CHAPTER THREE

Soga no Katashishime walked out of her private Chambers and was faced with Empress Ishi Hime who was standing at the bottom of the staircase.

"Milady." Empress Ishi Hime said as she bowed her head watching Consort Katashishime being supported by her closest maid Sara on her left and her sister Consort Oane no Kimi on her right.

"Your Highness." The three women said in unison as they bowed their heads while Soga no Katashishime appeared reluctant to do so.

"My apologies Milady, I have been so caught up early in the morning that our ceremony has been delayed, there seems to be a matter of national upheaval but no worries it is something that is small." Empress Ishi Hime said.

"Yes Your Highness." Oane no Kimi replied.

"Let it be so." Soga no Katashishime said.

"Shall you not hope that your father returns victorious?" Empress Ishi Hime asked with a ghastly smile.

"Heaven has graced him with wisdom and certainly, only heaven itself shall come to justify his actions." Consort Katashishime spoke up confidently as she slowly descended the stairs with her ladies in waiting following closely behind her.

She was nearly past Empress Ishi Hime when she suddenly halted in her steps and the rest of her helpers did the same.

"The annals of History shall forever remember you your Highness, has your will not been done?" Consort Katashishime asked.

"My will?" Empress Ishi Hime said as she slowly turned and faced Consort Katashishime a smile still on her face.

"How many more are you willing to put on the line to defy the Royal hierarchy?" Empress Ishi Hime asked.

Soga no Katashishime kept quiet.

"Yes, I admit, it is my will, but do you know who else's will it is?" Empress Ishi Hime asked as she brought her face closer to the left ear of Consort Katashishime.

"It is your Husband's and heaven's will." Empress Ishi Hime whispered before she withdrew and then turned around and walked away.

Consort Katashishime looked so devastated that she stumbled for a while.

"Milady." Her maids and sister hurriedly supported her.

"I am fine." Soga no Katashishime suddenly spoke up.

"Don't take whatever she was saying at heart, we all know she might be victorious as of now but certainly not forever." Consort Oane no Kimi said as they stared at Empress Ishi Hime who vanished out of their view.

It was very clear the kind of resentment that Consort Katashishime had for Empress Ishi Hime but she was disadvantaged greatly that the masses adored her and thought her to be a humble woman.

Only she knew what a conniving woman the Empress Consort had always been.

Soga no Katashishime arrived at the Shrine on top of Kagu Hill and there quite a number of officials had already gathered ready to receive the Consort with child at that moment.

Soga no Katashishime looked lively yet in actual sense it was nothing more than a facade.

Eventually, the High Priestess along with Empress Ishi Hime walked up dressed in white as the rest of the crowd that was present gazed and admired the two beautiful women even in those plain ritual clothes.

Consort Katashishime watched along with her sister as the Empress Ishi Hime walked past them to the altar where she knelt down beside the High Priestess.

That very instant, the sound of drums was heard and accompanying it, the Emperor's convoy came in last while being escorted with a group of servants and Royal guards and the ground beneath his carriage showered with flowers.

Everyone's attention shifted into his direction and they watched him walking out of his carriage dressed in pure gold and scarlet robes.

"His Majesty deigns you with his presence." Sato announced.

Immediately, everyone that was present at the place bowed their heads and offered their respects to their Emperor.

"Long live the Emperor, long live His Majesty." The masses shouted as Consort Katashishime and all other women only raised their hands as they hailed him.

The Emperor walked into the ceremonial sphere and Consort Katashishime was quite flattered every moment that the Emperor stepped into close proximity to her.

"Empress Ishi Hime along with the High Priestess hadn't yet diverted their attention from the altar but they both appeared to be smiling from the corner of their mouths.

Eventually the Emperor halted right beside Consort Katashishime that she was forced to turn around.

"Your Majesty." Consort Katashishime said as she was bowing her head but the Emperor held her shoulders to stop her.

"You are pardoned Consort Katashishime." Emperor Kinmei said as he looked into her eyes.

She appeared to be moved having beheld a sight for so long she had never seen in the Emperor's eyes.

The rest of the congregation too was amused at how calm and caring the Emperor appeared to be as even the Empress Ishi Hime must have been well aware that never in her life had she seen him so vulnerable and kind.

"Your Grace is immeasurable your Majesty." Consort Katashishime said her face turning warm.

"You are soon to bless me and my house so it's the very least that I can do." Emperor Kinmei replied.

Empress Ishi Hime stood up and then walked closer to the two.

"Your Majesty, it's time for the prayers." Empress Ishi Hime said.

