Silkpunk and Steam Read online

  “Sumiko Nipa, you are silent on this matter. Who would you choose?” asked a grandfather.

  “Both would make good leaders, no? Given the choice now, I would, of course, vote for my brother.” The words came out quickly, eagerly, making me sound like a child.

  An elder sucked on his teeth. I’d shown my weakness. They would see me like Shiromainu with his grandnephew. They would think familial ties clouded my judgment.

  “You say, ‘Of course,’ but you voted for Tomomi Sensei before,” the elder said.

  My instinct was to shrink. That wouldn’t do for a nipa, a temporary one or not. Instead, I held myself taller. “She was the logical choice at that moment. Now Taishi-sama is the logical choice.” This time, at least I remembered not to call him my brother and to stick to formalities.

  My brother bowed his head with the courtesy he would pay a real leader. “Perhaps you could explain your logic to us, Nipa.”

  I cleared my throat. “I did not think Makiri-sama would make the best choice for leader because he wouldn’t consider the interests of all in our tribe. He is so biased against the gaijin, he lets his hatred blind him. My b—Taishi-sama and Tomomi-sama both have experience with off-worlders. They use this knowledge to their benefit. When I cast my vote, I made certain to select the person who was most likely to succeed over Makiri-sama. Tomomi-sama had two votes and Taishi-sama had one. I was simply being practical.” I wanted to bow and apologize to my brother. I wanted to beg his forgiveness. I couldn’t do any of those things with the council watching. I could only plead at him with my eyes, but I didn’t think he could see my eyes with the tanuki eboshi covering so much of my face. “Tomomi-sama is an excellent warrior and teacher. She is a good choice as leader, but I feel Taishi-sama’s experience is greater.”

  One side of Tomomi’s blue lip lifted in a smile. She looked to Taishi sitting across from her. Their eyes met and something unspoken passed between them. Was it the connection of memory moss they’d once shared that gave them that silent way of communicating with one another?

  The elders argued over how they would resolve the dispute. Not everyone wanted me to vote again because of my bias.

  “Sumiko-sama is nipa,” Grandfather Apnianu said. “You cannot deny her a voice in this matter.

  Grandmother Pirka nodded.

  Grandmother Ami raised her voice to be heard. “Let her have an opinion, even if it differs from your own. We all have a bias.”

  One grandmother said, “Did our young Nipa not say to us years ago that family is blind to the errors of family? Sumiko Nipa should not be allowed a vote.”

  Tomomi bowed low. “It is an insult to not permit Nipa a vote. I will not be offended if votes are cast again and Sumiko Nipa’s vote is included.”

  The elders argued more. They resembled a pack of nosebirds attacking each other during mating season.

  Taishi bowed. “Pardon my intrusiveness, but might I mention a method we used in the Chiramantepjin village in my mother’s time as leader? When a decision couldn’t be made by vote, we used to have a contest of strength. Each side chose a proxy who would fight on his or her behalf.”

  Tomomi nodded. “I know of this tradition. We practiced this in the Tatsujin village when I lived with my former tribe. I would consent to this contest if the elders saw it fit as a method of resolution.”

  This settled it for the elders. They would have a contest by proxy. I think they were glad not to have to vote again.

  Taishi asked many questions about the rules they would set for the contest, what kind of show of strength and if the fight would be with sticks, bare hands or wits. The elders determined hand-to-hand combat was suitable. Or staffs. They didn’t care.

  Tomomi cocked an eyebrow at Taishi. “Too bad this wasn’t a contest of wit. I had the perfect champion in mind for that.”

  “I bet you did,” Taishi said.

  Another look passed between the two of them. The connection between them couldn’t have been stronger if they’d been using memory moss and sharing their minds at that very moment.

  “And what kind of battle will this be? To the death like in the Tatsujin village in the old days?” Tomomi asked. Her blue lip twitched.

  “There’s no need for anyone to die,” a grandmother said briskly.

  “Enough warriors have been killed in the past few years,” Grandmother Ami agreed.

