Spirit's Chosen by Esther Friesner Page B

or a cousin who might be interested in me?
Hmph
. Some girls have nothing but luck, and never share with their friends.” She feigned a melancholy sigh.
    “Kayaaaaaa …”
    “Stop bleating like a sick fawn.” My friend rolled over onto her stomach, both hands now propping her chin. “Tell me about your dream.” She leaned toward me a little more. “
All
the good parts.”
    “It wasn’t like that.”
    “Too bad.”
    “Ugh, you’re awful, and you’re going to be disappointed: I’ve never dreamed about Reikon that way. In fact, I haven’t dreamed of him at all until now.”
    “I
don’t
believe that!” Kaya objected, raising her head sharply.
    “Believe it or don’t, it’s true. There’s a difference between thoughts and dreams. He never left my mind or my heart, but no matter how much I wish to see his face again, to walk with him through the light and shadow of his world, it hasn’t happened.”
    “Except for last night.”
    I smiled a little wider. “Yes.”
    She waited for me to say more, and when I stayed silent, she exclaimed, “
Now
who’s teasing? Tell me all about it or suffer Lady Badger’s wrath!”
    “I’ll tell, but you’ll still be disappointed. I dreamed hefound me following a steep path somewhere in the mountains. He took my hand and we walked on together. We didn’t speak.” I shrugged. “Then I woke up.”
    Kaya pursed her lips. “You were right, Himiko: I’d call that dream a big letdown, yet it’s got you grinning like a well-fed fox. If you can make a feast out of such a dried-up crumb, you
must
love him.”
    I lowered my eyes. My smile faded like the last lick of flame from a dying fire. “Do you think I’m a fool, Kaya?”
    “What for?”
    “For yearning after a spirit. For setting my heart on an impossible goal.”
    She thought about it a while. “I’ve used the same bow for years, Himiko. I know how far it can shoot, and how foolish it is to waste good arrows. Yet there are times when I’m hunting that I see prey that’s out of range—a big kamoshika, a plump pheasant about to take wing, a wild boar so fat and tempting that just the sight of him makes my mouth water! What do you think I do then?”
    I gave her a sideways look. “You shoot?”
    She nodded once, emphatically. “I shoot. And what happens?”
    “You hit the target?”
    “No. Not usually. But sometimes I do, and even when I miss, I feel better to have tried and failed than to have failed without trying. Who knows if it won’t turn out the same for you? You’ve entered the realm of the spirits. Maybe someday your prince will find his way into our world.”
    Kaya’s heartening words were a comfort to me on a day when I would need much comfort. We had all barelyfinished cleaning up after our meager breakfast when Masa appeared in the doorway. He looked dejected and did not bother to give any of us a morning greeting. His eyes met mine for a moment and all I could see in them was despair. Then he turned his gaze to Yukari, seated on the floor with her son.
    “They’re waiting for you.”
    My stepmother blinked as if taken by surprise. “Why do they want me? To tell what happened? Anyone who was there yesterday can do that!”
    “It’s Master Michio’s idea. Until we have a chieftain, he must make all of the great decisions for our clan. He says that no matter how many others saw the attack, you will give the most accurate version of things because you alone experienced it. The truth lives with you.”
    Yukari shook her head rapidly. “No. No, no, no. I can’t go. I won’t. I’m afraid.” Her nervousness affected Takehiko, who began to whimper and cowered behind his mother.
    “There’s nothing to fear,” Masa told her. “Takehiko doesn’t need to be present for this. Fusa and Toyo are waiting outside, at the foot of the ladder. They will take care of him in our home. And as for Mama …” His face grew even longer. “She won’t be able to raise a hand against you. Lord Hideki