Ashitaka returned to San alone. Okami and Urufu remained with the hunting party that was sent to find the deceased, promising to wait for Ashitaka and San. One of the hunters hurried back to Irontown. He needed to inform the others of what happened, and more people were required to bring the bodies back home. San received the news better than Ashitaka expected. She nodded her head without saying a word and said she understood. Both were in the cave, sitting on the cold, rocky ground while their children slept in their beds, neither making a noise.
"I'll wait for you here," San said. "You'll be fine on your own, right?"
"I'll be fine," Ashitaka replied, lightening his face with a small smile. "Nobody's going to attack me while your brothers are by my side."
Ashitaka's confidence and his faith in her brothers made San return his smile. She remembered that they were still mighty spirits that few humans would challenge, even if they were in a weakened state. Their time was far away. They no longer felt the fatigue that set upon them when their immortality was taken, though they acted with greater caution. San felt that their tempers cooled since then, although they seemed less aggressive before they were rendered mortal. It made her wonder if Ashitaka played a hand in their calmer moods, be it his relationship with her or if he spoke to them without her knowledge.
"If something comes up, I promise to come back to you before I do anything," Ashitaka said. "Lady Eboshi will probably keep me for a while."
San's brow furrowed. "Does she know you have children now?"
"Probably," Ashitaka replied with a nod, understanding San's apparent frustration. Lady Eboshi likely knew of Ashitaka's son and daughter. He hadn't the chance to tell her directly, but he spoke about his children with multiple people, and such talk would never escape Eboshi. How that may affect their meeting was beyond him. Eboshi was somebody who seemed to separate personal matters from what she felt was best for Irontown and its people. The house Ashitaka had in Irontown stood vacant. Whether Eboshi considered him one of the town's residents or not, Ashitaka was prepared to deal with a potentially volatile meeting.
"I better get going before the hunters start getting impatient," Ashitaka said. "Do you want me to pick up something from Irontown while I'm there?"
"No; we have everything we need for now," San answered. Ashitaka nodded and got to his feet. There was hesitance in his footsteps as he turned to leave the cave, caused by his parting glance to his children and wife. His next few steps were further laden by the thought of getting caught in an issue that expanded beyond Irontown. Regardless, he pressed on. He was prepared to sacrifice his time with his family. What mattered most to him is that they were safe and that they didn't get involved in something that could threaten their home. With his priorities in mind, he left the dim cave and strode to the noon light; it would be dusk by the time he reached Irontown.
The hunter who left for Irontown had not yet rejoined the main party by the time Ashitaka returned to Okami and Urufu. He arrived with six other men after several hours, during which Ashitaka and the hunters inquired each other of the attacks which befell the dead townspeople. Ashitaka told them of the forest's lack of wolves. Such information was earlier relayed to them by Okami and Urufu, although the hunters still narrowed their eyes at the answer. Nobody moved far from sight until the additional men arrived.
Walking back to Irontown, the hunters and the fetched townsfolk spoke in whispers while Ashitaka and the wolves led the group. He was sure it was due to distrust. The hunters would never trust Okami or Urufu to follow, not with the illusions of a possible sudden attack. They began to sweat when their eyes met the wolves'. At the same time, their steps hastened and their bodies began to shiver, as though a chilling wind in the wintertime midnight brushed their skin and cursed them. Paranoia defiled the air until they reached Irontown's gates. As Ashitaka expected, Okami and Urufu volunteered to remain outside the walls while the guardsmen informed him that the wolves were not allowed beyond the gate.
I suppose the feeling is mutual? Ashitaka thought to himself, though he didn't consider the shared disdain a positive. He walked through the gates alone. Awaiting him, surrounded by bodyguards and the residents of Irontown, was Lady Eboshi. It didn't surprise him that her courteous smile and respect-commanding posture remained despite the situation and the tension. The faces around her were less firm. Men and women alike glanced to one another and exchanged hushed murmurs, their eyes expressing mixtures of worry and fear.
"Hello, Ashitaka," Lady Eboshi greeted with a light bow. "It's been some time since we've had the chance to speak, hasn't it?"
"Hello Lady Eboshi," Ashitaka returned. "I suppose it has, although this isn't the best way to begin a pleasant conversation."
"Very much so, but let's talk about that elsewhere." Lady Eboshi turned to the mob and spoke in a powerful, clear voice, "Everyone here should know well that Ashitaka is a welcome resident of Irontown, no matter where it is he has been lately. Return to your remaining duties; I will address any concerns after Ashitaka and I speak."
Starting at the edge of the crowd, the gathered residents broke away in small clumps and focused on finishing their work, completing their chores, and finishing their tasks. Lady Eboshi motioned Ashitaka to follow. He did so, flanked by two women whose faces were masked by white cloth; two of Lady Eboshi's bodyguards. They kept watch of his every step, their eyes projecting caution rather than the timidity and scorn others gave him. Ashitaka understood their attention. There were times during San's pregnancy that he felt overly alert when gathering food, making sure whatever he gathered wasn't dangerous, even when it was something she'd previously eaten. This circumstance felt more dire. Silently, he followed Eboshi. She showed no concern around him, although the presence of her bodyguards and Gonza's hand resting on his sword's handle made Ashitaka wonder if she truly trusted him.
