Brave Story - Miyuki Miyabe [321]
“This Mirror of Eternal Shadow—this is the first I’ve heard of such a thing.” Mitsuru shook his head. “It sounds frightful. This is here, in the north?” Mitsuru spoke calmly, as though he was merely making conversation. Zophie on the other hand was as wary and nervous as a hare who has heard the soft footfalls of an approaching predator. Scare her even a little, and she would jump into her hole, never to poke her head out again. I must tread carefully.
As expected, Zophie slowly looked up, gauging Mitsuru’s expression carefully before continuing. “My father—he did not tell you about the Mirror of Eternal Shadow? It is about as wide as I am tall, silver in color. It is quite beautiful to behold.”
“Nope. I’ve never heard of it.”
“Truly?”
Mitsuru smiled. “Really. It must be a deep, dark secret to make you so fearful.”
Zophie sighed and put a hand to her throat. It was a more theatrical gesture than was called for, but her dismay seemed genuine. “Master Mitsuru, you journey toward the Tower of Destiny, where the Goddess resides, yes?”
“That is my mission as a Traveler.”
“And you need one final gemstone. And this gemstone rests upon the crown of the Imperial Family.”
“Yes, the Crown of the Seal.”
“Ah, you know of this?” Zophie’s long eyelashes swept down, her eyes closing in thought.
“I was told it was a very important crown, that it might not be moved without proper precaution.”
“This is true. Thus my father makes you wait in this way, Master Mitsuru. Tell me, how did my father explain the need for your wait?”
Mitsuru sat up straight and recounted the details of his exchange with the emperor. Just talking about it made rage rise in him. He could feel it churning beneath his skin. He wanted to tell Zophie, right to her pretty face. I can no longer bear to wait on your father’s whim. What a relief it would be to admit how, only an hour before, he had stood on the terrace, plotting the destruction of her precious capital.
Yet Mitsuru’s anger was so great he knew he had to keep it inside. Zophie stared at his face, calm and composed. When Mitsuru was done telling her all he knew, he paused, taking a sip of cold tea.
“And this arrangement—doesn’t it strike you as odd?”
“In what way?”
“My father has not told you how important the Crown of the Seal is, or what calamity will visit us should it be moved, has he?”
“He has not,” Mitsuru said, carefully choosing his words. “I did ask, but he told me nothing more than I have related to you just now.”
Zophie suddenly leaned forward, reaching out her hand and placing it upon Mitsuru’s. “Please forgive him. I do not intend to make excuses for my father, but I believe he did not tell you because he did not wish to burden you with problems that are not yours. You see, the conditions surrounding the Crown of the Seal are, for the most part, taboo to speak of. It is…unclean. I’m sure my father felt that these were things unfit for your ears, coming from the real world as an emissary of the gods, as you do.”
“I understand,” Mitsuru replied, his hand resting under hers. “Yet, m’lady, if I’m not totally mistaken, you are now going to tell me these things about the crown?”
Zophie nodded, her eyes never leaving his. Then, with a start, she lifted her hand and stood from the table.
“I thank you deeply,” Mitsuru said, lowering his head. “But I worry. Won’t the emperor be upset?”
Zophie smiled the sort of smile one uses for a close friend who has told a valuable secret. Hurriedly, she picked up the teapot and made a motion to pour him some more tea. This was a service she was apparently unaccustomed to performing, as she spilled tea all over the table. Mitsuru quickly wiped it up with a napkin.
“Adju Lupa told me,” Zophie said, her voice little more than a whisper. “He said