"Let's proceed." Emperor Kinmei said.

The Empress Consort and the High Priestess knelt with all the shrine maidens and the with the sound of the clanging bells, the two women ignited a simple fire and then raised their hands up to the sky.

They prayed and the ceremony appeared to be going on smoothly without any hindrance at all.

Soga no Katashishime who was quiet and only reacting like everyone else kept a keen eye on the Empress Consort while on the other hand, she couldn't help but feel very worried.

After a while, the Empress Consort stood up and faced everyone along with the High Priestess.

"Please bring in the offerings from the Consort's household." Saio Shinaga ordered.

"At once, palace maids from Consort Katashishime's residence complied and walked into the centre carrying in their possession a large number of baskets that were filled with plenty of fruit.

soga no Umako gazed from a distance and kept a keen eye on everything.

"Please, place the offerings in front of the altar." Saio Shinaga ordered once again.

The palace maids complied at that very time and then immediately withdrew.

Saio Shinaga walked closer to Soga no Katashishime and then bowed her head.

"It is time that you offered your personal prayers." The High Priestess said.

"Yes, Your Eminence." Soga no Katashishime said as she walked over to the altar with the High Priestess leading the way.

She stopped right next to Empress Ishi Hime and shot her a glance which she seemed to ignore with a smile Soga no Katashishime was able to see from the corner of her eye.

All bow to the goddess of the sun, mother of the Royal Dynasty." Saio Shinaga said as the whole congregation responded to her request positively and they stood upright again.

It was finally time for Consort Katashishime to come before the Altar and offer her prayers so she knelt down despite her pregnant state.

"Milady." Saio Shinaga called.

"Let her be your Eminence." Empress Ishi Hime loudly but calmly spoke. "Is it not the heart that is very grateful and modest that heaven loves the most?" She added.

"My apologies Milady." Saio Shinaga said as she bowed her head.

Soga no Katashishime looked at the altar that had been set up and it was at that moment that herself looking at the offerings nearby, the sky was suddenly darkened and thunder rumbled.

Everyone was surprised especially Soga no Katashishime who could barely comprehend what it was that was going on at that very moment.

Everyone in confusion they turned to the High Priestess.

"Saio, what is this?" They asked a majority in a fit of rage.

Immediately, very many dark things started falling from the sky one by one landing at the feet of the officials who had gathered especially the Emperor himself and Soga no Katashishime who was still kneeling in front of the altar.

She took a closer look at the objects surrounding her along with everyone else and was surprised on realising that it wasn't just anything that fell from the sky.

It was more than a hundred crows that were dead and some even bleeding that everyone was shocked to the extent of barely being able to move.

"Saio?" Emperor Kinmei called. "What is the meaning of this?" He added.

"Forgive me your Majesty." Saio Shinaga said.

"What for?" Emperor Kinmei asked as Soga no Katashishime looked so afraid she'd known better than everyone else that what was going to happen wasn't going to be very good at all.

"Your Majesty." Soga no Katashishime called.

"Your Majesty." Saio Shinaga called him as well shortly afterwards.

"We need an answer Saio." Ōmuraji Otomo Kanamura Maro said.

"The heavens your Majesty, they foretell a very bad Omen." Saio Shinaga said.

Everyone of the officials and the people of the Royal household gathered was surprised.

"Are you sure?" Emperor Kinmei asked.

"Yes Your Majesty, how else can birds that fly so high from the ground fall down dead without cause, could it not be arrow of the gods' fury?"Saio Shinaga asked.

"Saio, on such a sacred event, what would that imply?" Ōmuraji Monotobe Okashi asked.

"Heaven doesn't concur with the existence of some things in nature, the heavens have refused this offering your Majesty." Saio Shinaga said.

"What are you trying to imply Saio?" Consort Katashishime stood up and asked.

"Heaven's grace isn't with the child, only misfortune your Majesty." Saio Shinaga said.

"What?" Emperor Kinmei asked.

Empress Ishi Hime kept her distance quietly as she listened to everything that was being said.

"You can not be serious." Soga no Katashishime said.

"Would I misuse the will of Heaven, would I tell you what is wrong Consort Katashishime?" Saio Shinaga asked.

"Was it not you who told the both of us that this child's birth could be an auspicious event?" Soga no Katashishime asked.

"And was it not His Majesty that told me prophecies could change?" Saio Shinaga asked.

"Saio." Emperor Kinmei called.

"Yes Your Majesty." Soga no Katashishime said. " Prophecies change so there is a chance for this misfortune to shift." Soga no Katashishime said.

