Ashinji had fallen silent, and the set of his jaw told Jelena that he no longer felt like talking, so she turned her attention to the castle ahead.
The great fortress of Sendai Castle sat atop a hill rising from the heart of the city, dominating the view from all quarters. The broad road upon which they approached led to the edge of a vast, gravel-covered parade ground laid out beneath the castle walls.
The architecture of the castle closely resembled that of Kerala, except on a much grander scale, and rendered almost entirely of whitewashed stone instead of wood. The red light of the dying sun painted the walls a bloody crimson.
A mounted figure emerged from the shadows beneath the main gate and approached at a trot. Jelena grinned as the figure resolved itself into Aneko. As second in command of Kerala’s guard, she had gone ahead to announce the arrival of the king’s Commanding General.
Aneko pulled up and saluted briskly. “My lord, the Steward of Sendai Castle is pleased to send you his greetings and requests that you proceed to the outer ward where he awaits your arrival.”
“Thank you, Sergeant. You may return to the line,” Sen replied. “Sadaiyo! Ashinji! By me.”
Ashinji flashed a quick smile toward Jelena as he moved his horse forward to position himself at his father’s left hand. Sadaiyo took his place at the right. He looked every bit the nobleman in his brightly colored silks and conspicuous jewelry while Ashinji could have easily passed as his father’s Captain of the Guard, were it not for the fact that he rode at Sen’s left hand.
Jelena now found herself riding beside Misune, who studiously ignored her. She did not mind; she wouldn’t have known what to say even if her sister-in-law had deigned to speak.
Lord Sen and his entourage passed through the castle gates into the outer ward. There, they were met by the most diminutive man, human or elf, that Jelena had ever seen. He stood no more than the height of a well-grown human child of six or seven years. The air of importance with which he carried himself, and the large gold chain of office that hung about his neck told her that this must be the Steward of Sendai Castle.
“Ah, ah, so good to see you again, Lord Sen!” the little man exclaimed in a high-pitched voice.
“And you, Karogi. It has been awhile,” Sen replied warmly.
“The king sends his greetings and has charged me personally with seeing to the comfort of you and your family. Your guards will be shown to the barracks and the servants that you don’t require right away can go directly to the staff hall.
“Lu! Attend!” A young boy, dressed in the livery of a page, sprang forward. “Take Lord Sen’s civilian staff to the hall. Get moving, boy! Ajisai, show Lord Sen’s guards to the barracks and see that the horses are taken care of.” A lanky youth stepped forward and gestured to Gendan, indicating that he and the rest of the guards should follow him.
Jelena ferociously suppressed an urge to laugh. The sight of this tiny man snapping orders in his squeaky voice struck her as comical, but she had no doubts as to the enormous power he wielded within the hierarchy of Sendai’s vast staff.
He deserves my respect, she chided herself, not my derision.
Sen dismounted, Sadaiyo and Ashinji following suit. Ashinji then came to steady Willow’s head while Jelena slid from the saddle. Misune flung herself down from her cranky stallion and strode boldly up beside her husband to pose, hand resting on her sword hilt, like the haughty warrior princess she fancied herself to be. Jelena would have preferred to remain in the background, but Ashinji led her forward with gentle insistence. Sen walked back to the carriage and escorted Amara and the Sakehera daughters forward.
“Lady Amara, this is a wonderful surprise! So good to see you! My, my, your daughters have all blossomed into such lovely young ladies. My lord, I remember your eldest son, Lord Sadaiyo,” the Steward bobbed as he spoke, “and of course Lord Ashinji, welcome back, my lord! Peregrine Company will be overjoyed to have its captain returned to it, but I do not know this beautiful and formidable lady.” Karogi proffered a courtly bow to Misune.
“This is my Heir’s new wife, the Lady Misune Sakehera,” Sen replied with a touch of pride in his voice.
Karogi bowed again. “My congratulations to you both,” he piped. He then turned to Ashinji after flicking the barest glance at Jelena. “My lord, will your servant be sharing your quarters, or will she need a cot in the staff hall?”
Misune snickered. Jelena’s cheeks ignited.
“Jelena is not my servant,” Ashinji said. His eyes had gone hard and cold.
Jelena laid a hand on his arm and squeezed. “Ashi, it is an honest mistake,” she spoke very softly, so that only he could hear. She felt no anger, only resignation and understanding. A hikui girl dressed in simple cotton and leather-of course this little man had mistaken her for Ashinji’s servant.
“Hmmm, uh, my youngest son has also married recently. This is my other daughter-in-law, Jelena,” Sen explained hastily. Jelena glanced over at Sadaiyo and cringed at the smirk on his face. The sight of his enjoyment of her humiliation made her burn with renewed hatred.
Karogi cast a dubious eye over Jelena, but he was a consummate courtier, and swiftly adjusted his attitude. “A thousand apologies to you, my lady, and to you, Lord Ashinji. Please forgive my stupid blunder. It seems, then, that congratulations are in order for you as well, my lord. Am I to assume that you and your new bride will be needing accommodations within the keep itself, rather than the barracks?”
“Yes,” Ashinji replied curtly.
“Very good, my lords, my ladies, please come with me, then.”
They followed the tiny steward-who walked far more quickly than Jelena would have guessed possible-across the spacious outer ward and through a second set of gates that pierced the inner walls of the castle. After traversing the smaller inner ward and a flight of wide, shallow stone stairs, they reached the massive double doors of the keep itself. A pair of guards snapped to attention as they approached.
The doors to the keep stood open. Karogi swept through, waving perfunctorily to the guards. As Jelena passed over the threshold, she looked about her with awe. Even the twins remained silent and wide-eyed.
This is the biggest building I’ve ever seen, she thought.
The steward led them across a wide entrance hall toward a broad staircase. The expansive space flickered with shadows cast by the flames of dozens of brass lamps-many fashioned in the shapes of fishes, roosters, lions, and other animals-hanging from chains attached to the ceiling. Stone columns spaced at regular intervals supported the roof overhead; finely woven, well-padded matting covered the stone floors.
There seemed to be no one else about, not even servants. Jelena realized that most of the people of the household would be involved in the evening meal, either eating it, or serving it.
“Lord Sen, the king has requested that when you have gotten your family settled, that you attend him in his private study. He has several matters of importance that he needs to discuss with you,” Karogi said as he led the way up the stairs. They climbed two flights and passed down a long corridor into one of the castle’s many towers. “Your lodgings,” Karogi announced as he threw open a door.
The tower was, in fact, a multistory apartment, with a common room at the base and several bedchambers on the floors above. It had a private entrance from the yard below, and the biggest and most luxurious of the several bathhouses set aside for guests stood directly across the yard.