Kenshiru’s Journey – Story 4

A Duty to Perform

Having defeated the evil Night Master the four young samurais’ renown amongst the peoples of the lands of the Phoenix had grown once again. They had become minor celebrities in the area. As a result it was not long before they were summoned to the castle of another of Jinsho’s uncles Lord Shiba Gidayu, probably the most powerful member of the Shiba family.

Not long after their arrival Gidayu explained to Jinsho that he had a proposition for the four friends. Their recent successes allowed him to offer them another opportunity to further their reputation.

It is a long-standing tradition that every autumn the Shugenga of Rokugan gather together at the shrine of the Ki-Rin in the Phoenix lands for the festival of Setsuban. At the festival a contest is held to determine the most worthy Shugenga in the land. This contest is equivalent to the Crane Clan’s festival of the Topaz Championship that is held for young samurai, but is a test of magical ability open to shugenga from any of the clans.

The prize for winning the contest is a chest containing magic scrolls that have been gathered from every major shugenga school in the land. Before the festival a caravan is sent around Rokugan visiting the schools and obtaining a unique scroll from each. The spells on these scrolls are not normally available to school outsiders. This is a bounty that even the most powerful shugenga would covet.

Since the prize is so valuable and the caravan takes several months to travel around Rokugan it is the duty of every lord to provide protection for it as it moves through his territory. Gidayu was to be responsible for the last leg of the journey, to the shrine of the Ki-Rin itself, and he wished the four samurai to be its escort.

Jinsho was honoured by his uncle’s request, and swore that he would not let him down. He promised to ensure that the scrolls arrived safely and untampered with. In addition he was excited because this would give him a reason to go to the festival, and once there he intended to enter the contest himself.

Gidayu asked Jinsho to put the proposition to the rest of the group and said that he would ask them all officially at dinner that evening.

This turn of events was also convenient for Kenshiru, since a messenger had recently arrived to give him instructions to attend the festival. The Crab clan daimyo himself had ordered him to woo the Emperors niece, Okomo Yoroshiko, who would be in attendance. The Emperor had just announced her eligibility for marriage, and suitors from all the major clans would be there.

The Crab wished to marry into the Imperial family in order to gain support for their ongoing battle against the relentless evil of the Shadowlands. With the benefit of the increase in status that this would grant them they could demand both supplies and military aid from the other clans. No longer would they have to fight alone.

Kenshiru’s position as Topaz Champion and the notoriety gained from recent deeds made him a good candidate, however all the other clans had similar agendas with different motives. In fact unknown to him his travelling companion Daidoji Takashima had received similar instructions from the Crane clan.

The Scorpion Returns

At dinner the friends were disturbed to discover two unexpected guests had arrived at the castle, Bayushi Sugai and his brother Shinryu.

As a result the proceedings were somewhat frosty, Jinsho avoided speaking to Sugai, and Kenshiru’s only contribution was to ask the Scorpion if he had recovered from the Topaz Championship. ‘I do hope it hasn’t left a scar.’ It became apparent from his demeanour that Lord Gidayu didn’t like Sugai much either.

When everyone had finished eating Gidayu asked for silence and began to make his announcement regarding the scrolls but part way through Sugai interrupted him and offered on behalf of the Scorpion clan to oversee the transportation of the chest to the festival. Gidayu did not want to insult the dangerous Scorpion clan by refusing such an offer, and to Gidayu’s consternation the silvery tongued Sugai twisted his words so that Sugai would be the one taking the scrolls to the festival and the four friends would be acting as escorts for him.

The formal hand over of responsibility would occur the following day.

None of the young samurai liked the thought of being Sugai’s lackeys but Jinsho had already given his word and the rest of them would lose face by backing out at that stage. They had little choice.

After dinner however Shinryu sought out Shiniko and Jinsho and explained that he thought that Sugai was up to something but he didn’t know what. All of the young samurai had noted the way that Sugai had manipulated the situation, even though he was in charge, the responsibility for delivering the scrolls untampered with was still theirs. Shinryu believed that Sugai would turn the oath against them somehow in such a way that they might be forced to commit seppuku. He was not proud of his brother’s dishonourable actions at the Topaz Championship and now he wished to make amends by offering his aid. He proposed that he should also take the oath in the hope that Sugai might think twice before condemning his own brother.

At this stage Shiniko went to get Kenshiru and Takashima to explain the situation to them. It did not escape Kenshiru’s attention that Shinryu might be part of his brother’s plan but the young samurai had as yet shown no sign of dishonourable action. Kenshiru could see no obvious disadvantage in having him take the oath with them so he agreed to the proposal. Kenshiru suggested however that the key would be to get Sugai to swear the same oath as the rest of them.

The next day with Shinryu’s assistance they managed to achieve this. Jinsho, Shiniko, Takashima, Shinryu and Kenshiru had to swear to protect Sugai and deliver the scrolls to the festival untampered with and Sugai was forced to make a similar oath, leaving out the part about protecting himself obviously. Most importantly he too had had to swear that the scrolls would be untampered with.

Sugai was not happy, particularly at the perceived betrayal of his younger brother, Shinryu, but he hid it well.

In addition to the six samurai, six of Gidayu’s castle guard would accompany the three carts. One of the carts had the chest of scrolls hidden within it. The trip was expected to take around ten days.

Drowned Merchant River

Steady progress was made on the first day, but on the second the heavens opened and torrential rain slowed progress to a crawl. Frequently the carts bogged down in the mud and had to be hauled free. That evening, after a miserable day, they were forced to make camp before crossing the Drowned Merchant River that had swollen to such an extent that the fords were flooded. They had hoped to have passed beyond that spot for rumour had it that the river banks were haunted by the ghosts of a Crane merchant and his family who were tortured and killed by bandits there.

They posted guards and settled down for the night.

Kenshiru’s sleep was interrupted before his watch began by Shiniko gently shaking him and whispering his name.

“Kenshiru…wake up…Kenshiru”

He woke quickly.

“There’s something out there”, she said, pointing into the night and moving on to rouse Jinsho.

Kenshiru rose to a crouch and peered into the darkness. His eyes were still adjusting but he could see a faint glow that seemed to be approaching the campsite. There was a distinct chill in the air and his teeth began to chatter with the cold. It did not help that he was still damp from the rains of the previous day, though thankfully the rain no longer fell.

