by Travis Bughi
“Now, my friend,” he said, “I believe you spoke of war?”
Chapter 15
They were led to the large tent in the center of the camp. The flaps were pulled open to allow entrance for what little light existed, bringing the tent’s interior to just above pitch black. Inside was a man with short, white hair and small eyes, sitting on the moist ground in only a pair of brown trousers. White tufts of curled chest hair were visible, but did nothing to hide the man’s wrinkled, bony torso. His face was difficult to discern, but he looked hard and in a sour mood. He moved so little that Emily thought he must have practiced at it.
Lei took them before the man and knelt just outside the tent. Takeo and Emily followed his movements, and they all went to their knees and pressed their heads towards the ground, stopping just shy of getting mud on their foreheads. It collected in Emily’s and Takeo’s hair, though, and Emily was thankful when, after they were allowed to sit up again, the rain washed the mud away.
The old man had a tiny, white cup in his hands with a single golden ribbon wrapped around it. In the absence of wind, the aroma of warm tea wafted out to touch Emily’s nose, and her stomach growled without concern for the dominance of silence around them.
“Takeo Karaoshi,” the man said, his voice thick and dry. “Welcome to my camp. It has no name.”
“Thank you, Lord,” Takeo said and bowed again.
The old man laughed, but it turned into a cough, and he drank some tea to quiet it.
“I am no lord,” he said. “You should know that. It has been awhile since you were among the ninjas, apparently. Either that or your last master was subject to simple flattery. I’ll warn you only once that I am not this way. Now, who is your companion?”
“Emily Stout,” she said, following Takeo’s lead by bowing again. “Thank you for taking us in.”
“What is this?” The man balked. “I thought you were an amazon. Why is it you dress like one?”
Emily blinked and glanced at Takeo and Lei, but they just stared back at her, equally confused.
“I dress like an amazon because I am an amazon,” she said.
“Amazons have no last names. They do not marry,” the man replied. “Don’t lie to me again. What are you?”
Emily sighed. The ninja was right, though on a slight technicality. She considered denying him, telling him she was not a liar, but knew that would not work in her favor. It would best to be courteous here. They were in need of assistance.
“The daughter of a former amazon who married and left,” Emily replied, head bowed. “I was once just a farmer on the Great Plains until the amazons took me in. I kept my family’s name, though, and they allowed it.”
The old ninja scratched the white stubble on his neck and nodded, his head bobbing in the shadows.
“That’s more like it.” He sipped his tea. “We’re finished for now, but I’ll ask more of you soon. Now, Takeo, do you know who I am?”
“No, I do not,” Takeo replied.
“Good, good. You understand it will stay that way?”
“I do.”
“Good boy. I like that in you former samurai. Discipline, discipline, discipline. Now, my scouts tell me you have no coin to pay for your safekeeping here. Is that correct?”
Takeo gave a defeated sigh and nodded.
“Well, that is most unfortunate.” The ninja shook his head. “Friend of Lei or not, the ninja deal only in coin and knowledge. You come off as a smart individual, so do not disappoint me. Why I am allowing you to be here?”
“You were told I was dead,” Takeo said after a pause, “and somehow the truth escaped you until now. You want to know why I’m alive, believing it to be important if Katsu went through so much trouble to lie about it.”
“That’s a good boy.” The ninja took another sip. “I knew there was a hint of intelligence behind those obedient eyes. You’ll make a powerful ronin, I think. But now, to the present, you will buy your stay here by answering my questions honestly. I’ve already done some of the heavy lifting and narrowed down what I want to know. You’ll tell me three things: why you aren’t with Katsu, how you’re still alive, and why you’re back in Juatwa. Answer those to my satisfaction and you’ll have purchased one week’s stay in my camp. Just one half answer and you’ll receive nothing. The ninja do not haggle.”
The old man drained his teacup and set it off to the side. He then placed his elbows on his knees and leaned forward. Takeo licked the rainwater from his lips before beginning.
