Across the Nightingale Floor is a historical fantasy novel and the first book in the Tales of Otori series. The novel follows the protagonist, a young warrior named Tomasu who later becomes Takeo. The novel explores themes such as family legacies, family pressure and revenge.
At the outset of the novel, we are introduced to Tomasu returning to his village and finding his family slaughtered. A sixteen-year-old warrior, he was born into The Hidden, a persecuted religious sect. The raid on his village and the subsequent deaths of Tomasu’s family members was led by Iida Sadamu, the ruthless leader of Tohan. Although Tomasu unhorses Iida in his attempt to escape, the other clan members give chase. Just in time, Tomasu is rescued by Lord Shigeru, the leader of the Otori sect.
Lord Shigeru decides to bring Tomasu home in order to protect him. To hide his Hidden ancestry, Lord Shigeru renames him Takeo and then they embark on the journey towards Hagi. As they make their way towards Shigeru’s home, Takeo falls sick causing him to temporarily lose his voice but gain super heightened hearing abilities. Soon after, the pair stop at an inn and Takeo meets Maruyama Naomi, the ruler of Seishuu. She strongly opposes Iida Sadamu, and encourages Takeo to tell her about what happened to his family. After Takeo goes to bed, he overhears Shigeru and Maruyama talking and learns that they have been maintaining a secret relationship for over a decade.
For the most part, Takeo is welcomed into his new home in Hagi. Shigeru’s former mentor and instructor, Ichiro, takes to the boy and Lord Shigeru eventually adopts him. Only the sons of Shigeru’s uncles dislike him and attempt to kill him several times during sword training. As one of the conditions of Takeo’s adoption, Shigeru must promise to marry Shirakawa Kaede.
Soon after his arrival in Haji, Takeo meets Muto Kenji, or The Fox. He is the master of the Muto clan and knew Takeo’s father before his death. Takeo learns from Muto that his father was considered the most skilled assassin of the Kikuta, a highly-respected family of the Tribe and begs Muto to train him in the same style.
Several months go by and Takeo continues his training as well as making occasional trips to explore his new home. Finally, it is time for Shigeru and Takero to make their way to Tsuwano so that Shigeru can meet his bride-to-be, Shirakawa Kaede.
Shirakawa Kaede, considered the most beautiful maiden in the Three Counties, has been a hostage of the Noguchi since she was just seven years old. Since being taken captive, she has been forced to sleep in the maid’s rooms leaving her open to threats of harassment and assault from her guards. On the way to Tsuwano, one of the guards tries to rape her and she is only saved when Lady Maruyama stabs him with a knife.
Although Kaede and Shigeru are betrothed, it is Takeo and Kaede who are immediately drawn to each other upon meeting. Although Kaede is wary of men due to her treatment at the hands of the guards, she is quickly attracted to Kaede’s kindness. Together, Takeo and Kaede visit the shrine at Terayama to pay their respects to Shigeru’s brothers. At the same time, Shigeru meets Abbott to discuss their war plans.
Shigeru and Takeo hatch a plan that Takeo will assassinate Iida before Lord Arai’s armies arrive, but he is prevented from doing so after being kidnapped by the Tribe. They abduct Takeo in part because they want him to finish his training but additionally in fear that someone even more ruthless may take Iida’s place.
With the abduction of Takeo, Shigeru’s army is no match and is soon defeated. Lady Maruyama and her daughter drown in an effort to escape and Shigeru is crucified alive on the castle wall. The Tribe only lets Takeo go and take down his body after promising that he will join them. When Takeo finds Shigeru, he finds that the man who once rescued him is still alive, however, dying painfully from his wounds. He promises to bury Shigeru in Terayama next to his brother and then kills him in order to end his suffering.
As he is leaving the castle, Takeo comes across Kaede who has killed Iida Sadamu after he tries to rape her. Her and Takeo make love and then he carries out his promise to Shigeru and kills the remaining Tohan leaders. Kaede begs him to stay, but Takeo must honour his promise to completely his training and leaves her with Shizuka so he can rejoin the Tribe.
