by Damon Glatz
"I know what you’re doing... You are taking advantage of my father’s state and destroying the country for yourself. He is too ill to be making any decisions."
"Well..." Vashier paused with a smile. "That’s not quite—"
Lance turned to face him. "Enough of your vile words, Traitor! I can't stand to hear them anymore. You have one chance to leave this castle before I have you exterminated."
"You?" Vashier laughed. "Are you threatening me? You have no power and no authority—"
Lance stepped forward and grabbed Vashier by his throat. He lifted him into the air.
"I have killed greater men than you, for lesser reasons. You think your position gives you power over me. But here, in this empty hallway, it gives you nothing. All that matters is strength, and the will to use it. You are nothing to me. Nothing. And you will pay for what you have done."
The prince dropped Vashier to the ground, choking and struggling to breathe. He stood up and collected himself.
"I rue the day you may be King," he managed to cough up.
"Yes... You will."
Lance turned down the hall and entered his room, closing the door behind him.
"Too bad you will never be," Vashier said into the darkness, he walked down the hall into the darkness.
The room was just the way Lance had left it. It was dusty, hard to breathe. His room was not as glamorous as one would imagine a Prince's room to look. His bed was small, it was used sparingly. He had a large desk covered in old maps and texts. There were shelves of books; all of them read several times over. They were war histories of the kings of old. Battle strategies of the samurai, written in their own language. Lance had to teach himself how to translate it. Holy scrolls about the Gods and Mythics; their legends. All of them studied and memorized. There was even a game-board for "Kings" set up with his selection of pieces in the corner.
Lance rested what little belongings he had left on his bed and sat at his personal study. He stayed there and read in the dark until morning. Sleep was a waste of time. Mythics don’t need to sleep, only the weak do.
There were shouts coming from the halls as the sun broke into the room. Lance reluctantly closed his book and stepped out of his chamber to investigate. Men and women were flooding into the King's chamber. A doctor leaned out of the room and glanced down the hall.
"Lance, please… Come here."
Lance walked down and turned into his father's chambers. The bed was surrounded by the Royals from various states in Ashland. The king was white, not breathing.
"Prince Lance... I am sorry..." The doctor spoke to Lance. "Your Father has passed."
Lance stared into his father's lifeless eyes.
"He lived a long and strong life... My Father's funeral shall be tonight... My coronation will be immediately after." The men in the room bowed silently, unsurprised at Lance's stoic reaction. He looked in the corner of the room. Vashier stood silently, grimacing.
"Vashier," Lance stated. He lifted his head to look Lance in the eye. "It has been brought to my attention there was something you wanted me to sign? May I have a look at it?"
Chapter Nineteen
Ace of Spades
Daisuke pulled his horse to a stop. He had reached the Southern gate of the Feng Dynasty. This particular gate was the least used out of the three. The Eastern Gate faced Ashland, it was the most heavily defended and watched. However, trade was still permitted through to checked travelers. The Western Gate faced the Vatnic Isles. It was a commonly used gate for income and exports. The Southern Gate faced nothing. Just the expanse of the plains. Tribesmen rarely traded with the North, and their goods were mostly just pelts and handmade tools. This gate was far from any rival nation and the least likely for an attack. There were no guards outside the wall here.
Red sat on his horse and stared up the large wooden gate.
Defense has fallen weak here. I would always have a garrison posted at this gate, just in case. This is lazy.
After a moment, the gate on the right cranked itself open just wide enough for him to pass through.
They're not even checking me, who is running this outpost?
Daisuke led Blaze through the gate. It closed behind him. There were no guards to greet him. He looked around. There was a Samurai walking up the stairs to the wall.
"You there. Solider. Who is your commanding officer?"
The Samurai looked down on him.
"You're lucky we even let you in Ronin. Just keep going and don't get us in trouble."
Do they think I'm Ronin?
Daisuke shook his head and continued his ride. He took a road east and followed it.
Galius said the main headquarters for the Blood Red Spades was in the city housing the Immortal Palace. The home of the emperor. One of the largest cities in the Dynasty: Seinaru. Most called it the nation's Capital. In reality, the Palace alone was the capital. Seinaru was just a city around it. It made sense that the Spades were hiding there. It's where General Ashikaga would have been able to keep an eye on the Shogun and his Order.
Once he was out of sight from the guard tower, Daisuke used Blaze's speed to reach the outskirts of the city in mere moments. He tied his hair up and walked into the city alone.
"Had I thought they would actually bring you back to life, I never would have promoted you."
"Oh, Galius! You don't mean that!" Sierra leaned over Galius' desk in the dungeon with a cocky smirk. She rested her hands on the map he was reading so he had to face her.
"We have a plan, the Mythic does not need you, and you are required here to assist in the occupation of the Capital."
"No. Listen. You may not think Ohitekah needs my help. But he does. He has no idea what he's doing in regards to military strategy. It's amazing he's even gotten this far on his own."
Ohitekah scowled from behind them.
To think I actually wanted her to come.
Galius thought for a moment.
