The War of Dark Fire, Part 8

 

by Shawn Carman

Edited by Fred Wan

 

 

Akodo Shigetoshi had never been an admirer of the Dragon lands. Too many mountains, too much instability. How could a proper defense be mounted when the terrain could be altered by a single shugenja with sufficient dedication to the task? It might prove interesting as an exercise, of course, but when it was a situation that truly mattered, such an element of chance was highly undesirable. And there were very few situations in the Empire’s history that had mattered quite so much as this one.

Shiro Mirumoto loomed ahead on the horizon. The air was thick with the haze of battle, and the smell of charred bodies. It was a smell that Shigetoshi had become accustomed to over the past few weeks. Even as far south as Shiro Kitsuki, it wafted on the wind from the north. It had given weight to the reports of violence and bloodshed that had previously been little more than paper in his hand. The eager clamoring of his men, ready for battle, had been quieted by it, and it had been replaced with grim determination.

“My lord.” One of his command staff stepped forward. “You should remain here and allow us to investigate the scene of that battle.”

“Under no circumstances will I allow that,” the Clan Champion said. “I will be at the forefront of this conflict from the moment of the first engagement. Is that clear, Sadahige?”

The officer bowed. “As you command, my lord.”

The Lion rode forward, and with each step, Shigetoshi’s hopes of discovering any sign of life faded. The stone was blackened so much that it appeared the entire castle was hewn from obsidian. Many of its defenses were in absolute disarray, and there were numerous breaches in the wall surrounding it. One of its towers looked as if it might crumble at any moment. Shigetoshi offered a prayer for those who had doubtless perished in its defense. “Surround the castle,” he ordered as they approached. “Search for any survivors among the fallen. Save them if you can, but if you cannot, send them to their ancestors in a manner befitting men of honor. And if…”

The Lion Champion was cut off by a loud groaning sound. Shigetoshi drew his blade in a flawless, instinctive motion as one of the gates tottered dangerously on its hinges, then finally swung open without falling. The dust and smoke from within masked the identity of those emerging. “Archers ready,” Shigetoshi said calmly. “Shieldmen to the front.”

“I have seen this in many plays,” a voice called out from the haze. “The Lion on the doorstep of the Dragon. This is not quite how I imagined that it would take place, however. I am pleased to find I was mistaken.”

Shigetoshi signaled his men to stand down. “Kei-san? Is that you?”

Mirumoto Kei stepped forward. Her armor hung from her in tatters, and looked as though it would fall from her in pieces in any moment. Her face was smeared with ash and blood, and she had haphazard bandages that covered a half-dozen wounds. “I am glad to see you, Shigetoshi.”

The Lion Champion glanced beyond her into the courtyard. “Your home still stands. How many of your men remain?”

“Too few,” Kei admitted. “No more than two hundred at most.”

“That any are alive is a testament to your command,” Shigetoshi said. “And your foes?”

“Many died,” she said. “The others apparently determined that the siege was too costly. They finally withdrew after they were unable to capitalize upon the breaches in our defenses. We pushed them out.” She paused and looked at the heavily armored front line. “Did you call them ’shieldmen?’ Are those not the metal plates that the Unicorn use on occasion?”

“It is a term we have adopted based on tactics we have been studying,” Shigetoshi said. “It relates to their role, not their equipment.” He glanced around. “How long until you can marshal your forces? I imagine they are divided somewhat, given the sheer size of the territory you are attempting to defend.”

“Too long,” Kei said. “Are your forces ready to march?”

“No Lion is ever unready to march,” Shigetoshi answered. “Why do you ask?”

“Because the Yobanjin marched south,” Kei replied. “I believe they were heading directly toward Shiro Tamori, and they have a considerable lead. There are no major Dragon encampments between here and there.”

“Perhaps the Right Hand of the Empire will suffice,” Shigetoshi said. He turned to Sadahige. “Give Kei-san your horse.”

 

           

The Imperial Chancellor turned to the assembled attendants after bowing to the Empress, who had just taken her seat behind the screen on her dais. “The Empress and her advisors are of course in regular contact with those on the front lines,” he said, “but it is her desire to hear if anyone among her court has received news from your clans that might be of interest to this august body.”

