Beyond the Palace Ch. 07

Beyond the Palace

by Davina Lee

*

Author's Note

In the previous chapter we got a glimpse of Matoaka the warrior. Even if her skills are lacking, we could see the determination and drive in her actions. Matoaka is done with forgetting. She's turned the page on that chapter of her life. She wants to train. She wants to fight. She wants to learn the language of her shrine maiden who's always at her side.

But by grasping for so many things at once, is it possible Matoaka could overextend her reach and lose her footing just as she did in her training?

Let's find out.

* * *

Chapter 7: The Heart of the Wolf

In the far distance, a single wolf mother cried out, her howl loud and long, carrying across the crisp night air. Matoaka pushed the blankets aside and sat up. A crescent of moon still hung high in the sky, casting a dim light on the ground outside and illuminating the window of the room where she and Chihiro slept.

Soon, another wolf mother picked up the call, her howl long and clear in the night, louder this time, as she was not so far from where Matoaka sat still rubbing her eyes.

Next to Matoaka, Chihiro was already on her feet, pulling on her hakama and kosode.

A third wolf mother took up the call. It was the old mother keeping watch just outside where Matoaka, Chihiro and the others had been sleeping moments before.

"Let me go with you," said Matoaka, getting to her feet and reaching for her clothes.

"You should stay here," said Chihiro. "You're not ready."

"I'm learning how to fight," said Matoaka. "And I already know how to ride."

Chihiro shook her head. "And if anything were to happen to you--"

"I'll have you by my side."

"No."

"I'll stay back," said Matoaka. "Toward the rear of the group. If anything happens, I can turn around and ride to get help."

Chihiro sighed as she tied her obi.

"Please," said Matoaka.

Just then, someone stuck their head through the doorway. It was the woman clad in black, the woman who had been training Matoaka and the others over the past several days. "Chihiro-san," she said, curtly.

"Coming," said Chihiro, glancing to Matoaka. "I'm just--"

"Bring her with you," said the woman, shifting her gaze to Matoaka and back to Chihiro. "But be quick about it."

Matoaka's face began to brighten and the corners of her mouth twitched upward.

Chihiro opened her mouth as if to speak and then closed it again silently.

"Don't fret, Chihiro," said the black-clad woman. "I'll keep an eye on her. Matoaka-san will be my responsibility. Now, let's go."

Chihiro bowed curtly.

Matoaka grinned from ear to ear.

* * *

The rider in front chose her way carefully, following the path along the crest of the hill lit only by the moon above. Matoaka and the others trailing behind her kept their eyes focused on the tallgrass and cluster of shrubs down below.

"There," said Chihiro, pointing.

She slowed her horse to a stop.

"Just the wind," said the woman in black, coming up alongside.

Matoaka stared into the distance. Soon she nodded her agreement.

Chihiro nodded as well and the group began moving again.

"Over there," said Matoaka. "That copse of trees."

Chihiro sighed.

"You don't see it?" asked Matoaka. "Those branches. They were broken recently."

"I see it," said Chihiro. "But I don't like it."

"It's pretty obvious," said Matoaka, "Something, or someone, has been through there."

The woman in black nodded. "Chihiro-san is not disagreeing with you. It's the trail she's displeased with. Too thick with underbrush to be passable on horseback."

"Well, whoever we're looking for," said Matoaka. "She went that way. Somebody did. I'm sure of it."

The group of riders now clustered around Chihiro and Matoaka all nodded their agreement.

"Everyone, find a partner," said the woman in black. "Chihiro, you're with Rei. Matoaka-san, you're with me. The rest of you, look after the horses and keep watch."

"Yes, Sensei."

Matoaka, Chihiro, Rei, and the woman in black all dismounted their horses, handing the reins to one of the other shrine maidens standing by. They paired up and set off toward the trees.

"Matoaka-san, you seem to have good tracking skills."

"Yes, Sensei. Thank you."

