By Shawn Carman
Edited by Fred Wan
Shiro sano Ken Hayai, the Lion provinces
Summer in the plains was a difficult time. There was little escape from the heat, and even when the wind kicked up to race across the endless fields of tall grass, it was so warm that it was like standing next to a campfire. Fortunately, Lion samurai were trained from their first days in the dojo to endure such difficulties. The Lion lands were temperate most of the year, but with brief periods of wretched heat in the summer and even longer periods of numbing cold during the winter.
As he rode through the gates of the Castle of the Swift Sword, Akodo Shigetoshi made a mental note to commend the master sensei at the dojo for their insistence upon such training. He had seen firsthand how effective it was only a short time ago, when he and his men had been bogged down at the Dragon front during winter.
Two servants approached as the Lion Champion dismounted, and he handed the reins over without comment. Another figure approached, this one clad in attire befitting an officer of the Lion armies. He bowed sharply. “Greetings, my lord. We were not expecting you for another hour.”
“I travel faster alone,” Shigetoshi said.
The man looked around. “And your honor guard?”
“I need no guard in the Lion lands,” he replied. “They stand guard at the gates of Shiro Akodo, where they serve with honor. If I require travel I will call upon them, but a Champion who cannot defend himself within his own clan’s lands deserves nothing.” He glanced around for a moment. “Where is Nakama?”
“He had business elsewhere in the province,” the man replied. “He intended to be here for your arrival, of course. I am certain he will arrive shortly. I am Akodo Katsumoto, my lord. I will be honored to perform any task you require until Nakama-sama’s return.”
“Katsumoto,” Shigetoshi said, thinking for a moment. “Taisa of the Thirty-Third Legion, correct?”
“Hai,” the soldier said with a bow. “I am greatly honored that you have heard my name even in passing, my lord.”
“Have the guests arrived yet?” the Champion asked.
“Hai, my lord,” Katsumoto answered. “The Unicorn representative arrived yesterday afternoon, and the representative from the Crane earlier this morning. As per your instructions they have been assigned guest quarters and are awaiting you in the garden balcony that overlooks the courtyard.”
“Inform them that I will be with them in a matter of moments,” Shigetoshi said. “I need only a moment to freshen after the long trip.”
“Of course, my lord.”
“Shigetoshi!”
The shout came from somewhere in the courtyard, and the Lion Champion turned in that direction with a frown. It was an angry shout, one spoken without respect or decorum, and he could think of no Lion who would behave in such a manner outside of the battlefield. There was no sound of battle, either. The shout came again, but was cut short by what sounded like an unarmed strike. “What is the meaning of this?”
Katsumoto’s face was red with fury. “Please forgive me, my lord. I ordered the captive removed from the premises before your arrival, but…”
“I am early, yes,” he said, cutting the other off with a sharp gesture. “Captive?”
“A ronin, caught skulking about in the city,” Katsumoto said. “Forgive me, my lord, I will deal with the matter.”
“He shouted my name,” the Champion observed. “I wish to speak with him.”
The officer clearly wished to object, but did not. “This way, my lord.”
The ronin struggled mightily, but it was clear that he was outmatched by the two larger men restraining him. Blood streamed from the right corner of the wave man’s mouth where one had clearly struck him, most likely to prevent further shouting. “Be still,” Shigetoshi commanded, and the ronin quieted somewhat. “Who are you?”
“I have no name,” the young man spat. “Not anymore. You took it from me!”
Shigetoshi studied the man’s face carefully, then shook his head. “We have never met.”
“That does not matter!” the ronin nearly screamed. “You took everything from me!”
“If you are interested in a discussion, fine,” the Champion said. “Scream vague slander at me again and we are finished.”
The ronin was breathing hard by now, and licked his lips. “My grandfather was a ronin,” he said hoarsely. “He served a Unicorn lord for three decades, and his reward was that his son, my father, was permitted to swear fealty. My father and I both served with honor and distinction, and then the Lion came! You destroyed everything! Our home! Our land! The lord we served! Nothing is left! Nothing!”
“If you threw all that your family had gained away for petty revenge, then you have only yourself to blame for your disgrace,” Shigetoshi said. “I will not accept the burden of guilt for your foolishness.”
“You took everything!” the ronin shouted. “Everything that my grandfather worked for is in ruins because of you!”
Shigetoshi turned to Katsumoto. “Where are this man’s blades?”
Katsumoto took a cloth bundle from one of the two men retraining the wave man and offered it to his Champion. Shigetoshi unwrapped it and examined them carefully. “These are fine blades. I am certain your grandfather carried them with honor. A shame you have disgraced them so completely.” He threw the blades in the dirt between his feet and the ronin. “Release him.”