Ide Eien stepped forward and bowed before the Chancellor. The Ide daimyo seemed far paler than usual, and his expression lacked the normal effervescent smile that he wore at all times. “I have received word that the city of Akami has been attacked,” he said in a subdued tone. “It was believed that the Yobanjin who laid waste to Bikami had withdrawn and fragmented into the many patrols that have been plaguing the area. Unfortunately it now appears that this was only partially correct. A significant portion of the force remained within the mountains, observing the actions of the Unicorn military. When the patrols in the area had been eradicated and the focus of Junghar shifted to attempting to reclaim the northern border, the Yobanjin descended from the mountains behind our front line and assaulted Akami.”

“Akami is the most significant center of food production the Unicorn have remaining,” Asako Kanta said, clearly horrified. “Where does this assault leave your people? What was the result?”

“The result was catastrophic,” Eien admitted. “The Yobanjin’s priority was ensuring that no one escaped to alert the military, else their siege would have been brief. Thousands were murdered. Much of the city burned, as have so many others.”

“I grieve for the loss of your kinsmen,” Kitsu Kiyoko said. “I must also wonder, however, what the acquisition of such a large amount of supplies means for the capabilities of the Army of Fire. They could now, in theory, continue operations behind our front lines despite the constant destruction of their supply lines in the Dragon lands.”

“Although it means almost certain disaster for my people, I am pleased at least to report that will not be an issue,” Eien continued. “While the guardians of the city fought valiantly, they were outnumbered and eventually killed. When the last of them fell, a samurai visiting the city who fought alongside them, took it upon himself to set fire to the storehouses in order to deny them to the Yobanjin.” Eien lowered his gaze. “The Unicorn do not blame him for this, even though the possibility of starvation is now very real.”

“Who was responsible for such an act?” Kanta inquired.

“I do not know his name,” Eien said. “I know only that he was a Lion, and that he claimed the lives of many, many enemies. I know that he lived, and that he hunts them still in the mountains. Alone.”

“A Deathseeker,” Kiyoko said. “May his soul find redemption.”

“I know that our people are facing an implacable foe that will not submit,” Kanta said, “but I find the celebration of death difficult to embrace regardless of circumstance. The Phoenix chooses life instead.” He bowed to Eien. “The Agasha provinces have enjoyed a bountiful harvest this past season. The Phoenix will gladly share what abundance we have with the Unicorn, to ease your burden.” He bowed very deeply before the Ide.

Ide Eien started to reply, but only nodded, as if he did not trust himself to speak.

The scene was interrupted as a young attendant entered and made her way through the assembled court quickly. She was silent, but her demeanor and expression made it obvious that the matter was severe. She whispered something to one of the Dragon attendants after bowing, and then she withdrew.

“If I may,” Kitsuki Berii said, his voice gravelly. He bowed to the court. “We have just received word from one of our kinsmen that Shiro Tamori has been besieged.”

 

           

The attack at Shiro Tamori could not have come at a worse time. Under normal circumstances, the castle was lightly defended at best, and often had only a minimal contingent of Mirumoto sentries who were present largely as a formality. Who would dare attack a castle built at the base of a volcano, and one that would require marching an army multiple days through some of the most jagged mountains in the world? It was a preposterous notion, and yet it had become reality.

With the ever-increasing activity of Yobanjin raids throughout the Dragon provinces, the forces defending Shiro Tamori had been increased. Only a short time ago, however, the attack at Shiro Mirumoto had caused Tamori Shimura to send most of his defenders as reinforcements for that great battle, leaving the castle quite lightly defended indeed. And now, it seemed, he would pay the price for his selflessness.

“What do we know for certain?” the gruff voice of Tamori Wotan asked.

“The attacking force comes from the direction of Shiro Mirumoto,” Shimura answered. “It is smaller than reports of the army that allegedly attacked there, so we can assume that it is a separate force, that it is the force that attacked there and has been driven away, in which case the Mirumoto are likely pursuing them, or it could be that the castle has fallen and they are pressing the advantage.”

“Hmm,” Wotan mused, rubbing his chin. “It is possible that they failed to take the castle, but that the Mirumoto forces were too weary to pursue. We cannot assume assistance is coming.”

