukaze tried to look serious, but felt so out of place here. They strode through the passage from the guest house and into the courtyard, the snow had fallen through the night and it clung to the bushes and trees tightly. The paths had been cleared early in the morning, but the snow still clung to the ground, with a hint of green underneath looking like a layered cloth, white over green. His eyes searched through the courtyard, looking for signs of life amidst the snow but finding none save the gentle motion of fresh snowflakes falling from above. The chill burned Fuykaze's hands and he drew them into his robes, the arms hanging loosely at his sides.

They passed *through the main keep and into the great hallway, the low braziers smoldered with fresh charcoal creating a slow hot fire that filled the hallways with heat. The smoke wisps rose towards the ceiling collecting there is a grayish cloud. Hiroyama and Fuyukaze split from their positions nehind their charge as Miyuki entered the center of the room. Both bodyguards knelt just outside the hallway, given warm rice and tea to drink while their mistress waited within. They were joined by other bodyguards within the hallway, dressed immaculately only to show off the influence and majesty of their masters.

Miyuki knelt with Kaiten before a large dais in the center of the room. Other courtiers from the Nakami clan already knelt upon the tatami nodding to the courtiers and soon they were followed by the Tagarii, (Senishi,) Funada, Rensho, Yotsuka and <etc.> They waited in silence no one speaking a word but their eyes told it all as they looked upon the wrapped gifts wondering who would give the Emperor the greatest.

On Wa gifts were not based purely on value, but rather the sentimental or spiritual qualities of the object. After all the Emperor could have anything made of gold and jewels for he was the Emperor but a fan made of the wood of a thousand year old tree or a pearl taken by a hero of the clan from some great sea creature's lair held much greater value than any amount of gold could buy.

They looked upon the great throne, the only of its kind was created after the conquest of Wa after the delegations returned from Han. The throne was made of polished and lacquered wood, each piece inlaid with gold in a swirling pattern that made the seat appear as if it were formed of the clouds at sunrise. Behind the throne lay an elaborate mural the rising sun rising over a city and rice fields beyond. The work was flawed only in that the sun itself did not create light itself, the lanterns that filled the room provided.

Four men dressed in full armor, strode into the room, each clad glimmered in the light as gold leaf was worked into every plate of their lacquered plate. They knelt before the great throne bowing to it reverently before they split into two groups of two. The first pair knelt at the edge of the dais before the courtiers of the various clans. The other two carefully parted the great mural which created a seem and from which a long figure dressed in a long kimono of silver walked into the room. Upon his head was a crown of pure jade and he walked with regal poise as he stroke past his warriors to gingerly sit upon the cloud throne.

The man was followed by a man in a rich red kimono that fell to his knees, he wore a tall black cap one that was brought from the Empire of Han hundreds of years ago and was worn by every man who followed. He was the chief minister of the Emperor, a skilled advisor whose studies of ancient texts were beyond parallel. The position could only be inherited by a grueling system of examinations and was the only position of court available to any who could show their mastery of the arts though in truth it was often held by samurai. At the moment Tagarii Montari held the position.

The Emperor smiled and nodded his head gently to those who waited beneath his dais, he was followed by the two imperial guardsman and his minister. The Emperor sat down upon his throne his warriors closing the screen behind their master and joining their brothers upon the raised platform. The Montari simply knelt next to the Emperor upon his throne watching the crowd carefully.

“Dearest friends, thank you for traveling so far from your homes to join me for this winter court. You are all welcome in my city and within my home.” He looked to each family “My friends the Tagarii you watch over my realm and keep it safe as all your ancestors have done before you.” He smiled and let his eyes fall to the Taeshimo “and you Taeshimo have provided my family with wives for three hundred years.” He looked to the Rensho delegation “The Rensho protect my seas,” then his gaze slipped to the Yotsuka “and the Yotsuka pray to keep the fire god of Mt Yotsu appeased.” He smiled “some of you have come from struggles and wars, and some from lands which know peace. For now all swords are sheathed, and for this winter we all know peace.”

Almost in unison the courtiers all bowed low, the delegations pressing their faces to the floor as sign of deference before the son of heaven. The Mikado's winter court was a high honor to all those in attendance. It was then that the minister spoke “Your majesty, I believe some of your samurai have brought you gifts in gratitude for being able to spend the winter with you.”

The Emperor again smiled “Such gifts are not necessary, their centuries of loyal service is enough to earn their place but I would not want to be rude. Please why don't you ask them to present their gifts to me.”

The Minister nodded “Of course great son of heaven, Tagarii <name> what do you offer before your Emperor?”

The Tagarii delegation bowed low, their scion presenting a small package wrapped in golden cloth. He bowed his head low while rising and slowly and carrying the gift to their master. He knelt below the dais and spoke softly “Your majesty, the Tagarii as always are grateful for your favor. We have brought to you a token of our clan history lost. During the battle of crashing waves, when the oni made landfall and the Emperor fought side by side with our ancient master the Emperor was struck. It was in this moment his mask fell from his armor.”

The emissary smiled a bit reciting his story “This mask made it back to the continent with retreating oni where it traded hands for centuries. It was upon legend of this one of our warriors Hamatsu Ikuri traveled to the continent and wrestled it from a pirate there. The conflict cost Hamatsu a dozen loyal retainers but he recovered this treasured artifact and ended a threat our merchants and fisherman along the seas of Han. We present it in the memory of our ancestor's duty to yours.” He bowed low, and backed away from the dais.

The Emperor smiled softly taking the package and unwrapping it, within was a lacquer box. He opened the box carefully and withdrew a golden mask bearing the scar of ancient claws which tore it from its owners face. Hyumachi held the mask aloft then smiled down “Your gift pleases me Tagarii <name> and know that I never forget your clan's great service. Through your efforts the lands of Wa are secure and that allows us to bring our peace to the continent.” He carefully laid the mask back within the lacquer box and handed it reverently to his minister who in turn laid it aside.

Each clan in turn presented their gifts, the Yotsuka presented a piece of obsidian torn from the heart of Mt. Yotsu that was carefully cut into the form of a katana. The Funada gave his majesty a seven hundred year old robe recovered from the Empire of Han. The Senishi presented his majesty a simple piece of cloth with a hexagonal pattern. The owner of this cloth if worn daily had died of old age despite having faced dozens of battles for hundreds of years. Many were impressed such a young clan could find such a gift for his majesty. The Taeshimo had presented the Emperor with a jade box from ancient days and within was a simple wooden comb that once belonged to the first Emperor's wife. All presented something before his majesty and each was thanked sincerely by his highness.

“Dearest friends, your generosity knows no bounds. I cannot thank you for such gifts, each so unique and heartfelt. I can only hope to repay your kindness in the days ahead. But for now I must retire to contemplate such things. Please enjoy my hospitality and let the tranquility we share together last the whole year.” With that the Emperor bowed rose from his throne and bowed lightly to his subjects, then slowly retired from the room each of the courtiers pressing their faces into the tatami.