Katsumoto looked at him incredulously. “My lord?”
“Release him,” Shigetoshi repeated, his tone firmer. The guards did so, and the ronin stared at him questioningly. His eyes darted to the blades, then back to Shigetoshi. “If you have any trace of the honor of your grandfather,” he said quietly, “then take up those blades and return to the Unicorn lands. Beg the Khan to permit you to take your own life, and in doing so wash away the stain you have brought to your family’s memory.” He gestured to the blades. “If it is the fullness of disgrace that you wish instead… then take them up against me now.”
There was a long, quiet minute of hesitation, and for the briefest of moments, Shigetoshi thought perhaps the young man would take his advice and do the honorable thing. But then he snarled and dove, rolling across his blades and coming to his feet with one in his hand. “Death to…”
Shigetoshi flicked the blood from his blade and returned it to its saya. The man fell to the ground, dead, never having completed his battle cry. “Have that cleaned up immediately,” he instructed. “We have guests.”
“Hai, my lord. And his blades?”
“Return them to the Unicorn.”
Katsumoto nodded. “What would you have me tell them, my lord?”
“The truth,” Shigetoshi replied. “A ronin took the blades from the Unicorn lands in the wake of the battles there. He was executed, and we are returning them.” He paused as he brushed dust from his armguard. “I think you will agree that there is no need to embarrass the new Khan when it serves no purpose.”
“Indeed, Shigetoshi-sama.”
“Very good then,” the Champion said. “Inform our guests I will be with them in half of an hour.”
* * *
The garden at the Castle of the Swift Sword could be called such only if the speaker was generous. In general the Lion saw little use for such trivialities, and even less so in such an important educational and defensive facility as this. Still, there were times when even the greatest soldiers and leaders needed a moment to remember what type of life they were fighting to defend, and as such the castle’s admittedly meager garden was no less pleasant than others of comparable size.
“I am certain others have already told you this,” Shigetoshi said as he emerged from the garden onto the balcony overlooking the courtyard, “but welcome to the Lion lands. We are pleased to have you as guests.”
Two men rose, turned, and bowed, a gesture which Shigetoshi returned politely. Neither man was at all what he had been expecting, however, albeit for radically different reasons. He turned to the Crane first. “The Akodo are delighted to host a representative of our greatest allies.” He looked at the man for a moment. “You will forgive me if I say that I expected someone… younger.”
The Crane, who appeared nearly Shigetoshi’s age, smiled wryly. “Lady Domotai decided that an opportunity to study at the Akodo War College should not be wasted upon a youngster who might show no aptitude for it.”
Shigetoshi nodded. “Unconventional, but certainly wise. Have we met before?”
“Only once,” the Crane answered. “Years ago, before Toshi Ranbo became the Imperial city, we met on the field of battle at a skirmish there. We were both much younger, obviously.”
The Lion Champion thought for a moment. “A chui. You used a feint, with archers. It was quite effective as I recall.”
“Not quite enough,” the Crane said. “You won the day after all.” He bowed again. “I am Kakita Nakazo. It is my pleasure to study with you.”
“Ah yes, Nakazo-san,” Shigetoshi said. “Forgive me for not placing your face with your name. I must confess I am surprised you are not at the front of the battle with the Crab.”
“The Daidoji have the matter well in hand for now,” Nakazo replied. “Should my forces’ intervention be required, perhaps I will have new strategies to utilize against them.”
Shigetoshi smiled and turned to the young Unicorn. “Welcome,” was all he said.
“You do not remember me,” the young man said, clearly scornful.
“Shinjo Dun,” Shigetoshi said at once. “Captain of the guard at Shiro Shinjo.”
Dun blinked in surprise. “I…see.”
“I am surprised you would accept such an assignment as the post here,” the Champion continued. “Your feelings toward me were made quite evident when we first met.”
“Would the Akodo not teach one to know his enemy?” Dun asked.
“I am not your enemy.”
“Not at the moment,” the young man said. “Who can see the future?”
“That man in the courtyard could not see the future,” Shigetoshi countered. “Do not allow anger to consume you as he did.” He turned back and favored Nakazo with a smile, the addressed both men. “You will be treated as guests, gentlemen, and afforded every comfort you desire, but in all respects you will be treated as any other student. It is imperative that you understand this in the beginning.”
“Understood,” Nakazo answered.
“I would prefer to be barracked with the other students,” Dun said.