“I have no such delusions,” Shimura said. “We must assume we are on our own. Regardless of the enemy’s reduced strength, there are too many for us to combat on our own, and their brand of twisted sorcery may well render the advantage we possess due to the sheer number of shugenja occupants a moot point.”

Wotan frowned. “You seem resigned to defeat.”

“No,” Shimura corrected. “I am realistic about our chance. I have no intention of abandoning our home, but we must have a plan in place in the event that defeat is inevitable.”

“Defeat,” Wotan sneered. “Would you have us sacrifice our own home to prevent the enemy from taking it? Like the mewling Phoenix?”

“Never like the Phoenix, no. The only acceptable reason to sacrifice the castle would be if, in doing so, we destroyed them all,” Shimura answered evenly. “Is that not one of the lessons you taught me? Victory, no matter the cost? It is a principle my mother understood very well.”

The old man grunted. “Perhaps you were paying attention after all.”

Shimura smirked. “Come with me, sensei. You will want to see this.” The two men entered one of the outer chambers where a group of others waited. “I believe you know the Phoenix envoy to our family, an associate of my late father as I recall, and another of our guests, the grand-nephew of the former Master of Earth, Isawa Sachi. As you can see, he remained a member of the Hare Clan.”

“Good day,” the Phoenix said with a bow. “I am Isawa Nakajima, my lords.”

The Hare bowed as well. “I am Usagi Sachiken, my lords, named for my uncle. It is my great pleasure to meet you both.”

Wotan nodded very slightly to the Hare and offered the Phoenix little more than a baleful glare. “I was unaware that we had guests.”

“Yes, sensei, your duties keep you quite busy,” Shimura said. “Most of our guests returned home when the fighting began, weeks ago. These venerable priests remained to continue their studies.” He nodded slightly. “You will understand, honored guests, if I must insist that you depart. I will not have the Dragon bear the brunt of your families’ dismay should the fighting claim your lives.”

“I would gladly assist in the castle’s defense, my lord,” Sachiken said eagerly.

Shimura raised a hand. “I thank you, but that is not an acceptable option. If your eagerness is genuine, however, then I do have a favor to ask of you.”

“Of course,” Nakajima said. “Anything.”

“I have prepared several of our family’s most sacred works,” Shimura said. “Our greatest research and most important formulae. They must not be lost, regardless of the circumstances. It is my wish that you would escort them to the Imperial Court, that the Empress might take them into her possession.”

The Hare was obviously disappointed, but the Phoenix bowed again. “If that is your wish, then it will be done. We are greatly honored by your display of trust.”

“Trust,” Wotan scoffed. “How unlikely.”

“Enough, sensei, this is not the time,” Shimura chided. “There will be a time, make no mistake, but this is not it.” He turned back to the two shugenja. “We have an escort prepared for you.”

Sachiken frowned. “Forgive me, my lord, but if your home is to be attacked, will you not need every available man? We can fend for ourselves if it means extra hands to defend your family’s estate.”

“Considerate, but unnecessary,” Shimura said as two Unicorn samurai entered the room. “This is Shinjo Naota and Utaku Anhui. They are scouts from the Unicorn Junghar, and apparently they and their colleagues are active throughout the Dragon lands at the moment.”

“Is that so?” Wotan rumbled.

“No less than a dozen patrols are currently deployed within the Dragon lands, gathering as much information on the enemy as possible,” Naota confirmed.

“Under normal circumstances, I would take significant issue with that information,” Shimura said. “Unfortunately, we do not have that luxury at the moment. You and your patrol…”

“We are all that remains,” Anhui said darkly.

“Apologies,” Shimura continued. “You two must escort these men and their precious cargo to the Imperial Court. In doing so, you will earn amnesty for any of your men who are captured by our Mirumoto cousins during the course of this conflict.”

“Amnesty?” Naota asked. “Why would amnesty be required?”

“The Dragon have had a rash of border invasions of late,” Shimura said. “The meddling Mantis were first, and now a vast army of gaijin. Many of your clansmen, primarily the Moto, have features that might cause them to be confused for Yobanjin, do they not? And could a Yobanjin not have killed one of your patrols and taken your armor? No, I think the possibility of requiring amnesty might be quite real, wouldn’t you say? Not that any clan requires a reason to take offense at others within their borders without permission.”

