Kenshiru’s Journey – Story 9

To be completed…

Sugai’s Arrival

A week after Kenshiru, Jinsho, Shiniko, Takashima and Sako had been made Emerald Magistrates they were informed that their old enemy Bayushi Sugai, the nephew of Bayushi Kachiko, was to arrive at Ryoko Owari and had requested protection during his stay. His reputation and standing had grown in the years since the Topaz Championship and he had become an individual of some importance within the Scorpion clan. He had many enemies and had received threats against his life. It was the duty of the Emerald Magistrates to provide the protection he required. It appeared that once again the friends would be guarding the life of their enemy.

A week later, guards reported that Sugai’s men had been spotted approaching the city. The five magistrates were summoned to attend the governor, Shosuro Hyobu, who would be greeting Sugai at the city gates. The friends readied themselves and joined the large gathering that had congregated. It soon became apparent however that something was very wrong. The approaching Scorpion guards were not marching in formation, they were battle worn and dusty. Some were aiding wounded and many were missing. Kenshiru estimated that only fifteen to twenty members of the thirty strong unit remained. Concerned whispers began amongst the citizens in the crowd.

It was discovered that Sugai’s party had been attacked, three nights ago by a force of some eighty men. The enemy had been dressed in black and had appeared silently and without warning. Surprised and outnumbered Sugai and his men had been hard pressed and, although they had accounted for almost half their attackers’ number, at some time during the battle Lord Sugai had been taken. His broken sword had been discovered near a pile of enemy dead.

People in the crowd muttered fearfully at these revelations. The word ‘ninja’ was whispered in hushed tones. Shosuro Hyobu turned sternly to address the people. The crowd fell silent as she chastised them for rumour mongering and declared that there was no such thing as ninja.

When she had finished Kenshiru stepped forward. He knew that it was important that the magistrates of the Emerald Champion were seen to be taking action.

“Governor” he declared in a loud voice, so that all might hear. “As newly appointed Emerald Magistrates we will be assembling a force to go out and deal with these bandits.” He used the term ‘bandits’ deliberately to make it clear to the people that he supported Hyobu’s contention that there were no ninja. “We request that you provide us with as many men as you can spare. We shall be leaving in three hours.”

He bowed to Hyobu and then turned away. Jinsho, Shiniko, Takashima and Sako fell in behind him and the crowd parted to allow them passage as they marched purposefully toward their residence in order to make preparations.

“Keni assemble the men” Kenshiru commanded.

Three hours later the force was gathered. It was composed of Kenshiru, Jinsho, Shiniko, Takashima, twenty of the friends’ own men who had accompanied them from the lands of the Phoenix, Keni, fifteen Thunder guard provided by Governor Hyobu and a dozen or so assorted servants and eta, including the investigator, Eyebrows. Also present was Yogo Mitsurugi, a Scorpion samurai who had been part of the group accompanying Sugai. He had volunteered to guide the force to the site of the ambush.

Much to her annoyance Tonbo Sako was to remain behind as it had been decided that at least one of the Emerald Magistrates was obliged to stay in Ryoko Owari. She had been chosen to fulfill this duty.

As speed was of the essence and yet it was some three days travel to the site of the ambush by foot, it was determined that Kenshiru, Jinsho, Shiniko, Takashima and Mitsurugi would ride ahead of the main force in order to scout the surrounding area. On horseback they would be able to complete the same journey in a single day and it was hoped that they would be able to find signs of the abductors and track them to their camp. The main force, commanded by Keni, would follow at the best speed it could manage and when it arrived they would attack.

Before the group departed Eyebrows approached Shiniko with a report of some intriguing rumours that had been circulating amongst the eta. The rumours indicated that the Cult of the Moon had been responsible for a number of abductions in the same area. Though there was no evidence to support claims of the cults involvement Eyebrows could vouch for the fact that a Crab by the name of Hida Shuro had also gone missing recently. In addition he was fairly sure that there had been reports of missing Phoenix and Unicorn samurai but he could not say for certain. This cast a new light on Sugai’s abduction but did not change the plan.

Shortly afterward the crowd of city folk who had gathered watched the departure of the young heroes and their men.

That night, with the main force far behind them, the five samurai made camp amidst a cluster of boulders on a small hillock. Mitsurugi estimated that they were only a couple of hours from the site of the ambush and they did not want to approach any closer until morning. The night passed uneventfully.

A Murder of Crows

The next morning the group rose early and continued their journey. It was not long before they spotted the many crows that circled in the distance, directing them toward their immediate objective.

Cautiously the samurai approached the clearing on the edge of the forest where the bodies of the dead were scattered as they had fallen. A dozen of the Scorpion guards and some forty bandits bloated by the sun. Having had their feasting disturbed the more timid of the crows cawed angrily and took to the air. Others continued pecking at the cadavers, unperturbed by the new arrivals.

