Fall of the Castle

Tensho 10, June 13th. Raquel is still in Kyoto. The news that Nobunaga had been struck down by Mitsuhide at Honnoji spread across the realm in an instant, reaching Raquel's ears that very day. Three years have passed since establishing a medical clinic in a small temple in the castle town of Sakamoto. Raquel is prepared for another journey of escape to begin. However, that first step has not yet been taken. The chaos made it impossible to know which way the dice of fate would roll. And on this day, a report finally arrives with a swift horse to inform Raquel of that outcome.

The letter that Tagawa received at the temple gate was from Akechi Samanosuke Hidemitsu. The messenger presented two letters along with a drawstring pouch, then departed like the wind. The pouch was surprisingly heavy. From its weight, it was clear that it contained a considerable sum of money. Raquel runs her eyes over the letter.

"Unification of the realm incomplete. Women and children of the castle town, leave the castle immediately."

This portion appeared to have been written in advance. Below it, scrawled hastily, was a message addressed to Raquel.

"Return to Hirado."

It was Mitsuhide's familiar handwriting. The other letter was from Mitsuhide addressed to Matsuura Takanobu. There was no doubt it contained a request for Raquel's protection.

"Tagawa-dono. Diego. We must leave immediately. We'll find a ship in Osaka and head for Hirado. Pack only the essentials. We depart within the hour. We'll take horses to Osaka. I have a bad feeling about ships."

Tagawa and Diego nod silently. Including Raquel, Diego, Tagawa, and the three men who had accompanied Tagawa from Hirado, it would be a flight of merely six people. They distributed part of the money to the maidservants working at the clinic, instructing them to flee immediately. After completing their preparations, the group left the temple gate just half an hour after receiving the letter. All were skilled horsemen. Six horses raced like a gale along the road beside Lake Biwa. And when the group had ridden about half a ri, someone shouted.

"Lake Biwa is on fire!"

The group stopped their horses and turned around. Sakamoto Castle was burning. The flames instantly engulfed the keep. The enormous pillar of fire rising above the lake blazed fiercely like a giant candle reaching toward heaven. Its tragic final moments cast an eerie shimmer on the lake's surface.

"A magnificent great castle floating on the lake."

Luis Frois had praised the splendor of Sakamoto Castle, said to be second only to Azuchi Castle, in these terms. All who witnessed its beautiful destruction fell silent.

Tagawa kicked his horse's flanks.

"Let us hurry. I want to be on a ship by tomorrow morning."

Raquel followed behind Tagawa, galloping to the right up the highway. She guided her horse toward the mountain pass. Four horses raced behind them. The group pressed urgently through the night with only brief rests. Through the mountains, through the capital, toward Osaka. When the horses were nearly breathless, the group finally reached Sakai.

Tagawa immediately began negotiations with ship captains. He wanted to charter a small cargo vessel to Hirado. Moreover, departure should be as soon as possible. It was a difficult request. Fortunately, however, a ship was soon found. A captain named Fujikichi agreed to unload half his planned cargo and go to Hirado. However, he stipulated that they would stop for two days in Shimonoseki to sell silk goods to his customers. Raquel and Tagawa accepted this condition. The amount demanded to charter the ship was considerable. Raquel allocated part of Mitsuhide's money for this purpose.

The group released their horses and boarded the cargo vessel. The ship quietly left the shore. As Raquel gazed at the receding port of Sakai, the events of these three years revolved in her mind like a revolving lantern. Azuchi Castle, where she had saved Nobunaga from poison and engaged in religious debates. The days when she established a clinic in Sakamoto castle town, treated the townspeople, and discussed techniques with Japanese doctors in the capital. Occasionally, when summoned to the imperial court, she would exchange words with Mitsuhide. However, Mitsuhide never again touched upon that conversation they had discussed on the lake. Mitsuhide would burst into laughter at the trivial tales of failure in foreign lands that Raquel and Diego shared.

That same Mitsuhide had struck down Nobunaga. And yesterday, that Mitsuhide had also been struck down by Hideyoshi. Raquel's heart could not yet keep pace with the fierce turbulent current that had swept through her life. However, first, she must return alive to Hirado. She could sort through her feelings after that. Raquel told herself this.

And at this moment. There was a Portuguese missionary watching intently from the shadows as this group quietly departed from Sakai. The nose in the center of his face was hideously crooked, and in his eyes dwelt the dark light of bitter resentment.