“What’s going on?” Hoshina asked, looking to Yanagisawa.

“We’ve received the kidnappers’ ransom demand.” Yanagisawa took the letter from Sano and proffered it to Hoshina.

“At last!” Hoshina appeared not to notice Yanagisawa’s cold manner; the news had captured all his attention. He vaulted up the steps into the pavilion and eagerly snatched the letter. Scanning the text, he frowned in bafflement at the poem. He read the ransom demand, and Sano watched his eyes widen in shock, his mouth slacken in disbelief.

“The kidnapper wants me dead!” Hoshina burst out. “That’s the reason for the crime!” He threw down the letter and turned to Yanagisawa in alarm. “But the shogun wouldn’t kill me to get Lady Keisho-in back, would he?”

Yanagisawa avoided his lover’s gaze. Sano knew that the shogun not only loved his mother much more than he cared about Hoshina, but would gladly slay any of his retainers for her sake. Now Sano saw the horrified realization sink into Hoshina.

“You won’t show His Excellency the letter, will you?” Hoshina said, clutching Yanagisawa’s arms. “You won’t let him kill me to save his mother, will you?”

The chamberlain’s hands came up to clasp Hoshina’s forearms in a gesture of restraint and affection. “I cannot intervene on your behalf.” Yanagisawa spoke with quiet regret as he looked directly at Hoshina. “Matters must take their course.”

“What?”

Hoshina recoiled from Yanagisawa as though the chamberlain had struck him a physical blow. Sano also experienced shock because he’d expected Yanagisawa to protect his lover.

“You’re going to sacrifice me to save Lady Keisho-in.” Hoshina shook his head, resisting belief. He uttered a laugh tinged with hysteria. “But-but there’s no need. You can talk the shogun into sparing me. We can find some other way to rescue Lady Keisho-in.”

His eyes beseeched Yanagisawa, but the chamberlain said in the same quiet tone, “What you ask is impossible.”

Sano watched angry comprehension darken Hoshina’s face. “You mean you won’t defend me because you don’t want to risk displeasing the shogun,” Hoshina said.

Yanagisawa inclined his head, silent and pensive.

“You’d rather let me die than lose your position or your chance to rule Japan through your son when he becomes the next dictator,” Hoshina said. “After everything we’ve done together and been to each other?”

Blazing with outrage, Hoshina paced circles around Yanagisawa. “I’ve helped you build your power. I’ve fought your enemies. I’ve given you my body and my heart.” He thumped his chest. “And now, when I need your help, you cut me loose.”

Sano inwardly squirmed with embarrassment at witnessing a private quarrel. Yanagisawa must have known this would happen, and Sano wondered again why the chamberlain wanted him here.

Suddenly Hoshina crumpled to his knees before Yanagisawa. “Please don’t abandon me,” he wailed, erupting into sobs. His hands scrabbled against the chamberlain’s robes. “I love you. I don’t want to die. Please, please, if you love me, don’t let the shogun execute me!”

Sano recalled the meeting where he’d heard the news of the kidnapping, and how eagerly Hoshina had welcomed the crime as a chance to better his own position. What a contrast between that ambitious, cocky Hoshina and this groveling creature!

Yanagisawa stood speechless, unmoved; yet Sano sensed anguish tormenting him: He did love Hoshina, though he loved power more. Sano pitied them. Then Yanagisawa stepped away from Hoshina.

“It’s no use,” he said with firm, desolate resolve. “I can’t stand in the way of rescuing the shogun’s mother. My enemies would jump at the chance to attack me, and their combined power is stronger than mine.” Sano knew Yanagisawa referred to Lord Matsudaira, other Tokugawa clan members, and Priest Ryuko. “For me to protect you would mean certain death for us both.”

Hoshina sprang to his feet. Panic flashed through the tears that blurred his face. He rushed toward the doorway of the pavilion, but the sight of the guards on the path froze him. Sano watched Hoshina realize that escape was impossible; he wouldn’t get out of Edo Castle alive. Sweat glistened on his skin, and he exuded the sour reek of terror. Breathing hard, crouched in a defensive posture, he glanced wildly around him. His eyes lit upon Sano; cunning inspiration focused them.

Sano suddenly knew what Hoshina was going to say, and the reason for his presence. Enlightenment appalled him.

“Do you remember when you were investigating the murder of Lord Mitsuyoshi last winter?” Hoshina said. “I gave you a tip, in exchange for a favor. You promised to do whatever I asked, whenever I wanted. Well, now I’m asking you to honor our deal.” Squaring his shoulders, Hoshina lifted his chin and faced Sano with the brazen aggression of a man seizing upon his last resort. “Save my life.”

His promise to Hoshina had menaced Sano like a poisonous snake lurking in a forest, waiting to strike him. Finally the snake had sunk its fangs. Sano had expected Hoshina to make the most extravagant request at the least convenient moment, but the nature and timing of this demand were worse than Sano could have predicted.

“How am I supposed to save you?” Outraged and horrified, Sano flung out his hands. “Tell the shogun to let you live and his mother die?” Sano uttered a sarcastic laugh. “You’re asking me for a miracle!”

“That’s your problem,” Hoshina retorted. “Solve it however you can. We made a bargain, and you have to uphold your end.”

Sano looked at Yanagisawa, who regarded him with a steady, penetrating gaze that confirmed his suspicions. Yanagisawa had been aware of the bargain. He’d known Hoshina would need help now, and he’d brought Sano here because he knew Hoshina would call in the favor. Yanagisawa had contrived to manipulate Sano into saving his lover for him! Sano gave Yanagisawa a bitter, resentful glare, then turned back to Hoshina.

“This is one time I’ll gladly break my word,” Sano said, folding his arms in defiance. “After you’ve done your best to ruin me, you don’t deserve my protection.”

“I deserve the same good deed I did for you.” Hoshina’s perspiring face was savage with determination. “If I hadn’t given you that tip, you would be dead now. You owe me your life. And you’ll repay me by saving mine.”

Sano made a sound of vehement denial, but he couldn’t ignore Hoshina’s logic. Sano had been a suspect in that murder case, and without the tip, he might still have cleared his name and arrested the real killer… or not. If he’d failed, he would have been punished by death. He could never know for sure whether he would have prevailed no matter what, or if Hoshina had prevented his downfall.

“I won’t sacrifice those women for the likes of you!” Sano shouted, furious at Hoshina, Yanagisawa, and himself for the circumstances that ensnared him. “Nor will I let you interfere with my duty to rescue Lady Keisho-in.” He snatched up the ransom letter from the pavilion’s floor where Hoshina had thrown it. “I’ll take this to the shogun now and advise him to comply with the demands. I’ll personally deliver you to the executioner.”

In the heat of his anger, Sano didn’t want to think that Hoshina had a legitimate claim on him. Sano cared most about saving Reiko. He reached out to grab Hoshina, but the police commissioner shoved him away.

“Behold the mighty sōsakan-sama,” Hoshina said. Though his eyes registered fear that he’d lost his last gamble, he bared his teeth in a mocking grin. “He pretends to champion justice and uphold honor, hut he would condemn me to a disgraceful death, without even knowing what murder the kidnappers have accused me of, or if I’m guilty. And why? Because he wishes to serve duty by rescuing his lord’s mother?”

Hoshina addressed his questions to an imaginary audience. He ignored Yanagisawa, who silently watched. “No-he only wants to save his wife.” Hoshina stank of desperation, but he sneered in contempt at Sano. “You despise other men for serving selfish interests. Well, you’re a hypocrite.”