Kin turned to the source of the sound, the buzzsaw rasp of heavy breathing, a shadow falling across the light above. He took in the broad silhouette of a Guildsman looming over him in the grubby warmth, dull light gleaming on the sculpted, muscular lines of the atmos-suit, eyes burning like a smog-choked sunset.
Dread stabbed at Kin’s stomach, and he licked at suddenly dry lips. He recognized the suit, the tiger-stripe pattern of iron-gray filigree across burnished brass. The authority dripping from every word the figure spoke. But most of all, he recognized the face. Unlike the hard insectoid helms of most Lotusmen, the elaborate mask staring down at him was almost human. The sculpted brow and rounded cheeks of a boy in the prime of his youth, rendered in smooth, polished brass; a perfect symmetry that should by all rights have been beautiful. Perhaps it was the cluster of segmented cables spilling from the mouth, as if the child were in the middle of vomiting up a stomachful of iron squid. Perhaps it was the burning red eyes that cast a bloody glow on those full, flawless cheeks. Whatever the reason, there was something wrong about that face; something in it that Kin had always feared.
The man towering above him had been the closest thing to a friend Kin’s father had ever known. If they were normal people, he might have taken Kin into his own house when Old Kioshi passed away. If Kin were a normal child, it would not have seemed strange to any if he called the man “uncle.”
But being who and what he was, Kin used the title that everyone else did.
“Shateigashira.” He tried to make his voice sound strong, covered his fist, bowed as best he could. “The Voice of Chapterhouse Kigen honors me with his presence.”
“You wake. Good.”
The huge figure flicked several beads across the mechabacus on his chest, transmitting to the grand library hub at First House. A thousand receivers gathering and transcribing a thousand chits of data every minute, relaying information to the Ministries of Communication, Ordinance, Procurement, Division. Adding to the constant machine hum inside the heads of anyone plugged into the system. The pulse of the machine he had lived with his entire life.
“How do you feel?”
“Sore.” Kin touched the bandages again. “Thirsty.”
“To be expected, after so grand an adventure.”
There was no trace of amusement in the Shateigashira’s voice. Kin blinked, saying nothing, watching the mechabacus click back and forth on the broad clockwork chest.
“When your skin transmitted its distress beacon, there were fears you had met your end in the Iishi. But I knew better. We both know you are intended for grander things, Kioshisan.” The Shateigashira ran one gauntleted hand along the metal railing of the cot; a grinding rasp that set Kin’s teeth on edge. “And yet the Kyodai of the Resplendent Glory tells me that you were naked when his troops found you. Outside your skin. In the company of a hadanashi girl.”
“The fire.” Kin swallowed. “The damage to my skin. It was unavoidable, Shateigashira.”
“It was unfortunate, Kioshisan.” A shake of his head, red light casting frightful shadows across those perfect, frozen features. “A great loss of face. Your father would be ashamed to witness a blessed child fall so low. I am glad he is not alive to see this day. An example must be made to the other Shatei. Even for one such as yourself. There must be punishment.”
Kin took a deep breath, tried to still the pounding of his heart.
“I understand.”
“And yet, the example may be tempered with mercy. The retribution meted out for your transgression may be lessened through your cooperation.”
Kin already knew what they would ask. As if the act of asking made it any less of a command. As if he had any choice in the matter whatsoever. He breathed deep, tried to remember the taste of clean rain, the feel of the cool mountain breeze on his face, the way her hair rippled like black silk in the wind. He spoke the words as if they didn’t quite fit properly in his mouth.
“What would you have of me, Shateigashira?”
“The girl they found you with. The one who tamed the arashitora.”
“Hai?”
The towering figure leaned in closer.
“Tell me everything you know.”
27 Wisteria Perfume