  Taishi nodded. “Will you permit us to choose from anyone in the tribe? I may select anyone?” A sly smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. I knew that look. He was planning something. I couldn’t help thinking the elders were doing exactly as he wanted.

  Who could he possibly mean to choose? He was one of the best warriors in the tribe, though I doubted he would choose himself. Nor would he have suggested he and Tomomi fight by proxy if he had wanted to choose himself. Tomomi smiled the ferocious grin of a wild tanuki, sneaky and clever. I understood then. They wanted the same warrior.

  “Shall we give you time to study the warriors?” a grandmother asked.

  “There’s no need. We already have selected.” Tomomi’s eyes narrowed. “It’s only a matter of who is allowed to choose first.”

  The elders looked from one to the other. I was certain of it now. They both meant to choose the same person. That had to be it. I scoured my memories for the greatest warriors of the Chiramantepjin. Makiri was a good warrior. There were also younger, more athletic men. Being the fighting teacher gave Tomomi an advantage. Having spent much time with the men of the village, that gave my brother an advantage.

  The elders squabbled over who should be allowed to select first. The aroma of fish stew wafted under the hide curtains and the clatter of tables being set up echoed from the other side of the chamber. I wanted the decision to be over so we could all eat. Even after months of being well-fed, the kamuy in my belly still ruled my soul.

  “Shall we let Sumiko Nipa choose who selects first?” Tomomi asked.

  The elders nodded their heads and shrugged. It was getting late and they were tired of arguing by that point. Now I was the one with all the pressure of the decision instead of them.

  I swallowed the dry lump in my throat. I had to choose Taishi, so he would win. But I had to choose Tomomi, so I wouldn’t shame myself for my bias and shame my brother. Then again, if Tomomi suggested I choose, perhaps she was giving me permission to allow my brother first pick. I bit my lip. The two of them grinned at me like hungry tanuki. Both were tricksters.

  My mouth was sticky. I wet my lips with my tongue. “Taishi-sama.”

  My brother’s grin grew wider. “I choose the greatest warrior among the Tanukijin, one no man can defeat. Tomomi Sensei.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  There is no worse enemy than fear.

  —Jomon expression

  Tomomi howled and pounded the straw mats with her fists. Losing one’s temper was considered unbecoming, but in this case, I think all the elders overlooked it in their shock. Some of them laughed. Others shook their heads, baffled. My initial shock gave way to giggles.

  Taishi fell back laughing. Victory was his, not only in the contest of strength, but in one of wits. Grandfather Shinriki grinned at him and nodded with approval. The clever spirit of a tanuki trickster was a trait the Tanukijin admired.

  Tomomi’s gruff voice rose above the chatter. “That choice is not allowed.”

  “You wouldn’t be saying that if Sumiko-chan had given you the choice first, ne?” Taishi looked to me and cleared his throat. “Pardon me, Sumiko Nipa.”

  He hadn’t even been crowned yet and he was already relegating me back to my role as little sister in the public eye. My temper flared. I forced myself to keep my hands open and unclenched on my thighs.

  Truly his wit and cunning was astounding. He and Tomomi were well-matched.

  For just a second I lost control of myself. Rather than accepting Taishi’s winning, rather than be thankful for Faith’s safety, I plunged on. I all
owed his slight to irritate me.

  “Tomomi Sensei, who do you choose now that your first choice is taken?” I asked.

  She shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. No one can beat me. It would be fairer to give me three or four combatants to fight, ne? Unless… .” She glanced at Taishi and stroked her chin.

  I tried to hide my smile. She would choose him in the arena, just as he had chosen her. They would spar, him fighting for her and her fighting for him. It would be very confusing. And entertaining. It seemed like such a Tanukijin thing to do. I could see Shiromainu approving of such humor and wit.

  Tomomi grinned. “There might be an opponent who can outwit me.”

  The elders leaned forward in anticipation.

  Tomomi licked her lips. “There is one who might be able to fight as my champion. She might even beat me and that will give me a fair chance. Rumor has it, when she was twelve she bested a grown man, a competent warrior in sparring.”

