Risuko Read Free

down my face. At last.
    She led me through the coin-sized flakes of snow. Though it must have been midday, the storm made it dark, and her form seemed to fade into the falling feathers of the crystal flakes. I danced across the cold stones, my bare feet fleeing from freezing stones to freezing air and back again, leaving me hopping like a mating crane next to Mieko’s smooth stride. “We will get you changed and fed before we go,” she said.
    There was no one between me and the inn-yard entrance. I thought of bolting. But food ...
    We reached a wide door that looked like the entry to a stable. Mieko opened it and beckoned me in. “Come, Risuko.”
    I entered behind her and peered into the gloom. As my eyes adjusted, I could make out five figures, all seated around a tiny fire.
    The room looked as if it were indeed intended to be a stable, but had been transformed into a sort of servant dormitory. Low, age-darkened beams crisscrossed, holding up the roof. Bedrolls lined one wall and a small, smoky fire-pit warmed the center of the space—almost.
    The five figures stood and turned toward me. I felt the urge to climb up into the low rafters, just to get away. Too late to fly away, I realized.
    I recognized the two bulkiest figures as Lady Chiyome’s carriers. They glanced at me, bowed their heads, and then turned back to the fire, stirring rice in a pot.
    The other three figures came toward me. As they stepped away from the fire, their black silhouettes softened and I could make out their features. They were older than me, but definitely children. The biggest was a boy, with a doughy, smiling face. The middle one had a smile too, but it wasn’t a friendly one at all. And the smallest one, who was just a little bigger than me, wore the most ridiculous frown on her face that I’ve ever seen.
    â€œChildren,” said Mieko, a hand resting gently on my shoulder, “come and introduce yourselves to our newest companion, Kano Murasaki.”
    â€œKano.” The middle girl’s eyes narrowed. “So, you’re the reason we’ve been waiting here,” she spat.
    I tried to step back, but Mieko’s gentle grip held me in place.
    The boy spoke as if the girl hadn’t said a thing. “I’m Aimaru. And this is Emi.” He gestured to the sad-faced girl.
    â€œHello,” she said. Her voice was pleasant, but the scowl didn’t break at all.
    The boy was about to introduce the other girl, but she slapped away his hand. “I’m me,” she said. “I don’t care if you know who I am or not, but I want to know who you are, and why the lady was looking for a scrawny mouse like you.”
    â€œShe’s not a mouse, Toumi,” said the frowning girl. “She’s too big.” I couldn’t tell if she was joking, or just hadn’t understood.
    The girl called Toumi gave a dismissive snort and walked back to the tiny fire.
    â€œThere’s food,” said Aimaru. “Come.”
    â€œWhat’s your name?” asked Emi.
    I shuffled. I’ve never liked Mama’s nickname for me, but that was how everyone seemed to know me there. “I’m called Risuko,” I muttered, looking down.
    â€œA squirrel’s sort of like a mouse,” said Emi, her face still twisted in a severe pout.
    Is she simple? I wondered. Is she making fun of me? I somehow couldn’t believe that either was true.
    â€œCome, Risuko,” said Mieko. “We can get you some clean things to wear and then you may eat.”
    Mieko grabbed some items from one of the bundles by the fire and led me into one of the empty stalls where I couldn’t see the others. She gave a perfect, crescent-moon smile and held out her hand. “Come, give me your clothes.”
    Her polished sweetness was as impossible to disobey as Lady Chiyome’s commands. Shaking uncontrollably, I pulled off my thin, wet jacket and trousers. I held them out to her,