"You're in the lead then," said the woman in black. "I'll be right behind you. We're looking for a girl about your age. She's probably scared. But there might be others looking for her too, so keep your staff at the ready."

"Others?" said Matoaka.

"From The Palace. The place she ran away from. They'll want her back."

"I understand, Sensei."

"I'll be right behind you."

Matoaka chose her path carefully, using the dim light of the moon overhead to guide her. In places where the canopy of leaves thickened to cut the light to almost nothing, she slowed, feeling her way among the low branches.

A sudden crashing of leaves caused Matoaka and everyone else in the group to freeze. "Just a rabbit," whispered Matoaka. "I saw it earlier as we passed."

"Gomen'nasai," said Rei. "Sorry. That was me."

"Watch Matoaka-san," said the woman in black. "Look where she looks. Step where she--"

Matoaka dashed her finger over her lips. Following Matoaka's lead, everyone crouched. Matoaka pointed.

Up ahead and to the side, a small shadow of a young woman stood by a tree. She reached for a branch and began to pull herself up while wrapping her legs around the trunk.

"There," whispered Matoaka, pointing with the end of her staff.

"That's her," said Chihiro. "Has to be."

No sooner did Matoaka step forward with Rei trailing just behind, than a man appeared from the cluster of underbrush, standing only a short distance in front of Matoaka. Initially focused on the tree climbing girl, his eyes went wide when he spotted Matoaka and the others.

"Saluton, etulo," said the man, his look of surprise beginning to slacken. "Mi ne vundos vin."

"What's he saying?" asked Matoaka.

Behind her, the others shook their heads. "Doesn't matter," said the woman in black. "Move back. Get behind--"

Seeing an opening in Matoaka's moment of distraction, the man lunged forward, hands grasping.

"Matoaka-san!" Rei raced forward, her staff at the ready.

But before Rei could strike, Matoaka had already crouched and swept her staff to take the man's feet out from under him. He went down hard, striking his head on a tree branch as he fell.

Rei arrived a split second later and with the tip of her staff, she poked at the man's leg. He didn't move.

Rei turned to Matoaka, grinning. "Yoku yatta," said Rei. "Good job."

Matoaka let out the breath she was holding and let a slow smile creep over her face.

"Stay vigilant," said the woman in black. "There will be others."

"The girl," said Matoaka.

The young woman was still clinging to the branch over her head, but her legs were slipping, losing their grip on the trunk.

"It's okay," said Matoaka. "We're friends. Friends. Do you understand?"

"Amiko?" said the young woman, still darting her eyes between Matoaka, Rei, and the others.

Matoaka crouched to lay her staff at her feet. She stood again slowly, holding her hands up with her palms turned out. "Friends," she said, again.

* * *

The line of riders parted the tallgrass prairie, their shadows long, as the sun, a deep orange, sank to just above the horizon. Between the shrine maidens at the front and rear of the procession was Matoaka, wearing the same red hakama and white kosode of the shrine maidens.

Seated behind Matoaka and perched on the same horse, the young woman wearing a plain white robe, a little too big for her small frame, held tight to Matoaka's waist.

A line of three young women dressed in the colorful clothing of The People came running down the hill. They offered small clutches of nuts and berries to the riders.

"Thank you," said Matoaka, accepting the gift and passing it back to the young woman behind her.

"Snacks," said Matoaka, bringing her fingers to her lips.

"Manĝaĵo?" said the girl.

"Sure, I guess. Does that mean eat? Yes, you can eat them." Matoaka plucked up a berry and popped it in her mouth.

The young woman behind her did the same. She chewed slowly for a moment, pushing her tongue around in her mouth, causing her cheeks to puff out.

"Manĝaĵo," said Matoaka.

The young woman nodded and reached in for another.

As the riders crested the hill, a cluster of women from The People were waiting to take the reins of their steeds and lead the horses to pasture. Theodosia approached Matoaka. Matoaka waited for Theodosia to help her passenger down before dismounting herself.

"You've been busy," said Theodosia.

