When she finished, Kaguro remained motionless for some time. Finally he raised his face and looked at Laloog, his eyes gleaming. “What proof do you have that this story is true?”
Laloog gave a small sigh. “Only that this woman is truly Karuna’s daughter, Balsa. That I can guarantee. My healer, Yuka, was Karuna’s younger sister — in other words, Balsa’s aunt — and if you saw her, one glance would convince you that they are indeed blood kin.”
“But —”
Laloog cut him off before he could speak. “As I explained, Karuna told Yuka that Balsa died in an accident, then he himself was murdered only days later. Yuka’s a physician. She saw the marks on her brother’s body.” He looked up at Kaguro. “I know how flimsy this evidence is. But think, Kaguro. Remember those days. What kind of man was Rogsam? And what kind of man was Jiguro?”
Kaguro bit his lip. The wind seemed to roar in his ears, whipping up the days of his youth, long, long ago. He had been an unremarkable child; his only outstanding talent had been spear-wielding, but even in that he could take no pride because his younger brother Jiguro was always beside him. Jiguro’s gift had blossomed at a very young age, and everyone marveled at it, saying that he must have inherited it from his grandfather, who had been chosen as the Dancer.
If Jiguro had been conceited like Shisheem, Kaguro might have hated him. But the more he was praised, the more silent Jiguro became, and the more reluctant to wield his spear in front of others. When he was told that Jiguro had stolen the nine rings and fled in protest against Prince Rogsam’s appointment as king, Kaguro had been incredulous. While it was true that Jiguro hated the prince, he had never been one to push his views on others.
Yuguro, however, was the exact opposite. From childhood, he had been bright and cheerful, capable of charming anyone. When Kaguro became chieftain, Yuguro, who was still a youth, had moved to the capital. There he quickly assumed the luxurious life of a city dweller. When he had volunteered to hunt down Jiguro, Kaguro was stunned yet again. He could remember how the usually reticent Jiguro used to pick Yuguro up and play with him when he was just a toddler. Perhaps because he himself was taciturn, Jiguro had been very fond of his gregarious little brother.
And then, when Yuguro returned triumphant, Kaguro felt as though his heart had been gouged from his chest. He knew Jiguro. Yuguro could never have defeated him if Jiguro had fought in earnest, and it grieved him to think he had let his younger brother kill him. Consequently, he found Yuguro’s behavior hard to understand. He had slain his own brother, albeit a dishonorable criminal, and won fame and glory as a hero in the capital. If their roles had been reversed and Jiguro had pursued and killed Yuguro, Jiguro would never have shown his face in public again. He would have returned to his village and lived quietly, mourning his brother….
These thoughts churned in Kaguro’s mind, clamoring for attention. There was no proof. Yet the man Balsa had just described to him was far more like the Jiguro he had known than the version he had come to believe.
He heaved a great sigh, then looked at Balsa. “And if this story is true, what do you plan to do about it?”
She gazed at Kaguro’s lined face. He looked so much more like Jiguro than Yuguro did when she had met him long ago — even the eyes that gazed at her from under slightly furrowed brows.
“Nothing. There’s no proof. And besides, nothing I can do will bring Jiguro back to life. If you believe me, then it was worth coming back to let you know your brother was not a traitor, to tell you what kind of life he led.” A smile touched the corners of her mouth. “Yuguro tried to poison me, but he didn’t need to go to all that trouble. I can’t change anything.”
Kaguro stood up. “I believe you,” he said finally, his voice determined. “But I can’t announce that publicly. If you’ll promise in writing never to return to Kanbal, you may return freely to New Yogo.”
Balsa glanced briefly at Laloog. Three nights ago the Herder People had led her through the caves to Yonsa territory, where Laloog had met her. She had been afraid that Laloog would not believe her tale about the conspiracy, despite his respect for the Herders as people of the Mountain Deep. But on the contrary, he had received her warmly. It was then that she had learned that her Aunt Yuka had been trying to convince him for days.
She turned her gaze back to Kaguro. “I’m afraid that I can’t leave Kanbal just yet.”
He frowned deeply. “Why not?”
“There’s something I have to do.”
In response to an urgent summons, Kassa and his father found themselves ushered into Kaguro’s private chamber. Kassa, who knew the reason, felt the long-awaited moment had come, but his father, who had no clue of what was going on, looked very anxious. Kaguro, Laloog, and Balsa were waiting for them.
Kaguro greeted them with a deep frown and began methodically explaining the situation. Tonno listened with an expression of stunned disbelief. When he had finished, Kaguro slowly shook his head. “Frankly,” he said, “I still can’t quite accept it myself.” He glanced at Balsa. “I can’t help but feel that this idea is too advantageous for you. Protecting Kassa is the perfect excuse for you to sneak into the ceremony chamber and take revenge on Yuguro under cover of the darkness.”
Balsa smiled bitterly. “That’s true.”
“Now wait a minute!” Laloog intervened. “Do you think I would tell such a preposterous lie just to allow Balsa to avenge a grudge?”
Kaguro maintained a sullen silence for a few seconds and then finally sighed. “No … When my father was dying, he told me, ‘I will make you clan chieftain, but in any matter pertaining to the Mountain King, you must defer to Jiguro because he has seen the King himself. He knows the secret hidden from Kanbal.’ ” He raised his head and looked at Laloog. “But it never occurred to me that the Herders were people of the Deep … or that they were spying on us.”
A look of displeasure crossed his face and then faded. “Master Laloog. Even if the tale of the Herder People is true, we’re Kanbalese. Shouldn’t we be thinking of what will bring happiness to Kanbal? Don’t you think Yuguro is right? He’s our greatest spearman. Surely there’s a chance that he could defeat the hyohlu? If his plan should succeed and we gained free access to luisha …”
Laloog reached out and gripped Kaguro’s hand with his own. Surprised, Kaguro looked down at him.
“Master Kaguro. That is a terribly foolish dream. Even now, the fear inspired by the hyohlu chills me to the very marrow. As one who has taken part in the Giving Ceremony, I tell you that there is not the remotest chance that a spearman with evil intentions can ever defeat a hyohlu!
“And know this also. The Mountain King is not what you imagine him to be. I can’t tell you what I witnessed beneath the mountain because I’m bound by the vow of silence. But even if I were to try to describe it in words, you’d never be able to understand me.”
He squeezed Kaguro’s hand tightly. “All I can do is beg you to believe me. Luisha is not merely a gem. To invade the Mountain Deep and try to take as much luisha as you want is like milking a she-goat to death while demanding that she produce more milk!” His hand was trembling. “When a goat gives birth to a kid, she shares her milk with us. Luisha too is a treasure that can only be shared when the time is right.”