by Paul Kidd
“Honoured priestess! Thank you, Spirit Hunters. Thank you for slaying the Kappa.” Terrorized by the monster for many many months, a vast burden had been lifted from the river folk’s hearts. “Thank you!”
“On the house! You’re welcome!” Sura accepted a package of cucumbers from the old grandmother. “Oh! Well thank you!”
The younger ferryman ushered his visitors forward towards the raft. “Come! We shall ferry you across the river.” He bowed to the samurai, priestess and rat shugenja. “Dozo! This way!”
Chiri cheerfully led the way forward to the raft, treading carefully on great flat stepping stones. Daitanishi rode upon her shoulder, while Bifuuko perched upon the rat spirit’s broad straw hat. She shaded her pink eyes from the river light, her long naked tail curling behind as she found herself a place to sit upon the ferry. She was dressed for the summer road in loose skirts and a beautiful robe printed with symbols of the elements – a gift from her friends the Kumo spiders.
Kuno settled beside her – looking magnificent in his new-laced armour and a neatly folded eboshi cap. He had just set himself to his best advantage, with weapons at a heroic slant and his cap set just so, when Kitsune Sura planted herself happily atop a bale of rice beside him.
The fox spirit was in her marching dress, with short-tasseted breastplate, comfy robes and straw hat. She thumped her backpack down on the ground and propped her long spear beside her.
“Aaaaah! Life on the waves!”
Kuno pulled the spear-sheath from Sura’s sash and carefully capped the orange blade of her weapon. The spear, ‘Leaf Cutter’, was insanely sharp, and the fox could be entirely too cavalier with issues of weapon safety. He made a point of seating the sheath firmly in place. Sura lounged back and looked over his new armour lacings, nodding in contemplation.
“So you went with the pink, then?”
Kuno’s new armour had been densely laced with brand new silk cords. Each section was lined at the bottom with spring green, then diagonally gradated with white, yellow, soft pink and cherry blossom. It was an absolute work of art – though not perhaps well suited to a life of rough and tumble. Kuno stiffened defensively, brushing proudly at his shoulder plates.
“Autumn and winter will soon arrive. Floral tones are a reminder of grace and light!”
“Ooooookay! Well, just don’t go attracting any bees.” The fox patted the man upon his shoulder. “Actually, that looks great on you. Brings out the blood red glint of madness in your eyes!”
Kuno glowered and smoothed his moustache. Deciding he was being complimented, the man settled back, feeling more mollified as he saw Chiri admiring his attire.
The boat sagged noticeably as Tonbo stepped aboard. His armour was solid iron, laced in a sunset pattern of deep purple, red and beige, and was very comprehensive. He stowed his imposing spiked iron staff on the raft beside him, and settled himself down to enjoy the ride.
The old grandmother waved farewell. The two ferrymen began to haul the ferry out across the river, heaving upon the tight-stretched rope. The Spirit Hunters sat back and enjoyed the view along the river, looking off upstream towards a range of huge, grass-smothered hills.
Yard by yard, the ferry slowly crossed the river. Sura hung her head over the side to look down at the water. Chiri moved quietly aside and sat to have a word with Kuno. She kept her voice soft and low.
“Kuno san. Did you bring any food?”
“Yes, Chiri san. More rations – and also fresh rice balls for lunch.”
Sura lifted up her head. She was utterly agog.
“Rice balls? We already have rice balls. What do you need store-bought food for? I made you rice balls fresh this morning!”
Sura’s cooking perhaps deserved to be classed as a weapon. The fox happily produced a little package that held a number of rice balls.
The rice balls varied wildly in size, shape and consistency. They also seemed to have odd flecks and chunks strewn throughout the rice. Sura happily handed out them to her three friends, failing to notice a deep reluctance on the part of Chiri and Kuno.
Kuno looked anxiously at the strange lump that now rested in his hand. There seemed to be some sort of dull grey berries mixed in with the rice.
“What are these little grey things?”
Sura gave a carefree wave of her hand.
