Akitada knew Kosehira had a point. The slaughter of two ranking noblemen by the retainers of another would raise eyebrows and perhaps even an outcry, but if political expediency prevailed, Masaie would be briefly exiled and then recalled. It had happened too often in the past.

Kosehira peered up at the sun. “Oh well, time for the midday rice, if you still have an appetite for it. Come to my house and let’s discuss the case over food.”

Akitada accepted. He was hungry, and Kosehira provided elegant repasts and could be trusted to come up with something tasty even when reduced to a skeleton staff.

He was not disappointed. Kosehira had travelled to the capital with his cook, having decided the other services could be performed by the servants left behind to look after his town residence while he served as governor in his province.

They settled down in a pleasant room overlooking a garden with meandering streams, small bridges, pines, and willows in fresh pale leaves. An elderly servant brought some very good wine and bowls of nuts and pickled plums. His manner expressed devotion and concern for his master.

Savoring the wine after the unpleasantness—in retrospect it seemed no more—at the Minamoto house, Akitada decided to find out how things stood with Kosehira. “Do I take it your close connection to the regent has changed your own situation for the better?”

Kosehira grimaced. “Not at all. I had a very uncomfortable meeting with His Excellency and came away cursing such relationships. It’s not enough that I must bear the burden of the unpopularity of my powerful Fujiwara relatives, but they seem to think I owe them something. Kinsue reprimanded me for my correspondence with the prince and warned me they would not protect me if I was found to be involved in the plot.”

“I asked because you seem to be free to go wherever you wish.”

Kosehira refilled their cups and passed the nuts. “Well, at least I’m not under house arrest.”

Akitada ate some nuts and sipped his wine. “Do you think it’s wise to be seen supporting the prince the way you have been doing? Should you not return to your province and wait out the storm?”

Kosehira shook his head. “I’m angry, Akitada. I will not be treated this way. And I will not abandon a friend.” He looked and sounded quite fierce.

It was not an expression Akitada had ever seen on his friend’s cheerful round face. Neither had Kosehira ever expressed anything but happy emotions. Kosehira’s joyful optimism had always been a great pleasure to the frequently troubled and uncertain Akitada. Now it occurred to him for the first time that he might lose him. Political alliances could be very dangerous.

The same servant returned in the company of a young serving girl, both carrying small trays and dishes. Placing a tray before each, they served Akitada and their master with bowls of a clear soup containing bits of vegetables. The soup was delicious.

When they were alone again, Akitada said, “I haven’t made any progress, I’m afraid. What just happened at Masaie’s is exactly the same thing that has happened everywhere else I tried to get information. Even Kobe had nothing new. He objects to our meddling and thinks you’ve behaved very improperly in the matter of Lady Masako’s death.”

“I had no choice. I couldn’t refuse my help to the prince. I think Atsuhira blames me for having kept him that night.” Kosehira put down his bowl. He had sipped less than half of it.

Akitada did not mention that the prince had, in fact, cursed him. It would merely add to his friend’s guilt and worry, and the prince had spoken out of grief. He said, “In any case, Atsuhira will do nothing to help us. He speaks of forsaking the world. If he’s prevented, he says, he’ll kill himself.”

Kosehira nodded, looking glum.

Akitada finished his soup. “What do you make of Masaie’s behavior? And that of his son?”

“Young hothead,” muttered Kosehira. “Masaie surprised me. How can a father hate his own child? It’s unnatural. I was shocked. These provincial lords are rough and violent men, but I never knew they did not care for their own children.”

“Perhaps it was just show. To prove he has reason to hate Prince Atsuhira and cannot therefore be one of his supporters. I don’t know the man at all, so I have no idea if it’s true.”

Kosehira looked thoughtful. “It may be so. He was clearly hoping to make the emperor his son-in-law. You can see how Lady Masako’s willfulness destroyed his dream. Of course, it may also be that he switched allegiance once he realized she had chosen Atsuhira instead.”

This had been Akitada’s thought also, so he nodded.

The servants returned to remove the soup bowls. When the old man saw Kosehira had hardly touched his, he shook his head. They substituted an array of small dishes. Delightful aromas rose from them. Akitada saw fried dumplings, a larger dish with a grilled fish, several bowls of pickled vegetables and sauces, an interesting stew, and a splendid mound of white, glistening rice.

The male servant murmured to Kosehira, “Sea bream, sir, very fresh and wholesome, and your favorite rabbit stew. Cook made it especially.”

Kosehira said listlessly. “Thank you, Tamori. And thank Cook.”

When the servants had left, Kosehira looked at the food before him and sighed. “They worry when I don’t eat. I’ve been a trial to them lately.” He glanced up. “Eat, Akitada. I’m sure it’s very good. I just have no appetite.”

“Nonsense,” Akitada said briskly. “You mustn’t disappoint them. We’ll get through this. “Rabbit stew? I haven’t had any of that in a long time.” He tasted and smacked his lips.

Kosehira chuckled. “It’s my favorite. Cook must have ordered the rabbit from home.” He reached for his bowl and ate a little. “It is good. Do you like it, Akitada?”

“As you see.” Akitada showed his empty bowl and reached for a dumpling. “You must cheer up,” he said. “Nothing is to be gained by making yourself ill. We’ll unravel the matter soon enough. Eat!”

Kosehira smiled a little and nodded. “Of course. With your help. Thank you, Akitada.”

Akitada did not feel at all optimistic, but he returned to their discussion. “I wonder when Masaie found out about the affair.”

“I don’t know. I still cannot fathom how a man can utter such words about his own child.”

“I think he cared, perhaps too much. He did raise her like a son. It shows he favored her, even though she was a mere girl. His effort to raise her to the position of empress shows the same regard. But she bitterly disappointed him. In such a frame of mind, he may well have wished her dead. Not only did she not respect all he had done for her, but her action brought shame to him. She left the imperial apartments to be with another man. If he found out about the affair just before her death, he is a suspect.”

Kosehira’s eyes widened. “You mean he murdered her?” He shuddered. “I hope not. That would be truly terrible.”

“Or he paid someone to kill her.” Akitada sampled the fish and found it as perfect as the other dishes. Kosehira had eaten most of his stew and was also eyeing the bream.

“Go ahead,” Akitada urged. “It’s excellent. You must keep up your strength. We need to talk to more people, people who know Masaie and Lady Masako. I feel out of my depth. My connections with the provincial gentry are nonexistent, but perhaps Tora can approach Masaie’s servants here. What about you?” An idea struck him. “Do you know Lady Kishi at all well?”

Kosehira nodded. “I told you, she’s my cousin. Yes, I’ll speak to her. She may say something useful. Oh, Akitada, I’m so grateful to you. I knew I could rely on you. You’ll work it all out in no time at all.” He reached for the fish and started to eat.

“Perhaps not quite so quickly,” said Akitada with a chuckle. “And Lady Kishi had good reason to hate Lady Masako. But surely we’ll come across something helpful soon. Can you find out who Atsuhira’s alleged co-conspirators are?”