Chasing the Secret by Maya Snow
Author:Maya Snow
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: HarperCollins
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Manabu took a breath, and I held mine. All my hopes were centered on seeing Mother’s face, holding her hands, and hearing her tell me that everything was going to be all right.
Ever since the moment when Uncle Hidehira had read Mother’s letter, I had believed that I would see her here today, at sundown. And now at last Hana and I were at the end of our journey. Mother was here—somewhere.
I couldn’t resist glancing once more at the entrance to the other halls of the temple.
“The mistress is safe and well,” Manabu said. “She asked me to come here and meet you in her place.”
I stared at Manabu in astonishment, crushed by the huge weight of disappointment. In an instant, my hopes had been blown away, like cherry blossom petals in a sudden gust of wind. For a moment I couldn’t speak. It felt as though I were never meant to find her.
“But I don’t understand,” Hana said to Manabu, her face anxious. “I felt Mother’s presence here in the honden. She was here…I’m sure she was.”
Tatsuya touched her hand comfortingly.
“You’re right, Hana-gozen,” Manabu said, bowing his head slightly. “Your mother has been here, many times. This temple has become her regular place of worship during our stay on the outskirts of town. She would have been here today. But when we saw a troop of the Jito’s samurai come galloping in through the town gates this morning, we became afraid. The mistress could not risk herself or young Moriyasu being captured. She decided it would be safer for her to slip away to a new hiding place, while I came here to deliver this letter. The soldiers would not be looking for me.”
He held out the scroll letter to me. I saw immediately that it had been written on the same paper as my mother’s other letters. My hands trembled as I took it from Manabu.
“The letter explains everything, Kimi-gozen,” Manabu said. “You must read it, and then I will take you to her.” His good hand went to rest on the hilt of his sword. “I am to keep watch for soldiers and protect you on your journey.”
I was about to untie the scroll when Manabu glanced again at Tatsuya. With a look of warning, he took my elbow and steered me a few steps away. “Kimigozen, I don’t want to intrude, but should you read the letter in front of this…this boy?” he said in a low, tight voice. “What do you actually know about him?”
I hesitated, turning the scroll in my hands. “He’s a friend, Manabu,” I said. “He’s protected Hana and me during our journey here. I would trust him with my life.”
Manabu didn’t look convinced, but he gave a quick nod. “All right,” he said. “I will trust him if you say I should….”
“I do,” I said firmly.
I turned back to see that Hana and Tatsuya were standing together.
“I just don’t like him…,” Tatsuya was saying.
“You’re just jumpy because of the innkeeper,” Hana said in a low, coaxing voice.
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