“Of course,” the Champion replied. “I will remind you, young man, that you will be studying, practicing, eating and sleeping with Lion for many months. Your life need not be difficult, but you can easily make it so.” He bowed sharply. “I must attend to other business, but I will check in with each of you again before I depart the castle. Again, welcome.”
* * *
“Will you be stationed here indefinitely?”
Katsumoto nodded as the two men wove through the corridors of the castle. “So far as I am aware Nakama-sama has no plans to alter the force allocation in this area, my lord.”
“Then I am making you personally responsible for seeing that the Unicorn boy is not beaten by the other students,” Shigetoshi said. “He needs time to overcome his anger, and abuse from our youths will do little to assuage it. Anyone who violates my order will be severely punished. Is that understood?”
“Of course, my lord. I will see to it personally.”
“Very good.”
“There is another matter, my lord,” Katsumoto said. “I am… reluctant to mention it, as it seems somewhat inappropriate, but I know that you wish to be kept abreast of all family matters, no matter how atypical.”
“Correct,” Shigetoshi said. “Proceed.”
“The former Unicorn was not the only unidentified traveler we have in custody. Like him, there is a woman who claims to have business with you. Unlike him, however, she presented herself through proper channels. I would have brought this woman to your attention because of something in her possession.”
Shigetoshi raised an eyebrow. “What would that be?”
“Papers,” the younger man answered. “They identify her as an officer in an organization called the Legion of Two Thousand. She also has a copy of an Imperial charter granted this Legion official status, but it is an extremely old copy dating back to the time of Toturi I.”
“Ah,” Shigetoshi said. “Now that is quite interesting.” He considered for a moment. “Have the ronin brought to the tactical chamber.”
Katsumoto hesitated for the briefest of moments, as much an indication of shock as the highly disciplined officer would allow, then inclined his head. “As you wish, my lord.” He veered off from the course Shigetoshi followed, and headed toward the stable.
The tactical chamber at the Castle of the Swift Sword was even larger and more elaborate than the one maintained at Shiro Akodo. While Shiro Akodo was the center of tactical coordination for the Imperial City and the Lion-Crane border, the Castle of the Swift Sword was responsible for both the Lion-Unicorn border and the brief expanse of lands to the north that separated the Lion and Dragon territories. Despite this, however, the chambers here also had extensive depictions of all other Lion fronts, including those overseen by Shiro Akodo as well as the Matsu defense of Beiden Pass. The Castle of the Swift Sword was the greatest of all Akodo dojo, after all, and many of the clan’s most brilliant tacticians had been trained here. A student that graduated from this most august dojo would emerge fully familiar with all Lion fronts, and so long as Shigetoshi drew breath, that tradition would never change.
Shigetoshi became absorbed in the assessment of troop strength and deployment, making a series of mental notes on the reorganization of front line forces as he surveyed the series of tables, each covered with maps. He had completed his assessment of the northern front when he heard a very slight, polite shuffle from the doorway. “Show her in, Katsumoto,” he said.
“Hai, my lord,” the officer replied. He retreated and a surprisingly small woman entered the room. She had a wild, ungainly look about her, suggesting that she was not accustomed to finery even if it were available. Still, her blades were obviously of high quality and were worn in a proper duelist’s stance, so she was not the grubby wave man that she apparently intended others to take her for.
“It is not my custom to meet with ronin,” Shigetoshi said flatly. “Your papers are, I must admit, somewhat impressive. What assurances do I have that you did not steal them?”
“I do not steal,” the woman said calmly. “And if I had stolen such things, what kind of ridiculous fool would I be to use them to gain an audience with one of the most dangerous men in the Empire?”
“It is not as uncommon as you might believe,” Shigetoshi replied. “I have slain one ridiculous fool already this morning, as I believe you are aware.”
The woman nodded. “To see a man’s mind broken so… it is an unfortunate thing. You delivered a mercy to him. Had he lived any longer he would only have accumulated more dishonor for his family’s memory.”
The Lion Champion raised an eyebrow and nodded appreciatively. “What is your name and rank?”
“I am Utagawa, taisa of the Legion of Two Thousand.”
“I had heard that the Legion had been restored,” Shigetoshi acknowledged. “One of my commanders is a former ronin, and he has connections in your… community. I must admit I cannot fathom the purpose of your audience with me, however.”
Utagawa bowed formally. “I am here to pledge the support of the Legion in the Lion Clan’s attempt to secure the throne of Rokugan.”
Shigetoshi looked up from where he had been examining a map of Shamate Pass. “What?”
“I am certain you heard me correctly, Akodo-sama,” Utagawa said.
