by Paul Heisel
"You don't have much time," Kojo said. "Answer my questions, or out you go."
"Your women soldiers wouldn't let that happen," she said as calmly as she could.
"We'll see about that. Who are you?"
"My name is Iristi. My family name is Matsuda. I'm from the city of Hou, and I was journeying to Hiru with my betrothed. Just as I told you before you took me prisoner."
"The ranan, that rogue, is with you? I don't believe that."
"He's no wanderer. He's a warrior, a samurai in his own right, and we are to be married. We were on our way to Hiru to celebrate our upcoming marriage. He's a Favored One."
Kojo laughed. "Then he should have named himself. Why are you really traveling to Hiru?"
"Feln and I are to be married," she insisted. "We are going to Hiru because Feln is a Favored One of the Ku family."
"That doesn't fit. A lovely woman and a…monk? Why would the Ku family even care? You know what I think? I think you are the daughter of a samurai and you were kidnapped by this rogue. He his taking you back to his stronghold or his master. To Ashimo no doubt, where all those ridiculous monasteries are. No matter. Your ranan will soon be dead and his belt taken for my family." Kojo put his calloused hand on her knees and forced her legs down until they were flat on the ground. He pushed his hands out, forcing her legs apart. "I promise you everything else that you claim was his shall be mine."
He leaned forward, letting up the pressure on his hands ever so slightly. Iristi jabbed her knee up, catching Kojo's jaw, a stunning blow by any measure. Kojo released his grip and staggered back, his head shaking and hands rubbing his jaw. He recovered, fists clenched. Iristi awaited his response, which she knew would be harsh. Her body tensed and her arms strained against the ropes holding her in place. She coiled her legs back so she could kick him if he came closer.
"Don't touch me, ever!" she snarled, the anger rising in her voice. "Ever!"
Kojo was smoldering, standing there, the rage building as he decided what to do. His icy eyes were wide and his fists white from being clenched so hard. He turned unexpectedly and yanked the katana from the wooden stand, then unsheathed it. The folded steel blade flashed in the lantern light.
"By tomorrow, you will beg for this blade," he said, pressing the steel against her neck.
"I'm not afraid of you," she stated. Her body trembled and it took all of her strength to not let her fear show. She felt the tea rising in her stomach. She was going to be sick.
Kojo sheathed the katana, whirled away from her, and placed it back on the stand. He paced back and forth, his silky black robe waving as he moved.
"Master Kojo," came a voice from outside the tent. "It's urgent."
Kojo turned to Iristi and pointed a finger, but no words came out of the frustrated man's mouth, and all he could do was scowl. As he left, she promptly expelled the tea on the ground. After that came agonizing dry heaves and sobs, and she realized that she was going to die here.
#
Kojo pushed open the flap of the tent with his hand, nearly ripping it. Two armored guards stood rigidly at attention. Between them was one of his lieutenants. He was in a foul mood, the dastardly woman had taken his advantage and destroyed it with one well-placed knee. She was a fiery one, a woman worth keeping. He wouldn't give her to his men or return her to her family as he had promised, no, he was going to keep her for himself. Early tomorrow she would be on her way to Furawa with twenty guards, and there she would await his return. Then he could spend all the time he wanted with her.
"What is so urgent you must disturb me?" Kojo asked, flexing his jaw.
"We found Nan's horse wandering outside of camp."
"What?"
"Nan and the archers didn't return," the lieutenant continued.
"Gather ten reliable men and have them search for Nan where we battled the hill man. Find out what happened."
"It's too dark, it'll have to wait until tomorrow."
"I want it done now! Take torches and lanterns! Now!"
"Yes!" The lieutenant and guards disappeared into the night.