“Of course,” Naota said. “When do we leave, Tamori-sama?”

“Immediately,” Shimura answered. “We have less than two hours.”

 

           

A sympathetic murmur rippled through the crowd as the news was presented before the court. Ide Towako, her hair still damp from the cleansing bath she had taken immediately after returning to Kyuden Bayushi from the Unicorn lands, nodded appreciatively toward those muttering in indignation at the news. “I know that you feel the pain of yet another loss, honorable attendants of the Empress’ court,” she said, “and I feel the burden of bringing such news to you very keenly, but there is reason to celebrate as well, for even in the loss of Yashigi did the vassals of the Khan claim some measure of victory.”

“I would welcome such news,” one of the Scorpion delegates said. “Please, share with us the tale of your people’s heroism.”

Towako bowed again. “News of the attack reached the village less than two hours beforehand when one of the Khan’s many patrols detected the enemy’s movement toward the south. Fortunately, this allowed much of the town’s resources to be evacuated to avoid being captured. Unfortunately, however, Yashigi was a relatively small town, and could offer nothing significant in the way of a defense against the Yobanjin. The scout commander knew this, and knew that there was no way to save the city. The commander’s name was Ide Shinji, cousin of my lord Ide Eien.”

Many looked to Eien, who sat motionless at one of the Unicorn delegation’s tables. His face was paler than ever, and he had a haunted expression. As others turned their attention back to Towako, Yoritomo Sachina gestured to one of her attendants, then slipped in to sit at the table next to Eien and began speaking to him quietly. He gave no sign of having noticed.

“Shinji-sama concealed his unit within the jade mine that was Yashigi’s principle source of income, reasoning that the Yobanjin would likely not even recognize it was there, and certainly would not risk sending men into a mine when food and supplies were their greater goal,” Towako continued. “As the enemy passed, Shiji led his small group in a valiant charge, armed with jade dust that coated their weapons.”

“Jade dust?” Moshi Minami asked. “Are we given to understand that the power of jade affects the Yobanjin? Is the Dark Oracle’s hold over them sufficient to make them susceptible to its touch? I have heard nothing of this.”

“With respect, my lady, I do not know,” Towako admitted. “I know only that Shinji and his men charged the enemy formation and, thanks to the element of surprise, they broke through the ranks and struck at the Yobanjin command group. The commander of the army and his officers were killed before Shinji and his men were overrun.” She bowed her head. “The Khan has declared Shinji a hero of our clan, and it is my great honor to bring his story to you.” She paused for effect. “It is also my pleasure to inform you that the war banner of the Yobanjin was claimed, and Shinji’s second in command fled the battle with it, at Shinji-sama’s command. It is now in the hands of the Iuichi, who hope to use it to gain some insight into the nature of the sinister enchantments the Dark Oracle has placed upon our enemies.”

“The Empress is grieved to hear of more deaths among her people,” the Voice of the Empress said, “but she is overjoyed at the courage and the tenacity of her servants among the Unicorn. The Khan and his people have greatly pleased the Divine Empress with their refusal to succumb in the face of many terrible losses.”

Towako bowed deeply. “Thank you, great Empress. It may please you further to know that I was witness to the arrival of papers from the Imperial City that informed the Khan that the Emerald Champion had granted him leave to march his army to the north. I have no doubt that the Khan will purge not only the Unicorn lands of its enemies, but the mountains north as well. The Yobanjin shall be crushed between the hammer that is the Khan, and the anvil that is the Dragon Clan.”

There was a moment of silence as the various attendants looked at one another uncertainly. Finally, the massive Yasuki Takai grunted. “The Khan marches. Hmph. Good news, I suppose, but you must admit that phrase now has certain… connotations.”

“When the Khan stands shoulder to shoulder with Mirumoto Kei, Akodo Shigetoshi, and Hida Benjiro on the plains of battle, victorious, then the connotations to which you refer will no longer exist,” Towako said confidently.

“We shall see, I suppose,” Takai said with a shrug.