The Lion Champion was quiet for a moment. “What manner of response would you anticipate from me when you make such a claim, that the Lion seek the throne?” he asked. “We are the Right Hand of the Emperor. We are not conquerors.”
“There is no Emperor,” Utagawa said. “Who will watch over the Empire in his stead? Who can place a dynasty upon the throne when there is no remaining line of succession?”
“I would not presume to answer those questions,” Shigetoshi said.
“Others will,” Utagawa countered. “You know as well as I do that other clans actively seek the throne. That the Lion have made so few overt attempts to secure the resources necessary is but one of the indications that you are worthy.” She paused for a moment. “I will confess to you, my lord, that until recently the notion of an Empire ruled by the Lion was extremely disturbing to me.”
Shigetoshi knew that the woman’s words should anger him, but he could not help but be intrigued. “And what changed that?”
“Your war with the Unicorn,” she answered. “No war that I can recall in my lifetime has been prompted by such just and honorable reasons. In the past, perhaps the whole of the Unicorn lands would have been put to the torch. And yet the Lion chose to spare as much as possible, to minimize the damage, to avenge only the insult offered by the Unicorn, and then to withdraw without malice.” She shook her head. “That is not the Lion Clan that I have believed I knew all my life.” She bowed again. “I have doubted the Lion Clan’s honor, and for that I humbly apologize. Now I see the error of my ways, and I, and the men whom I serve alongside, wish to offer our support.”
Shigetoshi drew back and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “The war has held the clan’s attention for quite some time, including my own. Now that I find myself in a position to lead the Lion, I must confess that the notion of the throne has troubled me greatly. The schemes of other clans have been made more transparent to me of late, and what I have seen concerns me.”
“The Scorpion in particular have been covertly positioning themselves for some time,” Utagawa added. “The death of Otomo Hoketuhime seems to have aided them significantly.”
“Yes, how very fortuitous for the Scorpion,” Shigetoshi said, his tone thick with disdain. “I understand the Emerald Champion has taken a personal interest in the crime, so I am quite certain the culprit will be quickly brought to justice.”
Utagawa smiled very slightly. “Sarcasm. That is unexpected, from a Lion Champion.”
“Consider your offer carefully,” Shigetoshi said. “I will not deceive you about this matter. Your ranks are comprised largely of ronin, and in the grand scheme of things ronin are simply an asset to the Lion, little more. If your offer is genuine, then you will be deployed regularly, and your path with be a perilous one.”
“The Legion of Two Thousand expects no less,” Utagawa said. “Our support is yours.”
Shigetoshi nodded. “Very well then. Return to your men and inform them that they will be deployed immediately.”
Utagawa bowed. “Where is our deployment, my lord?”
“Toku Torid-e,” he replied.
Utagawa frowned. “The Monkey Clan?”
“Hai,” Shigetoshi answered.
The little ronin hesitated for a moment. “May I ask why, my lord?”
The Lion Champion raised one eyebrow. “I am not accustomed to having my orders questioned, taisa. Since our customs are new to you, I will be indulgent.” He glanced back at the maps. “The Minor Clan Alliance is already being considered a resource by other clans. Their holdings will eventually be seized. The Monkey were favored vassals of Toturi I, and as such they are to be shown all due respect. The Legion is to travel to their lands and offer them your full protection and cooperation. Accommodate their wishes as much as is possible.”
“And if they wish us to leave?”
Shigetoshi smiled. “You are under orders from your lord to remain, and obviously cannot be expected to behave in such a dishonorable manner.”
Utagawa nodded. “This spares the Lion the unfortunate role as invaders.”
“There was an unfortunate incident in Kudo,” Shigetoshi acknowledged. “It was unavoidable, and ultimately appropriate, but in the grand scheme of things it will damage any hope of amiable relations between the Lion and the Alliance.” He shrugged. “If that is how it must be, then little is lost, but if it is avoidable then I see no reason to make enemies where none need exist.” He gestured to the map. “Your forces may accompany the Lion forces for a short distance, until Shamate Pass. We are traveling to Mizen Mura on a similar mission.”
“The border between the Seppun and Crane lands?” Utagawa said.
“A favor for our allies,” Shigetoshi replied. “The Crane are honor bound to protect the city, despite that it is under little threat. Their war in the south requires additional troops, so we will assume guardianship of the city in order for their forces to be sent south.”
Utagawa bowed. “When do you leave, my lord?”
“Three days time. Will the Legion be ready?”
She nodded. “We will always be ready to stand with the Lion, from this day forward.”
*
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