“Pill bugs! They sort of fell in there when I used a stick that still had bark on it to stir the rice. But they have this real nice nutty flavour!” Sura held up a rice ball and frowned at it in thought. “Oh – and I think a couple of crickets fell in there too…”
Chiri and Kuno looked quite pained. Sura seared them with a haughty glare.
“Well Tonbo likes them!”
Tonbo, true hero that he was, patiently took up a rice ball. He bravely ate it, making a show of nodding in approval. Sura beamed, greatly pleased.
“There! See? Real home cooking.
Kuno and Chiri bowed solemnly to Tonbo, deeply respecting his devotion.
The man was a samurai indeed…
At the far side of the river, the ferry ground slowly up against the gravel. One ferryman leapt down into the knee-deep water and helped to drag the raft up against the bank. A plank was placed to allow the passengers to alight safe and dry. The ferrymen helped the four companions carry their equipment to the river bank, bowing and profusely thanking them once again. The Spirit Hunters stepped aside as three new passengers bustled forward, wanting to cross to the other side. The ferry was loaded, small coins were paid… The ferrymen waved a last farewell, and drew their raft slowly back out into the river.
The Spirit Hunters stood to gaze back across the river, then turned to look at the open road beside them.
A great clatter of wings came from high overhead. A raucous voice called out from above – ringing out above the river in gleeful triumph. The voice came closer and closer. Sura looked up to see a great black bird flapping excitedly down towards the river.
“Ah! Spirit Hunters! Yes yes!” The bird laughed at his own sheer brilliance. “Ha! Easy! Easy to find!”
A large black crow clattered to the ground, landing on the gravel shore. The creature shimmered and shifted form, turning into a large humanoid bird entirely clad in feathers. The crow spirit bowed happily, ruffling his plumage and clacking his long beak.
“Ha! It is I! Tengu nō Nakajima Kaigan, your very good friend!” The crow bobbed about on fine clawed feet. “Clever crow has found you!”
Chiri beamed. She came forward and bowed happily to the crow.
“Tengu san. It is a pleasure to see you once again.”
“Ah! A pleasure? Yes, yes. Ha!” The crow clapped his hands together. “More of a pleasure soon! I have a job for you. Yes! A pretty lady needs your help.”
The crow drank from a nearby bucket of fresh water, flicking up his bill as he swallowed. He set aside the bucket and gave a happy sigh.
The crow spirit waved a hand to point upstream.
“Down this way! Two ri – close close! The house with the orange lanterns and all the ponds. The pretty ladies are waiting. They have a fine job for you. Yes! Something needs to be found!”
Kuno folded his arms and looked at the crow with a certain amount of suspicion.
“If something needs to be found, then why didn’t you just do the job?”
“Ah. Something dangerous needs to be found – and Crow is not stupid! But then I thought – ‘Ah! I know some gullible heroes, and they will do nicely!’” The crow clapped his hands and tried to usher Kuno off towards the road. “So this way! Hurry, hurry!”
Sura was not about to be rushed. She thoughtfully wrinkled her nose.
“What needs to be found? Why is it dangerous?”
“No time. You must hurry! The pretty priestess will explain!”
Tonbo looked up and frowned.
“What pretty priestess?”
“Ha! The one who cares for the demon sword.”
Tonbo pushed back his helmet in surprise, and
looked upstream.
“Reiju?”
The crow nodded merrily. “Yes yes – Reiju san. So very kind! She sent me to find you, and find you I did! I just looked for the nearest dead monster. And what should Crow see, but a dead Kappa!” The crow gave a sigh filled with self-pity. “It wasn’t ripe yet. Two more days before he’ll even make a decent meal…”
Chiri blanched. She put a hand up to her face, feeling a little ill.
“Oh dear!”
The crow nodded sadly. “Poor Crow works for free. Just as a favour. Not even lunch to pay him for all his poor tiring efforts.”
Sura brightened, and immediately dove into her pack.
“Well hey! Want some rice balls?”
The crow hastened eagerly forward.
“Rice balls?”
Chiri tried to mitigate the inevitable blow. “Yes. With bugs.”
