Chapter 23: The Ledger

The column left the fork at the pace of the slowest wagon.

Hanae stood at the gate and watched it go.

The soldiers marched with their heads up, and the Princess rode at the front on her white horse.

At the end of the line, behind the last baggage cart, a man in dented armor walked in the dust.

His eyes were on the ground.

Nobody looked back at him.

The Princess reined in as she passed the lantern.

She leaned down from the saddle, and for the first time Hanae saw her smile without the knife in it.

"Madam Innkeeper," she said. "I have sent word to the road office that the Tomoshibi Inn is now an official station on the Kita Road."

"You'll pay the posted price."

"I would not dare do otherwise."

"Then you can come back," said Hanae. "Swords on the rack."

The Princess laughed, a real one, and rode on.

Behind her, with her habit tucked up and a bundle on her back, Shiori came running along the verge.

She was out of breath when she reached the gate.

"I asked the Temple for a leave," she said. "Two seasons. Somebody has to look after his ribs."

"And yours, if you ever hit another demon."

"I hit it first."

"I noticed. I would like to stay at the fork, if you have a room. I can pay."

"The little room by the well is clean," said Tamae from the kitchen door. "You can pay with onions."

Shiori burst into tears and hugged her.

Tamae put up with it for three full seconds.

Then she marched Shiori inside by the sleeve, saying, "Wash your face, child, you look like a drowned cat."

The dust of the road settled.

Hanae stood alone in the light and found she could breathe all the way to the bottom of her lungs.

In the morning the sun came in at the kitchen window and lay in a long gold stripe across the table.