"Hearn,.Lian.-.Otori.02.-.Grass.For.His.Pillow.v1.1" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hearn Lian)

rice, placed the eating sticks down on the tray, and bowed in
thanks for the food.

Shizuka sighed. “Arai has no real understanding of the Tribe—how
they work, what demands they place on those who belong to
them.”

“Did he never know that you were from the Tribe?”

“He knew I had ways of finding things out, of passing on
messages. He was happy enough to make use of my skills in
forming the alliance with Lord Shigeru and Lady Maruyama. He had
heard of the Tribe, but like most people he thought they were little
more than a guild. That they should have been involved in Iida’s
death shocked him profoundly, even though he profited from it.”
She paused and then said quietly, “He has lost all trust in me: I
think he wonders how he slept with me so many times without
being assassinated himself. Well, we will certainly never sleep
together again. That is all over.”

“Are you afraid of him? Has he threatened you?”

“He is furious with me,” Shizuka replied. “He feels I have betrayed
him—worse: made a fool out of him. I do not think he will ever
forgive me.” A bitter note crept into her voice. “I have been his
closest confidante, his lover, his friend, since I was hardly more
than a child. I have borne him two sons. Yet, he would have me put
to death in an instant were it not for your presence.”

“I will kill any man who tries to harm you,” Kaede said. Shizuka
smiled. “How fierce you look when you say that!”

“Men die easily.” Kaede’s voice was flat. “From the prick of a
needle, the thrust of a knife. You taught me that.”

“But you are yet to use those skills, I hope,” Shizuka replied,
“though you fought well at Inuyama. Takeo owes his life to you.”

Kaede was silent for a moment. Then she said in a low voice, “I did
more than fight with the sword. You do not know all of it.”

Shizuka stared at her. “What are you telling me? That it was you
who killed Iida?” she whispered.

Kaede nodded. “Takeo took his head, but he was already dead. I
did what you told me. He was going to rape me.”

Shizuka grasped her hands. “Never let anyone know that! Not one
of these warriors, not even Arai, would let you live.”