“The notion of the clans evaluating one another by their successes rather than their misdeeds is a notion that pleases the Empress tremendously,” the Voice of the Empire said with a nod to Towako. “Likewise the show of solidarity between the Phoenix and the Unicorn warms the Divine One’s heart. She wishes to know if others feel the same sense of brotherhood, that they might step forward and ease the pain of their kinsmen among the Unicorn Clan.”

“The Mantis live to serve the Empress,” Yoritomo Sachina said at once, rising from her seat to bow before the throne and address the court. “The Unicorn and Mantis have long been allies, and the pain of their plight touches our hearts. Even now, Unicorn and Mantis fight together in the northernmost Badger lands, harrying our enemy’s forces as the Shogun’s army marches north along Exile’s Road. It is only through our mutual cooperation that the last remaining Badger fortifications remain intact, hopefully long enough for the great Moto Jin-sahn to visit the Empress’ judgment upon the Yobanjin.” She gestured for her attendant, who had returned with an elaborate box, to step forward. “More that one thousand years ago, the Unicorn departed the Empire to fulfill the first Emperor’s mandate of exploration. Before they left, Otaku Yashigi commissioned a gift for a favored vassal, one who would remain behind to watch for the Ki-Rin’s return. When the Kitsune people were driven from the Ki-rin’s lands, this gift was taken as well, and has remained with the family of the Fox ever since. Now, in light of the horrors that the Unicorn have suffered, it is the wish of the Kitsune and the Mantis that this exquisite gift return to the clan who created it, that they might replace devastation with beauty and joy.” Sachina bowed as the case was opened, and many within the room gasped at the beauty of the jade tea set contained within. “Nothing would please us more than for the Unicorn to accept our gift.”

Towako smiled and began to respond, but Eien interrupted. “This was a gift,” he said in a quiet voice. “It was meant for the Kitsune. With the Kitsune it should remain.”

“It is a treasure of the Unicorn,” Sachina countered. “The Kitsune have been greatly honored to watch over it, but it is time it returned home.”

“Your generosity is greatly appreciated, but even such a treasure cannot replace the… the fallen.”

“Of course not,” Sachina said softly. “Nor would we expect it to. But at the least it can remind you, and your kinsmen, of the beauty and sanctity of that which they died to protect. Please, take it.”

Eien was silent for a moment, then smiled softly and nodded.

 

           

The battle for Shiro Tamori went poorly.

Despite the large number of shugenja present at the castle during the time of the attack, the strengths of the Tamori were in soliciting the kami of fire and of earth. Ironic that their enemies should be immune to fire because of their master’s blessings, Shimura reflected, and their own brand of barbaric shamanism afforded them some degree of protection against earth as well. In that regard the two forces were, if not evenly, then very closely matched. It negated the advantage the Tamori possessed, and without it, the enemy’s sheer numerical superiority was perhaps too great to overcome.

Wotan emerged onto the balcony where Shimura had come to overlook the battle’s progress. “What news?” he demanded.

“Word reached Shiro Kitsuki,” Shimura said. “Hida Benjiro has deployed the entirety of his cavalry forces to aid in our defense. They are not as swift as the Unicorn, but they know mountains far better. They are the fastest possible relief force we can hope to expect.”

Wotan looked upon the battle below them. “They will not be soon enough.”

“No,” Shimura agreed. “Not by a wide margin. The castle will be breached within the hour. Possibly within minutes.”

The old sensei’s ichor-smeared shoulders quivered in rage. “We cannot permit them to take the castle!”

“Our options are quite limited,” Shimura said. “If we continue to fight, we will lose the entirety of our defenders, and the castle will fall. If we retreat to save the lives of our people, the castle will be taken and possibly held, which will give the Yobanjin a stronghold around which to rally and wage war on the southern Dragon lands. If we destroy the castle, then they will simply pursue our forces, slaughter them, and choose a new target.” He shook his head. “I can see but a single option. It is not what I would choose, but I believe it would be my mother’s choice. Perhaps she would have done it from the beginning.”

“I know your mind, child,” Wotan said. “You will not do this thing. I will not permit you to sacrifice yourself.”