“Katsu gave me a direct command to kill Emily. Emily was on a mission to exact revenge on his new wife, the turncoat amazon called Heliena, and I had been told it was Emily who killed my brother, Okamoto, but it turns out that it was Heliena who did it, and so I disobeyed Katsu’s command. As punishment for disobedience, they sold me into slavery in Savara. That is why I am no longer with him. As to why he kept that bit a secret, I have no idea.
“I’m still alive because Emily, well, more or less, came to my rescue. She was also sold into slavery, and she and I escaped together. Our former slavers are now dead, buried in two different ancient ruins in Savara. Her cause, to bring Heliena to justice, has expanded to stopping Katsu from winning this war. She would see him defeated, and I decided to join her. That is why I have returned, and that is also why I sought the ninjas.”
The old man leaned back and scratched his white stubble, giving a deep frown that was only visible in the dark due to the heavy wrinkles the movement made.
“Short but sufficient,” he said approvingly. “You speak like you fight, if the legends are true. I like that. Tell me, word is that you are a better warrior than your brother was when he was alive. I saw your brother only once, though he did not see me, and I watched him spar. I find it difficult to believe his only pupil and younger brother surpassed him. Is this true? Speak honestly.”
“I never fought him after we returned to Juatwa,” Takeo said. “If I was better, it was only thanks to youth.”
A massive grin stained the ninja’s face, revealing a large, yellowed smile with missing teeth.
“Someone told you that, didn’t they?” He huffed. “Either that, or you are wise beyond your years, and I’ll not believe that so easily either. No need to answer. Just an old scoundrel’s musings on life’s oddities. Now, back to you, amazon. Takeo has purchased his stay, but you must earn your own. Tell me, why is it so important for you to chase Katsu’s wife across the world? And why just you, not your other sisters? You’re a not-even-really amazon, anyway, so don’t attempt to hide this. Be honest with me; this is personal, isn’t it?”
Emily felt the urge to lie but resisted. Takeo spoke the truth, and she would do best to follow his example. Lei, so talkative before, was absolutely silent and motionless now. His sudden shift to complete submission spoke volumes to the influence of the old man before her.
“It is,” Emily said and sighed. “Heliena killed my grandmother, Chara. It was Chara who took me in and made me an amazon. I loved her more than I can rightfully explain, despite having only known her for less than a year. She gave me the life I always wanted.”
The ninja stared her down with hard, sharp eyes that pierced the dark. She could almost feel his gaze upon her, and her curiosity began to bloom under such intensity. She wondered whom the ninja was and what his tale contained. He was old, yet hard and fit, like her grandmother had been. He carried himself with the kind of confidence that was born of wisdom mixed with knowledge. Instantly, Emily recognized the mark of a grand teacher and thought what a wonder it would be to study under such a master.
I’ll never know his name, though, she thought. He promised as much, and I don’t think he breaks his promises.
Yet another mystery she’d never solve, like the fate of Captain Mosley. Perhaps she’d always wonder.
The old ninja scratched his stubble again and nodded to her.
“Family,” he stated. “That is personal. Revenge is an old business here in Juatwa, and we ninja get a
lot of coin from it. I’d imagine you don’t have the kind of money it takes to make a Shogun’s wife disappear, though, do you?”
“No,” Emily admitted, “and I wouldn’t want anyone else to do it, either. I’ve traveled too far to have her die by someone else’s hands. I swore an oath.”
Emily’s mouth slammed shut at that sentence, and she tensed up before she could stop the movement. She’d almost let it slip about Quartus, and she would not give up that information to strangers. She feared it was too late, though, that her slight jerk had alerted the ninja that she was hiding something. Fortunately, he hadn’t seen it, and he just nodded aimlessly as he poured himself another cup of tea.
“You’re not the first to feel that way,” he said. “Revenge is often this way, despite our opinion that such work should be carried out by others. But, what do we know, hm? We are only faceless assassins.”
Emily’s throat was dry, and she kept her lips together. The ninja looked up to her and sipped his tea when she said nothing.