Kenshiru clamped his jaw tight shut and edged forward, keeping low so as not to present a target.

Dense white mist began to swirl amidst the trees and the ghostly glow began to solidify into the forms of a man and a woman. Harrowing figures, whose eyes were empty sockets and whose faces were drawn with pain and horror.

Kenshiru heard a gasp from one of the guards somewhere in the camp behind him and stealing a glance in that direction saw that the same faint glow grew on the other side of the camp.

There was a howling wail from the ghostly forms in front of him and Kenshiru turned back to face them.

“Where are my children?” the ghost of the man cried, “Where are those who tore them from me?”

The mists swirled about him angrily and in the camp the guards cowered in fear.

On the far side four smaller shapes appeared from the mist. They were eyeless like their parents and their small bodies were run through with arrows and spears. They held out their arms and wailed in agony. The sound of their pain was almost too much to bear.

As the ghostly shapes converged on the camp Kenshiru steeled himself and stood to face them. It was important to lead by example and show the guards that he was not afraid. Hesitantly Shiniko moved to stand beside him. Kenshiru could not see Jinsho, and Takashima and Shinryu were further away. They stood firm but Kenshiru could see the fear etched on their faces. Sugai lay in his bedroll nearby, feigning sleep. If he was afraid he did not show it.

The children drifted towards their mother and father, passing through the camp, but they were beginning to fade. They howled in anguish as their spectral forms began to dissipate. Before they could be reunited they vanished into nothingness. Only their screams lingered on until they turned into a horrible gurgle that slowly died down.

The mother and fathers wailing turned to agony and then they too faded and disappeared.

Long moments passed before anyone dared to move. Kenshiru strode out to where the last remnants of mist swirled across the earth and surveyed the area. There was no sign of them. Then Kenshiru heard Jinsho from in the camp behind him. His voice began a rising incantation; it was a complex chant. Kenshiru is not a master of rituals so he did not recognise the sound but later Jinsho told him that it was a ritual of purification to ease the passing of the dead. The spirits did not return.

The next day they crossed the Drowned Merchant River and passed into the Dragonfly clan lands.

Kyuden Tonbo, the Dragonfly Castle

As they approached Kyuden Tonbo, or Dragonfly Castle as it is known, they were met by an armed patrol led by a striking Samurai-ko. She rode forward and challenged them in the traditional manner.

“I am Tonbo Sako, sister of Tonbo Sodan, who are you that travel through Dragonfly lands? Are you friend or foe? Speak or defend yourselves.”

Jinsho rode forward as representative for the group, and Kenshiru encouraged his mount forward beside him. Kenshiru eyed the Dragonfly soldiers and their leader warily.

“I am Shiba Jinsho”, Jinsho replied, “and my companions are Hiruma Kenshiru, Otaku Shiniko and Daidoji Takashima”. He gestured to each of them in turn. “We are magistrates of the Phoenix clan escorting Bayushi Sugai and Bayushi Shinryu to the Setsuban Festival at the shrine of the Ki-Rin.”

Sako remained unmoved for a moment and then responded by saying, “Then on behalf of my brother I welcome you to Kyuden Tonbo. It would please him if you would accept our hospitality for the night as we seldom have visitors.”

Kenshiru noted that Sako’s tone was still formal, and that she adhered strictly to the samurai code. As yet Kenshiru was undecided about her. Her manner was curt and she offered hospitality without any hint of being friendly. Kenshiru hoped that this was not a reflection of the Dragonfly in general.

However Jinsho seemed relieved and agreed enthusiastically.

Sako and her men provided an escort towards the castle. It appeared fairly small and, to the eyes of a Crab who had served only a short time on the Kaiu Wall, was not a particularly strong design. For a start the walls were too low, and looked easy to scale or breach. As they drew nearer however an incident occurred that would cause him to re-evaluate his perception of the stronghold.

There was a slight disturbance behind them as one of the guards provided by Shiba Gidayu stumbled and fell to his knees. He looked pale and drawn and another man appeared ready to join him. Sako reigned her horse in and rode steadily back towards them, dismounting a short distance away. Jinsho and Kenshiru dismounted where they were and followed on foot. Kenshiru was puzzled as to what was going on. Suddenly, without warning, Sako drew her katana and with fluid strokes beheaded first one guard and then the next. When the two were dead she sheathed her blade and turned back towards her horse as though nothing had happened.

“What is the meaning of this?” Jinsho demanded.

“The castle protects against all who would do harm to the Dragonfly. Our enemies become ill when they approach”, Sako responded matter-of-factly.

There was a moment’s silence while Kenshiru waited for Jinsho to say something, but though he seemed somewhat taken aback he and the others appeared satisfied with this explanation.

It seemed as if that was the end of the matter, but Kenshiru was not yet satisfied. He could not bow so easily to this behaviour. Who did this samurai-ko think she was? Kenshiru stepped to block Sako’s path.

“These men were part of our retinue. It was our responsibility to deal with them. You should not have acted so precipitately” Kenshiru threatened.

“I will dispatch enemies of the Dragonfly whenever and wherever I choose” she retorted.

By that time her soldiers had surrounded them. The situation was tense. Kenshiru admired Sako’s resolve, despite her somewhat arrogant attitude, but he could not capitulate without losing respect. He was surprised that he appeared to be the only one who felt this way.

Jinsho tried to calm things down but Kenshiru interrupted him.

“Know this Tonbo Sako, the rest of these men are under my authority. Act against them without my permission and you will answer for it. If I find that any are disloyal they will die by my sword. Do you understand?”

She glared defiantly back at him but said nothing, accepting the reprimand. It had been a dangerous game but honour was satisfied, and they had earned each other’s respect. Kenshiru noted, with some satisfaction, that after the incident the remaining guards all seemed to hold him in greater esteem. Of the samurai in the group only Kenshiru had proved himself a worthy leader and they began reporting to him.

Tonbo Sodan proved to be markedly different in character than his sister. As they entered through the castle gates he came out into the courtyard and greeted them warmly. Though he was the son of a daimyo and heir to the leadership of the Dragonfly Clan he did not treat the young samurai as inferiors but as equals. He was friendly and good-natured and at great pains to make them as comfortable as possible. Kenshiru was relieved to find that the reservations he had had after the encounter with Sako were unfounded. Her brother was the perfect host.