"C' mon! I'm more help out there then just waiting down here with everyone."
Galius raised a finger. "One condition."
Sierra crossed her arms. "Okay… What?"
"When Ohitekah hears the word of Falko's movement, you need to come immediately back to the City and help us. Understood?"
Sierra rolled her eyes. "Sure, Dad. I'll be back before dark." She winked at Ohitekah.
Galius frowned. "Hey! I'm serious. I don't have to let you go. But if you think you will help him then fine... Also. Darius is going with you."
"What?" Ohitekah asked.
"What?" Darius looked up from across the room.
"Why?" Sierra stood back.
"Because someone needs to make sure you two are on track." Galius pointed between Ohitekah and Sierra. "This is incredibly important that your mission is completed. Many lives are at stake. This isn't a field trip."
Sierra leaned back over. "I know that. That’s the reason I'm going."
"This is the end of the conversation. You three need to leave yesterday. Get going." Galius moved away from her.
Sierra looked at Darius and Ohitekah. "Alright guys, you heard him. Pack your stuff. Let’s get moving."
Seinaru was unlike the other cities in the North. The buildings were tall, the streets were not crowded with merchants and artisans. Noblemen rode around in their carriages and many samurai marched the streets in uniform.
Daisuke walked down the smaller streets unnoticed. It was clear Galius had never been to Seinaru before. His instructions were too vague to be considered any further than what city the Spades were in. He figured the ancient Blood Red Spades hideout to be difficult to find. Obviously, no one had stumbled on them before by mistake.
He wandered around the streets. He had been in this city many times before but that was two hundred years ago. A lot had changed. There certainly were not this many carriages or buildings. The city used to be a grouping of small castles surrounding the Palace. For high ranking samurai or officers to stay while on business. It was much
busier now, but he still had to keep his guard up. The previous guards mistook him for a traitorous Ronin, and if the men did here as well he could be executed.
There has to be a way for me to find them.The Order was created for me so…they want me to find them.
Daisuke paused in his steps. Most of his time in the city was spent in the Palace with the Emperor. He knew little of the city outside the palace, even two centuries ago. Daisuke turned around. The general that replaced him, Ashikaga, had a home in the city before he was promoted. It's where he would have stayed after he turned down the offer for Shogun. The hideout may be near there.
It’s at least a good place to start.
Daisuke took no time navigating the city to find Ashikaga's old castle. It used to be on the outskirts of the city, now there were many buildings near it. Daisuke studied it. It was occupied by a new family now, their banner is different. Any relatives of him had moved away long ago.
Daisuke turned around from the castle. Directly across the street from the estate was a large inn that grabbed his attention.
The Black Sword.
Well, that is a good sign.
Daisuke stepped inside.
The street level of The Black Sword Inn was dark. A few candles burned inside. The air was dusty and old. There were few people inside. Daisuke took a seat by himself to get a good look. He was surprised this Inn had a tavern on its street level. Usually, Seinaru had few public drinking locations. The higher class had their own private rooms to host events. Daisuke scanned the area. He was taken off guard again when he noticed a table of men playing poker. Such gambling was not permitted in higher circles, and usually only in secret parties. These men were seated in the corner and having a quiet game to themselves. No one paid them a second thought.
Oh, of course.
Daisuke stood up. Ashikaga loved gambling games, he had invited Daisuke to quite a few in his own house back when they were close. It was the card games that provided much of the inspiration for the Blood Red Spades. A game being played in The Black Sword Inn across from Ashikaga's house, the hints were obvious. These men were Blood Red Spades.
Daisuke had remembered as well what the man told him after the escape from Shinra Castle. The man they saved was a Blood Red Spade. He said if Daisuke were to ever find men playing poker who were in the order, he should bet with his Red Spade chip and they would owe him a favor. Daisuke reached into his robes. He still had the chip.
Daisuke sat down at the card table. The men continued to play without paying him much attention. Daisuke sat in silence for a long moment and watched them play. The entire round passed without them saying a word. Men bet, folded, and checked using only subtle hand motions. The dealer worked fast and the game played without a moment's break. Finally, the round ended and the chips were collected by the victor. The next dealer shuffled the cards and slid Daisuke two.
He was in the game.
Daisuke could tell from the hand they played before that they were playing "Owari" or "End" in common speak.
End was a popular gambling game back when Ashikaga was alive. It was played in rounds in which each player was dealt an additional card to start, at each player's turn they could check, raise, call or fold. Then at the end of the round, any player was allowed to declare "End" and end the current hand. Whoever had the highest hand, out of those remaining, won. If no one called "End", then the game would continue, with each player gaining one card each turn until it was called. The strategy was knowing when to end the hands. If you ended early, with a few strong cards, there would not be that much money to be won. If you waited too long, in an attempt to build the pot, someone else could get enough cards to win a stronger hand and steal it.
The game taught the values of patience, decisiveness, and reading your opponents. Ashikaga loved it. Daisuke could see why he used it as a teaching method for his men.
He glanced down at his hand, a seven and a four, both clubs.
Not the best opening...
