"I am sorry I couldn't come earlier," Renko said to Azuki. "Noriko-sama needed transport." The two girls sat on Tsuruko's porch, out of the wind and wrapped warmly against the chill. Tsuruko and little Kichiro, for that was what the baby would be named, were sleeping. Kojiro, his father, had ridden Blackie, who was restive and wanted to see his own son, to the village to get provisions. He wanted to stop first to reassure the midwife that his wife's cousin had arrived shortly after ...