It had still been early in the afternoon when they had arrived at Kyuden Tonbo, so after freshening themselves up they were able to relax for a while. Sako invited Shiniko to archery practice, and the two women went off to test their skill. Kenshiru observed that Sako’s attitude to Shiniko was at odds with her earlier behaviour and determined that much of her demeanour could probably be put down to the fact that Kenshiru had seen no other samuraiko here. It was as though she was trying to be particularly tough and uncompromising in order to compete with the men. She and Shiniko were almost immediately like sisters to one another and Kenshiru was glad to see another side to her.

Kenshiru spent his time walking in the grounds, periodically accompanied by Jinsho or Takashima. Inside the castle was a peaceful place.

The Sumi Contest

That evening Sodan put on a sumptuous banquet for his guests and entertained them with stories from the history of the Dragonfly clan.

After the meal Sodan suggested that they engage in a little good-natured Sumi wrestling. There was to be a small prize for the winner of each bout. Without much difficulty Sodan persuaded the impetuous Jinsho to participate in the first bout against a wizened old man named Mirumoto Akodo. The ancient looked frail and brittle as a twig, but Kenshiru suspected from the twinkle in Sodan’s eye that there was more to this bout than there appeared. The contestants prepared themselves and one of Sodan’s advisors acted as referee. In moments the bout was over. Jinsho threw all his weight against the old man, who twisted expertly out of his way and was no longer there. A slight shove and a trip sent Jinsho sprawling forward and out of the makeshift ring. Akodo hadn’t even broken a sweat.

Sodan began to laugh.

“I am sorry Jinsho, my friend, I must admit to entertaining us at your expense. Your opponent is not quite what he seems. Though it is some time ago now, Mirumoto Akodo was once all Rokugan sumi champion for twelve years running.”

Jinsho was forced to smile as Akodo lent forward and offered his hand.

“Then at least I have been bested by the most worthy of opponents” Jinsho commented as he regained his feet.

“This is true”, said Sodan, “and as you have been such a good sport the prize from the bout is yours.”

A retainer stepped forward and presented Jinsho with a delicate origami bird that had been fashioned by Sodan himself.
Jinsho expressed his gratitude and then Akodo leaned toward him interestedly, his beady eyes sharp and bright.

“Hmmm….the fire magic is strong in you”, he said, “come walk with an old man. We shall talk”.

After Jinsho and Akodo had left the gathering Sodan turned to Kenshiru.

“Kenshiru will you not demonstrate your skill? Come choose an opponent from any who are here.”

Kenshiru looked around the room. Though he had won his bout in the Topaz Championship he was no wrestler. Once again he would need to depend on his athleticism.

“I have no real skill in the art”, Kenshiru stated,” but I shall fight. Who is the best man here? For if I am to lose I wish to lose to someone who is skilful.”

There was a pause and then Sodan nodded.

“Well spoken Kenshiru”, he said, “Of those that are here I believe that I am the best, for I have been trained by Mirumoto Akodo who is the master, therefore I shall be your opponent.”

So it was Sodan and Kenshiru who met in the second bout. Kenshiru knew that Sodan was far superior to him in skill but he was determined to give it his best. He did not want to be humiliated.

The bout began. Sodan and Kenshiru struggled backwards and forwards across the ring. With his skill Sodan always had the upper hand but remarkably each time it looked as though he would defeat Kenshiru the young samurai managed to hold on. The bout went on and on, until both men were sweating and puffing with the strain. Fortunately Kenshiru has exceptional stamina and continued to counter Sodan’s moves. It was one of those times when Kenshiru could feel destiny at work. He was performing beyond all his expectations. The Fortunes were smiling on him. Finally after many minutes both men went down exhausted together. Technically Sodan was the winner because Kenshiru had landed slightly before him, but instead he helped Kenshiru to his feet and declared that the crowd should decide the winner, as it was so close. In response to this Sako rose from her seat. Her eyes locked with Kenshiru’s for a moment, and then she smiled at him.

“Crab” she voted.

Quickly Shiniko stood.

“Dragonfly” she countered.

Each of the dinner guests voted in turn, and at the end Sodan turned to Kenshiru and smiled. The vote had narrowly gone in the young Crab’s favour.

“Well Kenshiru it appears that you are the winner. Step forward and accept your prize.”

Another retainer appeared.

Kenshiru hesitated for a moment for he knew that he had not won but suddenly it came to him what he should do. He turned to address Sodan and the crowd.

“My hosts’ judgement is clouded by their generosity”, he said, “since you are mistaken in your declaration of the winner of the bout. It is for this reason that I cannot accept the prize as a trophy of victory.” He paused for dramatic effect. “Instead I will take it to remind me of a fine contest with a skilful and honourable opponent.”

Sodan bowed and the guests acknowledged their approval of his speech with applause as Kenshiru received the prize.
It was a small piece of silk cloth embroidered with the Dragonfly Clan mon. Somehow it was more than fitting given the occasion. Once again Kenshiru felt destiny had taken a hand.

For Jinsho, Kenshiru and Shiniko even Bayushi Sugai’s presence did not mar the evening’s enjoyment. However it was Takashima who was taking the brunt of his goading. Playing on the fact that Takashima’s family, the Daidoji family, were known for acting as bodyguards to the Emperor, Sugai had begun treating Takashima as his bodyguard. After all he had vowed to protect Sugai. However such a relationship implies a difference in status between the protected and the protector that was not true in this case. Sugai trod dangerously close to insulting Takashima without actually doing so outright. When Sugai instructed Takashima to guard his door that night Kenshiru expected to hear a firm refusal, but instead Takashima accepted it as his duty. In doing this he had demonstrated his subservience to Sugai and lost respect. Takashima was of a similar age to the other three young samurai but he had much to learn.

Shinryu Becomes a Suspect

The next morning the peace and tranquillity was upset by a disturbance out in the courtyard. On investigation it was discovered that Shinryu was in a heated conversation with one of the palace shugenga and a guard. Apparently the guard had stumbled upon Shinryu and the shugenga, Mirumoto Ekai, facing off in the room where the chest of scrolls was being kept. Each of the two had accused the other of tampering with the chest.