“That should be sufficient, I think.” He smacked his lips, hot steam rising from his mouth. “One full week each, starting the moment you entered our camp. Lei will give you quarters; you’re his responsibility while you’re here. You’ll speak to him, and he’ll speak to me. Whatever requests or reasons you have for finding us can be relayed to me through him. I’ll be watching you, but this will be the last time we speak.”
“Thank you.” Takeo bowed.
“Thank you,” Emily echoed and bowed.
Lei said nothing, but also bowed. They stood, and Lei led them away from the tent. The flaps were never closed, but the encroaching darkness of night made things difficult to see. Emily wondered how it would be possible not to see the ninja for an entire week in such a small camp.
Then again, if she did see him, would she even know it was him?
Lei led them toward the edge of the camp through rows and rows of tents set up so that there was only room for one person to walk between them. Most tents were open and packed with two to five ninjas so close together that their elbows touched as they went about their preparations for the coming night. Many were already sleeping, but some were content to work, weaving baskets or clothing among other things.
Lei took them to a tent of modest size on the edge of the camp, perhaps large enough to house two minotaurs sitting down. The tent flaps were up on both ends, and inside, Ehuang and the other two ninjas under Lei’s command were seated in the cramped quarters. The rain continued to pour, forming tiny streams that flowed through the tent in shallowly dug trenches of no more than a thumb’s depth. It seemed not to disturb the ninjas, though. Despite being less than a hand’s width away from each other, they kept to themselves without interruption. Ehuang was drawing with a piece of chalk on a scroll of parchment, just beginning her picture with no more than two circles started. Next to her, the other ninjas had finally removed their masks, and Emily saw they were both men as she’d thought. The big one was snoozing; though he made no sound. The other was wide awake, lying on his back, picking his nails with one of the star-shaped objects she’d seen others throwing.
“Chung’s not back yet?” Lei asked.
“Haven’t seen him,” Ehuang responded. “Are they staying?”
Lei nodded. “For a week, so make room.”
The ninja picking his nails gave a heavy sigh and rolled his eyes. Ehuang gave Emily a disgusted look.
“I know we’re the only two girls,” she said to Lei, “but I am not sleeping next to her.”
Emily frowned and shook her head. What in the world did I do to her? Emily just couldn’t wrap her brain around the hostility. They hadn’t said more than a few words to each other, yet Emily was receiving a look of loathing normally reserved for mortal enemies.
But, in every dark cloud lay a silver lining, and Emily could see it clearly.
“That’s fine.” Emily shrugged. “I’ll just sleep next to Takeo.”
A small bit of room was made with some shuffling around. Bedrolls were shifted and folded over, new trenches were carved to redirect the flow of rainwater, and a lot of moaning and groaning came from the two ninjas who had yet to introduce themselves. Lei, as talkative as he was, did not introduce them, either, and Emily began to feel vastly awkward around the pair. From her perspective, it was rude to remain so aloof, and a lack of manners would get you killed on the Great Plains. However, a moment’s reflection reminded her that she was in a new land, and it was better to do as others did than to assume her own customs were superior.
Perhaps being rude and silent was how one stayed alive in Juatwa.
Takeo tried to strike up a conversation with Lei about why he and Emily were there, but Lei waved it off.
“Let us sleep first,” he said. “These three were watching you all last night, and I was also awake, traveling to meet you. You’re going to be here a week, at most, so there will be time for such things in the morning.”
Takeo agreed, and they settled down for the night. The quarters were packed tight like an overstuffed quiver, and each person squeezed up against another. Emily and Ehuang were at either end with Takeo and Lei next to them, respectively, while the other two ninjas squeezed in the middle. The tent flaps were closed, encasing them in utter darkness so black that Emily couldn’t see her own hand. It was a rather uncomfortable night. Every shift in position by one caused a stir to the others, every drop of water leeched into the ground only to soak up through their clothes, and every light breeze made the tent’s flaps brush against the inhabitants.