Lady Eboshi's home was a place Ashitaka had set foot into few times before. When he did, it was never for a plain visit between friends; it was always business with Lady Eboshi. He wasn't sure what she thought of him, particularly due to his prolonged absence from Irontown and its people. As he took his seat on one of the cushions, he noticed the two bodyguards standing near the doorway, attentive but keeping their eyes ahead. Gonza poked his head between the two. What he muttered to them was inaudible from where Ashitaka was sitting, though he assumed it was a warning to keep watch. His head remained bowed until Lady Eboshi arrived. Accompanying her was a woman carrying a tray with tea cups.
"I've heard than San has given birth," Lady Eboshi said as she took a seat across from Ashitaka. "People were making quite a fuss about it."
Ashitaka felt blood rush to his face, causing his tanned skin to redden. "Yes, our children were born a short while ago," he replied. "They're twins, a boy and girl. The boy is Ryouken and the girl is Inu." Eboshi offered him one of the cups. Tea was a drink that Ashitaka discovered only after leaving his home village, and the hint of bitterness in the green water was something his tongue had yet to become accustomed. Still, he didn't want to appear rude and took the tea. The one gulp he took before speaking again went down smoothly, easing his dried throat with its warmth.
"That's wonderful news. There's few children here in Irontown, but their parents are the ones I find the happiest whenever I see them."
"Have you ever thought of having children?"
Lady Eboshi exhaled sharply through her nose. Ashitaka thought it sounded like a short, restrained laugh. "The idea has crossed my mind a number of times, partly so Irontown would have a definitive leader once I'm no longer able to act in my role. That being said, raising a child of my own would be impossible to do with the sort of work I do each day; raising a child well, at least."
Ashitaka nodded, though he wondered why she couldn't have one of her servants or bodyguards help take care of a child. Perhaps she thought it was best for the mother to personally be involved, and she wouldn't be able to dedicate much time to raising a family. There was also the matter of a partner. He couldn't see Eboshi married.
"Let's not put this off any longer, though," Lady Eboshi continued, calling back to what originally triggered the need for a meeting. "Ashitaka, the people want to know what happened to those hunters. We've not lost anyone in that forest for a long time now, and the fact that they were killed by wolves has only fueled everyone's anxiety."
Ashitaka told Lady Eboshi all he knew. It amounted to the same matters he told the men who accompanied him to Irontown, with not one detail out of place or forgotten. Neither he nor the wolves saw who killed the hunters. Aside from Okami and Urufu, there were no wolves left in the forest, and if there were any, it would be a small pack unfit for killing three people at once. The bodies were found soon after the killings. By the time Okami and Urufu came across the hunters, not one was left breathing and nobody else was around to help.
"No wolves left in the forest?" Lady Eboshi questioned.
"That's right," Ashitaka said. "Most of them died when the forest was nearly destroyed, and those who remained left in search of food. Only San's brothers stayed, and that's largely because they are much better at finding food than an ordinary wolf. They say there's no others left. It could be that a wolf wandered to the forest and came across the hunters."
"Would those two wolf spirits not be able to pick up another wolf's scent?" Lady Eboshi asked. The question made Ashitaka pause as he considered that their senses should have been strong enough to pick up a wolf's smell, even if it was several days old. Then he remembered their waning power. Not just their strength was affected. Their senses were beginning to dull to that of a normal wolf; still beyond that of a human's, but less than a tenth of what they were once capable of achieving. "On top of that, those three men were armed. If one was attacked by a wolf, surely the other two would have tried to help. I doubt any of them tried to flee, either; they were found close together, last I heard."
"That's true. I suppose a wolf pack could be responsible, but then San's brothers definitely should have found some scent while there."
Lady Eboshi nodded, sipping the last of her tea. She stood and moved to a window which peered towards Irontown's streets. She and Ashitaka watched the townspeople working to keep their lives in order despite the recent incident in the forest. Many appeared unfazed. Despite their apparent moods, Lady Eboshi gazed outside with her usual smile absent from her lips. Her thumb tapped against her index finger as she bit her lip.
"Ashitaka, something feels wrong with this situation," Lady Eboshi said. "I'm not sure what it is, but I think it may have something to do with Lord Asano. One of his emissaries came to visit me a few weeks ago."
"What did he want?" Ashitaka asked.
"Access for his military to pass, a possible iron mine for the mountains; he was interested in my lands, mostly. I wasn't about to let him take a scrap of it, mostly because I do not wish for his forces to set foot anywhere near Irontown. At this point, I'm not sure whether or not I'll be seeing them regardless."