Shinryu claimed that he had been sent by Sugai to check on the chest and had found Ekai there. However Sugai indicated that he had no recollection of giving such an instruction. The guard knew Ekai and was more inclined to believe him so things began to look desperate for Shinryu, until Jinsho stepped in. Jinsho declared that he could cast a spell that would allow him to tell whether Shinryu spoke falsely or not. With Sodan and Shinryu’s permission he cast the spell, and when his preparations were complete he asked Shinryu to recount his story once more. After Shinryu had spoken Jinsho contemplated for a moment and then said that Shinryu had spoken truthfully. All eyes turned to Sugai. Sugai shrugged matter-of-factly as though neither the life of his brother nor this revelation was of any concern. He stood by his statement that he could not recall giving Shinryu such an instruction. He did vaguely remember discussing the chest with Shinryu however so perhaps his brother had incorrectly interpreted something he had said and taken it upon himself to check the scrolls. This was sufficient of an excuse to deflect any further scrutiny into his conduct.

It was Ekai’s turn to become desperate.

“Can’t you see what they’re doing?” he accused “It’s all a plot to ruin me.”

Sodan looked at him coldly. There had been sufficient evidence for him to decide who was responsible.

“He’s lying” Ekai screamed, pointing at Shinryu.

“And I say he speaks the truth”, Jinsho responded, “Are you calling me a liar.”

Ekai hesitated for a moment. He was trapped.

“Yes”, he conceded resentfully, “and I demand the right to prove that it is so and to defend my honour in a trial by combat”.

Jinsho nodded.

“Then so be it.”

Everyone moved outside the castle and those not involved stood well back. It is unwise to get too close to a shugenga duel. The two men faced each other. Both were totally focused on the spells that they were about to cast. A signal was given and they began to chant, making arcane movements with their arms. Their incantations rose higher and higher and then a ball of flame burst from Ekai’s outstretched hands. For a moment fire engulfed Jinsho but then it parted, revealing that he was unscathed. It swirled around him, growing in intensity, and Ekai’s face began to show the strain. Gradually something began to form from the fire that crackled around Jinsho. The flames began to take shape, wings parted and a fiery phoenix hung above him. It paused for a moment and then at a gesture, swooped down upon Ekai. Ekai flung up his arms to ward it off but to no avail. When the flames dissipated all that remained was a smoking pile of ash. Ekai was no more and Shinryu was vindicated.

Kenshiru had never seen a shugenga duel before but the reaction of those around him indicated that the demonstration of Jinsho’s power was impressive. Kenshiru had to admit that after what he had witnessed he was glad that Jinsho was his friend and not his enemy.

Sodan was profusely apologetic for the conduct of Ekai. To another the young samurai might have been less forgiving but in every other department Sodan had been the perfect host and had made the stay at Kyuden Tonbo an experience they would long remember. He was not to blame.

Unfortunately they could not stay any longer since their duty beckoned for them to continue their journey to the Shrine of the Ki-Rin. So later that morning they departed. Sodan came to wish them farewell and say that they were always welcome to return. Kenshiru promised Sodan that someday he would, and said that if Sodan or Sako ever needed his aid he would come.

They had another day of travelling before they said their good-byes to Sako, for she and her men escorted them to the boundary of Dragonfly territory before turning back for their home. Though she hid it well Kenshiru could tell she was deeply saddened by Shiniko’s departure.

Bandits

The next two days they travelled through barren, mountainous country. A dangerous area that offered many sites that were perfect for ambushes. Much of the time Kenshiru scouted ahead with Keni the commander of the Phoenix guards, making sure the way was clear, and to everyone’s relief they did not come under attack. Though Keni said very little he had impressed Kenshiru with his dependability. The guard captain was observant and had matched Kenshiru’s stamina as they had travelled in advance of the others. He had proved himself an able companion.

On the eve of the second day they left the foothills behind and camped in the edge of a large forest that spread out ahead of them. They set a guard but the night was uneventful. In the morning however there was a thick mist clinging to the ground between the trees. It made it difficult to satisfactorily guard the camp perimeter and they ate breakfast nervously eyeing the dark shadows that surrounded them.

Their concern was not unwarranted for during their meal a man and a woman, both in slightly weather-beaten samurai armour, stepped from the gloom and into the camp. No one had heard them approach.

“If you intend to pass through our forest you will have to pay the appropriate tax”, the man said confidently.

“Your forest?” Jinsho queried “I was under the impression these were Phoenix lands and we are on a mission for the Phoenix clan.”

“You are miss-informed, these are my lands.”

“And who are you?”

“I am Niban.”

“Well then Niban, you are both welcome to share our breakfast with us while we discuss these taxes”, Jinsho offered in an attempt to compromise.

“You do not understand” Niban responded threateningly “there are twenty archers in the trees surrounding you, I will take whatever taxes I choose.”

“Ah” said Jinsho “then you are bandits”

“We are Ronin”, said Niban “Now stand aside”.

“No”

“I tire of this conversation” Niban signalled to someone in the trees, “Koan” he called.

A man appeared from the mist. He was not samurai, his hands moved in a complex dance, he spoke a word of power, and a wave of tiredness washed through the camp. All those around him began to slump to the ground. Kenshiru shook his head clear and stood his ground despite the urge to rest.

Koan looked at him somewhat surprised and nodded respectfully, then turned and walked towards the wagons. As Kenshiru moved to block his path an arrow flew from the mist and hit the ground between them with a solid thwunk. Kenshiru hesitated.

“Don’t make me kill you samurai”, Niban said.

“I have sworn an oath to protect our cargo, if it must be with my life then so be it. I cannot forsake my duty” Kenshiru responded.

“We know of your oath” Niban said thoughtfully “So I put it to you that you must choose between the scrolls and the Scorpion. If you resist us we will kill him. Now stand aside.”

It was an impossible position, Kenshiru was bound by his oaths to protect Sugai and the scrolls, perhaps he could even the odds by baiting Niban into a duel, he thought. At least it would be an honourable death.

“How is it that you are able to hide behind the arrows of your men?” Kenshiru goaded “I know that Ronin are not Samurai but I had been told that they still had honour.”

A dangerous look flickered in Niban’s eyes but he did not rise to the bait.