Despite all of this, Emily slept well. Takeo slept on his side, facing away from Emily, perhaps trying to be courteous by giving her more room, she imagined. She slept on her side, too, and carefully placed her bare knees against the back of Takeo’s thighs. She let her arms fall straight down so that they ran along his back, and she could feel him breathe. Her head was an inch from his, and she took deep breaths of his hair. The desire to nestle her forehead into the back of his neck was strong, but she feared that she would not be able to pass that off as unavoidable contact. She didn’t want to do it and have Takeo pull away. She did not think she could handle the rejection.
In this land, he is both all I have and all I want, she mused.
When she dreamed, they kissed again, long and tenderly. She didn’t want the dream to end, but it did. Before long, she was a colossus again, staring down into the yellow grass of the Plains.
Damn it, she thought within her own dream.
Chapter 16
When they awoke, Lei, Takeo, and Emily stayed in the tent while Ehuang and the others went to fetch breakfast. The rain was still falling, the clouds still dark grey above, and Emily frowned at it all. Takeo had foretold several days of rain, but that seemed an irritating prospect now. Puddles were beginning to form within the tent in which they slept, despite the channels they’d carved. Were the rain not lukewarm, it would have been torture. If this truly did go on for several days, Emily might forget what it was like to be dry.
“So,” Lei spoke, “I believe I’ve delayed you enough, my friend. You spoke of favors? You’ll have to forgive me for wishing you went through all the trouble of finding ninjas just to see me.”
Lei reached outside the tent and produced a bowl, brimful of rainwater. Its contents splashed as he pulled it inside, but everything was wet already. He sipped from it and then passed it to Takeo and Emily.
Takeo frowned. “Sorry, you’ll have to settle for the fact that your old samurai friend needs a little help.”
“That’s all?” The ninja laughed. “Just a little help? You should have said so! Now, what can I do for you?”
Takeo hunched forward, placing his elbows on his knees as he sat cross-legged.
“You’ll recall what I said to your master. I need to see Katsu defeated,” he said. “Dead would be preferred, but I’ll settle for defeated.”
Lei’s smile twitched.
“You and me.” He raised and flicked a single finger
back forth between them. “We have very different definitions of little, I think. See, to me, little would be scratching a spot on your back you can’t reach or sharing my portion of the slop we’re about to receive, which will affectionately be referred to as breakfast. That’s little to me. Defeating a Shogun who controls one half of Juatwa, well, that’s not something I’ve quite measured yet, but I think it might fall outside the realm of little.”
“Well then, you’re in luck,” Takeo continued unfazed. “I don’t need you to win the war for me. I intend on doing that myself.”
“You? Now that would be impressive. It’d be a tale for the ages, too, I’ll admit. A young samurai, betrayed by his lord, goes on an epic adventure to exact his revenge on the one who escaped justice. I’ll bet they make a ballad of it. I should warn you, though, most tales like that end in the hero’s death.”
When Takeo did not respond, Lei glanced to Emily, but she gave him no reaction, either. If he hoped to scare her with the prospect of death, he had severely underestimated her. A look of understanding dawned within his eyes, and Lei gave a grunt of disgust.
“Damn it, Takeo,” he said. “Still bent on a warrior’s end? I see you’ve found another to complete your twisted sense of purpose. I always thought she’d be a viking, though, truth be told.”
Takeo narrowed his eyes at Lei, and Emily felt a flare of anger.
“Our purpose isn’t to die,” Emily said, “and it’s not twisted. And you’re one to talk of death. Aren’t you a ninja? Don’t you put yourself in harm’s way constantly? You look like a hypocrite from where I’m sitting. That was rude, what you said.”
Lei pursed his lips and rubbed his fingers one at a time against his thumb. He held silent a moment, and Emily couldn’t tell if he was offended or embarrassed. Before he could speak again, the other ninjas returned with the promised slop called breakfast. It was a warm, thick, cream-white soup with chunks of floating grey meat and strips of leafy greens. Emily didn’t ask what it was and ate it in large bites. It turned out not to be too bad, despite the faces Lei gave it as the smell filled the tent.