"And how so do you expect that to come to pass Consort Katashishime?" Empress Ishi Hime suddenly asked. "Do the whims of man change the will of the heavens?" She added.

"Emperor Senka for a reason staunchly took no swiftness in concurring with what was spoken until he'd been assured the will of heaven was deserting him." Consort Katashishime said.

"And what happened after, wasn't his doom set in motion because he chose not to act quick enough?" Empress Ishi Hime asked.

"Senka was a uniter like our Emperor and like him he had enemies, some distant and others close enough to the extent that they were right next to him, people with selfish intents for power.

I believe that our Majesty is however graced immeasurably that something of the sort won't happen to him, after all when all his wives, the both of us care and support him, what danger could come upon him?" Soga no Katashishime asked.

Consort Katashishime had spoken too wisely that Empress Ishi Hime did seem to notice that she had been trapped in her own words and she seemed to think about it.

If she'd disagree then that would make her unpopular among the court officials and since Consort Katashishime had brought up the late Emperor, a word justifying that he had met an awful end without a proper choice of a successor to inherit his throne since he wasn't cautious would make them all look at Emperor Kinmei as a usurper and the unrightful Emperor to the throne.

Empress Ishi Hime suddenly smiled at Consort Katashishime widely.

"You are right Consort Katashishime, we all love our husband very dearly." Empress Ishi Hime said.

Suddenly, one of the Royal guards turned up in the Emperor's presence.

"Your Majesty, your Majesty." He loudly shouted.

"What is it?" Emperor Kinmei.

"Your Majesty, the enemy troops have been spotted, not so far from here." The Royal guard replied.

"What?" Emperor Kinmei loudly said as everyone of the officials of his court looked surprised as well.

"Your Majesty, this is misfortune in deed." Saio Shinaga said.

"Your Majesty, I didn't want to say this but you must abandon the hill and return to the capital at once." Empress Ishi Hime said as she hurriedly came closer to the Emperor and then bowed his head.

"Yes Your Majesty, abandon Nara at once." Ōmuraji Otomo Kanamura Maro said.

"Nonsense." Emperor Kinmei said.

"Your Majesty, you must survive to live another day and capture Nara, your presence and life is worth more than everyone of those in the Entire Empire." Ōmuraji Monotobe Okashi said.

"An Emperor can not build an Empire without people, was I not the great warrior that fought with Senka and brought to him the union of all the Clans and villages.

Was I not the father of the Asuka era?" Emperor Kinmei asked.

"I've had enough of these enemies like ghosts, the ones that March and vanish from one point to another. I swore as the Emperor of my people, to protect them from all harm, I can not hide in fear because if I did so then tell me, how could I justify and show the world that the Mandate of Heaven was handed down to me?" Emperor Kinmei asked.

"Your Majesty, is this how lowly you trust the talents of Soga no Iname?" Empress Ishi Hime asked.

"It would take time for them to catch up to that army and since I am the Emperor and the Emperor of my people, I can also desert the men going to war no longer.

People fight stronger alongside their leaders and you all know it that united we stand, divided we fall." Emperor Kinmei said.

"I have faith in your Majesty." Soga no Umako suddenly said. "With just the edge of your sword you cut down thousands and ten thousands in the battle to unite our country and make it what it is today." he added.

"Your Majesty, only you can bring us victory and I assure you that the birth of this child itself shall miraculously aid your cause." Soga no Katashishime said.

"Yes Your Majesty." Soga no Umako said as everyone else who was gathered there was puzzled.

"Your Majesty, please reconsider." Empress Ishi Hime said.

"I have already made up my mind and my word is final, gather two thousand more troops as soon as possible and at exactly an hour past noon, we march north of Nara." Emperor Kinmei said.

Soga no Katashishime turned and looked at Empress Ishi Hime as the Empress looked back at her with a rather evil grim on her face.

"Yes Your Majesty." The Royal guard said as he bowed his head and eventually withdrew from the Emperor's presence at once.

The Emperor turned and looked at Soga no Katashishime who bowed her head at once.

"Thank you." Emperor Kinmei said.

"What for your Majesty?" Consort Katashishime asked.

"For believing in me." Emperor Kinmei replied as he walked away with everyone else leaving the three women there alone.

Soga no Katashishime walked closer to Empress Ishi Hime.

"You are so heartless that you even want to bring harm upon someone that has not yet been born." Consort Katashishime said.

"You are so conniving that you managed to convince the Emperor out of the capital." Empress Ishi Hime said.