Matoaka grinned.

"Who's your friend?"

"I don't know," said Matoaka. "She hasn't said. She's forgotten our language."

"Oh," said Theodosia. Then, facing the young woman, she said, "Kiel vi nomiĝas?"

The young woman's face lit up. "Leonora," she said. "Mi nomiĝas Leonora."

"This is Theodosia," said Matoaka. "She's a pain in the ass, but I guess she's okay... Sometimes."

"Saluton, Theodosia," said the young woman.

"Sometimes," muttered Theodosia, eyeing Matoaka.

"You never told me you spoke the language of The Palace."

"You never asked," said Theodosia. "All you ever wanted to do was clobber me."

Still standing between Matoaka and Theodosia, Leonora stiffened suddenly, staring toward a shadow in the line of trees in the distance. At the border between the prairie and the forest emerged a large, gray wolf, her fur fading to white around her muzzle.

"It's okay," said Matoaka, "It's just my mother coming to greet us."

"Patrino," said Theodosia.

"Patrino?" repeated Leonora, still shrinking back.

As Theodosia nodded, Matoaka's wolf mother came loping forward. She stopped a few strides from where Matoaka and the other two women stood. The old mother dropped to her belly, pushing herself down flat and resting her head on her front paws. She let loose a short series of high-pitched whines.

"You're not scary, Mother. Stop saying that." Matoaka bounded over to kneel beside the old gray. She scratched behind the wolf's ears and then threw her arms over her mother's back and buried her face in her mother's fur.

"Patrino?" said Leonora, once again.

"Patrino," said Theodosia.

Matoaka straightened up, leaning back on her haunches now, giggling as her wolf mother covered her face in kisses.

"Patrino," said Leonora.

* * *

A cluster of The People stood in the orange glow of a roaring fire, lighting up the darkness and sending its sparks skyward as it crackled. Dinner plates were being collected by some of the young women. Smaller children were running and playing. Every so often, one of them would peek out from behind the legs of a big sister to steal a glance at the new girl.

"And this is our medicine woman," said Matoaka, leading Leonora around.

"Doktoro," said Theodosia.

"Ah, doktoro." Leonora nodded.

"And this..." Matoaka paused her stride. "This is my grandmother. She's an elder here. She might be nice to you, but I don't think she's very pleased to see me."

"Avino," said Theodosia.

Leonora nodded.

"You've been away some time, granddaughter."

"Yes, Elder," said Matoaka.

"Elder," chuckled the gray-haired woman. "You only call me that when you think you're in trouble. Do you think you're in trouble, granddaughter?"

"I uh..." Matoaka lowered her gaze. "I don't think we left on the best terms. You didn't seem happy with my decision."

"Is that what you think?" Grandmother shook her head. "I support any girl's decision to heal. Yours especially."

"But you said--"

"I'm just not happy with the timing is all," said Grandmother. "And because of that, I may have been hasty with my words. But I will always support you."

Matoaka let her mouth go slack as she stood staring. Grandmother stepped forward and wrapped Matoaka in her arms.

"You're growing up into a strong young woman, ready to make your place in the world," said Grandmother. "I'm proud of you."

Matoaka fell forward, her tears staining Grandmother's sleeve as they coursed down her cheeks. Matoaka stood, her breath hitching once, before moving her hands to encircle the elder woman, resting her head against Grandmother's shoulder.

The flickering light of the fire danced over them, casting the shadow of their embrace against the trees. Flames and sparks reached up for the heavens.

* * *

Afterword

Besides the smattering of Japanese spoken by Rei, the other language spoken during the woodland encounter, and by the new girl, is Esperanto. The man in the woods said to Matoaka: "Hello, little one. I'm not going to hurt you."

We see how well that worked out for him.

We also see that Matoaka has become quite the capable and confident young woman, being instrumental in bringing another girl from The Palace home to The People.

The musical selection for the ending credits of this chapter is Superwoman by Alicia Keys.

Next up: The Cries of the Wolf