“Honour?” he joked “I keep my honour in a box, I take it out and look at it once in a while. It is bright and shiny but it does not feed me, does not clothe me. What use is it?”

Kenshiru scowled. Niban was not going to give him the satisfaction of facing him in combat. If Kenshiru resisted then Sugai would die and the oath they had made to protect him would immediately be broken. Once Sugai was dead even if they should recover the scrolls they would be dishonoured by their failure. The only chance was for Kenshiru to swallow his pride and let the bandits take the chest. If he and the others could recover it before the bandits had time to tamper with the scrolls they might yet be saved. It sounded unlikely but what other choice did he have?

He stepped back.

Koan went straight to the cart that had the chest of scrolls concealed within it and began leading the horses toward the trees. Within moments it had disappeared.

“We will meet again Niban” Kenshiru said.

The Ronin nodded, gloating at his success, and then he and the woman turned and stepped into the mist.

In Search of the Scrolls

As soon as Niban and the ‘bandits’ were out of sight Kenshiru tried to rouse the others. Jinsho was closest to him so Kenshiru shook him till he came awake.

“Uh…what happened?” he groaned.

“They’ve taken the chest”, Kenshiru said “Hurry…wake the others”

When Kenshiru was certain Jinsho was fully conscious he headed off into the mist in the direction that the cart had taken. He knew they could not afford to lose the bandits and he figured that on top of the fact that it was the cart that carried the chest of scrolls it would also be the slowest moving and the easiest to track. Sure enough the wheels of the cart had cut conspicuous grooves in the soft earth. They led away from the camp in the direction that the bandits had taken. Kenshiru pressed on, quickening his pace in an effort to catch up, and then suddenly came to a halt. The tracks just stopped, right smack in the middle of a clearing. He searched around for an explanation but there was none. Damn!

Reluctantly he gave up and returned to the others who were all awake by then. Sugai was irate. He stormed around the campsite; cursing and trying to lay blame on the others for what had happened. He maintained that they had failed in their duty to protect the scrolls. Kenshiru pointed out that this was no time to debate the issue. All of them had sworn the oath; they were in it together. Hurriedly Kenshiru explained what had happened after the others had been ensorcelled.

“You should have stopped them” Sugai accused.

“If I had tried then you would be dead now” Kenshiru replied “and our oath to protect you would be broken.”

Unwillingly Sugai conceded the point.

“So what now then?” he asked.

Kenshiru led them to the spot that he had followed the cart to and they stood around wondering what to do. Kenshiru could find no indication of where the cart had gone. They could assume that it continued on in the same direction but there was no reason to believe that it was true.

In the end Kenshiru asked Jinsho if he had any magic that could help them. The young shugenga looked thoughtful.

“I was just thinking that I could try asking the spirits” he answered “It has worked in the past”.

“We have no better suggestions”, Kenshiru said.

For what seemed a long while Jinsho knelt at the spot where the tracks came to an end and whispered incantations into the wind. Eventually he stopped and got to his feet.

The others waited expectantly to hear what he had discovered.

“They said, follow the sound of the nightingale” he shrugged.

“Are you sure?” Kenshiru asked.

Jinsho nodded.

“Follow the sound of the nightingale!” Sugai exclaimed in an exasperated tone “What use to us is that?”

“The air elementals always tend to be a bit esoteric” Jinsho commented.

“Perhaps if we are quiet we will hear something” Kenshiru suggested.

For long moments they stood in silence listening to the sounds of the forest around them, then Jinsho asked, “So does anyone know what a nightingale sounds like?

Nobody did.

“Perhaps it’s a riddle”, said Shinryu.

“Maybe” said Shiniko “but what could it mean?”

They all contemplated the ‘riddle’ without success.

“This isn’t getting us anywhere” Sugai moaned.

“If we could find a nearby village we could ask if they’ve heard of Niban” Takashima offered. “If he calls himself lord of this area then surely someone knows where he comes from.”

Everyone agreed this was a good idea. After some debate it was decided that Keni and the three guards should take the remaining two carts on to the Shrine of the Ki-Rin and the six samurai would go in search of the scrolls. Better progress would be made on horseback without the carts to slow them down.

So Jinsho, Kenshiru, Shiniko, Takashima, Sugai and Shinryu left the guards behind and travelled on up the road in some haste looking for signs of habitation.

The Two Woodsmen

For a long while it seemed like the Fortunes were against them but then they encountered two woodsmen felling trees by the roadside.

“Who are you and where are you from?” demanded Sugai.

“Er…we are woodsmen”, one of the men replied hesitantly “we are felling trees for our daimyo who is lord of these parts.”

“Pray tell us” Jinsho interjected “do either of you fellows know the song of the nightingale?”

Sugai looked at him sternly.

“Why yes master. It goes…” and the first woodsman whistled a little song.

“That’s not it”, said the second woodsman when the first had finished “You’ve got it all wrong. It goes…” and he whistled another song.

“No…no” interrupted the first again “that’s the lark”

“No it isn’t”

“ENOUGH!” roared Sugai, his patience exhausted. Kenshiru had to admit these two dimwits had started to annoy him too. “We seek the Ronin called Niban, do you know of him?”

The two woodsmen looked at each other somewhat sheepishly.

“Well?” Sugai pressed.

“No my lord”

“Are you certain?”

“Well…er…yes my lord”

“I think they’re lying”, said Sugai threateningly.

“Oh no my lord” the woodsmen cowered.

“Then tell me something useful before I tire of your worthless existence.”

“There is a village not far from here” the second woodsman said uncertainly “there are Ronin there”

“Take us to this village” ordered Sugai.

“But our master has ordered us to cut down the trees before nightfall” they pleaded in unison.

Sugai glared at them, daring them to speak again but Jinsho interceded on their behalf.

“One of you take us to the village and the other stay here and continue felling the trees. I will write a note for the one that stays to explain that you are aiding Phoenix magistrates in a pressing matter. I cannot offer more than that.”

“Alright my lord.”

And so it was that the group headed into the forest lead by a dim-witted woodsman.

The Village of the Nightingale

For some hours their path twisted and turned through the forest until Kenshiru began to wonder if the woodsman had any idea where they were going. On occasion Kenshiru thought they had doubled back on themselves but if he was honest he was totally lost.