  Taishi tilted his head to the side. I shook my head, dread settling into my stomach.

  She winked at me. “Sumiko Nipa might be able to beat me.”

  I shook my head more vigorously. She had to be kidding. Me?

  It was agreed our battle would begin the following morning after breakfast. It had to be obvious how unfair of a battle this would be, not just physically. How could they expect Tomomi to fight on behalf of her opponent? Or me to fight her when my vote wouldn’t have gone to her? The bias of my vote was trivial compared to her bias in this fight.

  All of this was a game to Taishi and Tomomi, only I was the marble being batted around.

  I knew Tomomi well enough to know where to find her that evening. She soaked her muscles in the onsen after dinner. Mist swirled around her as thick as a snow storm despite the hide curtains thrown back from the windows.

  I announced myself and entered. Her eyes remained closed, her head leaned against the stone wall.

  I cleared my throat. “Tomomi Sensei, how am I supposed to beat you?”

  “Ask your brother, not your opponent.” Her blue lips curled upward.

  It was far more complicated than that, and she knew it. She was my opponent and I served as her champion. I bowed. “You’re my teacher.”

  She was the one I had gone to when I’d first bled as a woman. She had taught me memory exchange and been there to help me with my duties as nipa.

  I needed her wisdom again.

  Tomomi crossed her arms. “You can’t beat me. I’m bigger, stronger and wiser than you. Make a good show of fighting and try your best so that you do not lose face and you do not cause me to lose face choosing you. Try something clever if you can. It doesn’t matter. I will win on behalf of your brother.” She winked at me. “Not that I mind. I never asked for the honor of being a nipa. I prefer being a teacher.”

  “Do you have any secret weaknesses?” I asked.

  She barked out a laugh. “I’m not telling you. Go ask your brother.”

  I next went to Taishi in his chamber. When I asked for his help, he laughed. “Why are you asking me? You’re fighting on her behalf.”

  “I must do my best so I won’t dishonor myself or Tomomi for choosing me. I must not dishonor you by making my familial bias too obvious.”

  He scratched his chin. “I suppose that’s true. Even so, you should ask one of the warriors.”

  “You know her better than any man here.” I crossed my arms and tried to tell him with a look I meant their memory exchange. I had a suspicion she’d shared with him far more than she had with me in that regard.

  He leaned closer. His eyes twinkled with mischief. “I will give you one hint. Her feet are ticklish.” From his exasperating grin, I couldn’t tell if he was serious or not.

  “Why must you fight at all? Tomomi is too big. You might get hurt,” Faith complained the next morning when I went to visit her. The hide window flaps were tied back, letting in the gray light of dawn.

  “Tomomi Sensei,” I corrected. “You need to start using the correct honorifics. It offends people when you forget.”

  She didn’t answer. She stroked my hair away from my face and hugged me to her side. Michi was still dressing herself, with as much gusto as an eight-year-old might muster at such an early hour, which wasn’t much.

  I let Faith fuss over me, savoring her touch. I said, “It’s about honor. I must prove I am honorable. And I must show the tribe the fight is a fair match.” I circled an arm around her waist. I loved the valleys and mountains of her body, so different from the flat landscape of my own. Here in her chamber it felt safe and cozy with her close by.

  “But it isn’t a fair match!” Faith insisted.

  When she held me like this, I could pretend the rest of the world didn’t exist, whether it was matters of the council or the gaijin ships that wished to exterminate us. If only she didn’t insist speaking of such matter right now.

  I pulled back from her embrace. “The match isn’t fair in body, but perhaps it is in wits.” Not that I believed that, but I had to pretend it was the case.

  Michi gave up tying her boots. She thrust a foot at me to take care of the mess of knots she’d created out of the laces. “Can we watch?” she asked.

  I ignored my niece’s proffered foot. I was Nipa. For one more day I was too high in rank to condescend to such tasks.

  “Can I watch?” she asked again and kicked me to get my attention.

  I held up a finger at her in stern warning. “Don’t kick me. I am your elder and your nipa.”