“Someone must,” Shimura said. “We must allow them within the castle, and then bring it down upon them. Magic of that power cannot be wielded by just anyone. For a feat of such magnitude, the kami demand a great price. Who among us can pay it? Should I demand the death of another?”

“I will do it,” Wotan said.

“I will never allow that,” Shimura answered flatly.

Wotan frowned, then froze. “There is another way!”

Shimura glanced at him in surprise, then listened carefully to what he proposed. “Can that even be done?” he asked. “Could it be controlled? We could both die!”

“And we could both live,” Wotan insisted. “The choice is yours.”

The young daimyo thought for a long moment, watching as the Dragon fought against all odds to protect their home. “What if they are immune?”

“No one is immune to such as this,” Wotan said. “No one.”

Shimura clenched the railing very tightly. “Very well,” he said. He turned to one of the signalmen that had been following him since the battle began. “Signal the retreat. Abandon the castle. Volunteers only remain behind to hold the line. Make sure they understand that time is short.” He turned back to the old man. “Let us go and wage war in the style of my mother, sensei.”

 

           

From high on the side of the mountain onto which Shiro Tamori had been constructed, Wotan and Shimura watched mutely as the Yobanjin stormed the walls of the castle and laid waste to anything within. The stream of Dragon fleeing south had finally come to an end as everyone who could, or would, escape had done so. Any who remained behind at this point were lost, by choice or by fate. That so many had remained behind filled Shimura’s heart with a mixture of pride and grief. Now, they simply waited for the enemy to file completely into the castle.

“The rage about like animals,” Shimura said. “There is no strategy to their actions save destruction.”

“They are barely men any longer,” Wotan said. “Their master’s poison has made them mad. They are his animals, his hunting beasts. Few among them even remember what it is like to make war properly. Their commander will allow them to rage for a time and then bring them to heel before they damage the castle any further.” He glanced at his student. “Your assessment was right, I think. They will make our home their stronghold.”

“No,” Shimura said. “They will not.”

“Focus, child,” Wotan said as they began the ritual. “Bringing this power to bear is not the difficult part. Regaining control once it has tasted blood is the part that will give us pause.”

The two men concentrated, lost in communion with the spirits of the mountain around them. Minutes passed, first a few, then more. Shimura’s features were twisted in exertion and discomfort, and sweat drenched his brow despite the cool mountain winds. He wondered if the task was as difficult for Wotan, but he dared not break concentration to look; to do so was to invite disaster on a scale such as he had never seen since his childhood.

Slowly, there was a great rumble from beneath them that built gradually, growing louder and louder. Shimura could hear the music of stones cascading down the mountain as it rumbled and shook, but still he did not focus. At his direction and that of Wotan, a great tunnel tore itself open in the mountain, the stone parting like cracked leather.

A sea of molten lava erupted from within the tunnel, flowing down the mountain with unmistakable hunger and menace. Shimura could hear a few panicked screams from the Yobanjin within the castle, and then it was too late. The molten rock surged over the walls and into the courtyards, filling every available space and opening with slow, inexorable purpose. Its purpose was death.

“That’s enough,” Wotan groaned. “We must convince the earth to seal itself, or the entire mountain will awaken!”

The act of closing the doorway of stone was more difficult than opening it, and by the time the groaning and rumbling finally stopped, Shimura was as weak as an infant. He slumped to the ground, his entire body wet with sweat and shaking with weakness from the exertion. “We did it,” he croaked. “They are defeated.”

Below them, Shiro Tamori seethed in a cauldron of liquid stone, slowly twisting and collapsing in its funeral pyre.

 

           

Shinjo Genki glanced over the scroll quickly, skimming it for important details. Fortunately, it was quite brief, and given the obvious haste with which it was written, she assumed that the scout who had penned it had been on the run while it was written, or perhaps wounded. She hoped it was the former rather than the latter. “So the remnants of the forces that attacked Yashigi and Akami have combined and are en route here,” she said to the commander of the patrol who had delivered it. “How many do they number?”

The officer shook his head. “I could not say, my lady. Their ranks were being joined by smaller patrols that were converging in their path every mile or so. Any estimates I could offer would have no semblance of accuracy. I apologize for my failure.”