Then they came to a place where the trees began to thin out ahead. The woodsman halted and gestured forward.

“The village lies ahead my lords”

The samurai peered through the foliage but could see no sign of a village.

“What treachery is this?” Sugai spat, reaching towards his sword.

“No…no…my lord…I speak the truth…Niban has the village hidden with powerful magic” the woodsman blurted.

There was a moment of stunned silence.

“What did you say?” Kenshiru eventually challenged.

“Ooops” mumbled the woodsman.

“But you said you’d never heard of Niban!” exclaimed Jinsho.

The woodsman backed away.

It’s a trap, Kenshiru thought, drawing his katana.

Suddenly there were armed figures in the trees about them. Kenshiru briefly caught a glimpse of a man he recognised as Koan. His hands moved in a familiar pattern. Kenshiru made to charge forward, to strike the shugenga down and prevent him from completing the spell, but it was too late. With a crackle of energy his magic, flowed around them, and this time Kenshiru failed to resist the urge to sleep. Everything went black.

A Question of Honour

When Kenshiru awoke they were lying on the floor of a small wooden building. It looked like a storehouse of some kind. Kenshiru was surprised to discover that they had not been bound in any way and that their weapons were still at their sides. The others began to stir as Kenshiru got to his feet and went to look outside. Kenshiru felt a little stiff, as though he had lain in one place for some time, but he was otherwise unharmed and in fact quite refreshed. It irritated him that he had succumbed to Koan’s sorcery however. At the door he discovered two guards, who gestured for the young samurai to follow them.

It was about that time that Shiniko noticed that Shinryu was missing.

“Where is Shinryu?” she exclaimed.

There was no sign of him.

“Lord Niban is waiting” one of the guards said gruffly before turning and marching away.

Sugai pushed past and stormed after him. His mood did not appear to have improved. Jinsho and Kenshiru fell in behind and Shiniko and Takashima brought up the rear.

The guards led them towards a large building that stood at the centre of what Kenshiru surmised was the magically concealed village of the Ronin. Niban’s village, the village of the Nightingale. It was quite impressive. There were sufficient dwellings to house two or three hundred people there.

When they entered the main building they discover Niban, Koan, the samurai woman, and a number of other Ronin waiting for them. Shinryu was also there, standing to one side under guard. The atmosphere was tense. Sugai angrily marched forward to a position opposite Niban. Jinsho and Kenshiru moved to flank him.

“You will return the scrolls to us immediately”, Sugai spat.

“Perhaps” said Niban “but there is a price.”

“I do not deal with bandits” Sugai sneered.

“That is unfortunate” Niban responded angrily.

“Wait” Jinsho interceded before the situation could get out of hand “let us hear what Lord Niban has to say”

Niban turned towards Jinsho.

“I am glad that you show more wisdom than your companion” he acknowledged.

Niban explained that the village was occupied by around eighty Ronin and their families. They had gathered under Niban’s banner, looking for something to belong to, looking for a place they could make their own. Niban had petitioned for recognition from the Phoenix clan for some time but the clan samurai had treated these requests with disdain. To the Phoenix clan Niban’s people were barely more than outlaws. They remained in the forest eking out a meagre existence and suffered greatly through no fault of their own. Niban did not intend to fail them. He had become a desperate man. He would only release the scrolls if the Phoenix clan would make a gesture by allowing the Ronin to be represented by Koan at the Setsuban festival. Non-clan shugenga are not normally invited to attend. Niban believed that this would represent the first step on the path to getting recognition for all his people. To show good will Niban said that he would release the samurai in order that they could take his message to the Phoenix clan daimyo and speak on his behalf.

“They will never accept” Sugai commented.

“All I ask of you is to deliver my message and to speak on our behalf” Niban repeated.

“Hah” Sugai scoffed.

“I will speak for you” Jinsho said, “you have my word on this”

Kenshiru glanced at Jinsho. As usual he was being rash again. Kenshiru was not so sure that agreeing to Niban’s proposal was the right thing to do. What did they really know about this Ronin?

“And the rest of you?” Niban asked.

After a slight hesitation Shiniko and Takashima agreed.

Sugai remained aloof, declining to answer Niban and instead stared coldly ahead. His opinion was clear.

Everyone’s attention turned expectantly towards Kenshiru.

The young Crab chose his response carefully.

“One must have honour to be a samurai Niban, you have done us no harm but you have also stolen to gain the advantage. You have not shown me that you are worthy. How then can I speak to the Phoenix clan on your behalf?”

“Then you refuse?”

“Show me that you are worthy of our support”, Kenshiru continued, “return the scrolls to us and allow us to go in peace. Then we shall know that you have honour and will speak on your behalf.”

Niban considered his words.

“I see that you are a man who knows the meaning of honour,” he eventually said “for this reason I will put my trust in you and do what you ask. You shall have the scrolls. Koan and I will accompany you. However Bayushi Shinryu remains here and should you betray me he will die.”

And so a pact was made.

The scrolls had not been tampered with and Sugai was still unharmed. By the narrowest of margins the honour of the young samurai was still intact.

Before they left the village Jinsho was taken to speak privately with Shinryu. He was tight-lipped about what had been discussed and it would be some time later before anyone found out what the conversation had been about.

At the Shrine of the Ki-Rin

It was another three days of travelling before the party reached the Shrine of the Ki-Rin, but to their relief the rest of the trip was uneventful. By the time they arrived rumours of the loss of the scrolls had spread amongst those who were attending the festival and their entrance caused quite a stir. The commotion was all the greater because Niban and Koan accompanied them.

Phoenix guards were quickly on hand to escort them to meet Shiba Gidayu who was impatiently awaiting delivery of the scrolls. It would have reflected badly on him if his choice of guardians had failed in their duty so no doubt the rumours had concerned him greatly. It was a good thing that the young samurai had succeeded in recovering them.

After being ushered into Gidayu’s tent they tried to remain impassive as Gidayu’s retainers scrutinised the chest for signs that it had been opened. It seemed an age before they finally declared that everything was present and correct. Internally Kenshiru breathed a sigh of relief as Gidayu accepted the scrolls into his custody. Somehow they had managed to escape with their honour intact.

