The Prince reappeared, his face no longer flushed, but hard and cold. He waved his fan towards Azai, and commanded in a harsh voice: “Lead her out.”
But my darling had sensed the danger with quick intuition. She threw herself before me and grasped at the edge of my robe. Over her bowed head I caught sight of a grotesque, glittering figure on the threshold. It was Keiki, in full armor.
My first thought was that the occasion had enabled the Mito men to enter the yashiki by stealth and overwhelm our retainers in their quarters. Yet an attack, however sudden and stealthy, must have meant some uproar of yells and clashing blades. We could not have failed to hear the struggle, even had there been no other sounds than the shrieks of the women.
As I rose, I perceived that the sword of our unwelcome visitor was sheathed and in the hands of a bearer. There was no danger of immediate violence. Yuki stood close at the shoulder of my enemy. Nevertheless there was a grim menace in the glinting armor and hideous face-mask of the son of Mito.
I bowed in response to his mocking salute, and attempted an ironical greeting: “Keiki Sama comes late to my wedding feast. Yet food remains. Let him be seated.”
“I come late and go soon,” he replied, in a tone that seemed to bring a sneer to the brazen lips of his mask’s gaping maw. “I come late, but still in time. Does the hairy barbarian grieve that I did not come sooner?”
I turned inquiringly to the Prince. Before the enemy he could betray no weakness. His voice sounded harsh and constrained: “Keiki Sama bears the edict of the Mikado, which holds that Woroto is legally neither my son nor Prince of Owari. He whom I have regarded as my son is declared to be a criminal and a man of alien race. Keiki Sama bears the warrant of Minamoto Iyesada and the Council of Elders to arrest Adamisu Woroto and hold him in close confinement.”
Satsuma stepped forward. “Keiki Sama is requested to delay the execution of his orders until dawn. The pledge of Satsuma is offered.”
“The pledge of Satsuma may not be scorned by any daimio or son of a daimio. Nevertheless the occasion does not permit of delay. The command of the Shogun is imperative,” replied Keiki, and he displayed his warrant with the great vermilion seal of Minamoto Iyesada.
“My Lord Woroto,” called Yuki, “your enemy has duped the Shogun with evil lies. Are there no samurais in Owari Yashiki?”