Yabu said, "This is not the time, Buntaro-san. Friends or ene-" "Friends? Where? In this manure pile?" Buntaro spat into the dust.
One of the Grays' hands flashed for his sword hilt, ten Browns followed, fifty Grays were a split second behind, and now all were waiting for Ishido's sword to come out to signal the attack.
Then Hiro-matsu walked out of the garden shadows, through the gateway into the forecourt, his killing sword loose in his hands and half out of its scabbard.
"You can find friends in manure, sometimes, my son," he said calmly Hands eased off sword hilts. Samurai on the opposing battlements - Grays and Browns - slackened the tension of their arrow-armed bowstrings. "We have friends all over the castle. All over Osaka. Yes. Our Lord Toranaga keeps telling us so." He stood like a rock in front of his only living son, seeing the blood lust in his eyes. The moment Ishido had been seen approaching, Hiro-matsu had taken up his battle station at the inner doorway. Then, when the first danger had passed, he had moved with catlike quiet into the shadows. He stared down into Buntaro's eyes. "Isn't that so, my son?"
With an enormous effort, Buntaro nodded and stepped back a pace. But he still blocked the way to the garden.
Hiro-matsu turned his attention to Ishido. "We did not expect you tonight, Ishido-san."
"I came to pay my respects to the Lady Kiritsubo. I was not informed until a few moments ago that anyone was leaving."
"Is my son right? We should worry we're not among friends? Are we hostages who should beg favors?"
"No. But Lord Toranaga and I agreed on protocol during his visit. A day's notice of the arival or departure of high personages was to be. given so I could pay the proper respects."
"It was a sudden decision of Lord Toranaga's. He did not consider the matter of sending one of his ladies back to Yedo important enough to disturb you," Hiro-matsu told him. "Yes, Lord Toranaga is merely preparing for his own departure."
"Has that been decided upon?"
"Yes. The day the meeting of the Regents concludes. You'll be informed at the correct time, according to protocol."
"Good. Of course, the meeting may be delayed again. The Lord Kiyama is even sicker."
"Is it delayed? Or isn't it?"
"I merely mentioned that it might be. We hope to have the pleasure of Lord Toranaga's presence for a long time to come, neh? He will hunt with me tomorrow?"
"I have requested him to cancel all hunting until the meeting. I don't consider it safe. I don't consider any of this area safe any longer. If filthy assassins can get through your sentries so easily, how much more easy would treachery be outside the walls?"
Ishido let the insult pass. He knew this and the affronts would further inflame his men but it did not suit him to light the fuse yet. He had been glad that Hiro-matsu had interceded for he had almost lost control. The thought of Buntaro's head in the dust, the teeth chattering, had consumed him. "All commanders of the guards on that night have already been ordered into the Great Void as you well know. The Amidas are laws unto themselves, unfortunately. But they will be stamped out very soon. The Regents will be asked to deal with them once and for all. Now, perhaps I may pay my respects to Kiritsubo-san. " Ishido walked forward. His personal bodyguard of Grays stepped after him. They all shuddered to a stop. Buntaro had an arrow in his bow and, though the arrow pointed at the ground, the bow was already bent to its limit. "Grays are forbidden through this gate. That's agreed by protocol!"
"I'm Governor of Osaka Castle and Commander of the Heir's Bodyguard! I have the right to go anywhere!"
Once more Hiro-matsu took control of the situation. "True, you are Commander of the Heir's Bodyguard and you do have the right to go anywhere. But only five men may accompany you through that gate. Wasn't that agreed by you and my Master while he is here?"
"Five or fifty, it makes no difference! This insult is intol-"
"Insult? My son means no insult. He's following orders agreed by his liege Lord and by you. Five men. Five!" The word was an order and Hiro-matsu turned his back on Ishido and looked at his son. "The Lord Ishido does us honor by wishing to pay respect to the Lady Kiritsubo."
The old man's sword was two inches out of its scabbard and no one was sure if it was to slash at Ishido if the fight began or to hack off his son's head if he pointed the arrow. All knew that there was no affection between father and son, only a mutual respect for the other's viciousness. "Well, my son, what do you say to the Commander of the Heir's Bodyguard?"
The sweat was running down Buntaro's face. After a moment he stepped aside and eased the tension off the bow. But he kept the arrow poised.