  Faith shook her head at Michi in exasperation. “You’re being a brat.”

  Taishi flipped back the hide of the door and strode in. “What’s this I hear? Does my little brat need a beating?”

  “No!” Michi squealed. She tripped on her boots, laughing as she dodged away.

  “Show your nipa some respect.” He punched me in the shoulder as he passed.

  I hadn’t anticipated the gesture and the force sent me colliding into Faith. It was no wonder why my niece didn’t treat me like a nipa.

  Taishi grinned. “Who’s going with me to watch the match?”

  “Me!” Michi said.

  “No, you aren’t,” Faith said. “It will be too violent.”

  Taishi lifted his daughter into a hug. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.

  “Faith-chan, stop worrying so much. This will be an enjoyable day and I want my family there to celebrate my victory.” He glanced over his shoulder at me. “No offense, little sister, but I chose a champion no one could beat.”

  I crossed my arms. I wanted to win for Tomomi’s sake at that moment. Of course, it was that pride that had gotten me in this trouble in the first place. If I hadn’t opened my mouth, the council would have let the matter rest. They would have selected Taishi without the need for the contest.

  Taishi waved me over to the table. “Ready for breakfast, Little Nipa?”

  My belly fluttered with nervousness and I thought I would be sick. I hardly sipped my soup during breakfast. When we left Taishi’s chamber, the entire great hall was a buzz of excitement. They didn’t get to watch something this exciting every day. A new nipa was about to be made. And their old nipa was about to have her face ground into the dirt.

  The weather outside was blustery with a cool drizzle, no weather to be fighting in by choice. I wore my normal practice attire, a loose pair of hakima pants and a shorter hide tunic over my attush. My feet were wrapped in boots to keep them dry and warm. At least I didn’t have to wear my eboshi. Tomomi was clad in similar attire, though her large feet and muscled arms were bare. I didn’t know how she could stand the chill.

  Everyone gathered at the riverbank in a large circle, talking excitedly about the battle. I could only imagine how silly it must look. With the village ringed around us there was no angle from which my defeat wouldn’t be seen. Pana and Hekketek waved to me. I caught sight of Chinatsu hugging Opere in her excited way. Elders pushed their way
to the front.

  This was going to be the most humiliating day of my life.

  Tomomi nodded to Taishi. “It really is best that we aren’t fighting, you and I, ne? It wouldn’t be fair after I learned your weakness.”

  “Oh, what’s that?” he asked.

  “Me.”

  Those nearest laughed. One warrior shouted, “Tomomi Sensei, you are everyone’s weakness.”

  Their banter helped lighten the mood. I found myself smiling despite the lump of apprehension in my belly. I scanned the crowd for Faith. Michi stood out with her blonde hair escaping the confines of her hat. She stood next to Grandmother Ami, peeking around people in the crowd. Faith wasn’t there. I was simultaneously relieved and disappointed.

  I had wanted her support and encouragement. Her faith. But at least she wouldn’t see my defeat.

  We used staffs. Tomomi circled. She made small, short thrusts just within my range of ability like she did in practice. With increasing ease on her part, she moved faster so I had to work harder.

  Just do my best, I told myself. As long as I made a good show of it, there was no shame in fighting a losing battle.

  In a matter of minutes I was panting. My muscles screamed at me from working harder than they ever had. Tomomi whacked the stick from my hands. It flew through the air and landed in the mud. In one swift motion, she flipped me upside down, holding me up by the ankles.

  “Give up?” she asked.

  “No,” I said, as loud as one could while being held upside down.

  She dropped me and I rolled. Before I could push myself up into a crouch, she planted a foot on my back and pushed me down into the soft dirt. She plopped down onto my back and sat on me. All the air was squeezed from my chest.

  “Now do you give up?” she asked.

  I knew she wasn’t pressing her entire weight against me because if she did I wouldn’t have managed to wheeze out, “No.”

  She reached over and pushed my face into the dirt. Mud squished into my nose and a rock dug into my cheek.