"What is between me and you stays between me and you, if you dare Your Highness to even lay a single finger on my children then I will devote my all to vanquish you and yours." Consort Katashishime staunchly spoke.

"Even after all this time you are still foolish Consort Katashishime, my aim wasn't to get rid of your child, no, not yet." Empress Ishi Hime said as she turned around to leave.

"What?" Consort Katashishime asked and the Empress halted in her footsteps and turned around to look at her.

"How many of those men does your father trust, how many are on his side, imagine and be Keen, what if I told you I wanted the Emperor out of the Capital." Empress Ishi Hime replied and Saio Shinaga herself was too surprised.

"Your Highness." Saio Shinaga said.

"The Emperor's life is in danger and as far as I know, who shall be blamed for it rather than your dear unfortunate daughter. Should any form of harm come upon the Emperor then how can I guarantee that the miraculous baby shall be miraculous at all?" Empress Ishi Hime asked.

Soga no Katashishime looked surprised.

"You witch." She said.

"I am your senior here so watch your manners Milady, who is to blame for what is about to happen, your father the instigator or me?" Empress Ishi Hime asked with a ghastly smile as she turned around and walked away leaving Consort Katashishime behind that she sank onto the ground when her palace maids returned and then held her up.

"Milady." Sara called but Consort Katashishime was running out of strength already.

"Your Majesty." Consort Katashishime continued to call weakly and in a short while, she suddenly fainted in the process.

Saio Shinaga and Empress Ishi Hime were joined by a group of shrine maidens and palace maids as well.

"Your Highness." Saio Shinaga suddenly called the Empress.

"What is it?" Empress Ishi Hime asked.

"What are you planning to do now?" Saio Shinaga asked.

"Do you doubt my abilities?" Empress Ishi Hime asked.

"No Your Highness, I didn't mean to." Saio Shinaga replied.

"Don't worry yourself and just watch and see what I'm going to do." Empress Ishi Hime said still maintaining her ghastly smile.

Emperor Kinmei had returned to the palace and he was looking right into the mirror as Sato dressed him up in his armor.

"Sato." Emperor Kinmei called him.

"Yes Your Majesty." Sato replied.

"What do you think?" Emperor Kinmei asked him.

"About what your Majesty?" Sato asked.

"About the child Consort Katashishime is carrying within her womb." Emperor Kinmei replied.

"Your Majesty, I am but a servant, how important is my say in matters pertaining to the Imperial family?" Sato asked.

"I know that it was you who served my brother the Late Emperor Senka, you were the one in whom he did confide some of his thoughts.

I could not be like him but can't you at least try and help me the same way you would for him." Emperor Kinmei replied.

Sato halted.

"Your Majesty." He eventually spoke.

"What is it?" Emperor Kinmei asked.

"I might be old but aren't you afraid to trust me a little bit too much?" Sato asked.

"What crime have you done for me to mistrust you?" Emperor Kinmei asked.

"Why would his Majesty be willing to confide in me such important issues?" Sato said.

"I am not certain how long this life has prepared for me but even I have to ensure that ahead of all my foes I must remain." Emperor Kinmei asked.

Sato resumed his duty.

"If you ask me about that child then why not let the heavens prove, this war alone could be the one thing that could determine whether the advent of this child is a blessing or a curse." Sato replied.

"Very well then." Emperor Kinmei replied.

Soga no Katashishime was lying on a bed in her room when the doors were opened and in the Emperor walked in fully dressed in all his armor.

"Your Majesty." Soga no Katashishime said as she tried to sit up in bed.

"It is alright." Emperor Kinmei said as he positioned himself right next to Consort Katashishime and sat on her bed.

She looked at him dressed in his armor but she could barely find the courage to stop him from going.

She might have been thinking about Empress Ishi Hime's scheme but to give in and forbid the Emperor from going would be another sign to him that she didn't trust his abilities either.

"How do I look?" Emperor Kinmei asked.

"Your Majesty, How can I possibly call you smart when all that graces a battlefield is human blood?" Soga no Katashishime suddenly replied.

The Emperor's expression changed.

"My dear." The Emperor suddenly spoke as he took hold of Consort Katashishime's right hand and then kissed it.

He went ahead to touch her abdomen as he smiled widely on his face.

"How can I protect our child if I can not get the courage to fight?" Emperor Kinmei asked.

"I could flee with this child but I am worried as well your Majesty." Soga no Katashishime said.

"Even the child kicks hardly on my presence then he'll certainly be a strong prince, if I do not return then he'll look after you for me.

Either I go to the war or it comes to me but should it come then the consequences will be worse for I will neither protect you or my children." Emperor Kinmei replied.

