A poised and mysterious highborn woman, Toda Mariko is a skilled translator with a troubled past. Fiercely loyal and unwavering in her convictions, Mariko will not be deterred from absolving herself of her cruel life sentence.
Mariko is the wife of one of Toranaga's prized vassals, but her lord will soon discover her hidden talents when she is pulled into the political maelstrom.
Mariko had a privileged upbringing in Azuchi Castle, where, like many samurai women of her day, she trained to fight with the naginata spear, her skill winning her many competitions. When she came of age, Mariko married into the Toda family, and though she disliked her new husband, Buntaro, she became a dutiful wife. Not long after this union, tragedy struck, and Mariko's whole world was shattered.
Having lost everything, Mariko turned to the church for a lifeline. She was a brilliant student and quickly learned Portuguese and Latin; in the process, she embraced her new faith.
Mariko and Buntaro share a child, Ryûji. Eager to shield him from his menacing father, Mariko keeps Ryûji close when she can, protecting his delicate nature. Practical and steadfast, Mariko has forged ahead, serving her lord and raising her son, her purpose keeping her alive.
Mariko has spent a lifetime perfecting her calm facade, but all that is threatened when she meets the English pilot, Blackthorne. He is an enemy of her faith, but his arrival opens up new opportunities — and perhaps new feelings — for her.
As Mariko adjusts to her new responsibilities in Toranaga's inner circle, not only does she discover a skill for strategy, but she may finally have the opportunity to achieve her lifelong goal and restore her purpose.