“None of that,” she said sharply. “I need every samurai who can carry a blade clear headed and ready to wage war on our enemies. If you insist upon heaping blame on yourself, do it after you see whether or not you survive.” She handed the scroll back to him. “How soon will they arrive?”

“Equally impossible to say,” the commander reported with a grimace. “My patrol could outdistance them easily, but they move faster than any force of such a size I have ever seen, barring our own. I think…” he hesitated for a moment, then shrugged and continued, “I think the fire they wield burns inside them, driving them forward. I can see no other explanation for how they are able to move so rapidly. It has cost the Empire many holdings because we are all unprepared for such speed.”

Genki nodded. “I want you to coordinate with the captain of the guard. He is overseeing the defense of the castle and of the city. I want every able bodied man and woman with a weapon and ready to fight.” She fixed him with an even stare. “There will be no retreat. There will be no surrender. There will be no negotiating. I want that understood by every living soul who takes up a blade in the name of the Shinjo family. Do you understand?”

“Of course,” the man said with a bow. “We will not fail you, my lady.”

Genki wiped her eyes and wished that she could rest, even for a few moments. As the familial estate closest to the front lines, however, Shiro Shinjo had become something of a waypoint for the Unicorn forces combating the Army of Fire. The logistics were a complete nightmare, and even now supplies were beginning to run low. That was not unusual for this time of year, but Genki was acutely aware that no resupply from Bikami or Akami would be arriving. Not this time.

“My lady,” a breathless voice from behind her said.

Genki frowned at the familiarity of it and turned, then brightened. “Dun!”

The young officer bowed deeply even as he struggled free of his traveling cloak, which he cast aside without thought. “I came as quickly as I could, my lady. When I heard word of the other attacks, I feared Shiro Shinjo might be next.”

“Your fears were well-placed, I think,” Genki said.

“Your daughter,” Dun said at once. “Is she safe?”

“She is with her father’s sister at the court at Shiro Moto,” Genki said. “Thank you for asking.” She glanced down. “That is not your father’s blade.”

“No,” he confirmed. “I stopped at my family’s home before I reported. I hope you will forgive me, but I needed my younger brother to carry our father’s blade today. He will defend our home and my mother. My father would wish him to be there.”

“Of course,” she said. “And your replacement?”

“A gift,” he said, his expression conflicted. “From my sensei among the Akodo.”

Despite the horror of their situation, Genki laughed. “Shall I assume, then, that your feelings for the Lion have been somewhat mollified by your training?”

“That remains to be seen,” Dun said seriously. “However, I have gained some measure of… let us say, context.”

“I am glad,” Genki said. “Shono would be glad as well.” She smiled at the younger man and thought for a moment of how he had always been like a son to her late husband. “But enough reminiscing. I wish you to take command of the castle’s defense.”

“Me, my lady? Are you certain?”

“Unquestionably,” Genki answered. “The captain of the guard is at the outer barracks.” She handed him her chop. “Show him this and instruct him to inform you of all his decisions thus far. You may make whatever changes you deem appropriate.”

Dun bowed. “I will serve you with my life, lady Genki-sama. If it pleases you, while I am in the outer city, I will instruct my honor guard to remain and ensure that you are not threatened.”

Genki frowned. “Honor guard?”

A wry smile flickered across Dun’s features for the briefest of moments. “The Akodo insisted,” he said. He gestured toward the balcony, and followed as Genki stepped out.

“Fortunes,” she swore.

Five hundred Lion warriors stood in perfect formation in the courtyard of Shiro Shinjo, awaiting their commands.

 

 

Clifton Kotei: Military: Jared Devlin-Scherer – Lion; Politics: Matt Tyler – Scorpion

Corvalis Kotei: Military: Case Kiyonaga – Unicorn; Politics: Michael Gustie – Phoenix

Logroño Kotei: Military: Ridha Chelghaf – Unicorn; Politics: José Luis Dominguez – Hare

Minsk Kotei: Military: Mikhail Solntsev – Unicorn; Politics: Nikolay Roganov – Mantis

Fortaleza Kotei: Military: Jehovah Netto – Lion; Politics: Ricardo Brauner – Phoenix