Ashitaka came close to standing from his cushion, but a conflicting force kept him down. He knew the men that Lord Asano commanded were more than able to storm Irontown if they could get past the walls. Irontown needed as much help as it could receive if war were to return to its gates. Yet his mind drifted to his family. San would never stand for Irontown. Although their home was close, she felt no kinship towards anybody who lived behind the walls; her grudge against Eboshi remained alight. If she wouldn't take up arms to defend Irontown, Ashitaka wondered if he do the same. Each time he thought of it, he told himself that he could stand on his own, but he failed to find the strength to stand and tell Eboshi that he was ready to battle Asano if need be.
"Anyway, we aren't here to discuss that, are we?" Lady Eboshi sighed as she returned to her seat. Her voice caused Ashitaka's head to snap up in attention. "I need an answer to give the townspeople."
Ashitaka began to think of the possibilities surrounding the hunters' deaths. His time was cut short when Gonza knocked a dozen times on the door at a rapid pace, calling for Lady Eboshi in a troubled tone. Eboshi got to her feet and answered.
"We have a problem," Gonza grumbled.
"Another?" Lady Eboshi asked. "What happened?"
"Some townspeople just returned from a fishing trip and said they were attacked by wolves on the way back. Their clothes are all torn up but they don't look wounded. One of their friends got killed, though."
Lady Eboshi grit her teeth and redressed in her blue cloak. "Ashitaka, come with me," she demanded. He nodded and followed, feeling his heart rate escalate with every step that carried him to the front gate.
As Gonza had reported, three fishermen were sitting on a bench by the gate, their tunics ripped and their pants disheveled. Sweat made their foreheads slick. Ashitaka ignored the gossip around him, sure that if he listened he would hear something unpleasant regarding himself, San, or her brothers. Lady Eboshi crouched next to one of the men. None of them were anyone Ashitaka knew personally. The man facing Lady Eboshi was a gangly, bald man, though his eyebrows revealed his hair was black.
"Don't worry, you're safe here," Lady Eboshi assured. "Can you tell me what happened?"
"Yes, Lady Eboshi," the man replied. "My friends and I, we were coming home after a day on the lake fishing, but a white wolf attacked us while we were on the trail."
Ashitaka further blocked the sudden rise in noise. His breathing slowed despite his thundering heartbeat, causing his body to tingle as he waited for the fisherman to continue his story.
"It came out from the forest nearby and attacked one of our friends, Kazuhiro. We tried to help him, but it lunged at us whenever we got too close. When we realized there was nothing we could have done, we fled. That's when the other wolf came out and chased us. It nipped at our clothes, but it stopped chasing us when the walls were in sight."
Lady Eboshi nodded, scratching her chin as she listened with her eyes locked on the three fishermen. "Thank you for telling me," she said. "I'll make sure something is done to rectify this attack."
"What, then?" the fisherman snapped. "Will you go to the Wolf Girl and punish her? Those monsters she lives with will never let you get to her!"
"Calm down; I personally guarantee that something will be done."
The fisherman looked away, partly out of disgust towards what he considered a hollow promise that would end up fruitless. His two companions appeared similarly unsatisfied. Ashitaka could hear doubtful words amongst the crowd. He looked towards the people, less of whom had gathered than when he entered the town, and silently hoped that they would listen to what he had to say. Before he could speak, Lady Eboshi raised a hand towards him, gesturing for him to remain quiet. She shot him a look that reinforced her command.
"Before I go, may I ask you three your names?" Lady Eboshi asked. "I'll need them for records and such."
"Kotaro Hayashi," the man she was speaking with answered.
"Masata Mutoh," the man to Kotaro's right replied.
"Shinji Yoshida," the man to Kotaro's left muttered.
"Thank you," Lady Eboshi said as she stood straight. "Ashitaka, come with me. It looks like this wolf business has taken a turn for the worse."
"Lady Eboshi, I-" Ashitaka began.
"You can make your point while we discuss this in private. This will only cause more of stir if we start shouting at one another in front of the others."
Ashitaka felt his fists clench, and for the first time in years, he felt his anger well up towards Eboshi. He knew that she wasn't going to budge. His eyes were narrowed as he returned to her home and sat back on the same cushion. Lady Eboshi thanked Gonza for informing her of the three assaulted men. Gonza nodded and returned to his previous duties of patrolling the town and making sure that the guards, both those on the walls and in the town, were actively on watch.
"Eboshi, if you let me talk with San's brothers first, I'm sure-" Ashitaka started.
"Ashitaka, I hate to interrupt you," Lady Eboshi interrupted, "but before you continue, I should probably tell you something important."
Ashitaka balked his rowdy mood. He felt his temper flare at Lady Eboshi's sudden obstruction, but he held his tongue and allowed her to continue. There was no point in bringing their conversation to a shouting match. Ebosi rarely broke her composed form. Whether she was dealing with a brash drunkard or a calculating diplomat, her dignity remained and her demeanor never faltered.
"Do you know any residents by the name of Kotaro Hayashi, Masato Mutoh, Shinji Yoshida, or Kazuhiro?" Lady Eboshi asked.
"No, I cannot say I've met them before," Ashitaka replied.
"Funny; neither can I."