The Emperor in Shadow by Richard Parks

Author:Richard Parks [Parks, Richard]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Fantasy
Publisher: Prime Books
Published: 2016-08-12T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“Is it ready?”

Kenji held out the ward I’d asked for, but he included a stern warning. “This particular charm works against most spirits and even lesser demons, but an angry ghost is a special case. They tend to be a bit narrow in their focus, and there is nothing which will hold one back for long, save an exorcism. I advise you stay ready to flee at a moment’s notice. If you have that long.”

“Well, since exorcism is not yet an option, this will have to do. Let us hope I’ll know when to run.”

We had returned to Shigeko-hime’s mansion the next morning. I was starting to have a suspicion about what may have attacked Shinjurou, but there was no point in pursuing it unless I could eliminate Shigeko herself as the attacker once and for all. Despite my doubts, she remained the most likely culprit even if I still could not reconcile Shinjurou’s wounds with his description of the assault. Unfortunately, I could think of no other way to get to the truth other than attempting to contact the princess’ ghost directly. This, needless to say, was a risky approach. I might discover the truth I sought but not live long enough to apply it.

Morofusa and Ujiyasu both looked unhappy. “Are you certain about this, Lord Yamada?”

“Certain I must attempt it? Yes. Certain it will tell me what I need to know? Not even a bit.”

“We will follow to the veranda,” Morofusa said. “When you go in, we go in. That was the agreement.”

“I did agree, but I am not comfortable with this. There is no point in risking all our lives,” I said.

Morofusa laughed. “If you die, Lord Yoriyoshi will demand an explanation which I am not prepared to give,” he said. “I think I prefer whatever attacked Shinjurou-san.”

I had no argument to make against this. I took the ward and stepped up onto the veranda. Morofusa and Ujiyasu followed, and the latter slid the screen aside. The interior was nothing but gloom, occasionally broken by tears in the screens that let beams of sunlight in. In one of those beams kneeled Princess Shigeko. So far as I could tell she had not moved at the sound of the screen being opened. Her form was clearest of all in shadow, fading where it was touched by sunlight, and yet she seemed to be enjoying the touch of the sun. I wasn’t certain what I had expected or how far I could or would be allowed to move within the mansion, but I took one good look around, spotted nothing else of concern, and cautiously approached.

“Shigeko-hime?”

Her voice was faint but clear. “You should not be here.”

I had seen many ghosts in my time. Sad spirits, angry yurei bent on revenge, lost souls needing help. Princess Shigeko was perhaps the most melancholy ghost I had ever seen. There was none of the transformation of face or form that were often the case with yurei. I had never seen Shigeko-hime

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