Now he was getting angrier. His friend Nan was probably dead, defeated by that wanderer. How could this be? If this rogue were smart, he would give up hope of recapturing the woman. He had too many soldiers camped here, he had the power to crush any opposition. He couldn't believe it, though, Nan! How did this happen? The evening had gone from bad to worse, not only had he been bested by a defenseless woman, his confidant was missing and presumed dead. Kojo cursed himself for letting the woman distract him. He got caught up in the excitement of it all. What he needed to do was eat, return to the normal routine; he would have his supper and get a needed night's rest despite the lesson he wanted to teach this Iristi from Hou. He had led an army of six thousand men into Emesia to divide the country as planned, and he had executed the invasion to perfection. They drove the army deep into the countryside, destroying Chang's boyhood home as the initial insult, and had taken up a position in a large defensible valley. They had cut off the trade and supply routes along the mountains, effectively stopping the flow of people except for those who traveled along the interior route through the wilderness. If all went as planned, the south would be cut off from the north at this pinch point. He would defend the area until the Emesian troops arrived from Hiru, then he would flee south as planned, forced into Hou, where he would occupy the city. As he understood it, Hou had few defenses. He had been promised that it would be free of troops and samurai. He wondered if Iristi knew anything about that. Would she have useful information to confirm his plan?
Kojo closed the flap to the tent, keeping out the encroaching chill of the night. He went directly to the mat where his supper waited, anticipating delicacies he had brought along for the stay in Emesia, as well as enjoying the spoils of the city they had taken. His favorites, mushroom dumplings and spiced chicken, were in a steaming basket awaiting his inspection. Though it was a logistic nightmare to bring along his cooks and wagons of equipment, supplies, and food, it was well worth it to have a home worthy meal. One thing Furawans knew was good food.
"I would give you dinner, but I'm still thinking about your knee." Kojo looked at the food in front of him, resisting the temptation to glance at Iristi. In his mind he could still see her, naked, vulnerable to his hands and eyes. Eventually he would have his way with her. He would sample his own spoils of war. There was lust in his heart, mind, and every fiber of his body. It gave him a surge of strength.
He opened the baskets filled with mushroom dumplings and spiced chicken, and removed the top of a clay pot that contained curried meats. Another basket held brown rice that was cool enough now to eat. The large covered platter in the middle contained a roasted chicken or duck, he wasn't sure. It smelled strongly of the bird though, and there was a hint of taint - death and blood. To the side of the mat he could see where the fowl had been discarded, leaving trails of fat and juice. What was going on?
He lifted the cover from the platter. On it was a severed head, that of his friend Nan, and it caused him to stumble backwards. Kojo scrambled to the middle of the tent for his katana, thinking that monk was stupid enough to return for that woman! At the shrine, the upraised stand contained…nothing. The sword was gone! His precious blade had been stolen by that ranan! If his blade was gone, that meant…
Kojo turned and found a folded gray blanket, cut ropes, and a broadsword sticking into the ground. It was Nan's sword. His shock turned to rage and he stormed out of the tent to raise the alarm and summon more guards. Commands streamed from his mouth for them to find a pair of intruders, a man and a woman, who would be trying to leave the camp.
#
Iristi convulsed, the last of her heaves, the rush of adrenaline from her knee strike to Kojo's jaw was wearing off. Fear she had never known before took her, and it was then she realized her life as she knew it was over. There would be no trip to Hiru, all would be lost, her hopes and dreams crushed by unfortunate circumstance. Feln was lost in al
l of this and she knew that he was as dead as her betrothed. It stung her to think that those who got close to her died for one reason or another. It didn't make sense. Why was this happening? The flood of emotions didn't help calm her and it only provoked her into more uncontrolled sobbing. At least Kojo had left the tent and she had a momentary reprieve from that pig. She was doomed. Doomed! It wasn't the horrors she could imagine that made her ill, it was the ones she couldn't imagine that caused her to be sick. Her sobs turned to quick breaths, in and out, now uncontrolled. She wretched, but nothing else was in her stomach to throw up.
The tent fabric near her tore, the sound startled her, and a knife sliced neatly and quickly until there was a flap. An armored and helmed figure slipped through and dropped a robe on her lap, then he sliced the ropes that bound her hands.
