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A NAMELESS MOUNTAIN RANGE, 3 YEARS AGO
Lady Moon was not being cooperative. Little of her light seeped past the clouds; barely enough to safely traverse the various paths Shiba Erena’s troops were taking through the mountains in pursuit -of their foes. Fortunately, the chase had ended, and her quarry was now contained in a small clearing. Inquisitor Mitsuko had uncovered the small cult, dedicated to the Dark God, while she was a guest at one of the Great Clan’s courts. Now, at the request of the host clan, Shiba Erena’s unit was about to descend upon the cult and destroy it. After several days of pursuit, the battle would finally be joined. The conclusion would be bloody, and both sides knew it.
Off to her side, discipline and excitement warring on his face stood a shugenja, the latest to be assigned to her unit. The last few days had been trying ones, but Erena had never found his resolve or his skills to be lacking. Over the last several months, he had grown from an untested novice, fresh from gempukku, to a reliable, if still somewhat green, battlefield shugenja. He was typical of the various adjuncts that she had been assigned: young, eager, and determined to serve Clan and Empire, even at the cost of his life. As the commander of a small detachment of Phoenix bushi, Erena knew this quality to be an invaluable asset in combat. As a Shiba, she made it a point not to allow situations to develop where such a sacrifice would be needed.
Battlefields, however, made it ‘difficult to keep people alive. Most likely, she would soon be requesting a new shugenja for her unit. If he survived the coming battle; he would be promoted, and she would need a new aide. If he did not&
She pushed the idea away with distaste and peered down at the clearing, confirming her earlier assessment of the situation. he battle would be difficult. Although her forces had the higher ground, there were several rocky outcroppings in the clearing for cover. Her troops had bows, as did the cultists, but in the poor light, archery would be of little assistance. She could order her forces to unshutter their lanterns, but illuminating her own forces would likely prove less helpful than fatal. She needed light, but she needed it to originate in the clearing.
Erena looked back at the Isawa in her unit.
“Can you request the kami to provide light?” she whispered.
He nodded enthusiastically, then frowned, and gestured at the lanterns, which had been shuttered at her command. A questioning look crossed his face.
Erena merely pointed down at the clearing.
Slowly, a soft glow began to illuminate the air around the cultists. A few heartbeats later, it was joined by the whistle of arrows and the cries of the wounded. Erena smiled grimly. The battle was going well, and she expected to prevail with few problems. Her aide had indeed proven himself seasoned enough for a new assignment, and she would need to request a new one.
Erena frowned. She hated paperwork.
WINTER COURT, THE FIRST YEAR OF THE REIGN OF EMPRESS IWEKO
Shiba Erena reflected as she traveled down the hallways of the Scorpion castle. The last few years had been kind: her successes for the Phoenix had brought her further opportunities, culminating in a chance to represent her clan at Winter Court. Things had been going smoothly so far, although she had no idea what could have prompted the meeting that was about to occur. She was also disconcerted that she could not bring her current aide to the meeting; he had a comfort with, even affection for, bureaucracy and the courts that she completely lacked.
Erena arrived at the appointed chamber, and was ushered in by one of the servants. Bayushi Hisoka, the Imperial Chancellor, knelt in front of a small desk, writing swiftly. He looked up, set his brush down, and gestured to the floor in front of him. Erena knelt before the Chancellor and bowed low. Behind her, the servant slid the paper wall back into place, leaving the two to their conversation.
Hisoka looked at her for a moment, but said nothing. Erena thought the Chancellor, like all Scorpions, was searching for a flaw or weakness of character to exploit. She fought down the impulse to respond in some waysurely, as the Chancellor, Hisoka had put aside the petty games and manipulations of his clan. Surely.
After the span of several heartbeats, Hisoka finally spoke. His voice was warm, comforting, and even somewhat friendly. That made his question all the more strange.
“Tell me of failure, Shiba Erena.” “Failure, my lord?”
“Failure,” he repeated. “We Scorpion find that how a samurai defines failure can be… a useful insight into her nature.”
“I do not understand, Chancellor.”
Hisoka leaned forward. “Speak to me of failureyour own, or your family’s.” He paused, and looked down at his robes, tugging momentarily at his sleeves, which were dyed a vivid, crimson red. He looked up again. “I am not seeking to shame you, nor am I seeking some secret advantage. However,” and his smile widened, even as his tone became ominous, “I am testing you, and we Scorpion do enjoy making others feel ill at ease. Now, tell me a tale of failure, Shiba-san.”
“The Clan War.”
Hisoka said nothing, and waited for her to continue.
“When the Empire was young, Shiba dedicated his life, and the lives of his descendents, to the protection of the line of Isawa, in gratitude for Isawa’s willingness to do what a Kami could not. During the Clan War, the Isawa suffered. Terribly. Their studies of the Black Scrolls cost them dear.”
Hisoka leaned forward. “Your clan brought word of the Prophecy of Thunder to an Empire that had lost its way. The Isawa bore a terrible price, but they succeeded, and the Empire remembers their sacrifice. How then, did the Shiba fail the Isawa?”
“Because we did not find a way to suffer in their stead.”
Hisoka picked up his brush again, and wrote a few more characters. His lips quirked into another smile.
“Congratulations. You, Shiba-san, shall be the first.”
“The first of what, Chancellor?”
“Although the notion that someone would strike at the Divine One is foolish, you must agree that Her loyal subjects should take steps to prevent any such action by the misguided or deluded. I have taken upon myself the duty of assembling Her Guard, and you have just been given the honor of being the first among them.” With his free hand, Hisoka reached below the desk and produced a small scroll case. “I believe you will find all the necessary papers within. You will immediately wish to begin making arrangements.”
“Thank you, Chancellor, I…”
Hisoka raised his hand, signaling her silence. “Among those papers, you will also find orders transferring your current aide to serve amongst the Empress’ retinue. His work on your behalf has been most impressive.”
Erena bowed low, and left the room. Hisoka smiled. The Empress’ Guard would be called upon to serve in many capacities in the days to come, and for some, their duties would include no small amount of sacrifice. He hoped that the other people he selected for the role would share Erena’s appreciation for true scope of a guard’s duty.
Erena, for her part, simply frowned. She would need another aide, and she hated paperwork.