The young samurai were not free from the burden of duty yet however for their promise to Niban remained unfulfilled. It was Jinsho who enthusiastically stepped forward and spoke on behalf of the Ronin, however Gidayu was not easily moved. Jinsho made a strong case but after some contemplation Gidayu declined to make a judgement. He declared that it was not his place to do so since it was the Elemental Masters of the Phoenix clan who decided who was allowed to enter the contest. If Koan was to be a participant then they were the ones who would have to authorise it.

This made things difficult for the young samurai since the Elemental Masters are very reclusive and notoriously fickle but Jinsho was not disheartened. As the protégé of the Elemental Master of fire he felt certain that he would get an opportunity to take his case before them. From what Kenshiru had heard of the Elemental Masters he was not so sure that this was the case. And even if Jinsho was granted an audience, Kenshiru didn’t think that it was very likely that the Elemental Masters would be swayed by his arguments, but it was worth the attempt.

As it turned out Jinsho was given his opportunity to speak. After much debate he was dismissed and Koan was summoned into the presence of the Elemental Masters. The young samurai waited expectantly to learn the outcome. When Koan emerged he seemed strangely subdued; particularly when it was discovered that he had indeed been granted entry into the contest.

The reason for this was that unbeknownst to any of the young samurai Koan had been forced to make a deal with the Elemental Masters in order to gain entry to the contest. They granted him a place in the contest, thus setting a precedent that would allow other Ronin to participate in future festivals. However there were two conditions; first, that he agreed not to progress into the final round and second, that he told no one of the bargain that he was about to make. In other words he had to agree to throw the competition in order to participate. Koan had accepted knowing that his sacrifice would open the way for others to follow in his footsteps.

After the matter of Koan’s entry into the contest had been resolved Jinsho sought out Bayushi Sugai to pass him a message that had been entrusted to him by Shinryu. Apparently this was what Shinryu had discussed with him before they had departed from Niban’s village. Shinryu’s message came in the form of two torn pieces of material that had emblazoned upon them the Scorpion clan mon. They had come from Shinryu’s kimono. By returning the symbols of his clan membership to his brother Sugai, Shinryu was signifying that he had left the Scorpion clan and become Ronin, despite the dishonour this would entail. Not surprisingly Sugai was furious.

“From this day forward I have no brother” he spat, and stormed off.

He left the festival the next day.

The Festival

With their mission completed the young samurai were free to experience the festivities. The fields around the shrine were full of colourful tents, and about them a multitude of shugenga, samurai, acrobats, actors, artisans, merchants and musicians was gathered. There was food and sake for all. Contingents from most of the clans were there so Shiniko and Takashima went in search of their brothers and sisters in the Unicorn and Crane clans respectively. And Jinsho and Koan retired to meditate in preparation for the contest, which was due to begin the following day. Kenshiru was left on his own.

Despite the throngs of people Kenshiru was unlikely to encounter many of his fellow Crab here. Of all the clans attending the festival members of the Crab clan were the most sparsely represented. Their lands are far to the south, a great distance from the Shrine of the Ki-Rin, and few would make the long journey. Kenshiru was not unduly disappointed however for he had other plans. He still had a duty to fulfil. The Emperor’s niece was here and Kenshiru had been instructed to join the gaggle of young samurai that would no doubt be vying for her attention. No matter how unsuited to the task of courting her that he felt it would be dishonourable to go against the wishes of his daimyo. Though he would have preferred to have been given a different challenge the choice was not his to make. He tidied himself and went in search of the Lady Okomo Yoroshiko.

A First Meeting with Princess Yoroshiko

The Emperors niece was not hard to find for as Kenshiru had suspected she and her entourage seemed to be the main focus of attention for a large group of young samurai who had congregated in the area. They played music, or dedicated haiku to her, or told stories of their most impressive exploits. Each one seeking to win her favour.

Kenshiru watched them for a while. Listening to their flattery and empty chatter.

The Lady Yoroshiko was pretty enough. She was not as striking as some women, like Shiko and Shiniko were, but she was young and there were signs that she would grow to be fair. In her conversation with the samurai around her she seemed somewhat naive and empty-headed but Kenshiru had the distinct impression that she was shrewder than she appeared. It seemed to be an act that allowed her to play her suitors off one against the other.

This was not going to be easy for him, Kenshiru was out of place here, a warrior not a courtier. He was not even certain that he wanted a bride, particularly one that would tie him to the Imperial court.

At this point the Fortunes took a hand again, for with little effort on his part events conspired to propel Kenshiru to the lady’s notice.

A particularly arrogant Crane samurai decided to gain Yoroshiko’s attention and demonstrate his dominance by putting Kenshiru in his place. The Crane conjured a skillfully worded haiku praising Yoroshiko’s beauty and then challenged Kenshiru to match it. No doubt he thought Kenshiru was an easy target, as the Crab clan are known for war not poetry. There was a pause while Kenshiru sought for a response.

The Crane smiled smugly.

“There are no haiku… that can match the beauty of… fair Yoroshiko” Kenshiru said after a moment.

The Crane glowered.

Yoroshiko smiled.

“What is your name samurai?” she asked.

“I am Hiruma Kenshiru of the Crab clan my lady” Kenshiru replied, bowing deeply.

“Then I hope we shall meet again during the festival Hiruma Kenshiru”.

The Contest

The next day was the day of the competition.

Four large rings were laid out, representing the elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water. During the morning each contestant was expected to report to the judges presiding over each ring and perform a feat of magic using the element in question. They would be judged upon the grandeur of the effect and the control required during casting. By the end of the morning eight shugenga would be chosen. These would be the four who cast the most impressive spell in each ring plus four more who were considered to have shown the best general ability over all the elements.

For a while Kenshiru, Jinsho, Shiniko and Takashima watched the shugenga performing their spells, while the festival buzzed excitedly around them. Although the festival was a wondrous spectacle Kenshiru found that he was a little uneasy with so much magic around.

The Fire Ring

It was not long before Jinsho decided that he would attempt his first ring. He chose fire, which was his primary element. Most of the best shugenga were being a little cagey at this stage but Jinsho figured that he would create a good impression early in the contest.