“Bugs!”
Joyously seizing hold of Sura’s rice balls, he turned back into crow form and began messily stuffing himself, making ecstatic sounds with every bite. He hungrily crammed down the food, pausing to look at Sura in utter delight.
“Home cooking! There’s nothing like home cooking.”
Sura looked to Chiri and Kuno and poked out her tongue. She set the rice balls out, managing to evade the grains the bird flicked about himself as he ate.
Kuno looked along the riverside road. It seemed pleasant – shaded by trees, and with a few merchants and travellers walking along in the distance. The samurai stroked thoughtfully at his moustache.
“Down here?”
The crow spoke with his mouth full.
“Two ri, samurai! Two hour’s walk.” The bird pecked into a new rice ball, and lit up with delight. “Oooh! Fresh cricket!”
The Spirit Hunters bowed to the crow and left him to his feast. They walked to the road, then looked at one another.
Sura scratched her chin.
“So we go find something?”
“We go find something.” Chiri settled her pack onto her back. “May I please have a cucumber?”
“Go for your life!” Sura handed out cucumbers all around. “But now we have no rice balls…”
“You may have some of mine.” Kuno shared out lunch as the group walked along the dirt road. “Here we go.”
“Thank you.” Sura munched happily as she walked. “Oh! Hey, these aren’t bad!”
“I told you so.”
The warm dust underfoot made for comfortable walking. Out in the grasslands nearby, some oxen lowed and scratched their backs against trees. The Spirit Hunters continued down the path into to a golden afternoon.
Chapter 2
The roadway meandered along beside the river, past fields and sleepy summer meadows. There were farm houses here and there, well-kept and sturdy, but none appeared to be gripped with any sign of emergency or alarm. The countryside seemed utterly at peace.
The farmlands gradually became a well organised estate. Ji-samurai – part time farmer/warriors – were working in the fields, all with armour and weapons ready to hand. It was the first sign that something might be awry.
A comfy samurai estate much given to growing flowers sat beside the road. Sturdy palisades protected the main compound. On either side of the gate, great carved stone lanterns in the shape of carp gazed off towards the river.
A pair of guards armed with long spears stood by the gates. As they caught sight of the approaching visitors, one man immediately ran towards the house, calling out in great excitement. The second guard ran forward to the Spirit Hunters, bowing in gratitude. He eagerly showed them towards the main house, running ahead but pausing repeatedly to bow and beckon them onwards.
“Dozo! Dozo!”
Beyond the wall was the expected broad stable yard and a house for the estate’s foot soldiers. But in front of the main house, there was a considerable pond – a great broad thing with stone lanterns, waterlilies and shady trees. Piped water flowed into an upper basin that spilled pleasantly down to the pond in a little waterfall. The whole front yard echoed with the sound of flowing water.
The main house had a great, broad porch shaded by a maple tree. A fine maiden dressed in white priestess’ robes sat in the shade, comforting a desolate young wife.
The weeping young woman was startlingly beautiful. Skin covered in magnificent golden scales, her face was that of a golden carp, with a delicately fanned fish-tail peeking out beneath her robes. Utterly exhausted from weeping, the carp spirit’s long sleeves were wet with tears.
Foot soldiers were searching carefully about the buildings, even peering into water pipes. Other men were mounting horses and heading out through the gates. The entire manor was in disarray.
The young priestess looked up to see the Spirit Hunters hastening towards her and was visibly filled with relief. Reiju, guardian priestess of the sword-island temple, rose and ran forward to greet her friends, taking Sura by the hands. Her voice was hoarse from weeping.
“Tonbo san! Spirit Hunters!” Reiju held Sura’s hand against her face. “Sura – thank the gods you are here! We have nowhere else to turn!”
Sura looked at her friend in deep concern, wiping tears from the priestess’ face.
“Reiju! What’s wrong?”
“It is terrible, Sura san! Terrible! My friend Tosakingyo San’s baby son has been abducted.”
Reiji led her friends to the porch, where the lady carp spirit tried to order her robes. Desolate as she was, the carp managed to bow with grace and gentility to her guests. She kept her eyes fixed upon the floor.
