“When your master returned last night, what did he do?”

“Why, I think he must have gone to bed. He told me he did not need me, so I went to bed myself.”

“Did you see him this morning? Did you take him his morning rice or help him dress?”

“No, Your Excellency. His lordship was much stronger than I. He liked to rise before dawn and hated troubling me. He made his own tea in the morning, saying that food did not sit well in his stomach so early. His stomach has always been delicate since his troubles last year.”

“Then how did you know he would be in his studio when I arrived?” Akitada suddenly shouted at him.

Sato flinched. “But he always went there first thing every morning,” he cried.

“Were you aware that Captain Yukinari was in this house before I arrived?”

The old man paled and looked away. “No, Your Excellency.”

“You lie.” Akitada struck the floor with his fist. “It is an open secret among the servants that the captain was having an affair with your mistress under your master’s nose. This very morning he was seen leaving by the back gate. Shortly afterward I found your master dead. What do you know about the disgraceful state of affairs in this house?”

Sato cried out and beat his forehead on the dirt floor. “Forgive this worthless one, Excellency. There was some talk, but I paid no attention. Women’s gossip. I thought the captain came to visit the master. They both liked to garden.”

“Did you let him in last night or this morning?”

“Oh, no. He used to come and go on his own.” Sato remained crouched on the floor but began to shake. “I cannot be everywhere at once,” he wailed through chattering teeth, “and my memory is not what it used to be, but I try to do my work well. There is so much to be taken care of, to remember.”

“You failed your master when he needed you,” Akitada said in an icy voice. “Outsiders have ready access and egress by the rear gate while you lie here and sleep the day away. Your master would still be alive if you had done your duty.” He rose, dusted off his robe, and walked out.

Behind him Sato wailed, “But how was I to prevent the master from falling?”

♦

Akitada returned to his quarters in a ferocious mood. He kicked his clogs off on the veranda and, hearing voices, burst in, thinking that Tora had returned with information.

To his surprise he saw that Seimei was drinking tea with the governor.

“There you are, Sugawara,” exclaimed Motosuke, his round face lighting up. “I am getting some excellent pointers about herbal remedies for my back pains. Seimei is a treasure. You are to be envied. It is like traveling with your own physician.”

Seimei smirked.

“What brings you, Governor?” Akitada asked curtly.

“Why so glum, my dear fellow?” asked Motosuke. “Seimei tells me that you are finished with my dreary accounts. Now we shall finally have a chance for pleasant chats about the capital and some local entertainment. What sports do you play? Football? Horse racing? Do you like games? Play musical instruments? Paint? Or would you like to meet some delightfully pretty local girls? Their manners are a bit rough, but they make up for it with other skills.” He slapped his thighs and laughed.

“I have no time for such things,” Akitada snapped. “You may have forgotten the matter of the missing taxes. I could use your assistance with that.”

Motosuke’s face fell. “You are such a very serious fellow for your age,” he said, shaking his head sadly. “I shall have to call you ‘elder brother’ though you are not much older than my daughter. In fact, I’d like nothing better than to have you settle this nasty tax matter. It is something of a blot on my record. But it will be quite impossible, I’m afraid.”

“What do you mean?”

“Dispatches from the capital.” Motosuke pointed to a sealed package on the low table. “I expect yours contains the same news as mine.”

Akitada snatched up the package and tore open the seal of the imperial chancery. Scanning the message quickly, he paled and let it drop from his hand.

“What’s the matter?” asked Seimei.

“I have been recalled,” Akitada said tonelessly.

* * * *

NINE

THE DRAGON SCROLL

C

heer up! Cheer up!” cried the governor, seeing their long faces. “I have already dispatched a request that you be allowed to travel back to the capital in my cortege. There is plenty of time for you to explore this city and countryside a bit before we leave. The point is, you no longer need to worry about those confounded taxes. The powers in our august capital, in their wisdom, have decided to forget the matter completely.” He paused and looked puzzled. “I wonder why.”

Akitada stared at him. If Motosuke was involved in the crime, there was no point in playing games any longer, and if he was not, surely he could not be that dense. He said, “I assume because of the honor the emperor will do your daughter.”

Motosuke looked blank. “What does that have to do with it?” Belatedly, realization dawned and he flushed deeply.

Meeting his eyes squarely, Akitada said, “Yes. Officially, you are now above suspicion.” He saw the sudden pain in the round, comfortable face, but he no longer cared about Motosuke’s feelings.

Motosuke sat silent, looking down at his folded hands. “You think I’m guilty,” he finally said sadly. “Everyone thinks I’m guilty.” He heaved a sigh.

“Face it, you always were the most likely suspect,” Akitada pointed out. “However, your secretary, for one, has given you a shining testimonial of faith.”

To Akitada’s dismay, tears began running down Motosuke’s cheeks. “Good old Akinobu,” he muttered. “Poor fellow. This suspicion touches him, too. And he has no fine new career to go to. I must see what I can do for the man.”

Against his will, Akitada softened and, on the spur of the moment, asked, “Tell me, what possessed you to attempt to bribe me?”

Motosuke’s head came up. “Bribe you? I never bribed you.”

“A matter of ten bars of gold delivered to my quarters on the day of my arrival could hardly be anything else.”

Motosuke looked aghast. “It was to cover your expenses. I had precise instructions about that. You mean they did not tell you? The minister of civil affairs himself wrote to me. He said that in the rush you had not been issued any funds in the capital and that I was to rectify the matter.”