After reporting to the judges, who included the Elemental Master of Fire, Jinsho stepped to the centre of the ring. He concentrated for a moment and then uttered an incantation while gesturing with his hands. There was a collective intake of breath from the spectators as flame erupted in the air. Liquid fire flowed to form complex patterns that hovered above. At the centre of a huge circle of flame the symbol of the Emperor Hantei blazed and around it hung finely detailed representations of the clan mon of the Phoenix, Crab, Unicorn and Crane clans. It was an impressive display. The element of fire is hungry, it spreads and consumes, and it does not like to be restrained. There are few shugenga that possess the control necessary to mould it into such complex shapes and keep it there. The Elemental Master of Fire nodded, he was pleased with his protege’s performance. Jinsho maintained the effect for a short while longer and then allowed the flames to subside. He bowed deeply to the judges and then left the ring.

The Air Ring

Praising Jinsho’s efforts Kenshiru, Shiniko and Takashima followed him as he moved on to the air ring. Once again they watched the other contestants as Jinsho prepared for his demonstration. It took him some time to re-focus ready for the new spell and while they were waiting they were treated to an exceptional display by one of Jinsho’s fellow Phoenix clan shugenga, a woman named Isawa Uona. Smoke from a small fire that she lit was transformed by the motion of the winds into the spectre of a flock of birds that looped and cavorted around the ring. To the delight of those watching, the phantom birds flew from the ring and continued their dance out amongst the crowd before fading away. It was obvious that Uona was a major contender. Perhaps daunted by this performance Jinsho opted for subtlety in his display and his magic was overshadowed by her demonstration. He stood concentrating at the centre of the ring and after a while a gentle breeze blew through the crowd bringing with it a delightful fragrance that had been carried to them from far away. Kenshiru thought it a clever use of Jinsho’s air magic but though it was inventive it did not impress when compared to Uona’s performance.

The Water Ring

The next ring that Jinsho attempted was water. This time he moulded and froze the waters of a nearby stream in the form of the mythical Ki-Rin. It was a strange choice, for in legend the Ki-Rin has strong associations with the element of fire. The watery form that Jinsho created was an adequate representation of the legendary creature but there was little about this performance that made it stand out amongst the attempts of the other shugenga. Kenshiru hoped that Jinsho’s impressive display in the fire ring would be sufficient to see him through to the second round.

Summoned to See the Princess

After Jinsho’s performance in the water ring Kenshiru was approached by a heavily built Crab samurai-ko who he recognised as the bodyguard and chaperon of the Lady Okomo Yoroshiko.

“Princess Yoroshiko asks that you join her” the samuraiko stated flatly.

“Whatever the Lady wishes”, Kenshiru replied, trying to hide his surprise.

He was escorted to Yoroshiko’s enclosure where he found the princess atop a small wooden platform that had been built to provide her with a better view of the competition. She beckoned for him to climb up beside her. Welcoming Kenshiru with a smile she thanked him for coming and proceeded to chat enthusiastically about the contest. Though Kenshiru still felt that the real Yoroshiko was hidden behind a practiced facade her company was pleasant enough. He found himself wondering what it would be like to know the real Yoroshiko and also why she had chosen to ask for him.

After she had been talking for a while she drew his attention to one of the magical feats occurring in the competition. Two large earthen figures, formed from roots and soil, towered over the earth ring. Almost three times as high as a man, the mighty figures faced each other as though about to engage in an iaijutsu duel. One of the figures appeared to wear the markings of the Scorpion clan the other of the Crab clan. In slow motion the giants drew their swords. The huge earthen blades cleaved the air and as the Scorpion’s sword hit the Crab it shattered and fell to the ground.

“That one looks like you” Yoroshiko exclaimed excitedly, pointing at the figure of the Crab. “Who is that?” she added craning to make out the shugenga performing the sorcery.

Armed with a suspicion as to the sorcerer’s identity already Kenshiru had no difficulty in recognising him.

“That is my good friend Shiba Jinsho of the Phoenix clan” he answered.

“Then the figure is meant to be you?”

“I believe that Jinsho honours me by recreating the final of this years Topaz Championship” Kenshiru admitted.

“Ah yes… now I remember” Yoroshiko smiled happily “I knew that your name was familiar to me Hiruma Kenshiru. You are the Topaz Champion, the one everyone has been talking about, and I believe that you and your friends were also responsible for defeating the Night Master. Is that not so?”

“That is true Princess”

“Then you and your friends will do me the honour of accepting my invitation to the Winter Court after the festival is completed. I should like to meet this Jinsho friend of yours and hear more of your adventures”. She bowed her head slightly. “You are highly spoken of at the Imperial court Hiruma Kenshiru.”

“I thank you my Lady. We would be honoured to accept your invitation.”

And so the day continued. Kenshiru spent a fair portion of his time with Yoroshiko watching the second and third rounds of the contest. The eight qualifiers from the first round were drawn in pairs and asked to demonstrate their ability to wield magic using any of the elements that they desired. A winner from each pair was chosen to enter the third round. Although Jinsho was successful in qualifying for the second round based on his performance in the fire ring he was outmatched by his opponent, Asahina Akie of the Crane clan, and did not progress any further.

The Final Rounds

The four second round winners repeated the process in the third round in order to reduce the field to only two. Surprisingly though Koan had performed impressively up until this point he did poorly in the third round and was defeated by the same Crane clan shugenga who had defeated Jinsho, Asahina Akie. The second semi-final was won by Isawa Uona of the Phoenix clan whose performance in the air ring had drawn their attention earlier.

After the semi-finals had been decided Yoroshiko begged to be excused. She said that unfortunately there were other suitors who would be expecting her company and that they would be getting jealous. Kenshiru thanked her for the time they had spent together and said that he looked forward to meeting her again at the Winter Court. After he left her he rejoined Jinsho, Shiniko and Takashima who were watching the final.

A new ring was formed and Isawa Uona and Asahina Akie stood at the centre of it. Outside the ring the Elemental Masters waited for the preliminaries to be completed. Then after a short pause the final began. Starting with the Elemental Master of Earth, each of the Elemental Masters took it in turn to say the name of a spell that Isawa Uona and Asahina Akie had to cast. There followed a bewildering progression of magic, Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Water. Round and round the circle until one of the two finalists failed in their casting and the other was the winner. It was Akie who finally faltered and Isawa Uona who was crowned champion.