“Honoured guests. I am Tosakingyo Asuka. Please be welcome in our humble home.”
Kuno gave a profound, understanding bow.
“Tosakingyo san, we do not wish to intrude upon you. Word has come to us that you might welcome assistance in a time of strife.” The man produced his golden billet of authority. “I am Third Rank Imperial Deputy Asodo Kuno. This is Priestess Kitsune Sura, Tsunetomo Tonbo and Nezumi Chiri. We are here to help.”
The carp spirit tried to respond, but instead burst into tears. Reiju sat down beside her, covering the woman with her sleeves.
The household maids had also been weeping. One girl came and brought tea for the guests, dabbing at her cheeks with long sleeves. Though in human-like form, the maid had long hair that was silver white and speckled with a spectacular brocade of gold and black.
The lesser samurai and ji-samurai that came and went from the courtyard were in human form – but the gold, black and silver patterns of their hair and tails peeking from beneath their robes showed that many of them were fish spirits. Tonbo watched with interest as the carp spirits moved back and forth, admiring their strange, gentle grace.
The Spirit Hunters sat with Tosakingyo Asuka upon the porch, quietly drinking tea. Reiju wanly tried to spread a sense of calm. Sura served one and all, moving with quiet strength. Slowly but surely, the carp spirit calmed herself. She breathed slowly, greatly comforted by the company and the familiar scent of tea.
When the lady mastered herself, she bowed to the Spirit Hunters, long golden hair glittering in the dappled sunlight.
“Honoured guests…As you can see, my family are carp spirits. My husband is a samurai in good standing with our lord. It is our duty to provide our lord with ten horsemen, twenty foot soldiers and ten porters when summoned to war.” The woman kept a dagger in her sash. She was indeed a samurai. “The Raiden clan border our lands, and the new Raiden lord is performing military manoeuvres. My husband was called away two weeks ago to serve with the border guards. He has taken our riders with him – his cousins and all of his brother’s men.” Tosakingyo Asuka almost wept once again. “They knew he was gone! Now they have taken my little Chōisai!”
Kuno nodded, listening carefully. When he spoke, his voice was filled with compassion.
“Tosakingyo san, can you tell us how it happened?”
Reiju quietly answered for the carp spirit.
“This morning, little Chōisai was simply mi
ssing. There was no sign of breaking and entry. Four guards were on duty, and they saw nothing all night.”
Kuno looked at the grounds and gave a frown.
“Four men would be hard pressed to guard a house of this size…” He looked at the walls, the gate and the gardens. “Forgive me, Tosakingyo san, but have you any enemies? Have there been any suspicious characters seen in the area?”
The carp spirit shook her head in bewilderment.
“Our house is always quiet, Kuno san. Two weeks ago, we entertained a wandering nun who offered blessings to our child. A week ago, our men saw off some suspicious loiterers who were near our garden wall. That is all.” The poor woman’s eyes were red. She tried to focus her thoughts. “I do not know of any enemies. We are only a small family. Surely no one would attack us just as a way of striking at our lord.”
Kitsune Sura thoughtfully set aside her tea.
“Tosakingyo san, please excuse me – but who is your lord?”
“Lord Shida, priestess. They have been generous and true. They are a minor clan, but well thought of. Why, this week, the Imperial Magistrate Masura himself is visiting our Lord!”
The fox thoughtfully scratched one ear. “And the Raiden are your lord’s neighbours…”
Tosakingyo Asuka indicated the empty barracks house. There were only a handful of men left to guard the estate. The men had searched, and clearly found nothing.
“As you can see, priestess – I have nowhere to turn.”
Tonbo looked to Chiri, Kuno and Sura. There was clear agreement: they were already on the job. Tonbo bowed to his friends.
“We should see the boy’s bedroom.”
The carp spirit stared at them, a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
“Of course, samurai-san. At once.” She bowed to the Spirit Hunters, putting her head to the floor – profoundly grateful. “Thank you for offering to aid our family.”