Sano Ichiro 12 The Snow Empress (2007) by Laura Joh Rowland

Author:Laura Joh Rowland [Rowland, Laura Joh]
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Laura Joh Rowland
Published: 2007-04-29T16:00:00+00:00

“It’s what we decided.” Rather, Reiko had decided, against his strenuous objections. Her voice was even, untroubled. She knew she would succeed in the mission she’d charted for herself. She didn’t care what happened to her as a result.

“Come with me,” Sano said. “We’ve always worked well together.” His words alluded to the crimes they’d solved in the past, the dangers they’d faced and surmounted, the whole history of their unconventional marriage.

“We’ve also worked well separately.”

“I remember the times you struck out on your own, and I worried about whether you would come back to me safely.”

Those times merged with this instant. Even as Sano was ready to object again, Reiko said, “You have your task. I have mine. This is how it must be.”

Sano inclined his head, conceding. “Reiko-san…” He sought words to express his love for her, to commemorate their marriage in the brief time they had left.

Reiko placed a finger on his lips to silence him. She could not let him revive her emotions. She needed all her strength and concentration for the challenges ahead.

Sano caught her hand. “We may not have another chance.”

“We will,” Reiko said with sublime confidence.

Even if they didn’t survive this day, they would see each other again—when death reunited them and Masahiro. Then they would have an eternity to say all the things they hadn’t gotten to say while alive.

“Then I suppose we’re ready to go.” Sano’s voice was resigned, but strong with his own sense of purpose.

They joined their comrades in the entry way. Hirata opened the door. The ruddy dawn illuminated their alert, serious faces. Reiko spared a thought for the years that they’d worked together, which ended now. Hirata listened a moment, then said, “All clear.”

One by one they exited the building. They silently fanned out in separate directions, Sano joined with Marume, Fukida, and the Rat, while Hirata and Reiko each went alone, across snow that the rising sun stained red as blood.

The castle awakened. The intoxicating breath of war pervaded the air, rousing the soldiers from their drunken stupor. As they hurried about, hauling weapons and provisions, they sparred and joked with one another. The palace was battle headquarters. Commanders streamed in and out, gave orders to troops. Busy with preparations for their raid on the nearest Ainu villages, they didn’t realize they were under surveillance.

Sano, Marume, Fukida, and the Rat crouched behind a stone lantern. As they watched the activity at the palace, Marume said in a low voice, “Too many troops around Lord Matsumae.”

“It’ll be hard to get close enough to kill him,” Fukida said.

“Let’s forget it, then,” whimpered the Rat.

But Sano had confidence born of sheer determination. “One or another of us will manage.”

The last phase of his plan called for slaying Lord Matsumae as his punishment for Masahiro’s death. Sano, Marume, Fukida, Hirata, and Reiko would attempt that, after they’d completed their initial tasks.

“Which of us do you think it will be? I’m taking bets.” Marume spoke with great joviality. They were all

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