No one raised, no one ended. The next card was drawn.
Daisuke watched them closely, they were clearly waiting for him to make a move.
He was dealt a jack, also a club.
Okay, maybe a flush.
The rest of the men motioned checks. Daisuke did the same.
I only have my one chip, I should save it.
Another club, this one a five.
That makes four, I need one more.
Checks all around.
Daisuke was dealt another jack, this one was a spade.
Damn... No flush. I could hold out another round and test my luck.
The men around him checked, they waited for his move.
I will bet, at least it is a pair.
Daisuke slid in his red spade chip. The men glanced at one another briefly, one by one they slid their cards in and folded. However, the man to Daisuke's right collected all the chips and dropped them into a bag.
The members exchanged glances. The newcomer wasn't a member, but he was indebted a favor, that was evident by the chip he showed.
"I have a message from Galius. My name is… Red," Daisuke stated quietly. He reached into his robe.
The player who seemed to be in charge lifted his hand to stop him.
"Please," He said. "I do not have the money I owe you here. Let me take you in the back so you can earn your winnings."
Daisuke hesitated. He nodded his head.
All three men stood up at once and walked towards the bar. Daisuke rose to follow them. The leader gave the bartender a slight nod and the four of them walked out of the main tavern and through a backdoor. The door led to a dark passageway, illuminated only by a burning torch. The door closed behind them.
"This place is secret from nonmembers." The leader turned to Daisuke. "I am going to have to ask you to wear this blindfold." He raised a black band to Daisuke.
Daisuke paused. "Actually, I am—"
The ten silenced him. "No card. No sight. We can take it off once you're there."
Daisuke nodded. It did not matter enough to argue over. He only had to meet with the head of the Order. The Spades have their reasons to be suspicious.
Daisuke placed the band over his eyes without further questioning.
They walked for a long while in the corridor. The men leading him made several twists and turns. The blindfold was clearly a way to keep nonmembers from ever finding their way back again.
After a long while, they came to a stop after passing through a doorway. Daisuke's blindfold was removed.
It took him a moment to process where he was. He was standing in the center of a very large room. It was clear they were underground. The room was almost like a courthouse, or actually, it was closer to the Senate building in Orbis. Round in shape with rows of seats. A circular stage in the center of it. Standing around the room in front of their seats at attention were about fifty samurai. Either in robes or traditional armor. The seats in the center of the room were larger. Seated there must have been the higher ranking members. The chair in the very front center, almost appearing as a throne, was clearly where the head of the order sat. The Ace.
The ace walked into the room and stood in front of his seat. He gave a bow to Daisuke and a bow to the crowd. The rest of the samurai bowed as well and they all took their seats.
Daisuke walked forward and into the center of the stage in the room. He looked around. He was completely surrounded by samurai. None of these members here were from any other nation. He studied the Ace who was dressed in pure black robes. He sat calmly in his throne facing Daisuke.
The Ace spoke with a booming voice. "You claim to be Shogun Daisuke Yoshimori."
Daisuke hesitated. He had never mentioned to them before about who he was. He cleared his throat.
"I am..." He stared the Ace in the eyes.
The ace frowned. He sat up straight in his chair.
"You think you are the first to come in here with a black sword? The first to come in with forged letters, c
hips, and call themselves Red?"
Daisuke squinted his eyes at the Ace. He drew his sword and ignited the blade in red fire. The Ace shook his head.
"Oh, I've seen better." The Ace stood up. "For two hundred years, men like you have come to us, claiming to be the one true Shogun. All of them with painted swords, cheap fireworks, and memorized histories of the Shogun. They have all have paid a steep price for their deception."
The men beside the Ace stood up and began to place armor on him. They were suiting him up for battle. Daisuke kept his flame going, unsure of what was to come.
"In the past, we had tests for them. Questions we thought the only true Shogun would know. They all lied and cheated their way through our tests... They tried to impress us with their skills, their fire tricks. For two hundred years, we were subjected to men who mistook us for fools. Who thought they could take the position of our leader. We discovered a fast and easy way to weed out the deceivers. A test, only the true Daisuke could pass."
The men completed the armor on the Ace while he was talking. It was black and grey. The design was strange, the plates were not bamboo or metal. It took Daisuke a moment to see what it resembled. The plates were made from solid bone.
Bone? From what? No creature is large enough to have bones that wide or strong enough to be used as armor... Unless... That would be impossible.
The ace drew his katana. It was the same color as the plates on his armor. The blade was made from solid bone as well. Dragon bone. It had to be. Taken from the body of the Fire Mythic after the battle two hundred years ago. The Spades used the bones to make a suit of armor and katana.
Very impressive.
The Ace leaped down from his throne and on to the stage in front of Daisuke. He stood up calmly and the two squared off, each taking a fighting stance. Daisuke let the fire on his blade flow steadily.
"In our order we realized something." The Ace of Spades stared into Daisuke's eyes. "In a world of deception, spies, and fools, there is only one way to truly know someone." With a shout, the Ace rushed forward, his sword above his head.