"Quiet," said Feln, voice muffled from the ornate helm. He continued toward the center of the tent with a bloodstained bag in his hands.
She held her gasp as she watched Feln go to the food. What was he doing? Kojo was just outside of the tent! Feln took the roasted fowl from its platter and tossed it aside, juice dripping. Whatever he was carrying in the bloody sack he put on the platter and re-covered. On the way back to her, he grabbed Kojo's sword and affixed it to his weapons belt, took a large sword that was strapped to his back, unsheathed it, and jammed the blade in the ground where she had been sitting. Her heart labored as he pulled her to her feet, the world around her silent. Kojo would be back any moment! How were they going to get out of here? There were thousands of soldiers that would be looking for them! As he fitted the robe around her delicate shoulders, she looked into his eyes and could see that he was determined. Maybe that's all they needed. At least they would die on their feet trying to escape.
"Go out of the tent," Feln told her. "Go straight." He took a weapons belt and cinched it around her slender waist. It barely fit, so he shoved it down on her hips. He put his own katana on her weapons belt, as well as a small axe and dagger for additional decoration. With his hands, he pulled up the cowl and put it over her head. "After you've walked for a hundred yards you will see a series of wagons. When you get there hide. Now walk, don't run. I'll be right behind you. If we get separated, keep moving as if you know what you're doing, and once you have reached the edge of their encampment keep walking until you've found a place to hide. Understand?"
Iristi blinked wildly and nodded. I can do this, she thought.
Feln pushed her through the gap in the tent.
#
Feln blinked as soon as she was outside of the tent, not a moment later Kojo came storming inside. Briefly Feln considered attacking, but it would lead to his capture. He didn't have much chi left to rely upon, and he needed it to get out of the camp. Once Iristi was discovered missing, the alarm would be raised and the army would be looking for two people trying to flee. His plan was to leap frog through the camp until they were safely away; he would send her forward to a spot, follow at a discreet distance and blink when he needed to. Or he would clear the path ahead and have her follow his path on a short time delay. The camp was setup poorly in his opinion as the commanders and Kojo were all at the center with predictable rows and columns of troops put at precise intervals up and down the valley. Based on what he saw, the army had been camped here for at least a week if not more. They were hunkered down for the long term, as the amount of supplies brought with them was enormous. So they had come to this valley undetected, he presumed through an unknown path in the mountains, set up camp, and destroyed the nearby city and its residents in a bloody cruel attack. He couldn't figure though, to what end? Why destroy the city?
Kojo started talking to Iristi. Feln went to the flap, his eyes watching Kojo's every move. He paused to fold the blanket, put it down, and then he departed through the slit. The air outside was cool and damp, the camp muddy from the recent rains. The supply wagons were not too distant, and he could see Iristi shuffling along toward them. There were soldiers to the right and left moving to duties unknown and the guards stationed at the supplies were huddled near a small fire. No one paid any mind to Iristi. He had given her a standard robe that he had seen many of the soldiers wear when they weren't in armor. The only concern was she didn't fill out the robe as a soldier would. Her shape was too curvaceous. Just as he had instructed, she arrived at the wagons and casually ducked down behind one. Feln became visible once he thought it safe and walked the same path Iristi had. He tilted his helm up in the manner he had seen others do, and as he approached the wagons he waved lazily to the guards that were at the small fire. He walked straight toward them as if he meant to join them.
Before he arrived there were shouts, warnings. A crude alarm rang out. The guards jumped to their feet. Feln turned toward Kojo's tent. It would take time for the word to get out, more time for the immediate area to be searched, and additional time for any appreciable search party to be organized.
"What's going on?" a guard asked as he took a step toward Kojo's tent.
"Don't know," Feln said. "Get to your posts! Now!"
The guards grabbed their spears and darted to the front of the wagons where they had been stationed. Feln bent down and grabbed a thick brand that was on fire, then he tossed it in the middle of the wagons, where it rested amongst the supplies. It wouldn't take long for the contents to catch fire. Any distraction it offered would be welcome. Feln went to where he had seen Iristi disappear.