"Your Majesty, I feel the burden of your responsibility towards the nation and towards this our family, no wife wishes their child to be born in the absence of their father.

We are all nothing but ordinary humans, can I not be selfish with my husband for the sake of my children as well.

What is peace when it feels like you might go and in the very end of it all happen to desert me?" Consort Katashishime asked.

"Peace is what we fight for, there can never be peace in this world except at heart my dear and it is because I love you that I am going against all odds to fight for our family.

If I do not return then History shall forever remember me as the Great and Brave Emperor, should I return then future generations once again shall call me a Conquerer.

It would be an honor for my child to know their father was a hero for the country and not an Emperor who was a coward." Emperor Kinmei replied.

All of a sudden, the doors to Soga no Katashishime's quarters opened once again and Empress Ishi Hime walked in as she bowed her head and saluted the two of them.

"Your Majesty, Milady." She said.

"Empress." Emperor Kinmei called. " What is it?" He added.

"My apologies Your Majesty for interrupting the both of you but this is a matter of urgency, Use Shrine is ready to receive Consort Katashishime and we must leave before her labour strikes for the purpose of the child's safety." Empress Ishi Hime replied.

"Is that it?" Emperor Kinmei asked.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Empress Ishi Hime replied.

"I see, I'll have to get going as well then." Emperor Kinmei said.

"It is an honor for His Majesty to love us all, return safe and rest assured that my child and I shall be here waiting gladly to receive you." Soga no Katashishime said.

"Yes, I will." Emperor Kinmei replied as he turned and then looked at Empress Ishi Hime.

"Empress." He called.

"Yes Your Majesty." Empress Ishi Hime replied.

"I trust you the most in all women of the Imperial court to be most competent in looking after Consort Katashishime and her child." Emperor Kinmei said.

"It is more than an honour your Majesty and I promise you that I shall do whatever it takes not to let you down at all." Empress Ishi Hime assured. "The three of us shall gladly be waiting for your advent." She added.

"I am more than rest assured." Emperor Kinmei said as he turned around and walked. out of the room leaving the two women there in the room together.

Empress Ishi Hime turned around and then looked at Consort Katashishime as she came closer and bent right next to her right ear.

"It's going to be quite a long journey Consort Katashishime, in it I'm testing your perseverence, reserve and pain. Do not worry about things too much as it'll all be over before you know it." Empress Ishi Hime said as she stood up right and Soga no Katashishime looked up at her.

"What are you going to do Your Highness?" Consort Katashishime asked.

"Should you give birth to a girl then this is my promise not to contend with you but to look after her and raise her as my own but I can't be certain how my husband will feel if it is so. Can we not hope that the miracle baby is miraculous after all?" Empress Ishi Hime said.

"Your Highness, please." Soga no Katashishime pleaded.

"Why plead with me?" Empress Ishi Hime asked.

"What did I ever do to you?" Soga no Katashishime asked.

"What did you ever do to me?" Empress Ishi Hime said as she lowered herself down and took hold of Consort Katashishime's chin and then stared right into her eyes.

"Your existence alone is an obstacle to my plans, please ask Buddha to pardon you and protect you along with your family especially at this trying moment.

Seek absolution wherever you can find it because should the child your'e carrying in your womb turn out to be a boy then I won't let you off easily because the both of you would have become my greatest foes." Empress Ishi Hime added.

The Empress walked out of the room as Soga no Katashishime's maids rushed in at that moment especially Sara who hurriedly stood beside her Mistress.

"Milady." Sara called.

"Please." Consort Katashishime said. " Don't talk about it." She added.

"How long will you tolerate that wench Milady?" Sara asked.

"I don't know." Consort Katashishime said.

"I shall teach her a lesson." Sara said.

"Reserve your anger." Consort Katashishime halted Sara.

"Why Master?" Sara asked.

"People who react impulsively end up causing more harm than good, reserve you anger for it is not yet he time to act." Soga no Katashishime replied.

"When will the time come Milady?" Sara asked Soga no Katashishime.

"I do not know as well." Soga no Katashishime replied.

"You just be patient Sara and do not worry about how awful life itself is, in due time, like the night lasts not forever the joy comes in the morning, heaven is watching and someone able to contend with the might of the Empress shall soon grace us." She added.

Her face full of so much courage and valor, she had never looked more determined than she was at that moment as Empress Ishi Hime walked out of the courtyard of her private Chambers while smiling ghastly.

"Iname." The Empress whispered to herself. "Today I herald the beginning of your downfall." she added as she vanished from sight.