This was not the sort of thing that made Akitada’s errand easier.  He cleared his throat.  “Thank you.  A trusted family retainer.  Perhaps we could go inside?”

“Oh.  What was I thinking?  Leaving you here standing in the open while I babble on.  Please come into the house.”  He made a move toward the stairs, then decided that the honored guest should go first.  But how would he find the way?  He stopped again in a small panic.

“Perhaps you would be kind enough to lead the way?” Akitada said mildly.

“Yes, thank you!  This way then.”

He bustled ahead, muttering apologies for the lack of comforts.  The house was, in fact, small, plain, and so filled with people that the one room that should have been reserved for guests had been turned into family living space.  It was cluttered with shabby trunks, piled higgledy-piggedly on top of each other, and enough rolled-up bedding for a small military contingent.  In addition, abandoned robes, books, arm rests, small desks, braziers, cosmetic boxes, bird cages with birds, and the toys of small children had gathered in its four corners and along the walls.

Miyoshi rummaged and found two cushions under some bedding.  These he placed on the floor in the center of the room, inviting Akitada to sit. From several doorways peered the faces of children, only to be withdrawn when Akitada glanced their way.

This would be difficult.

Looking at his beaming host, Akitada said, “You know, of course, that Sadenari just recently accompanied me to Naniwa.”

Miyoshi nodded eagerly, beaming more widely.  “Oh, yes.  He was so excited, so honored.  He’s such an admirer of Lord Sugawara’s brilliant work that it was a stoke of the greatest luck to him.  He told me he hoped to learn from you so that maybe someday he also might become an investigator.  And here he was, selected to assist in such a very serious matter!  It was an honor, a great honor.  The greatest!  We are very indebted to your generous regard for our boy, sir.”

“Hmm, er, thank you.  Sadenari is indeed a very eager young man.  I returned because of a death in my family and had to leave him behind.”

His host was nodding his head with apparent satisfaction.  “I understand,” he said.  “He wrote to me about his assignment.”

“He wrote to you?”  Akitada wondered what Sadenari had told his father about being left behind in Eguchi and having to walk all the way to Naniwa.

“Oh, yes.  The letter got here a few days ago.  He’s very excited about being given a special assignment.  Says it’s of the highest national importance.  And he writes that he has already made excellent progress and hopes he’ll soon justify your faith in his abilities.  Isn’t that wonderful?  I said to his mother only this morning that my eldest son will bring great honor to the family.  We’re very proud of him.”

Akitada digested this with surprised dismay.  “He wrote a few days ago?”  It sounded as if Sadenari had written his father after he had disappeared.  “Where exactly was he, er, making this great progress?”

“He didn’t say.  Would you like to see the letter, sir?”

“I would indeed.  I haven’t had a report from him myself.”  And that thought brought back anger.  Perhaps all his worry had been for nothing.  The rascal was gallivanting about again without a thought to his duties.  No telling what damage he had been doing.  Or perhaps Akitada knew well enough: there had been the two soldiers and Seimei’s death.

Miyoshi returned with a much creased sheet of cheap paper.  “Here it is.  I could wish Sadenari would take more care with his brushwork, but he was clearly pressed for time, and the note was just to his old dad.”  He chuckled.

Sadenari’s brushwork had given Akitada some concern in the past, and this sample was distinctly worse than what he produced at work.

“Honored Father,” Sadenari scrawled.  “You’ll wonder how I’m doing here.  Be assured that your son has finally gained his lordship’s complete confidence.  He has given me an assignment of the greatest national importance.  I’ve already made excellent progress, but the secrecy involved doesn’t allow me to write about it.  Suffice it to say I’m on the trail of a villain who plots against our Divine Sovereign himself.  I’m filled with an energy that could move mountains.  Give my best love to my mother and to my brothers and sisters.  Tell them to expect their big brother to return covered in triumph.”

Sadenari was not precisely modest, thought Akitada sourly.  The letter was dated after his disappearance.  Akitada turned the sheet over, looking for some clue to where it had been posted.  There was nothing but the superscription and some grease stains that might have been put there by the grubby fingers of all the little brothers and sisters.  He glanced toward the doorway and caught sight of two little girls and an older woman.  She must be Sadenari’s mother.  She was smiling proudly until she met his eyes and ducked away with a small cry.  The two rosy-cheeked girls remained, wide-eyed at the visiting courtier who sat in their living room.

Akitada did not know what to think or tell this family.  Sadenari might indeed be well, though Akitada doubted he would cover himself in glory or even uncover any clues to the identity of the traitor.  Alternatively, he might have encountered trouble shortly after sending this letter and be dead even now.

He returned the letter with a heavy heart and cautioned, “There may be some danger.  We must hope he’s being careful. He is very young.”

Miyoshi chuckled.  “Oh, Sadenari is one lucky fellow.  It’s always been that way with him.  His karma is excellent.  He’ll be fine, sir, don’t you worry.  Nothing bad ever happens to Sadenari.”

Chapter Fifteen

Return to Naniwa

A week after Akitada had arrived home, Fujiwara Sanesuke decided that Akitada should return to Naniwa and finish his assignment.  An official arrived toward nightfall to meet with Akitada.  The gentleman outranked Akitada and threw the household into consternation as his retinue waited in the courtyard and no one knew whether they should be shown inside and offered refreshments.

Akitada paid no attention to the nervous whispers in the corridor.  He had bigger problems.  His career might well hang in the balance.

Lord Takahashi was stiffly formal.  He refused an offer of wine, indicating that he was there on business.

“His Excellency has taken note of the death of one of your retainers,” he said.  “He regrets this.  However, no mourning period can be involved since this man was not a close family member.  His Excellency has decided that you will return to your duties immediately.”

This sounded a good deal like a reproof for neglect of duty, and Akitada bowed humbly, expressing his apologies and acceptance.  When Lord Takahashi merely nodded, he dared a question.  “May I ask if the assignment has changed in any way as it regards the local governor, or the prefect and the administrator of the foreign trade office?”

“No.  His Excellency has addressed separate instructions to the governor and the man at the trade office.  You are to deliver these and finish your investigation.  Weekly reports are expected, but surely it will not take that long.”

More pressure: Finish this quickly or we will consider the delays another instance of dereliction of duty!

Akitada hated begging for protection.  It made him sound like a coward.  He murmured, “I must urge the danger faced by any official who ventures into this hornet’s nest of piracy and profiteering.”

Lord Takahashi gave him a cold look.  “You surprise me.  I had heard that you faced much greater odds on that convict island.  Surely you can handle a simple information leak without requiring body guards?”

Akitada mentioned humbly that on Sado Island he had carried secret orders that had gained him the support of the local governor.  On this occasion, the local authorities not only did not offer protection but seemed aligned against him.