The Heaven’s Will

The Heaven’s Will
By Shawn Carman

The Imperial City was filled with temples and shrines. Even if one lived within the city the whole of the year, it would be nearly impossible to visit and know them all. The number of monks who served quiet lives of contemplation, rarely if ever leaving the grounds of their assigned temples, must surely number in the hundreds, perhaps even thousands. Miya Shoin simply could not imagine that there was anyone who could remember every member of the Brotherhood, every tiny shrine and altar, every ritual and remembrance throughout the entire city of Toshi Ranbo.

And yet he knew very well that at least one such man did exist.

Shoin entered the temple and looked around. There was one Crane bushi exiting the temple as he entered, and he could tell from the slight widening of the young man”s eyes that he recognized Shoin. Still, to his credit, the Doji simply bowed respectfully and hurried on his way, for which Shoin was grateful. His position as Imperial Herald caused constant distractions every time he visited the city, and this trip had been no different. He had arrived in Toshi Ranbo three days previously, and between being inundated with requests for an audience with him by dozens of parties, none of whom had any significant reason to speak with him, and his general inability to locate the one man with whom he did wish to speak, it had been an entirely unproductive visit.

When Shoin saw the small form of a man kneeling before the temple”s primary altar, and when he recognized the simple but well-made pattern on the man”s kimono, he smiled. He had been beginning to worry that he would spent another morning trying to remember which temples he had already remembered. Now, he could simply wait.

Almost an hour later, the man at the altar rose and turned to leave the temple. The monks nearby all bowed very deeply and held that pose. The old man returned the gesture, although not quite as deeply, and continued on his way. His expression brightened somewhat as he saw a bowing Shoin waiting on him. “Shoinsama,” he said with a smile. “What a pleasure to enjoy the company of the young this fine afternoon”

Shoin smiled back. “I am no longer a young man, I fear, Kiharu-sama.”

“That is a matter of perspective,” the older man said, tapping his chest lightly with his fingertips. “From my perspective, you are yet in the prime of your life. Do not squander it with thoughts of being old.”

As you say, dono,” Shoin said. “How does the day find you?”

“As well as can be expected when one is my age,” Kiharu said.

Shoin raised his eyebrows. “Did you not just say not to squander one”s days with thoughts of being old?”

“Yes, and only one older than I could chide me for doing so,” Kiharu said. “Perhaps an ancient hermit. Or a mountain.”

Shoin smiled. That was as close to humor as Kiharu ever came. Unfortunately the nature of his business was hardly humorous.

“What troubles you?” Kiharu asked, perhapss sensing Shoin”s disquiet.

“I seek your counsel,” Shoin said. “Across the Empire, there are many who speak of… of a growing discontent in the Heavens. Shugenja are fearful of the rituals they have conducted all their lives. Monks fast and meditate as if in preparation for some coming trial. I need to know, Kiharu-sama, for the sake of the Miya family… what must I do?”

`There is nothing that can be done,” Kiharu said plaintively. “What must happen, will happen” Shoin stared at the other man
incredulously. Are you suggesting that the things I have heard, the rumors, are true?”

“They are,” Kiharu said. “The Heavens have grown weary of man”s folly, his arrogance. We are to be judged, or perhaps we
already have been.”

“Judged,” Shoin said flatly. “Judged.”
“Hai,” Kiharu said. Can there be any question what the verdict is?”

Shoin looked out over the city. It was calm now, but so recently there had been assassinations, explosive court debates that had led to border skirmishes and worse, and all manner of discord as the clans turned on one another. The Empire was teetering on the brink of absolute chaos, and it seemed that no one was able, or perhaps simply willing, to do anything to turn the tide. “No,” he finally said. “No, I suppose there cannot”

“Return home,” Kiharu said. “Tend to your family. There is nothing else.”

Shoin stood still while the old man walked down the street, leaving him behind. “Nothing else,” he said softly.

Miya Shoin turned toward the Imperial stables. It would be a long trip home.