Chapter 5: The Visitor

Kagiro was gone when she ran after him.

The corridor was empty and the courtyard door stood open.

On the flagstones was a smear of snow where something enormous had taken off.

Riko stood in the cold with the soup ladle still in her hand and watched a black shape cross the moon.

Daigo came and stood beside her.

"He does this," said the steward. "He will be back by breakfast."

He was.

He ate his rice balls on the stool at dawn without looking at her once.

He left without a word, and she wanted to throw the plate at his head.

At noon a horn blew over the valley, long and clear, like a bell made of silver.

Daigo dropped a bowl.

"The White Peak," he said, and went white around his whiskers. "It is Lord Hakuzan. He did not send word."

"Who's Hakuzan?"

"The Elder of the Nine Peaks. Be polite. Be very, very polite."

"I'm always polite."

"Be politer."

The guests came in through the great hall in a cold rush of wind.

Three tall men in silver-grey robes stepped through the door, and the one in front was clearly the lord.

He was thin and straight and looked about fifty-six, with white hair in a topknot and pale blue eyes that missed nothing.

He smiled as he came, and it was the nicest smile Riko had ever seen on a man, and she hated it at once.

Kagiro stood to greet him, stiff as a board.

"Elder," he said. "You honor my mountain."

"Young Kagiro. I was passing."

"The White Peak is two days' flight from here."

"A very long passing," said Hakuzan pleasantly. "And is this the famous cook?"

His eyes slid to Riko, who stood at the kitchen door with flour on her jacket.

He looked her over slowly, from her bandana to her boots.

"A human," Hakuzan said. "How charming. My dear boy has always liked a pet."

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