"Don't stand up yet," he said as he took his helm and tossed it on the wagon. He didn't need it any longer. Around him the area was becoming frantic with activity. "In one minute, stand up and walk around the wagons. Go to where they have put the horses."
"What do I do then?" she whispered.
"Don't get run over."
Feln squatted and blinked, then circled around the wagons and went straight for the temporary stables. There were makeshift corrals and tents for the horse masters, as well as wagons filled with hay and grain. That would have been a better choice for the fire, but he didn't see a convenient source of flame. Once he got close to the horses, he made his way along the corral until he came to where the barrier was perpendicular to Kojo's tent. There was activity, and the area was getting brighter as torches came out to aid in the search for the escaped prisoner. To his left Iristi was walking toward the array of tents set up for the caretakers of the horses. Feln undid the uppermost rail of the corral, set it down, then walked amongst the horses. There were dozens here. When he reached the back of the corral he took out a small throwing knife and jammed it in a horse's hindquarter. It bolted, ramming into other horses. This started a stampede through the opening he had made. Feln, visible now, slipped through the back rails and waved Iristi in his direction. The horse masters were coming out of their tents, Iristi walking among them. Feln watched, hoping she wouldn't panic. There was utter chaos, then the wagons caught fire, adding to the confusion.
At the side of the tent he began removing the swordsman's armor. It had served its purpose and was no longer needed. From here they would walk to the side of the camp toward the mountains, the fires here were low and with their dark robes no one would see them. The breastplate came off easily, but the complicated leggings took more time.
"Nan, what are you doing?" an unfamiliar voice said.
Feln turned and unsheathed Kojo's katana, it made no noise coming out of the sheath. It felt light as a feather, and the blade arced an invisible path in the near darkness. The tip of it slashed the soldier across the chest and Feln followed with a quick stab. The soldier crumpled to the ground. Iristi arrived, her face hidden by the cowl. Her steps were heavy, plodding. Her bare feet were muddy, the hem of her robe weighed down by mud. She recoiled when she saw the dead body.
"Our only chance of getting out of here is that way," Feln said, pointing to the rows of tents. He tossed the armor and leggings into muck left by the horses. Things were coming under control quicker than he would have wanted, and he could see groups organizing for a more thorough search. "Hur
ry, go ahead of me. Walk quickly with purpose, but don't run. When you get to the trees, run and hide."
They left the stables and crossed into the array of tents. Feln slowed and let Iristi go ahead. Should anyone challenge her, he would bark orders at them or use his blade if he had to. Several hundred yards separated them from freedom, and ahead through the darkness he could see the edges of the forest - small stands of trees. There would be cover there and a chance for them to reassess the situation, then from there they would be able to get to the horses he had stashed. If he had to, he could slip into one of the tents to hide temporarily and blink to escape. All he needed was for Iristi to make it to those trees.
The cloud cover broke, the light of the twin red moons covering the valley in a red blanket of haze. He could see Iristi clearly now, which meant anyone looking that way would see the same thing. At last she reached the trees, the dark robe blending with the twisted trunks and leafy branches. When he could no longer see her, he took a step behind a tent and blinked. The magic surged, the last of what he had in reserve, and he moved swiftly toward the trees. Behind him he could hear horses pounding closer and shouts calling for a search of the tents. More shouts came when they found the swordsman's armor. The search intensified. At last he reached the trees, tired and covered with perspiration. He appeared, not because he wanted to, but because he had no magic left. His magic and that of the belt was completely depleted. Ahead of him Iristi was struggling to get her robe uncaught from a low branch. He helped her, removing the branch, then they walked through the stand of trees for a hundred yards in the darkness. From there they emerged on grassy hills, went along by the light of the twin moons, and followed the path Feln had picked out. Iristi gripped his arm, she was trembling and sobbing.
"We're safe," he assured her, "but we must keep moving until we're miles away from here. When they realize we've escaped, they will extend the search."