Chapter 15: A Good Neighbor

Kaito did not shout.

He stood at the foot of the ladder with his hands loose at his sides and looked up at the two shapes against the stars.

"Hanae," he called. "Come down, please."

"I'm busy," she said.

"Come down."

Beside her, Jiro drew a quiet breath.

"Go," he said, so low that only she heard it. "Do not say it yet."

"Say what?"

"What I told you. The north road is full of his soldiers. Let them keep their Hero for now."

Her jaw tightened.

But she nodded, and tied her robe, and went down the ladder with her braid swinging.

Kaito caught the rung under her foot.

His hand was shaking.

"You smell of him," he said, very softly.

"I smell of roof tiles."

"I came to say good night. I came to be kind." His smile was thin.

"You can't be serious, Hanae. A broken man the Crown has put aside."

"Good night, Kaito."

"We will talk in the morning," he said.

He walked away across the yard, and his white cloak went pale and then dark between the tents.

She did not sleep.

In the morning the dining room was full.

The soldiers sat shoulder to shoulder at the long tables, eating her eggs and pickled radish and rice.

The Princess sat at the head with her cup of tea.

The royal cooks stood by the wall with their arms folded.

Kaito stood up when Hanae came out of the kitchen with the big pot.

"Everyone," he said, in the voice he used for the capital. "May I have your attention?"

The room went quiet.

"I grew up beside this young woman," Kaito said. "She made me a thousand lunches. She nursed my mother when she was ill."