Kenshiru and the others surveyed the clearing, careful not to endanger their souls by touching any of the corpses. The stench was repulsive. As had been reported by the survivors, the bandits were all dressed in various forms of dark clothing but by the light of day they did not look like ninja. From their appearance they looked more like peasants than samurai and their weapons were of poor quality. Useful for killing by surprise but without the strength to survive a prolonged engagement. Interestingly the right hand of every bandit had been removed sometime after death. For what reason the young samurai could not imagine.

Kenshiru turned to Mitsurugi to ask him where Sugai had been when he was taken but the Scorpion guard was peering intently toward the line of trees that ran around the edge of the clearing. Kenshiru paused to follow the direction of Mitsurugi’s gaze and it was only then that he heard the sound. A faint crashing in the undergrowth, that was growing louder. Something large was moving toward them. Kenshiru drew his katana and moved to a better position. Whatever it was that was making the sound it was very close now.

Then, from amongst the trees, a huge figure emerged. Kenshiru immediately recognised it as an ogre. He had seen many during his time on the Kaiu Wall. The creature stood some eight feet tall, powerful and brutish, its tough grey hide bulging with muscles and knotted veins. A ridge of bony knobs sprouted from its skull and sharp oversized tusks protruded from its lower jaw. In its right hand it brandished a mighty Tetsubo and in its left hand it held the trunk of a small tree which it appeared to be using as a makeshift club. On entering the clearing the ogre halted its advance, pausing to glare at the samurai malevolently. Tendons strained across its broad shoulders as it slowly turned its head, the tiny pig-like eyes surveying the scene. Its nostrils flared angrily for a moment and then it bellowed and charged forward, scattering the young heroes with the swinging tree-trunk.

Nimbly Kenshiru avoided the clumsy attack and darted inside the ogre’s guard, raking it deeply along the underside of its arm with the blade of his katana. The ogre roared in pain and released its hold on the tree as dark ichor began to pour from the wound. It spun toward Kenshiru but he was too quick for it and had already backed out of reach. Following Kenshiru’s lead, Takashima took advantage of the distraction to make an attack of his own, cutting a deep gash in the ogre’s side. The ogre roared again, swinging back in that direction as Mitsurugi tried to follow his companions’ example. Sadly the Scorpion samurai’s attack was miss-timed. For an instant a dark shadow hung over him and then the massive Tetsubo came crashing downward. The force of the blow split Mitsurugi’s skull and drove his head down between his shoulders. There was no way he could survive such an impact. The body shuddered and then collapsed to the ground. Mitsurugi was dead.

Determinedly the friends pressed forward. Shiniko’s arrows had little effect on the ogre, failing to penetrate its thick hide, but a fire-bolt from Jinsho hit it squarely in the chest and left the flesh smoldering. The ogre was visibly rocked by the attack and with the wounds inflicted by Kenshiru and Takashima it began to weaken.

Realizing the end was near the beast made a last desperate onslaught, venting its fury on Kenshiru. It was only the young samurai’s skill with the blade that saved him. As Takashima plunged his katana into the ogre’s exposed midsection the beast brought down the Tetsubo in a crushing blow that would have killed most men. There was no time for Kenshiru to dodge, but miraculously the young samurai managed to deflect the path of the attack with his katana and was only knocked to one side by a glancing blow. By the time he had regained his feet the ogre was dead.

Warily the young samurai waited for further signs of danger but the forest was quiet once more. Gradually their tension eased. After a few minutes Jinsho noticed that Kenshiru was bleeding from a wound on his scalp and offered to attend to it. Still feeling slightly groggy, Kenshiru agreed.

Soon the four samurai were ready to continue. They spread out around the clearing looking for anything that might indicate the direction that Sugai had been taken. It was Kenshiru who found the trail. Grass had been trampled into an obvious furrow where the ambushers had departed. No real attempt had been made to hide it. Silently the four followed the path as it led them deeper into the forest.

The Moon Cult

Two or three hours later Kenshiru, who was scouting ahead of the others, heard voices amongst the trees. Upon investigation he discovered two guards stationed along their path. The men were too talkative to make effective sentries however, and their lack of discipline made them easy to circumvent. A short way beyond them he found their camp.

Minutes later Kenshiru was hurrying back through the undergrowth toward his companions to tell them what he had seen. There were some forty or more men in the camp. They appeared ill-equipped and probably were inexperienced in battle but their numbers made them dangerous. Odds of ten-to-one were never to be taken lightly. The men seemed to be preparing for some kind of ceremony or ritual and there was no doubt that Sugai was to play a major part in their plans. He was one of eight prisoners who were tied to stakes on a raised platform at the centre of the camp. The others included a Crab, a Crane, a Dragon, a Lion, a Phoenix, a Unicorn and a Goblin. There were representatives of all seven major clans.

… to be completed.